DESCRIPTTON OF THE LASSO. 



149 



belt or surcingle, bound tightly round the horse. 

 The coil is grasped by the horseman's left hand, 

 while the noose, which is held in the right, trails 

 along the ground except when in use, and then 

 it is whirled round the head with considerable 

 velocity, during which, by a peculiar turn of the 

 wrist, it is made to assume a circular form ; so 

 that, when delivered from the hand, the noose 

 preserves itself open till it falls over the object at 

 which it has been aimed. 



The unerring precision with which the lasso 

 is thrown is perfectly astonishing, and to one who 

 sees it for the first time, has a very magical ap- 

 pearance. Even when standing still it is by no 

 means an easy thing to throw the lasso , but the 

 difficulty is vastly increased when it comes to be 

 thrown from horseback and at a gallop, and when 

 in addition the rider is obliged to pass over un- 

 even ground, and to leap hedges and ditches in 

 his course. Yet such is the dexterity of the 

 guassos, or countrymen, that they are not only 

 sure of catching the animal they are in chase of, 

 but can fix, or as they term it, place their lasso 

 on any particular part they please ; either over 



