COWBOY OR BUSHMAN.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 8, 29 January 1915, Page 1 (Supplement)

COWBOY OR BUSHMAN.

HORSEMANSHIP COMPARED. Tho Australian bushman is apt to smile at any mention of the prowess of the American cowboys in tn-9 saddle. " They ride in armchairs," says the Australian, " but it should be borne in mind that a cowboy jerked out of his seat stands less chance of regaining it than if ho were using the Australian saddle. Be this as it may, th? annual Rcdeo, or round-up. of the Californian ranchmen and cowgirls is productive of feats on horseback and also on steers which would take some emulation.

Tho Rodeo is the cowboys' gala day, when town dwellers ars afforded an opportunity of witnessing the dangers and thrills which fall to the daily lot of tFe men of the West. Thousands of men and women ride in from the ranches in the full glory of sombreros, chaps, and trappings which constitute th? cowboy;' ''Sunday best," to engage in the sports of the ranges, broncho-busting, bull-dogging wild steers, racing, shooting, apd express riding. The wildest horses are ridden merely to test thair strength in subduing tho leaping, biting quadrupeds. Mounted cowboys, rejoicing in the names of Fly Paper" M'ke or Tanglefoot Bill, drag vicious horses untamed and unaccustom. Ed to men. into the arena. This is tho first time they hav? felt leather across their backs, and the leaping, plunging animals disappear in a cloud of dust with tho men grimly hanging to the re'ns while the crowd excitedly yell*, ''Ride 'im. cowboy, ride 'im!" Men. alone and unarm d. bulldog wild steers that would daunt the bravest toreadors of Spain ; with their bare hands striving to throw the animals to tho ground and hold them there. Certainly, in thr long .sequence of dangers tho cowbov docs not escape unharmed. Men. horses, and cattle go down in struggling horn.-, but the wounds are honourable scars, to be exhibited for manv months aft-rwanls as having beta received " in a pile-up last Rodeo."