THE LAMA. 381 



growling, quarrelling, and spitting at each other : 

 they seldom produce above one at a time, and 

 their age never extends above ten or twelve years 

 at farthest. 



Though the lama is no way comparable to the 

 camel, either for size, strength, or perseverance, 

 yet the Americans find a substitute in it, with 

 which they seem perfectly contented. It appears 

 formed for that indolent race of masters which 

 it is obliged to serve ; it requires no care, nor no 

 expense in the attending or providing for its sus- 

 tenance ; it is supplied with a warm covering, 

 and therefore does not require to be housed ; sa- 

 tisfied with vegetables and grass, it wants neither 

 corn nor hay to subsist it ; it is not less moderate 

 in what it drinks, and exceeds even the camel in 

 temperance. Indeed, of all other creatures, it 

 seems to require water least, as it is supplied by 

 nature with saliva in such large quantities, that 

 it spits it out on every occasion : this saliva seems 

 to be the only offensive weapon that the harmless 

 creature has to testify its resentment. When 

 overloaded or fatigued, and driven on by all the 

 torturing acts of its keeper, it falls on its belly, 

 and pours out against him a quantity of this 

 fluid, which, though probably no way hurtful, 

 the Indians are much afraid of. They say, that 

 wherever it falls, it is of such an acrimonious na- 

 ture, that it will either burn the skin, or cause 

 very dangerous eruptions. 



Such are these animals in their domestic state ; 

 but as they are found wild in very great num- 

 bers, they exhibit marks of great force and agi- 



