The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-03
HIS POWER OVER HORSES.
Unexplained Feats of a Plainsman in
Venezuela.

at IS not until you have got beyond the
coast levels 70 the pampas country that
YOU catch the stern realities OF Venezue-
Ian life" said Wesley G. Malcolm, who
for many years bought hides and rubber
on commission In South America. Near
the sea ievels, where most foreigners
make their homes, you hnd the soft. lux
urious. charming manner OF living Tor
which the people of Venezuela are noted.
When YOU have travelled two or three
DAYS tourney inland from Caracas OF
Angostura, and have come TO the pampas
country, you are among quite dluerent
people and surround.ne8. You ind there.
as in the lower Orin0co Valley. the jag
uar. the boa constructor, and the croco-
ollie and besides these Tie puma, the GAM
rattlesnake, and the deadly matacaDallo'
There upon the plains and savannas the
uaneros, the cowboys Of the pampas
watch the herds OF half Wild cattle and
round them up IN the rodeo Tor brand
inf, or shipment 1hesC lanerOs are the
lighting men of Venezuela, and whoever
can start a revolution with them at his
back Is fairly certain % win.
ct was among such scenes and people
that I met Pablo MetanarmO. the horse
tanner, in the Apure river country at
little village called Paranho. My horse
strayed away In the night, and when !
told Of my loss the head man In the VII
lage sent for Pablo Metanarmo. In
few minutes Pablo appeared. stoutly
built, chocolate-tinted man, with Ions
black hair, just a little kinky. by this,
l saw that he was a zamDo' OF mlAeh
negro and Indian blood. He was not an
alert or intelligent looking man-rather
the contrary-and the only popularity
that / observed in his appearance was IN
his ewes. which suggested those or
sleepv wild beast. When the head man
told him that he wanted 10 find the
horse. he went 10 whore the animal had
been picketed. examined the tracks, and
followed them a short distance.
"He has strayed away OF his own Will
he said. He has not been stolen
Then I described the horse TO him.
and he said:
to-day. II he has Joined the wild horses
- He shrugged his shoulders ana held
up successfully two, three. four, up 10
seven fingers. signifying that l might get
The horse az any time from two days 10
a week. I aid not feel much couraged
for nv horse had originally been a wild
horse OF the pampas, and / knew that he
would be hard 10 catch IN any event.
Pablo rode out OF the village half an hour
an old scrub OF a horse and he came back
at sundown leading my horse and driv-
ing before him two other estrays that he
had picked up on the way home. He had
captured him fifteen miles away. near
the place where he came upon him. The
horse was fresh and evidently had let the
zambo catch him without a run
hut how this had been brought,
about Pablo would not tell. The
head man told me that undoubtedly
an he had done was 10 circle around 10
the further side Of my horse when he
came in sight of him then picket his own
horse and lie down near him, and walt
until my horse came up 10 be caught.
"'Your horse, being pampero and at
large would not approach you or me.
or let us catch him until we ran him
down with relays. the head man said
.Rut with Pablo II Is different He has
but 10 cali the animals. and they will
come.
This episode made me acquainted with
Pablo Metarnarmo. and as was in this
region for a considerable part OF the next
three years. I saw him often. and heard
a great deal more OF his exploits in beast
tanning. He lived most OF the time at
the Delgado ranch, on the iuanaparo
River. which was my usual stopping
place when / rode north Of Caracas