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


plains, Of absolute aridity-divcrsified only
by the deceptive glitter of the salinas, OF
salt lakcs-ovcr which wander two or three
hunters, with vagabond instinct and de-
sire to be free from all social obligations,
such is tho 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 q pa,ch 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 surprired ut their sud.
den disappearance, and on following their
footsteps will find that the plain has termi-
mated abruptly, and that they are descend
ing III zig-zag and almost vertical preci-
plce TO another plateau, some hundred feet
below; or 1t may be that they have reached
one of those grand ravines or canons where
alone it is possible to find stretch of YER
durc or any alluvial soil. Yet Mr.. Beer
bohm tells us that the sober, hard Patago-
nlan landscapes, with their impressive still
ness and their grave immcnsty, had for
him stronger fascination that the most
gorgeous tropical scenery, and for a time lie
found himself quite able to enter into the
intoxicating feeling of delight with which
| the ostricA-hunlcr shakes off all convcntio.
nal requirements, and clad in his fur capa,
with his horses, dogs, and bolas, and one OF
two stauch companions, commits himself
to the free life Of the plains The Patago,
nian ostrich is of much less value than his
African 1cogcncr, being a smaller bird, and
the feathers fetching on inferior price; it is
not, therefore, love of lucre, as much as in.
cllnation for free, unstrained life, that
leads men to devote themselves to ostrich.
hunting. So prolific, however, are both
| the bird itself and the guanaco, which pro-
vldcs the captor with lasso, reins, bolas,
and even shoes, rs sustcnance that one OF
these careless easy going fellows is able to
obtain everything which he counts as ncces.
sary, as well as the few luxurics for which
he cares. Mounted on one 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, effcctually keeping it pri.
soncr until he can come up with it, and
| give 1t the coup de grace. The bolas arc
either round stones, or pieces of lead cove.
red with leather, and united by a thong.
| Much skill is required to throw them well,
| and not little cleverncss is also needed tC
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 O
day being as nothing to them, and at the
end Of such a journey they will start of
after an ostrich as gamcly rs 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 tho 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 a serious operation, since bed and
bed-covering arc always carried with one.
Two or three folded blankets arc first
smoothly laid on the hore's back, to be fol-
lowed by tho "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 shecp-skins, furs and other oover.
ings. A pack-horse 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 d-providers, must of course be tole.
rated; but their. tliicvish propensities, as
well as their tendency to creep dripping wet
into their owners furs and pass the night
In his close proximity, do not always render
them very pleasant companions.