ISO FALKLAND ISLANDS. [CHAP, ix- 



go soft that the snipe were ablo 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 across a small herd. One of my com- 

 panions, St. Jago 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, 

 Avhile 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. Jago 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 leaning on 

 one side. This horse, however,*Vas a young one, and would not 

 stand still, but gave in to the cow as she struggled. It was admir- 

 able 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 without 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 

 worthy alderman had sapped with us that evening, ' carne con 

 cuero/ without doubt, would soon "have been celebrated in London. 



During the night it rained, and the next day (17th) was very 



