New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-19

The little children stopped to stroke the animal who
looked round with her large black eyes at them. In
their gross ignorance they demonstrated their value as
critics Of what Is TO be. Women stopped TO caress and
speak kind words to wachta ofte nthat Of the
pedestrians expressed wish to change places with the
small camel of the Andes.
Wachta followed her master into the deerhouse Of
the nenagerie and was thirsty after her walk. The
manner Of drinking was ouri0us. She would take
mouthf OF water and then raise her head before swa
lowing, repeating the movement each time until her
thirst Yves assuaged.
1t was curious to see the alpaca searching around
for Mr. Garfield when be hid himself behind the burly
form of "Phil,' the keeper in charge of the deer
house. She peered from side 10 side until sho
saw her master and then with her quiet cry run
up for recognition During the summer Mr.. Can
field takes Wachita TO his country house and with her
roams all over the country. He gave the following
history OF the animal
IL was IN AntOfagasta, Bolivia. year ago, and
was visiting Colonel David sim, jr, the gen.
eral manager Of the railroad that runs from
Antofagasta to the mining districts OF Bolivia
1t is up in the higher mountains that the
alpaca makes it's home. Colonel sim, who stands
6 feet inches in his stockings, had long wanted
TO own an alpaca, and told the men employed On The
railway to do their best to capture q young one
One day they saw Wachlta, and after smart chase
caught it, 1t was brought down TO Antofagasta, and
the Colonel reared it by hand 1t soon became dOmes
ticated and became wonderfully fond Of the Colonel
| who named it Wachta, the Spanish for orphae. When
! / first saw it the Colonel had been away for two
| months Oh a business trip up country, and it was
| question which showed the most Joy at his return
| the alpaca or q favorlte hound. He made present
Of Waclta to me. and strange to say the animal
seemed to transfer its affections to me from the
first. was much afraid that 1t wouid die
on board ship, but persuaded the captains
of the three steamers on which had taken passag
in order to reach New York 10 allow tho animal K
walk up and down the deck with me and remain neal
granted 1 do dot think 1t would have lived Here IL
the menagerie it has been well looked after. but
strange to say though Phil the Keeper, feeds it ever
him yard. 1t is perfectly fearless animal, ant
takes no notice OF any other animal
The alpaca comes from the table lands and mountain
ranges OF the Andes, In Peru and Chill. and is frs
cousin 10 the llama, guanaco and vacugna. all O
them beonglng 70 the camel tribe. The llama am
factrlng their woOllens The alpaca has, however
SIX inches long, and the fleece is wonderfully silky ant
delicate. IL from the wool of this animal that III
clo1h which Is kn0wn by the name Of alpaca is mado
salt, woobroker and manufacturer in Brad
ford England, purchased quantity he met in Liver
the venture that in few years the great manufactur
which upward OF 1900 hands are employed In Ia,
alpaca manufacture. From 1886 10 1910 the amount
OF alpaca imported into England averaged 5oo,O0t
1852 this had increased to 2.1s6,4sO pounds SELLING
81 two shinings six pence pound, and the imports
have steadily Increased year BY year. The alpaca /
half domestcated, being only driven into the Villages
to be shorn. Var1ons attempts have been made 1,
breed TIE animals in Europe and Australia, but the
out. The alpaca has a curiOus method of sefdefence
II expectorates at e enemy. As 1t elts about half
eyes this manner of wardne of an enemy IS generally
successful.