the way. be and manto, as the dress is called, afforded hammock suspended across one corner of much amusement, and, sometimes, not a the room; the mother seated in another, little vexation. It happened, occasionally, swinging from side to side; and three that we were spoken to in the streets by young ladies, her daughters, lounging in ladies, who appeared to know us well, but one hammock attached to hooks along the whom we could not discover, till some ap- length of the room. The whole party were parently trivial remark in company, long swinging away at such a furious rate, that afterwards, betrayed the tapadas, as they at first we were confounded and made call themselves. Ladies of the first rank giddy by the variety of motions in different indulge in this amusement, and will wear directions. · We succeeded, however, in the meanest saya, or stoop to any contrive making good our passage to a sofa at the ance, to effect a thorough disguise. I my- farther side of the room, though not withself knew two young ladies, who completely out apprehension of being knocked over by deceived their brother and me, although we The ladies, seeing us embar. were aware of their fondness for such rassed, ceased their vibrations until the in. pranks, and I had even some suspicions of troductions had taken place, and then them at the very time. Their superior touching the floor with their feet, swung dexterity, however, was more than a match off again without any interruption to the for his discernment, or my suspicions; and conversation. (Vol. ii. p. 105, 106.) so completely did they deceive our eyes, and mislead our thoughts, that we could Throwing the Lasso is an accompscarcely believe our senses, when they, at Jishment of a very extraordinary kind, length, chose to discover themselves. in which the peasantry of the conti(Vol. i. p. 106-108.) nent are peculiarly skilful; we beg leaye to conclude our article with a What deeds of darkness perpetrated, under the friendly dise description of it in our author's clear disguise of the Saya and Manto, in and expressive words: the latitude of Lima, it is not for us On our way homeward our host enterto say, though a vivid imagination the South American method of catching tained us, by making his people show us may possibly conjecture them. The Swinging Ladies of Guaya- English a lasso, from the Spanish lazo, cattle. The instrument used is called in quil is a sketch which perhaps our fair and indolent readers may love to operation of using it is called lassoing: It which signifies slip-knot or noose, and the contemplate; we will merely premise consists of a rope made of strips of unthat these interesting oscillators are tanned hide, varying in length from fifteen the most beautiful people in South to twenty yards, and is about as thick as America, fair and clear in com- the little finger. It has a noose or runningplexion, with blue eyes, and light knot at one end, the other extremity being hair,-in fact, but for their propen- fastened by an eye and button to a ring in sity to swinging and obstreperous a strong hide-belt or surcingle, bound speaking, even the race of grand- tightly round the horse. The coil is mothers there (our sensitive traveller grasped by the horseman's left hand, while the noose, which is held in the right, trails informs us) are perfectly adorable. along the ground, except when in use, and I had a letter of introduction to a gen. then it is whirled round the head with contleman who received me in the easy style siderable velocity, during which, by a peof the country; at once undertook to put culiar turn of the wrist, it is made to us in the way of procuring fresh provisions assume a circular form ; so that, when deand other supplies ; carried me to the go- livered from the hand, the noose preserves vernor's to pay the usual visit of ceremony, itself open till it falls over the object at and afterwards offered to introduce my which it has been aimed. officers and myself to some families of his The unerring precision with which the acquaintance. We were somewhat sur- lasso is thrown is perfectly astonishing, prised, on entering the first house, to ob- and to one who sees it for the first time, serve the ladies in immense hammocks has a very magical appearance. Even made of a net work ot' strong grass, dyed when standing still it is by no means an of various colours, and suspended from the easy thing to throw the lasso; but the difroof, which was twenty feet high. Some officulty is vastly increased when it comes to them were sitting, others reclining in their be used on horseback and at a gallop, and hammocks ; with their feet, or, at least, one when, in addition, the rider has to pass foot left hanging out, and so nearly touching over uneven ground, and to leap hedges the floor, that when they pleased, they could and ditches in his course; yet such is the reach it with the toe, and by a gentle push dexterity of the guassos, or countrymen, give motion to the hammock. This family that they are not only sure of catching the consisted of no less than three generations : animal they are in chace