112 



GUANACOS: LIVING AND DYING 



When the Spaniards under Pizarro conquered the great 

 country of Peru, about the year 1520, they found much 

 value set upon the race of Llamas, of which four kinds 

 existed in Peru, all of thern highly prized for one thing 

 or another. 



The llama itself, which is the largest of the four, is 

 chiefly used as a beast of burden, though it can only carry 

 about a hundred pounds weight at a time, and is able 

 to travel no more than sixteen miles a day, or about as 

 much as an ordinary soldier's march. If an extra pound is 

 put on, the llama simply declines to move ; and if its 

 driver tries to give it a blow, he will receive something 

 very unpleasant in his face, as visitors to Zoological 

 Gardens know very well ! A hundred pounds does not 

 seem a great load for such a large beast, but there are 

 many qualities about a llama which cause him to be 

 employed, rather than many another stronger animal. 



First he is there, and in great numbers, so that he is 

 to be had for the asking. Then he is easily managed ; 

 never wants water for weeks or months together, and 

 lives on any poor kind of grass (especially a sort called 

 ychu) that he can pick up on the sides of the rocky 

 Andes or Cordilleras. His wool is so thick and clinging, 

 that it is very seldom necessary to tie on the load, which 

 sticks on of itself ; a pointed claw enables the llama to 

 walk safely over slippery places, even over ice, much 

 better than any shoes would do, and finally, if no other 

 food is to be had, his flesh is quite tolerable. 



