138 FALKLAND ISLANDS. [CHAP. rx. 



the S.W. extremity) to the rest of the island. From the great number 

 of cows which have been killed, there is a large proportion of bulls. 

 These wander about single, or two and three together, and are very 

 savage. I never saw such magnificent beasts; they equalled in the 

 size of their huge heads and necks the Grecian marble sculptures. 

 Captain Sulivan informs me that the hide of an average-sized bull 

 weighs forty-seven pounds, whereas a hide of this weight, less 

 thoroughly dried, is considered as a very heavy one at Monte Video. 

 The young bulls generally run away for a short distance; but the 

 old ones do not stir a step, except to rush at man and horse ; and 

 many horses have been thus killed. An old bull crossed a boggy 

 stream, and took his stand on the opposite side to us ; we in vain 

 tried to drive him away, and failing, were obliged to make a large 

 circuit. The Gauchos in revenge determined to emasculate him and 

 render him for the future harmless. It was very interesting to see 

 how art completely mastered force. One lazo was thrown over his 

 horns as he rushed at the horse, and another round his hind legs : in 

 a minute the monster was stretched powerless on the ground. After 

 the lazo has once been drawn tightly round the horns of a furious 

 animal, it does not at first appear an easy thing to disengage it again 

 without killing the beast ; nor, I apprehend, would it be so if the man 

 was by himself. By the aid, however, of a second person throwing 

 his lazo so as to catch both hind legs, it is quickly managed ; for the 

 animal, as long as its hind legs are kept outstretched, is quite helpless, 

 and the first man can with his hands loosen his lazo from the horns, 

 and then quietly mount his horse ; but the moment the second man, 

 by backing ever so little, relaxes the strain, the lazo slips off the legs 

 of the struggling beast, which then rises free, shakes himself, and 

 vainly rushes at his antagonist 



During our whole ride we saw only one troop of wild horses. These 

 animals, as well as the cattle, were introduced by the French in 1764, 

 since which time both have greatly increased. It is a curious fact, 

 that the horses have never left the eastern end of the island, although 

 there is no natural boundary to prevent them from roaming, and that 

 part of the island is not more tempting than the rest. The Gauchos 

 whom I asked, though asserting this to be the case, were unable to 

 account for it, except from the strong attachment which horses have 

 to any locality to which they are accustomed. Considering that the 

 island does not appear fully stocked, and that there are no beasts of 

 prey, I was particularly curious to know what has checked their origi- 

 nally rapid increase. That in a limited island some check would 

 sooner or later supervene, is inevitable ; but why has the increase of 

 the horse been checked sooner than that of the cattle ? Captain Suli- 

 van has taken much pains for me in this inquiry. The Gauchos 

 employed here attribute it chiefly to the stallions constantly roaming 

 from place to place, and compelling the mares to accompany them, 

 whether or not the young foals are able to follow. One Gaucho told 

 Captain Sulivan that he had watched a stallion for a whole hour, 

 violently kicking and biting a mare till he forced her to leave her foal 



