TRAVELS IN THE CALIFORNIAS. 
34/ 
“ Early in the autumn, a rodea is appointed by the rancheros 
(farmers), to unite in collecting their cattle together for the 
purpose of deciding to whom they belong. At this meeting, 
all the cattle of the settlement are gathered into immense 
corals or pens, and the ears of each cow having been marked 
by a peculiar cut, called serial , ownership of the calf follow¬ 
ing her, is easily made apparent, by placing a similar serial 
on its ear. It is not considered safe to brand the calf with a 
hot iron till it is a year old, and the reason of putting on the 
serial , is that the owner may know his calf in case it is 
weaned before it is a year old. In the spring, yearling calves 
are collected by an appointed rodea of cattle. The owners 
of the calves recognizing them by the serial , separate them, 
and brand with a hot iron the owner’s hierro, or legal mark, 
on the hip. Every stock-breeder has three marks for his 
cattle, each of which must be recorded at the Alcalde’s 
office,^ and a fac-simile of it placed on the books, which ren¬ 
ders it legal. No two persons can have the same marks. 
Forging of the mark is severely punished. Afterwards, when¬ 
ever a sale is made of either a live animal or a hide, it is not 
legal unless the owner brands the animal or hide on the 
shoulder, with a smaller iron than the hierro , which is called 
the ‘ vent a? indicating sale. If a person buys an animal or 
hide without having it first branded with the c venta ,’ 
the former owner, if inclined to be rascally, can reclaim his 
property.” 
t 
