1924-07-26 — Page 12

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12.

THE CHINA MAIL.

SATURDAY JULY 20 1824

LASSO and as Weapons

BOLEADOR AS

GAUCHs an AOOT KAAL AMYLO 0047L/CAFCHI BY ZORGTEET WAMALG

GALLOPING_BY)

Two Formidable Weapons of the Gaucho of South America-Used in Both Peace and

War-Daring Feats With the Lasso, ?

.

[BY H, WALLER]

The Tiro Cruzado."

Tüce Argentine gaucho has ever been ↑ ptains will perform some fast in which",

famous for his dexternas mahi- | the slightest erior of judgment on his pulation of the lasse"ing of the less part may mean à braken neck for the kna holvadoras das a mess of cap- | yaptured animal, or for himself, or both. tag the wilde rolls ar steers of his Text të gumpis, but the fact that in the

CONT เ

country's struggle for indepeneney he enaverted these coin- mur fouls of his trade into formidable wwes of war, and that on more the

nocension the fate of an important angement has been decidesild the destiny thereby passibly changed by the angering aim of our of thildren of the desert is no: 80 grily known.

turn

Such a thow is the tien cruzado, ami is performed as follows:--From a corra) in which mob of unhuntled colts has been shut, a given number, Including u particularly wild one, are driven to the open ennis and their headlong flight converted into a furious stumpede by the yells and the whirling lasses of the

embled cameonge. The gaucho, who is to give an exhibition of his skill, is stationed to the right of the corral gate.. li, the use of the law, the gaucho iz lle is presumably mounted opan his best "ne artist The farcigner who ebwives"; horar:gine to use or farmal not

times a day's work kng the | De

melowed with grout spred dot a fine não daril cattle of the remoter districts | mouth would be to couit disaster. Once of tiuj Itepable is invariably impressed the four or five.colts, including the wild by the wonderful dexterity the gancho quarry, embark on their mad" rush for diny in what may be termed the the open plain our gauche sets off in Common “brows" of bie lasso, but if he | pursuit, always foeping well to the slici e privileged to watch one of the right of his victims (which is not neces The throws with which the day's pro-murity upon the outside of the dying weddings, are quite likely to ennelule he | göintertal, and when by dint of o wil be staggered at the nonchalance furious burst of speed he has brought with which u luciturn veteran of the ['himself within the range of his whirling

lasso he throws it in the usual way, the wide-open loop falling round the puck of his quarry. Almost simultaneously a twist of the wrist is nécessary to insure the noose closing high up on the neck of the captured. colt and the " pro. fessor's next move is, to mandavre himself to the left of his prey before the lusso becomes taut, for the reason tint, as the end of hit Insso is attached to the off sie g!!

I his recado (anddiel, he would himself become entangled in It if he failed to the no. It must be remem bered that this has to be done while going at racing pace and he is expected to bring his captive to a halt without any jerk likely to injure it. Occasion- ally this fent is performed with a very thin lusso that would snap & once if subjected to a jerky strain.

The Laso In War. However, the gaucho's mustery of the

Uncle Sam's Work

as a Prophet

نے میر اتو پیسے دے سراسر محمد

THEHOIRA,

EADORAS.

Insso does not differ so widely in its essentials from that displayed by the "artists" of other lands as to call for

close description, but it is su complete

11

GENERAL PAZ

WAS MADE. PRISONER

point of perfec-

was then carried to a Lin not surpassed in the Great War of later days since the gauchos made a

of War

domonine yells and whirling lassos, were off and away like a whirlwind with Afteen French of!lcers helplessly dragged the heels of their savage

capton's.

Throwing The Boleadaran. Mastery in the art of throwing the boleadoras is not so common but, never- theless, a great many of the older generation of gauchos still possess it. The three henry, hide-covered atone or leaden bulls, suspended at the end of raw-hide thongg to a common centre, are part end parcel of the gaucho's re- gular equipment and ale carried arose the front of his saddle and across the withers of his horse. He uses in Email size for, catching ostriches and a larger size for wild horses, pattle or big

of uns description. When pur Kuniga quarry he desires to bring to

earth, he swings the boleadoras, or rather, two f them, over his head, the third being gripped in his hiul and when he released them they fly, with

him arm prisoner until his enemies. euuld came up with him.

