꧁ Arthur Morgan ꧂

Name: Arthur Morgan

Alias;Englishman, English, Tacitus Kilgore, Arthur Callahan, Fenton, Leviticus Cornwall, Pretty Boy, Black Lung (by Micah Bell), Herr Morgan (by Leopold Strauss)

Date of birth: November 22, 1899

(canonically unknown birthday)

Nationality: American

Occupation: Outlaw, bounty hunter, exile, deputy (temporarily), and gunman; member of Dutch Van der Linde's gang

family; Lyle Morgan (father) †, Beatriz Morgan (mother) †, Mary Linton (former fiancée) †, Eliza (child's mother/co-father) †, Isaac (son) †, Cobre (dog) †

Horses; Boadicea (formerly)
Taima (temporarily), Mahogany Bay Tennessee Walker (rewarded, stolen), Raven of the Black Shire (temporarily), Valentine's Stable Horse (awarded, purchased), Buell (gift/determining)

Arthur Morgan is a cold and taciturn outlaw who frequently resorts to violence and has no qualms about killing. At his worst, Arthur can be extremely ruthless and completely insensitive to his victims. Despite his capacity for such violent acts, Arthur also has a playful side that he displays with his friends. He doesn't mind joking or using sarcasm with them. Notably, Arthur was kind and polite to Jack, John Marston's four-year-old son, showing gentle treatment of the little boy, in contrast to his menacing personality.

Despite his capacity for extreme violence, Arthur possesses his own moral code and rejects what he considers unnecessary murder, especially if it endangers his life or the lives of his loved ones. Dutch also raised him to believe that revenge is a futile endeavor. Arthur seems to firmly believe that violence should be cold, necessary, and dispassionate, never driven by personal pleasure or without any motive. Therefore, his strong convictions largely explain his later rebellion against Dutch when the latter contradicts his teachings and begins to revel in violence, murdering enemies in revenge.

Arthur cannot be bought, intimidated, or frightened, regardless of his adversary's size, strength, wealth, or power. He is fully aware of his imposing presence and the effect his intimidating strength can have on others. Although Arthur demonstrates time and again that he fears no one, he does fear for the safety of his loved ones. With supreme confidence in his ability to handle any situation or defeat any adversary, Arthur rarely hesitates and throws himself into battle even when outnumbered. Despite his usual courage and composure, Arthur displays a rare moment of fear when he confides in Sister Calderón.

In his own words, Arthur is aware that he is a "bad man" and clearly understands that his behavior is morally reprehensible, though he justifies his actions by arguing that they are different from those of most criminals, since the Van der Linde gang professes a philosophy that Arthur sincerely believed could help people. However, over time, Arthur realized that this philosophy was a sham or an "excuse" for him and the gang to rob and kill indiscriminately, as John Marston would later say.

Arthur is shrewd and quite intelligent, and demonstrates greater self-awareness than almost all the other members of the gang, enabling him to remain calm, especially under pressure, and not succumb to the weight of the need to justify himself.

Unlike most people of his time, Arthur held fairly progressive views on women and minorities. He expressed disgust at racism and had no qualms about women performing jobs traditionally associated with men. As for his religious beliefs, Arthur claimed to be irreligious, but he seemed to believe in some kind of afterlife.

As can be seen in an old photograph found in Arthur's wagon, prior to 1899, Arthur appears as a young man wearing a brown waistcoat and trousers and wearing a scarf around his neck.

In 1899, Arthur was approximately 36 years old, had a muscular build ideal for his position, abundant light brown hair and green eyes, and measured approximately 185 cm (6'1"). In addition, he had a scar near his chin, which left a visible bald patch in his beard.

A healthy Arthur will maintain his robust physique. Overfeeding him will cause him to gain weight, which will improve his health but limit his stamina; on the other hand, neglecting his nutrition will cause him to lose weight, harming his health but increasing his stamina.

During his time in Guarma, Arthur's face becomes red and sunburned, and both his hair and beard grow progressively longer, as there is no way to shave or cut them. Arthur is also underweight due to lack of food and wears only one outfit: the remnants of the suit he wore during the Saint Denis bank robbery.

