The capture and breaking in of wild horses in America are described by Miers as follows—­

“The lasso is used by the natives of South America.  It is a very strong braided thong, half an inch thick, and forty feet long, made of many strips of rawhide, braided like a whip-thong, and made soft and pliable by rubbing with grease.

“It has at one end an iron ring, about an inch and a half in diameter, through which the thong is passed, forming a running noose.

“The herdsmen—­gauchos, as they are called—­are generally mounted on horseback when they use the lasso.  One end of the thong is attached to the saddle; the remainder is coiled in the left hand, except about twelve feet belonging to the noose end, which is held in a coil in the right hand.

“This long noose is then swung around the head, the weight of the iron ring at the end of the noose assisting in giving to it, by a continued circular motion, a sufficient force to project it the whole length of the line.

“The gauchos drive the wild horses into a corral, which is a circular space surrounded by rough posts firmly driven into the ground.  The corral,” relates Miers, “was quite full of horses, most of which were young ones about two or three years old.

“The chief gaucho, mounted on a strong, steady horse, rode into the corral, and threw his lasso over the neck of a young horse and dragged him to the gate.

“For some time he was very unwilling to lose his companions; but the moment he was forced out of the corral his first idea was to gallop away; however, a timely jerk of the lasso checked him.

“Some of the gauchos now ran after him on foot, and threw a lasso over his fore legs, and jerking it, they pulled his legs from under him so suddenly that I really thought the fall had killed him.

“In an instant a gaucho was seated on his head.  They then put a piece of hide in his mouth to serve for a bit, and a strong hide halter on his head, and allowed him to get on his feet.

“While two men held the horse by his ears, the gaucho who was to mount him fastened on the saddle, and then quickly sprung into it.

“The horse instantly began to jump in a manner which made it very difficult for the rider to keep his seat; however, the gaucho’s spurs soon set him going, and off he galloped, doing every thing in his power to throw his rider.

“Then another horse was brought from the corral; and so quickly was every thing done that twelve gauchos were mounted in less than an hour.

“It was wonderful to see the different manner in which different horses behaved.  Some would actually scream while the gauchos were fastening the saddle upon their backs, and some would instantly lie down and roll upon it.

“Others would stand without being held, their legs stiff and in unnatural positions, their necks half bent towards their tails, and looking vicious and obstinate.