CHAP. IX.] ART IN MAKING A FIRE. ' 195 



not a dry spot to sit down on after our day's ride. I have in 

 another part stated how singular it is that there should be abso- 

 lutely no trees on these islands, although Tierra del Fuego is 

 covered by one large forest. The largest bush in the island 

 (belonging to the family of Compositae) is scarcely so tall as our 

 gorse. The best fuel is afforded by a green little bush about 

 the size of common heath, which has the useful property of 

 burning while fresh and green. It was very surprising to see 

 the Gauchos, in the midst of rain and everything soaking wet, 

 with nothing more than a tinder-box and piece of rag, immedi- 

 ately make a fire. They sought beneath the tufts of grass and 

 bushes for a few dry twigs, and these they rubbed into fibres ; 

 then surrounding them with coarser twigs, something like a 

 bird's nest, they put the rag with its spark of fire in the middle 

 and covered it up. The nest being then held up to the wind, by 

 degrees it smoked more and more, and at last burst out in flames. 

 I do not think any other method would have had a chance of 

 succeeding with such damp materials. 



\9th. — Each morning, from not having ridden for some time 

 previously, I was very stiff. I was surprised to hear the Gauchos, 

 who have from infancy almost lived on horseback, say that, 

 under similar circumstances, they always suffer. St. Jago told 

 me, that having been confined for three months by illness, he 

 went out hunting wild cattle, and in consequence, for the next 

 two days, his thighs were so stiff that he was obliged to lie in 

 bed. This shows that the Gauchos, although they do not appear 

 to do so, yet really must exert much muscular effort in riding. 

 The hunting wild cattle, in a country so diflficult to pass as this 

 is on account of the swampy ground, must be very hard work. 

 The Gauchos say they often pass at full speed over ground which 

 would be impassable at a slower pace ; in the same manner as a 

 man is able to skate over thin ice. When hunting, the party 

 endeavours to get as close as possible to the herd without being 

 discovered. Each man carries four or five pair of the bolas ; 

 these he throws one after the other at as many cattle, which, 

 when once entangled, are left for some days, till they become a 

 little exhausted by hunger and struggling. They are then let 

 free and driven towards a small herd of tame animals, which 

 have been brought to the spot on purpose. From their previous 



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