14:> BANDA ORIENTAL. [CHAP. Vin. 



de las Cuentas : a hill distant many miles to the northward. The 

 name signifies hill of beads. I was assured that vast numbers of 

 little round stones, of various colours, each with a small cylindrical 

 hole, are found there. Formerly the Indians used to collect them, 

 for the purpose of making necklaces and bracelets a taste, I may 

 observe, which is common to all savage nations, as well as to the 

 most polished. I did not know what to understand from this story, 

 but upon mentioning it at the Cape of Good Hope to Dr. Andrew 

 Smith, he told 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 

 attrition, 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 circumstances 

 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 this estancia, I was amused with what I saw 

 and heard of the shepherd-dogs of the country.* When 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 puppy, while 

 very young, from the bitch, and in accustoming it to its future com- 

 panions. An 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 cas- 

 trated ; so that, when grown up, it can scarcely have any feelings 

 in common with the rest of its kind. From this education it has 

 no wish to leave the flock, and just as another dog will defend its 

 master, man, so will these the sheep. It is amusing to observe, 

 when approaching a flock, how the dog immediately advances 



* M. A. d'Orbigny has given nearly a similar account of these do<?s, 

 torn. i. p. 175. 



