In Search of the Spanish Colonial 'Cuera' Armor

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by fearn

Slightly off-topic, but I need to put in the origin of the word "chaps"--those leather leg protectors worn by cowboys.

The vegetation in Spain looks a lot like the the vegetation in California, and they have their equivalent of chaparral--low dense brush. In fact, the California term came from the Basque "chaparro" (in Basque, there's an X in there somewhere, sorry), which was the Spanish scrub oak.

Chaps were worn when going through brush to protect the legs. Poor horse had to fend for himself.

I'll keep an eye open for old leather jackets. One place I'd look, Jim, is anywhere that preserves any leather whatsoever from the era preceding the Mission period. I think the reason you're not seeing a "cuera" coat is that few if any survived.

Come to think of it, what did the rancheros wear, anyway? They had to deal with indian arrows on occasion.

Best,

F

Thank you Fearn!! Not off topic at all. Excellent observation on the chaps, and it would certainly seem that they descended from the Spanish 'bocas' or leather leggings they wore beyond the cuerra. Actually it is great that you brought this up, as much, if not most of our western 'cowboy' heritage derives from Spanish ancestry, including of course the horse itself.
The term 'buckaroo' is from the vaqueros.

I mentioned I had been in the Sonora desert regions in Arizona last year, and while this vegetation os beautiful, especially in bloom, it is absolute murder in trying to gain passage through it. Anyone who pictures desert as desolate expanses of sand and rock has never seen anything like this!
The majestic saguaro cactuses tower above all manner of prickly pear, mesquite, and all kinds of flora I cant even recall the names of, in a dense jungle of vegetation.

As I mentioned, I think that the leather wear was as much for protection from the attack of natural forces as protection from Indian arrows, and the swords we have often discussed, the espada ancha, became more of a machete than combative weapon.

Interesting that you mention the Basques, and I found it fascinating that such a number of this unique heritage found thier way into the ranks of the Saldaos de Cuera. One of the prominant families in the Bay Area was the Berreyasa (Berelleza) family, descended from one of these soldiers c.1775 in the settlement of Alta California with Juan Bautista de Anza.

Good suggestion on the preservation locations, and I'll check with some museums. I know that the adarga shields (which were rawhide) still exist. It seems that the cuerra was typically about 7 ply of deerskin, and I'm not sure if the type of hide would determine survivability, but it seems if it was removed from the elements it should.

Interesting question on the rancheros, and I'm not sure if they might have worn the same type gear on occasion. Most of thier riding was on thier own estates in limited areas from what I understand, and they had vaqueros for wider coverage.

Thank you for the response and info Fearn !
All the best,
Jim