_Certificate of the Marquis of the Mine of Rayas, in the State of
Guanajuato, in the Capital City of the same name._
[TRANSLATED FROM THE SPANISH.]
Citizen Willis J. Powell, a naturalist, and native of New York, of whose
astonishing dexterity in gentling wild horses in a few hours, I had
already been informed, (from several respectable gentlemen, who had been
eye-witnesses to the same in the city of Mexico,) arrived in this city
on the 20th of the present month. I immediately sent for him, offering
him a handsome gratification to give us a proof of his ability. He
verified the same by putting it in practice on the 27th, at the mine of
Rayas, with a wild colt, chosen on purpose from among the wildest and
fiercest of a party of forty of them, which had just arrived there to be
gentled for the service of the said mine, in one of the stables of which
he began the operation at three quarters past ten in the forenoon: and
myself, as well as several other spectators of this performance, were
struck with amazement at beholding this horse at two o’clock so gentle,
that after having been led around in every direction by the halter,
suffered himself to be rode both by men and boys, as well bare-backed as
saddled, tightly girted and cruppered--permitting them to get upon him
on either side. After a short time, being let loose, he followed any one
who went before and motioned to him with gentleness, without pulling him
by the halter--proceeding to where several persons were standing without
showing any signs of fear at coming up to them, and passing in the midst
of them, permitting any one to lift up his feet and handle him with as
much ease as they could handle the gentlest plough-horse. Being put into
a large yard, he ate with the rest of the wild horses, his companions,
and in going a second time to catch him, there was no need of throwing
the rope upon him, he letting any one come up before him and put the
halter upon him. The third day, he was rode down from the mine to this
city, where he was shod all around, standing perfectly still when the
blacksmith took up his feet, and never flinching at the stroke of the
hammer. Being shod and led out before a great number of people, the
servant threw the saddle over his head, then let it fall over his heels
and on either side, and under his belly, without frightening him in the
least. To the above relation I was an eye-witness, since I was present
from the beginning to the end, without any interruption to all the
simple and progressive operations used in breaking this fiery, wild and
hitherto untameable animal: being astonished above all to see, that in
them this dexterous manager made no use of spurs, whip, clamor or
exclamation; but, on the contrary, gentleness and caresses were the only
means he put in practice to bring, as it were by enchantment to
obedience, this wild animal, whose tractability, even at this time, is
doubtless much greater than that which is observed in horses of a gentle
nature, tamed at the end of a year or more, with much cost, labor and
danger, often losing a great part of their natural spirit by the hard
usage they undergo whilst one is breaking them--and more especially
those of a noble and spirited nature. As a proof of my being present to
all herein related, and wishing to encourage such an extraordinary
discovery, I sign this declaration, which I make in Guanajuato, capital
city of the state of the same name, &c., &c., August 30th, 1825.