Arthur was born in the United States around 1863, the son of Lyle and Beatrice Morgan. When he was just a child, his mother died, leaving him in the care of his father, who was arrested in 1874 for theft. Arthur's father was a petty criminal who died shortly after being convicted. Arthur spent some time as a thief on the streets until he was found by Dutch Van der Linde and Hosea Matthews, who instilled in him their ideals of freedom, loyalty, equality, and justice, and took charge of his upbringing and education. Over time, Arthur became a high-ranking member of Dutch's gang. Later, Arthur met Mary Linton,[9] with whom he fell in love. However, his preference for the life of a gunman and outlaw, along with her family's disapproval, caused their relationship to fail. He then met a young woman named Eliza, with whom he had a son, Isaac. Although he promised to visit them every few months and take care of them constantly, one day he found them dead at the hands of thieves who had killed them for a mere $10. The incident hardened Arthur, and he never confronted the pain of their loss, which would also affect his personality.

The gang arrives in a town called Blackwater in search of opportunities, and Arthur, along with Hosea and Dutch, decides to plan a real estate scam to get rich. But their plan falls apart after a ferry robbery organized by Dutch results in a massacre that forces them to flee into the mountains.

When the events of Red Dead Redemption 2 begin, the gang is fleeing through the mountains after a failed robbery. They take refuge east in a mining town called Colter, where, after a blizzard, they rob a train owned by a powerful tycoon named Leviticus Cornwall, which takes them further east to the cattle town of Valentine. While there, Arthur rescues one of the gang members, Sean Macguire, outside Blackwater, and the gunman Micah Bell from the Strawberry town jail. Dutch gets along well with Bell, who believes he's useful for the gang's heists. Arthur also carries out various jobs and activities with Hosea, Bill Williamson, Javier Escuella, John Marston, and others. Among these jobs is collecting debts for Leopold Strauss, the gang's accountant, which forces Arthur to collect overdue payments, usually through violence and threats. On one occasion, he confronts a seriously ill farmer named Thomas Downes, who, after being beaten, coughs up blood, which hits Arthur in the eye. Later, Arthur takes John and Abigail Roberts' son, Jack, fishing in the river, but is confronted by Andrew Milton and Edgar Ross, two agents of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, who are tracking him. They offer Arthur the freedom of the gang in exchange for turning in Dutch, but he refuses. Some time later, Leviticus Cornwall, determined to avenge the robbery of his train, attacks Arthur and Dutch in Valentine.

After narrowly escaping the city with few options left, the gang moves to the southern town of Rhodes, where they meet the Grays and the Braithwaites, two feuding families who accuse each other of hiding supposed Civil War gold. Dutch and Hosea are interested in this gold and devise a plan to steal it and turn the families against each other. However, when their plan is discovered, Sean is ambushed and killed by the Grays, and young Jack is kidnapped by the Braithwaites, leading them to massacre both families. This forces the gang to seek refuge even further south, on the outskirts of an industrial city called Saint Denis, where Jack is being held. Arthur begins to have doubts about Dutch's decisions regarding the gang, believing he is putting its members at great risk. This doubt intensifies when, after rescuing the child of a wealthy businessman named Angelo Bronte, Dutch, trusting a tip-off from Bronte himself, leads them to rob the city's tram station, unaware that it was a trap. This enrages Dutch, who then leads an attack on Bronte's mansion, resulting in Bronte's death. Following this, Dutch decides the gang will rob the main bank in Saint Denis to finance their escape to the tropical island of Tahiti, but they fail. The Pinkertons confront them, and Hosea is killed along with another key member of the gang, Lenny Summers.

The gang's situation reaches a critical point after this failed heist. The gang splits up, with Dutch, Arthur, Bill, Javier, and Micah ending up as stowaways on a ship trying to escape. The ship sinks, they lose the stolen money, and they end up on the fictional island of Guarma in Cuba, where they are captured and forced to participate in a revolution waged by the island's inhabitants against their ruler, the tyrant Alberto Fussar. Arthur kills Fussar before returning to the United States. There, he finds the gang in chaos, far from civilization, settled in the swamps and harassed by the Pinkertons, who launch an attack on the gang shortly after Arthur's arrival. As a result of all this, Arthur begins to question Dutch's leadership even more, as well as worrying about the negative influence Micah exerts over him. Dutch's erratic and messianic attitude causes the gang to split into three factions. The group made up of those who follow Dutch without hesitation —Micah, Javier and Bill—, those who begin to lose their faith in Dutch —Arthur, John, Charles Smith and Sadie Adler— and the others, who simply wish to leave, believing that all is lost.

