24 



J^OtlEST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 13, 1893. 



ON THE PAMPAS OF ENTRE RIOS.-III. 



Soivra of your readers might be interested in hearing a 

 description of an estancia, or ranch, as carried on in 

 Entre Rios. 



Many of these estancias combine the raising of cattle, 

 horses and sheep, as did the one I had charge of. The 

 main ranch generally consists of a cluster of four or five 

 buildings, erected in an inclosm-e of strong fencing, made 

 by planting posts close together in a ditch and sa wing 

 them off evenly about 4ft. from the ground. Sometimes 

 a wire fence is used, but they are very little protection 

 against cattle or horses. All of the buildings are of one 

 story, a.nd are built with either adobe or thatched walls 

 and thatched roofs. The largest, which is a long building 

 containing three rooms, is occupied hy the manager. One 

 room is used as a dining room, one as a bed room and one 

 as a- store room. Next to tlie mam building is generally 

 an open meat shed; nest a wool house, whei-e the wool is 

 stored or bagged. Detached and at one side of the main 

 house is a structure of two rooms, one used as a kitchen 

 and one as a sleeping apartment for the men in bad 

 Aveather. They sleep out of doors in good weather. There 

 may be one or two other small structures and there is 

 always a large oval brick oven built on a platform 3ft. 

 from the gromid. Back of the main liouse is a wire cor- 

 ral GOyds. square, and in front a small portable one made 

 of boaxd panels. In the large corral is put at night what 

 is known as the house flock of sheep, and in the portable 

 one the breeding flock of fine ijnported ewes and rams. 



The manner of constructing the houses is as follows: 

 Posts are planted at corners and along the sides and ends, 

 at intervals of 3ft. , the middle end posts being high and 

 crotched on the ends to hold the ridge pole. Canes ai^e 

 fastened to the posts inside and outside, about 2in. apart. 

 The hollow wall thus formed is filled in with adobe well 

 ■worked by being tramped by a herd of horses. The roof 

 is thatched with a coarse grass called paja, and the walls 

 coated outside with thin mud, and the house is finished. 

 There is not a nail used in the construction, except per- 

 haps in the doors and windows of the main house, which 

 is the only one that has these luxuries. Everything is 

 fastened with rawhide strips, which have to be well soaked 

 in arsenic water, to make them proof against a small 

 black beetle that destroys them in time. AH the houses 

 have dirt flooi's, and all except the main house, simply two 

 openings opijosite one another for doors. 



The fm-niture is of the simplest kind, a cot, pine table, 

 pine desk, a dresser with a few cups, plates, etc. The 

 cooking utensils are very few, a tea kettle, two pots, two 

 frying-pans and an assador, Tiiis latter is the most im- 

 portant and most used of all the utensils, and is simjply a 

 long iron rod sharp at one end; on it, aU meat and game 

 is roasted, it being run through the roast and stuck into 

 the ground before the fire. The lire is built on the ground 

 in the middle of the kitchen, the smoke escapmg through 

 a hole in the roof. The seats in the kitchen aremvariably 

 horses' skvills. A Goucher wiU not sit in a chair, in fact 

 they prefer to squa.t on their heels rather than sit on to 

 a^ny thing. 



If the estancia has more than one flock of sheep they 

 are put out at what are called puestos, which are sraail 

 straw huts with a large wire fence corral attached. Each 

 flock of sheep is carefvdly looked after by a shepherd on 

 horseback. The shepherds are generally married men, 

 and live in their puestos for mouths without seemg any 

 one but the manager and tlie man who brings them a, frosli 

 hoi"S8 every day. They are after tlieir sheep from eaj'ly 

 morning until nearly night, and on their vigilance a-Jid 

 care depends very largely the success of the estancia. 