Capture Of Paz.

And later in the year 1829, to bo precise--when Juan Manuel de Rozas, the futuro dictator of the country, was made Governor of Buenos Aires, he was apponeti by General Paz, a soldier possessed of far greater military

attainments than any of his couterm poraries, and for that renugn an` opponent to be feared. Rozas sent fered to attack Paz, in the province of Cordoba and it was while the Intler Was personally reconnoitering the coumy positions that his horse was brought down by gaucho, whose fatally necurate aim probably edh demned his country to many years of suffering under the yoke of the tyrant, who was thus enabled to hold prisoner his most formidable enemy.

A Romantic Story.

A more romantle, though possibly less authentic, story is told of how un outlaw gracho, fighting as 'n sort of free, lance with the government troops sun to drive the Indians to the far south in 1873, apread consternation in the ranks of the Indians and virtually from their principal stronghold on the decided the battle that dislodged them shores of an immense lake, which is to-day fashionable health resort of the country. According to legend, the guucho in question had on a former" occasion come into contact with one of the Indian chiefs who, confiding in the extraordinary fleetness of his horse, had, allowed his enemy to approach Las closely, and only escaped the none of the gaucho's lasso by a timely "duck", to his horse's side-an escape that infuriated his would-be captor beyond measure. When the combat was at its height and when the Indian chifer, mounted upon his swiftest pony and followed by his daughter.. riding another pony of the same breed. endeavoured to make his way from a lookout point on the lake side to where his comrades were in battle, he was suddenly pounced upon by his erstwhile -enemy, now thirsting for revenge. The | pruximity of the waters of the lake

forced the couple to run the gauntlet at close quarters, and although the speed of their pontes would even thus have "insure their escape, an unerring throw of the gaucho's boleadoran brought the cacique's pony" down and made him an easy victim to a relent

fend set at enemy aliers, who stere uncanny distress for the lower dragged of their horses or out at the"

extremities of the quarry which is ranks of the Spanish infantry by the brought to earth as apen as the thongs *Cars, The horrible death of these of the bolcadoras wind themselves round YE+ dragged 1 their end at the

Chits legs. heels of mob of yelling guchos, inspired a terrar in the hearts of the This "method of exploring wild common soldiers that frequently exused--animals-the-gaucho inherited-from-the-leak for, who quickly dispatched him. a panic of the wildest description: Indian of the River Plate and.

that it is not to be marvelled at that he should have employed the las against his enemies in war when gir cumstances were propitious. The prowess of the chieftain Guemen, and. his band of gauches who enared "many of their focs by means of the fusso is tuld not only in well attested duruments but in the songs of the coun--

It is also related that in 1817 when although the hile covered balls" and try people. Argentine history relates the forces of General, Oribe Ware laying | plaited + thangy' he uses are an im .how in 1815, and in the years that viege to Montevide, the French resi

provement upon the grooved ball followed, the Epanish troop-lighting-in-dent-of-the-vity organized French round which the Indians tied a raw- the north of the Republic were literally i Legions to assist in its defence and that Ride thong, they are essentially the decimated by the liaso, and upon such

ka weapon, History records that a occasiona an the gaucho troops succeed-

brother of the Spanish conquistador, ed in getting the Spaniards upon the

Pudra de Mendoza, who was killed by run, the havoc wrought by iti use was

the Indians, was first captured by a terrible. In point of fact, sniping

throw of the boleadoras which held

on one occasion when this force was reconnoitering outside the city's boun- laries it was sudden attacked by a band of Oribe's gauchos whić, springing anexpectedly upon the Frenchies with

to a better world.

And, legend further states that the Indian "princess" who then fought valiantly against her captor.eventually. became his loyal help-ineet and com- panion in adventure when they were pursued by the soldiers detailed to stamp out out-lawry in the district thus reclaimed from the milder ravages of the heathen Indians.

