204 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



and debris. I obtained a glimpse of the geese, 

 and had a good view of the marsh about 1000 feet 

 below me. 



Easter Island is now almost entirely covered 

 with grass, and, from the sea, presents an unbroken 

 view of rolling grass-covered country. A closer 

 inspection shows that amongst the grass lie in- 

 numerable rocks of lava of various sizes, and were 

 it not for the number of sheep tracks in all 

 directions, it would be a tedious matter to walk 

 any distance in many parts of the island. 



A few low trees have been planted amongst 

 the houses at the settlement, and at the bottom 

 of the crater I noticed some small trees and bushes. 

 In former times there were many trees, but all 

 appear to have been felled, and the land cleared 

 to make grazing ground for sheep and cattle. 



At the time of our visit there were 40,000 sheep. 

 They were very small, and their wool was of a 

 yellowish colour, doubtless discoloured by the 

 earth. All the wool is shipped to Valparaiso, 

 whence it goes to Bradford, in Yorkshire. 



Two sheep and a bullock were required for the 

 ship, and we watched the natives catching them. 

 The sheep were easily ridden down by a couple of 

 men on horseback, and were at once slaughtered. 



A bullock was then singled out and separated 

 from the herd by the two mounted natives. Each 

 man was armed with a strong lasso made of raw 

 hide, the end of which was fastened to the saddle 