After much debate and discussion, everyone knew that the only way to get rid of those people was to go as far away as possible; it was obvious, they couldn't even be on the same continent without the risk of being killed.

The plan had been simple: thanks to contacts, they were able to decipher the stops of every train and ship, how each thing would go to a certain place, and so on. They would go to Australia and together start over to clear their names.

Each train had different locations and dates for safety reasons. Arthur's was assigned one that required careful attention; only the 10-car train would take him to his destination, but the 11-car train wouldn't. He should have thought carefully, made sure it was the right one, but the adrenaline of what he was about to do prevented him from thinking clearly, not to mention the horse was already restless.

Without thinking, he jumped into the wagon that most closely resembled the one they had described: hay, lots and lots of hay. Besides the other animals, all he could think was, who on earth leaves a wagon full of animals open? He got up and closed the door. He knew it would be a long and hard journey, especially after being smuggled by boat. That part was what made his hair stand on end the most.

Arthur, one of the Van der Linde gang's most prominent members, is Dutch's strongest, most reliable, and most versatile disciple. Loyal and possessing a wide range of skills, he is always willing and able to do whatever is necessary in any situation, whether to help the gang as a whole or its members individually.

Arthur is considered by allies and enemies alike to be the most dangerous member of the Van der Linde gang, and is recognized and feared as its chief enforcer. By 1899, his reputation is such that both associates and enemies frequently comment on his skill and prestige within the gang. On multiple occasions, he is the target of attempts at ambush, assassination, capture, or bribery, with Pinkerton and rival gang leaders seeking to eliminate him or turn him against Dutch and the gang. Colm O'Driscoll, Dutch's most prominent rival, has praised Arthur's skills, calling him an "excellent gunslinger" and even casually offering him a place in his gang.

His skill, versatility, and ferocity, combined with his natural strength and stamina, make him an unparalleled fighter. From antique weapons like the Volcanic Pistol to modern Mauser pistols and even a bow, his mastery of a variety of weapons and fighting styles makes Arthur an invaluable asset. He is considered one of the gang's best gunmen, if not the best, rivaling John and Micah. Furthermore, along with Charles, he is the group's best hand-to-hand combatant. One of the most remarkable demonstrations of Arthur's physical dominance occurs during the infamous brawl at the Valentine bar. There, in a matter of minutes, he rescues Bill and Javier, knocks out three opponents in succession, and single-handedly defeats the colossal Tommy (considered the toughest resident in town), nearly beating him to death, even after being thrown out of a window.

This incident alone establishes a lasting reputation for formidable status for Arthur in the village.

Arthur's skills extend far beyond those required for physical confrontation. As a skilled interrogator, he proves capable of using not only intimidation and force, but also charm and charisma to extract money and information. He often displays a practical knowledge—or a remarkable aptitude for learning—of operating machinery and means of transport, including steam locomotives. While there is no evidence that he received any formal training or education, his diary entries reveal a natural talent for writing and art.

Although Arthur is usually humble about his mental acuity, he is quite intelligent in many ways. He consistently demonstrates strong leadership, a shrewd aptitude for strategy, and accurate intuition about the success or failure of plans. He also proves to be a perceptive judge of character, frequently and correctly assessing the true intentions, deceptions, and capabilities of those around him. Hosea remarks that he believes Arthur's modesty masks a sharp mind, far more astute and observant than he typically displays. Furthermore, Arthur's temperament is another key quality. He rarely loses his composure and prioritizes the situation at hand rather than being swayed by emotions. This is demonstrated on multiple occasions when he witnesses the deaths of friends or his own betrayal, yet continues to carry out his duties. However, Arthur is willing to display ruthlessness when necessary, swiftly neutralizing those who attempt to threaten or insult him. This makes him a formidable and intimidating figure.

Arthur demonstrates an enormous capacity for acquiring wealth and goods for the Van der Linde gang through hunting, pillaging, fishing, crafting, gambling, theft, looting, debt collection, and other means. The gang's ledger is irrefutable proof of Arthur's resourcefulness, as he is both able and willing to produce far greater quantities of money, food, medicine, herbs, furs, stolen goods, contraband, and other goods for the gang than all the other members combined.

