THE LAMA. 1(>9 



The lama is about three feet in height, and the neck 

 nearly as many in length ; and the head is formed like 

 the animal's it so nearly represents: the eyes are 

 large, the nose long, the lips thick, the upper one di- 

 vided ; and, like all animals that feed upon grass, the 

 upper jaw is destitute of cutting teeth. 



Though the lama is by no means equal to the camel, 

 either in exertion, perseverance, or strength, yet, as 

 it thrives without trouble or care, and is satisfied wkfci 

 the coursest vegetable food, the Americans find it 

 the most useful of their steeds, and it can even go 

 longer than the camel without water and food. When 

 this * animal is either over-loaded, or driven beyond 

 its strength, it is said to lie down upon its stomach 

 and discharge a quantity of saliva from its mouth, of 

 so acrimonious a quality as to corrode whatever it hap- 

 pens to touch. It is neither able to travel more than 

 fifteen miles a day, or to proceed on a journey more 

 than four or five together, without having an interme- 

 diate one allowed it, by way of recruiting its exhausted 

 strength ; yet in a state of nature it is known to be 

 both strong and fleet, and to bound over its native 

 mountains with an agility that could scarcely be ex- 

 ceeded by the stag. 



The guancoes and the pacoes are two American ani- 

 mals of the lama kind, though not equal to it either 

 in size or strength : the wool of the paco is in high 

 estimation, and is formed into stuffs not inferior to 

 silk either in beauty or in price. 



* The lama seldom produces but one at a time, and never lives more 

 than ten or twelve year*. 



