FALKLAND ISI^ANDS 



here and there might be seen a small flock of wild geese, and 

 everywhere the ground was so soft that the snipe \\'ere able to 

 feed. Besides these two birds there were few others. There is 

 one main range of hills, nearly two thousand feet in height, and 

 composed of quartz rock, the rugged and barren crests of which 

 gave us some trouble to cross. On the south side we came to 

 the best country for wild cattle ; we met, however, no great 

 number, for they had been lately much harassed. 



In the evening we came acro.ss a small herd. One of my 

 companions, St. J ago by name, soon separated a fat cow ; he 

 threw the bolas, and it struck her legs, but failed in becoming 

 entangled. Then dropping his hat to mark the spot where the 

 balls were left, while at full gallop he uncoiled his lazo, and 

 after a most severe chase again came up to the cow, and caught 

 her round the horns. The other Gaucho had gone on ahead 

 with the spare horses, so that St. J ago had some difficulty in 

 killing the furious beast. He managed to get her on a level 

 piece of ground, by taking advantage of her as often as she 

 rushed at him ; and when she would not move, my horse, from 

 having been trained, would canter up, and with his chest give 

 her a violent push. But when on level ground it does not 

 appear an easy job for one man to kill a beast mad with terror. 

 Nor would it be so if the horse, when left to itself without its 

 rider, did not soon learn, for its own safety, to keep the lazo 

 tight ; so that, if the cow or ox moves forward, the horse moves 

 just as quickly forward ; otherwise, it stands motionless lean- 

 ing on one side. This horse, however, was a young one, and 

 would not stand still, but gave in to the cow as she struggled. 

 It was admirable to see with what dexterity St. Jago dodged 

 behind the beast, till at last he contrived to give the fatal touch 

 to the main tendon of the hind leg ; after which, without much 

 difficulty, he drove his knife into the head of the spinal 

 marrow, and the cow dropped as if struck by lightning. He 

 cut off pieces of flesh with the skin to it, but \\ithout any bones, 

 sufficient for our expedition. We then rode on to our sleeping- 

 place, and had for supper " carne con cuero," or meat roasted 

 with the skin on it. This is as superior to common beef as 

 venison is to mutton. A large circular piece taken from the back 

 is roasted on the embers with the hide downwards and in 

 the form of a saucer, so that none of the gravy is lost. If any 



