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The captain exclaimed, "Look there! a man who has seen half the world says it is the case; we always thought so, but now we know it." My excellent judgment in combs and beauty procured me a most hospitable reception; the captain forced me to take his bed, and he would sleep on his recado. 21st. Started at sunrise, and rode slowly during the whole day.
The Gauchos were in high spirits at finding all these luxuries; and we soon set to work at the poor cow. This was the first night which I passed under the open sky, with the gear of the recado for my bed. There is high enjoyment in the independence of the Gaucho life to be able at any moment to pull up your horse, and say, "Here we will pass the night."
Riding on up to the great bird, now hoppled and without any chance to get away from him, he makes things more sure by drawing out his knife and cutting the creature's throat. Then releasing the bolas, he returns them to the place from which he had taken them on the horn of his recado. This done, he stands over the dead rhea, thus reflecting:
"Well, there isn't anything but what I propose doing that is, taking her along. I'm willing to accommodate her on the croup of my recado, and will show her all the gallantry she deserves. If you're jealous, Senor Ludwig, you may have her behind you; and as your horse is the lightest laden, that might be best.
So up, Senor Avertruz, and lie there." At which, he hoists the ostrich by the gauchos called "avertruz" to the croup of his recado; where, after a rapid manipulation of cords, the bird is made fast, beyond all danger of dropping off. This done, he springs upon his horse's back, and then looks out to see which direction he should now take.
I promised him not to run away immediately, a promise which was not hard to make; then we went to inspect my horse, which proved to be a very fine bay, saddled with a dashing native recado. "Come with me and try him," he said. "I am going to ride out to the Cerro Solo."
While the gaucho and his silent companion were still in halt by the edge of the sumac wood, another horseman could be seen approaching the place, but on the opposite side of the stream, riding direct down to the ford. Descried at any distance, his garb, with the caparison of his horse the full gaucho panoply of bitted bridle, breast-plate, recado, and caronilla would tell he is not an Indian.
The saddle was adapted to the two hunting weapons in common use on the Argentine plains the BOLAS and the LAZO. The BOLAS consists of three balls fastened together by a strap of leather, attached to the front of the RECADO. The Indians fling them often at the distance of a hundred feet from the animal or enemy of which they are in pursuit, and with such precision that they catch round their legs and throw them down in an instant.
As for bedding, it is all contained in the saddle used by the natives, called RECADO. This saddle is made of sheepskins, tanned on one side and woolly on the other, fastened by gorgeous embroidered straps. Wrapped in these warm coverings a traveler may sleep soundly, and brave exposure to the damp nights.
A young horse, who had hitherto run wild, would be let in and lassoed, with a second lasso thrown over his hind legs. Before tightening the lassoes the men threw a recado, or soft leather saddle on him, the Joven tugging at the string-girths until the unfortunate grass-fed animal looked like a wasp. The lassoes were tautened, and the youngster thrown over on his side.
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