The Nevada Democrat., 1862-01-18
NUMBER 564.
The Llama In California.

EX-Gov. Bigler contributes to the Califor-
MIA Farmer lengthy and interesting pa
per on the subject of Peruvian sheep-the
Llama, Alpaca, Vicunia and Huanaco. Of
these varieties the Llama is said to be most
generally known, but least valuable on &C.
count of its wool. But the Llama is most
easily tanned and ebeaply maintained, and
is used very commonly in Peru and Bolivia
as a beast of burden, in which capacity it
is as useful in those countries as the camel
in Arabia. Gov. Bigler says:
They will carry 100 pounds over roads
too dangerous for the mule or ass, making
from Is to 20 miles per day. They are used
for carrying silver from the mines of the
countries named to La PaZ, Lima, and the
ports of the Pacific. The Indian drivers
carry whips, but seldom have occasion to
use them, so obedient are these animals to
the voice of the driver. They never give
trouble to the driver unless overloaded, in
which case they will lie down and refuse to
rise until relieved of part Of their burden.
They will perform the days travel "sub-
sisting upon the moss and stunted herbage,
which grows so scantily along the rugged
sleeps of the Andes" Like the camel, the
structure of the Llama's stomach is such as
to enable it TO do without water for days,
and even week at a time. The hoOf of
the Llama is spongy, armed with claw or
talon, which enables it to take hold, and
renders shoeing unnecessary. In Peru and
Bolivia they travel in troops of 500 and
1000; and so regular are they in their steps
aud movements as never to get into confu-
sion or disorder. The load is laid upon the
Llama's back without girth or saddle, and
imbedded in the wool, rests securely even
in ascending and descending the sleeps Of
the Andes. "The motions of the head and
neck as they pass the,mountain crags," says
Lieut.. Gibbons, "may be likened to those Of
the swan as it floats over smooth water"
Llamas are never put under cover at night;
nor is it necessary, for they are very hardy
and can remain in the open air without suf-
fering, even ia the coolest temperature.
They are very gentle, and, if carefully
watched over and handled tenderly, soon
become very much ATTACHED to their driver
or keeper. The Llama has heavy fleece
Of wool, which is highly priced by the Indi-
ans of Peru and Bolivia, and from which
they manufacture coarse cloth to protect
them against the severity Of the cold in The
mountainous districts. The wool of the
Llama, it is true, is coarse and less valuable
than that produced by the Alpaca and vi.
cunia, but during con versation which
recently bad with Seilor Melgar, the Minis
ter of Foreign relations of the Republic Of
Peru, a gentleman we'll informed on the
subject. he expressed the opinion the wool
of the Llama would, in the mountain dis
trcts of California, very soon change in
fneness and value, at least ten per cent
Tho Llama, Alpaca, and Vicunia are shear
ed once every year. The fleece Of one Al
paca will exceed IN weight the fleece Of two
fair-sized Merino sheep. The fleece Of the
Llama, although not so fine or valuable az
that of the Alpaca will nearly equal il in
weight The wool of the Vicunia is maroon
color, and is still finer and more valuable
than that of the Alpaca. The "Lima Hat"
so generally worn and highly priced in Cal
ifornia, is manufactured from the wool Of
the Vicunia.
It will be remembered that Gov. Bigler
brought with him to this State, on bis re.
turn from Chile, two Llamas. He intends
to make an effort to domesticate them here,
and has also made arrangements to inn
port two pairs Of Alpacas aud as many of
Vicunias.