Gaucho

History
Gaúcho or Gaucho (Portuguese pronunciation) is a term commonly used to describe residents of the South American pampas, chacos, or Patagonian grasslands, found principally in parts of Southern Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Southern Chile. In Brazil, gaúcho is also the main gentilic of the people from the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

The word gaucho could be described as a loose equivalent to the North American "cowboy" (vaquero, in Spanish). Like the North American word cowboy, Venezuelan or Colombian llanero, or Chilean huaso, or the Mexican charro, the term often connotes the 19th century more than the present day; then gauchos made up the majority of the rural population, herding cattle on the vast estancias, and practising hunting as their main economic activities. The word "gaucho" is sometimes used to refer to chimichurri, a steak sauce common to Argentina.

There are several conflicting hypotheses concerning the origin of the term. It may derive from the Mapuche cauchu ("vagabond") or from the Quechua huachu ("orphan"), which gives also a different word in Spanish guacho. The first recorded uses of the term date from around the time of Argentine independence in 1816.

he gaucho plays an important symbolic role in the nationalist feelings of this region, especially that of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The epic poem Martín Fierro by José Hernández (considered by some the national epic of Argentina) used the gaucho as a symbol against corruption and of Argentine national tradition, pitted against Europeanising tendencies. Martín Fierro, the hero of the poem, is drafted into the Argentine military for a border war, deserts, and becomes an outlaw and fugitive. The image of the free gaucho is often contrasted to the slaves who worked the northern Brazilian lands. Further literary descriptions are found in Ricardo Güiraldes' Don Segundo Sombra. Like the North American cowboys, as discussed in Richard W. Slatta, Cowboys of the Americas, gauchos were generally reputed to be strong, honest, silent types, but proud and capable of violence when provoked. The gaucho tendency to violence over petty matters is also recognized as a typical trait. Gauchos' use of the famous "facón" (large knife generally tucked into the rear of the gaucho sash) is legendary, often associated with considerable bloodletting. Historically, the facón was typically the only eating instrument that a gaucho carried.

Also like the cowboy, as shown in Richard W. Slatta, Cowboys of the Americas, gauchos were and remain proud and great horseriders. Typically, a gaucho's horse constituted most of what he owned in the world. During the wars of the 19th century in the Southern Cone, the cavalries on all sides were composed almost entirely of gauchos. In Argentina, gaucho armies such as that of Martín Miguel de Güemes, slowed Spanish advances. Furthermore, many caudillos relied on gaucho armies to control the Argentine provinces.

The gaucho diet was composed almost entirely of beef while on the range, supplemented by yerba mate, an herbal tea-like drink rich in caffeine and nutrients. Argentine cooking draws influence from the simple but delicious recipes used in gaucho meals.

Gauchos dressed quite distinctly from North American cowboys, and used bolas or boleadoras - in Portuguese boleadeiras - (three leather bound rocks tied together with approximately three feet long leather straps) in addition to the familiar "North American" lariat or riata. The typical gaucho outfit would include a poncho (which doubled as a saddle blanket and as sleeping gear), a facón (large knife), a rebenque (leather whip), and loose-fitting trousers called bombachas, belted with a tirador, or a chiripá, a piece of cloth used in the fashion—but not the function—of a diaper. In the wintertime, gauchos wore heavy wool ponchos to protect against cold. Nowadays, working gauchos are as likely to be found in overalls and wellington boots as in their traditional dress.

Just as the disappearance of the "Wild West" of the United States altered the character and employment of "cowboys," so too did the nature of gauchos become changed. Those with urban and academic orientations typically continue to cling to an image of gauchos that is no longer accurate or consistent with contemporary rural realities.

Some gauchos were recorded as being in the Falkland Islands, and have left a few Spanish words in the local dialect e.g. camp from campo.

(Information from Wikipedia)

Battle vs the Comanche
Weapons: Bolas, Rebenque, Tacuara Spear, Facon. Defense: Poncho.

In a big grass covered plain, a Gaucho is sitting under a tree, playing the guitar with his horse tied to the tree trunk. Suddenly, he looks up as he hears the distinctive noise of a horse’s gallop. A Comanche, riding a Mustang horse, is giving a war cry as he tenses his bow and lets an arrow fly. The arrow hits the tree trunk just inches above the Gaucho’s head. Leaving the guitar on the ground, the Gaucho quickly unties his Criollo horse and mounts it, riding towards the Comance. The Comanche takes aim again with his bow and arrow, and fires, but the Gaucho moves his horse to a side and the arrow misses him, he then takes out his Bolas from his belt, and starts spinning them over his head as he keeps on riding towards the Comanche.

The Comanche is getting another arrow ready, when the Gaucho lets go of his Bolas, which hits the Comanche on the arm carrying the bow, making him drop it to the ground.

This does not stop the Comanche, who takes out his War Hawk Club, and keeps riding towards the incoming Gacuho. The Gaucho takes out his rebenque, using it to speed up his galloping horse, as he approaches the Gaucho, the Comanche swings the War Hawk Club at the Gaucho’s head, but the Gaucho just leans down on the horse’s side, making the Comanche miss.

Both the Gaucho and the Comanche circle with their horses and gallop towards each other again. The Comanche again tries to hit the Gaucho with the War Hawk Club, but the Gaucho uses the Rebenque to whip it away from his hand.

The Comanche takes out the War Lance, and turns around his horse speeding towards the Gaucho as he gives a war cry. The Gaucho, seeing as he won’t be able to fight off the War Lance at the moment, turns his horse around back to the tree he was resting just a moment ago. The Comanche is able to catch up to the Gaucho before he can reach the tree, stabbing him with the War Lance on the side, but the Gaucho’s poncho concealed the Gaucho’s body enough so the Lance just pierced trough it leaving the Gaucho unharmed. The Gaucho takes off his poncho getting it entangled on the Comanche’s War Lance, and while the Comanche is getting it off the Lance, the Gaucho reaches the tree. Behind it he had his Tacuara Spear, he grabs it while still on horseback, and turns around again towards the Comanche.

Both the Comanche and the Gaucho ride towards each other, their spears aimed at the other. The Gaucho’s Tacuara spear gets the Comanche on the left shoulder, while the Comanche’s War Lance gets the Gaucho on his right shoulder. The impact makes both of them loose their weapons, and their rides, as they fall down to the ground and roll over the grass.

Both of them quickly gather themselves and stand up, ignoring their injuries. The Comanche takes out his Scalping Knife while the Gaucho takes out his Facon. The Comanche runs towards the Gaucho giving a war cry, holding the Scalping Knife over his head, the Gaucho gets ready, waiting for him to strike. As the Comanche strikes at the Gaucho, he dodges to a side, and stabs the Comanche on the stomach with the Facon. The Comanche falls to his knees, eyes wide open, as he reaches down with his hands and discovers that he his bleeding. The Gaucho then stabs the Comanche again, this time on the neck. The Comanche’s lifeless body falls down, staining the ground with his blood.

Breathing heavily, the Gaucho leans down and cleans the blood of the Comanche off his Facon using the Comanche’s clothes. Then he stands up and quietly starts walking back to where his horse is waiting for him.

Winner: Gaucho.