The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-11

therefore located only by inference and tradi-
ton. 1t is probable. however. that the island
was explored not long after the year 1900. for
old records In the peninsula show that the first
land grant there was made to William Eppes
on Feb. 8. 1926. and the second to Nicholas
Hoskins OF Accomack yeoman." two DAYS
later. The peninsula was therefore already
settled at that time. and doubtless the island
was visited by the first settlers
The early settlers in Virginia had only such
horses as they brought from tine old country.
and the existence here at an early day OF an
isolated herd the only one in the country SO
far as any one knew at that time. was n matter
that must have brought many horse hunters to
the island.
The ponies were we'll worth coming for.
Tough. strong. and wiry. they were easily do
mesticated. and once broken to saddle or har-
ness. gave excellent service to their owners by
day and "rustled for their feed at night" as a
Western man would say. Where they came
from originally Is a mystery. The guessers OF
the country say they think a snip In the days
ofQueen Elizabeth must have sailed for some OF
Sir Walter Raleigh's settlements with a cargo
OF horses and failing to make andfall at the
capes. stranded on Assateague Island. as the
long sandbar outside OF Chincoteague is called.
They guess that the crew and passengers es-
capped and were carried to the settlements by
tTlbO Oh tOCuuOnthS, anu LndL Ln6 nOTSgS
jumped overheard and made themselves as
comfortable as the CIRCUMSTANCES would per-
NIT on Assateague beach and Chincoteague
Island. Then. because those circumstances
were not always suited to horse nature. be-
cause northeasters laden with snow aud sleet
would sweep down on the island. and because
the glades froze over and snow covere tho
grass In winter. 80 that leedd, was scarce. tho
into the pony OF which there Is tolerable trust
worthy tradition as lar back as 1850, But, II
m Ia md w a nj ht,lN in
the ancient days cared to know about him. He
could endure all the Work and III usage his
captors chose to bestoW upon him. and that
Naturally. in their trips to ChincotoaGue for
. Roodly land for a pioneer. The sea lay list
beyond to temper tne cold OF winter and the
pine here then as now it i, said. but only ~
prairies and bushes around the glades. No
clearing OF land had to be done. Tho soil was
virginans cultivated, The fish the shelshS.
and the game as already mentioned, wero
and Sle pioneers had to live greRariously for
protection from the Indians, Chipco,euGue re.
permanent settlements were made in Virginia.
But when danger from the Indians was over q
few settlers came across. and. having obtained
grants OF land. erected homes and appropriated
mainland thereafter wanted a pony it had 10 10
one thought Of collecting the herd Into nm en-
closure. The ponies roamet about over the
HlohuOWb anu tlHu6S lis before.
In the course OF time however. the natives
began TO assert private ownership as against
one another and 10 then distinguish the differ
ent members OF the herd every pony was
caught and branded. Out OF this grew Gus
tom that has made Chincoteague famous al
oyer the peninsula between tho Delaware and
Chesapeake Bays. and still further inland the
custom OF haEIng an annual roundup and
market day Month In and month out. hoi or
cold. storm or shine, the ponies are unm0!ested
In their Wanderings about the island Fences
save Whore corn and potato patches exist
about the cabins, have been practically un-
known until recently. The meadows furnished
me ponies with grass the brush with browse
the glades with water and the nine forests
which spread to tho island from the mainland
little over a hundred years ago. with -he,ter
but IN August comes the roundup The an
nual product OF colts must be capture |, nppor-
Toned. and branded. The whole herd must
therefore be cOrialled
Inc natives begin the work by building n
pen o. rails large enough 20 hold all the ponies
IN the Island and mole too IL WAS alwuvS In
tt3lner days built on a level piece Of ground on
Ins peach near where he steamer wharf now
stands butnOw near Ragged T., int. at tho north
e ina, or on AssatGague The fence Is generally
ION ION ten 70 twelve rails high, and u wide opcn-
uERuaIoen by two posts IL loft on one side, 10
,uSoeyontnally closed bv large gates. Then on
dno uty eel me entire population turns out and
NJ. ohs on men aud boys, mounted on tame no.
W., H9e on 10 gather in the herd In August.
m noh we roundup takes place. such clouds OF |
nv oss!Hltoes as can be found nowhere else rise |
tln9 Rlhdes, and the ponies take a. the hills,
yrs uIue tWelVe'ioot elevations are called, |