He swung round, put his head down, and no
amount of spurring could get him to do anything but turn round and
round, till the gentleman, who had left me, returned, beat him with
a stick, and threw stones at him, till he got him started again.
I have tried coaxing him, but without result, and have had prolonged
fights with him in nearly every gulch, and on the worst pali of all
he refused for some time to breast a step, scrambled round and round
in a most dangerous place, and slipped his hind legs quite over the
edge before I could get him on.
His sociability too is ridiculously annoying. Whenever he sees
natives in the distance, he neighs, points his ears, holds up his
heavy head, quickens his pace, and as soon as we meet them, swings
round and joins them, and can only be extricated after a pitched
battle. On a narrow bridge I met Kaluna on a good horse, improved
in manners, appearance, and English, and at first he must have
thought that I was singularly pleased to see him, by my turning
round and joining him at once; but presently, seeing the true state
of the case, he belaboured Kahele with a heavy stick. The animal is
very gentle, and companionable, and I dislike to spur him; besides,
he seems insensible to it; so the last time I tried Rarey's plan,
and bringing his head quite round, twisted the bridle round the horn
of the saddle, so that he had to turn round and round for my
pleasure, rather than to indulge his own temper, a process which
will, I hope, conquer him mercifully.
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