Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

W6 PORTS WOOL— VERXET. danger, if a vigilant look-out and common skill were exer- cised. Berkeley Sound (besides many other ports) would contain a large fleet in security, while around it are coves and basins in which any repairs might be carried on. Probably some intercourse might be opened with the Pata- gonians, and, by them, with other roving tribes on the conti- nent, who would exchange guanacoes, horses, cattle, poultry, hides, horns, tallow, and hair, for hardware, clothing, cutlery, ornaments, saddles, spurs, bridles, &c. ; and as the guanaco is so warmly clothed in the high southern latitudes, and is capable of being domesticated,* it might be found a valuable animal to encourage among sheep and cattle at the Falklands. Mr. Bris- bane told me, that some wool, sent by Mr. Vernet from East Falkland to Liverpool, sold for nearly double the price of Buenos Ayres wool ; and this was the produce of sheep which had only been a few years on the island, of the Buenos Ayrean stock, vmmixed with any superior breed. To show how well the little colony, established by Mr. Vernet, was succeeding, prior to its harsh and unnecessary ruin by Captain Silas Dun- can, I will give an extract of a letter received from a brother officer who visited Port Louis. " The settlement is situated half round a small cove, which has a narrow entrance from the sound ; this entrance, in the time of the Spaniards, was commanded by two forts, both now lying in ruins, the only use made of one being to confine the wild cattle in its circular wall when newly brought in from the interior. The governor, Louis Vernet, received me with cordiality. He possesses much information, and speaks several languages. His house is long and low, of one story, with very thick walls of stone. I found in it a good libi-ary, of Spanish, German, and English works. A lively conversation passed at dinner, the party consisting of Mr. Vernet and his wife, Mr. * " Magalhaens, in his voyage, saw Patagonians who had with them four young guanacoes, led about with a kind of halter." — Burney, vol. i. p.34, anno 1520 And others on which they placed their wives. Pennant. At Mocha the natives had tame guanacoes, or alpacoes, in 151)8. In Peru, the llama has been a domestic animal as long as we have any record.