THE VICUNA 31 



appropriate plain the poles are fixed into the earth, at intervals 

 of twelve or fifteen paces, and united by the cordage, about two 

 feet from the ground. In this manner a circular space, called 

 Chacu, of about half a league in circumference, is enclosed, 

 leaving on one side an entrance several hundred paces wide. 

 The women attach to the cordage coloured rags, which are 

 moved to and fro by the wind. As soon as the Chacu is ready, 

 the men, who are partly mounted, disperse, and, forming a 

 ring many miles in circumference, drive all the intervening 

 vicuna herds through the entrance into the circle, which is 

 closed as soon as a sufficient number has been collected. The 

 shy animals do not venture to spring over the cord and its 

 fluttering rags, and are thus easily killed by the bolas of the 

 Indians. These bolas consist of three balls of lead or stone, two 

 of which are heavy, and one lighter, each ball being attached to a 

 long leather thong. The thongs are knotted together at their 

 free extremity. When used, the lighter ball is taken in the 

 hand, and the two others swung in a wide circle over the head. 

 At a certain distance from the mark, about fifteen or twenty 

 paces, the hand-ball is let loose, and then all three fly in 

 hissing circles towards the object which they are intended to 

 strike, and encompass it in their formidable embrace. The 

 Esquimaux use a similar device for catching the birds of pas- 

 sage which a short summer attracts to their inhospitable 

 shores. 



The hind-legs of the vicunas are generally aimed at. It is 

 no easy matter to throw the bolas adroitly, particularly when on 

 horseback ; for the novice often wounds either himself or his 

 horse mortally, by not giving the balls the proper swing, or 

 letting them escape too soon from his hand. 



The flesh of the vicuiias is divided in equal portions among 

 the hunters. When dried in the air, and then pounded and mixed 

 with Spanish pepper, its taste is not unpleasing. The Church, 

 however, manages to get the best part of the animal, for the 

 priest generally appropriates the skin. In 1827 Bolivar issued 

 a decree, ordering the vicunas, when caught, to be merely shorn 

 and then let loose again ; but their uncommon wildness rendered 

 the execution of this well-meant law impossible. If a huanacu 

 comes into the chacu, it bounds at one leap over the cord, or 

 breaks through it, and is then followed by all the vicunas, so 



