THE LAMA. 9 



the 4 ephant, it is manageable and tame ; like the horse, it gives the 

 rider security ; it carries greater burdens than the ox or the mule, and 

 us milk is furnished in as great abundance as that of the cow ; the 

 flesh of the young ones is supposed to be as delicate as veal ; their 

 hair is more beautiful, and more in request than wool ; while even of 

 its very excrements no part is useless. 



CHAPTER VII. 



As almost all the quadrupeds of . America are smaller than the re- 

 sembling ones of the ancient continent, so the Lama, which may be 

 considered as the camel of the new world, is every way less than that 

 of the old. This animal, like that described in the former chapter, 

 stands high upon its legs, has a long neck, a small head, and resem- 

 bles the camel, not only in its natural mildness, but its aptitude for 

 servitude, its moderation and its patience. The Americans early 

 found out its useful qualities, and availed themselves of its labours : 

 like the camel, it -serves to carry goods over places inaccessible to 

 other beasts of burden ; like that, it is obedient to its driver ; and often 

 dies under, but never resists his cruelty. 



Of these animals, some are white, others black, but they are mo&tly 

 brown ; its face resembles that of the camel, and its height is about 

 equal to that of an ass. They are not found in the ancient continent, 

 but entirely belong to the new ; nor are they found spread over all 

 America, but are found chiefly upon those mountains that stretch from 

 New Spain to the Straits of Magellan. They inhabit the highest re- 

 gions of the globe, and seem to require purer air than animals of a 

 lower situation are found to enjoy. Peru seems to be the place where 

 they are found in greatest plenty. In Mexico they are introduced 

 rather as curiosities than beasts of burden ; but in Potosi, and other 

 provinces of Peru, they make the chief riches of the Indians and 

 Spaniards who rear them : their flesh is excellent food ; the hair, or 

 rather wool, may be spun into beautiful clothing ; and they are capa- 

 ble, in the most rugged and dangerous ways, of carrying burdens, not 

 exceeding a hundred weight, with the greatest safety. It is true, in- 

 deed, that they go but slowly, and seldom above fifteen miles a day ; 

 their tread is heavy, but sure ; they descend precipices, and find foot- 

 ing among the most craggy rocks, where even men can scarcely ac- 

 company them ; they are, however, but feeble animals, and after four 

 or five days' labour they are obliged to repose for a day or two. They 

 are chiefly used in carrying the riches of the mines of Potosi ; and we 

 are told that there are above three hundred thousand of these animals 

 in actual employ. 



