SIIEPIIERD-DOGS, 191 



to understand from this story, but upon mention- 

 ing it at the Cape of Good Hope to Dr. Andrew 

 Smith, he tokl me that he recollected finding on the 

 south-eastern coast of Africa, about one hundred 

 miles to the eastward of St. John's river, some 

 quartz crystals with their edges blunted from at- 

 trition, and mixed with gravel on the sea-beach. 

 Each crystal was about five lines in diameter, and 

 from an inch to an inch and a half in length. 

 Many of them had a small canal extending from one 

 extremity to the other, perfectly cylindrical, and of 

 a size that readily admitted a coarse thread or a 

 piece of fine catgut. Their colour was red or dull 

 white. The natives were acquainted with this 

 structure in crystals. I have mentioned these cir- 

 cumstances because, although no crystallized body 

 is at present known to assume this form, it may 

 lead some future traveller to investigate the real 

 nature of such stones. 



While staying at ths estancia, I was amused 

 with what I saw and heard of the shepherd-dogs 

 of the country.* Wlien riding, it is a common 

 thing to meet a large flock of sheep guarded by 

 one or two dogs, at the distance of some miles 

 from any house or man. I often wondered how 

 so firm a friendship had been established. The 

 method of education consists in separating the pup- 

 py, while very young, fi'om the bitch, and in accus- 

 toming it to its future companions. A ewe is held 

 three or four times a day for the little thing to suck, 

 and a nest of wool is made for it in the sheep-pen ; 

 at no time is it allowed to associate with other 

 dogs, or with the children of the family. The 

 puppy is, moreover, generally castrated ; so that, 



* M. A. d'Orbigny has given nearly a similar account of these 

 dogs, torn, i., p. 175. 



