San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-14
IN SOUTH AMERICA.
A FRENCH TRAVELLER DESCRIBES
A BIG CATTLE ESTATE.

Immense Herds of Cattle and Sheep Be
longing to an Observation-Disclosures at
Las Jarillas - An Ignoble Spectacle.
Quick and Bloody Work.
The name estancia is given to those i'm.
mense estates, some Of which surpass in ex-
tent the departments in France, and whose
owners are exclusively occupied in raising
horses and cattle. These cattle are counted
by thousands-their sheep by hundreds OF
thousands. These immense herds lie in the
open air and Craze in the fields which sur
round the main buildings; these are usually
7 uilt on the most elevated spot in the estan-
b Horses, oxen and sheep are watched
d cared for by herdsmen living and sleep
ing continually in the open air. Each herds
man is expected to guard from 1900 to 5000
head Of cattle. As to the main buildings, or
estancia proper, they are built in the form OF
a square or rectangle with terraces, with no
outer entrance except a large gate as thick
and strong as that of a state prison. This is
the residence of the master, the major domo
and the household servants. All the apart
ments open on walks bordering the court, in
the center of which is a well of fresh water.
These walks sheltered by veranda, are made
Of bricks. Then there is a chapel where
priest comes every six months to officiate,
and a high tower from which, as we have
seen, poems watched day and night over the
pampas.
THE SURROUNDINGS.
Adjoining the estancia are vegetable and
pleasure gardens, the ranches in which re-
side the poems, the corrals, Enclosures formed
of wooden palisades, in which are kept the
horses in habitual use, the mich COWS and
poultry The forge, the wheelwrights shops,
the vehicles used in the transportation of
produce, the warehouses with walls pierced
with a hundred holes, i'll which are heeces
and hides to be sent to Patagonia, Buenos
Ayres or Rosario; and finally the corrals,
where the different animals are slaughtered.
A wall, four feet high, surrounds all these
buildings and dependencies; this wall is pro-
tected by large ditch, on whose outer edge
is an impenetrable hedge of aloes, with
leaves as long, sharp and strong as iron
spears This triple rampant forms the in
closure of every estancia in South America.
As soon as the black flag is run up, all the
herdsmen, and other servants who may be
outside, hasten to regain the protection of the
estancia.
W. had arrived at Las Jarillas Just in time
to witness the slaughter of the animals. This
is called a matadero. 1t is an ignoble spec
tacle, but then travellers must have the cour
age to witness everything. Every morning
at daybreak during the whole time that the
matadero lasts, the poems drive 200 or 800
head of cattle to the entrance of the cOrralS.
These animals, who smell the blood shed the
previous evening, generally refuse to enter.
Then men on horseback throw lassOeS over
their horns, while other horsemen spur their
horses right on them, and the shock throws
each refractory animal to the ground.
Scarcely has it fallen when those who have
lassoed it drag it inside, where one man
throws his lasso over one hind foot while a
second cuts the leaders of the other. The
poor beast falls forward on its knees, as if to
implore mercy from the executioners; but
its sufferings are almost over. Armed with
very long, sharp knife the matador ad-
vances-he raises his arm-a hash-a CLEAN
and all is over.
; BY A THUNpERBoLT.
The animal falls as if struck by a thunder
bolt The blade, buried deep just below the
left shoulder, has touched the heart. The
ma.ador withdraws his blade, the blood
gushes from the wound, and moving slowly
ON account of the enormous boots which en-
case his legs the matador approaches another
victim. The animals are Immediately
skinned and cut up. The meat and hides are
salted and dressed The former is sent to
- owl the latter to Europe, where they
gallelserve to fashion the dainty
oak, and TAX, ailOgantes. One
and deliberately carved; IovP7
as high priced. Nothing like
the city. Newest styles, lates
lowest prices, ordered in car i
especially for this market. {
examine. >elIu