of, but can fix, the grandmother lying at full length in a or, as they term it, place their lasso on a any particular part they please : over the soon rouse him up, by tugging him to and horns, round the neck, or the body; or fro. When on his legs, with a horseman on they can include all four legs, or two, or each side, he is like a ship moored with any one of the four ; and the whole with two cables; and however unwilling he such ease and certainty, that it is necessary may be to accompany the guassos, or howto witness the feat to have a just concep- ever great his struggles, he is irresistibly tion of the skill displayed; which, like dragged along by them in whatever direca that of the savage Indian in the use of his tion they please. bow and arrow, can only be gained by the If the intention be to kill the animal for practice of many years. It is, in fact, the the sake of the hide and tallow alone, as earliest amusement of these people ; and I is often the case, one of the guassos dishave often seen little boys just beginning mounts, and running in, cuts the bull's hamto run about, actively employed in lassoing strings with a long knife, which he always cats, and entangling the legs of every dog wears in his girdle ; and, instantly afterthat was unfortunate enough to pass with wards, despatches him, by a dexterous cut in reach : in due season they become very across the back of the neck. The most expert in their attacks on poultry; and surprising thing is, the manner in which afterwards in catching wild birds : so that, the horse, after being left by his rider, by the time they are mounted on horse- manages to preserve the lasso always tight: back, which is always at an early age, they this would be less difficult if the bull were begin to acquire that matchless skill, from to remain steady, but it sometimes hapwhich no animal, of less speed than a pens, that he makes violent struggles to horse, has the slightest chance of escap- disentangle himself from the lassos, rushing ing backwards and forwards in a furious Let us suppose that a wild bull is to be The horse, however, with woncaught, and that two mounted horsemen, derful sagacity, alters his place, and pranguassos, as they are called, undertake to ces about, as if conscious of what he is kill him. As soon as they discover him, doing, so as to resist every movement of they remove the coil of the lasso from be the bull, and never allowing the lasso to hind them, and grasping it in the left be relaxed for a moment. hand, prepare the noose in the right, and When a wild horse is to be taken, the dash off at full gallop, each swinging his lasso is always placed round the two hind lasso round his head. The first who comes legs, and, as the guasso rides a little on within reach aims at the bull's horns, and one side, the jerk pulls the entangled when he sees, which he does in an instant, horse's feet laterally, so as to throw him that the lasso will take effect, he stops his on his side, without endangering his knees horse, and turns it half round, the bull or his face. Before the horse can recover continuing his course, till the whole cord has the shock, the rider dismounts, and snatchrun out from the guasso's hand. The horse, ing his poncho or cloak from his shoulders, meanwhile, knowing, by experience, what wraps it round the prostrate animal's head; is going to happen, leans over, as much as he then forces into his mouth one of the he can, in the opposite direction from the powerful bits of the country, straps a sadbull, and stands in trembling expectation dle on his back, and, bestriding him, reof the violent tug which is given by the moves the poncho; upon which, the astobull when brought up by the lasso. So nished horse springs on his legs, and engreat, indeed, is the jerk which takes deavours, by a thousand vain efforts, to place at this moment, that were the horse disencumber himself of his new master, not to lean over, he would certainly be who sits quite composedly on his back ; overturned ; but standing, as he does, with and, by a discipline which never fails, rehis feet planted firmly on the ground, he duces the horse to such complete obedience, offers sufficient resistance to stop the bull that he is soon trained to lend his speed as instantaneously as if it had been shot, and strength in the capture of his wild though at full speed. In some cases, this companions. check is so abrupt and violent, that the During the recent wars in this country, animal is not only dashed to the ground, the lasso was used as a weapon of great but rolls along at the full stretch of the power in the hands of the guassos, who lasso ; while the horse, drawn sideways, make bold and useful troops, and never ploughs up the earth with his feet for fail to dismount cavalry, or to throw down several yards. This, which takes so long the horses of those who come within their to describe, is the work of a few seconds; reach. There is a well-authenticated story during which, the other horseman gallops of a party of eight or ten of these men, past; and before the bull has time to re- who had never seen a piece