c 236 collecting the cattle. 



hind-legs, and carrying the cord quite round the 

 animal, so as to throw it down. The calves 

 are then caught, and this is done without much 

 difficulty ; they are marked on the right haunch 

 with a red-hot iron, which is made of the shape 

 that has been fixed upon by the owner as his 

 peculiar mark. When the oxen are to be col- 

 lected for a market, the service is more danger- 

 ous, and frequently the rider is under the ne- 

 c >sity of throwing the animal to the ground 

 with his long pole, as I have in another place 

 mentioned. On the man's approach, the ox 

 runs off into the nearest wood, and the man fol- 

 lows, as closely as he possibly can, that he may 

 take advantage of the opening of the branches 

 which is made by the beast, as these shortly 

 close again, resuming their former situation. At 

 times the ox passes under a low and thick 

 branch of a large tree, then the man likewise 

 passes under the branch, and that he may do 

 this, he leans to the right side so completely, as to 

 enable him to lay hold of the girth of his sad- 

 dle with his left hand, and at the same time his 

 left heel catches the flap of the saddle ; thus 

 with the pole in his right hand, almost trailing 

 upon the ground, he follows without slackening 

 his pace, and being clear of this obstacle, again 

 resumes his seat. If he can overtake the ox, he 

 runs his goad into its side, and if this is dexte- 



