Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-04-12
A WIFE. CHASE IN ECUADOR.

My story has nothing to do with a
chase after a runaway wife, as the
above caption at first glance might
seem to indicate, but with an incident
far more romantic and interesting, in
my estimation.
1t was on n certain saints day.
forget which, there are so many of them
"A good many years ago, that / found
myself, under the hospitable guidance
Of Mr. Provost, our then consul at
Guayaquil, proceeding to San Miguel,
hot little town in the very bosom of
equatorial South America, for the pur-
pose of witnessing the bull-fghts, cock
ing-mains, and other so-called sports
that were just then in season.
On our way thither We passed shad
ed pool, where number of mountain
GERS were washing down their horses
and mules with great care, as if in
preparation for some event Of more
than ordinary Importance. They were
mule and llama-drivers, hcrdsmen,
shepherds, guides, pack-mcn, and 9TH
ers, wild-eyed, savage and independent
looking fellows, from the great slopes
and table-lands in the neighborheod Of
Quito, and formed picturesque group
with their bright blankets, great SOM
breros, rude weapons and enormous
spurs.
"Bull-fghters or horse-racers p |
asked Of my companion.
Neither the one or the other" he
replied, that might inspect the scene
mt my leisure "These fellows are pre-
pairing for the senorila-chase that will
take place on yonder plain Immediately
after the other games"
"a senorita-chase? | don't under
stand"
"You will presently. DO you mark
those three active young fellows, who are
rubbing down their ponies SO near to-
gether, and who yet eye each other so
darkly and malcvoIently?"
Eyes, the two younger of the trio are
alike enough to be twin brothers"
"They are so, and are so much alike
in appearance and disposition as often
to be mistaken for each other" said
Mr.. Provost. The other and elder is
called Nasco, and is something of
desperate character, ] am told. The
three have SO long been rivals for the
affections of Benjamin., one of the
prcttiest and most coquottish of the
mountain Indian maidcns hercabouts,
and have had so many quarrels on her
account, that their history is well
known in the Guayaquil district. She
leads them pretty race to-day, and i
believe. has signiiied her intention to re-
ward with her hand the one who catch
es her, and thus put an end to the ri
valry."
"You surprise me-" said |. This
woman-chasing is well-known custom
among the Tartar nomads of the Asian
steppcs; and also, | believe, among
certain Indian tribes Of North Ameri-
ca but | was not before aware of its
being in vogue in this quarter of the
globe"
at is, nevertheless, so" said my
friend. 81 have often wondered at the
strange similarity Of the customs, rites
and games in vogue among savage or
half-savage races living in widely-sep-
arated quarters of the world. In the
wife-chase in prospect, you will, ut all
events, witness some superb horseman-
ship. The Indians of both sexes on
these table-lands could almost vaunt, as
does Dazzle in the play, Of having been
born on horseback / only hope that
nothing tragic may spring out of the
coming contest"
"What do you mean?',.
"Why, this little mountain-witch,
Benjamin., will, Of course, manage to
be caught by the one she secretly pre-
fers, and then / predict there will be
trouble, sooner OF later. The defeated
brother may acquiesce, though sullenly
enough, but | would not answer for as
much on the part Of that beetle-browcd |
rascal Vasco yonder. These primitive
people, in spite of their ordinarily in
nocent, happy-go-lucky ways, arc ex-
trcmely rcvengeful in their love affairs.
But let us hasten OH, or the round
house yonder will be full before VIC can
get there"
/ will pass over the cock-fgbts, the
bull-fghts, and the still more brutal
prize-fghts-thc latter consisting of
half-naked, brawny negroes testing
their butting powers till one OF the 9TH
er contestant fell, senscless and bloody
in the arena.
Games Of this sort had ever inspired
me with pure horror, and they had
even less interest for me on this occa-
sion, in view of the more romantic and
picturesque event that was in prospect.
The intermediary performances, how
ever, concluded with an exciting game
of aycha, which was we'll worth the