The royal commentaries of Peru : in two parts / written originally in spanish by the Inca Garcilasso de la Vega; rendred into english by sir Paul Rycaut.

' ' Royal Commentaries. Boo~ VIII. . CH A P. XVI. 1 •• tJf their tame Cattel, and of the g.reat C::aravans, , or brovés of thern. T. HE tame Cattei which God hath given to the Indians o[ Peru, are of two forts; which, as El.u Valera faith, are of a Diípofüion as gemle and eafie as the Indians are themíelves; beíng fo tame, eípecially thofe which ferve to car- ry their burthens, that a Child may be able to govern them. Theíe are of two forcs, fome of a bigger kind, and fome of a lefs ; in general ,che Indians give thern the name of Llama, ·and the Shepherd or Paíl:or of them, Llama Michec. In di- fiinguifhing them one from the other, they call the greater Huanacu!lama, becaufe it hach a likenefs with that brave and fierce Creature, which is c:illed Huanacu, being of the fame fhape with it, but <lifferent onely in che colour; the carne Hu- anacu varies as much in its colours as the Horfes do il7 Spain, bue the wild is of a dark Cheínut colour onely. This Creature is about che ftze or bignefs of che Hart or Stag in Spain, hqt reíembles a Carne! rnoíl: of any oth~r, the bunch upon che back onely excepted, but in proporcion is but one third of its bignefs; irs Neck is long and frnooth, the Skin ofwhich being flead, che Indians ufed to make it gemle and fupple, and being dreífed afrer cheir fafhion , ferved for foals to , rheir Shoes; but becaufe chey had noc attained to che Skill ofTanning ofLeathet, they always took off rheir Shoes when they were to país wet, or Wacers, becaufe the moiíl:ure fpoiled them, and made rhem like a Gut, or Tripe. The Spaniardt , rnade Reigns of them for their Horfes, afrer the Fafhion of chofe which come from Bar/Jary, as alío Gim and Cruppers for their Saddles. This fort of Cattel is ufefull botb to the Indians and Spaniards, for carrying their Merchandife from and to what place chey pleafe ; but commonly they chofe fuch ways where the Coun- . trey is plain and even, as is between Co:u:o and Potoéchi, being about two hundred teagues; and like.wife from maoy ocher parts they go and c;ome to and frorn thofe Mines, carryiog Provifions, CQmmodities 9f the Indians, Merchandizes from Spain, fuch asWine, Ojl, Conferves, and ali otber things which are confumed in tbat Councrey, aod eípecially that Herb which is called Cuca. 1remember that-in my time theyhad Droves of that Catee! which .carried burthens, fometimes fix or eight hundred, or a thoufand in a Caravan; and thac a drove of five hundred was eíl:eemed as nqching. The burtheo which one of thefe Beaíls will carry is about three or four Aroves, (an Arove in Spain is about twenty five pounds weight) and · will travel about three Leagues a day, which is about nine Miles. They are not to be dñven beyond their ufual pace, for if chey.are, they will tire, and lie down.. and then ali that can be done to tbem, cannot raife them, though they eafe them .of their Burchen, and cake off their Saddles; for when they c9me to raife them .up, chey preíently ejeét ali they have in their Maw , or Stomach, ·into their M6riths; whence they caíl: it, if poffible, into the Faces of tbofe who difiurb them; which feems to be che onely Revenge and iníl:rument they are able to ex- erciíe, having no Horns like the Scag or Hart. Howfoever the Spaniards call them Mutton, or Sheep, though the difference between theíe and thofe be as rnuch as we have before mencioned. And thac thefe Creatures, nor any of them, may tire, and hinder the Travels of the whole Caravan, or Drove, they have al- ways forcy or fifry of them, which go loofe, and free of burchen in their com· pany, and fo foon as they obferve that one begins to tire, they prefently eafe him of bis Burthen, and lay ir upon anocher, for if he once lies clown, there is no re· medy, though y0u kili him, to raife him again. The Fleíl} ofchis fort of Gmel is che beíl:, and inoíl: favoury of any in the World, being boch tender and whol- fome. The Phyftcians prefcribe the Flefh of che young ones of four or five monchs old to cheir Patients, and prefer it far before Hens or Cbickens. In