The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1886-09-03
ON A CUBAN PONY.
q JOURNEY FROM HAVANA TO THt:
VALLEY OF GuiNES.

Preparation of a Donkey for a Trip-Pe-
culiar Construction of Cuban Saddle
A Few Incidental Observation-Disclosures
gels for the Chargers.
Hardly had the gray of certain Monday
morning come when we were at the dis
patcho cantinas, where our handsome creole
cook and his beautiful wife had prepared for
us toast and coffee. While enjoying this in
the little court, where the parrots scoided
us roundly for our untimely intrusion,
great shouting, lashing, and jangiing of
bells were heard just beside us in the Gale
de Cuba. In moment more, right through
the wide open, neyer-closed fonda in front,
the shouting and lashing and jangling bells
were upon us; and there stood grinning,
5alf-naked stable-boy, with two little Cuban
jacas or ponies and the ugiiest donkey ever
beheld Ponies, donkey, boy and all were
not as large as an American farmhouse,
and with sympathy both for ourselves and
the demure brutes / conjured up sad expert
ences before us
EARS, PICTURESQUENESS AND PACK.
In little time great transformation oc-
CURED with the donkey. Provisions, few
delicacies, and grain for our animals were
deftly slowed in an enormous rush-pack.
First, a seron or blanket woven from rushes
was tied about the donkey. Upon this the
pouchei, rush-woven pack was fastened.
Then came another seron over the pack, and
over all was lashsd huge cuero or rawhide
blanket to protect our stores from the sun
and rain. This was all odd enough, but the
head-gear Of that donkey was an architect
ural miracle. Between the leather knots,
the rawhide straps, the rush plated ropes,
the knobs of brass, the great iron clamp
that held his nose like a wise, the huge red
tassels at either side, each bigger than his
whole head, and bells as large as your fist
fastened to every buckle, strap-hole, knot
or loop there was nothing of that donkey
to be seen from in front but ears, pictur-
esqueness and pack; while from the rear the
visible evidences of animation were the
swaying, cavorting, double decked pack,
and a pair of heels so clean and handy that
1 knew before night the whole procession
would be kicked into that ethical Scotch
region SO deity defined by auld Mansie
Waugh as Back OF Beyond.
Our ponies were soon ready. Their saddles,
holsters and brides were also monuments of
massiveness Our saddles were curious
affairs, constructed wholly out of woven
rushes, stirrups and all, and the bridle-reins
were dainty plaitings of silky substance
taken from fihrous Cuban tree, the same
material being beautifully braided by pris-
oners and conviets into all manner of roper
and gear for animals and conveyances
Booted and spurred and provided with the
added danger Of some medieval pistols in
our holsters, we were pronounced ready for
our journey. Don Miguel, after chivaL
rously proffering me choice of the animals,
which declined with what I fear was little
better than courtly groan, mounted one,
which, after several revolutions, stopped
stock-still, and, with legs crossed, seemed
braced against fate followed. Before
my animal became quiet again knew the
realizations of sea-sicknesS These slight
eccentricities incidental to a great under
taking being overcome, a door from our
friends's alcoba, leading to the street, was
opened and our caravan was shot from the
court in hilarious confusion into the Gale de
Cuba.
CuDGELs FOR THE CHARGERS.
I confess to a slight embarrassment at the
demonstrations of hospitable interest which
followed. The lively stable boy, our cook
and his wife, and a friendly collection of
early morning stragglers at once began
most remarkable proceeding, which was sus-
tained with such yigor for time that our
sally could not have been regarded by on
lockers save with the keenest pleasure. Old
straps, thongs, and cudgels seemed to be in
the hands of all, and were rained on the
backs and tanks OF our chargers unmerci-
fully. They recognized these attentions and
the cheering yells which accompanied them
by flank and enfilade movements of wonder
full alertness, their little legs describing all
the angles and genufiexions of timber stills
under the first practice of timid lads The
occasion almost took on the nature of a
public one as we proceeded, for from every
little fonda, shop or court issued scrubbing-
cads, mulatto women, and boys, who, with
mops, brooms and shrill cries, gave grad
ual but elated momentum to the energetic
cavalcade Between dexterous escapes
from plunging through the doors and win
dows on opposite sides of the narrow Gale,
stole glance at the don, whose face wore
such look Of benign pleasance at the at
tsntion we were attracting and the warmth
of interest being created, that / was in g
measure treasured. E5
The powers Of the Cuban pony are re-
markable. He will make from sixty to
eighty miles day in continuous jog or
half rack, so easy to the rider that a glass
of water could be carried in the hand all
that distance and not drop spilled For
rest the Cuban pony never halts to walk.
He simply changes from his swift gait into
what is here called a marcha, which is much
more rapid than the walk of the fastest
American hcrsa. He is absolutely proof
to fatigue, of diet spare and slight" and he
is the truest, most patient little animal in
the whole world, whether his owner is
man or q brute Edgar L. Wakeman in
Chicago News
Flirting Will, the AUSTRIA Empress.
The Empress Elizabeth has been in the
habit of taking long walks every day, some
fifteen or twenty miles, generally accompa-
MED only by her maid of honor. A short
time ago they were going to Rastadt, a
little town about twelve miles from here,
containing royal school and barracks
when they lost their way. They were in
despair, but were relieved by meeting two
private soldiers, whom they took as guides,
not telling whom they were. The empress
walked with one Of the soldiers, the maid
of honor with the other for the whole after
noon, conversing very pleasantly. The
empress told her companion that she was
m Austrian, and would like to see him
again, inviting him to call upon her the
next day and giving him her address. Tbs
Jay arrived-so did the soldier-he was
ashered into room, where he met the col
mel of his regiment, who questioned him
about his behavior the day before The
poor soldier was struck dumb with horror
when he found with whom he had chatted
n such a friendly manner as her majesty
iresses very simply when she goes on these
ramps, and had simply told him that her
,ame was Elizabeth; he, of course, had no
dea of her exalted rank. She presented him
With twenty marks, and probably he ad-
nired that far more than the average Ger
nan does sweetheart Baden Baden Let
ar -N - 80 - 49, =. - -. /