It is on the above-mentioned bleak table-land that the llama, with its
kindred--the alpaca, vicuna, and huanucu--are found. The historian of
the conquest calls them the sheep of Peru, but the llama is more allied
in its characteristics to the camel of the desert. In outward form,
except that it has no hump on its back; in the structure and cellular
apparatus of the stomach, which enable it to abstain for a long time
from water; in the expression of its large full eye; in the mobility and
division of the upper lip; in its fissured nostrils; in the nature of
its teeth; and in its long woolly clothing and slender neck,--the llama
has a strong resemblance to the camel of the deserts of Arabia. While
the camel's feet, however, are formed for passing over the burning sands
or level ground, and are therefore broad and cushioned, those of the
llama, to enable it to climb the rugged crags of the Cordilleras, are
slender, elastic, and claw-tipped. The llama has indeed been rightly
called the camel of the mountains, and was employed by the ancient
Peruvians--as it is at present--as a beast of burden. The load laid
upon its back rests securely upon a bed of wool, without the aid of
girth or saddle. It cannot carry more than from eighty to one hundred
pounds. If overladen it will lie down, and nothing will induce it to
rise till it has been relieved of its burden.
The llamas move in troops of five hundred or even one thousand, and
thus, though each individual carries but a little, the aggregate is
considerable. The whole caravan travels at a regular pace--passing the
night in the open air without suffering from the cold--marching in
perfect order, and in obedience to the conductor. Thus they proceed
over rugged passes from twelve to fifteen miles a day. They were
especially employed in bearing the produce of the mines of Potosi to the
coast, often in places where the hoof of the mule could find no support.
It was estimated, after the conquest, that 300,000 were thus employed.
As they never feed after sunset, it is necessary, when journeying, to
allow them to graze for several hours during the day. They utter a
peculiar low sound, which at a distance resembles, when the herd is
large, the tone of numerous Aeolian harps. On seeing any strange object
which excites their fears, they immediately scatter in every direction,
and are with difficulty reunited. The Indians treat them kindly,
ornamenting their ears with ribbons, and hanging little bells about
their necks. When any of them, over-fatigued, fall to the ground, their
conductors endeavour by every gentle means to induce them to proceed.
In spite, however, of the kind treatment they receive, numbers, from the
heat of the coast region, which they cannot stand, annually perish.
When offended, the llama shows its anger by turning its head at its
driver, and discharging a saliva with a bad odour in his face. It is
about the size of the stag. It carries its long neck upright,
constantly moving its long ears. The animals vary in colour. Some are
of a light brown, the under part being whitish; others dappled; but they
are seldom found quite white or black. In consequence of the
introduction of the mule and horse into the country, which have
superseded them in many places as beasts of burden, their price seldom
exceeds three or four dollars. The flesh of the llama is eaten; and as
many as 4,000,000 were, in days gone by, annually killed for food.