THE CAMELS— LLAMA. 



445 



larger than those of the Guanaco, and it is character- 

 ized by callosities on the breast and on the external 

 surface of the first joints of the fore-legs. The head 

 is narrow and short, the lips are hairy, the ears short 

 and the soles of the feet large. The coloring is very 

 va'riable; it may be white, black, pied, reddish-brown 

 spotted with white, dark brown, ochre-yellow, gray- 

 ish-red, or of other hues. The adult animal attains 

 a height of from eight feet eight inches to nine feet 

 four inches from the soles of its feet to the top of its 

 head; at the withers it is about four feet high. 



Acosta relates that the Indians lead entire herds 

 of "these Sheep," loaded like beasts of burden, over 

 the mountains, the herds often numbering from three 



such a hard task is imposed only on those animals 

 belonging to poor soldiers wandering through Peru. 

 All these animals prefer cold air and thrive in the 

 mountain, while they succumb to the heat of the 

 plain. They are often entirely covered with hoar- 

 frost and ice and yet remain in good health. The 

 short haired specimens often furnish the beholder 

 with cause for merriment. Ever and anon they sud- 

 denly stop on the road, lift their heads and fixedly 

 stare at people, standing still a long time without 

 showing any sign of fear or displeasure. At other 

 times they suddenly take fright and shy at some- 

 thing, and run up on the top of the highest crags 

 taking with them their burdens, and they often have 



THE LLAMA. In southern Peru the Llama is one of the most common of the domesticated animals, and is now no longer known in a wild state. 



It is the typical species of the New World animals of the Camel family, though much smaller than the Camels proper. It was formerly much used as a 

 beast of burden and is still used as such, but since the introduction into Peru of Horses, Asses and Mules its importance in that respect has greatly dimin- 

 ished. Its hairy covering is long and woolly. (Auc/ienia lama.) 



hundred to five hundred, or even one thousand. "I 

 have been astonished," says he, "to see these herds 

 of Sheep loaded with two or three thousand bars of 

 silver, of the value of about three hundred thousand 

 ducats, accompanied only by a few Indians who 

 guide, load and unload the Sheep, the escort at the 

 most being supplemented by a few Spaniards. They 

 sleep all night in the fields and yet so great is pub- 

 lic security in Peru that nothing has ever been lost 

 by robbery on these long journeys. In suitable rest- 

 ing places, where there are rivers and pasturage, the 

 leaders unload their animals, put up tents, cook 

 meals and take their ease despite the long journey. 

 If the trip requires only one day's travel, those 

 Sheep carry eight arrobas (about two hundred 

 pounds) and traverse from eight to ten leguas 

 (eighteen to twenty-two and one-half miles); but 



to be shot down in order to prevent the loss of the 

 goods they carry." 



Only the males are used for conveying burdens, 

 the females serving exclusively for breeding pur- 

 poses. "There is nothing more beautiful," says Ste- 

 venson, "than a caravan of these animals, as they 

 march one behind the other, in the greatest order, 

 each with its burden of a hundred weight or so. 

 They are guided by a leader, adorned with a taste- 

 fully decorated halter, a little bell and a flag on its 

 head. Thus they travel along the snow-covered 

 peaks of the Cordilleras or by the side of the moun- 

 tain, along roads where Horses and Mules would 

 pick their way with difficulty; and they are so tract- 

 able that their drivers need neither goad nor whip to 

 guide or urge them forward. Quietly and without 

 interruption they move on toward their goal." 



