THE STEAIT OF MAGELLAN. 209 



which had been previously laid on their backs, and then cut 

 through the costal cartilages, so as to separate the ribs of each 

 side from the breast-bone, and expose the thoracic cavity. 

 The viscera were then cleared out in the course of a minute 

 or two, jets of blood spouting from some of the larger wounded 

 vessels, and the stomach, intestines, liver, and lungs thrown 

 to the dogs, who fought over them, and speedily made 

 them disappear from view. The kidneys were extracted 

 separately, and the tunica albuginea having been stripped off, 

 they were eaten, bloody and smoking hot as they were, by the 

 butchers, who evidently regarded them as tit-bits. The car- 

 casses were then turned over to let the blood run out of them, 

 the process being facilitated by a few stamps from the feet of 

 the operators, after which, in common with the young live 

 animal, they were slung across the backs of horses, and sent 

 back to camp with two of the Patagonians. After we had 

 rested for a little while, we rode ofP to see if we could come 

 across the guanaco that had escaped. We found, however, 

 that it had fled too far to allow of our following it without 

 much expenditure of time and very doubtful results, and 

 accordingly rode back to camp. On the way our guide, who 

 was possessed of a remarkably prepossessing expression of coun- 

 tenance, and appeared very amiable, pointed out " ostrich" to 

 us, which was scudding along over the plains, with some of 

 the other members of our party, who were in advance, in pur- 

 suit, but it got off without damage. We reached the tents 

 about 1 P.M., and as the appearance of the clouds was strongly 

 indicative of rain, which later in the day came on heavily, we 

 struck our camp, and returned to the ship. The two chiefs 

 accompanied us on board, where they spent about an hour, 

 being regaled with luncheon in the ward-room, and behaving, 

 on the whole, with great discretion, using their knives and 



P 



