Gaucho, << GOW choh, >> is the cowboy of the South American Pampas, or plains. Gauchos played an important part in the development of Argentina and Uruguay. Peons (day laborers) have largely replaced the gauchos in these countries.
The gaucho was usually of mixed Spanish and Indian blood. He was a skillful rider and spent most of his time on horseback. His costume was characterized by a wide silver belt, baggy trousers, and a bright scarf. In the early days the gaucho made his living by catching wild cattle and selling their hides in illegal trade on the Brazilian frontier. Sometimes he worked on a cattle ranch, or estancia. His tools, which also served as weapons, included the knife and the bola, a type of sling. See Sling .
The coming of refrigerator ships led to development of the meat industry. This made cattle raising a big business, and ended the gaucho’s way of life. Argentine and Uruguayan writers and musicians have found the gaucho tunes and legends a rich source of material for their works.
See also Latin American literature (Romanticism) .
