SHEPHERD-DOGS 159 



eastern coast of Africa, about one hundred miles to the 

 eastward of St. John's river, some quartz crystals with their 

 edges blunted from attrition, and mixed with gravel on the 

 sea -beach. Each crystal was about five lines in diameter, 

 and from an inch to an inch and a half in length. Many of 

 them had a small canal extending from one extremity to the 

 other, perfectly cylindrical, and of a size that readily admitted 

 a coarse thread or a piece of fine catgut. Their colour was 

 red or dull white. The natives were acquainted with this 

 structure in crystals. I have mentioned these circumstances 

 because, although no crystallised body is at present known to 

 assume this form, it may lead some future traveller to investi- 

 gate the real nature of such stones. 



While staying at this estancia, I was amused with what I 

 saw and heard of the shepherd-dogs of the country.^ When 

 riding, it is a common thing to meet a large flock of sheep 

 guarded by one or two dogs, at the distance of some miles 

 from any house or man. I often wondered how so firm a 

 friendship had been established. The method of education 

 consists in separating the puppy, while very young, from the 

 bitch, and in accustoming it to its future companions. An 

 ewe is held three or four times a day for the little thing to 

 suck, and a nest of wool is made for it in the sheep-pen ; at 

 no time is it allowed to associate with other dogs, or with the 

 children of the family. The puppy is, moreover, generally 

 castrated ; so that, when grown up, it can scarcely have any 

 feelings in common with the rest of its kind. From this 

 education it has no wish to leave the flock, and just as another 

 dog will defend its master, man, so will these the sheep. It 

 is amusing to observe, when approaching a flock, how the dog 

 immediately advances barking, and the sheep all close in his 

 rear, as if round the oldest ram. These dogs are also easily 

 taught to bring home the flock at a certain hour in the evening. 

 Their most troublesome fault, when young, is their desire of 

 playing with the sheep ; for m their sport they sometimes 

 gallop their poor subjects most unmercifully. 



The shepherd-dog comes to the house every day for some 



^ M. A- d'Oibigny has given nearly a similar account of these dogs, torn. i. 

 P- 175. 



