The Republican journal., 1904-09-15


horses and wooded sheep, which
were first introduced for cavalry and
food purposes, increased marvelously
and spread themselves in a half-wild
state over the limitless plains. By and
by landed proprietors possessed tracts,
called estancias, large as principalities,
without building on them but the
mud huts of the herdsmen, the only in
habitants, who were ALMOST as little
domesticated as the cattle which were
their companions. On these lands not
tree was planted nor vegetable
grown nor an Improvement" made
beyond the huts aforesaid, an occasion
al corral and sometimes a wide, deep
ditch, like a medieval moat, dug
around the corral as defense against
marauding Indians. When the cattle
increased beyond the requirements of
the colonists, their hides only furnish
ed an article of commerce. and the re-
mainder of the carcass rotted in the
sun for want of an industry to utilize
it. The scanty population literally
lived on horse back, men, women and
children. They moved in almost limit
less space with the tlocks and herds,
finding food everywhere. Their lassoes
and bolas gave them nearly all that was
required, and few cattle owners cared
to prevent, even had it been possible,
the appropriation of now and then an
animal by rowing Gauchos. Thus it
came about that immense districts fell
under the rule of half military Gaucho
have been principal actors in the con-
stantly recurring revolutions.
The Gaucho chief who could collect
around his standard number of lesser
chiefs, with their impressed bands of
lance-armed Gauchos was more power
full than the colonial governor, or even
the President of the republic, and
might swoop down at any moment and
overturn the government There was
once Gaucho President in Argentina,
Don Manuel Rosas, who ruled the
country with despotism of blood and
terror for almost quarter of century
Cup to 1852, and who is seldom referred
to at this late day without a shudder,
for the blows his cruel hand inflicted
upon the ancient aristocracy are still
visible. He was the son of wealthy
Spaniard who exercised a patriarchial
sway over the serfs on his boundless
estates; and as young Rosas grew
up he became leader of the Gauchos
the war Of 1929. Having become a
Gaucho leader, it was an easy step to
the presidency of the republic, and
thence to the self-appointed office of
Dictator, in defiance of the constitu-
ton. He maintained his power by the
loyalty of rowing compatriots, of whom
the towns people lived in perpetual
dread, and by the help of a band Of Sc
cret assassins called moSoroqueros, like
the Danites of old time Mormondom,
to execute his designs. BY his com
mand blood flowed like water; neither
age nor sex was spared, and the official
history Of Argentina shows that nearly
$4,000 citizens fell victims to his ambi-
ton, revenge or caprice. He caused all
the money coined during his admins
tration to be stamped with his portrait
and inscribed ''The Eternal ROsas. -
But, fortunately for the country, he
was not eternal. Overthrow in 1862,
he narrowly escaped the fury of the
populace by 1leeing in the dead of night
with his favorlte daughter, Manulita,
both disguised as English sailors, to an
English man-of-War that CHANGED to lie
in the harbor.
No sight can be more picturesquely
savage than a review of Gaucho SOL
diers. When Gen. UrquiZa was Presi-
dent he had an army of $4,000 of them.
The chiefs were allowed to dress as
they pleased, and thus great rivalry
dlOSc UCl NCCll UllC 1lOm
the different provinces as to which
should make the most brilliant appear
ance before the Captain G eneral. Pom
chos of the most gorgeous and varied
colors, cotton drawers ruffled with rich
est lace, the largest and most wonder
full spurs, and horse-gear bedecked with
gold and silver, made brave display.
The chief, who bore off the palm in this
novel competition, had his nag capari-
soned with gold to the value of $4,000
francs, silver-plated spurs the size of
dinner plates and patent leather boots.
With the typical Gaucho gambling is
not merely weakness or an amuse-
ment, but his very life, soul and exist
ence; and his women are not far behind,
for they will risk every rag they pos
sess in play and then themselves if any
body can be found to accept the stake.
They gamble with cards, dominoes, and
kind of pitch and toss called suerte
ykulo. tossing up knuckle-bone, or
the vertebra of a horses spine.
No wonder corpulent Gaucho was
never seen, for they subsist almost en-
tira1v 1non beef and mutton roasted