Omaha daily bee., 1914-05-03
nr Harry v Harlan ofGiited states
Department ofAqzIcutI1re

beans; and also hundreds OF little fields |
Of Indian corn. This crop now reaches TO |
the height OF my knee in the high alt-
tudes. but TO the height of my shoulder
where the lands are little lower and |
consequently warmer.
Use Mud Fences.
In the valley OF Cuzco. which we shall |
go through tomorrow, the crops are still
more advanced. and the barley, which is
green In the highlands, is there almost
ready for harvest. The lands OF these
valleys look very different from the pla-
teaus. that are fed alone by the rains
The Irrigated lands are exceedingly val
liable. They have all been taken up by
the whites or the Cholos. and are ex-
plotted by them with Indian labor Here
! the lands are often divided by mud
fences The fields are consecutive, and
you see the villages made OF mud huts
which are occupied by the Indians, who
do the hard work. On the nonirrgated
plateaus the land yields much less and
the greater part OF them are given over
to pastures. Here you find hundreds OF
Indian squatters, each of whom has his
little mud hut. with corral or so made
OF stones or mud into which his flocks
are driven at night. He may nave two
or three acres Of potatoes or qulnua, and
perhaps a small patch OF barley, but as a
rule the crop is grown only to supply his
own needs The methods of such farm
ting are crude TO an extreme. but the
patches seem clean and the Indians work
very hard.
stock Chief Industry.
The chief industry of this great
plateau OF the Andes is the raising of
stock. have seen millions of sheep on
my way across the plateau, and tens of
thousands OF alpacas, llamas. as well as
many horses. cattle and donkeys. The
donkeys and llamas form the beasts of
burden. and you sec them driven In long
caravans over the plain. followed by In
dian men and women who are either
their owners or in charge of them for
: their masters. / never get tired of watch
ing the llamas. One can see them every
where on the plateau. They walk in
caravans along the trails; they crowd
the streets Of the villages and droves OF
them line the plazas OF every city and
town. They arc. in fact. the freight
trains of the high Andes. and they COM
pete with the railroad. They carry grain,
I etabies, hides. alcohol, coca leaves
e and goods OF every description. Many
, OF them are used to transfer the ore from
Y the mines to the smelters. and the farm
e crs employ them to take their goods to
p the towns and railroads,
LInmas Pack Freight
The llamas pack the freight on their
e backs, the burden being tied on like q
y saddle. and not in panniers, as upon
l. donkeys. There Is current story that
e a llama will carry just 100 pounds, and
3 that II you put on one ounce more he
V will lie down, ano no whipping or heat
II ing can make him 20 on. This state
y ment is ridiculous The llama, II over
. burdened, will surely lie down and re-
h fuse to move. but as TO his having the
a intelligence to know when the hundred
v pound load is reached. that Is one OF the
a fictions of travelling Munchausens In
n deed. there are very few liamas that can
!, carry as much rs 100 pounds. The ami
mails are of different strengths, and the
"A average load Is about seventy-five OF
a. eighty pounds, although there are some
"a beasts that will carry 100, A matter OF q
:. pound or so makes no difference and Il
- Is only when the animal feels that h'
has much moro than his strength will
= support that he refuses to 20.
as strong as CameIs.
a. The llamas are of different sizes, &C
coTding 10 their ages and the care tina
:. has been taken of them. When ful
~ grown their heads reach height o
- six feet or more but they have lon
~ reeks and they hold these straight up
=, which makes them look taller. The
have long ears that stand up like thos
- oc fox terrier They have full, roun
20 bodies, like that OF a sheep. and com
- paratively long legs. They look, in shor
- like miniature camels, and am tol
49,, that they have the same power as IN
camel OF going for several days with
out food or water. Many OF the farm
are long distances from the towns
railroads. and llama has often TO mai
SO' a journey OF four or five days or a wee
In carrying his load TO and from hom
ere During this time he eats practical
the nothing, and gets along without waite
Ugh This seems incredible, but ! am to
IDS, II IL true. The llama wool Is coarse. al
Try It has no value In commerce. II Is us,