Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-26
Life on the Panlpas.
From the London Fled.


When Rosas, that man of ''blood and iron, -
was dictator of the Argentine country-a posi-
ton which he held for a quarter of century
deserters from the army were inexorably shot,
when caught. as they generally were. But
where my boyhood was spent there was a de-
serter, man named Santa Anna. who for
seven years. without ever leaving the neighbor-
hood OF his home, succeeded in Guiding his pur-
suers by means Of the marvellous sagacity and
watchful care exercised by his horse. When
taking his rest on the plain-1or he seldom
slept under a rOOf-his faithful horse kept
guard. At the first sight of mounted men on
the horizon he would fly to his master, and.
Selling his cloak between his teeth. rouse him
with vigorous shake. The hunted man would
start up, and in a moment man and horse would
vanish into one of the dense reed-beds abound
ing in the place. and where no man could fol-
low. | have not space to tell more about this
horse; but at last. in the fullness of time, when
the figs were ripe-literally, as well as fgura-
lively. for it happened in the autumn of the
year-the long. tyrannOus rule ended, and
Santa Anna came out of the reed-beds where he
had lived his wild animal life. to mix with his
fellows. / knew him then. He was rather
heavy looking man, with little to say, and his
reputation for honesty was not good in the
place; but dare say there was something good
in his breast.
Students OF nature are familiar with the modi-
flying effects of new conditions On man and
brute. Take for example. til" EaUchO: he must
every day traverse vast di:taGces see quickly.
Judge rapidly. be ready at all tues to encounter
hunger and fatigue. violent changes of tempera-
ture. great and sudden r"rS These conditions
have made him diili'r widely from the peasant of
the Peninsula: he has the endurance and keen
sight of Well is fertile in eXpedients, quick in
action, values human life not at all. and is. in
pain or defeat stole Unquestionably the
horse he rides has also suffered a great chance
He differs as much from the English hunter. for
instance. as one animal can well differ from an
other of the same species. He never pounds
the earth and wastes his energies in vain pa
rade He has not the dauntless courage that
performs such brilliant feats in the field, and
that often as not attempts the impossible In
the chase he husbands all his strength, carving
his head low. and almost grazing the ground
with his hOOfs, SO that he Is not q snowy animal
Constant use. or the slow cumulative process of
natural selection has served to develop a keen
ness of sense almost preternatural. The yul-
lures eye, with all the advantage derived from
the vutures vast elevation above the scene sur
veyed Is not so far-reaching as the sense of
smell in the pampa horse.
common phenomenon on the pampas is q
sudden migration of the horses of a district to
some distant place. This occurs in seasons of
drought, when grass or water falls The horses
migrate to some district where, from showers
having fallen or other circumstances, there is
better supply Of food and drink. slight
breeze blowing from the more favored region.
which may be 40 or so miles away, or even
much further, is enough to start them Off
Yet, during the scorching days of midsummer,
very little moisture or smell of grass can pos
sibIy reach them from such distance.
Another phenomenon, even more striking, Is
familiar to every frOntiersman. For some
reason, the Gaucho horse manifests the greatest
terror at an Indian invasion. No doubt his
fear is in part at any rate an associate feeling.
the coming of the Indians being always time
of excitement and commotion, sweeping like
great wave over the country; houses are in
flames, families flying, cattle being driven at
frantic speed to places Of greater safety Be
this as 1t may, long before the marauders reach
the settlement Gotten when they are still
whole days journey from it) the horses take the
alarm and come wildly flying in; the contagion
quickly spreads to the horned cattle. and q gem
eral stampede ensues. The Gauchos maintain
that the horses smell the Indians. believe
they are right, for when passing distant Indian
camp. from which the wind blew. the horses
driven before me have suddenly taken fright
and run away. leading me chase Of many miles.
The explanation that 0striches, deer and other
fleet animals driven In before the invaders
might be the cause Of the stampede cannot be
accepted, since the horses are familiar with the
sight of these animals flying from their Gaucho
hunters.