Mariposa Democrat., 1857-07-02
MUSTANG AND ANTELOPE HUNT.
BY THE EDITOR.

Last Thursday we left HornltoS IN company
with the Hon. William j. Howard, on visit TO
his Rancho, situated some five miles south of
this town, on Burns Creek. The rancho en-
braces within its boundaries the very beaut-
full valley of Buena Vista, through which runs
the Creek, and around which the graceful hills
of the Pelone lift their gentle slopes. Fronting
the valley on the south appears the, bold tow
er-ke front of the Court House Rock-rising
up out of the top of an oval hill and stand
ing prominent to view before the gaze of the
admiring visitor. A capacious adobe building
furnishes pleasant retreat for the attendants
on the rancho from the summers heat-while
well, at convenient distance from the house, af-
fords water of most pure and excellent quality
to satisfy the thirst Of the industrious laborer or
the passing stranger. Near the road stands a
very large Corral built Of rock taken from a
neighboring sandstone quarry, which affords
most admirable slabs for building purposes
Higher up the valley is seen the barley field,
embracing within its ditched fence some two
hundred acres of land, the soil of which readily
produces all kinds of grain and vegetables
Long before reaching the house we passed
many cavey-yards of horses, guarded by In
dians, and quietly feeding along the margin
of the stream. Stroling towards evening TO
very large garden in which every descrip-
ton of vegetables were growing, we reached
the Indian Rancheria and saw the squaws
and children busy engaged in cleaning
wheat and barley in wooden battiers. Mr..
Howard and brother have some fifty or sixty
Indians in charge on his Rancho, most of whom
have been reared under their immediate care,
and for which It seems to us he should receive
a compensation from government. The males
were absent attending to the various duties Of
the farm, and the squaws seemed to eye us
with glance of curiosity. The Indians ap-
peared healthy and contented, and were dress
ed after the American fashion. After pleas
ant nights repose we arose next morning to
witness the preparations in progress for the
hunt. Shortly after breakfast, various bands
of horses were driven into the corral, and then
began the sport Of lassooing. Old mares and
young studs, colts, mules and Indians, were
all hudded together in one promiscuous crowd,
until the sweeping swing of the lasso put the
band in motion, and then the corral was filled
with dust and noise. One after another Of the
animals selected for the chase were captured
with the larrette and drawn away from the
throng and securely staked beyond the reach
of the band Of horses that were shortly to be
driven out of the corral The horses secured,
and the cavey-yard again turned loose to free
dom, the sport of mounting the young colts by
the Indians began to attract attention. Many
of the colts had never before been mounted,
and we expected to behold some lofty tumbling
and awful pitching-nor were we disappointed
in our expectations. A belt was bucked
around the backs of the horses, sufficiently
loose to admit the knees of the riders, and a
rope halter was tightly drawn around the nose
of the wild and timid animals. The squaws,
young and old, left their quarters to witness
the prowess of their ambitious sons, and stim
ulated the young equestrians by cheers and
praises. And well did these young bucks
need encouragement, for such pitching, such
rearing, such a biting and snorting and a
twisting, never was beheld since the formation
of the kingdom of hoss-dom. No sympathy
was manifested by the Indians for their COM
panions when thrown in the air by some af
frighted animal-the girls laughed at their
mishaps, and mocked at their misfortunes
When cast to the ground with force sufficient
to kill an ordinary white man, the Indian
would quickly spring from the dust, pull the
blind over the colts eyes, adjust his blanket
and his strap, and then re-mount, when the
same occurrence would again be witnessed,
and as heartily laughed at by the delighted
toomen Indians All things being soon made
ready for the start, the Indians set off at
gallop for the Mariposa Creek, driving the pack
mules or leading extra horses for the chase,
Directing our course towards Montgomery's
Ranch, we bade the hills adieu and with hasty
speed soon reached that gentlcman's abode
and were regaed with some cool and delicious
melons, and after witnessing some graceful
feats of his noble stallion, we again turned the
heads of our stecds towards the plains.
Bear Greek was soon crossed by us, and be-
fore an hour had elapsed steaming gallop had
brought us to the Lone Willow encampment
on the Mariposa Creek The Indians with the
pack mules and led horses had arrived some
two hours before us, and we found the colts
all staked out and wood collected for the eve