 Especially in lambing season do they have to pay strict 

 attention to their flocks. We had 5,000 sheep which were 

 divided into six flocks. Sheep do not have that strong in- 

 stinct that cattle and horses have of returning to then- 

 carencia, or place of their birth, or where they have been 

 accustomed to graze, for a long time, but will go and .stay 

 where they are driven. On one occasion we had a terrible 

 di'ought, all the water on the place giving out except one 

 small pond. I kept two men on guard day and night over 

 this pond to keep the cattle and horses out of it. This was 

 a difficult job, as the animals were all on the move for 

 water. Our horses and cattle had all gone (except the 

 drove of broken horses vidiich we kept lierded for use) of 

 their own accord, to a la rgi-, lake more than 30 miles ott". 

 but the sheep showed no inclination to seek water, and all 

 the flocks had to be driven to the pond every other day. 

 The cattle and horses nearly all returned as soon as there 

 was an abundance of water, and we did not lose more 

 than 175 head. The \\'ater in our pond got so bad a^t lavSt 

 that I made every pre paration to move the sheep (over 

 5,000) to where there was water. But fortunatelj^ for us 

 the night before we started a thunder storm passed over a 

 strip of country about a mile wide, and rain enough fell 

 to fill many little lagoons, and we were saved. In a week's 

 time heavy rains had set in and aroyas that had been di-y 

 for six months were running bank full, which meant in 

 many places 30ft. of water. 



Sheep have many curious ways, and the only time they 

 are quiet is during the middle of the day in clear hot 

 weather from 11 to 2 o'clock. During this time they hud- 

 dle close together, and only those that are unfortunate 

 enough to be on the outside are restless. They will feed 

 very rapidly into a^ cool breeze, traveling miles if not 

 headed, and giving considei'able trouble. They travel be- 

 fore a storm, and if it is severe they are very hard to stop. 

 During one very bad storm just after shearing we lost over 

 600 sheep. I gave orders not to let them out, on the morn- 

 ing of the storm, which continued during that day and 

 night and the next day. On the second day I made a tour 

 of inspection to all the puestos, and found the sheep were 

 dying in the corrals from hunger and exposure. I sent an 

 extra man to each flock and ordered the sheep to be let 

 out at noon. As soon as the corral gates were opened they 

 dashed through them and out into the pampas. The men 

 had orders not to try to stop them, but simply to check 

 their run, and round them up at night as near home as 

 possible. Their track fronr each corral could be followed 

 by the dead and dying sheep on the ground. We skinned 

 600 after this storm, and we got off much better than some 

 of our neighbors. 



During the lambing time the sheep are a great deal of 

 trouble, for many ewes will leave their lainbs as soon as 

 bom. The two shepherds that are constantly with each 



flock during this period watch caret tdly, and as soon as they 

 see a ewe leave her lamb they lasso her, tie her out and 

 put tlie lamb by her. It not infrequently haj>pens that 

 they do not get the right lamb, in which case the ewe 

 I'arely takes it. If tliis should happen the lamb is brought 

 to the main house and nursed from a bottle. If it Hves it 

 never becomes a fine sheep, but is pot-bellied and weak, 

 and is the first to succumb in a storm. 



The sheep are counted once a week and thoroughly 

 examined by the manager, for cases of hoof rot or mag- 

 gott\' sores; and if any cases are discovered they are 

 treated at once with carbolic acid or calomel. The sores 

 are caused by a grass called flechillo, Avhich has an arrow 

 point and twisted stalk. It works its w-ay into the sheep 

 and causes a small sore, the flies blow the raw spot and 

 in a short time, if the sheep is not doctored, the sore wfll 

 spread and kill the sheep. 



" Sheep are very rapid feeders at all times, and the reason 

 they get over so much ground is because they are very 

 greedy and each one is trying to work ahead of his neigh- 

 bor to get better gi-ass. On the pampas the hoofs of the 

 sheep have to be trimmed frequently, there being no 

 stones to AVeat them they gfo\V very long and curl up 

 like high Dutch skates," retarding the animal's pl'ogress 

 considerably. The lambs wheii a w^eek old are very play- 

 ful, frequently jumping over the backs of the ewes and 

 cutting many capers. The ewes recognize their Iambs by 

 smell, and it is interesting to watch them pick out their 

 lambs after they have been shut up in the evening. In 

 driving from one thousand to twelve hundred sheep, with 

 six to eight hundred lambs, into a corral they get badly 

 separated, and there is a tremendous bleating for a while. 

