64 EUROPEAN SHEEP. 



" The greater part of these travelling sheep, says Chan- 

 cellor Livingston, in process of time got into the hands of 

 the king, or into those of the principal courtiers and clergy ; 

 and from thence we must probably date the oppressive code 

 by which their march is regulated, and the origin of tha 

 great Council of the Royal Troop (Consejo de la Mesta) by 

 whom those laws are administered." This tyrannical tribu- 

 nal was established as early as the 14th century. It estab- 

 lished a right to graze on all open and common land that 

 lay in the way ; it claimed also a path ninety yards wide 

 through all the enclosed and cultivated country ; and it pro- 

 hibited all persons, even foot passengers, from travelling on 

 these roads while the sheep were in motion ! 



The following interesting narrative of incidents connected 

 with the annual peregrinations of these sheep is from Mr. 

 Youatt's work, by whom it was compiled chiefly from the 

 writings of M. Lasteyrie. 



" They are divided into flocks, each of which is placed 

 under the care of a mayoral, or chief shepherd, who has a 

 sufficient number of others under his command, with their 

 dogs. He uniformly precedes the flock, and directs the 

 length and speed of the journey ; the others with the dogs 

 follow, and flank the cavalcade, collect the stragglers, and 

 keep off the wolves, who regularly follow at a distance and 

 migrate with the flock. A few asses or mules accompany 

 the procession, in order to carry the little clothing and other 

 necessaries of the shepherds, and the materials for the fold 

 at night. Several of the sheep, principally wethers, are 

 perfectly tamed, and taught to obey the signals of the shep- 

 herds. These follow the leading shepherd, having been 

 accustomed to be fed from his hand ; they lead the flock — 

 there is no driving — and the rest quietly follow. 



" When passing through the enclosures, they sometimes 

 travel eighteen or twenty miles a day ; but when they reach 

 an open country, with good pasture, they proceed more 

 leisurely. Their whole journey is usually more than four 

 hundred miles, which they usually accomplish in six weeks, 

 and thus spend, in going and returning, nearly one quarter 

 of the year in this injurious manner. 



" It may be readily supposed that much damage is done, 

 carelessly, or unintentionally, or wilfully, to the country over 

 which these immense flocks are passing ; and particularly 

 as the migrations take place at the times of the year when 



