Jan.] 



NATURAL PRODUCTIONS. 



229 



this drug, to attend accurately to all of its characters, in order to avoid 

 being imposed upon by the vender. 



Cinchona has long been known as a medicine in Peru, where the 

 natives are said to have adopted its use from observing animals recur to it. 

 Whatever may have been the origin of its employment, however, 

 its efficacy was not tested by Europeans until the year 1640, when the 

 Countess of Cinchon, the wife of the Spanish viceroy, was cured of the 

 ague by means of it. It therefore derived the name of Cinchona from 

 that lady. As it usually happens on the first appearance of any novel 

 remedy, considerable opposition was made to it by several eminent 

 physicians; but its efficacy soon overcame the groundless clamour 

 which had been excited. 



The red bark, when first introduced into English practice, in con- 

 sequence of a Spanish vessel, freighted in part with it, being taken in 

 the year 1779, was tried in several of the London hospitals, and was 

 then extolled to the skies ; but its reputation finally gave way to that 

 of the yellow bark, which has since been generally considered as the 

 most efficacious. The Jesuits first carried this bark to Rome, from 

 whence its reputation gradually spread all over Europe. 



The animals which are most familiar to this part of Peru are such 

 as I have already noticed in my remarks on other sections of the coast. 

 Horses and mules are held in great estimation, particularly the former. 

 The breed was originally brought from Old Spain ; and, instead of de- 

 generating, it has become superior to the parent stock. Few Spanish 

 horses can now vie with these animals in beauty of form or graceful- 

 ness of carriage ; and they are justly considered as being in no 

 respect inferior to the famous Andalusian breed. Black-cattle also are 

 very abundant on the plains in the interior. 



The most remarkable animals, however, in this part of the country 

 are the lama and the vicuna. The former, which is called the Peru- 

 vian sheep, in many respects resembles the camel ; as in the shape 

 of the head, the neck, and other parts. But they are cloven-footed, 

 have no hunch on their backs, and are much smaller than the 

 camel. The upper lip of this animal is cleft like that of the hare, 

 through which, when enraged, it spits at its enemy, and this saliva 

 is said to be poisonous. In a state of nature it is strong and fleet, and 

 bounds over its native mountains with an agility that could scarcely 

 be exceeded by the stag. When domesticated, however, and taught 

 to bear burthens, this animal loses much of its fleetness, and soon fails 

 in strength. 



The hair, or rather wool, of the lama is generally of a brown colour, 

 though some few are black, and others white. The texture of it is 

 both fine and glossy, and it is spun and woven into a beautiful kind of 

 cloth. Their flesh is esteemed excellent food, and they will thrive 

 without trouble or care, being satisfied with the coarsest vegetable food. 

 The Peruvians find it the most useful of their steeds, as it can go even 

 longer than the camel without water and food. The vicuna is smaller 

 than the lama, and its wool is much shorter and finer. 



The most remarkable birds found on this part of the coast are the 

 condors and hummers. The former is generally about the size of an 



