The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-08-26
THE GUANCEiE.
From Arago's Narrative of Capt. Freycinet's
Voyage roundthc World.

Oyas,c round inc W Oiiu
"From his youth the Glanche is nurscd
in ideas Of independence and activity. The
exercise which he loves best is riding, and
he piqucs himself on his skill in breaking in
his steed. The plains through which he
wanelcrs, feed an immense quantity Of wild
horses and mules. Along with the favoritc
weapon, fathers give their sons lessons OF
skill and intrepidity. Mounted on their well
trained courscrs, they dart Oh troop of wild
horses, the iaS$o isthrown and one is caught;
tho others gallop off, and the captive, full of
mpatience, turns to recover his liberty,
which is lost forever. The Guanche is al
ready dismounted; whirls another iuaso
round him, which serves to strengthen the
first, and throws it with skill round the legs
of the captive, who falls and must bear his
conqueror. Without stirrups or bride, mere
ly with spurs and words of command, the
Guanche masters the impatient animal, which
paws the ground and darts away like fash
of lightning. He stops; indignant at his
burthen, he prances and rolls in the dust,
and the Guanche rolls along with him. De-
ceived in his expectation, he gets up hcrcely,
darts off again, and feels the mcrcilcss spur
till he is quite furious. He stops again, and
looks round Tor some danger to tcrrify his
adversary; he hastens to it, travcrscs rocks,
clears precipices, and swims the streams
At length, worn out with fatigue, he falls
and submits to the bride. But it is not G.
nough that he becomes obcdient, and trans
ports his master from one country to another,
he must also brave the same dangers with
him, and second him i'll his boldest attacks.
"Almost every animal takes to flight at
the mere sight of tiger; and his appear
ance has something in it peculiarly terrific to
the horse. Yet is this animal here brought
to look his foe in the face, and not to run off
till certain signal is given.
"The Guanohc sets out without the small
est supply Of provisions immense barren
plains are before him, which only produce
few stalks, that serve for the nourishmcnt OF
cattle. When the Guanche is hungry, he
seeks after, and soon finds, innumcrablc
herds of wild horses he catches one Of these
animals, throws him down, cuts off piece OF
his flesh with his knife, and restores him to
liberty. He qucnchcs his thirst at a spring,
and then begins his chase after wild beasts.
He calls alond for them. and spurs on his
horse towards the monster he intends for a
victim. The hoarsc roar of the tigeri is heard
= there he stands, and a terrible combat be-
gins. 1t is not force, but skill, which con-
quers. The Guanche whirls his ia@so he
speaks, he calls aloud, he is ready for his
enemy. His terrible enemy, with his belly
almost touching the ground, is astonished to
sec any being awaiting his approach, and
provoking him; his eyes roll furiousy, he
opens his vast jaws still red with the blood
of his last victim; and indignant at finding
an ohhoacnt, he seeks with his eye for the
place on which he means to spring. The
Guanchc is all the time tranquil, firm
and prudent, governing his astonished, but
obcdient courser with his feet he makes
him retreat without turning his face from the
tiger, who follows him step by step, watch
ing for false movement. The Guanche
knows this he makes his horse rear; the
| tiger darts forward and is caught, the horse
springs away on his hind legs with all his
power, dragging the icroclous beast after him.
The Guanche turns round at times, and If his
iasao has caught only the neck, he tiings Sc
cond, which binds the legs: he is now the
conqueror. He edismounts, arms himself with
Tic two knives from his boots,* and his VIC
tim expires. Having finished his days work,
he returns to c-Nideo, sells the skin of
the animal he has killed; cal'esses his horse,
and hastcns to seek new dangers.
"You may easily suppose, however skill
full these astonishing people may be, that the
irregular spring of such an enemy as the IL
ger may often enable HIM to escape the ias-
so, and compel the Guanche to engage in an
other species of combat more dangerous than
the former.-In such cases the horse plays
the principal part, though the man makes
the attack. When it happens that the iasSo
| has missed, which can assure you is very
seldom, the Guanche arms himself with his
two knives, and defends himself very coura-
geously. The horse sees the danger of his