HAUSMAN] GEOGRAPHY AT THE MENAGERIE 37 



llamas have been replaced by the railroads, but still in the rougher 

 parts of the Peruvian mountains they are used in large numbers. 

 They can travel but about twelve miles a day, for they must feed 

 as they go. They will not eat at night. This method of travel, 

 though slow, is very cheap, for it costs but little to care for llamas, 

 since they require no food except that which they pick up along 

 the way. A llama is not expensive to purchase, either, costing 

 about five dollars. Only the males are used as burden-bearers, 

 the females being kept for the purpose of caring for the young, as 

 well as for their milk, and flesh after they are killed. The Spanish 

 conquerors of Peru spoke of llama flesh as being equal to the best 

 of mutton, and they established in the towns, shops for its sale. 



The wool of the llama, though inferior to that of the alpaca, 

 is used for the same purposes, that is, for the manufactiu-e of 

 cloth, and especially of shawls. The skin is made into 

 leather. 



The llama is well fitted to live in high mountainous regions. 

 In the first place it can endure cold weather, and can get along 

 on what little sparse vegetation its home affords. Secondly it 

 is able to go for long periods, like the camel, without water, and 

 lastly its feet are so formed that they are able to climb over very 

 rough paths, and the stout muscles of the legs enable them to jump 

 and spring with great agility over rocks or fissures, and curiously 

 enough it can jump either forward or backward with equal ease. 

 Its feet are spongy, and are furnished with stout claws with which 

 it can keep from falling when on the ice. 



The Indians are very fond of their llamas, which they always 

 fondle and caress before loading. Often they decorate their ears 

 ■"with ribbons, and hang bells around their necks .If one of the 

 llamas in the pack train becomes tired and lies down, the Indian 

 in charge can, by coaxing and petting, usually encourage it to get 

 up and continue its journey again. In spite of the care given- to 

 the llamas, many of them from each pack-train perish in their 

 journeys to the coast, for the weaker ones cannot stand the low 

 altitudes and the warm climate. 



Like all good animals, and good people too, sometimes, the llama 

 has one very bad habit. When angered, it will kick and bite, and 

 if very angry will eject upon its tormentor a mouthful of saliva, or 

 a pint of so of undigested food from its stomach. But it does not 

 indulge in such naughty tricks unless it has been tormented, and 



