Some Circumstances relative to Merino Sheep, 2 43 



By the laws of the Mesta, each Cavaiia must be governed 

 by an officer called Mayoral ; for each subdivision of a thou- 

 sand sheep, five shepherds and four dogs are appointed. 

 Some of these inferior shepherds obtain the office of Rabadan, 

 the duty of which is to give a general su peri n tendance under 

 the control of the Mayoral, also to prescribe and administer 

 medicines to the sick sheep. At the time of travelling, and 

 when the ewes are yeaning, one or two extra shepherds are 

 allowed for each thousand sheep. 



The number of Merino sheep in Spain is estimated by 

 Burgoyne at 6,000,000 ; these of course must be attended by 

 30,000 shepherds, and 24,000 dogs at ordinary times, and 

 they find occasional employment for 5 or 10,000 additional 

 persons in the seasons of lambing and of travelling. 



In their journey, each subdivision is attended by its own 

 shepherds and dogs, and kept separate as far as may be from 

 all others. The duty of the dogs is to chase the wolves, 

 who are always upon the watch when the sheep are on the 

 road, and are more wily than our foxes; they are taught 

 also, when a sick sheep lags behind unobserved by the shep- 

 herds, to stay with and defend it, till some one returns back 

 in search of it. There are besides in each subdivision about 

 six tame wethers, called Mansos ; these wear bells, and are 

 obedient to the voices of the shepherds, who frequently give 

 them small pieces of bread : some of the shepherds lead, the 

 Mansos are always near them, and this disposes the flock to 

 follow. 



Every sheep is well acquainted with the situation of the 

 Dehesa to which its subdivision belongs, and will at the end 

 of the journey go straight to it, without the guidance of the 

 shepherds. Here the Hock grazes all the day under the eyes 

 of the attendants : when the evening comes on, the sheep 

 are collected together, and they soon lie down to rest ; the 

 shepherds and their dogs then lie down on the ground round 

 the flock, and sleep, as they teem it, under the stars, or in 

 huts that afford little shelter from inclement weather; and 

 this is their custom all the year, except that each is allowed, 

 in bis turn, an abseuce of about a month, which he spends 



Q 2 with 



