The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-10-15
QUEER GILLIAN HARNESS.
THE ACooUTREMENTs OF A TRANS
ANpEAN CARAVAN.

A Bride which Is Both whip and
Muzzle-High-Cu Cushioned Saddles
Enormous Wheel Spurs.
Our little caravan consisted OF six
mules-one for me, one for Benigno, one
for the baggage, two spare animals in
case of accident, and the "yegua mad
rina," or bell mule, which all the others
followed. The general order of march
was the Hmadrina," the spare mules, and
the baggage mule In the van, followed
by Benigno, who drove them on with
his lasso, and chased them back into the
path when they wandered away. A
short distance behind Benigno, my mule
stepped along at a rapid walking pace,
rarely breaking into a trot, and that
only when he saw that the others were
getting too far ahead. As for the accou-
trements, they presented some special
details worthy of notice.
The bride of both mules aud horses
in Che mountain districts of the Argen-
tine and of Chilli is provided not only
with a bit and curb, but also with
semi circular metal guard which covers
Iuc lips, anu StINtS lllC bOuDlC Dul DOoO
of protecting the nose of the animals in
case Of fall or slip in going up hill,
and at the same time preventing them
from drinking when they are fording
streams. This Chilian bit is formida-
BILE engine against which no animal can
rebel. The reins are generally made of
twisted strands of untanned leather,
finely plated in round lengths which are
Joined together with rings, while at
tached to the bride is a leather lash two
yards or two yards and a half long,
which takes the place of whip, and
which you whirl round as you would
whirl lasso, and thus deal very effica-
cious strokes across the fianks of recall
citrant beasts. This long lasso-lash is
especially useful when you meet another
troop of mules, or when you have to
spur and "whoop' your way through one
Of those herds of a thousand or fiji
teen hundred horned cattle which
are constantly being driven over the
mountains during the summer months,
and crowd the narrow path in an often
alarming manner.
The saddles used are the high-cush-
ioned Chilian or Mexican models, or,
more commonly, series of superposed
skins and cloths arranged somewhat in
the same manner as the ''recado" or sad
| die of the Argentine ''gaucho"-frst of
all, a cloth or some sheepskins, then
leather saddle, then a peaked wooden
frame called "bastos," to which the stir
rups are attached, and the whole held in
| place by belly band, and then over this
! two or three more sheepskins and a sad
die cloth, held in position by means of q
! broad surcingle This surcingle is not
provided with buckles, but simply with
rings and thongs, which are tied with
running knots, and so can be more read
lily loosened and tightened while the vari-
Gus elements of the saddle are being re-
composed-an operation which has to be
done from time to time during the days
march, especially when the road is pre-
cipitous. The stirrups are simply heavy
wooden shoes or sabots, always curiously
carved, and an excellent protection
against the powders and thorn-bushes
which line the mountain track. To the
inexperienced eye this equipment may
seem primitive and cumbersome, but in
reality every detail of it has its reason
and use. Indeed, as a general rule, we
may be sure that usages consecrated by
long tradition are not to be sneered at.
Even those enormous wheel spurs have
! their raison d'etre, which is not to hurt
the horse or mule-no spur is more HARM
less-but to assist the rider to sit in the
saddle with ease and cling more closely
to his horse. A Chilian does not feel his
equilibrium complete unless he wears a
pair of these big spurs, which are so ter
ribly embarrassing when he dismounts
and walks on terra tirma.
AS regards the baggage mule, bags,
trunks, and all sorts of luggage are piled
up on his back on pack saddle, and
tied on with long thongs of untanned
leather in such manner as to balance
we'll. Now, as the baggage mule tross
on in front, free to err little from the
path and snatch en- passage a sprlg of
vegetation, it often happens that he
abuses his privilege and runs up hill or
down hill some distance. Then he has
TO be driven back to the road. All this
ends by disturbing the equilibrium of the
cargo, and then the ''arriero" gallops up
to the baggage mule, dismounts with
agility, and throws his "poncho" over
the animals head. AS long as his head
is covered with the "poncho" the mule
remains still, aud recourse to this method
of blindfolding is had each time the mule
is loaded, and each time that the balance
needs to be re-established during the
days march. In fact it is one Of the lit
tie incidents of mountain travelling that
amuses the novice, for the aspect of a
mule with his head wrapped up in a
"poncho" has a certain element Of com