296 THE LLAMA, 







among the most craggy rocks, where even men can scarcely 

 accompany them ; they commonly travel for five days to- 

 gether, when they are obliged to rest, which they do, of their 

 own accord, for two or three days. They are chiefly employ- 

 ed in carrying the riches of the mines of Potosi. Bolivar 

 affirms that, in his time, above three hundred thousand of 

 these animals were in actual employ. 



The growth of the Llama is very quick : and its life is of 

 but short duration. This animal couples so early as at three 

 years of age, and remains strong and vigorous till twelve \ 

 after which it begins to decline, and becomes entirely useless 

 at fifteen. Their nature appears modelled on that of the 

 Americans. They are gentle and phlegmatic, and do every 

 thing with the greatest leisure and caution. When they stop 

 on their journeys, they bend their knees very cautiously, in 

 order to lower their bodies without disordering their load. As 

 socn as they hear their driver whistle, they rise up again with 

 the same precaution, and proceed on their journey ; they feed 

 as they go along, on the grass they meet with in their way, 

 but never eat in the night, making use of that time to rumi- 

 nate. The Llama sleeps, like the camel, with its feet folded 

 under its belly, and ruminates in that posture. When over- 

 loaded or fatigued, it falls on its belly, and will not rise, 

 though its driver strike it with his utmost force. 



The Llama is about four feet high ; its body, comprehend- 

 ing the neck and head, is five or six feet long ; its neck alone 

 is near three feet. The head is small and well proportioned, 

 the eyes large, the nose somewhat long, the lips thick, the 

 upper divided, and the lower a little depending : it wants the 

 incisive and canine teeth in the upper jaw. The ears are 

 four inches long, and move with great agility. The tail is 

 seldom above eight inches long, small, straight, and a little 

 turned up at the end. It is cloven-footed, like the ox ; but 

 the hoof has a kind of spear-like appendage behind, which 

 assists the animal to move and support itself over precipices 

 and rugged ways. The back is clothed with a short wool, as 

 is the crupper and tail ; but it is very long on the belly and 



