VIII 
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. 
o 
While staying at this estancia, I was amused with what I 
saw and heard of the shepherd-dogs of the country. 1 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 in their sport they sometimes 
gallop their poor subjects most unmercifully. 
The shepherd-dog comes to the house every day for some 
1 M. A. cl’Orbigny has given nearly a similar account of these dogs, tom. i. 
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