VICUGNA. 197 



bark were generally made known. At this time, a 

 Spanish soldier, hearing that the vice-queen of Peru 

 was suffering from an intermitting fever, which 

 baffled the skill of her physicians, recommended it 

 with success. It was then generally prescribed, and 

 at length, De Lugo, a Jesuit, and procurer-general 

 of his order, brought it to Rome, where it was called 

 the Jesuit's bark, and sold throughout Europe for its 

 weight in gold. Still, being made into a powder, 

 the better to conceal its origin, this valuable medi- 

 cine came into disuse, till Mr. Talbot, an English 

 physician residing at Paris, performed with it so 

 many cures, that Louis the Fourteenth rewarded 

 him with five thousand crowns, and commanded the 

 secret to be generally made known. 



Many other vegetable productions of Peru and 

 the Brazils afford either rich perfumes, or powerful 

 restoratives. The balsam of capivi, and that of tolu, 

 are also equally celebrated; the first for its strength- 

 ening virtues, the second for its fragrant scent and 

 aromatic taste, and for its healing qualities in dis- 

 orders of the lungs. 



In the same regions is found, in large groups, the 

 elegant Vicugna, a smaller and swifter animal than 

 the llama, and producing wool of the finest quality. 

 They frequently ascend nearly to the summit of the 

 southern Andes, though preferring sheltered valleys, 

 and the covert of those lofty trees, which produce an 

 imposing effect when seen on the barren flanks of 

 such high mountains as diversify the province of 

 Quito. The vicugnas are generally taken by being 

 driven down the hills into the narrow passes of the 

 valleys, across which feathered ropes have previously 



