Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-06

wear as well as furs, and nothing can be so
beautiful for soft coverings. carriage robes
or rugs.
Arrived at the Polanco, we find the Chill
can caballeros (gentlemen) out in full force
on their Prancing nags, exhibiting horse
mansnlp OF which they have good reason to
be proud. In this country horses are sell
dom broken to harness, all the teaming and
hauling being done with oxen. The gear of
the Chilean gentleman's SADDLE horse'is a
most curious and complicated affair. The
bit is long, heavy, fiat piece of iron, which
rests on the horses tongue and presses
against the roof of the mouth. At each end
is hole, through which is passed long
iron ring about four inches in diameter,
which encircles the lower Jaw At each
side of the mouth is placed another iron
ring, to which the reins are fastened. The
entire mouth rigging weighs about five
pounds, and if suddenly jerked Is powerful
enough to break any animals Jaw. The
reins are made of finely braided hide or
horse hair, and are Joined together when
they reach the pommel of the saddle, ter
minating in long lash called chicote, at
the end of which is a small piece of lead,
usually hidden in handsome tasseL
CRUEL TO THEIR HORSES.
When not in use, the chicote hangs down
the flank of the horse, often dragging on
ground. Its load of lead is usually heavy
enough to furnish weapon of defense and
offense as formidable as slug shot, and the
poor horse is beaten numerically with it.
These soft-voiced, mild-mannered and ex-
cessively polite Chiienos are as cruel to
beasts as to men. Horses are so cheap that
even beggars may ride. A good native
broncho can be bought for S5 and his owner
knows no mercy. The beasts are driven un-
til they drop and then fresh ones are sub
jected to the same treatment. No care is
taken to protect domestic animals or to
make them comfortable. Although the
winters in this latitude are cold to degree
OF ice and snow, stables for horses and cattle
are unknown. When their days labor Is
done they are turned into corral, or
pasture, or the street, to seek their own
food, and every year thousands OF them die
FROM overwork and starvation.
1 have seen number of fancy bits made
of solid silver and brides plated with gold,
with reins made of golden wire. Sonora
Cousino-the wealthiest widow in South
America-has one that is said to have cost
$500. Those costing 1900 or more are
common in Santiago. The Chilean saddle
is even more queer and complicated than
the bride. First half dozen sheepskins
are piled, one above another, on the horses
back; a leather strap is passed around them
and firmly secured. Then comes sort of
skeleton saddle, or rather piece of wood
cut into the shape of o saddle tree with
cantle at each end; on top of this are piled
any number of sheepskins, or, if the owner
is rich enough, rare and costly furs furnish
the seat, which is called montura- The
four corners are fastened down by broad
bands Of canvas or leather.
STATION AND SILVER
In Chile it is distinctly understood that
the amount of silver on mans riding out
fit indicates his station in life and naturally
there is good deal of competition in that
objection among the swell caballeros
While the poor mans stirrup is a rude
affair, hewed by hand out of a block of
wood, as above described, his aristocratic
neighbor uses one quite as heavy, but much
more ornamental, made of brass or silver,
usually in the shape of a slipper. Those
designed fer ladies are often made of solid
silver, beautifully chased, and are a favor
lite gift. English manufacturers are able to
produce these equestrian adornments SO
much cheaper than the native workmen,
who have no labor saving machines, that
nearly all are imported.
his legs are entirely concealed by the furs
aud sheep skins. If going on journey, he
wears on his back poncho, which bears no
closer resemblance to that of the quaso than
does the rest ofhis outfit. 1t is about the
,ize of the rubber blankets used in the
United States and is woven of vicuna hair,
Or 1ambing wool, which keeps the wearer
,ool, for the suns rays cannot penetrate it,
md warm by night. 1t answers as well for
In umbrella as for an overcoat and sheds
;he rain better than rubber, because the oil
ass not been extracted from the wool. The
Ficuna (the Andean goat) is yearly becom-
ng more scarce and nowadays good poncho
made of its hair is as rare as a camel's hair
Ihawl, which it somewhat resembles, and is
worth from $3.50 to $500. Thus you see that
| fully equipped saddle horse for a Chilean
,abal1ero, with silver spurs, vicuna poncho,
,old or silver mounted saddle and bride.
,tc., represents an investment of 50, 900 or
more. 1t is considered the height of vul-
rarity among the aristocracy to use COM
non English saddlery and new ponchos, for
n their families those almost indestruct-
Ible articles have been handed down from
generation to generation, growing more
7aluable with age and usage.
TRAFFIC BY LANTERN LIGHT.
Returning to the city in the twilight, we
lotice that each squatting street merchant
las lighted tiny lantern and will doze
,ver his wares till bed time. The police |
.re being detailed to their different beats |
or the night. They are divided into two |
orces, the Vigilantes, who preserve order
Turing the day, and the Serenos, who watch |
" night. Some are mounted, and all are
rmed with sabers and uniformed in coarse
,lue cloth. On no account is q Serene al |
owed to leave his beat until a comrade has
to his whistle. A householder
nay send him in greatest haste to call a
riest or physician; but if either reside
utside his particular district, he must pass
he message along through his next COM
ade. After 10 o'clock he cries the hours
throughout the night in a prolonged sing
ong tone; and the presence of a belated
erson is announced by shrin whistle,
ounding from Serene to Serene, to put ali
n the alert.
And, oh, the dogs! they are the pests of
be city-of all kinds and colors, from the
ny Lucia poodle, parlor pet which is
-ashed and brushed every morning, to the
omeless mongrels of NANCY aspect and
icious propensities. They prowl about
he streets and sleep in doorways, and hum
reds that have no masters gather their
bod by night from the city offal. One day,
, our horror, donkey fell dead in front
f our door, VIC wondered why the au-
lorities did not Immediately remove the
arcass; but their negligence was explained
hen horde of half-perished dogs pounced
pom it, and in few hours no trace of the
eceased animal remained.
FANNIE B. WARD.