The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-06-12
Ostrich-HuntinH In Patagonia,

oi .oHStShiilS, UOWnulCSS
plains, Of absolute aridity-divcrsifcd only
ny inc deceptive glitter of the salinas, or
salt lakcs-over which wander two or three
hunters, with vagabond instinct and a de-
sire to bc free from all social obligations,
such is the picture which rises in our minds
when we think of Southern Patagonia.
These dreary pampas, home of the ostrich
and the guanaco, extending uninterrupted
ly for 30 or 40 miles, swept by fierce winds,
with sterile, sandy soil, covered with
stones, present to the view nothing moro
than an occasional tuft of coarse, withercd
grass or patch Of stuntcd June bushes,
which furnishes poor enough nocturnal
shelter. Suddenly, however, the traveller
who has fallen little in the rear of his
companions will be surprircd at their sud.
den disappearance, and Oh following their
footsteps will find that the plain has termi-
mated abruptly, and that they are descend
ing i'll zigzag and almost vertical prcci-
pice to another plateau, some hundred feet
below; or it may be that they have reached
one OF those grand ravines or canons where
alone it is possible to find stretch of YER
dure or any alluvial soil. Yet Mr.. Beer
Dohm tells us that the sober, hard Patago-
man landscapes, with their impressive still
ness and their grave immcnsity, had for
him stronger fascination that the most
gorgeous tropical scenery, and fora time he
found himself quite able to enter into the
intoxicating feeling of delight with which
tie ostrich-huntcr shakes off all convcntio-
nal requirements, and clad in his fur capa,
with his horses, dogs, and bolas, and one or
two stauch companions, commits himself
to the free life of the plains. The Patago-
nian ostrich is of much less value than his
African cogcner, being a smaller bird, and
the feathers fetching IN inferior price; it is
not, therefore, love of lucre, as much rs in
clination for free, unstrained life, that
leads men to devote themselves to ostrich
hunting. So prolific, however, arc both
the bird itself and the guanaco, which pro-
vidcs the captor with lasso, rcins, bolas,
and even shoes, as sustcnance that one of
these careless easygoing fellows is able to
obtain everything which he counts as ncces-
sary, rs well as the few luxurics for which
he cares. Mounted on ono of his hardy
horses, he fellows his five or six grey
hounds, who give chase to the prey, and
when within distance swings his bolas round
his head and discharges them with such
precision that they become firmly twisted
round its body, cifcctually keeping it pri-
soncr until nc can come up with it, and
give 1t the coup dc grace. The bolas arc
either round stones, or pieces of lead cove
red with leather, and united by thong
Much skill is required to throw them well,
and not little cleverncss is also needed to
manage the capa, or long fur robe. made
by the Indian women, in which the hunter
wraps himself, and by which he Is effec-
tually protected from the searching winds
of the pampas. The horses, numbers of
which roam wild. over the plains and arc
captured and trained by the Indians, are of
remarkable endurance, 70 or 80 miles q
day being as nothing to them, and at tho
end Of such a journey they will start off
after an ostrich as gamely as If they had
been only just saddled. They will rarely,
however, allow themselves to be approached
on foot, even by their owner, and the only
way of catching them Is by the lasso, al
though, when once it is bridlcd, the horse
will stand on one spot for hours, and not
attempt to run away. Saddling in the pam
pas is serious operation, since bed and
bed-covering are always carried with one
Two or three folded blankets arc first
smoothly laid on the hore's back, to be fol-
lowed by the "carona," two thick pieces Of
leather sewn together, upon which Is placed
the saddle, firmly secured by broad
leather girt, and over this, again, are
strapped sheep p-skins, furs and other oover-
ings. A pack-horsc convey the tent, pro-
visions, and cooking utensils. The dogs
of which there were 18 In the company to
which the writer attached himself, being
the food-providers, must of course be tole-
rated; but their tliievish propensities, as
well as their tendency to creep dripping wet
into their owners furs and pass tic night
In his close proximity, do not always render
them very pleasant companions.