The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-08-18
Cow-Horse Marines

come interested. The ship approaches
until the rafting of it's anchor chain
announces that it has come as near as
is deemed safe by the cautious native
skipper, who cares little for the add
ed distance the unfortunate cattle
must swim.
A boat is lowered, and, approaching
with leisurely sweeps, brings a rope
from the steamer to the shore, by
which all subsequent boats, with their
ponderous loads of cattle, are drawn
back and forth. Owing to the manner
in which the cattle are suspended on
either side. heads against bulwarks,
bodies in the sea, it is impossible to
use oars.
Frequently a load or two of bulls,
and wen of horses, is brought from
one island ranch to another. Their
frenzied splashes and violent strug-
giles can be heard across the quiet
water as they are lowered from the
hold into the sea. Their silhouettes,
diminished by distance to the proper
lions of Noah's Ark toys, show an in
slant against the fragile turquoise of
the sky.
When the boat is loaded, it is
drawn steadily inshore, the animals
floating in grotesque attitudes on
either side. Frequently wild OF young
animals, with incredible agility. al
most succeed in leaping into the boat,
but the men deftly and not unkindly
force them out.
Fifteen or twenty feet from shore
they are loosed. Cowboys guard any
mode of possible escape, the sole exit
from the beach of %glittering volcanic
sand being into al empty corral.
The cattle are ashore more quickly
than the horses, and emerge with
cleaning skins, alert ears and defiant
air, seeking some object upon which
to wreak vengeance. Sometimes a
splendid bull will pause in doubt be
tween horsemen on land and sailors
in boat; both are objects of his ire.
The water creams about his knees and
his tail lashes his side angrily. About
him horses founder. He eyes them
scornfully and impatiently; the com
motion of their landing bewilders him
and divides his intentions.
With a final contemptuous look for
the boatmen, charges up the sand.
A cowboy gallops across his path. An
SCI Dlllh lO iOllONo Will NOlSu
head into the corral, where the rider
skillfully escapes through a gate. The
close proximity of so many of his own
kind in adjoining pens steadies him,
though for a while he roams about
cycling the horsemen longingly. His
fellows are speedily in the pen with
him; men gallop to secure the horses
and tie them in the shelter of the lacy
l~a.rAl 1;a--1 ,~@- 1Iat ,r- zrrA
leeward coast.
Then the real work of the day be-
gins.
The men work in pairs; one lassoes
the animal, the other heels him up"
One or two cowboys, doubtful of the
quality of new mounts, gallop furious
ly into the sea, and, when treasured
that their animals will not balk, they
take off their ropes to begin.
Everything is done quickly, so that
the cattle will get nc opportunity to
realize what the men are about. A
man ropes a steer, bursts from the
wide-open gate and races for he sea,
his partner galloping upon the steers
heels. With lowered head the animal
charges after the horse ahead of it.
Almost at once they are in the water.
The bullock props" but is carried
forward by the impetus of the pace
and is dragged, resisting at every
bound, over the drop into deep water,
The nan in the front swims near
enough to hurl his long rawhide, rope
into the boat, and another is tossed to
him. He deity avoids the pulley and
turns his horse to the land. It's wary
ears and dainty disdain of nostril belle
it's liking for the work. The steer is
drawn to the boat and secured by the
horns to the bulwarks with a stout
manila rope. 1t paws for a while and
then desists. The boatmen ~leisurely
~G1@