The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-06-14


sport may find both with the Patagonian
Welsh boys. A meet may be prearranged,
or a few hunt enthusiasts may happen to-
gether on cloudy afternoon in the harvest
season when they have nothing else to do.
The quarry is foxes and large species of
hare, and half dozen-of each for an after
Moons run is only a fair bag. Once fox or
hare is raised it takes only few minutes for
the dogs to run him down-but they are
lively minutesi
One day the meet was at the farm of
Hugh Hughes distant about Is miles from
the sea. The house was representative
dwelling, built of poor, homemade, half
baked brick, held together nominally by
little mud and mortar, in reality by virtue
of being laid in the gravity line. The house
contained two rooms, and mother earth
formed the only floor. About 20 riders
collected at1he door of this modest mansion,
in front Of which half dozen hungry-look-
ing dogs of no particular breed wandered
aimlessly to and fro. Two or three of the
party possessed dilapidated saddles. The
remainder had but sheepskins OF pieces of
bagging to interpose between themselves
and their horses backbones. Stirrups were
not IN vogue to any extent; some of the
men rode barefooted, and the brides were
mostly spot-made with bit of cord doing
service as reiDs. Many of the horses showed
an ear split in two These animals had been
trained by the Pehuelches, a tribe of Pata-
gonian Indians, who were excellent hunters
My steed wore a luxurant growth Of white
hair which curled and snarled at will, I'M
troubled by comb or brush. Her left ear
was split almost down to her head and she
had but one good eye. hunted on many
horses during my sojourn in this far land,
hut haffa a.
cared, One-eyed Whitley.
The country over which we hunted con-
tanned no hills, trees or water; no fences,
bitches or walls, but was irregularly cut up
by gullies and steep->ided ravines. The
only vegetation was cumps of thorny bushes
and little grass. The extremely loose soil
was composed Of sand, loan and countless
oyster-shells. Its general appearance GER
tainly sustained the opinion of the immortal
Darwin that this part of the world has been
terra frma for little more than 1000 years
1t was but short ride through a few
ravines and over hillock or two till we
started a fox, and then away we sped
am fair rough rider, but unfortunately
was not accustomed to Patagonian methods.
tried to run straight after the game and TO
jump the one-eyed mare over the bushes,
bot she only crashed through them, and
blood, while my clothing was sadly torn,
and my cuticle showed many a scratch and
scrape. Presently the bit Of cord which
composed my reins broke, and my white
steed proceeded TO initiate me into her
native mode of hunting These Indian
horses need but to see the object of the
chase, and they rush after il with the i'm
petuosity of so many dogs, apparently as
much interested in the race as their riders
We lodged in an amazing fashion around
All obstacles, the mare turning short, now to
the right and now TO the left with lightning
rapldlty, and sometimes piyOting On her
hind legs through an arc Of almost 60 de-
grees. Though was totally unused to such
work / had no choice, for my reins were
gone. As / was without stirrups, it re-
quired tight grip, careful poise and instant
response TO unexpected twists TO avoid being
thrown beadlOng. The mad race continued
for perhaps five minutes, when finally the
mare, bridleless, and with the alleged saddle
turned under her belly, carried me to the
dogs just as they ran up TO their fox. The
last few rods Of the ride covered with only
one leg over her back and with my hand
fast gripping her tangled name.
When she stopped landed in a sitting
posture among dogs and fox, and had barely
time TO get clear of crowd of wild Welsh
Aauo nho came charging down In confused
mass upon me, yelling like demons and
pulling and tearing at each other and each
others horses. i am alive to tell the tale,
but have had a six-minute lesson in riding
never forgot. From that day hunting Ia
Pehuelche Indian offered not the slightest
difficulty.
After / had made a new bride we con-
tlnned the hunt and captured five hares and
three foxes that afternoon. There is no
difference in the manner of running down
these two creatures. and one affords Just as
much sport as the other. The flesh of the
hare is dry.
Two or three miles beyond the river the
country, which is more open and level and
less cut up, forms favorite haunts for os-
tEiches and guanacos. These are either
staiked Or run down with horses and dogs.