The gear gauchos use in the Argentinean pampa includes the typical hat, boleadoras or Tres Marias (small balls, fixed to the end of a long leather strip, thrown to hunt rheas), a lasso, a whip, a belt with the indispensable facón (a knife), a stirrup, spurs, and the traditional bombilla (a metal straw used to drink mate tea from a hollowed colocynth pumpkin).

The life of the gauchos is one of hard work, but also one marked by a liking for fun and celebration. Unlike celebrations in the Patagonian pampa, in north-western Argentina women always take part. This has undoubtedly been inherited from times of the Independence War, in which women played an important role. In the picture, Arturo und Marion Fernández are to be seen drinking mate at their finca in Campo Alegre, province of Salta.

The ritual of the asado and the mate is repeated with each stage. - Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - 1976

The ritual of the asado and the mate is repeated with each stage. - 1973

A lumberjack from the north of the Santa Fe province enjoys his earned mate. - 1973

Fabien Romero, called Chavi, is an old hunter and used to be an Indian slayer. He lives on the estancia “Miraflores” (Santa Fe province) and is said to be 112 to 115 years old. Like all Argentines, he likes to sip his mate tea. - 1973

A hierbal near EI Dorado (Misiones province), whose current owners are from Switzerland. These two men, the tareferos, fill a raido with mate branches. One such bale - the jute fabric is called ponchada - weighs a hundred kilos. - 1973

Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is the “green gold” of the province of Misiones, which has a tropical climate. The plantations of hierba mate cover an area of 200,000 hectares and yield an annual production of 95,000 tonnes. The zones where this shrub thrives are called hierbales. It takes four years for the plant to reach maturity. Each bush yields thirty kilos of green leaves, which results in ten kilos of dried leaves. It can be used for fifty years. The herb is used to brew the national drink, a refreshing, stimulating tea. - 1973

On this chair, a gaucho has laid out his indispensable daily utensils: the chambergo (hat), the bolas, the leather lasso, the riding whip, the facón (knife), the tirador (belt), the stirrups, the bombilla and the mate. - 1973

Although the first ray of sunshine usually sees him at work, the gaucho still finds time for socialising in the evening. Prepared and enjoyed with a "sacred" ritual, the bitter, slightly caffeinated mate makes you forget fatigue and pain. - Estancia La Mimosa, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1976

Maté, the daily and almost ritual drink of the gaucho ... - Estancia La Luciana, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

The ritual of the asado and the mate is repeated with each stage. - 1973

Arturo Fernandez and his wife during the mate ritual. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

After a hard day's work there is Asado and Mate.- Estancia La Teresa, Province Neuquén. - 1973

Vigil in the barn of Arturo Fernandez, in La Caldera. Father Requena, gaucho parish priest and rector of the University of Salta, joined the Chacho and Arturo. But, at sunrise, it's back to the pampas ... - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

Chacho Royo during the Mate ritual. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

Photo Gallery