Catching "Brumbies”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 305, 26 December 1936, Page 12

Catching "Brumbies”

(Continued from our Pre-Christmas Issue. > CHAPTER \. Spills there were, of course, a. least of the hunters could testily, hut as he himself said be was lucky, lor though he could not I ruth fully say they were "happy landings," he had managed on both occasions to pick soft, spots and in doing so, touched two extremes, for once he was thrown into a bog, and once careering after some brumbies above snow line, landed in the snow, and so was black and white by turns. His regret was not for coming to grief in funny places ana living to tell the tale, but that he had lost his horses after having the ride of his life. Still, he is living in hopes, for he says that spills notwithstanding, it was wonderful sport. In addition to the thrills of the chase there was much that was of interest. One saw some great country and some not so great. Quagmires abound and it behoves one to be wary of these when pursuing wild horses. They are veritable death-traps and to ride across them in safety is almost, if not quite, an impossibility, though the wild horses themselves seemingly endowed with some special sense cross them frequently and come to no harm. Gifted with an instinct (plain horse sense probably’ for self-preservation, immediately they come to one of these treacherous marshes, they throw themselves flat, and using their legs to propel them, paddle ovei sideways, rising to their feet only when they feel firm ground. It is rather wonderful to watch them, for if they attempted to stand upright they would sink out of sight. By crossing these bogs they are often enabled to avoid capture, as no rider, no matter how daring, otherwise, would take the risk of trying to cross one of these places

And their capture, al any time, is not easy, for if roped with a lassoo in the ordinary way, they will tight and struggle, refusing to give in, and as u consequence death generally claim.* them and dead horses, even wild ones, are not of much value. The usual procedure with tilt know ing ones, is to ride up alongside, catch the pursued animal by its tail, ana upend it. Then, before it can recover from the fall or the shock ol it, the nvm is off his horse and on tc the prostrate beast, and while he i> in a semi-daze, the gear—halter, nobbles and what-nots are fastened on him, so that however much his inclination is to struggle and resist man’s domination he is obliged t submit often without the good grace. However, he soon learns that his fate is not as bad as it might be , and perhaps it will come his turn sonr day to take part in a horse hum when he is one of the hunters instead of the hunted. To see a man riding Jul lilt alongside a racing animal, and in an instant stoop and throw it. land on it off his own animal, before it can regain its feet, calls for admiration of that man’s nerve, agility and dexterity. It is sure some sight and would be hard to beat as a thriller. Red deer were plentiful and it was pleasant to see them roaming at will though no one had designs on them. Perhaps the mode of securing them had less appeal. One ate parts of them ’tis true, but only when obliged to, not from choice, just as one drank "black’ tea, and by "black” I don’t mean the ordinary lea without milk. The water itself from which the tea was made, though- clear as crystal, turned one's teeth black, so that if one drank much, teeth were like to be turned from ivory white to ebony. To drink it. at all it had to be heated, it was so cold, and strange to say lhe more one drank of it, the thirstier one got. One came acros pools in most peculiar places, and it was puzzling io know from where or what they derived their source. "How ere it be it seems to me"; take it whichever way you will that “catching brumbies” is a great game—one of the best. Courage, skill and endurance are neded, but apart from all that one sees and learns so much otherwise. Mountains, ranges, plains and streams have many treasure of scenery to unfold and there is much one can learn from them all. A camp in the wilderness amid these surroundings and all they have to offer could be a perfect paradise—black lea, black and white, spills and all. (The End.)