Ch. VII. SOUTH AMERICA. 43^ 



fo great a diftance. In the mean time the Indians car- 

 ry over the loading on their Ihoulders. On fome 

 rivers of Peru there are bejuco bridges fo large, that 

 droves of loaded mules pais over them ; particularly 

 the river Apurimac, which is the thoroughfare of all 

 the commerce carried on between Lima, Cufco, La 

 Plata, and other parts to the fouthward* 



Some rivers, inilead of a bejuco bridge, are pafled 

 by means of a tarabita as is the cafe with regard to 

 that of Alchipichi. This machine ferves not only to 

 carry over perfons and loads, but alfo the beafts them- 

 felves the rapidity of the ftream, and the monftrous 

 (tones continually rolling along it, rendering it im* 

 pracfticable for them to fwim over. , 



The tarabita is only a fmgle rope made of bejuco, 

 or thongs of an ox's hide, and confifting of feveral 

 ftrands, and about fix or eight inches in thickneB. 

 This rope is extended from one fide of the river to 

 the other, and fattened on each bank to ftrong pofts. 

 One one fide is a kind of wheel, or winch, to ftreightea 

 or flacken the tarabita to the degree required. From 

 the tarabita hangs a kind of leathern hammock ca- 

 pable of holding a man and is fufpended by a clue ai 

 each end. A rope is alfo fattened to either clue, and 

 extended to each fide of the river, for drawing the 

 hammock to the fide intended. A putti at its firft fet- 

 ting off fends it quickly to the other fide. 



For carrying over the mules, two tarabitas are ne- 

 ^effary, one for each fide of the river, and the ropes 

 are much thicker and flacker. On this rope is only 

 one clue, which is of wood, and by which the beaft is 

 fufpended, being fecured with girts round the belly, 

 neck, and legs. When this is performed, the crea- 

 ture is fhoved ofiF, and immediately landed on the op- 

 pofite fide. Such as are accuftomed to be carried over 

 in this manner, never make the leaft motion, and even 

 come of themfelves to have the girts fattened round 

 them 1 but it is with great difficulty they arq firft: 



■ brought 



