THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE 



167 



made to wheel round the post of a veranda with great speed, 

 but at so equal a distance, that the rider, with outstretched 

 arm, all the while kept one finger rubbing the post. Then 

 making a demi-volte in the air, with the other arm out- 

 stretched in a like manner, he wheeled round, with aston- 

 ishing force, in an opposite direction. 



Such a horse is well broken; and although this at first 

 may appear useless, it is far otherwise. It is only carrying 

 that which is daily necessary into perfection. When a bul- 

 lock is checked and caught by the lazo, it will sometimes 

 gallop round and round in a circle, and the horse being 

 alarmed at the great strain, if not well broken, will not 

 readily turn like the pivot of a wheel. In consequence many 

 men have been killed; for if the lazo once takes a twist 

 round a man's body, it will instantly, from the power of the 

 two opposed animals, almost cut him in twain. On the 

 same principle the races are managed; the course is only 

 two or three hundred yards long, the wish being to have 

 horses that can make a rapid dash. The racehorses are 

 trained not only to stand with their hoofs touching a line, 

 but to draw all four feet together, so as at the first spring 

 to bring into play the full action of the hind-quarters. In 

 Chile I was told an anecdote, which I believe was true; and 

 it offers a good illustration of the use of a well-broken ani- 

 mal. A respectable man riding one day met two others, one 

 of whom was mounted on a horse, which he knew to have 

 been stolen from himself. He challenged them; they an- 

 swered him by drawing their sabres and giving chase. The 

 man, on his good and fleet beast, kept just ahead: as he 

 passed a thick bush he wheeled round it, and brought up 

 his horse to a dead check. The pursuers were obliged to 

 shoot on one side and ahead. Then instantly dashing on, 

 right behind them, he buried his knife in the back of one, 

 wounded the other, recovered his horse from the dying 

 robber, and rode home. For these feats of horsemanship 

 two things are necessary : a most severe bit, like the Mame- 

 luke, the power of which, though seldom used, the horse 

 knows full well; and large blunt spurs, that can be applied 

 either as a mere touch, or as an instrument of extreme pain. 

 I conceive that with English spurs, the slightest touch of 



