LLAMA; 
161 
Peru is the native country of the llama. He has 
been settled by nature, on the mountains of that 
elevated tract of country. The species at present 
abound through the whole extent of the kir dom of 
Peru, from Potosi to Carraccas ; and the industry 
of the Spaniards has propagated them through 
other parts of their American dominions. 
When the Spaniards first penetrated into South 
America, they were astonished to find it destitute 
of the domestic animals, to which they had been ac- 
customed in Europe. The Indians liad no horses, 
oxen, asses, or mules, to assist their industry. 
The llama and the paco were the only animals 
which they cultivated as domestic. And to see 
them use sheep, for such did these seem, as beasts 
of burden, heightened the contempt which their 
European visitants had conceived for their charac- 
ters. There appeared a remarkable similarity 
between the temper and manners of the llama, and 
those of his Indian master. The same mildness, 
the same cool, phlegmatic temper, the same per- 
severance in labour distinguished both. Rude 
and inartificial as were the manners of the simple 
Peruvians ; they had, however, learned, not only 
to load the llama, as a beast of burden, but also 
to yoke him in the plough. 
The Spaniards, upon settling in Peru; soon 
found, that this species whom they had thought 
too pitiful to be cultivated as the principal domes- 
tic animal, was not ill qualified for the labours in 
which the nature of the country induced them to 
have recourse to its assistance. The roads were 
so rugged and uneven, that an animal, less sure- 
footed, or of a temper less cool and phlegmatic 
than the llama, could scarce travel along them 
with safety. For the labours of the mines, a crea- 
ture of a more impetuous, generous spirit, w ould 
have been very ill qualified. The llama conveys 
V OL. II, Y 
