362 SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
dismount, wrap their lassos about the legs, and holding down 
the head to the ground, apply the hot iron to the shoulder of 
the bellowing captive. In this manner they proceed from 
day to day, until the vast herds of those estates are marked 
with their owners’ hierro. 
Another and perhaps the most interesting occurrence among 
the plantations and Missions is the annual slaughter. Every 
year after the cattle become fat by feeding on the wild clover 
and oats of that American Italy, thousands of them are 
slaughtered for their hides and tallow. And for this purpose 
they are driven into the carals, and let out in small numbers 
as required by the Cavellier butchers. The lasso is the first 
instrument used to bring the animals under control; and most 
effectual it is for that purpose. Oftentimes an hundred bullocks 
fall around the caral in an hour’s time; their skulls beaten in, 
their hides stripped off, the tallow and fat portions of the flesh 
secured, a few of the better pieces of the lean flesh torn off 
for eating and drying for the use of the Indians, and the skins 
spread upon the ground and stretched with wooden pins to 
dry. The Missions, in the days of their prosperity, killed each 
its thousands annually—some three, others five, eight, and ten 
thousand; tried out the tallow, and laid it away in vaults 
under ground, to prevent its melting, and packed their dried 
hides away in long low sheds, erected for their reception. 
All Californians bear testimony that this is a notable day 
among them. There are screams of delight in hurling a 
monster of a bull upon the ground with their lassos. There 
are untold pleasures to their brave hearts in shedding blood, 
where there are no rifle balls whistling in their ears a sugges¬ 
tion of dangers to their Castilian arteries. And more than all, 
after they’re is over, what legitimate opportunities are offered 
in the recollections of the day, to expand the periphery of 
their self-complacency; a deed which, if left undone by a 
Californian Spaniard, when possible to be performed, would 
involve the most flagrant breach of national character; a de¬ 
parture from the well-established laws of Californian glorifi- 
