The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-11-20

THE FALKLAND ISLANDS.
EDITOR ISTELLIGzxC

EDITOR lSTELLIG ZSCER:
The writer last year spent several
months on aud about the Falkland ISL
ands, 10 the South Atlantic ocean. This
part OF the world is seldom visited by
Americans: hencs | thought short do
scriptlon OF these Islands would be &C
ceptable "a the reader. of your pa per.
The islands ere in latitude 10, longitude
Oh south, AMI about go milessesst OF
Magellan Straits.
The climate is very nearly the same
IS that Of the southern part Of Great
Britain. The temperature IN summer
seldom rises above 20 degrees. aud IN
winter seldom goes as low as the freez.
ing point. Although the winters are
chilly and quite stormy. the climate is
healthy. Il Is damp, but without sud-
den changes of weather.
The principal town Is Port Stanley,
and a. supposed to Contain from 20 to
%, 600 inhabitants. fof tue most part
English. The business of these islands
Is cattle spd sheep raising l should
have before said that these island. are q
considerable group. uumbering a thou
sand or more. some Of which are quite
large aud oshefs very small. In tae
aggregate they are equal 20 the area Of
Great Britain. ...
/ have observed 10 my travels that
each rome of the earth has peculiar
fauus and fora. and g special race of
men. The peculiarly of this part OF
the world 10 It's fauna aud its great va
riety and abundance of fruit. ducks aud
gtese. sea BIRDS II many varieties, sea
elephsnts. ses hUr e.. SEA liors, sea dog S,
&c, &c, almost al intiRttum The sur
fece Of the Ian IS moderately level.
with 10 very gr-A' elevations. but eve
r. where covered with 9 heavy coat Of
grass that will in the future give sus-
tensnce to millions Of cattle ami sheep.
In fact. the stock busi ness of the islands
is now quite large and rapidly on the
increase. The tisst cattle aud sheep
were taken to the islands from the
mainland 10 the vest. from tue Welsh
settlement III Pata sonia. a lew years
ago. III
The stock Increase, rapidly and re-
quires no attention except branding on
The large islands where there is more
than one ow ner. They require no sort
of she tier or food for winter. The
Number of cattle and sheep owned by
single individuals ia these islands Is III
most beyond belief Several that
talked with acknowledged 90 possess 49,
900 head of cattle. aud others over 100,-
oOO bead OF sheep. The work of raising
stock 10 almost nothing. especially ON
those Islands that are controlled by one
occupant VIZ *ft 81
There is no timber so far found on
the islands. but there is an immense de-
posit OF turf or peet, that when cut aud
dried in the proper season makes sn
excellent article of fuel. There is
plenty OF stone Tor building corrals. sta
bles aud fences, but these are yet sell
dom thought of. Tnea edible plants
that saw in cultivation were potatoes.
livery productive and fine in quality
peas. turnips. cabbage. &c, all large
and Of good quality.
These islands are under the English
Government and nearly ell the settlers
are of that nationality; but as all the
coloDists are cattle or sheep men they
discourage as much as possible any
other class Of settlers. These ISLANDS
must become IN the future quite popu>
lous. proDsoly to the extent Of twelve
or fifteen millions Between these ISL
ands and EDglsnd there is a large
trade IN mutton. b Of, tallow. hides aud
wool, bat confined to sailing vessels.
Every month there is vessel sent from
Montevideo TO the islands. l did not
find In the whole Falkland group any
snakes, toads. or F, oisonous insects or
reptiles of any description. Access TO
the different islands is easy by sail
boats. These dependencies OF England
may in the future become . second
Great Britain. In perhaps al respects.
from careful examination of the geo.
logical formation OF the above islands,
We may infer that they are but recently
from the ocesn, as there are
no wild animals found there. Neither
are there, or has there ever been any
aboriginss or indians; in fact. no ami
NAL life but what can either swim or
fy. vIAToR.