268 



THE PAMPAS. 



rapid motion through the air formed a refreshing 

 breeze. The horses were faint from the heat, and 

 if it had not been for the sharp Gaucho spurs that 

 I wore I should not have got on. The horses in 

 the Pampas are always in good wind, but when 

 the sun is hot, and the grass burnt up, they are 

 weak, and being accustomed to follow their own 

 inclinations, they then want to slacken their pace, 

 or rather to stop altogether; for when mounted 

 they have no pace between a hand-gallop and a 

 walk, and it is therefore often absolutely necessary 

 to spur them on for nearly half the post, or else to 

 stand still, an indulgence which, under a burning 

 sun, the rider feels very little inclined to grant. 

 As they are thus galloping along, urged by the 

 spur, it is interesting to see the groups of wild 

 horses which one passes. The mares, which are 

 never ridden in South America, seem not to under- 

 stand what makes the poor horse carry his head so 

 low, and look so weary. The little innocent colts 

 come running up to meet him, and then start away 

 frightened ; while the old horses, whose white 

 marks on the flanks and backs betray their ac- 

 quaintance with the spur and saddle, walk slowly 



