248 



PEAT ANIMALS. 



those who were there. The more elevated parts of East Falk- 

 land are quartz rock ; clay-slate prevails in the intermediate 

 districts. Sandstone, in which are beautifully perfect impres- 

 sions of shells, occurs in beds within the slate formation : and 

 upon the slate is a layer of clay, fit for making bricks. Near 

 the surface, where this clay is of a lighter quality, and mixed 

 with vegetable remains, it is good soil, fit for cultivation. In 

 some places, a great extent of, clay is covered by a layer of 

 very solid peat, varying in depth from two to ten feet. The 

 solidity of this peat is surprising ; it burns well, and is an 

 excellent substitute for other fuel. To the clay and to the 

 solid peat may be attributed the numerous bogs and pools of 

 water, rather than to the total amount of rain. Is the peat 

 now growing, or was the whole mass formed ages ago 



The settlement, now consisting only of a few huts, some cot- 

 tages, and a ruinous house or two, occupies the place originally 

 selected by Bougainville, close to Port Louis, at the head of 

 Berkeley Sound. Standing in an exposed situation, scattered 

 over half a mile of rising ground, without a tree or even a 

 shrub near it, the unfortunate village has a bleak and desolate 

 appearance, ominous of its sad history. Previous, however, to 

 entering upon the affairs of the settlement, I will continue my 

 sketch of the islands and their present produce, independent 

 of the settlers now there. 



By the French, and afterwards by the Spanish colonists, a 

 number of black cattle, horses, pigs, and rabbits, were turned 

 loose upon East Falkland ; and, by considerate persons, en- 

 gaged in whale or seal-fishery, both goats and pigs have been 

 left upon smaller islands near West Falkland. These animals 

 have multiplied exceedingly; and, although they have been 

 killed indiscriminately by the crews of vessels, as well as by 

 the settlers, there are still many thousand head of cattle, and 

 some thousand horses, besides droves of pigs, perfectly wild, 

 upon the eastern large island : while upon Carcass Island, 

 Saunders Island, and others, there are numbers of goats and 

 pigs. In 18S4, the smallest estimate exceeded twelve thou- 



