MODE OF BREAKING HORSES. 



237 



rously done, he throws it. Then he dismounts, 

 and ties the animal's legs together, or places 

 one fore-leg over one of the horns, which se- 

 cures it most effectually. Many blows are re- 

 ceived by these men, but it is seldom that deaths 

 are occasioned. 



In crossing the Seara-Meirim, I mentioned an 

 instance of a cow having strayed to an immense 

 distance from its native pasture. This propen- 

 sity to ramble is common among horned cattle, 

 even without its proceeding from a scarcity of 

 grass or water. Often at the time of collecting 

 the cattle, those persons who have been to a 

 considerable distance to assist others, drive back 

 a number of beasts with their own mark ; the 

 estate to which they belonged being distant 

 twenty leagues or more. When a traveller is in 

 distress for water, he cannot do better than to 

 follow the first cattle-path, as these usually lead 

 to the nearest pool of water, in a direct line. 

 The paths are easily distinguished, being very 

 narrow, and the wood uniting above, leaving 

 open below only a shady walk, of the height of 

 the animals which made it. 



Each lot of mares with its master horse is 

 driven into the pens ; this consists of. from fif- 

 teen to twenty in number. The foals are like- 

 wise marked in the same manner as the calves. 

 It is worthy of remark, and the circumstance 

 was often repeated to me, tnat the horse of the 



