The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-07-30
GAUCHOS OF THE PLAINS
THE SOUTH AMERICAN HERD
Frs AND THEIR HABITS.
They Live In the Saddle and Are Almost
Free OF Allegiance to Any Ono
The Companion of Their
Lives, n Knife.

leads wilder life than the herdsman
OF the pampas. or vast plains OF Ar
gentine. Uruguay and Para quay and
the state OF Rio Grande do Sui in Bra
I'll.
His domain stretches from the
mouth OF the mighty Rio da la Plata
to the foot OF the snow-capped Andes
and has been appropriately likened to
vast sea OF level country.
The gaucho has Spanish blood in
his veins says the New York Herald.
and has splendid physique which is
displayed to the finest advantage on
horseback. He is almost free Of al
legiance to any one
BY turns herdsman and breeder.
he may sell his land to any OF tho
states that border on the pampas. He
Is a born fighter and his red poncho
or cloak Is known to and feared by
all.
His hut is built OF the stalks Of gil
ant thistles. which cover the plains
at certain seasons OF tho year. Some
times the building is merely roof
less Enclosure. surrounded with
hedges OF cacti which serve to keep
out the gaucho's fercest enemy. the
Penhuenches or pampas Indians
The usual dress OF the gaucho is
white shirt wide trousers we'll laced.
a rich poncho over his shoulders.
boots OF polished leather with enor-
nous spurs. and wide brimmed hat
with fantastic band. In his hand
he invariably carries rebenque or
cattle whip of cowhide, with handle
of massive silver to enable him to
gain frmer grip.
This is fhe well -to-do gaucho's at
tire. Not all can afford it Like the
Indian. the gaucho seems to live most
of the time on horseback. His sad
die then is his pillow and his poncho
is his sole covering.
His children are left to swing from
the roof OF his cacti Enclosed hut in an
odd-looking cradle OF bullocks hide.
The four corners OF the cradle are
drawn together by strips OF the hide
As soon as the child can walk his
mother gives him a sharp knife foot
long to play with.
All through life the knife figures in
the gaucho's existence. He wears it
conspicuously at all times and is quick
to 20 it. His child is taught to ride
almost before he learns to walk. AS
he gets older his principal amusements
are tanning ferocious colts and lassoing
dogs and birds
In many instances the gauchos trace
descent from prominent Spanish fam
lilies. Their wild lives on the pampas
however. separate them from the
civilization which exists In the South
American republics Their religious
tendencies are strong, and In almost
every gaucho hut may be found a
small image or picture given to the
doza or Cordoba.
When traveller arrives at gaucho
habitation after bed time the custom
Is for him to throw his saddle, or
recado next to one OF the sleepers
All that he can see Is lot of bare
feet and ankles
The guests supper Is cooked on a
big iron spit and he is cordially in
vlted to seat himself on the skeleton
OF q horses head to enjoy it. The
members OF the family sit around on
similar stools and with long knives
cut largo mouthfuls from the roasted
haunch.
The hut Is lighted by lamp made
| Of bullock tallow and the visitor can
see his brides. spurs and lassos hung
from pegs OF bone on the walls. The
free and easy life seems to agree with
the children. who are plump good
natured and black-eyed.
They do not bother their heads
much about clothing and playfully
fight while they eat Meanwhile the
fowl perched in a corner. looks down
upon the diners. The gaucho never
turns a wayfarer from his humble hut
and is open harded in his hospitality.
His endurance is wonderful. He will
ride thirty leagues day without
showing fatigue. and will brand cattle
from sunrise to sunset without eating
a mouthful OF food
Occasionally after nightfall he will
ride to some lonely pulperia or drink
ing shop to pass away a few hours
with boon companions. Music and
dancing are always furnished by the
proprietor. 1t Is at these fandagos
that hot word or jealous look will
bring two gauchos face to face with
the ever-ready knife drawn. When
these dances are most unrestraine1 il
is not unusual for two swarthy rivals
to sing verses about each other to
the accompaniment OF guitar
while q crowd OF their com.
panions form circle around
the wall OF the drinking place.
The spectators vigorously applaud
each hit made by the contestants as
verse follows verse. The singers
drink cana, native wine. until II
affects one OF them SO much that he
resorts to bitter taunts. which are re-
piled to In the same spirit The in
evitable row follows. Each rival
draws his knife 1t Is then war To
the death. And some friend OF the
one who Is killed carries the dead man
home strapped to his horse When he
wants to mount he places one end oil
his lance on the ground beside the
animal. catches the weapon with one
hand at point above his head and
with dexterous spring seats him sell