NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



drinking-vessel. Each of the principals of the party took his pistols, 

 sometimes a fowling-piece or a hanger ; the guide failed not to equip 

 liimself with his knife, lasso, and balls. 



Though the form and use of the Lasso are very generally known, it 

 may not be amiss briefly to describe it. It is made of narrow thongs, 

 plaited in the same way as the bridles mentioned on another occasion, 

 and is about seven or eight yards long. One end of it is fomly fixed to 

 the hinder part of the saddle, generally on the right side ; at the other 

 end is an iron ring, about two inches '^^ diameter. The horseman, about 

 to use the Lasso, forms a sort of running noose, by passing a portion 

 of it through the ring ; this is taken in the right hand, so as that the 

 ring may be at the opposite part of the circle ; the noose is then swung 

 with care over the head, until the extreme part of it, including the ring, 

 acquires a considerable momentum. The instrument thus prepared, as 

 the man advances towards his selected victim, is in due time discharged, 

 carries off the remainder of the string, which before hung loosely in coils 

 on the fingers of the left hand, and seldom fails to entangle the beast. 

 A well trained horse, thougii at full speed when the Lasso is thrown, 

 i;istantly stops, and, turning round, pulls against the animal, which is 

 now attached to him. 



The balls are three in number, round, and nearly three inches in 

 diameter. The external part of each is a sort of purse, made of hide, 

 rendered pliable by soaking; the purse is filled with sand, and the 

 aperture drawn close ; in drying the leather contracts, and the whole 

 becomes as hard as a stone. To each ball a string is attached, three or four 

 feet long, made of plaited thongs, like the lasso ; and the three strings 

 united by a knot, at two feet distance from the balls. This may be 

 called the handle of the instrument, for the person using it takes the 

 knot in his right hand, and having given it the necessary velocity, by 

 swinging it over his head with all his might, throws it at the legs of the 

 horse or ox which he wishes to secure. In their progress the balls spread 

 to the utmost distance which the strings will allow, and, reaching the 

 leg, generally pass round it ; and though, perhaps, only slightly entang- 

 ling the animal, sufficiently impede its flight. 



