Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-07-29
GAUCHOS OF THE PLAINS
THE SOUTH AMERICAN HERD
ERS AND THEIR HABITS.
They Live In the Saddle and Are Almost
Free of Allegiance to Any One
The Companion OF Their
Lives, q Knife.

There is no being. perhaps who
leads wilder life than the herdsman
OF the pampas, or vast plains OF Ar
gentine Uruguay and Paraguay and
the state OF Rio Grande do Sui in Bra
iii.
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
a 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 the
states that border on the pampas. He
is II born fighter and his red ponchO
or cloak Is known to and feared by
all
| His hut is built OF the stalks OF gi-
| ant thsties which cover the plains
at certa seasons OF the year. Some
times the building is merely roof.
hedges OF cacti which serve to keep
out the gaucho's fiercest enemy the
Penhuenches or pampas Indians.
The usual dress OF the gaucho is q
white shirt. wide trousers we'll laced.
a rich poncho over his shoulders
boots Of polished leather with enOr-
nous spurs. and q wide brimmed hat
with fantastic band. In his hand
he invariably carries rebenque or
cattle whip OF cowhide. with u handle
of massive silver to enable him to
gain a firmer grip
This is the we'll -to.do gaucho's at
tire. Not oil 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 arc left to swing from
the roof OF his cacti Enclosed hut in an
odd looking cradle OF bullock's 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 a foot
long TO play with.
All through life the knife figures in
the gaucho's existence. He wears it
nspicuously at all times and Is quick
to u 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
small image or picture given to the
owner by one OF the priests Of Men,
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 n lot of bare
feet and ankles.
The guests supper is cooked on a
big iron spit and he is cordially in
vited to seat himself on the skeleton
of horses head to enjoy it. The
members OF the family sit around on
similar stools and with long knives
cut large mouthfuls from the roasted
haunch.
The hut is lighted by lamp made
OF bullock tallOw and the visitor can
sec 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 corner looks down
upon the diners. The gaucho never
turns 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
mouthful OF food
Occasionally after lightfall he will
ride to some lonely pulperia or drink
ing shop to pass away few hours
with boon companions. Music and
uisuciuS dTc utWoyo iutuioHeu ny 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 unrestraineJ it
is not unusual for two swarthy rivals
TO sing verses about each other TO
the accompaniment OF n guitar
while a 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 sing srs
drink cana native wine, until 1t
affects one o them so muc that he
resort TO bitter taunts which are re-
piled to in tho same spirit The in
eyitable row follows. Each rival
draws his knife " Is then war to