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UA MA> 
the ores of Potosi over the most rugged hills, and 
through the narrowest parts of the Andes. He fears 
not to descend precipices, and climb steep accents, 
where even man himself dares not accompany him. 
An hundred and fifty pounds is his ordinary load. 
The strongest carry two hundred. With this load, 
the animal will travel on for four or five days 
without indicating the smallest fatigue. He stops 
to rest, without waiting for the directions of his 
driver ; and obstinately reposes four and twenty 
or thirty hours, before he can be prevailed upon to 
resume his journey. Requiring but a small por- 
tion of food, he takes that by browzing as he tra- 
vels, on any shrubs or herbage that happen to 
fringe his path. At night he only rests and rumi- 
nates. 
Such are these animals in their domestic state ; 
but as they are found wild in very great numbers, 
they exhibit marks of great force and agility in 
their state of nature. The stag is scarcely more 
swift, or the goat, or the chamois a better climber. 
All its shapes are more delicate and strong ; its 
colour is tawny, and its wool is but short ; in their 
native forest they are gregarious animals, and are 
often seen in flocks of two or three hundred at a 
time. When they perceive a stranger, they regard 
him at first with astonishment, without marking 
any fear or surprise ; but shortly, as if by common 
consent, they snuff up the air, somewhat like horses, 
and at once, by a common flight, take refuge on 
the tops of the mountains ; they are fonder of the 
northern than the southern side of the Andes ; 
they often climb above the snowy tracts of the 
mountain, and seem vigorous in proportion to the 
coldness of their situation. The natives hunt the 
wild llama for the sake of its fleece. If the dogs 
Surprise one upon the plain, they are generally suc- 
cessful ; but if once the llama obtains the rocky 