Arthur is an expert in wilderness survival, a skill he uses to teach Charlotte Balfour how to survive and fend for herself, showing her how to hunt and shoot. Although he claims he never mastered archery during a conversation with Charles, he learns the technique quite quickly. His time riding with the band has taught him to live on the fringes of society. Arthur is able to track, hunt, and skin animals with the skill of a seasoned countryman. Unlike John, he is also a skilled herder, able to easily round up and guide various animals, such as a flock of sheep. Arthur can also swim and is an expert horseman.

Eagle-eye aim

Like other protagonists in the Red Dead series, Arthur can use his signature Hawkeye ability to slow down time and precisely aim to incapacitate or kill his enemies. Unlike previous installments, this ability also allows Arthur to target critical areas of the enemy as the player improves his skill.

Eagle eye

Introduced in Red Dead Redemption 2 as a representation of Arthur's well-developed survival skills, this new gameplay mechanic highlights animal tracks, objectives, and other points of interest, allowing the player to effectively track objectives over long distances.

Main Elements;

The Poncho: It is the quintessential garment. It consists of a rectangular piece of wool with an opening in the center for the head. It protects from the cold and rain, and in duels it was used wrapped around the left arm as a shield.

The Chiripá: A rectangular piece of cloth that was passed between the legs and fastened at the waist. It later evolved into the Bombacha de campo, wide and sturdy trousers with cuffs at the ankles to prevent them from getting caught in vegetation.

The Shirt: Usually made of cotton, in solid colors or with subtle checks. It is worn with the cuffs buttoned for greater comfort at work.

Accessories and Details:

The Belt Belt or Rastra: A wide leather belt, usually decorated with silver coins or precious metals. It serves a protective function for the lumbar region and is used to hold the knife.

The neckerchief: It is worn tied around the neck. Beyond its aesthetic purpose, it served to protect the respiratory tract from the dust of the pack animals or to dry sweat.

The Hat: Traditionally a short-brimmed, low-crowned hat (chambergo) or a beret, which became popular later due to European influence. It is held in place with a chin strap to prevent it from blowing away while galloping.

Tools for everyday use;

Ffacón; a long, wide-bladed knife, used for eating, work, and defense.

Boleadoras; Three stones wrapped in leather and joined by thongs, used to capture livestock or game.

Rebenque; Short leather whip with a wooden or silver handle, essential for handling the horse.

Spurs; Metal pieces with serrated wheels that fit onto the heel of boots to guide the animal.

The House: The Ranch

The ranch is a typical building, designed with natural materials available in the surrounding area. It is a simple structure but surprisingly resistant to the strong winds of the Pampas.

Materials: The walls are constructed with adobe (a mixture of mud and straw), providing excellent thermal insulation. The roof is made of thatched straw, sloped to allow rainwater to drain quickly.

Structure: The frame is usually made of willow or carob wood. The floor is of packed earth, which was kept clean and firm through constant watering and sweeping.

The Hearth: The center of social and domestic life. It was located either in the center of the main room or in an attached shed (the kitchen). There, water was heated for mate and meat was roasted.

Customs and Daily Life;

The gaucho identity was forged in the solitude of the countryside and working with wild cattle.

1. Mate; more than a drink, it is a ritual of hospitality and companionship. The gaucho drinks it bitter ("cimarrón") at any time of day. It is the first gesture when receiving a visitor and the faithful companion during long horseback rides.

2. Gastronomy;

The Barbecue: Their main source of food. Traditionally it is cooked "on a spit" (an iron cross stuck in the ground near the embers).

Charqui: Meat dried in the sun with salt, which allowed food to be preserved during long journeys without it rotting.

3. The Pulpería;

It was the social center, general store, and political club. The gauchos went there to:

Stock up on vices (tobacco, weed, gin).

Listen to or participate in payadas (improvised poetic duels with guitar).

To find out about news from the city or the border.

4. Games and Skills;

Life was a constant competition of skill on horseback:

The Ring Race: The rider, at a gallop, must pass a small stick through a ring hanging from an arch.

La Taba: A game of chance that consists of throwing a cow bone (the astragalus); depending on how it falls, you win or lose.

Values ​​and Character;

The gaucho is distinguished by a strict code of honor based on loyalty, hospitality (a traveler is never denied a meal or a place to sleep), and a deep disdain for imposed urban hierarchies. His language is measured, rich in rural metaphors and ancestral knowledge about the weather and animal behavior.

Proverbs and Popular Sayings;

Many of these are still used today in the countryside and cities of the Southern Cone:

"Playing the lame pig": To feign an illness or disability to avoid a job or responsibility.

