SOUTH AMERICAN HORSES. 
619 
those of Peru, both in appearance, strength, and action : they are 
generally smaller than the English horse, and have a very heavy 
appearance, approaching to something like the dray horses used 
with us; they are bony, and universally possess a property (highly 
esteemed by the Chilians), a broad chest. I considered them 
somewhat vicious, though the “ Guasos” pride themselves on 
being good trainers. They have a custom of training all first-rate 
horses to jump off at the time of mounting, and with persons un- 
accustomed to this, accidents often occur, and to which I have, on 
many occasions, been an eye-witness. I cannot give any reason for 
this custom ; they are very tender-mouthed, from the very severe 
bit used in the country, and which you may probably have seen or 
heard speak of ; so much so, that a horse at the height of his 
speed can be checked with the little finger. It is a most beautiful 
sight to see the quickness with which they obey the reins, the 
slightest check of which brings them completely on their haunches. 
They never commence training them until four years of age and 
upwards, and to this circumstance I attribute their lasting qua- 
lities. The journey between Santiago and the Port of Valparaiso, 
a distance of thirty-three leagues, over an indifferent road, with 
two very high mountains to pass, is daily performed on one horse 
in ten to twelve hours. During my stay in Chili, the “ Mary 
Ann,” a large East India ship, sailed from Talcalmano (a port in 
Chili to the southward of Valparaiso) for New South Wales, 
with a cargo of horses and mules, but, owing to the very tempes- 
tuous weather she encountered on the voyage, was obliged to 
throw the whole overboard, and, I believe, arrived at her destina- 
tion without a single animal on board : this is the only shipment 
from the country I ever heard of. If you should entertain any 
serious intention to possess yourself of the Chilian breed, I would 
recommend the southern parts of the country, from whence the best 
horses are always procured, say Concepcion. A most celebrated 
place for first-rate nags is Rancagna, about twenty-five leagues 
to the southward of Santiago. The price of a good horse is from 
four to six doubloons* ; but much higher prices are paid, and I 
have known as much as thirty doubloons paid for an entire horse : 
the generality are, however, “ cut,” and mares are never used for 
the saddle, the natives having a prejudice against them. Their 
daily food consists of clover, with a couple of feeds of chopped 
straw, and oats or Indian corn, and on which they can stand any 
work. 
Owing to a peculiarity they have of raising and throwing out 
their fore feet, swellings in the fetlocks are very common ; but I 
* Doubloon = 2 pistoles; a pistole = 17 shillings. 
