200 
FALKLAND ISLANDS 
CHAP. 
here and there might be seen a small flock of wild geese, and 
everywhere the ground was so soft that the snipe were able to 
feed. Besides these two birds there were few others. There is 
one main range of hills, nearly two thousand feet in height, and 
composed of quartz rock, the rugged and barren crests of which 
gave us some trouble to cross. On the south side we came to 
the best country for wild cattle ; we met, however, no great 
number, for they had been lately much harassed. 
In the evening we came across a small herd. One of my 
companions, St. Jago by name, soon separated a fat cow ; he 
threw the bolas, and it struck her legs, but failed in becoming 
entangled. Then dropping his hat to mark the spot where the 
balls were left, while at full gallop he uncoiled his lazo, and 
after a most severe chase again came up to the cow, and caught 
her round the horns. The other Gaucho had gone on ahead 
with the spare horses, so that St. Jago had some difficulty in 
killing the furious beast. He managed to get her on a level 
piece of ground, by taking advantage of her as often as she 
rushed at him ; and when she would not move, my horse, from 
having been trained, would canter up, and with his chest give 
her a violent push. But when on level ground it does not 
appear an easy job for one man to kill a beast mad with terror. 
Nor would it be so if the horse, when left to itself without its 
rider, did not soon learn, for its own safety, to keep the lazo 
tight ; so that, if the cow or ox moves forward, the horse moves 
just as quickly forward ; otherwise, it stands motionless lean¬ 
ing on one side. This horse, however, was a young one, and 
would not stand still, but gave in to the cow as she struggled. 
It was admirable to see with what dexterity St. Jago dodged 
behind the beast, till at last he contrived to give the fatal touch 
to the main tendon of the hind leg ; after which, without much 
difficulty, he drove his knife into the head of the spinal 
marrow, and the cow dropped as if struck by lightning. He 
cut off pieces of flesh with the skin to it, but without any bones, 
sufficient for our expedition. We then rode on to our sleeping- 
place, and had for supper “ carne con cuero,” or meat roasted 
with the skin on it. This is as superior to common beef as 
venison is to mutton. A large circular piece taken from the back 
is roasted on the embers with the hide downwards and in 
the form of a saucer, so that none of the gravy is lost. If any 
