220 
.1. C. MYERS, SR. 
GAUCHO OF SPANISH REPUBLICS OF AMERICA, 
The Cultur-Uistorische Analecta , in Prof. Falke’s Jahr- 
buceher, 1880, contains the following description of a G-aucho by 
O. Peregrinus: 
The Gaucho of the Spanish Republics of America is one of the 
most interesting tribes of the human race. His peculiarities are 
generally misrepresented. The Gaucho is said to be a nomadic 
shepherd or thieving inhabitant of the uncultivated parts of the 
pampas. However, he is decidedly better than his reputation. 
A proverb of America says: “ He is born, lives and dies on his 
horse,” and in certain respects it is perfectly true. The recardo, 
a saddle composed of blankets, hides, bolsters and straps, very 
often forms his dwelling, for it serves him, as well as his family, 
who is likewise equipped with horse and saddle, as a bed, also as 
a protection against the cold and rain. 
He is the best rider in the world, although he has no knowl¬ 
edge of the European art of horsemanship; he is not even ac¬ 
quainted with the trot. The Gaucho alone is able to travel over 
15 German miles daily, for four or five successive days, upon the 
same mean looking horse, without he or his animal showing any 
signs of fatigue. 
On these journeys he contents himself with a piece of dried 
meat, and the horse with dried grass or rather the roots of the 
pampas. The use of water is also limited. According to his 
idea, the Gaucho is a free man, for he possesses such an impulse 
for independence that he even despises a secure dwelling. Now 
he is found assisting upon this estanzia in marking the animals 
with a red hot iron ; then upon another, engaged in shearing the 
sheep; and again, accompanying a great transport of cattle, etc. 
Moreover, his life revolves upon three things: His horse, his 
sweetheart, and the free enjoyment of liquor ; when, however, the 
last is enjoyed, an opponent is found and a duel indulged in, very 
often terminating fatally, in which case he is exiled from his na¬ 
tive land for years. 
The lasso is a braided strap of raw leather, with a loop. The 
