122 



PRODUCTIONS OF THE PUNA. 



Here the sheep graze in flocks, exclusive of horned cattle or horses, and 

 the vicuna keeps aloof from all ; but in less productive places, vicunas 

 are found eating from the same scanty table with the sheep and llamas. 

 Animals which inhabit the highest atmospheres are obliged to come 

 down among those below them. 



The Puna seems the natural elevation for sheep ; they thrive best 

 there. The llama don't do so well. The place of the vicuna is between 

 these two mountainous distributions of animal life. Horned cattle and 

 horses are above their station here, and thrive badly. The hog dives 

 down into the very sloppy bottom ; his greediness could not be satisfied 

 on the upper plains ; he would certainly perish for want of food, and is 

 never found at such altitudes, unless forced up. 



There is a sparse population and very little cultivation. The people 

 are supplied with grain and fruits from the ravines on the edge of the 

 Madeira Plata. We changed baggage mules at the town of Sicasica, 

 a flourishing place during the days of wealthy miners, but an uninterest- 

 ing and lifeless Indian town now. 



At the post-house of Oroma, where we spent the night, a party of 

 gentlemen stopped for baggage mules. They were travelling in haste, 

 one being on his way to La Paz to join a wife and children after a 

 banishment of eighteen months. His expressed political opinions hap- 

 pened to differ from those who came into power by force of musketry. 

 His friends had obtained permission for his return, giving security he 

 should not offend in the same way again. He pointed out on the map 

 his wanderings through the wilds of Eastern Bolivia and the province 

 of Matto Grosso in Brazil, and described his sufferings. He had not 

 heard from his family, not knowing, until lately, they were still alive. 

 He laughed and joked about his troubles, as though happy at getting 

 home again. 



A priest of the party sat on the baggage listening to our conversation. 

 One inquired if the President of the United States sent those out of the 

 country who expressed political opinions in opposition to his own, and 

 really seemed surprised to learn that sometimes nearly half the nation 

 did not agree with our President in all things, and were not interfered 

 with. 



Changing mules at Pandura post-house, we arrived at Caracollo, 

 in the department of Oruro, which contains a population of 8,129 

 Creoles and 86,943 aborigines. This department has produced a large 

 amount of silver. 



The city of Oruro, the capital and largest town in the department, 

 has a population of 5,687. One hundred and twenty years ago, it con- 



