Adventure Magazine Cover — page 200: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

190 Answer, by Dr. Goldsmith:—1. Some of the largest cattle-ranches in the world are to be found in Argentina, where they are called estancias. The finest cattle produced anywhere are raised in Ar- gentina. Prize bulls sell at from $30,000 to $60,000 apiece. The greatest cattle-show on earth is that of the S..ciedad Rural Argentina, held annually in Buenos z..res. When I say cattle, I mean beef cattle and s: -ep, although many horses and mules are produced. 2. Very few cattle-estates in Argentina are owned by “Americans,” if by “Americans” you mean citi- zs of the United States or their descendants. The c.ttle-lands are mostly in the hands of Argentinos or Ioritishers. 3. Wages yary according to work and place. The ordinary rancher does not receive cnough to attract a North American—from $35 to $50 a month; a fore- man or capatag can make from $75 to $125, accord- ing to the size and wealth of the estancita. You could not very well serve as a capataz without a khnowledge of the language. 4. You could find wild animals and birds to hunt nd trap, provided you went far from the settled centers, into the northern provinces, into the Andine regions or into the far south of what we call Patagonia. These two letters, which passed between Doctor Goldsmith and another correspon- cent, round out the information given above: Question:—“Can you furnish me with all informa- tion regarding the prospects of getting work in the cattle-business in the Argentine or Uruguay or Bra- zil? Also the cost of land for a rancher, and the terms on which the government is holding land down there. What kind of hunting-prospects are there down in that country? I am an herdsman and have worked in the pure- bred cattle-business. I am anxious to go ‘own to the Argentine, as I think there is more opening for young men down there. Do you know of any way I can get work before going down there? To settle an argument: Do the natives use bolo or lariat?” —N. F. Pecc, Chualor, Monterey Co., Calif. Answer, by Dr. Goldsmith:—The governments of the three countries mentioned do not, as a rule, offer Jands for cattle-ranches. They are interested in having people come in to devote themselves to agri- culture and the development of lands. It is quite easy to secure good land, away from the settled cen- ters, by application to the immigration authorities in Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo or Buenos Aires, the prices ranging from a few cents to two or three dol- lars an acre. Good opportunities are to be found in the territory of Misiones, in Argentina, where land can be taken up (125 acres) upon the payment of a sum equivalent to about $220 in five equal an- nual instalments. In the remote regions of Argentina and Brazil there is plenty of game—large and small animals and birds—but the situation is not unlike that in the United States; game recedes from civilization. _ My only suggestion is to secure a position through one of the companies on the inclosed list. The Indians of Argentina and Chile formerly used Adventure the bolo. Such an object is now somewhat of a cu- riosity; the rope (soga) is now generally used among the ranchmen. The word ‘“‘lariat”’ is a misnomer that crept into the United States by way of Texas, based upona misunderstanding by the Texans of the two Spanish words lu riatu, which means either the rope or halter that one has on his own beast for the purpose of hitching, or the coupling-rope that serves to tie cwo horses or mules together for driving. Our word “lasso,” as a noun, is a corruption and misuse of the Spanish word /azo, which is 2 small rope or cord. Our word “lasso,” used as a verb, is a cor- ruption of the Spanish verb /asar, which means the throw and capture with a zoga, or, as we would say, a “lasso.”’ The soga is used quite generally throughout Span- sh and Portuguese America. The bolo, as I have said, was used by the Indians and the first colonists of Chile and Argentina to capture wild animals, es- pecially the Argentina “ostrich” (#ianddé) and horses. Canoeing in Maine N PLANNING for vour Summer vaca- tion don’t overlook the possibilities out- lined below: Question: —“I am writing for information as to outfit and equipment for a one-month camping, hunting and fisning trip by canoe and probable cost of trip for six persons; also locations and routes suit- able for such a trip. I am ignorant of regulations and customs govern- ing these tripsin the Maine country. Also necessity and cost of competent guide.’—G. J. MEYERS, Nerth Kansas City, Missouri. -tnswer, by Dr. Hathorne:—One of the best camp- ing and canoe trips I could suggest for you would be the well-known Allagash trip. This trip covers about two hundred miles of some of the best waters in the State for fishing, with ideal camping-spots and plenty of big game. This trip starts in at the head of Moosehead Lake, at N. E. Carry, and winds up at Fort Kent, on the Saint John’s River. An outfit for this trip for a party of six would depend on the personnel of the party, and whether there were any of the gentler sex. You would require at least three canoes and prob- ably three guides. One guide can not take more than five in a party. A guide furnishes one canoe, cooking-outfit and tent for hisown use. All the remainder of the outfit is furnished by party. In buying supplies for a trip of this kind the guide will aid vou, but individual tastes have to be con- sulted. In the hunting-season, October to Decem- ber first, vou would need more and heavier clothing than in the fishing-season. The expenses of the guide must be paid until he returns home. I should say a conservative estimate of a trip of this kind would be between $1,200 and $1,500, but if you have coin to spare and have never seen the country it’s worth the money. If you are interested it would pay you to send to Geo. M. Houghton, Traffic Mgr. B. & A. R.R., Bangor, Me., for a copy of the book “‘In the Maine Woods.” En- close ten cents in stamps. cComicloooks C©