The esquila (sheep shearing) . . .

The time for the esquila is the most important time of the year for any estancia, and the esquiladores, were the laborers most appreciated in Patagonia, come time to shear the vast flocks of sheep. A good esquilador, according to doña María could remove all the wool in one piece without hurting or even nicking the animal, and they were in high demand as it was not customary to have any as permanent employees, but rather were hired when the time came they were needed. The esquiladores, in turn, traveled throughout Patagonia at that time of year offering their services wherever they went.

These groups, or work gangs, were usually hired beforehand and were eagerly awaited at the estancias so the work could begin. At the time, Antonio did not belong to any one group, but estancias were always eager to get the job done, and a good man was always welcome.

The job was simple, although far from easy, and was divided into three parts: there were the esquiladores who would shear the sheep, sometimes in less than a minute, then there were the separadores, who would grab the wool and spread it on a table where the parts coming from the legs and belly would be separated from parts coming from the back and flanks, the former being of lesser value. Then there were the helpers, or ayudantes, who would help one or the other, making themselves useful wherever they could do the most good. From there, the wool would go to the press, where bales weighing anywhere between 200 kg. to 400 kg. would be made, then skillfully stacked ready for loading on trucks that would transport the bales to the nearest port.

As luck would have it, don Antonio was hired on the spot. Not only that, but he ended up working in the same part of the estancia where doña María worked, and since he was not a part of any one group, was later persuaded to stay on after the main esquila was over—then, his main job was to help finish the remaining animals or strays that would invariably be arriving over the next days and weeks and could still number in the hundreds.

“Sixty years ago, the esquila was different than it is now,” said doña María. “There was no electricity, or machines, or electric tools like some estancias have now. In those days, everything was done by hand, and the work was nonstop from sunup to sundown. Come nightfall, however, we got together to play the guitar, to sing and dance around a fire until late into the night. There was always more than one good player, as well as lots of food and drink, and we really had a good time. It was my favorite time of year. It was the favorite for all of us, I believe. It was during those dances and singing that I got to know Antonio, and we started looking out for each other during the day. I would see him going into a shed, then out the other door, then I would see him walking over to one of the other sheds at lunch time, and he told me he kept an eye on my comings and goings, too. Of course, I always found plenty of reason to cross his path during the day. In a few days I had that boy so confused, it was a wonder he remembered what the sheep looked like.

“It was a good life then,” she continued, “fun and simple, and we never lacked for things to do or anything to eat. Only it didn’t last long. Two years later when he turned eighteen, the army called and off he went. I got a letter from him a few months later with some pesos in it, and off I went. That letter was his marriage proposal. I never got paid then; us girls worked for a roof and to eat and those were the first pesos I ever had to call my own. First thing we did was get married, and we’ve been together ever since.

From In the land of Fire.