 An old ewe will stand in one place and bleat, the lambs 

 that are looking for their mothers will run to her. She 

 smells each one as it comes, and if it is not the right one 

 she butts it off and it rmis to another until it finds the 

 right one. When it finds its mother all is serene, it par- 

 takes freely of the fluid provided for its .sustenance and 

 in a few minutes they are curled up together for their 

 night's rest. 



The sheep are shorn once a year in September or 

 October, The shearing is done by companies of men, 

 women and children, who travel from place to place 

 shearing all the sheep on an estancia before leaving for 

 another. They come with their carts and tents and camp 

 out near the main btuldings. The flocks are all brought 

 to the estancia house to be shorn and are driven, a flock 

 at a time, into a large temporal corral. From the large 

 one they are put in small points into a smaller one. Here 

 each sheep is caught and bj^ a dextrous txip thrown upon 

 its back. Its fore and hind leg's are fastened together and 

 it is lifted on to a hoi-sehido, wherfe the shearer takes it. 

 .\ll hands shear, and each one who brings a fleece to the 

 tyer's table gets a check that represents six cents. The 

 most expert shearer wiU shear 100 sheep in a day. There 

 are generally about forty persons in a shearing gang, 

 most of whom can shear a sheep. At night during the 

 shearing season it is usual to have a dance. AU hands 

 assemble in the pateo or front yard of the house and 

 dance to the music of guitars until long after midnight. 



The cattle on an estancia require constant attention, 

 especially if they have been recently brought fi-om a dis- 

 tance, as" they are all the time working back to their 

 carencia. The corral fol' shutting up cattle is made very 

 large and veiy strong. It is constructed by digging a 

 deep ditch and planting high posts close together in it, mid 

 is strengthened by having poles lashed across the posts 

 about fom- feet from the ground. It is only used in brand- 

 ing time or for the pul'pose of shutting up points of cattle 

 when they are first bfought on the estancia. These cattle 

 are very easily frightened and will stami^ede without a 

 moment's notice. Ofie bright moonlight night while 

 helping watch a vel'y obsti'cperous point we liad corraled, 



1 saw them get into a terrilile state of excitement. It Avas 



2 o'clock A. M. and everything was as still as death. AU 

 at once eveiy animal seemed to sprmg to its feet, and 

 surge and jam, first against one side, then the other. The 

 corral bent and. creaked, but fortimately held, and after 

 shouting, talking and singing to them they became quiet. 

 At the first intimation of a stampede Ave all sprang into 

 om- saddles, and I with two others took our place at the 

 bai-s.of the corral. Just as Ave got there ^ve saw a small 

 white pig run out, wluch no doubt had been the cause of 

 frightening the cattle. If they had not been corraled Ave 

 would Iiave had a Avild night ride, and might not ha,ve 

 rounded them ii)> until we had gone many miles. 



The vacaros are constantly riding out toward the bound- 

 aries of the estancia and driving back cattle that are in- 

 clined to wander too far from home. Twice a year or 

 oftener if necessaiy the cattle are driven in and rounded 

 up on Avhat is called the rodeo, Avhich is a high point of 

 land, near the cattle ranch. The cattle to be sold are cut 

 out at this time and are counted. The rounding up is 

 always a time of excitement, and men from near by 

 places come in to help. When the cattle are to be 

 branded they are driA^en into the corral several hundjred at 

 a time. It is at this time that tlie gaucho shows his dex- 

 terity with the lasso and his wonderfifl horsemanship. A 

 wild'and vicious young buU will be driven out of the cor- 

 ral and immediately start on a dead run for liberty. He 

 will proceed but a short distance before he is brought up 

 by a lasso tightening around his hindlegs and another 

 over his horns. These puUing in opposite directions lay 

 him flat out on his side. The hoi*ses are so trained that 

 tliey keep up a steady strain on the lasso, compelling the 

 bull to lie stiU while he is branded, his ears cut and other 

 operations performed upon him. The gaucho Avho is last 

 near him takes the lasso otf his horns and quicklv mounts 

 his horse. The animal is then free to get up, and as he 

 does so the other lasso falls otf his legs. He, thoroughly 

 infuriated, looks around for a victim, but there being no 

 one about on foot lie ruslios madly off to join his compan- 

 ions, and meditate upon tlie cruel treatment he has under- 

 gone. Throwing the lasso around the hindlegs is called 

 piealando and is only attempted by the most expert lasso- 

 ists. 



