168 Timehri. 
them, the penguin, a curious creature as much like a seal as a bird. They have 
flippers instead of wings, and, certain kinds of them at least, burrow in holes 
near the beach. Seals also are fairly numerous around the outlyingislands, but 
sealing is not, I think, much of a business now, whatever it may have been in 
other days. 
PEOPLE. 
8. There are no natives of the Falklands in the sense in which we speak of 
natives of this colony. The settlers are all Europeans, and very many ofthem 
are Scotch, or of Scotch descent. Butin the early days Spaniards from the La 
Plata were employed there in killing off the wild cattle—‘‘gauchos” they were 
called, and traces of them still remain in some Spanish names, and some habits 
ofdress. The islanders have Spanish names for the various kinds of horses, and 
also for the riding gear ; and the Spanish riding cloak, or “ poncho,” is still 
worn. 
The population is about 2,300 at the present time, and is not increasing much. 
Twelve or fourteen years ago it was said to be about 2,000, and we see it is but 
little more now. ‘There is an outlet for the young men in Patagonia, where 
there are extensive sheep farms now, I believe, and it may be some of them find 
their way there, but the Falkland Islander, born and bred, is not of a roving 
disposition. He prefers his wind-swept island to anything outside of it, nor 
would I, who have seen life there and elsewhere, blame him for it. 
OccuPATION. 
9. The chief occupation of the people of these islands, as you, perhaps, have 
already gathered, is sheep-farming. The whole country is divided up into 
stations, as they are called, each with its settlement, where the shearing is done, 
the wool shipped, stores kept, andso on. Here also the manager of the station 
lives, as well as the men usually employed about the place, while posted all, 
over the “ camp,”’ 01 district outside of the settlement itself, are the shepherds 
houses. Each shepherd has a large piece of ground to go over, and does all his 
work on horseback. He has seven or eight horses for his use, and does not 
usually work the same animal more than one day at a time. Their only food 
is the natural grass. They are allowed to roam about the “camp” and 
feed, and when wanted they are all driven into a corall, and then caught. They 
are all unshod, of course, and are never put in a stable, summer or winter. 
The Islanders are all good riders, the children learn to ride as soon as they 
learn to walk—and they have need, for one’s own legs are not of much use 
where there are no roads, and where what they call the “track” is known 
only to the native—and to the horse. One of my first guides was a little 
fellow of about eight years. He had been sent a distance of nearly ten miles 
for me with a led horse and gear. His own gear was scanty enough—a bridle, 
and a sheepskin for a saddle. He couldn’t find his way through the alpha- 
bet, but he could guide the schoolmaster fiom one end of the station to the 
other | 
