10 A HISTORY OF 



This animal, as was said before, is above three feet high, and tha 

 neck is three feet long; the head is small and well proportioned; th 

 eyes large, the nose long, the lips thick, the upper divided, and the 

 lower a little depending ; like all those animals that feed upon grass, 

 it wants the upper cutting teeth ; the ears are four inches long, and 

 move with great agility; the tail is but five inches long, it is small, 

 straight, and a little turned up at the end ; it is cloven-footed like the 

 ox, but it has a kind of spear-like appendage behind, which assists it 

 in moving over precipices and rugged ways ; the wool on the back is 

 short, but long on the sides and the belly ; it resembles the camel in 

 the formation of the genital parts in the male, so that it makes urine 

 backwards : it couples also in the same manner, and though it finds 

 much difficulty in the action, it is said to be much inclined to venery. 

 A whole day is often passed before the necessary business can be 

 completed, which is spent in growling, quarrelling, and spitting at each 

 other ; they seldom produce above one at a time, and their age never 

 extends above ten or twelve years at farthest. 



Though the lama is no way comparable to the camel, either for 

 size, strength, or perseverance, yet the Americans find a substitute in 

 it, with which they seem perfectly contented. It appears formed for 

 that indolent race of masters which it is obliged to serve ; it requires 

 no care, nor no expense in the attending or providing for its suste- 

 nance ; it is supplied with a warm covering, and therefore does not 

 require to be housed ; satisfied with vegetables and grass, it wants 

 neither corn nor hay to subsist it ; it is not less moderate in what it 

 drinks, and exceeds even the camel in temperance. Indeed, of all 

 other creatures, it seems to require water least, as it is supplied by 

 nature with saliva in such large quantities, that it spits it out on every 

 occasion : this saliva seems to be the only offensive weapon that the 

 harmless creature has to testify its resentment. When overloaded or 

 fatigued, and driven on by all the torturing acts of its keeper, it falls 

 on its belly, and pours out against him a quantity of this fluid ; which, 

 though probably no way hurtful, the Indians are much afraid of. They 

 say, that wherever it falls, it is of such an acrimonious nature, that it 

 will either burn the skin, or cause very dangerous eruptions. 



Such are these animals in their domestic state ; but as they are 

 found wild in very great numbers, they exhibit marks of great force 

 and agility in their state of nature. The stag is scarcely more swift, 

 or the goat or the chamois a better climber. All its shapes are more 

 delicate and strong ; its colour is tawny, and its wool is but short ; in 

 their native forests, they are gregarious animals, and are often seen in 

 flocks of two or three hundred at a time. When they perceive a 

 stranger, they regard him at first with astonishment, without marking 

 any fear or surprise ; but shortly, as if by common consent, they snuff 

 up the air, somewhat like horses, and at once, by a common flight, 

 take refuge on the tops of the mountains ; they are fonder of the 

 northern than the southern side of the Andes ; they often climb above 

 the snowy tracts of the mountain, and seem vigorous in proportion to 

 the coldness of their situation. The natives hunt the wild lama for 

 the sake of its fleece. If the dogs surprise one upon the plain, they 

 are generally successful ; but if once the lama obtains the rocky pre- 



