56 HUNTING CAMPS. 



Government at Buenos Aires is very valuable. When I 

 was in Patagonia no licence to carry arms or to kill game 

 was required. Laws with regard to the branding of horses 

 are exceedingly strict and are administered by comisarios, 

 who are to be met with at every tiny settlement. These 

 officials have it in their power to give much annoyance, 

 and one cannot be too careful about one's papers. 



An expedition may reasonably expect to find game for 

 the pot over the greater part of the country, though there 

 are certain areas on the pampas from which the Indians 

 have driven every four-footed thing, yet even in these 

 districts a shot-gun can keep a small party adequately if not 

 well fed. If, however, a journey is made deep into the cor- 

 dillera, sufficient food must be taken for the entire trip. 



As to the best localities, the southern coasts of Lake 

 Buenos Aires and the valley of the River de Los Antiguos 

 are full of guemal, as I believe are most of the almost un- 

 trodden valleys round the majority of the Andean lakes. 

 There are also some wild cattle on this country, but once 

 the cordillera is reached a herd may be found anywhere, or 

 a great stretch of country may prove entirely barren. The 

 ground on which I hunted wild cattle near Lake Argentine 

 is now taken up by settlers, and is likely to be quite shot out. 



Although, except on one occasion, I always used a .275 

 Mauser, this rifle is undoubtedly unsatisfactory for wild 

 cattle, and, as I have said, the lightness of the bullet pre- 

 vented me from firing at several bulls which I certainly 

 could have secured with a heavier weapon, and in the thick 

 timber the use of the Mauser is foolhardy. For the pampas 

 any of the small bores are perfect in fact, two such and a 

 good Paradox form an excellent battery. It is well to take 

 a spare rifle, as the country is exceedingly rough, and a fall 

 from one's horse on the stony or treacherous ground over 

 which most of the galloping is done may badly damage a 

 rifle. 



