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Show 100 PERSONAL ADVENTURES follo'v the direction given by their pursuers ; and their movements embarrassing each other, e~cape is more difficult. The animals having been chased inside the fence, the 'ranchero selects the horse that pleases him most, and the lasso is thrown round his neck. He is then led or driven out of the correl, and, heing thrown do,vn, his legs are tied; a leathern blind is attached to the llackamore placed ready for that purpose on his forehead, and a strap fastened loosely round his body. The lasso is then tied to the ltacllaJnoJ~e immediately beneath the mouth, and he is thus comp1etely secured. His legs are set free after this operation, but he is still held by the lasso. He now begins to kick and plunge furiously, but soon getting tired of this amuseInent, the person who holds the lasso draws it in gradually with a gentle strain until he can reach the animal's head, " rhich he pats as soothingly as possible. l-Ie then draws the blind down over his eyes, and j utnps on his back, slipping his knees between the strap and the horse's sides. This operation is gene- IN CALIFORNIA. 101 rally performed by an Indian, who is accustomed to ride in this fashion without either saddle or blanket. The blind is now lifted ' and the horse, unused to the burden that he bears, begins rearing and plunging again, and keeps it up sometin1es for a whole hour". \11 this time the Indian is trying to guide hin1, but at first without success. .A.t last the animal gets exhausted, and tnoves along with greater docility. The rider then takes hirn home, and, choosing a spot where there is sufficient grass, sinks a strong stake of ,vood in it, and, attaching the animal to it, leaves him alone for the remainder of that day. On the following, and, perhaps, for eight successive days, according to circumstances, he repeats the same operation; and then, if he considers him sufficiently broken in, puts on the saddle, his eyes being still kept covered. When the saddle is first put on, the trainer does not mount him, but allows him to kick and plunge about until he gets a little' fatniliarized to it. He then rides the horse with a saddle for a few days, and puts on a bridle. |