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Show DON MANUEL DOMINGUES. 247 tances from each other ; they have all large families of grown sons and daughters, who meet alternately at each other's houses, when music and dancing is indulged in with unalloyed pleasure. Young gentlemen from town often drive out to spend an evening, and the four weeks f spent there, speaking Spanish and dancing with the beautiful senoritas, conduced much to restore me to the habits of civilized life, which a voyage of nine months, across the continent had almost made me forget. Dan Manuel has an immense number of oxen, sheep and horses. His menada is said to contain the finest riding animals in California; and it is only by great persuasion that he will sell a choice horse. While I was there, I saw the process of breaking a horse to the saddle. A native Californian lassoes the animal he intends to break, and brings him out of the menada. One end of the lasso he ties around the nose of the horse; a blanket is strapped on his back by a strong surcingle ; heihen jumps on him, and introducing his knees under the surcingle, he is now firmly seated. On his feet are immense spurs; he touches the horse with them, and off he bounds with the speed of the wind, his rider guiding him with perfect ease, Now he plunges-see him rearing ! but his master is on him, and his efforts to dismount him are unavailing. After he is exercised in this manner for an hour, he is turned into pasture, picketed, and not suffered to run with the menada afterwards. The mares are of comparatively little worth; they are never used as beasts of burthen, or for riding; they are kept for breeding purposes. I have seen a magnificent animal sell for forty dollars, while geldings, not superior in quality, brought two hundred dollars. |
