ance, is so wonderful as only to be credited and repeated on the
concurrent testimony of all who have frequented this country. The
cattle killed in the before-mentioned manner are slaughtered only for
their hides and tallow, and sometimes their tongues also are taken
out; but the rest of the flesh is left to putrify, or to be devoured
by birds of prey and wild beasts. The greatest part of it falls to the
share of the wild-dogs, of which there are immense numbers to be found
in the country. These are all supposed to be descended of Spanish dogs
from Buenos Ayres, which had left their masters, allured by the great
quantity of carrion, and had run wild where they had such facility
of subsisting, for they are plainly of the European breed of dogs.
Although these dogs are said to prowl in vast packs, even some
thousands together, they do not diminish the number, nor prevent the
increase of the cattle, as they dare not attack the herds, by reason
of the vast numbers that feed together, but content themselves with
the carrion left by the hunters, and perhaps now and then meet with
a few stragglers, separated accidentally from the herds to which they
belong.

This country, to the southward of Buenos Ayres, is also stocked with
great numbers of wild-horses, brought also originally from Spain, and
prodigiously increased, and extending to a much greater distance than
the cattle. Though many of these are excellent, their numbers
make them of very little value, the best of them being sold in the
neighbouring settlements, where money is plenty and commodities very
dear, for not more than a dollar a piece. It is not certain how far to
the southwards these herds of wild cattle and horses extend; but there
is reason to believe that stragglers of both are to be met with very
near the Straits of Magellan, and they will doubtless in time fill
all the southern part of the continent with their breeds, which cannot
fail to be of vast advantage to such ships as may touch on the coast.
The horses are said to be very good eating, and are even preferred by
some of the Indians before the cattle. But however plentiful Patagonia
may hereafter become in regard to flesh, this eastern coast of that
extensive country seems very defective in regard to fresh water; for
as the land is generally of a nitrous and saline nature, the ponds
and streams are frequently brackish. However, as good water has been
found, though in small quantities, it is not improbab