3^2 A VOYAGE TO Book VL 



breeds of mules ; and thefe three articles conftitute 

 the advantageous traffick which this government car- 

 ries on with the jurifdiftion of its province and the 

 other parts of Peru. 



In the countries of Jaen de Bracamoros, Quixos, 

 and Macas, are leen great numbers of thcfe wild ani- 

 mals^ a defcnption of which has been given in treat- 

 ing of other countries of a like climate. But thefe, 

 befides tigers, are infefted with baftard lions, bears, 

 dantas or grand beftias, (an animal of the bignefs of 

 a bullock, and very fwift, its colour generally white, 

 and its fkin very much valued for making buff lea- 

 ther ; in the middle of its head is a horn bending 

 inward.) Thofe three kinds of wild beafts are un- 

 l^nown in the other countries ; and that they arc 

 known here, is owing to the proximity to the Cordil- 

 leras, where they breed, as in a cold climate adapt- 

 ed to their nature : whence they fometimes come 

 down into the neighbouring countries-, but without 

 this circumftance of lying fo near the mountains, they 

 would never be feen. Among the reptiles in the 

 country is the maca, a fnake which the Indians dif- 

 tinguifh by the name of curi-mullinvo, having a 

 lliining fpotted fkin like that of the tiger, curi in the 

 Indian language fignifying gold it is wholly cover- 

 ed with fcales, and makes a frightful appearance, its 

 head being out of all proportion to the body, and 

 has two rows of teeth, and fangs like thofe of a large 

 dog. The wild Indians, as an oftentatious mark of 

 their intrepidity, and to give them a more terrible 

 appearance, paint on their targets figures of this 

 fnake, the bite of which is incurable and wherever 

 it has feized, it never lets go its hold ; which the In- 

 dians would alfo intimate by their device. 



CHAP. 



