196 GUATAVITA. 



From the Hacienda of Echarleche to the 

 Lagoon is one league. As soon as mounted, 

 we ascended a particularly steep hill, from 



his legs, with a horseman on each side, he is like a ship 

 moored with two cables ; and however unwilling he may 

 be to accompany the guassos, or however great his strug- 

 gles, he is irresistibly dragged along by them in whatever 

 direction they please. 



" If the intention be to kill the animal for the sake of 

 his hide and tallow alone, as is often the case, one of the 

 guassos dismounts, and running on, cuts the bull's ham- 

 strings with a long knife, which he always wears in his 

 girdle ; and instantly afterwards despatches him by a dex- 

 terous cut across the back of the neck. The most sur- 

 prising thing is, the manner in which the horse, after being 

 left by his rider, manages to preserve the lasso always 

 tight : this would be less difficult if the bull were to re- 

 main steady; but it sometimes happens that he makes 

 violent struggles to disentangle himself from the lassos, 

 rushing backwards and forwards in a furious manner. 

 The horse, however, with wonderful sagacity, alters his 

 place, and prances about as if conscious of what he is 

 doing, so as to resist every movement of the bull, and 

 never to allow the lasso to be relaxed for a moment. 



" When a wild horse is to be taken, the lasso is always 

 placed round the two hind-legs, and, as the guasso rides 



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