SIX MONTHS IN T MEXICO. 



241 



they single out a bull in the open plains, and 

 in the same manner bring the furious animal 

 to the ground with little risk to themselves, 

 their horses being so sure-footed as seldom to 

 make a false step, even on roads and on rocks 

 where the best English hunter would fail. 



Horses are bred in great numbers at the 

 different haciendas in the provinces, where 

 they are sold very cheap. They run in a 

 state of nature till wanted, when they are 

 caught with a lasso, hoodwinked, and immedi- 

 ately mounted. For the first fifteen or twenty 

 minutes, they exert their whole strength to 

 throw the rider ; but finding their exertions 

 ineffectual, they patiently submit, and gene- 

 rally give but little trouble afterwards. The 

 bit used in this process is a terrible instru- 

 ment, something like that of the Mamelukes. 



The Ex-Emperor Iturbide, who was re- 

 markable for his personal strength and 

 prowess, was said to be very much attached 

 vol. i. - R 



