THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE 193 



On the next morning (21st) tracks of a party of horse, 

 and marks left by the trailing of the chuzos, or long spears' 

 were observed on the ground. It was generally thought 

 that the Indians had reconnoitred us during the night. 

 Shortly afterwards we came to a spot where, from the fresh 

 footsteps of men, children, and horses, it was evident that 

 the party had crossed the river. 



April 22nd.— The country remained the same, and was 

 extremely uninteresting. The complete similarity of the 

 productions throughout Patagonia is one of its most strik- 

 ing characters. The level plains of arid shingle support 

 the same stunted and dwarf plants; and in the valleys the 

 same thorn-bearing bushes grow. Everywhere we see the 

 same birds and insects. Even the very banks of the river 

 and of the clear streamlets which entered it, were scarcely 

 enlivened by a brighter tint of green. The curse of sterility 

 is on the land, and the water flowing over a bed of pebbles 

 partakes of the same curse. Hence the number of water- 

 fowl is very scanty; for there is nothing to support life in 

 the stream of this barren river. 



Patagonia, poor as she is in some respects, can however 

 boast of a greater stock of small rodents 1 than perhaps any 

 other country in the world. Several species of mice are 

 externally characterized by large thin ears and a very fine 

 fur. These little animals swarm amongst the thickets in the 

 valleys, where they cannot for months together taste a drop 

 of water excepting the dew. They all seem to be cannibals ; 

 for no sooner was a mouse caught in one of my traps than 

 it was devoured by others. A small and delicately shaped 

 fox, which is likewise very abundant, probably derives its 

 entire support from these small animals. The guanaco is 

 also in his proper district ; herds of fifty or a hundred were 

 common; and, as I have stated, we saw one which must 

 have contained at least five hundred. The puma, with the 

 condor and other carrion-hawks in its train, follows and 

 preys upon these animals. The footsteps of the puma were 

 to be seen almost everywhere on the banks of the river; 

 and the remains of several guanacos, with their necks 



1 T ^ e . ^ eserts °f Syria are characterized, according to Volney (torn. i. 

 P- 3Si;. by woody bushes, numerous rats, gazelles and hares. In the land- 

 scape of Patagonia, the guanaco replaces the gazelle, and the agouti the hare. 



Vol. 29— G HC 



