174 



BANDA ORIENTAL. 



Nov. 1833. 



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 smaU 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 men- 

 tioned these circumstances, because, although no crystallized 

 body is at present known to assume this form, it may lead 

 some future traveller to investigate 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, v/hen 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 an- 

 other dog will defend its master, man, so wiU 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. D'Orbigny has given nearly a similar account of these dogs, 

 vol. i., p. 175. 



