The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-30
TAIL TWISTING ON THE oRINoco.
Cowboys in Venezuela who Have No Need Of
CainG the Lasso.

Cowboys In venezuela VINO toVO NO Neeu Oh
Using the Lasso.
"On the upper waters Of the Orinooo River in
Venezuela Is O region of high, open plains called
llanos. where wild cattle graze in countless
thousands" said Sidney Ascot. recently arrived
in New York from South America. MANY Of
these cattle have no owner. but, for the most
part, they bear one or another mans brand,
President Crespo being the largest individual
owner. The vaqueros that herd them have
ways different from any other cowboys that I
have seen in North or South America. Tho
Venezuelan vaquero carries no lasso. and
his saddle has no horn In front such as on
the Mexican, the Texan. and the Gaucho sad
die serves as q Delaying pin for the lasso
after the moose has been thrown about o
creatures neck or legs. In other respects no is
O regulation South American cowboy, with
Jacket, wide-brimmed hat, slashed trousers,
and q knife handy to get at. His horse is q
wiry. nervous pony. moro docile Of temper than
bronchos in general, and he rides him well.
Slung from his saddle or tied about his own
body are several strong thongs Of rope or
leather, used in tying cattle, and sometimes a
rope with which to picket his horse out to
Craze, though oftener the horse is merely
hobbled by tying together his fore legs.
"When the Venezuelan cowboy wishes to
catch a bull or COW for branding. or for any pur-
pose. he rides alongside 1t and, with horse and
cattle on the dead-run. stoops from his saddle,
grasps the creatures tail, and, with a sharp. Pc
culiar twist, sends the animal rolling on its back.
From the force with which 1t falls, the creatures
horns almost invariably pin its head to tho
ground. giving tho vaquero time to dismount
and sit on its head, holding the animal helpless
to rise, while a companion ties its legs. Tho
cattle of the Ianos are large and active, with
sharp, widespreading horns. A mounted man
they fear, but q man on foot on q plain where
they are Is in great danger from them. They do
not attack him, but. moved by curiosity. they
crowd about him until he is trampled to death.
"It is an exciting scene. the driving Of the
cattle selected for export aboard the steamers
that como up the Or1noco for them. The water
of this river deepens rapidly from the shore 30
that the boats can lie close to the bank. A chute
is rugged from the bank to the boat. with fences
on the shore converging to 1t in a V shape. Tho
vaqueros hold the cattle together. and drive
them on toward the chute. II one of the ami
mails can be driven upon tho chute the others
press after, crowding one another along into
the cattle quarters until tho boats load
e made mp, Ellis Grell, the cattle king Of
. vsRfs1if n be hss a to t5a f ! VIA "a t shat Is sb OF sF tSs
boats. He. is already within, the fences when
the herd Is driven In. and he leads the way
He passes through the cattle quarters out upon
the afforded 6y a passage which is immedl.
tlnue to file into the hold until 1t is filled:
During the rainy season many cattle arc
e ereMnf inu ny staae9 Of ri oeso BE- 'h iss seSer 1hs m the the
Orinoco waters rose ninety-two feet-the highest
rise recorded since tho seventeenth, century-,so
many cattle were drowned that their floating
bodies stopped navigation on tho river, the up
ward bound steamer having to lay up at Boii.
var until the caroasses had drifted past. The
Captain of the steamer Caratal describes the ap.
pearance OF the drowned cattle he encountered
ming with the current, For weeks the air was
noisome with tho stencil Of dead cattle caught
Turtles. alligators. garfish. caribe fish gorged
upon the, carcasses, and vast numbers OF ynl'
lures and buzzards came into the valley. What
with on the subsistence OF the waters.
Tho ranchmen Of the upper Orinoco are tho
best fighting men In Venezuela, and in the revo-
take up arms for is almost surely a winner. Liv-
ing In a region where cattle and horses are plen.
tiful and low in value, they have primitive and
CRY at a ranch, and II meat 10 not already in the
the head. The animals hide. is taken OF. a few
the carcass is left for the v%ultures; Equally
primitive. and illustrative of the spirit
OF comfy among Inc rancheros, Is their
Bolivar and Caracas; The old Spanish
road, q fairly we!l-constructed highway, con-
meets the two cities. The ranchero, starting, for
instance. from Bolivar, with one horse. rides the
animal until it Is tired out, then catches an
other horse from the herds that feed along the
roadside and turns his own loose TO find its way
hack home. The same Ia. done with q third
horse when the second has been tired down. and
this thing Is repeated throughout the Journey,
each horse turned loose finding is way back 70
journey OF 400 miles 10 thus quickly made, with
the advantage TO the Traveller OF fresh remountl
as often rs ~ may wish"