3.Q0 
SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
dalusian Arabian steeds. His chest is broad and full, his loins 
well knit, and closely laid to the ribs, his limbs clean, slen¬ 
der, and sinewy; the embodiment of the matchless wild horse 
of a green and sunny wilderness. His gear is peculiar. The 
bridle is anything but a time-serving check upon his pro¬ 
pensities. Its demands are thoroughly peremptory, as will be 
seen by a little attention to its construction. It has a bit 
without a joint, so doubled, as to extend four or five inches 
back into the mouth, and instead of a curb, a solid iron ring 
passes through the upper part of the curved bit, and around 
the lower jaw ; so that when the rein is drawn, the doubled 
portion of the bit prying open the mouth, the iron ring acts 
with such force that the under jaw may be broken at the will 
of the rider. The saddle is made up of a number of articles ; 
as a piece of bull’s hide on the back of the horse ; on this, a 
Spanish saddle-tree lashed as tightly as an ordinary man can 
do it, and over all a grisly bear skin. The stirrups are oblong 
blocks of wood, four or five pounds weight, six inches in 
diameter one way, and three in the other, with holes in them 
through which to thrust the feet. In front, and attached to 
the stirrup-straps, are suspended round pieces of sole leather 
prettily stamped, which fall over and protect the feet from the 
prickly pear, under-brush, &c., through which it may be 
desirable to ride. 
The horse, accoutred in this way, is prepared for service. 
And the Indian who has rigged him, stands with him at the 
door waiting for the Don rider, who, after sufficient delay to 
be respectable, makes his appearance. His spurs are a 
curiosity; their weight is a pound and a half; the part hold¬ 
ing the rowel is five inches long; and the teeth of the rowel 
wheels are one and a half inches in length ! And now all 
being ready, leather breeches is released, the Don is off on a 
full gallop ; it is death or banishment for a Californian horse 
to trot. No man can ride better than one of these Dons. He 
leans forward sufficiently to give him command of his body, 
holds his rein lightly in his left hand, feeling that he is perfect 
