The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-11-08
From the National Journal. |
THE WILD HORSE.

THE WILD HORSE.
The following sketch is from the Rev. r.
Flint's new work, " Francis Berrian," and is
descriptive ofthe innumerable hordcs OF wild
horses, which are sometimes met in the
prairies near the Rocky Mountains.
8 The day before we came in view
Of the Rocky Mountains, saw, in the
greatest perfection, that impressive,
and, to me, almost sublime spectacle,
an immense drove of wild horses, for a
long time towering round our path a.
cross the prairie had often seen
great numbers Of them before, mixed
with other animals, apparently quiet,
aad grazing like the rest. Here there
were thousands unmixed, unemployed;
their motions, if such comparison
might be allowed, as darling and as
wild as those Of humming- birds on the
flowers. The Tremendous snorts with
which the front columns of the phaIanx
made known their approach TO US,
seemed To- be their wild and energetic
way c' expressing their pity and disdain
for, the seFy;le loi Of our horses, Of
winch they appeared to be takiog sur
Fey. They were Of al! colours, mixed,
spoiled, and diversified with every hue,
from the brightest white. TO the clear
and shining black and Of every form
and structure, from he long and slender
racer, 70 those of firmer limbs and heav-
Ter mould; and of all ages, from The
curVettlng colt 10 the range of patriarch
al steeds drawn up in line, and hold
ing their high heads for survey of US
in the rear. Sometimes they curved
i their neCks. and made no more progress
team ) Isl enough to keep pace with our
adyance. Then there was a kind of
slow and walking minuet, in which they
performed various evoluions with the
precision Of the figures of country
dance. Then rapid movement shifted
the front 10 the rear. But still. 10 all
their eVolutions and movements, like
The flight Of sea fowl, their lines were
{ regular, Az fi;e from a.! indications Of
Confusion. AT times a spontaneous and
,, sudden movement toward US, almost in
: splred the apprehension of an united at
; tack upon us. After a moments adj
vance, after snort and rapid retro
1 grade movement, seemed TO testify their
) proud estimate of their wild indepen-
: dence. The infinite variety of their
rapid movements, their tampering and
, man9uvres, were of such wild and al
! most terrific character, that it required
Out d moderate stretch of fancy 10 sup.
pose them the genii of those grassy
plains ~ one period they were form
ed Tor an Immense depth in front of US
: A wheel, executed almost with the IA.
pidity oil, thought, presented them hoy.
i ering on our TANKS Then again the
cloud of dcst that developed their move
e ments CLEARED away, aud presented them
/ in our rear. They evidently operated
= as great annoyance TO the horses anc
Y mules of cur cavalcade. The frighten-
II ed movements, The increased indication:
Y of fatigue. sufficiently evidenced, with
5 their frequent neighings, what unpleas'
ant neighbors they considered their wild
S IcompatriotS 70 be. So much did our
horses appear to suffer from fatigue and
: terror in consequence of their vicinity
!, that we were thinking of some way IL
u which to drive them off; when, on 4
e sudden, 4 patient and laborious donkey
! Of the establishment. who Appeared e
: have regarded all their movements will
: philosophic indifference, pricked up hi
S long ears, and gave loud and most So
n norious bray from his vocal shells. In.
: stantly this prodigious multitude, ana
II there were thousands Of them, took
: what the Spanish call the stompado. ,
n With trampling like the noise of thun-
y der, or sill more like that Of an earth
Y quake, a noise that was absolutely APP
: palling, they took TO their heels, ant
b we're all :. few moments invisible il
# the verdant depths Of the plains, anc
q were seen by US no uore.o5