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most inaccessible parts of the Andes, which is the 

 reason of its being so difficult to be taken. It is the 

 same animal which Captain Wahis found at the 

 straits of Magellan, and, in my opinion, forms the link 

 between the ruminating and single-hoofed animals. 



Horses, asses, cattle, sheep, goats, many kinds 

 of dogs, cats, and even mice, have been brought 

 hither by the Spaniards. All these animals have 

 muitipiied exceedingly, and have increased in size, 

 as might be expected from so favourable a cli- 

 mate. The horses of Chili possess ail the good quali- 

 ties of their species : they have spirit, vigour and 

 swiftness. Those which arc bred in the plains re- 

 semble the Arabian horses ; they are of a middle 

 size, but remarkably active. The mountain horses 

 are stronger and closer set, and are very good for the 

 harness ; they have, in general, an elegant appearance, 

 a small and handsome head, the tail well furnished 

 with hair, and a little raised, the chest broad and 

 well turned, the thighs round and plump, the legs 

 slender and nervous, and the hoof so hard as not to 

 require to be shod except in cities. The great num- 

 ber of horses, and their cheapness, is the reason why 

 they are worse treated in Chili than almost any coun- 

 try in the world. A common horse will cost a fe- 

 lippo (four livres tournois) a mare about five Roman 

 paolis, or nearly forty-two sous. They are fed en- 

 tirely upon grass, and are kept in the field through- 

 out the year. It is very uncommon to see a peasant 

 walk half a league ; the moment he rises he goes 

 and saddles one of his horses, and uses him the whole 

 day, without allowing him any time to rest or to feed. 



