340 



c \SSKI, I/S POPULAR NATURAL HISTORY'. 



shrill, neighing note of alarm. If he then looks attentively, he will perhaps see the herd standing in 

 a line on some distant hill. On approaching them a few more squeals are given, and then on 1 ' they set, 

 at an apparently slow, but really quick canter, along some narrow beaten track, to a neighbouring 

 hill. If, however, by chance, he should abruptly meet a single animal, or several together, they will 

 generally stand motionless, and intently gaze at him ; then, perhaps, move on a few yards, turn round, 

 and look again. That they are curious is certain ; for if a person lies on the ground and plays strange 

 antics, snch as throwing up his feet in the air, they will almost always approach by degrees to recon- 

 noitre him. This is an artifice frequently practised by sportsmen with success, as it has, moreover, the 

 advantage of allowing several shots to be fired, which are all taken as parts of the performaiiee. 



THE Ot'ANACO. 



Another mode of capturing them by the Indians is, for many hunters to join and drive them into a 

 narrow pass, across which cords have been drawn about four feet from the ground, with bits of cloth or 

 wool- tied to them at short distances, somewhat in the way adopted by gardeners to keep small birds 

 from the seeds. If there are any gnanacos among them, they leap the cords. 



On the first arrival of the Spaniards, llamas were used as beasts of burden : indeed, they wen; 

 the only animals which the natives had for conveying merchandise from one part to another, of which 

 a hundredweight was a sufficient load for one of ordinary size, with which they could travel only about 

 fi fteen miles a-day. The llamas are now only used in high, mountainous districts, as horses are so 

 numerous that they are easily obtained in South America. The flesh is still eaten by the Indians 

 and settlers; the former regarding it as a great delicacy. Cords and sacks, as well as stutis f..r 

 ponchos, and other articles, are made from the wool. In Mexico, the bones are changed into weaving 

 implements. Even the dung is used for fuel. 



