State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-09-26
DRIVING PRAIRIE CATTLE OVER
RIVERS

/ "But of all the strange things to be met
with, in that flat country, which murders
all romance. there is not more stirring
4 sight than that of driving herd of prairie
cattle over the river. The account should
be written in German, for there are no
words in the English language TO give an
impression of the believing and neighng,
and shouting, and beating, and bawling,
and tranping, and dust, and confusion, and
goring, and squirting - tie pe-meIl, drown
ing and ing There is nothing like it
in the civilized world. In the first place
you must trighten the cattle half to death,
before they will take to the water, where
the river is more than a mile over; and 10
force them in, all the noises that Indians,
and negroes, and Spanlards, and Crackers
can make, OH nagS spurred to their utmost,
must be made, ere the cattle arc started
in drove over tile barrens. On they 90,
with blue, staring, fiery eyes, and snorting
distcnded Notwithstanding with terror,
and around and above now here, and
anon far over the whUrtlebcrry plain, they
scour lis if they thought death, he'll, and
destruction were in their rear. The Indian
on his small horses back, throws wide out
his legs and arms, and draw $ them i'll again,
and ms one spur, with n shank three inches
long, and cruel rowel, cores his 'tackcy's'
flank, and over fallen pine logs lie leaps !;
and when lie happens to meet with hole
III which tree once stood, over his horses
head he tunbles, but up lie gets again, aud
on he goes harder than ever. In this man
ncr, every ono does his best, and Wo betide
the aAlnlal that cannot run rs fast as horse
with Il man ON his back Whack .-whackl
--whack-he takes it, all along his loins,
and with Il below he dashes forward,
frightening those ahead of him ten times
more, until at last their heads are turned
towards the river, and their tormeutors-
having an eye on some poles, or fallen trees,
upon the shore which the cattle cannot pass
rush down upon them and head over
heels they are forced into the water some
under, and some over others; and up they
will come, with eyes staring for sirangula-
ton, suorllng the water from their nostrils ;
some dying, and some dCad-While the
great body swim round and round in q
thousand circles, and III making two miles,
as they do at Palutka,' which is the Indian
for cow-lord, they swim ut least five but
they do not 60 peaccably, even when in the
water for canoes, dogs, and Indians are
after them-some swimming and some
padding and whenever the beasts turn
their noses to go back 10 the shore whence
they started, most cruel blows are given
Them by the Spaniards in the boats, with
their paddles; while the Indians and no.
groes who swim, dash water in their eyes,
and dogs snap at their lips, and thus they
keep on, until every rogue who has any
thing TO do in the business, is almost latigu-
ed to DEATH and several head of cattle are
drowned. This is the primitive mode for
ferrying cattle over rivers and those who
have seen it practised will appreciate the
advantage of good ferry boats. In fact,
there is nothing like wild country to
make us feel the advantages of civilization,
and to be contented under almost any cir
cumstances, so far as the conveniences of
life arc concerned"