Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-10
Ostrich Hunting I'm Patagonia.

From q London Spectator Book Review
Far-stretching and apparently 6oundless
the deceptive glitter OF the Salinas or salt lakes
over which wander two or three hunters, with
vagabond instincts and q desire to be 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 uninter-
ruptedly for thirty or forty miles, swept by
fierce winds, with STERILE sandy soil, covered
with stones, present to the view nothing more
than an occasional tuft OF coarse, withered grass
or patch of stunted june bushes, which fur
nishes at pinch a poor enough nocturnal shell
ter. Suddenly, however, the traveller who has
fallen little In the rear OF his companions Will
be surprised at their sudden disappearance, and
on following their footsteps will find that the
plain has terminated abruptly and that they are
descending IN a zg,zag and almost vertical pre-
cip1ce to another plateau, some hundred feet De-
low; or 1t may be that they have reached one of
those grand ravines or canons where alone it is
possible TO IND stretch OF verdure or any allu.
sober, hard Patagonian landscapes, with their
impressive stiffness and their grave immensely,
had for him q stronger fascination than the
most gorgeous tropical scenery, and for time
he found himself quite able to enter into the In
tOxfcat1ng feeling Of delight with which the
ostr1ch-hunter shakes off all conventional re-
qu1rementS, and clad In his fur capa, with his
horses, dogs, and bolas. and one or two stanch
companions, commits himself to the free life OF
the plains The Patagonian ostrich is OF
much less value than his African cogener, being
erior price; 1t Is not therefore, love Of lucre as
much as inclination for a free, unrestrained
life, that leads men to devote themselves to
ostrich: hunting. So prolific, however, are both
v1des his captor with lasso, reins, bolas,
and even shoes, as well as sustenance that
one of these careless, easy going fellow
is able to obtain everything which he
luxuries for which he cares. Mounted on Ole
OF lis hardy horses, he follows his i've Or six
mongrel greyhounds, 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 It's body, effectually keeping 1t prisoner
until he can come up with it. and give 1t the
coup de grace. The bolas are either round
stones or pieces of lead covered with leather,
and united by thong. Much skill is required
to throw them well, and not little clever
long fur robe, made by the Indian women, in
which the hunter wraps himself, and by which
he is effectually protected from the search.
ing winds OF the pampas. The horses, num-
captured and trained by the Indians, are of re-
marbable endurance, 7Oor 50 miles day being
as nothing to them, and at the end OF such
a journey they Will start off after an ostrich
died. They will rarely, however, allow
themselves to be approached on foot even by
their owner, and the only way of catching then
is by the lasso, although, when once it is bri.
died, the horse will stand In one spot for hours,
and not attempt to run away. Saddling in the
pampaS is q serious operation, since bed and
or three folded blankets are first smoothly laid
On the horses back, to be followed by the sea
roma, two thick pieces of leather sewn together
upon which Is placed the saddle, firmly secured
by broad leather grit, and over this, again, are
strapped sheep skins, furs, and other coverings
pack-horse conveys the tent, provisions, and
cooking utensils. The dOgs,Of which there were
Is In the company to which the writer attached
himself, being the food providers, must of course
be tolerated.; but their thievish propensities, as
well as their tendency to creep dripping wet
close proximity, do not always render them
very pleasant companions.