530 



UNGULATA. 



In tlie hills where they dwell, it is impossible to ride them down. The 

 sportsman has to shoot tiiem. By a strange contrast, a herd of guanacos 

 disperse when the male leader is killed, but the Vicunas, treii bis an dcm 

 Tod, gather around the wounded leader, and can be shot down to the 

 very last one. If the first shot kills a female, then the whole flock 

 scurries away. 



The Vicunas, according to Acosta, are very timid, and flee at the 

 approach of the hunter, driving their young before them. They do not 

 increase in numbers rapidly, and during the reign of the Incas, the sub- 

 jects of the kingdom were forbidden to hunt them, the chase being 

 reserved for the monarch himself. Since the Spanish conquest they 

 have diminished considerably, for the conquerors hunt the males and 

 females alike. The Indians do not use firearms in the chase. They take 

 stakes and immense coils of rope. The former they place about twelve 

 to fifteen feet from each other, and unite by the rope which is raised about 

 two feet from the ground. A large circle is thus enclosed, leaving an 

 entrance two hundred feet broad. The women who accompany the 

 hunters hang rags of all kinds on the rope. The men, many of whom 

 are mounted, then make a wide circuit and drive the Vicunas toward the 

 enclosure. When enough have been collected, the entrance is closed. 

 The timid animals dare not pass the ropes with the fluttering rags, and 

 are easily lassoed, or caught with the bolas. These latter consist of three 

 balls, two heavy, one light, of lead or stone, united by a long thong. 

 The lighter ball is taken in the hand, and the others whirled around the 

 head. All arc then let go, and fly toward the object aimed at, which 

 they at once encircle in the thong. If the hind-legs of the animal are 

 aimed at, the bolas envelop them so tightly that every motion is impos- 

 sible. The Vicuna is then killed, and its flesh distributed among those 

 who participate in the hunt ; the fells are given to the church. Boli- 

 var, the founder of the Republic of Bolivia, forbade the slaughter of 

 Vicunas ; he ordered them to be shorn when captured. But this opera- 

 tion has proved almost impossible. The hunts in the time of the Incas 

 were strand affairs ; thirtv thousand Indians were assembled ; the circuit 

 they formed would be fifty miles, and all wild animals were driven into 

 the toils. The bears, cougars and foxes were slain, as well as a certain 

 number of stags, roebucks, and vicufias. At present, it is said that ii 

 guanacos are thus enclosed they break through the ropes and are fol- 

 lowed by the vicunas. Hence, skilful liuntsmen do not drive the former. 



