The Republican journal., 1869-08-19
THE WILD HORSE OF THE PLAINS.

Our readers will no doubt peruse with in
terest the following sketch of the horse in his
primitive state, from 4 correspondent who
has travelled through the uninhabited parts Of
Texas and the adjacent territories =
1.-The day before we came in view OF the
Rocky Mountains, saw, in the greatest per-
fection, that impressive and, to me, almost
sublime spectacle, an immense drove of wild
horses, for q long time lowering round our
path across the prairie. | had often seen
numbers of them before, mixed with other
animals, apparently quiet, and grazing like
the rest Here there We're thousands, unmix-
ed, unemployed their motions, if such COM
parison might be allowed, as darting and as
wild as those of humming- birds on the flow
ers. The tremendous snort with which the
front columns Of the phalanX made known
their approach to us seemed to be their wild
and energetic way of expressing their pity
and disdain for the servile lot Of our horses,
OF which they appear to be taking a survey.
They were of all colors, Mixed spotted, and
diversified with every hue, from the brightest
white to clear and shining black; Of every
form and structure from the long and slen-
der race to those of tirmer limbs and heavier
mould; and all ages from the curveting colt
to the range of the patrarchal steeds, drawn
up in a line and holding up their high heads
for u survey of us in the rear. Sometimes
they curved their necks, and made no more
progress than ust enough to keep pace with
our advance. Then there was a Kind of slow
and walking minuet, in which they performed
various evolutions with the precision of the
| figures of country-dance. Then a rapid
movement shifted the front to the rear. But
still, in all their evolutions and movements
like the flight of sea fowls, their lines were re-
gular and free from all indications Of confus-
ion AT times a spontaneous and sudden
movement toward Us almost inspired the ap-
prehenson of a united attack upon us. Attel
q moments advance, 4 short and rctrogade
movement seemed to testify their proud esti-
mate Of their wild independence. The inf
mite variety Of their rapid movements, THEN
tampcrings, and manTuvrcs We're Of such a
wild and terrific character, that it required
but Il moderate stretch Of the fancy to sup
pose them the genii of these grassy plains
At one period they We're formed. for an i'm
mense depth, in front of Us. A wheel eXecu
ted almost with the rapidity of thought bre
sented them lowering on our TANKS. Then
again. the cloud of dust that enveloped thei
movements cleared away, and presented
them in our rear. They evidently operated
rs a great annoyance to the horses and mule.
of our cavalcadc. The frighted movements
the increased indications Of fatigue. sul
clently evlnced; with their frequent neigh
ngs, what unpleasant neighbors they consid-
cred their wild compatriots to be- SO mucl
did our horses appear TO suffer from latigu,
and terror, in consequence of their yivacty
that we were thinking Of some way to driv,
them off when on 4 sudden a patient ant
laborious donkey of the establishment. tha
appeared to have regarded all their move
ments with philosophic indifference, plicke,
up his long ears, and gave u loud and mos
sonorous bray from his vocal she'll. Instant
ly this prodigious multitude, and there were
thousands of them, took what the Spaniard
called the ''stampado.' With tramplnG
like the noise of thunder. or Still more lik,
that Of an earthquake, q noise that was abso
lutely appalling, they took to their heels, an,
We're all in a few moments invisible, in tn,
verdant depths of the plains, and we saw
them no morc.H