The southern press., 1851-06-25


smooth rope to slip gently through his Angers. I
i BY sudden motion, at the same instant
plunging the spur into his charger, In order 10
increase his speed, If possible, he dashed quickly
forward, and hurled his lasso with unerring sun
around the neck Of the foremost horse. ~
herd were now thrown into panic, and wheel
ing around in their course, they were Conf
pletely surrounded by their pursuers. Several
were lassoed by the natives, and the remainder
kept together by two or three of the ho5semen,
who were continually circling around them not
one escaped, and ere an hour had elapsed they
were driven safely into one of the pens at Ca
ljueiro, neighing loudly, and their mouths cover
ed 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 breakinv
them, cannot be styled by any other term tHS1
that of barbarous; yet it is so efficacious tkat
the poor animals are rendered perfectly ociIe
and manageable in the course Of two or three
days.
One afternoon an opportunity was afr "a
me of witnessing the operation. In the laro
inclosure proudly stood one Of the maieStIc
animals, kicking up the earth with his hoofs, and
shaking the heavy name on his finely curved
neck, while his bright eyes glanced feaKfully
around him, and his loud laughing voice ringing
wildly in the quiet air, seemed to be calling on
his far-off companions for relief.
| The fiery creature was held by strong hal
ter, Of at least fifteen feet in length, manned by
| three of the muscular and bare-chested natives.
Soon moose was thrown around his neck by
couple of powerful blacks stationed on the op-
posite side of the Enclosure. They then pulled
with all their strength one way, while those who
had hold of the halter exerted themselves
yehementlY in the contrary direction. The OBJ
ject evidently was to effect partial strangulat6n
ip order that they might weaken and temporarily
overcome the wonderful power of the spirited
creature.
Violent were the plunges Of the captive steed
as ne sought in vain, by superhuman exertions,
to free himself from the grasp of his cruel tor
mentors, who stood like heartless demons
around him. His terrific leaps only served to
draw the cord tighter and tighter about his neck
his breathing became more and more difficult,
and might have been heard audibly at the dis
lance Of a furlong. His heart beat as if it
would burst from his heaying bosom, and his
veins stood out in ridges along his quivering
flesh. AT last overwhelmed with the intensity
OF his agony, and powerless from suffocation,
he fell, and for an instant lay without sense or
motion upon the ground. The moose was i'm
mediately loosed about his neck, and shortly re-
turning consciousness began to light his glazed
eyes-.the fresh air sweled his nostrls, and his
tremendous chest rose and fell like the pillows
OF the sea- AT the expiration of fifteen minutes
he was once more on his feet, but how different
from the magnificent animal who had stood in
his native pride and dignity, paving that sandy
soil an hour before! Weak-hardly able to
stand-his head dropping, and his eyes without
ray, he looked like a miserable spectre of his
former sef-like a monarch dragged from his
throne, who has been scoffed at by those whom
he had before despised, and forced to be a
wretched and miserable slave! =
The persecution Of the horse was now by no
means concluded. AS soon as he had recoy-
cred somewhat from his exhaustion, he was
mounted by a naked Indian, who was rewarded
for his temerity by being thrown to consider
able distance over the head of the animal. The
native, however, was but little hurt, and in few
moments 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 wildly to my mind the re-
membrance of an ancient Centa1r.
The animal was now held tightly by long
rope, and forced to run round and round in a
circle. Whenever he tagged, or manifested the
slightest obstinacy, native, with heavily knott
ed cord swinging around his head, would give
him terrible blow on his TANKS, the pain Of
which was almost sufficient to drive him to mad
ness. Gradually he become more and more
passive, and at the end of another hour was quite
tractable.