HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 141 



The Camel arrives at its full flrength at the age of fix 

 years, and lives forty or fifty. 



The females are not ufually put to labour, but are al- 

 lowed to pafture and breed at full liberty. Their time 

 of geftation is nearly twelve months ; and they generally 

 bring fo:th one at a birth. 



The LAMA 



is the Camel of Peru and Chili ; and, before the con- 

 queft of thofe countries by the Spaniards, was the only 

 beaft of burden known to the Indians. — Its difpofition is 

 mild, gentle, and tractable. 



Before the introduction of Mules, thefe animals were 

 ufed by the natives to plough the land, and now ferve to 

 carry burdens. They march llowly, and feldom accom- 

 plifh journies of more than four or five leagues a day 5 

 but what they want in fpeed is made up by perfeverance 

 and induftry. They travel long journies in countries im- 

 palpable to molt other animals ; are very fure-footed ; 

 and are much employed in tranfporting the rich ores, 

 dug out of the mines of Potofi, over the rugged hills and 

 narrow paths of the Andes : Boliver remarks, that, in 

 his time, three hundred thoufand of them were conftant- 

 ly employed in this work. They lie down to be loaded, 

 and, when weary, no blows can excite them to quicken 

 their pace. — They neither defend themfelves with their 

 feet nor their teeth. When angry, they have no other 

 method of revenging injuries, but by fpitting. They can 

 throw out their faliva to the diftance of ten paces ; and 

 if it fall on the fkin, it raifes an itching, accompanied 

 with a flight inflammation. — Their flefh is eaten, and 

 faid to be as good as mutton. 



