THE WILD PONIES OF SABLE ISLAND 211 



on the south side, being very narrow and low, the sea breaks over 

 the ridge in heavy weather. The lake often remains a foot or two 

 above the sea-level, until gradually an opening re-forms, and the 

 surplus accumulation runs off. The lake formerly had a narrow 

 channel to the sea, admitting of the passage of small craft. A gale 

 in 1830 closed its entrance, shutting in two American schooners 

 whose ribs are now buried in the sand. 



In approaching the island from the ocean little more than sand 

 is seen thrown up into every variety of drift, or scooped out by 

 the wind into bowl-like hollows, relieved only by the stark 

 timbers of many an unfortunate ship, washed by the waves or 

 thrown out high upon the shingle. In parts of the island the 

 scene resembles somewhat a bit of a western prairie. In several 

 places there are fresh-water ponds formed by the rain-water collecting 

 in cup-like depressions. It may be mentioned that fresh-water is 

 found anywhere in the sand by digging to the depth of about eighteen 

 inches to two feet. Digging to a greater depth the water becomes 

 salt so that the curious phenomenon is to be noted of an island 

 of sand holding fresh-water like a sponge. 



The central valley of the island in places is adorned with wild 

 roses, lilies, asters, strawberries, whortleberries, and the trailing vines 

 of wild cranberries, which are exported in large quantity. Smiling 

 grassy vales may be said to alternate with naked sand dunes for the 

 entire length of the interior of this little island. The wild horses 

 feeding dot the landscape, and seem to give colour to the Grecian 

 myth that whenever Neptune struck the earth with his trident 

 a horse appeared. 



Certainly Sable Island does not exactly tally with one's precon- 

 ceived notion of the character of a horse ranch. Yet here the ponies 

 thrive in average seasons ; here they roam in ignorance of the labours 

 which most of their race are fated to endure until at last the evil 

 day arrives of the annual drive, when the whole island is swept 

 from end to end, and a kicking, snorting, half-terrified mass is 

 driven into a large pound. Two or three dozen of selected ponies 

 are then lassoed, thrown down, bound, rolled over upon a hand 

 barrow, lifted up and slid into the surf-boat, rowed out, and finally 

 hoisted on board for conveyance to Halifax. 



It may be gathered from what has been said of the singular 

 environment, that the hardihood of the Sable Island pony has been 

 amply tested, and the survivors have proved their right to exist 

 by reason of their endurance of the long tempestuous winters entirely 

 without the protection of man. The number of the wild horses has 

 varied considerably during the last two or three centuries, owing to a 

 variety of causes. It is generally thought that the original stock 



