Alpaca, Guatiaco, and Vicuna. 287 



than other parts of the Cordillera, such as about Quito, where 

 there is more humidity, and several thousand feet less eleva- 

 tion. In some parts of those stei-ile solitudes frequented by 

 vicunas, even the ichu does not grow ; and in such places the 

 mosses afford them a scanty subsistence. 



In Peru, the guanaco haunts the same secluded tracts ; 

 but it does not mingle with the vicuna. The former is 

 much larger and more powerful, and is found on the high 

 lands throughout nearly 50 degrees of latitude, even to the 

 straights of Magellan. The guanaco weighs, on an average, 

 about 8 arrobas, or 200 lb., and it is much more easily caught 

 or run down than the vicuna ; though extremely shy and 

 sensitive on the approach of danger, emitting a sound some- 

 what like the neigh of a horse, warning its companions, and 

 then galloping off. Its skin is covered with a short coarse 

 wool of a reddish-brown colour on the back and sides, running 

 into stripes towai'ds the belly, which inferiorly is white ; and 

 the neck, -which is much stronger than that of the vicuna, is 

 carried straight while it is running. Its wool is exported, and 

 is used for domestic purposes. The wool of the vicuna is of 

 a brown or fawn colour; and though it is shorter than that of 

 the alpaca, yet it is much more valuable, being exceedingly 

 fine and soft, so that articles made of it are very handsome. 

 The real wool of the vicuna sells at a high price in Peru ; and 

 the best hats, gloves, ponchos, &c. are made of it, being more 

 costly in proportion than the wool ; but that may be a result 

 of no spurious materials being put into the things manufac- 

 tured there, and also from the difticulty of working such fine 

 wool. 



The city of La Paz, in Bolivia, is famous for the manufac- 

 ture of hats ; the finer sort are very well made, having a very 

 broad brim, and are well adapted both for shading the head 

 from the solar rays, and also from rain. In 1835, the price 

 of hats in La Paz varied from one to fifty dollars each ; one 

 of the best, of vicuna wool, cost three doubloons, or L.IO ster- 

 ling. Such a hat is soft and light, and may last many years. 

 Ponchos arc sometimes made of the same sort of wool, one 

 of which costs more than fifty cotton ones, which for use 

 serve nearly as well. The ancient sovereigns, the Incas of 



