1 760 Animals of the Pima of Peru. 



some scanty vegetation is to be found. It never ventures up to the naked rocky sum- 

 mits, for its hoofs, being accustomed only to turfy ground, are very soft and tender. It 

 lives in herds, consisting of from six to fifteen females, and one male, who is the pro- 

 tector and leader of the herd. Whilst the females are quietly grazing, the male stands 

 at the distance of some paces apart, and carefully keeps guard over them. At the ap- 

 proach of danger he gives a signal, consisting of a sort of whistling sound, and a quick 

 movement of the foot. Immediately the herd draws closely together, each animal 

 anxiously stretching out its head in the direction of the threatening danger. They 

 then take to flight ; first moving leisurely and cautiously, and then quickening their 

 pace to the utmost degree of speed ; whilst the male vicuna who covers the retreat fre- 

 quently halts, to observe the movements of the enemy. The females, with singular 

 fidelity and affection, reward the watchful care of their protector. If he is wounded 

 or killed, they gather round him in a circle, uttering their shrill tones of lamentation, 

 and they will suffer themselves to be captured or killed rather than desert him by pur- 

 suing their flight. The neigh of the vicuna, like that of the other animals of its class, 

 resembles a short sharp whistle. But, when the shrill sound vibrates through the pure 

 Puna air, the practised ear can readily distinguish the cry of the vicuna from that of 

 the other animals of the same family. 



" The Indians seldom employ fire-arms in hunting the vicunas. They catch them 

 by what they term the chacu. In this curious hunt, one man at least belonging to 

 each family in the Puna villages takes a part, and women accompany the train, to 

 officiate as cooks to the hunters. The whole company, frequently amounting to 

 seventy or eighty individuals, proceeds to the Altos (the most secluded parts of the 

 Puna), which are the haunts of the vicunas. They take with them stakes, and a great 

 quantity of rope and cord. A spacious open plain is selected, and the stakes are driven 

 into the ground in a circle, at intervals of from twelve to fifteen feet apart, and are 

 connected together by ropes fastened to them at the height of two or two and a half 

 feet from the ground. The circular space within the stakes is about half a league in 

 circumference, and an opening of about two hundred paces in width is left for en- 

 trance. On the ropes by which the stakes are fastened together the women hang pieces 

 of coloured rags, which flutter about in the wind. The chacu being fully prepared, 

 the men, some of whom are mounted on horseback, range about within a circuit of 

 several miles, driving before them all the herds of vicunas they meet with, and forcing 

 them into the chacu. When a sufficient number of vicunas is collected, the entrance 

 is closed. The timid animals do not attempt to leap over the ropes, being frightened 

 by the fluttering rags suspended from them, and, when thus secured, the Indians 

 easily kill them by the bolas. These bolas consist of three balls, composed either of 

 lead or stone, two of them heavy and the third rather lighter. They are fastened to 

 long, elastic strings, made of the twisted sinews of the vicuna, and the opposite ends 

 of the strings are all tied together. The Indian holds the lightest of the three balls in 

 his hand, and swings the two others in a wide circle above his head ; then taking his 

 aim at the distance of about fifteen or twenty paces, he lets go the hand-ball, upon 

 which all the three balls whirl in a circle, and twine round the object aimed at. The 

 aim is usually taken at the hind legs of the animals, and the cords twisting round 

 them they become firmly bound. It requires great skill and long practice to throw 

 the bolas dexterously, especially when on horseback : a novice in the art incurs the 

 risk of dangerously hurting cither himself or his horse, by not giving the balls the pro- 

 per swing, or by letting go the hand-ball too soon. 