of artillery, till cover from the shock, places the noose one was fired at them in the streets of over his horns, and continues advancing Buenos Ayres : they galloped fearlessly up till it also is at full stretch. The bull, to it, placed their lassos over the cannon, stupified by the fall, sometimes lies mo- and, by their united strength, fairly overtionless on the ground; but the horsemen turned it. Another anecdote is related of them, which, though possible enough, does meanwhile, were watching their opportunot rest on such good authority. A num. nity, and the moment the boats came sufber of armed boats were sent to effect à ficiently near, dashed into the water, and, landing at a certain point on the coast, throwing their lassos round the necks of guarded solely by these horsemen. The the officers, fairly dragged every one of party in the boats, caring little for an ene- them out of their boats. my unprovided with fire-arms, rowed con manner. 6 (Vol. i. p. 146–153.) fidently along the shore. The guassos, THE LAWYER. a man 'Tis my vocation, Hal.--Shakspcare. To the Editor. SIR,--As every man has either à and one may generally distinguish favourite pursuit or a necessary occu- the peculiar course of a man's life, pation, and most men have both, it not only from the inadvertent sallies seems to me most rational that we of conversation, but from the meashould endeavour, if we cannot ac- sured march of his studied compotually blend them, to make them sition. I have carried this opinion at least as subservient to each other so far, that I am persuaded that the as possible ; and it generally hap- authors of Tom Jones and Roderic pens that there is such a natural Random, both fellows of infinite propensity to this endeavour, that humour and various knowledge of we see in every thing a man does the world as well as of books, may some characteristie of his common easily be detected in their respective habits and his usual studies. Sterne works, the one for a lawyer, the would, perhaps, say that a other for a physician; and neither of may be caught mounting his hobby them are more humorous than when at the very time when he least sus- they are ridiculing the quackeries of pects that he is doing so; and thus their respective professions. This, it is that we observe amongst men as I have already said, is both natuof every profession a certain air and ral and useful, as by this means evemanner by which they are most ry one is kept chiefly within his usual plainly distinguished. Every man, province; and I have introduced for instance, knows a tailor from a myself to you by these few general soldier by his walk, though the one observations, because, as I am fond may not be dressed in his regi- of literature and criticism, and may mentals, nor the other be seen carry- occasionally trouble you with such ing a suit of clothes wrapped up in remarks as occur to me in the course a silk handkerchief under his left of my reading, I wish “ by anticipa arm,* with a pattern-book peeping tion to prevent your discovery,” and out of his right-hand pocket ; both announce to you what sort of enterof which are as common to a tailor in tainment you are likely to receive, the street of London as a musket and by telling you at once that I am a cartouche-box are to a soldier on lawyer, who having been early a parade. Even in literature we are votary of the Muses, am now, from not free from these professional necessity and ambition, seriously demarks, which, as it is vulgarly said, voted to the labours of that arduous “ smell of the shop;” for habit ne- profession, not without some occacessarily gives a certain turn to the sional relaxation during the intervals thought and language of all men, between Circuit and Term in the Some of this goose-roasting, cabbage-pilfering tribe, have, with most unparalleled effrontery, presumed to quit the use of the silk handkerchief, for a blue bag, commonly called a law-bag. They fancy, perhaps, that there is some similarity between the contents of the lawyer's bag and the tailor's ; but I must tell them that they are mistaken, and that to have a bag of briefs, and to carry a suit, are not by any means the same thing. you, Sir, AND rupts ? up to bowers of Parnassus. At these pe- That what their cruelty doth forbid, your riods of indulgence perhaps an pity Essay may not be unacceptable to May give allowance to. you. Naval (Senior, a Judge.) How long have MASSINGER'S FATAL DOWRY, Practis'd in court ? Char, Some twenty years, my Lord. ROWE'S FAIR PENITENT. Nav. sen. By your gross ignorance, it The opening of these dramas, the should appear latter of which it is well known was Not twenty days. Char. surreptitiously stolen from the for I hope I have given no cause In this, my Lord. mer, exhibits a very interesting in Naj. sen. How dare you move the court cident founded upon a vulgar error. To the dispensing with an act confirm'd In the one we are presented with a By Parliament, to the terror of all bankvery animated scene, in which the noble-minded Charalois, through his Go home, and with more care peruse the advocate Charmi, petitions