290 Dr Hamilton's Observations on the Llama^ 



Llama and Alpaca. 



The llama is at present found all over the southern tropic, 

 from Rio Bamba at the foot of Chimborazo, under the equator, 

 to beyond Potosi, It is a most important agent for the com- 

 fort and convenience of the Indian population of Peru. It 

 affords food, and more especially clothing, and serves as a 

 beast of burden ; but it is not used for riding on, as has been 

 erroneously narrated by some authors, for a Peruvian Indian 

 never makes a journey on any animal, except when he is com- 

 pelled to do so ; and then it is on one capable of conveying 

 more than 100 lbs., which is the maximum cargo for a llama 

 or alpaca. It is not known when these creatures first ap- 

 peared in those lofty regions where they now abound, but it 

 would seem that they were in Peru prior to the appearance 

 of the first Inca, Manco Capac, who reigned in the 12th cen- 

 tury ; for it is supposed that at an earlier period Peru was in 

 the possession of a people who, though less advanced in civili- 

 zation, we may conclude were in the habit of spinning the 

 M'ool of these animals with the distaff ; as, in the absence of 

 written evidence, we find in their burial-places distaffs made 

 of wood, indicating an earlier and a more rude state of society 

 than that which existed under the Incas, whose subjects made 

 their distaffs of copper, which have been taken from their 

 huacas, along with the materials for spinning. 



It is probable that these more ancient people availed them- 

 selves of the wool of the llama tribe for domestic purposes, 

 and that the present race of Peruvians merely copied the ex- 

 ample, or improved on the manufactures of their predecessors. 

 Be that as it may, the llama and alpaca still exist in immense 

 numbers all over the higher regions of Peru and Bolivia, and 

 are a source both of profit and amusement to the natives. 



None but those who have been on familiar terms with the 

 Peruvian mountaineers, can know the deep interest which 

 they take in their llamas and alpacas : they exhibit a solici- 

 tude in the welfare of these creatures, which seems to have 

 other root than mere pecuniary considerations. 



The Peruvian Indian is a mild, kindly being, when not 

 under the debasing influence of ardent spirits, of which a great 