The horses used for stock purposes require very little 

 looking after. Twice a year there would be a grand driA-e, 

 and colts branded and "the tails and manes of aU adulte 

 cut. The fat mares, old staUions and defective horses 

 would then be cut out, and sold to be driven down to the 

 coast where they are kiUed for their hide and fat. We 

 had at the main ranch a corral into which eA^ery morning- 

 would be driven the broken horses from which the shep- 

 herds were supplied, and the vacaros got theii" mounts. 

 We generally corraled from 105 to 125 horses every morn- 

 ng. We had a man whose sole business was to break 



horses. He would ride out among the unbroken herds, 

 and select a young horse, Avhich he Avould proceed to cap^ 

 ture if he could. He was ahvays mounted on a splendid 

 and fleet animal, and would start off after the one he 

 wanted on a dead run. He would tliroAv his bolas Avlien 

 he thought the projDer time had come, and if dextrously 

 done and the horse's hindlegs were entangled in them, he 

 Avould soon have the lasso over his head and his captivity 

 insured. But if his bolas feU short of the mark, and he 

 had to atop 8md pick them up there was no hqpe of kb 

 again capturing that liofse; 



The horse breaker is called a domador and his business 

 is to keep the est^mcia supplied Avith (so-called) broken 

 horses. When he captures an unbroken horse (mares 

 ncA^er being used for Avork purposes) he secures it to a 

 post with a short halter strap. The poor bmte is left tied 

 without food or water for tAventy-four hours, at the end 

 of A\^hicli period the domador jiroceeds to give him his 

 first lesson. He gets a circingle around the horse's body 

 and a rawhide thong in his mouth in place of a bit. All 

 this is accomplished Avith more or less difficulty, accord- 

 ing to the disposition of tlie horse. Frequentlj* they liaA-e 

 to be throAvn down to get the circingle around them and 

 the thong in their moUths. When the domador is readj- 

 to moimt he has his assistant hold the horse as best he can 

 whUe he, Avith a dextrous A'ault, lands squaielj' on the 

 animal's back. The assistant immediately lets go and the 

 circus begins. Such plunging, rearing and bucking is 

 never seen in this country. Unless the horse rears uii and 

 faJls over backwards, or falls doAvn in some way, the 

 domador remains calmly seated on his back. As the 

 plunges and corcoveandos cease in a measure from ex- 

 haustion, his breaker plies Ms cruel rebenque, made Avith 

 a broad lash of rawhide and a short, loaded handle, caus- 

 ing the horse to leap and run in all directions, generally 

 ending in a bolt and run far away axross the plain. The 

 domador always succeeds in bring the horse liack, but in 

 a terribly used up condition. He is tetliered out near 

 AA'ater and where there is plenty of grass and aUoAved a 

 day or two of rest, AvhUe one of his unfortunate com- 

 panions is put through the same course of sprouts. 



After his third or fourth lesson he is called a redamon, 

 and. is put with a tropiUo, or small herd, of horses. These 

 ti-opillos are formed as follows: An old brood mare that 

 has been partially broken or handled until she is tame 

 is used as a collar mare, and each redamon. as he is 

 handed over by the breaker is coupled to this mare with a 

 broad raAvhide collar, both of their forefeet being liobbled. 

 He is left coupled in thisAA'ayforaAveekaiid tlieii released. 

 He Avill never after this leave the mare, tieiierally the 

 tropiUos number 10 horees to each mare. In making a 

 long journey the tropiUo is-diwen ahead of tlie riders, and 

 as the ridden horse gets tired he is let go and a frewh one 

 taken. The freed horse will immediately begin to Avoik 

 his Avay back lioine, and when the party returns he Avill 

 invariably be found by his old mare, who is left behind on 

 such occasions. These horses Avill traA^el more than a hun- 

 dred miles back to their carencia. 