田

THE JON

MAZEP O- BOILING LÄVÄ,

KILAUEA VÕLCHNO

Like the Magicians of Old, He Foretells Crops,

น

Tides, Floods, Earthquakes, the Weather, Eclipses of the Sun and Moon, and Even Volcanic Explosions.

༈།

[BY RENE BACHE.]

INCIDENTALLY to other duties, the

LEFOA

ZING AKAG

QYA SHANING TABLE

Importance, obviously, when foods threaten. Notice of a disastrous Road, given days or possibly weeks in advance, may save many hamon lives and a vast deal of property. But, in ordinary circumstances, accurate fore enata of river stages are a big help to commerce, influencing movement of marchandise and particularly water transportation.

اندگار است که تشریح کر

WHICHII.

MICAL APOPHECY RECENTLY REAPPEARED

ever, with absolute accuracy-nt Jenst in so far as the so-called "periodien?" comets are concerned. These are cometa which, having been captured by the sun, revolve about that laminary In elliptical orbits. Halley's famous one, which turns up at regular inter- vals of seventy-five yeara, „ís. an. example.

'diction of outbreaks, if based on thus enabled to issue a warning fore- Teliable" data, are obviously of cast when a “bad grasshopper year" treat value, as we have only one la in prospect. Similar prophecies are

Our calendar is based upon observa- "burning mountain"Lassen Peak, in

tion of the stars, published in regard to certain other

But the, ancient. California-it might be supposed that pestiferous insects-as, for instance, Babylonians, who knew not the teles prophecy in that line need not interest the "green bug," a species of aphis cope, had a fairly accurate calendar. ua much. But it should be remembered which has been known to destroy in a So likewise did the Egyptians..in the that on the island of Hawaii we have dngla year, in Texas and Oklahoma, adays of the Pharaohs; and recently two first-cines volcanoes; and on the quantity of wheat sufficient to make a has been discovered that the Mayas of Alaskan Peninsula there are many, one thousand million leaves of bread. A Yucatan, long before Christ was born, of which, Mount Katmai, blew Ita hendi warm winter followed by a chilly had developed a calendar which cor- off only a dozen years ago with one of spring gives promise of trouble from rectly fixed the length of the year at the most tremendous eruptions record- | the grech bug.

three hundred and sixty-five and a The prophecies of storms and · cold quarter

days. waves fasued by our Weather Bureau The most noteworthy architectural The Hawaiian volcanic goddess, have enormous commercial value, i structures of the Mayan - were · BioP Pelo, is believed by the natives to have influencing among other things the pyramids, which were usually sur her residence in the crater of Kllatica. shipment of perishable Foodstuffs. mounted by temples. In ancient In like manter, on the island of When the storm flags fly, vessels are Mesopotamia there were many Negros, in the Philippines, the crater held in port, for safety. In expecta- pyramids of that pattern, of which of Mount Kanlaon is inhabited by a tion of a cold ways, groenhouse men the Tower of Babel was one..

The female divinity who, net content with start their furnaces. The weather is Egyptians Alled in the stops of their? throwing out vast quantities of burn-always watched with keen interest by pyramids with stonewark, so as to ing lava at intervals, exhibits on occa-everybody concerned with the purchaso make the alties amogili slants. slons a special displeasure by sending and sale of agricultural products, and Prophecy No Longer Supernatural.

swarms of grass- ft is one of the chief factors deterrain. It is now thought that the most hoppers to devour the growing crops. lng the rise and fall of prices.

important object sought in the erection Warnings Of Bad Bag Yours,

Cometa Eclipses. And

of pyramida-whether in Mesopotamia, Grasshoppers dre

frightfully The ancient priest-astronomers of in Egypt, or in Yucatan--was to Jeter- destructive post-in the Philippines In Babylonis and Arsala knew how domino,by the shadows the length parts of our own West plagues of them foretell eclipses with accuracy, Comets

the year. For upon that knowledge afflict the farmers new and then. But they regarded as direful pertants, Int with incidental reckoning of the the government Bureau of Entomology: they could not predict the appearance, sons, was based the advance noti- has made, a thorough, study of their of those mysterious celestial wander fleation of the rise of the Nile. (in, Breading, habits, and the conditions in- era. Our own ster-gazing prophets at :: Egypt), and of dataw for the planting" fluencing their multiplication, and is the Naval Observatory, can do it, how, and harvesting of crops.

prospects for wheat, corn and osta.

