The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-06-29
ON A CUBAN PONY.
JOURNEY FROM HAVANA TO TI4E
VALLEY OF GUiNES.

preparation of a Donkey for a Triple
caiiar Construction of a Cuban Saddle
Few Incidental Eceeptrtcities-C,a
gels for the Chargers. G -5.,
Hardly had the gray of a certain Monday
hoi h''is come when we We're at the dis
patcho cantinas, where our handsome creo,e
oooA anu his beautiful wife had prepared for
Us toast and eollee. While enjoying this in
'he iitele court, where the parrots seeded
Us rouhuiy Tor our untinely intrusion,
great shouting, flashing, and jangling of
oeiis were heard Ju t beside us in the Gale
de cuba In moment more, right through
the Wide open, never closed fonda in front
the shouting and la hing and jangling bells
were upon US; and there stood a grinning,
nall -naket stable-boy, with two little Cuban
sacas or ponies and the ugliest donkey ever
peheld, Ponies, donkey, boy and all were
not as large an American farm horse,
AMI with sympathy both for ourselves and
The demare brutes l niured up sad expert
ences before us
EARS, ficrUaEsQuENEss AND PXCE.
In little time great transformation oc-
Cured with the donkey Provisions, a few
deiicacies, and grain for our animals were
deity slowed in an enormous rush pack
First, seron or blanket woven from rushes
was tied about the donkey. Upon this the
pou'het, rush woven pack was fastened
lhei came another seron over the pack, and
overSal was lashel a huge cuero or rawhide
blanket to protect our stores from the sun
and rain, This was all odd enough, but the
hea 1tgear OF that donkey was an architect
urdl miracle. Between the leather knots,
the rawhlde straps, the stipulated ropes,
tue knobs of brass, the great iron clamp
that held his nose like wise, the huge red
tasaeis 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 he seen from In front hut ears, pictur-
eslueness and pack; while from the rear the
visible evidences Of animation were the
swaylng, cavortinS, doubledecked pack,
, and pair OF heels so clean and handy that
l knew beiore night the whole procession
would he kicked into that ethical Scotch
region so deity defined by aud Mansie
Waugh as Back OF Bcy ond
tur ponies were soon ready. Their saddles
holsters and brides were also monuments of
masslveness. Our saddles were curious
| affair, constructed wholly out OF woven
| rushes, stirrupS and ALL AMI the bridle-reins
| were dainty plaitln9s of silky substance
taken from a Nitrous Cuban tree, the same
| material being beautifully braided by pris-
| oner, and conS lets into all manner oil ropes
| and gear for animals and convey ances
| 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-
rou,y protreiins ME choice of the animals
which | declined with what fear was little
b tier than courtly groan, mounted one,
which after several revolutions, stopped
| stock .'tili, and, with legs crossed seemed
| bracetl against fate. l followed Before
my animal became quiet again knew the
| realilations of sea-sicknesS These slight
eccentricities incidental to Il great under
| taking being overcome, a door from our
friends 5 aicoba, leading to the street, was
opened and our caravan was shot from the
court in hilarious confusion into the Gale de
| Cuba.
| CUDGEI.S FOR THE CHARGERS.
confess to slight embarrassment at the
demonstrations oil hospitable interest which
followed. The lively stable boy, our COOK
and his wife, and friendly collection of
early morning stragglers at once began a
most remarkable proceeding, which was sus.
tanned with such vigor for time that on
sally could not have been regarded by on
| lockers save with the keenest pleasure. Old
straps, thongs, and cudgels seemed to lie in
the hands OF all, and were rained on the
backs and TANKS of our chargers unmerci
fully. They recognized these attentions and
! by flank and cnfilade movements of wonder
full alertneSs, their little legs describing al
the angles and genuiiexions 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 eated momentum to the energetic
cavalcade. Between deXterous escape.
from plungng through the doors and win
dows on opposite sides OF the narrow Gale
| stole glance at the don, whose face wort
such a look of benign pleasance at the at
tention we were attracting and the warmth
Of interest being created, that l was in {
measure treasured.
The powers of the Cuban pony are re
markable He will make from sixty t.
eighty miles day III a continuous jog al
half rack, so easy to the rider that Sias
of water could lie carried i'll the hand al
that distance and not drop spilled. Fo
rest the Cuban pony never halts to walk
He simply changes from his swift gait int
what is here called IA marcia, which is niue!
more rapid than the walk OF the tastes
American horse. He is absolutely proc
to fatigue, of diet spare and slight and h
is the truest, most patient little animal il
the whole world, whether his owner is
man or brute. Edgar l. Wakeman il
Chicago Nsws.