The only food sujjplied the men by the estancia is meat, 

 principally beef, as they do not care fot mutton. They 

 are very fond of yuung horse meat, but as it is difficult to 

 catch tills • game"' do not get much of it. They take lal'ge 

 quantities of mate, A\hich is made from a shtnib called 

 yerba that comes from the proAonce of Uruguay. A 

 gourd is used to serve the mate in, and it is made by potir- 

 ing boiling Avater on the yerba. Avhich is packed in the 

 gourd around a metal tube Avhicli has a perforated bulb 

 on the end. Tlie gourd is passed around among those as- 

 sembled and eacli takes a suck in turn. 



All hands on an estancia get up early, at least an hour 

 before dayliglit. Avliich means about 3 A. M, mcst tjf the 

 year. A cliurasco. AvJiich is a thin slice of beef toasted 

 before the lire, and a mate, are taken Viy each of the men. 

 Then one of them takes the tethered ho»-se and gties after 

 the tropillos of work horses. These- are driven iu the cor- 

 ral, and each man selects a horse for liunself, Avhic'h he 

 lassos and bri<:lles and saddles, ilost of the liorses start oflf 

 bucking, which tliey keep up until tired, lait after they 

 liaA^e had their buck they become quiet and rr;ictable for 

 the rest of the day. Each man knoAvs Avluit he has to do, 

 and by sunrise all are performing their duties. At 8 to 9 

 o'clock those that can come in to breakfast, Avhicii consists 

 of either a roast or stew of beef, Avith perhaps a little 

 farma or coarse arrowroot and mate. In the hottest 

 weather all hands take a siesta of two or three hc)urs in 

 the middle of the day. All animated nature seems to be 

 at rest during this time, cattle, sheep, horses, birds and 

 insects (^except the fleas) take their siesta. 



Oxen are used almost altogether for draAving the carts 

 of Entre Rios, The yoke used is a bar lashed behind their 

 horns. The carts axe large lumbering aft'airs, not a nail 

 or piece of metal of any kind being used in their construc- 

 tion. The axles are never greased and the AA'heels keep 

 up an aAvful screeching. A caravan of five or six ox 

 carts can be heard several miles at night. Fom' to eight 

 oxen are yoked to ea,ch cart. Breakmg oxen is a very 

 exciting operation. The largest and strongest looking- 

 steer is selected for the purpose. He is cut out of the 

 herd and driven to near the ox cart. Here he is lassoed 

 and thrown down, and the cart pulled over him, so that 

 when the yoke is tied to his horns the tongue AviU be 

 along-side of him. At the other end of the yoke is fastened 

 a tame old ox. As soon as the lassos are taken off the 

 Avild steer he jumps up, and, of course, plunges and tears 

 around tremendously, but his companion holds him so he 

 cannot run. After the ox is someAvhat tired two more 

 yoke are fastened to the end of the tongue and the wild 

 one is compelled, to go Avith the cart. The tame ox on 

 the other side of the yoke keeps him from running olf to 

 one side and the lead oxen drag him along A\ hether he 

 wants to go or not. It takes a good many lessons to 

 break a steer so he can be relied on. 



A Deer on Conanicut Island. 



Newport, R. I. — In your issue of Jan. 5 the article on 

 'Cape Cod Deer" reminded me of something quite pecu- 

 liar that happened about Christnms. On Conanicut Island, 

 Avliich is just opposite NeAvport, a man on his way to the 

 ferry saw a deer about three or four years old -i;valking 

 right across the road. On his approach the deer took 

 fright and ran aAvay. Several have been after him but no 

 one has been able to find him. The queer part of the 

 thing-is tkat Conanicut is an island about three miles long 

 and one-kalf to three-quartei-a of a mUe Avide, and how is 

 it that he ever got tnere, as nobody has ever seen one 

 there bef o?ef S&ybe some of yom" readers could answer 

 my question. Triangle. 



