132 [Assembly 



It may be interesting to mention here that the domestication of the 

 Viiuiiasj which, for all useful purposes had previously failed, even 

 when attempted by the indefatigable efforts of the Jesuit fathers, was 

 accomplished a few years ago by the persevering labor of a Peruvian 

 Priest, named Pablo Carrera, who has also succeeded in crossing 

 them with the Alpaccas, and thus producing, in numbers which pro- 

 mise to perpetuate it, the valuable variety above referred to, of Alpa- 

 Vicunas. These results have been received in Peru with no little 

 enthusiasm, and in August, 1846, the Government of that Republic 

 testified its regard for their author, by ordering his portrait for the 

 Lima Museum, and promoting him from his old diocese to the better 

 one of Cuzco. " From his success," says the " Ateneo Americano" 

 of Lima, " the wool of these animals, (the Vicufias) the finest and 

 most valuable known, will no longer be obtained by the barbarous 

 method of the savage, who cuts down the tree for the sake of its fruit, 

 but will be gathered periodically, without injury to the animal; while 

 at the same time it will be of superior beauty, and susceptible of 

 every variety of color. Our uncultivated solitudes, where are now 

 seen only a few wandering flocks, which fly from the presence of man, 

 will present themselves in the future, if this discovefy shall be fos- 

 tered as it deserves, covered with sheep of the country, mingling 

 harmoniously with those of foreign origin, and producing fleeces of 

 enhanced beauty and increased value." 



Prior to the wars which ended in South American independence, 

 the remittances and travel from Upper Peru to the old world were 

 almost wholly by Buenos Ayres and the Atlantic. They have now, 

 however, taken a new direction, and usually cross the Isthmus from 

 Panama to Chagres. But I have never heard of any attempt to 

 convey the Peruvian sheep by this route, either to England or to 

 the continent of Europe. Such an experiment has probably been 

 prevented from a fear of the heat along the Pacific coast to Panama, 

 and the bad climate and diflficult travelling of the isthmus, connected, 

 perhaps, with a probability of greater expense in transporting the 

 animals by this route, than would be necessary to take them by Cape 

 Horn. Yet, with the improvements which are likely to be effected on 

 the isthmus, and the increased communication between our country 

 and Chagres, the Panama route will, in my opinion, •offer greater 