Earthquake Predictions.. astronomers of the Navdi Observu. Paid and volunteer agents of the tary prophesy eclipson of the aunt and Department of Agriculture all over the

The business of prophesying earths.ro moon. Also sin-spots, which, an country are watching, and upon their

quakes has been seriously taken up by recently discovered, have an important reports are based the crop forecasts,

our government, which, in co-operation with the State of California, is watch- influence upon our weather. When Of special importance is the cotton Ann-spots are many and big, our atmos prophecy, which the market, eagerly

ing for pozaible indications of the com phere is cooler, and violent storme are and anxiously awaits. It is prepared

ing of more trouble along the "fault line" that was accountable for the more frequent

in secret, with utmost precautions

great disaster that destroyed San Prophesying wax in ancient times against a "leak"; for advance news in

Francisca. Along that line for a dis-ed in modern times. the higheat of professional accomplish-regard to it would be worth a whole

tance of two hundred miles have been inenta. Much is said about it in the lot of money to speculators. At the In olden times people spoke of thá Bible. Modern science has put it on time appointed for its issue a dozen "gift" of prophecy, which its possessor placed huge granite blocks, any con- business basis, and at the present day Washington correspondents wait while

owed to supernatural inspiration. siderable shifting of which would be a very important part of Uncle Sam's seconds are ticked off on a watch Nowadays is plain business, and has regarded

да portending angther regular work is prophecy, in relation rondy for the signal, given at exactly been reduced by Uncle Sam to such perilous slip of the rocky strata..

many different kinds of matters noon, to grab copies of the forecast exact principles that his forecasts of

The Wonthar Bureau is keeping care- which intimately concern the welfare | and depart on the run.

the tides are, as one might say, miano- ful tab on earthquakes with the help and happiness of our people.

Floods Prophesied.

factured products, being turned out by et› “scismograph," matalled in the The government's weather forecastaa machine in the office of the Coast and

basement of its insip building in Wash are to some extent a matter of clever Geodetic Survey.

ington. The contrivance employs a guesswork; but that can hardly be said These tide predictions, publishodi ray of gaslight, concentrated by a lone of its prophecies in regard to the flow annually, cover two years in advance,

forth immensu to find paint, to traes a record of of streams. Advance reckoning of giving with absolute accuracy the hour earth tremors upon sheet of river stages is the most accurate work

and minoto of high water and low sensitized paper wound on 'a cylinder the Weather Bureau doos, based as it water at every one of our seaports for that, revolved by clockwork. It leupan up-to-the-minute raporis cach day daring that period. It takes bots of qusker-that-sosan many Such reports, covoring the entire drain- were desired, the machine, set for the thouranda. of miles away;, and, in age basin of a river, enable the experts your 2024, would forecast the ries and Important object of the work is so to in Washington to determine just when | fall of the tides a century from now ayatomatize, observations -aa; to zender and how much-that river will rise or with an exactness not less unerring; possible the giving of timely, warnings fall.

"or, it would do the same thing for a when big abakes are to be expected............. Prophecies of this kind are of special thousand years hence,

Where volcandes are concerned, pre-

Forecante Of Crops. Consider for example the crop forecasts issued by the government, which are prophecies pure and simple. As the dates appointed for such fore- casts approach, commodity markets aro in a state of marvone expectancy, - because great-values are at stake.!

Crops are no longer supposed, as in ancient times, to be affected by super natural agancios. The gods do not concern themselves with such, affaire. But rain, drought, temperature, and 'bugs have very much to do, with the