Saludos Amigos Page #2

of the Christ of the Andes...

marking the boundary

between Chile and Argentina.

So far, so good.

Not a cylinder missing.

Pedro was flying on top

of the world when suddenly...

his first view of that

towering monarch, Aconcagua!

So this was the big bully

theyd warned him about.

But he didnt scare Pedro, though.

No, sirree.

Well, the worst is over.

And from now on,

it's clear sailing to Mendoza.

Come in against the wind, Pedro.

There's your mail.

Easy now. Attaboy!

He picked up his mail

like a veteran.

Uh-oh! Careful!

That cargo is precious.

Pedro was homeward-bound

and ahead of schedule.

Ill bet his mother and dad

will be proud of him.

Just a natural-born flier.

Hmm. Maybe I

shouldnt have mentioned it.

Look out!

Hope he got that out of his system.

Now with good luck and a...

Uh-oh.

I was afraid of that.

Hey, Pedro, come back!

The little fellow had completely

forgotten his responsibilities. Pedro!

Then suddenly, Aconcagua!

Its rocky, snow-filled crags formed

the face of a leering monster.

The oil froze

in little Pedro's cylinders...

and his motor knocked with fright.

All those warnings

came back to him now:

the treacherous crosscurrents,

the sudden storms.

Climb above the storm, Pedro!

Never mind the mail!

Let it go! Let it go!

Forget the mail!

Climb, Pedro! Climb!

Look out!

Climb, Pedro! Climb!

Get above the storm!

I know you can make it!

Drop the mail!

Youve got to save yourself!

More altitude!

25,000's all you need!

Up! Up!

Gun your motor! Now just a little more

and youll be in the clear!

Climb, Pedro! Climb!

Good boy!

Good boy!

I knew you could make it!

Youre all right now.

Just level off

and head straight for home.

He's out of gas.

Pedro! Pedro!

He's gone.

Back at the home field...

Pedro's parents

searched the skies in vain.

They knew that he couldnt

have held out this long.

Their brave little son was gone...

another martyr to the mail service.

Poor little fella.

His first flight.

It's too bad

it had to end this way.

What was that?

I wonder if it...

No, it couldnt be.

Wait! It is! It's Pedro!

Pedro! Petey boy!

Are you all right?

Well, dont ask me how he did it.

It wasnt exactly

a three-point landing...

but he did fulfil his mission.

He brought the mail through.

The mail,

that all-important cargo.

"Having wonderful time.

Wish you were... " Mmm.

Well, it might have been important.

And he did bring in the mail.

And so, the papa plane,

the mama plane...

and little Pedro

flew happily ever after.

Sailing eastward from Chile,

we cross the Argentine pampas...

just millions of acres

of rich grazing land...

the third largest city

in the Western Hemisphere.

Buenos Aires is a beautiful city.

This is the plaza de Mayo,

one of its delightful parks;

the Teatro Colon,

home of the opera;

and the stately Congress building,

centre of Argentinas government.

The tallest building

in South America...

the Edificio Cavanaugh.

Yes, they were really

impressed with the big city...

but impressive, too,

was the lure of the pampas...

and the Argentine gaucho

as painted by F. Molina Campos.

The party were guests

at his ranch studio...

where Senor Campos paints the gaucho...

with amazing detail and humour.

Seeing these pictures made them

more anxious than ever...

to meet these caballeros

in person.

And they lived up to their pictures.

A real Wild West show...

but just part

of the day's work for a gaucho.

Sketching these paisanos

in action was no easy ob.

But they did manage to get a good

look at the gaucho's equipment.

Silver coins decorate his belt,

or tirador.

The sheepskin saddle.

Soft horsehide boots.

This garment's called a chiri.

Here the visitors

were treated to an asado.

choice cuts of meat;

mate, the Argentine tea;

and wine from their own vineyards.

True Argentine hospitality.

A group of skilled dancers

entertained the guests.

Not the modern tango

of Buenos Aires...

but the country dances

of the Argentine.

The same tunes to which

their grandparents had danced.

Notice how closely

these steps resemble...

the old-time square dances

of North America.

Gathering picture material

here was a pleasure.

Another story was under way.

And after seeing Senor Campos, paintings

and all this colourful exhibition...

we couldnt help but compare

the life of the Argentine gaucho...

with that of our own cowboy.

And they reached way back

into Texas to find a leading man.

From the windswept plains

of Montana...

to the sunbaked banks

of the Rio Grande...

over countless miles

of mountain and prairie...

untouched and unsullied by

the mercenary hand of civilization...

roams a tough,

hardy and heroic breed of man:

the North American cowboy.

Strong, silent and weather-beaten.

Howdy, strangers.

This colourful cowhand

of the great West...

has his counterpart

in the South American gaucho.

Over land and sea, over rugged

mountains and dense jungles...

down across the equator to the lush,

grassy pampas of the Argentine...

the home of the gaucho.

Now, the cowboys of both

Americas have much in common...

although their costume

differs in a few minor details.

We substitute bombachas

for chaps; the sombrero.

Then there's the saco,

the tirador...

the chiri and the panuelo.

Then, finally,

we have the poncho...

which just about covers everything.

The gaucho's closest friend

and inseparable companion...

is his horse, or pingo.

Quickly the gaucho

reaches for his lasso!

Twirling the rawhide above his head, he deftly

tosses the noose about the horse's neck...

and easily subdues

the spirited animal...

with the help

of the snubbing post...

or palenque.

Thanks to the palenque,

or snubbing post...

the horse is soon brought under

control and is ready for the saddle.

While it appears complex

at first glance...

adding the cinchas,

bastos, sheepskin, pigskin...

bridle, bit and, finally,

the gaucho.

When riding the range at night...

the saddle may be quickly

converted into a bed, or catre.

Bed?

One of the gaucho's

favourite sports is the asado...

or Argentine barbecue.

Over an open charcoal fire...

thick, juicy,

tender steaks are prepared.

And, amigos,

it fairly melts in your mouth.

The gaucho's method

of eating looks quite simple...

yet requires

a certain amount of practice.

The bread and meat

are held in one hand...

the knife in the other.

Note the action

of wrist and elbow...

as knife and food synchronize

in deft, graceful rhythm.

One, two, bite, cut, chew.

One, a-two, a-bite, cut, chew.

Yes, it is this wholesome diet

that builds...

the gaucho's nerves of steel

and muscles of iron.

And now the boleadoras, or bolas.

The bolas consists of three lead

weights covered with rawhide...

and is often used for sport,

such as capturing...

that swift-moving bird of the

pampas, the Argentine ostrich...

or avestruz..

Unlike most members

of the ostrich family...

the avestruz. is not equipped

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