the pro- statutes, vincial tribunal of Burgundy for the Or the next motion, savouring of this restoration of his father's dead body, boldness, which had been arrested and de- May force you, Sir, to leap against your tained for debt by his rapacious cre will ditors. Not being able to satisfy Over the place you plead at. Char. I foresaw this. their debts, or appease their anger, he at length offers himself In a note to this passage, Mr. prison, a living captive, to release Gifford, in the last edition adds, his father's corpse ; and submits to “ Herodotus tells us, that Asychis, be buried in a dungeon, to procure the grandson of Cheops, to facilitate his parent a grave. "It is this noble the borrowing of money, allowed the action which recommends him to Egyptians to pledge the dead bodies the father of Calista, and Beaumelle, of their parents, which, until redeemwho relieves him from prison, takes ed by payment of the sums advanced, him to his house and makes him his could not be deposited in the sepulson-in-law. chres of their fathers. In imitation The following is the language of of this monarch, modern states have Massinger. sanctioned the arrest of a person's Charmi. To say the late dead Marshal, what was in Asychis a wise institu dead body till his debts be paid ; but The father of this young Lord here, my tion, is in his followers a gratuitous client, Hath done his country great and faithful act of absurd and savage barbarity.” service Both Massinger and his commenMight task me of impertinence, to repeat tator seem to me to have fallen into What your grave Lordships cannot but re- a vulgar error. The one is very exmember. cusable, because if either the law of He, in his life, became indebted to England or of Burgundy was so unThese thrifty men, (I will not wrong their derstood by a great part of the audicredits ence, or it were a mere fiction of his By giving them the attributes they now merit) own, the author might well derive from it the incident which he has And failing by the fortune of the wars Of means to free himself from his en. formed. This is within the true ligagements, cence of poetry. But with respect He was arrested, and for want of bail to the commentator, I am free to Imprison’d at their suit; and, not long after, confess that Mr. Gifford is much With loss of liberty, ended his life. more at home when he is explaining And, tho' it be a maxim in our laws, classical allusions than when he ven. All suits die with the person, these men's tures upon the more dangerous malice ground of the laws of arrest, or those In death finds matter for their hate to of Alsatia. He makes a good figure Denying him the decent rites of burial, among the ruins of the capital of Which the sworn enemies of the Christian Rome, and describes them well; but faith he is quite out of his way, when he Grant freely to their slaves. May it there- gets into the Fleet, or the King's fore please Bench, or one of the Halls. His Your Lordships so to fashion your decree, quotation from Herodotus is correct, work on, but not quite applicable, and the and inviolable, dead or living ; the Now, as to the case of Quick v. Copple- stone, in that case the promise was made and all our early poets, looked no stated in the declaration ; and Hyde, C. J. further than their own country for held, “ that a forbearance to sue one who the manners of the place where the fears to be sued, is a good consideration ;" scene was to be laid; and an instance and he cited a case in the Common Pleas, of it now exists, remarkable for its when he sat there, where a woman, who notoriety and absurdity. At West- feared that the dead body of her son would minster Abbey, the guide who shows be arrested for debt, promised in considethe curiosities of the place, exhibits ration of forbearance, to pay; and it was in a small chapel, or cell, near to adjudged against her, though she was nei But Henry VIIth’s brazen tomb, a couple the other Judges doubted of this ; and I ther executrix nor administratrix. of old coffins covered with red velvet, think it would be bad even after verdict, which he gravely tells you contain for it appears vitious upon the face of it. the bodies of two ambassadors, Such a means of extorting a promise is not whose remains were arrested for to be endured. It is impossible to look debt and not suffered to be buried. upon that as a good promise, which is made He also informs you that it is for this in consideration that a person will forbear reason they are not placed in a vault to do a violent and unluzeful act; that he or tomb. I know not which to ad- will forbear to do a violent injury to the mire most, the folly of the inventor feelings of all the relations of the deceased. of this fable, or the credulity of the See Jacobus I. Smith's Rep. 195.-Jones blockheads who do not immediately 1801.-See also East's Reports, H. 44. V. Ashburnham, B. R. Hilary Term, perceive its absurdity. For, in the Geo. III. S. C. first place, by the law of nations, the persons of ambassadors are sacred With respect to the similarity of |
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