METHOD OF KILLING CATTLE. 159 



or five guassos on horseback, with their lassos all 

 ready in their hands ; and opposite to them ano- 

 ther set of men on foot, similarly equipped, so as 

 to form a wide lane, extending from the gate of 

 the corral to the distance of thirty or forty yards. 

 When all was prepared, the leader of the guassos 

 drew out the bars closing the entrance to the cor- 

 ral ; and, riding in, separated one from the drove, 

 which he goaded till it escaped at the opening. 

 The reluctance of the cattle to quit the corral v/as 

 evident, but when at length forced to do so, they 

 dashed forwards with the utmost impetuosity. It 

 is said that in this country , even the wildest animals 

 have an instinctive horror of the lasso ; those in 

 a domestic state certainly have, and betray fear 

 whenever they see it. Be this as it may, the mo- 

 ment they pass the gate, they spring forward at 

 full speed, with all the appearance of terror. But 

 were they to go ten times faster, it would avail 

 them nothing against the irresistible lasso, which, 

 in the midst of dust, and a confusion seemingly 

 inextricable, were placed by the guassos with the 

 most perfect correctness over the parts aimed at. 

 There cannot be conceived a more spirited, or a 



