The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-01-28
The Mexican I.asso.

The lasso itself is rope made OF the
twisted fibre of the mdgaSey or aloe.
known in European markets as SisaI
hemp. There is q great difference in
the quality; the best and strongest are
twisted so extremely tight that it Ii al
most impossible to untwist the strands.
One end is worked into u small loop.
lined inside with leather, through
which, when about to throw the lasso
the other end is passed. The rope is
about thirty feet long, about oEe-third
of it formed into moose which IS
grasped little above the loop. e.
where the rope is double, the rest of
it is coiled round and held in the left
hand, ready to let go. the extreme end
being kept separate, and of course re-
tanned. The moose should hang well.
clear of the ground when held level
with the shoulder, and when open,
forms circle of four or five feet in
diameter
The lasso is swung over the head and
left shoulder, and back over the right
shoulder. peculiar turn of the wrist
as it begins to return keeping the noosa
open. It is thus made to circle round
and round his head by the thrower un.
gil he is within distance Of his OBJECT,
when it is launched, and flies off at a
tangent, the moose assuming a circular
form, and settling quietly around the
object aimed at. Before ii settles the
thrower seizes the other end with his
right hand, and gives it two rapid turns
round the cdbezd of his saddle, so as
to get a purchase. If he is not quick
enough at this, and the bull tightens
the rope before a good purchase has
been effected, the result Is that the fin
gers get caught between the rope and
the cdbezG, and very much injured. 1t
is no unfreguent thing to see a man
who has lost one or two fingers i'm
learning the art.
1t is beautiful TO see the eXaetitude
with which an adept will throw the
lasso from or to any point, over either
shoulder, behind or in front. There
is no credit in catching a bull by
the horns, for he cannot he thrown
by them; but considerable skill is re-
quired to pitch the moose just in front
of him when he is at full eallop, so
that next step he treads into it; then,
on its being tightened with a sudden
jerk, rolls ever in the dust. The horse,
500, has to learn his part of the busi-
ness, and bear at the right moment in
the opposite direction, or he might be
thrown instead of the bull, to which
indeed he is often inferior in weight.
1t is considered disgraceful to have
to loosen the lasso, and to let the bull
carry it off with him. A good hand at
1t will catch by either leg alone bull
galloping past at any angle. The most
difficult feat of all is to lasso him
round the quarters when at full gallop
at the moment when his hind-legs are
doubled up under h1m. Usually the
moose slips of, and nothing happens;
but if it be thrown precisely at the
right instant, his hind-legs are pinned
tight to his belly, and he is brought to
q standstill in the position of sitting
dog, looking indescribably silly in such
an unwonted position. These and
other feats of lassoing are seen at their
best at hacienda, on the occasion of
the annual hcTrdderO, when the young
bulls are driven in from the plains,
thrown down, and marked with red
hot iron with the initials of their pro-
prietors' names Friends and neigh
bors come together from afar, and vie
with one another IN the display OF dex-
teritY and horsemanship.