The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1894-06-15
THE MEXICAN RoDEo.
ANNUAL ROUNDUP IN SOUTH
ERIN CALIFORNIA.


An old time Mexican rode6. or
OF cattle Is still to be soon
In the distinctively Mexican settle-
ments OF Southern California. but, OF
course, on not so grand scale us In
tho primitive days when the ranches
were much more extensive than they
are now. In those days Mexican and
Indian vaqueros were employed In
grcat numbers and whose daily &C.
cupation was merely to ride around
over tho vast estates and Craze the
cattle, or rather to koop track OF
them so that they may not stray
upon another ranchor's land. But,
as rancher usually had from ono
to seven Leagues Of land, his cattle
had sufficient stamping ground.
Tho rodeo is held in the spring of
tho year for the purpose OF branding
and claiming the calves OF tho sea.
son. selecting boef cattle for tho
market and that each nelghboring
rancher may select his own and
drive him home. Tho San Juan
Capistrano valley is tho most dis
tinctively Mexican settlement in
Southern California.
Tho rodeo usually lasts d week.
sometimes much longer 1t begins
at stated ranch and 10 continued
throughout that cattle district until
each ranch has had Its rodco--the
word properly meaning "the place
where cattle arc gathered II is
sometimes on the style OF u progress
sive euchro party In its ficmadic
rounds. For example, tho "Jueces
del Campo decides that the rodeo
shall begin ut the ranch OF Scnor
Avila, and then he designates each
succeeding ranch In tho district
ending with that oil. Senior Arrillaga.
whore the final fandango takes place,
Each ranch has n corral. located on
plain, from 100 to 200 feet square,
formed by driving timbers in
the earth, standing closely together,
leaving them six or eight toot in
height. just beyond tho jumping
powers OF the cattle. In less wooded
sections, like tho San Juan valley,
tho corral is formed by stones, COW
cred by cactus brush; some are adobe
walls, surmounted with fence OF
cattle heads, retaining the horns set
upright, ono upon another, forming
u workable bulwark. The vaqueros.
who have been out herding tho cat
tic, drive thcm to the corral, where
they enter u gate at ono corner, and
whom all have passed in tho gate Is
closed, leaving only n small opening
Tor ono to pass out at time. In
order to induce tho cattle to enter
one OF them has been lassoed and
tied to n stake in tho center OF tho
corral, us II he wero to DO offered up
as n sacrifice. In short timc he
begins 20 paw and below. and tho
herd rush In to SEQ wnat Ia the mat
ter.
Whom grown cattle are to be
branded. they must first bs lassoed,
says tho Philadelphia Times. They
are stampedod; the hcrdsmcn start
in full chase. yelling as II chasing
Indians. One OF them throws tbs
lasso over tho horns, others at the
loot, and Mt n signal cry each stops
his horse short bracing himself
backward. and In moment tho loop
becomes taut and tho animal Is en-
shared. II either misses his aim he
is the subject OF ridlculc. The horses
are specially trained to stand firm
on thcir hindmost feet. when the
rider presses the flank with his legs.
which no does at tho moment OF
throwing the loop This firm stand
OF the horse brings tho bovine up
with short turn and sometimes
throws him head over heels, or heels
over head. The horses TANKS are
protected from the cattle by lcathcrn
amor. Tho herdsmen have thick
wooden stirrups and lcathern armor
Tor ,hc legs. Tho lasso is made firm
to ring In the saddle girth and
aftor having thrown IL tho rider has
only to keep his seat and hold on TO
the pommcl OF the side, which Is
made very high for that purpose
tho horse does tho rest
After each vaquoro has "weeded''
out his cattle they are driven to that
particular ranch. and on tho morrow
the same ceremony Is gone through
with a the next ranch. and so on
throughout tho cattle circuit
At tho conclusion OF each days
rodoo aud slaughter there Is "blg
iccd. - A long table runs the entire
length of tho adobe building. con.
tanning the hottest Of Mexican dishes
(Chili peppers being the predominant
ing ilayor) and variety OF native
wines. distilled on the promises and
mollowed by age-puro AS the rcd
grape juice can mako H. II Is
noticeable TO Amoricanos that condi-
mcuts are not TO DO found ON Mcxi.
can tables. Tho dishes AFRO seasoned
by tho culinary artist. and II IL con
sidcred reflection upon his ability
TO add seasoning TO II dish. Bu,
those dishes AFRO invariably no,
enough for tho Amerlcnnos.
These rodoos are usually foasts 81
everyone In tho noighborhood at.
tending and many OF them make tho
circuit The senior OF the ranch on.
tortains all who come. and OF course
without charge. There arc twenty OF
thirty herdsmcn, cach with throo OF
four horses. aud tho proprietor O
each ranch In the district, with al,
sons and perhaps their friends This.
In addition to tho populaco oi
tho neighborhood. makes n good.
sized crowd. But there is plenty fol
nil nnd II Is tho pride OF tho Mcxi
can hldalgo to count his guests by
tho hundred.
In the late afternoon the young
souors and senorltas begin TO nocl
In. There IL TO DO fandango-t
free for.all dance. They have an OPP
portunity to dance their natloua
caohucn and La Joia TO tho sweet
tones Of tho violin. guitar and harp
And thus ends tho days roundup.