380 THE LAMA. 



with the greatest safety. It is true indeed that 

 they go but slowly, and seldom above fifteen 

 miles a-day ; their tread is heavy, but sure ; they 

 descend precipices, and find footing among the 

 most craggy rocks, where even men can scarcely 

 accompany them : they are, however, but feeble 

 animals ; and after four or five days' labour, they 

 are obliged to repose for a day or two. They 

 are chiefly used in carrying the riches of the 

 mines of Potosi ; and we are told that there are 

 above three hundred thousand of these animals 

 in actual employ. 



This animal, as was said before, is above three 

 feet high, and the neck is three feet long ; the 

 head is small and well proportioned, the 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 appen- 

 dage behind, which assists it in moving -over pre- 

 cipices 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 ge- 

 nital 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 this necessary 

 business can be completed, which is spent in 



