Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-03-07
THE GUACHOS.
Dashing Cowboys of the Argen-
tine Republic.
Their Picturesque Costumes
and Desperate CombatS.

The Guachos of the Argentine Re-
public, says the New York Sun, are
the children of Spanish adventurers and
the native Guarani Indian women.
These are the nomads of the pampas.
They are unique combination of the
most chivalric and treacherous qualities.
Indolent and at the same time of the
most intense activity, half their lives is
spent in the saddle, and in horseman-
ship they are unexcelled. They despise
work, yet many of them are forced to
hire out to the more wealthy Irishmen
because, like the North American
Indian, the enormous immigration dur
ing the past decade has forced them to
labor for subsistence. A few of them
own ranches, but, as a rule, they roam
the open pampas as free and unfettered
as the air they breathe. The Guachos
at maturity are from feet to 6 feet
in height, and are powerfully built.
They wear sombreros and pom cho
blankets, valued at from SO to $50.
Tho legs are covered with cotton
drawers made in the United States, and
the lower leg, from the ankle to the
knee, is thrust into the skin taken from
the foreleg of young horse. On the
feet are worn sandals made of woven
rope and canvas. Many of the more
prosperous Guachos wear top-boots
ornamented with unique devices, like
the cavaliers of old.
The soles of these sandals are about
half an inch in thickness. They are
valued at so cents per pair. As rule
the Guacho has silver enough on his
horse to buy an ordinary house and lot.
The stirrups, bit and bride are often
of solid silver. The Guacho standing
is measured in the camps by the amount
of silver on his horse and on person.
This dashing cavalier defends himself
only with knife. This is short and
shaped much like asmall butcher knife.
The blade is about six or eight inches
in length. They fight frequently
among themselves. These battles usu-
ally originate at a pul peria, or drink
ing place. The fire. water which causes
the combat is called cana. and is dis
titled from sugar cane in much the
same manner as your own whskey is
made. 1t is very pleasant liquor of
about one half the strength of Ameri-
can tanglefoot. 1t costs about 40 cents
a quart. This liquor is carried in glass
or leather covered bottles. At first the
Guachos are as friendly as brothers,
but as soon as the liquor begins to take
hold one will challenge the other to
mortal combat. The fight takes place
In the open air, and there is always a
large and interested crowd looking on.
The Guacho prepares himself for the
battle by wrapping his left hand in his
oncho. He folds it around his flesh,
covering up the left hand and the arm
up to the body. AS it is made usually
of the very finest material, this poncho
furnishes a shield which is rarely cut
through by the knife All the prelim-
inaries are settled in the most punctil-
Gus manner, and no unfair advantage
is taken by either.
Nobody intcrferes. When each has
arranged his curious shield to his liking
the Isft arms are thrust in front of the
body, the right foot is advanced, the
cleaning knives are raised over the ir
heads, and with mutual cry of
"Anear!" Qook out) they spring at each
other. After the fight is begun it u,u.
ally means death to one or both mon.
Agile and willy as panthers, those cruel
blades are driven through muscle and
bone until vital spot Is reached.
Sometimes the battle continues for half
an hour so expert are they in parrying
the deadly thrust with their poncho-
cove red left arms.