42 HUNTING CAMPS. 



their seclusion is more than likely to be charged at 

 close quarters. 



With the exception of man the bulls have of course 

 no enemy of whom they need take account, though a 

 ^certain number of calves are probably killed by pumas. 

 In fact, when any herd, wild or tame, comes upon the 

 track of one of these animals they will often follow it 

 lowing for a certain distance. 



In an unfenced and unpopulated country like Pata- 

 gonia numbers of cattle escape and run wild for months 

 at a time. These for the most part make towards the 

 mountains, and gauchos have often remarked to me 

 that when they have come across strayed cattle on the 

 plains they were nearly always heading for the west. 

 This may be accounted for, as the animals would 

 naturally travel up against the prevailing winds, and so 

 in time they reach the rampart of the cordillera, where 

 they find shelter and good food and can foregather with 

 their wild-bred kindred. 



At one time I believe the Falkland Islands were 

 famous for wild-cattle shooting, the animals being 

 driven by gauchos to posted guns. In those good days 

 British naval officers were sure of exciting and interest- 

 ing experiences when they visited the realms of the 

 " King of the Penguins," as the Governor of the Falk- 

 lands used to be called from the vast colonies of those 

 birds which inhabited his regency. But that time is 

 past, and the Falklands are now given over to mild 

 flocks of sheep. 



One of my first experiences with wild cattle occurred 

 in the neighbourhood of Lake Buenos Aires, when I 

 and my Welsh gaucho, Humphrey Jones, came in the 

 early morning upon the track of a big bull. On his 



