re
consequently no strangers to its productions. Selkirk, who was here
the last, after a stay of between four and five years, was taken off
by the Duke and Duchess privateers, of Bristol, as may be seen at
large in the journal of their voyage. His manner of life, during his
solitude, was very remarkable in most particulars; but he relates one
circumstance, which was so strongly verified by our own experience,
that it seems worthy of being mentioned. He tells us, as he often
caught more goats than he had occasion for, that he sometimes marked
their ears, and let them go. This was about thirty-two years before
our arrival, yet it happened that the first goat killed by our people
after they landed, had its ears slit; whence we concluded that it had
doubtless been formerly caught by Selkirk. This was indeed an animal
of a most venerable aspect, dignified with a most majestic beard, and
bearing many other marks of great age. During our residence, we
met with others marked in the same manner, all the males being
distinguished by exuberant beards, with every other characteristic of
extreme age.

The great number of goats, which former writers describe as having
been found on this island, were very much diminished before our
arrival. For the Spaniards, aware of the advantages derived by the
buccaneers and pirates from the goats-flesh they here procured,
have endeavoured to extirpate the breed, on purpose to deprive their
enemies of this resource. For this purpose, they put on shore
great numbers of large dogs, which have greatly increased, and have
destroyed all the goats in the accessible pans of the country; so
that there were only, when we were there, a few among the crags and
precipices, where the dogs cannot follow them. These remaining goats
are divided into separate flocks, of twenty or thirty each, which
inhabit distinct fastnesses, and never mingle with each other, so
that we found it exceedingly difficult to kill them; yet we were so
desirous of their flesh, which we all agreed resembled venison, that
we came, I believe, to the knowledge of all their haunts and flocks;
and, by comparing their numbers, it was conceived that they scarcely
exceeded two hundred on the whole island. I once witnessed a
remarkable contest between a flock of goats and a number of dogs.
Going in our boat into the East bay, we perceived some dogs running
very eagerly upon the foot, and willing to see what game they were in
pursuit of, we rest