Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 2.djvu/279

] to have the opportunity of introducing here an interesting account of the wild cattle hunt, furnished to me by an officer who accompanied the party in their first successful chase.

"After a wet and weary pull of three hours, which carried us no more than as many miles, we approached the hunting grounds on the western shores of St. Salvador Bay. There we descried, through the drizzling sleet, a herd of some fifteen cattle on a point of land: a sight which put us all into excellent spirits. The dogs were immediately seized, and held down in the bottom of the boat; for their habit is, even on scenting the animals, to plunge into the water, and by giving tongue, frighten the game far away before the party can reach the shore. The men were all eagerness, stripping to their Guernsey frocks and trowsers, each slinging a sharp knife round his waist. My companion and I loaded our rifles, knowing that for new hands to keep up with the runners was impossible; and that our only chance of glory lay in having a long shot at some pugnacious bull or fleeing cow, which, inglorious as it may sound, is no more so in reality than if the game were a deer, and infinitely less than if a hare or bird.

"Before, however, detailing the incidents of this particular chase, I may give an outline of the general features of a cattle-hunt, as pursued by our seamen, which differs considerably from that of the Gauchoes; and most prominently in not involving those revolting cruelties which the latter practise, sometimes heedlessly, but oftener to gratify a childish revenge for the toil incident on a hard hour's or day's work, and not seldom out of mere wanton wickedness. Horses and lassos we never used: strong dogs and nimble feet being all that are absolutely required; though a couple of rifles are generally necessary; for the bulls attain a size and ferocity of which we had previously little