288 Dr Hamilton's Observations on the Llama, 



Peru, and their families, were clothed with the mamifactured 

 wool of vicunas ; for the native Peruvians, and especially the 

 females, in districts far in the interior, near the confines of 

 Brazil, are expert weavers. 



I have seen cotton goods of superior quality, such as table- 

 covers, quilts, ponchos, &c. from the province of Moxos, but 

 these were sold at a much higher price than similar articles 

 from Europe. The late General Parroisien informed me that 

 he had a poncho of vicuna wool, which cost 700 dollars, or 

 L.140. There is reason to fear that now the vicunas will 

 soon be exterminated, if those who have the power do not 

 adopt measures for their protection, and prevent that indis- 

 criminate slaughter which is now being inflicted on these in- 

 teresting and valuable animals. 



From time immemorial, the vicuna has been captured 

 chiefly in the following manner : — A number of Indians 

 form themselves into a chaco, or hunting party, together with 

 some of those small dogs of which almost every family pos- 

 sesses one or more. They choose the proper time of the 

 year, and, with a supply of corn and chuno.^" resort to those 

 dreary regions where the guanaco and vicuna are found. Hav- 

 ing fallen in with their game, the Indians spread themselves 

 over a wide extent of ground, accompanied by their dogs, and 

 gradually narrow the circle. At a spot previously fixed on, 

 there is a sort of enclosure made with ropes attached to poles 

 brought for the purpose, and which are fixed in the ground 

 at the necessary distances, and with the ropes at such a height 

 as the pursued vicunas cannot pass with their heads elevated. 

 On some occasions, to make the snare more complete, a wide 

 space near the enclosure is surrounded by a number of small 

 red flags, raised a little from the ground, and floating in the 

 air. 



The result is, that by means of the shouts of the Indians, 

 and their gradual approach to the enclosure, with the barking 

 and movements of the dogs, and the motion of the flags with 

 the wind, the vicunas being naturally timid, are driven into 

 the snare, and, neither jumping over nor stooping under the 



* Cliuno is frosted potatoes in powder, and boiled in water with lard and 

 spice into a sort of pottage, which is nutritive, and much used by the Indians. 



