The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-10-26

pick our way from the car to the hotel Em-
presa Tor luncheon in driving storm of
sleet and snow, we console ourselves with
the knowledge that a few hours more will
bring US down into region of perpetual
summer time, to the ever blooming roses
and soft, warm sunshine of old Arequipa,
the Inca place of Rest" Far as the eye
can reach, the soil of the higher attitudes
looks like vast bog, covered with patches
OF snow, and short, coarse grass growing
in punches. AS soon as the storm increases
to raging blizzard, whitening all the land
scape in few moments, the domesticated
llamas and alpacas run to their corrals for
protection, while guanacos, vicunas and
other wild creatures huddle together to
keep warm, or skurry away to sheltered
gorges known only to themselves. I'm
doubtedly those -four sheep of the Andes"
belong to the same family, the alpaca being
a cross between the llama and the sheep.
and the guanacos between the vicuna and
| the llama.
GUANAcos ARE AS COMMON AS GOATS
in Switzerland. The animals'body is some
what of the greyhound build, being very
narrow in the loins but deep in the chest.
| 1t is covered with long hair, exceedingly
soft and fine, pale yellow, shading to white
underneath; combined with the strength
and endurance of the llama, it has all the
characteristics of the North American deer,
being as graceful, as feet footed and it's
flesh is much like that of the antelope
Their skins, like those of the vicuna, COM
mand high price in Europe. where they
are in great demand for carriage robes
cloak Innings, etc.
In their wild state, the animals roam in
| hocks, and one of the herd always stands
on guard. If danger threatens he gives the
IL, l. !; fOo 81
| deed must the pursuer be who can oVertake
them. They abound in great numbers in the
less thickly settled portions of southern
Chill, and that part OF the Argentine Re-
public which used to be Patagonia, where
they furnish the principal sport Of the peo-
pie. Every hunter who can afford it keeps
a pack Of dogs trained especially for this
chase. The men ''stallk'' the game with
greatest care, and sometimes get near
enough for shot with their rifles; but it
oftener hapens that the timid creatures de-
cline SO close an acquaintance with
THEIR NATURAL ENEMY, MAN.
IF a guanaco is found grazing singly on the
plain the chance of getting him is very
snail; but when the herd is pursued, each
animal tries to crowd himself into the cen
tire for greater safety, thus considerably re-
tarding their speed by the confusion that
ensues. 1t is amusing to note how well the
dogs understand this trick, and while crazy
to pursue flock, they look with indiffer-
ence upon the solitary guanaco or vicuna
What is known as "beZoar stonen is oc
casionally found in the stomach OF one OF
these animals, and to possess it is consid
cred the greatest kind of good fortune, its
magical virtues eXempting the lucky indi-
vidual who carries it in his pocket from
most of the ills to which flesh is heir. AL
paca and vicuna wool closely resemble one
another, both being very fine and valuable
Large quantities of it are exported to Eng
land, and a little goes to the United States
The coarser wool of the llama is from six
to eight inches long. and single fleece
often weighs as much as twelve pounds
but it is seldom sheared, the animal beins
most valuable as beast of burden in alti
, tudes where horses and mules are useless
Not great way from Vlncocaya the roae
passes between
TWO BRACKIsH LAKES,
both higher up than Titicaca, named res
pectively Saracocha and Cachipascana
, They are splendid bodies of water, black
, ened at all times of year by wild duck ant
; other fowl; but whether they are navigabl,
J or not nobody knows, nor is it a matter O
much consequence in this uninhabited re
, gion For miles we run along the banks O
river fed from the clouds, where drcve
{ of laden llamas driven by Indians, are a
much feature of the landscape as eamels
in Arabia. Though long stretch of thi.
Gland of the SKYE is exceptionally rich il
) water and pasturage, Qor Peru where thu
face of the earth is mostly covered with DIR,
: sand), the cold prevents anybody from liv
, ing here. Away up where nothing grows
many Enthusiastically shaped rocks are seen
as if the Titans of the Andes had their hall
, of statuary in these solitudes.
we slowly descend ITO lesser heights
the great mountain, 'Misti," which stand
, behind Arequipa, seems to come hospitabl,
/ forth to meet u.s. Though only 1860 fee
high, this inactive volcano is one of tn
most beautiful in all South America, bein,
= cone of perfect regularity, crowned witt
= snow during most of the year, while eter
3 nal summer reigns at its feet Close b,