Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-25
Riding in Chilli.
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Harpers Magazine.
Our little caravan consists of SIX mules
one for me, one for Benigno, one for the
baggage, two spare animals in case of ac-
cldent, and the ''yegua madrlna, or bell
mule, which all the others follow. The
general order of march was the mad
rina, 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 awa;. A short distance behind
Benigno, my mule stepped along at a
rapid walking pace, rarel y breaking into
trot, and that only when he saw that the
others were getting too far ahead. AS for
the accoutrements, they presented some
special details worthy of notice. The
bride of both mules and horses in the
mountain districts of the Argentine and
of Chill is provided not only with bit
and curb, but also with a semicircular
metal guard which covers the lips, and
serves the double purpose 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 Gillian bit is
a formidable engine against which no ami
mails can rebel. The reins are generally
made of twisted strands of Unframed
leather, finely plated in round lengths
which are joined together with rings,
while attached to the bride is leather
lash two yards or two yards and half
long, which takes the place of whip, and
which you whirl round rs you would whirl
lasso, and thus deal very efficacious
strokes across the TANKS of the recalcitrant
beasts. This long lasso-ldsh 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 fifteen hundred
horned cattle which are constantly being
driven over the mountains during the sum-
mer mcnths, and crowd the narrow path
in an often alarming manner The sad
dies used are the aforementioned CHILEAN
or Mexican models. or, more commonly, a
series of superposed skins and cloths ar
ranged somewhat in the same manner as
the ''racado'' or saddle 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 stirrups are attached, and the
whole held in place by belly-band, and
then over this two or three more sheep
skins and a sadde-cloth held in position
by means of a board surcingle. This sur
cingle is not provided with buckles, but
simply pith rings and thongs, which are
tied with running knots, and so can be
loosened and frightened while the various
elements of the saddle are being recon-
posed ansoperation which has to be done
from time to time during the days march,
especially when the road is precipitous.
The stirrups are simply heavy wooden
shoes or sabots. always crrlously 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 lii reality every de-
tail 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 enor
nous wheel spurs have their raison d etre,
which is not to hurt the horse or mule-no
rider to sit in the saddle with ease and
cling more closely to his horse. A CHILEAN
does not feel his equili brium complete un-
til he wears palr, OF these big spurs,
which are so terribly embarrassing when
ne dismounts and walks on terra frma.
AS regards the baggage mule, bags, trunks
diles OH SUI 10 VI luS SdSC c1S PhiCN ~ VII
his back on a pack-saddle, and tied on
with long thongs of uutanned leather in
such a manner as to balance well. Now,
as the baggage mule trots on in front free
to err little from the path and snatch en-
passage sprig of vegetation, it often hap
ems that he abuses his privilege and runs
up hill or down hill some distance. Then
he has to be driven back to the road AL
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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 re-
mains still, and recourse to this method OF
blindfolding is had'each time the mule is
loaded and any time that The balance
needs to be re-established during the day, S
march In fact it is one of the little Incl
dents of mountain travelling that amuses
the novice for the aspect Of mule with
his head wrapped up in a ''poncho" has a
certain element Of comicality.