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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



a lighthouse: on the: marshes of southern camargue 



and dashing off at top speed. When the 

 bull, separated from the herd and kept at 

 a safe distance, is left to his own devices 

 he stops, snorting and tossing his head, 

 and some rider looks after him. 



More difficult is the sorting of the 

 other wild, sly animals. Once outside 

 the herd, they often make such terrific 

 dashes that the gardian cannot outride 

 them, in spite of the fleetness of his steed. 

 The beasts which are chosen out of the 

 manado follow the leader-bull, and the 

 gardians surround and drive them where- 

 ever they will. One cannot easily realize 

 the suppleness, the quick decision, and the 

 fleetness of foot which the gardians re- 

 quire from their steeds in this every-day 

 but exciting task. 



THE BRANDING FESTIVAL 



But it is above all in the fcrrade, or 

 branding, that the gardians and their 

 mounts show their greatest skill and alert- 

 ness. This operation is performed in the 

 spring of each year and consists in mark- 

 ing the young stock. Formerly all the 

 manadiers, or owners, used the branding- 

 iron for searing their initials or heraldic 

 mark on the left flank of the bulls. Now- 

 adays most of the owners prefer escous- 



sura — that is to say, to split the ear of 

 the bull in a manner peculiar to that par- 

 ticular herd. 



The round-up has become a great holi- 

 day gathering, to which the manadier in- 

 vites his friends and neighbors. Early in 

 the morning carriages arrive filled with 

 Provengales in their picturesque costumes, 

 and amateur horsemen, who, on their 

 white horses, equipped a la gardionc, 

 come to aid the gardians in their work. 



A suitable ground has been chosen in 

 advance, a large level space with no ob- 

 structions. Close by, the gardians have 

 assembled the herd. The carriages are 

 arranged in a vast semicircle, forming an 

 impenetrable barrier, and in the fore- 

 ground a groove marks the boundary 

 where the horsemen must stop in their 

 chase. 



In front of the carriages, filled with 

 spectators, men and young folk on foot 

 await, their eyes fixed on the herd. Over 

 there one sees a young bull picked out 

 and chased by the horsemen. It has 

 leaped over the boundary and now be- 

 longs to the crowd on foot, who will try 

 to secure it by running it down. 



More venturesome than the others, a 

 young man defies the young bull, which 