"He who is born with a big belly, it's useless to try to bind him": This means that it is impossible to change a person's nature or destiny (the "bunch" is an idiom for "in vain").

"Each carancho in his own home": Equivalent to "each one in his own house" or that each person should mind their own business.

"One must not argue with destiny": An acceptance of fate, whether good or bad; the gaucho was very fatalistic.

"More lost than a dog in a bowling alley": To be completely disoriented in an unfamiliar situation.

Vocabulary and Idioms;

Gauchada; A favor or selfless act of service.

Pingo; The horse, especially when it's of very good quality. (I don't think it was said like that, but ok my dear💜)

Pajuerano; Someone who comes from "outside" (from distant lands) or who does not know the local customs.

Chucho; Fear or chill.

Yapa; Something given as a gift or as extra in a purchase.

Chasqui; Messenger on horseback who carried news from one post to another.

Gurí / Gurisa; Boy or girl (term of Guaraní origin).

Common Nicknames (The "Bad Name");

In the countryside, the given name was usually secondary to a nickname based on physical characteristics or skills:

"The One-Eyed Man": Very common for someone who had a vision problem in one eye.

"Priest": Not because he is religious, but for someone quiet or of a reserved nature.

"Zorro": For the cunning gaucho, who knew how to handle himself in difficult or dangerous situations.

"One-armed": Not necessarily someone without an arm, but someone with some clumsiness or old injury to the hand.

"Pangaré" or "Lobuno": Sometimes people were nicknamed after the color of a horse's coat if their skin or hair resembled it (e.g., someone with very blond or gray hair).

The Art of the Payada;

You can't talk about their language without mentioning the payada. It was a duel of improvised rhymes where two gauchos, guitar in hand, challenged each other using a very respectful but ironic language. If one failed to respond in time or with rhyme, he lost the duel.

Besides the existence of something called "aro-aro," which are short verses, romances, humor, etc., they could be dedications or outpourings about anything that rhymed with each other.

A key term: "Retrucar". It comes from the card game (Truco) and means to respond with a higher bet or a more witty reply.

In the countryside, the silence of the night and the vastness of the plains fueled stories told around the campfire or in the general store. These were not mere tales; for the gaucho, these presences were part of reality and were treated with sacred respect.

The Evil Light (Mandinga's Lantern);

It is perhaps the most widespread myth. It is a bright light, usually white or yellowish, that appears floating close to the ground in fields or hills during dry nights.

What was said: The gaucho believed that they were "lost souls" of people who had not received a Christian burial or who had outstanding debts in the world of the living.
The danger: If the light was white, it was said to be a soul asking for prayer. If it was greenish, it was considered to be the Devil himself (Mandinga) trying to lure the traveler towards a ravine or a dangerous place.

How to defend yourself: It was said that to scare her away you shouldn't be afraid and, ultimately, bite the sheath of the knife (the facón) or make a cross with the weapon on the ground.

The Werewolf;

It is the Creole version of the werewolf, but with very deep roots in the Guarani culture.

What was said: The belief dictated that the seventh son of a family, upon reaching puberty, would transform into a hybrid animal (a mixture of a large dog and a pig) on ​​Fridays of a full moon.

Its behavior: Unlike the European werewolf that attacks people, the rural Lobizón used to frequent cemeteries to eat remains or wallow in the carrion of dead animals. It was said that its presence caused farm dogs to howl in a "pitiful" and unusual way.

The cure: To break the spell, it was customary for the President of the Nation to be the godfather of the seventh child (a tradition that still exists legally in Argentina to avoid the stigma).

The Pombero (Or "The Owner of the Mountain");

Although it's more common in the northeast, its fame spread throughout the rural areas. It's a short, hairy goblin with a straw hat.

What was said: He is considered the protector of nature and birds. If a gaucho hunted more than necessary or mistreated the forest, the Pombero would punish him by making him lose his way in the countryside.

The custom: Many countrymen would leave offerings for him at a fence post or at the entrance to the woods to gain his favor: tobacco, honey, or a little cane liquor. If the Pombero accepted the gift, he would watch over the gaucho's animals; if he felt offended, he would open the gates so the cattle could escape.

The Gualicho;

More than a creature, the "Gualicho" is an evil force or entity that causes misfortune.
​
What was said: When a gaucho had bad luck in everything (his horse died, he lost at gambling, his family got sick), it was said that he had been "cast a spell on".

