NEW WORLD CAMELS. 



11 



directions, overhung with heavy, black, cumulus clouds, above which 

 the cirrus shoot upwards ; in the zenith the sky is clear and of the 

 deepest blue. Spring water 44° ; air 45°. 



Richards shot at four wild geese with his carbine and single ball; 

 two of the geese flew off, leaving the others very much frightened. The 

 geese flew across a small snow-water lake. These birds are white, the 

 ends of wing and tail being black, with red bills and legs, as large as th^e 

 domestic goose, though not so tender. Tadpoles, but no fish, were to be 

 seen. Wild ducks kept at a distance. The llama is pasturing and 

 giving birth to its young close under the perpetual snow line. The alpaca 

 and huanacos — species of the llama — are in numbers also. Llamas 

 occupy the useful position among the aboriginal race of South America, 

 that the camel does to the wandering man in Arabia. These animals 

 carry loads of one hundred pounds, over roads too dangerous for the 

 mule or the ass; and climb mountains difficult for man. They are prin- 

 cipally used for conveying silver from the mines. The Indians are very 

 fond of them ; though they drive them with a whip, it is seldom used ; 

 when one lags behind or lies down on the road, the Indian talks to it, 

 and persuades it to forget its fatigues and get up again. They hang 

 little bells about their graceful necks, and decorate the tips of their ears 

 with bits of colored ribben. Their disposition, like those of their mas- 

 ters, are gentle and inoffensive, except when too much hurried ; then 

 they cast saliva at the Indians, or at each other ; this is their only of- 

 fence ; it is thought to be poisonous. They require very little food, 

 which they pick up on the mountains, and are much more temperate 

 than their drivers ; they require very little water. Their loads are taken 

 off at mid-day, so that they may feed. I am 'told. that they never eat 

 at night. They seek the cold regions of the Andes ; nature has pro- 

 vided them with a warm fleece of wool, and they need no shelter. 

 Though they are feeble animals, their usual daily travel is about 15 miles ; 

 but after three or four days journey, they must have rest or they perish on 

 the road. The motion of the head and neck as they cross, the mountain 

 crags may be likened to that of the swan, as it floats over smooth water. 

 The wool makes good coarse cloth, of various colors, seldom all of one 

 color. The huanaco is known by its being rather larger than the 

 llama ; it is said to be difficult to train, even if taken young. It never 

 gives up its ideas of liberty, and will regain its companions whenever an 

 opportunity admits. 



The alpaca is the smallest, with the finest long wool ; its body resembles 

 the sheep, with the head and neck of the llama. Jose tells me they are 



