1The 19th century South American Gaucho—relying on the horse for transportation and the cattle and wildlife for food and clothing—wandered the vast pampas (grasslands) region of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. He traveled whenever and wherever he wanted, but the noise and the city lights did not suit his nature, and he was shy and introverted among strangers. Still, he loved storytelling, chatting and laughing with friends, and he willingly shared his food and lodgings with fellow travelers.
The Gaucho developed a strong sense of identity and code of conduct, and he represented freedom from colonial control. He could live off the land with no need for civilization. Indeed, his horse, knife and guitar were his most precious possessions.
The Gaucho dressed quite distinctively, wearing a hat, vest and a handkerchief around his neck. He also used boleadoras (three or more leather bound rocks tied together with leather straps) as a throwing weapon. The typical Gaucho outfit would include a poncho (which doubled as saddle blanket to protect against the cold and also as a sleeping bag), a facon (large knife), a rebenque (leather whip), and loose-fitting trousers called bonbachas.
Like the North American cowboy, the Gaucho has become idealized, becoming the quintessential romantic figure. No one did so much to create that myth than Jose Hernandez with his poem el Gaucho “Martin Fierro” one of the finest and best-known pieces of Latin American literature.