BUENOS AYRES. 



91 



the gaucho is particularly hard-hearted to 

 the brute creation, and really in ferocity he is 

 not much removed from the worst description 

 of brute himself. Being too proud or too lazy 

 to walk on foot, he will keep his horse saddled 

 all day long, standing under a burning sun. 

 On the least pretence he will dash the long 

 rowels of his heavy spurs into its sides, and 

 not seldom aggravate the blow by keeping 

 this cumbrous weapon for a while imbedded 

 in the flank of the poor writhing beast ; a 

 practice which these rough riders frequently 

 adopt, by way of adding to the firmness of 

 their seats on the back of a young unbroken 

 colt. 



The bit is an instrument of torture, than 

 which the Spanish Inquisition could not have 

 invented a greater. The least touch will throw 

 the horse on his haunches, and the animal 



