THE LASSO. ll

horse, if very vigorous, may go a great way
before: he is exhausted, and if not quickly
secured, will recover and be prepared for a
fresh gallop before his pursuers come up.
The plan practised in South America is more
simple. They are there secured by means of
a weapon called a lasso, which consists of a
very strong plaited thong, about half an inch
in thickness, and about forty feet in length.
It 1s made of strips of untanned hide, and is
kept quite pliant by being well oiled. At one
end there is an iron ring, about an inch and a
half in diameter, through which the thong is
passed, and thus forms a running-noose. The
other end is fastened to the saddle-girth of the
hunter, who holds the remainder carefully coiled
in his left hand.

“ Mounted on a horse which has been accus-
tomed to the sport, the huntsman gallops over
the plain in the direction of the wild herd, and,
circling round them, gradually approaches.
When sufficiently near some straggler from the