In Some Parts Of These Deserts Where There Was No Snow, The Spaniards Were Reduced To Great Straits From Want Of Water; On Which Account They Had To Make Bags Or Leather Bottles Of The Skins Of Sheep, In Which To Carry Water For Their Supply.

It is proper to remark, that the Peruvian sheep are much larger animals than those of Europe, and are used as beasts of burden.

They resemble in some measure the camel in their shape, except that they have no hunches on their backs, and are able to carry a load of a hundred pounds or more, with which they are able to travel four or five leagues a-day. The Spaniards even sometimes rode on their backs. When fatigued, they immediately lie down, and it is impossible to make them rise again by any means whatever, neither blows nor kindness are of any avail, and it becomes necessary to unload them. When a person rides on one of these animals, and endeavours to urge it on when weary, it turns round its head towards the man, blowing upon him a most offensive breath mixed with a kind of stinking dew, which seems to proceed from the contents of its stomach. This is a most useful and profitable animal, as besides serving as a beast of burden, its wool is excellent and very fine; more especially that species which is called _pacas_, which has very long wool. These animals are supported at very little expence while on a journey, requiring only a very small allowance of maize, and they can subsist four or five days without drinking.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 651 of 796
Words from 180361 to 180632 of 221091