114 HUNTING ADVENTURES. 



to their bodies, and are somewhat in shape between the head of a 

 horse and that of a sheep, the upper lip being cleft, like that of a 

 hare, through which they can spit to the distance of ten paces 

 against any one who offends them ; and if the spittle happens to 

 fall on the face of a person, it causes a red, itchy spot. Their 

 necks are long and concavely bent downwards, like that of a carnel, 

 which animal they greatly resemble, except in having no bunch on 

 their backs, and in being- much smaller. Their ordinary height is 

 from four feet to four and a half, and their ordinary burden does 

 not exceed an hundred weight. They walk, holding up their 

 heads, with wonderful gravity, and at so regular a pace, as no 

 beating can quicken. At night it is impossible to make them move 

 with their loads, for they lie down till these are taken off, and then 

 go to graze. Their ordinary food is a sort of grass, called yeho, 

 somewhat like a small- rush, but finer, and has a sharp point, with 

 which all the mountains are covered exclusively. They eat little, 

 and never drink, so that they are easily maintained. They have 

 cloven feet, like sheep, and are used at the mines to carry ore to 

 the mills ; and, as soon as loaded they set off without any guide to 

 the place where they are usually unloaded. 



u They have a sort of spur above the foot, which renders them 

 sure-footed among the rocks, as it serves as a sort of hook to hold 

 by.* Their hair, or wool rather, is long, white, gray, and russet, 

 in spots, and fine, but much inferior to that of the vicunna (vigoriia,j 

 and has a strong and disagreeable scent. 



" The vicunna is shaped much like the llama, but much smaller 

 nnd lighter, their wool being extraordinarily fine, and much valued. 

 Those animals are often hunted after the following manner : Many 

 Indians gather together, and drive them into some narrow pass 

 across which they have previously extended cords about four feet 

 from the ground, having bits of wool or cloth hanging to their; at 

 small distances. This so frightens them that they dare no., pass, 

 and they gather together in a string, when the Indians kill thenr. 

 with stones tied to the ends of leather thongs. Should any guan.icos 



* This is fabulous. 



