AXPACA.] 



SHEEP, 



[alpaca. 



been tested, and with some success. The 

 Earl of Derby has, at Knowsley, a flock of 

 lamas and alpacas, which not only live, but 

 multiply. The wool, it is said, is improved by 

 our pasture. These animals also adorn the 

 pleasure-grounds of the Marquis of Breadal- 

 bane, the Duke of Montrose, and other noble- 

 men and gentlemen. Their first introduction 

 to Europe is due to the Spaniards. 



The alpaca was, after great difficulties, and 

 many misadventures, introduced to Australia, 

 in 1855, by Mr. Charles Ledger, an English 

 mercliant, established many years at Tachna, 

 in Peru. In 1852, this gentleman proceeded 

 to Sydney, for the purpose of fixing on the 

 most favourable localities for the pasturage 

 and breeding of alpacas. Having satisfied 

 himself as to the capabilities of the country, 

 he returned to Valparaiso in 1853 ; crossed the 

 Cordilleras in the same year, and rejoined a 

 flock of about four hundred, which he had 

 purchased previously to going to Svdney. 

 Overcoming a thousand obstacles, he succeeded 

 in procuring about three hundred and fifty 

 more of these precious animals, in order to 

 supply the place of others he had lost during 

 his absence, by the neglect of those whom 

 he had left in charge of them. This great 

 reverse, which would have overwhelmed any 

 ordinary mind, acted on him as a stimulus to 

 renewed exertions. He was, however, at this 

 stage, brought to a standstill by want of pecu- 

 niary resources ; and, to his great regret, com- 

 pelled to return to Valparaiso. Here he 

 speedily procured the amount required, and 

 uudertook, with greater confidence than ever, 

 new wanderings through the desert solitudes 

 of Peru and Bolivia, in order to recruit his 

 diminished flock. Einding himself under the ne- 

 cessity of deceiving the diff"erent governments, 

 in order to withdraw his flock from the Peru- 

 Bolivian territories, Mr. Ledger divided his 

 alpacas into three divisions, and commenced 

 his march, by different roads, to the Argentine 

 Eepublic. The details of this remarkable 

 journey, the obstacles, both natural and arti- 

 ficial, which had to be overcome, form the 

 subject of a journal full of incident and hard- 

 ships of all descriptions. After losiug nearly 

 one-half of his alpacas in a very severe snow- 

 storm, which, lasting without intermission for 

 nine days, placed the lives of even the drovers 

 698 



j in jeopardy, Mr. Ledger succeeded in re- 

 , uniting two parts of his flock in the province 

 j of Sulta, Argentine Eepublic, during the 

 j month of August, 1855. During this part of 

 I his journey, he had to be constantly on his 

 j guard against the machinations of the Bolivian, 

 authorities, who were untiring in their efforts 

 to procure the destruction of the flocks. The 

 most active agent in endeavouring to carry 

 out this malicious purpose, however, was de- 

 feated in his object. In the same month, the 

 third division of his flock was seized in San 

 Pablo (Bolivia); but at length, in Eebruary of 

 the following year, he was enabled to deceive 

 the vigilance of the espionage under which 

 he was placed, and escaped with his alpacas 

 from the Bolivian territory. Mr. Ledger now 

 commenced his march on the valley of Cal- 

 chaquies, his object being to proceed to a spot 

 where "alfalfa" was cultivated, in order to 

 habituate the animals, by degrees, to this 

 species of pasture, both fresh and dry ; thus 

 preparing them for their ultimate shipment, by 

 giving them a little dry food every day. Whilst 

 resting, after the accomplishment of this por- 

 tion of his task, a terrible calamity overtook 

 him, and upwards of two hundred of his 

 precious flock died suddenly, after drinking 

 the water of one of the lakes, which was 

 infested with leeches. This great loss involved 

 the necessity of once again setting out in 

 search of a more suitable locality ; and although 

 Mr. Ledger had been separated twenty-two 

 years from his native land, and more than 

 five years from his home and family, he 

 determined to devote another year to the 

 purpose of recruiting his diminished flock. 

 The enterprise was one well worthy of the 

 labour and difficulties which it involved, being 

 nothing less than transporting, from the loftiest 

 peaks in the world, and introducing to Aus- 

 tralia, an animal which appears destined to 

 work out two great revolutions — the one in the 

 breeds of wool-producing animals, tlie other in 

 the fabrication of woollen textures. On leaving 

 the valleys, he kept the mountain sides, avoiding 

 the leech-infested lakes, and giving his flocks 

 the advantage of the invigorating air of the 

 highlands. Here he recommenced his wan- 

 derings, travelling very slowly, notwithstanding 

 the extreme severity of the weather, which 

 tried him greatly both by day and night; and, 



