Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-08-14
Tanning Wild Horses.


Iuero. One day party of eight or ten Of
the natives, mounted on well disciplined
steeds, aud headed by the Englshman,
went out on the campos for this purpose -
Perched amid the branches of a tall Tree,
| had an extensive view Of the grassy plain,
aud was able distinctly to observe all the
movements of the equestrians.
The horsemen were riding rapidly in the
direction of a small grove, when suddenly
a troop of forty or fifty of the wild crea-
lures emerged from behind it, and bounded
away with astonishing velocity over the
meadow. a spirited chase was now com
menced by the mountain natives, who strain
ed their swift animals to their greatest ca
pacity never did | witness a more intense
ly exciting spectacle than the one which
was now before me- The names and tails
of the horses were flying wildly in the air,
while mass of hools were rising and fall
ing with rapldity which showed how tight
y strung were the muscles of the animals
To my surprise the Englishman kept the
lead, and was obviously gaining upon the
quick footed iugitiyes. Coming up with
them, he seized his lasso, aud began to
swing 1t around his head, gradually enarg-
ing the circles by permitting the smooth
rope to slip gently through his fingers.
BY sudden motion, at the same instant
plunglng the spur into his charger, in order
to increase his speed, il possible, he dashed
quickly forward, aud hurled his asso with
unerrng skill around the neck OF The fore
most horse. The herd were now thrown
into panic, and wheeling around in their
course, they were completely surrounded by
their pursuers. Several were lassued by
the natives, aud the remainder kept togeth-
er by two or three of the horsemen, who
were continually circlng around them not
one escaped, and ere an hour had elapsed,
they were driven safely into one of the pens
at Caiueiro, neighlng loudly, and their
mouths covered with creamy foam. The
best horses being selected from the herd
and properly secured, the others were again
turned at large.
The mode adopted by the natives, of
breaking them, cannot be styled by any 9TH
er term than that of barharous; yet 1t is so
eftcacious that the poor animals are rend-
cred perfectly docie and manageable in the
course Of two or three days.
One afternoon an opportunity was afford
ed me of Witnessing the operation In the
largest enclosure proudly stood one OF the
majestic animals, picking up the earth with
his hoois, and shaking the heavy name on
his finely curved neck, while his bright eyes
glanced iearfully around him, and his loud
laughing voice ringing wildly IN the quiet
air, seemed TO be calling On his far-of COM
panions for relief
The fiery creature was held by strong
halter, at least fifteen feet IN length man
ned by three of the muscular and bare-chest-
ed natives. Soon moose was thrown a.
round his neck by couple of powerful
blacks, stationed on the opposite side of the
enclosure. They then pulled with all their
strength one way, while those who had hold
OF the halter eXerted themselves vehement
ly in the contrary direction. The object
evidently was to effect partial slrangulauon,
IN order that they might weaken aud tenn
porarly overcome the wonderful power of
the spirited creature
Violent were the punges Of the captive
s,eed, as he sought IN VAIN, by superhuman
exertons, to free himself from the grasp of
his cruel tormentors, who stood like heart
less demons around him His terrific leaps
only served to draw the cord tighter aud
tighter about his neck his breathing be-
came more aud more difficult, and might
have been heard at the distance Of fur
long. His heart beat as If II would burst
from his heaying bosom, aud his VEINS stood
out in ridges along his quyerlng flesh. AT
: last, overwhelmed with the intensity of his
agony, aud powerless with suflocaton, he
fell aud for an instant lay without sense OF
motion upon the ground. The moose was
Immediately loosed about his neck, and
shortly returning consciousness began 20
: light his glazed eyes-lhe fresh air swelIed
his nostrIls, and his tremendous chest rose
aud fell like the pillows of the sea Al the
/ expiration Of fifteen minutes he was once
more on his feet, but how different from the
magnificent animal who had stood, in his
natives pride and dignity, paving that san
1 dy soil an hour before Weak-hardly
able to stand his head dropping, aud hl,
! eyes without ray, he looked like mIsera-
r bic spectre of his former self-like a mon
= arch dragged from his throne, who has been
sconed al 10y those whom he had before de-
spised, and forced 10 be a wretched and mis-
z cradle slave.
: The persecution of the horse was now
/ by no means concluded. As soon as he
had recovered somewhat from his exhaus-
ton, he was mounted by a naked Indian,
2 who was rewarded for his lemerIly by being
5 thrown to a considerable distance over the
head OF the animal The native, however
: was but liiile hurt, aud IN few moment:
! again resumed his dangerous seat. This
time he kept his place, Notwithstanding the
= vast efforts of the animal to shake him off
in fact the horse and his rider being nearly
! of the same color, brought viyidly to my
D mind the remembrance of an ancient Cen
1 taur.
a The animal was now held tightly by a
long rope, and forced to run round and
round in a circle. Whenever he Tagged,
1 OF manifested the slightest obsiinacy, na'
e tive, with heavily knolted cord swinging
: around hi head, would give him terrible
blow on b 5 tanks, the pain Of which wa'