248 



THE PAMPAS. 



are beautiful — the scene is placid beyond descrip- 

 tion — no habitation nor human being is to be seen, 

 unless occasionally the wild and picturesque outline 

 of the Gaucho on the horizon — his scarlet poncho 

 streaming horizontally behind him, his balls flying 

 round his head, and as he bends forward towards 

 his prey, his horse straining every nerve : before 

 him is the ostrich he is pursuing, the distance be- 

 tween them gradually diminishing — his neck stretch- 

 ed out, and striding over the ground in the most 

 magnificent style — but the latter is soon lost in the 

 distance, and the Gaucho^s horse is often below the 

 horizon, while his head shews that the chase is not 

 yet decided. This pursuit is really attended with 

 considerable danger, for the ground is always under- 

 mined by the biscachos, and the Gaucho often falls 

 at full speed ; if he breaks a limb his horse proba- 

 bly gallops away, and there he is left in the long 

 grass, until one of his comrades or children come to 

 his assistance ; but if they are unsuccessful in their 

 search, he has nothing left but to look up to heaven, 

 and while he lives drive from his bed the wild 

 eagles, who are always ready to attack any fallen 

 animal. The country has no striking features, but 