The origin: It is a word of Tehuelche origin that referred to a spirit that brought illnesses. To "cure the gualicho," people would go to healers or perform cleansings with the smoke of bitter herbs.

A common saying in the countryside:
"I don't believe in witches, but they exist." This phrase perfectly sums up the mentality of the countryman: a mixture of practical skepticism with a deep respect for the supernatural.

What exactly is sapucai?

It's not just a scream; it's an electric shock that erupts from the chest. It's a long, high-pitched, vibrant scream that ends with a drop in pitch or a break in the voice.
​In the 19th and early 20th centuries, sapucai was a communication code:

The sapucai of joy: It was released in the middle of a dance (like the chamamé) when the music reached its highest point of emotion.

The challenge cry: In a duel or before a cavalry charge, it was used to intimidate the enemy. It was a cry that said: "Here I am and I will not surrender!"

The sapucai of solitude: The gaucho used it in the middle of the countryside to announce that he was arriving at a post or simply to release the tension of solitude.

What was said in the countryside about the sapucai
It was said that a good sapucai could "raise goosebumps" from miles away. There was a belief that each man had his own "tone," and his friends or neighbors could recognize who was riding along just by hearing his cry from afar.

Even in the civil wars (very common around 1889), the cavalry charges of the Corrientes "lances" were famous and feared because they advanced to the unison cry of thousands of sapucais, which generated tremendous psychological terror in the opposing side.

A curious detail

The sapucai has three moments:

The start: A burst of air.

The sustain: Maintaining the high note by challenging the lungs.

The break: A kind of final sob or laugh that shows he still has plenty of breath left.

The "Medicine" of the Countryside (Healing);

Since the gaucho lived far from any town with a doctor, he developed a mystical connection with nature to heal himself:

Indigestion: It was believed to be a ball of food stuck in the stomach. The solution was to "pull the skin" (a back massage that made the skin crack) or measure it with a blessed tape measure.

The word cure: There were gauchos famous for curing the "bug infestation" of animals or toothache simply by reciting a secret prayer from a distance.

Sacred plants: The use of bailecito for the bronchi or chilca for wounds were knowledge that was passed down from generation to generation.

2. The Horse: More than a means of transport, an extension

For a gaucho, walking was almost a humiliation. It was said that a gaucho without a horse was "like a bird without wings."

The language of the ears: The gaucho knew his horse so well that he could tell if someone was coming from miles away just by how the animal moved its ears or sniffed the air.

Sleeping "in the saddle": The gaucho didn't need a bed. He used parts of his saddle: the saddle pad and the saddle blankets as a mattress, and the sheep's wool cushion as a blanket. His saddle was his portable home.

3. Weather superstitions

The gaucho was an expert meteorologist based on observation:

The "Canto del Tero": If the lapwing cried a lot in a specific place, it warned that people were coming or that it was going to rain.

The ants: If I saw them working frantically carrying sticks towards the anthill, I knew a strong storm was coming ("Santa Rosa").

Turning the knife: When a tornado or "dragon's tail wind" was coming, some gauchos would stick their knife in the ground making a cross to "cut the storm".

4. The "Hospitality of the Desert"

There was an unwritten law in the pampa: hospitality was sacred.

If a traveler arrived at a ranch, the homeowner would never ask him "Who are you?" or "What are you doing here?".

First, they were offered mate and a piece of meat. Asking about a stranger's personal affairs was considered a serious lack of respect (an "indiscretion").

His "Tracker" skills
This was an almost legendary figure. The Tracker was a gaucho with incredible eyesight:

I could look at a horse's footprint in the dry grass and tell you: "It's a bay horse, it's carrying a load, it gallops a little crooked on its left leg and it passed by here three hours ago."

They were so accurate that the police of the time hired them to track criminals fleeing across the open countryside, where there was nothing to see to any other eye.

Food "on the go";

Besides the barbecue, the gaucho had tricks for when he couldn't light a fire:

The "Field Mortar": Sometimes they used a hole in a stone or wood to grind corn kernels and make a kind of quick polenta.

Spring water: They knew how to identify which vegetation indicated underground freshwater, something vital for surviving in drought areas.

A touching detail: Despite his image as a tough and solitary man, the gaucho was very devoted to the Virgin of Luján. Many carried a small medal hidden among their clothes or engraved on the handle of their knife for protection in "partidas" (fights).