THE VOYAGE OF THE HASSLER 139 



were several lesser hills called the "Asses' Ears " which 

 were all craters and from Mt. Aymond Pourtales said 

 you could see thirty or forty such craters. All this is 

 very interesting and novel, as none of the explorers 

 seem to have examined these hills though they have 

 been named and entered on the charts, but I suppose 

 their position has been ascertained from a distance. 

 The mountain party with the exception of one or two 

 of the strong ones were "dead beat," for the tramp 

 had been a most fatiguing one, but I never saw Pour- 

 tales look so animated and so excited as he did on his 

 return. They had seen large herds of guanacos, from 

 fifty to a hundred at a time; they say they were so 

 graceful, and when disturbed they hurry close to- 

 gether and stand startled and alert with their pretty 

 heads lifted listening and whinnying to each other 

 like young colts. While they feed on the plain they 

 have a sentinel at watch on high ground to give warn- 

 ing of danger. The skin and fur are very soft and 

 make excellent robes, and the Indians use them also 

 for their tents. The skin and head of the one they shot 

 yesterday are lying on the deck now. It is a beautiful 

 head like that of a young deer. 



March 16 

 Last evening about four o'clock in the afternoon we 

 anchored off Elizabeth Island and went on shore for 

 the sunset. Dr. Steindachner most amiably dragged 

 my dead weight (which grows daily more imposing 

 on account of much food and Httle exercise) up a 

 steep cliff, and once landed on the top I took quite a 



