The Arkansas advocate., 1834-04-11
TALES OF CHARACTER Sz COUNTRY.
 NO. x. EWritten for the Advocate.
EContinued.l

aHeady mentioned commenced their pro- gress towards the buffalo. By taking ad- vantage of the inequalities of the ground, and keeping close to the river, they were able to approach within about four hundred yards of them without being obserYed.- They then commenced advancing sIpon their hands and knees, moving very slowly. and stopping occasionally, so as not 10 ex- cite suspicion. Now and then an old bull would lift his head, and look suspiciously at them, but soon satisfied that there was no danger, he always returned to his food. The bulls, as IS often the case, were in the front, and the hunters were obliged to de- ] lay until the cows should come up-the lat ter being, in autumn, by far the best food. I An accident, however, soon occurred that l favored their plan-for an. unlucky calf straying towards them was surrounded by ] at least dozen large white wolves. It raised piteous cry as they commenced han-stringing Ii, and a number of cows came rushing to the rescue. All the four discharged their guns and enc or two of the i animals were. wounded-but as the hunters were out of their sight, and made no noise, titS tiOSit QlSDQSIuoti l) IlEts--- Another discharge followed, and one or two fell-and several of the old bulls came gruntng about with great curiosity-but so soon as one of them smelt the blood of the fallen animals, he tossed his head high in the air and started off i'll great hurry, as though lie supposed that he might be apt to get himself into trouble by reinaining.- The whole herd followed-and just then the two Spaniards and the PueJto rushed out upon them, on horseback, armed each with their bows and arrows, and the latter with long, slender lance, with staff about twelve feet in length.
 When the buffalo saw these formidable 1 enemies close upon them, their exertions fer escape were redouhled. The COWS shot ahead, and tho bulls, always slower. fell in the rear--and, passing them by, the hun ters urged their horses close alongside oE the COWS. The bulls immediately scattef- l ed in every direction over the plain, and Jeff i a clear field for the battle. As each hunter rode up within three or four feet of his vic 1 tim he drew his bow to the arrowhead, and without watching its success. sped on aifer another. The PsseAlo in particular, Mi.ose horse seemed perfectly trainedto the sport, managing him by the pressure of his legs and the sway of his body, without touching the bridle, after striking down one buffalo with his lance, and finding some difficulty in extricating 1t, betook himself to his bow, and at his first shot his arrow passed thro' his victim and fell out on the other side Five or six buffalo were killed Ill this way, and several wounded-and the herd was now fleeing III every direction. The Amer jeans still stood on the bank of the river, watching the chace, when the Pueblo came directly towards them, in full run after fine COW. As he approached the party, Bill cried out--ss Loeato. .Naauet-iasato. - l To sling his bow over his shoulder and un- coil long and smooth hair rope from the 1 front of his saddle, was with the agile in- dian the work of not more than a minute then gathering 1t into two or three coils, aud holding the remainder of 1t in his left hand, he gave his horse the spur. When within about ten feet of his victim, he com menced whirling the rope about his head, and then launching ii through the air, t fell directly on the horns of the animal. At the moment it fell, his horse obedient to his motions sprang to the left, and darted ahead of the buffalo on that side, bringing the rope from her horns round her hind legs, and
 tumbling her violently upon the ground
 With one jerk of the rope he extrlcated 1t from her horns and she rose again. The
 manoauvre was repeated several times
 until the animal stood still and absolutely refused to stir. He then despatched her
 with single arrow.
 The dexterity of the Spaniards and some
 of the Indians in such matters IS truly as- tonishing. It is no uncommon thing for them to lay dollar on the ground, and re- tiring to the distance of hundred and fifty wards, put their horse in swift gallop, and pick up the dollar as they pass. have heard many anecdotes of their skill, Tn eve " thing relating to horsemanship-and per-
 haps the two following may not be nnlnter- estino. The best horseman and tazero
 that I ever saw, is Yiscara, the Command ant of New Mexico. He is a native of
 some State south of Chihuahua, and has
 one or two brothers. One. of them Is, | 1 have heard, even more skilful than the Co lonel. his brother. This man was return-
 inc. some years ago, from Durango to New
 Mexico, and stopped one evening at cor,
 gnl full of unbrolSen horses. Several
 Standards were standing around the eo'Tdt l Cor inclosure,) roping the horses and taking them out, to break them for riding. He
 entered into conversation with them. ana
 thev inquired where he lived. He sald' i'll
 New Mexico. Now, the inhabitants of
 inc lower and western country look on the
 New Mexicans as inferior to themselves in and in frilfh they are sO--