The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-11

means Which We can reconstruct. lie
boomerang still remains the biggest
puzzle.
There is another adaptation of
very simple instrument which we do
not know to have such antiquity as
some of these, yet must always seem
very marvellous when we first witness
the variety of uses and the perfection
to which II has been brought-that use
of bit of rope which we call lassoing.
The value Of the moose we can easily
imagine to have been brought very
early to the notice of man in his more
or less natural state. Its efficacy in
arresting his progress through forest
thickly hung with lianas must soon
have struck him as one of the incon-
yeniences of his existence, but we do
not seem to find record at very early
stage of any practical use to which he
might have put the hint so given him.
The greatest wonder in the history of
the moose Second only to the marvel
Gus skill exhibited by the experts in
Its use) is that certain nations should
have acquired the skill that they did
acquire in it with so few generations
Of practice.
We may probably take it for granted
that the American red Indian did not
begin to use it until after the Spaniards
had made their way to America. The
origin of the word Is Latin, "laqueus."
There is Portuguese "laco." We ''las-
so" or 'lace" our boots every morning,
presuming that we do not spend the
day in slippers. But apart from that 1t
Is not easy to see that the lasso could
have had value without the horse. 1t
Is the instrument of riders on horse
back There were no horses In Amer
tea, according to all who claim to
speak with authority, until the Span
iards arrived here. The apparition of
their cavalry was so strange as to
strike terror into the hearts of the ma
tives, who deemed horse and man
some fearful composite animal.
The most skillful artist in the world
with the lasso is that compound-who
shall say what is the exact mixture of
the ingredients of Spaniard and In
dian that is known as Mexican, espe-
cially the Mexican Of the southwest
ern states of the Union. But we read
of various tribes of the red Indians,
probably qaite free from any infu-
sion of European blood, to whom the
lasso had become so familiar weaD-
on, so trusted in cases Of emergency,
that they not only used it ON the gal
| Looping bison and overthrow him on the
prairie. but actually lassoed the fun
nels of the steam engines when the
trains began to invade their land. II
| is possible that the result may have
| been to give a little shake to their con
| fidance, but their skill in the use of the
| moose has abundant witness.
| The Mexicans dexterity has to be
seen to be believed. At full gallop b
| will send the loop to encircie at hi
will the neck. the horn, the leg OF tn
steer laundering along beside him. Hi
| little horse knows the game as pei
| fectly as he does, throwing himsel
| back on his launches into the bes
| possible position to stand the shoe
and the strain which he knows wi
arrive when the rope is drawn tight, @
| which one emu Is ABOUT Tue steer al
| the other is fastened to the horn C
the big Spanish saddle. The hors
stands firm and the steer tumble'
Sometimes the Mexicans will rid
down and lasso the coyote or the will
turkey, for the turkey likes his leg
better than his wings as means Of loct
motion, and will seldom fly again afte
| he has been flushed and marked dowl
| The actual evolution of the lasso ma
be imagined easily-at first big loo
| of rope thrown about the head Of a
animal beside which the rider gallopet
| then the free running moose at the en-
| of q single rope. But the accuracy {
aim with the loop is the wonder. Afte
| all. il cannot be nearly so subtle a
| affair as the boomerang throw, IL
though perhaps the Mexican excel
| the white cowboy is nearly If not quit
his match. But the things that Me,
lean can do with rope or bit Of raw
hide are marvellous. He will fit a fires
rawhide ..riata'' round the nut Of
| screw that has stuck. and unscrew
when the hide has hardened. though tt
white mechanic. with his special
made wrench. has failed You may
told this tale-and it is credible one
by many who have worked on the "a.
ways in the Mexican republic.