PREPARATION OF JERKED BEEF. 167 



branches of which reached to the ground, and 

 mingled their leaves with a crowd of wild flowers, 

 the commonest weeds, we were told, of the cli- 

 mate ; but some of which w€ recognized as the 

 cherished plants of our green-houses. 



The heat in the outer space where we had wit- 

 nessed the lassoing, had become so great, that we 

 were glad to seek shelter in this cool and quiet 

 spot. We had not been there long, before five 

 of the bullocks which had been killed were drag- 

 ged in, and placed in order, one before each of 

 the cells described above. 



Immediately three men betook themselves to 

 each carcase ; and with much dexterity, and in 

 an incredibly short time, stripped off the hides, 

 " which were carried to the open part of the in- 

 closure, preparatory to their being staked out 

 and dried in the sun. 1 observed that the prin- 

 cipal guasso allowed none of these hides to pass 

 him without first cutting off a thong and trying 

 its strength ; if it broke easily he took no fur- 

 ther notice, but if it proved tough, he ordered 

 the hide to be put by for making lassos, always 

 the uppermost thought in a guasso's mind. Af- 



