174 PATAGONIAN DOGS. 



parties : but, indeed, every white man who has passed any time 

 among the Patagonian Indians agrees in giving a favourable 

 account of the treatment experienced. The ' Basket-maker,'' 

 however, would fare better than the ' Scholar,' I fancy, with 

 these, as well as with most other tribes of savages, until ideas 

 could be communicated clearly.* 



The dogs now found in the southern part of Patagonia have 

 a wolfish appearance — their size, colour, hair, ears, nose, tail, 

 and form being in general much like those of a wolf; though 

 some black or spotted dogs are also seen. The roof of the mouth 

 is black : the ears are always erect, and the nose sharp-pointed. 

 I should say that their usual height is about that of a large fox- 

 hound. Generally the coat is harsh or wiry, and rather short ; 

 but there are some dogs among them which have thick woolly 

 coats, like those of Newfoundland or large shepherd's dogs, 

 which some resemble ; others being more like lurchers ; but all 

 have a wild wolf-like look, not at all prepossessing. I had a 

 fine dog of this kind, rather like a Newfoundland, except in 

 physiognomy, but his habits were so savage that he came to 

 an untimely end. These dogs hunt by sight, without giving 

 tongue ; but they growl or bark loudly at the approach of 

 strangers. As to attachment to their masters, the dogs we had 

 could hardly give fair testimony, having been taken (bought) 

 from them ; but to strangers they were always snappish. 



* With reference to what has been ah-eady mentioned about their 

 migratory inclinations, I will here annex an omitted date: — Maria and 

 her companions were at Gregory Bay in November 1831 : at the River 

 Negro in September 1832 : and again at Gregory Bay, in the Strait of 

 Magalhaens, in March 1833. 



