106 



BUENOS AYRES. 



the rough-riding gauchos, without stirrups, on 

 one of these animals, hitherto unbacked, might 

 excite the admiration and envy of Ducrow 

 himself. 



We saw as many as three thousand head of 

 cattle driven every evening from the plain into 

 the corals about the farm, where they pass the 

 night; and one morning we were invited to 

 witness the marking of the young steers and 

 heifers with the private marks of the owner. 

 For this purpose the untamed herd was shut 

 into the coral, and horsemen with lassoes 

 were admitted to noose them. To avoid being 

 caught they frequently made a rush at the bar- 

 rier, and breaking it down, two or three effected 

 an escape and galloped over the plain. Then 

 was seen the wildest chase imaginable. A 

 gaucho was despatched after the fugitives at 

 full speed, whirling the lasso round his head, 



