Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-12-17

n during my stay fresh horse was always read
for instant mounting within five yards of m
' door.
: On industrial practices of any kind il
/ hazardous for strangers to pass an opinion
since what seems bad on the view may b
found by experience to he adapted to the cir
cumstances of the country. Many OF tn
South American mines yielded profit by th
cheap and rough method of native working
that under the improved system of the British
companies absorbed the profits in the expen
SEES. So il is often in agriculture. That which
horrfes the English farmer, is found, il no
the best, yet the host that can be done. Til,
plan of thresh!hg in Chill, though an improve
ment in point of rapidity upon that of Palcs.
tine, looks strange wasteful method yet Mr.
Walpoe seems to intimate that not much loss
attends upon the process in the fine climate oil
Chilli The threshing- festIval stands in the
place of our harvest-home.
In n far off part of the plain, the vast crops
of our hosts corn had been collected; and all
the iamily-some on horseback, some in car
riages-proceedcd at an early hour to the
grand function of threshing il out. The trelia,
as this process is called, is a rural feast. We
rode over the track of stubble from whence it
had been cnt putting up cartridges in numbers
as we cantered along till shouts and a crowd
showed us where the entertainment was to be
seen. Several sheds OF boughs had been made
/ in which were refreshments provided by the
landlord A company of horsemen were keep
| ing together an enormous hard of horses,
| principally mares and foals. 1t was said there
were three thousand-I am sure did not count
them; and a most singular appearance they
had, for these animals are never used except
for this purpose. The rest of the year they
are allowed to Craze at liberty on the lower
slopes and valleys of the mountains, The best
are picked out for sale and the use of the es-
tate. The mares had been subjected to pro-
cess that did not add to their beauty; this was
a close crop of their tail and names. was
told this was necessary to prevent their falling
prey to the puma, which abounds here, and
which, darting from ambush on the horse, is
generally thrown off by the startled animal if
he has not this means of securing his hold.
None of the animals saw here were fine, save
one magnificent bay mule, whom it required
keen eye to distinguish from horse. The
people, too, have such different taste in hor-
SEES from ourselvesl Great fat and large tail
are essentials but they are well aware that
the horses they prize for showing off in the
capital are not good for work; so they ride
less snowy and more useful animals in the
country
A huge circle was rallied in by enormous
posts, the interstices fenced with bushes this
was filled with the straw unthreshed, to a
height of full six feet.
The approach of our party seemed the signal |
for operations 10 commence, and the horsemen |
drove the heard of horses up lane formed of
empty wagons into the coFn-ring. AT first /
they could only get on by furious jumps, but
ere the whole drove were in, half the grain'at
least was trodden down. Several horsemen
now stood in the entrance, and the rest, diyid-
ing the horses into droves, with shouts, yells,
and whirling lassoes, began to make them gal
lop round. In the centre was an enormous
pile, which, rs that on the sides became trod-
den down. was hove on to them Every two
Or three minutes the whole body turned and
galloped contrary way to avoid giddness
some of the old stagers ran into the centre, and
were only compelled to leave after many cuts
md shouts.
The fatigue to the poor animals must have
,een tremendous, and the horsemen at the en-
rance had frequently to stand back and allow
ome poor weak foai to go out. This oppor-
unity was generally taken advantage of by
,thers also; and then began hunt the horse
men who were outside were in instant pursuit,
md with wild shouts, flying ponchoes, and
lnerring lasso ready, galloped after them.
Few, noticed, ever allowed the lasso to be
brown but when they found speed would not
lear them, resigned themselves to their fate,
UGH is the severity of the shock occasioned by
icing caught, that an animal who has once felt
{ never forgets 1t. This can easily be believed,
nd the very boys in driving cattle can check
he most refractory horse by merely whirl or !
wo of the long thong they have at the end of :
heir rein. After the animals had, with few |.
hort intervals, been driven about for three I
ours, they were let out; nor did any seem |,
nxious to wander far, so exhausted and done :
Al III l.. -. tI.a.AQ VI
iesc animals are principally mares and young !
,als, the smalness and weedy appearance of y
he race of horses in the country is easily ac- !
ountcd for; as, with few exceptions, all at !,
ONE period of their lives undergo this work.
hey come down fat and full from the rich
astures of the valleys, and this labor general !
quite uses them up.
Mr.. Walpole was at Monterey during part of
he Mexican war: and he gives slight account =
the goings on there. Here is his picture of
remont and his band of explorers; though,
5 it turned out of soldiers, either by secret u
lstructons or implied understanding.
During our stay Captain Fremont and his !
lrty arrived, preceded by another troop of
merican horse. 1t was party of seamen
who were used to scour the country 3
|, keep off marauders. Their efficacy as sal y
RS they being nearly all English, we will not u
lestion. As cavalry they would probably y
ave been singularly destructive to each other. =,
heir leader, however, was fine fellow, and one !.
the best rfe-shots In the states. Fremont's
,rty naturally excited curiosity. Here were
ne trappers, the class that produced the he ~
les of Fenimore Coopers best works. These \,
en- had passed years in the wilds, living on :.
eir own resources; they were a curious set. q
vast cloud of dust appeared first, and thence !,
long file emerged this widest wild party. !, ~
remont rode ahead, spare, actiye-looking
an, with such an eyel He was dressed in a II,
ouse and leggings, and wore felt hat. At y,
r him came FIVE Delaware Indians who were p
$ body-guard, and have been with him through \;
| his wanderings; they had charge OF two I,
Iggage-horses. The rest ,many ofthem black y,
than the Indians, rode two and two the rifle ~
Id by one hand across the pommel of the ~
ddle. Thirty-nine of them are his regular :.
en- the rest are loafers picked up lately; his a.
iginal men are principally backwoodsmen e. e.
,m the state of Tennessee, and the banks of =.
upper waters of the Missouri. He has one ~ ~
two with him who enjoy high regulations in ~. is
c 'prairies. Kit Carson Is MS well known ".
ere as the Duke is in Europe. The dress OF 81 9,
ese men was principally long, loose coat OF -
er-skn, tied with thongs in front; trousers :,
~, me ~ their own manufacture, which, T..
zen wet through, they take off, scrape well AZ n;
side with knife, and put on as soon as dry -
c saddles were of various fashions, though .
ese and large drove Of horses, and brass Nv
Id gun, were things they had picked up w.
out California. The rest of the gang were "a,
ugh set; and perhaps their private, public H. n,
d moral characters had better not be too -,
,sely examined. They are allowed no liquor, s gu
l and supar only: this no doubt, has much eP