leather thong, are the whole of the equipage that the Arab traveller stands in need of, and with nothing more than these he is able to cross the deserts.

The pace of the Camel being a high trot, M. Denon says, that when he first mounted one of these animals, he was greatly alarmed lest this swinging motion would have thrown him over its head. He, however, was soon undeceived; for on being once fixed in the saddle,

ARABIAN CAMEL

he found that he had only to give way to the motion of the beast, and then it was impossible to be more pleasantly seated for a long journey, especially as no attention was requisite to guide the animal, except in making him deviate from his proper direction. "It was (he remarks) entertaining enough, to see us mount our beasts: the Camel, as soon as the rider leans on his saddle, preparatory to mounting, rises

very briskly, first on his hind and then on his fore legs, thus throwing the rider first forward and then backward; and it is not till the

Bonhood fourth motion that the himself firm in his seat. resist the first shake, and

When the traveller is not in haste, or when he accompanies a caravan, the progress of which is always slow, on account of the Camels of burden, a kind of covered litter is fixed on one of these animals, in which he is tolerably at his ease, and where he may even sleep if he chooses. The drivers of the loaded Camels have each a stick, which they use sparingly, if occasion requires; and those

FEMALE ARABIAN CAMEL.

who ride, whip their animals with a long strap of leather, at the same time urging them forward by a clicking noise of the tongue.

It has been attempted, but without success, to introduce Camels,

both of the Arabian and Bactrian species, into the West India islands The people were unaccustomed to their habits and manner of feeding; and this, together with the insects called chigoes, insinuating themselves into their soft feet, and producing inflammations, and at length painful ulcers, seems to have rendered them totally unfit for service. Similar efforts have been made to introduce them into the southern United States, and there is every prospect of success in acclimating them in this country.

The Arabian Camels are natives chiefly of the deserts of Asia and Africa. The Bactrian species are found, at the present day, in the same places where they were observed by the ancients; namely, in Usbec Tartary, the ancient Bactria. They are likewise natives of Thibet, and of countries near the frontiers of China.

THE BACTRIAN CAMEL.

The Bactrian Camels are employed as beasts of burden throughout all the regions where they are found. They are capable of supporting even the rigorous climate of the environs of the lake Baikal in Siberia, where they subsist, during the winter, on the bark and tender branches of the trees. They are, in every respect better adapted for living in temperate climates

than the Arabian Camels, for they experience much less injury, from humid and marshy countries, than these.

The flesh of the Camel is dry and hard, but not unpalatable. It is so much esteemed by the inhabitants of Egypt, that in Cairo and Alexandria, it was, not long ago forbidden to be sold to the Christians.

In Barbary, the tongues are salted and smoked, for exportation to Italy and other countries, and they form a palatable food. The hair is an important article of commerce, serving for the fabrication of the tents and carpets of the Arabs; and leather is made of the skin. In the materia medica of China, the different parts of the Camel occupy a conspicuous place: the fat is called the oil of bunches; and the flesh, the milk; the hair, and even their dung, are admitted into the prescriptions of the Chinese physicians.

THE CAMEL

THE LLAMA, AND THE VICUNA.

325

THE LLAMA, AND THE VICUNA.

The Llama is about four feet and a half in height, and, in length, from the neck to the tail, nearly six feet. Its usual weight is about three hundred pounds. The back is nearly even, and, instead of a hunch there, the animal has a protuberance on the breast. The head is small, with fine black eyes, and the neck is very long and arched. The general shape is that of a Camel, without the dorsal protuberance. In a wild state the hair of the Llama is long and coarse;

but when domesticated, it becomes short and smooth. The color is white gray, and russet, disposed in spots.

The Vicuna is somewhat smaller than the Llama; and its limbs ar:

more neatly formed.

There is no protuber. ance on the breast. The color of the upper parts of the body is reddish brown, and of the under parts whith.

The lofty and mountainous regions. of Peru, Chili, and other districts of South America, are inhabited both by the Llama and Vicuna. They are mild, gentle, and tractable animals, and are employed in many parts of these countries for the carrying of burdens. In the Spanish settlements, before the introduction of Mules, they were employed in the ploughing of land.

Both the Llama and the Vicuna go on their journeys with great

gravity, and nothing can induce them to change their pace. Like the Camel, they lie down to be loaded; and, when they are wearied,

no blows will induce them to proceed. Their disposition is

indeed so capricious,

WILD LLAMAS.

that, sometimes, when they are struck they lie down, and caresses only will induce them again to rise. When pro

voked, they have no other mode of avenging themselves but by spitting, and they have the faculty of ejecting their saliva to a considerable distance. It is asserted,

though without foundation, that this is of so corrosive a quality, that it will produce blisters upon the skin. The saliva of a Llama, which was exhibited in Piccadilly in the year 1805, I received on my hand, and the keeper informed me that he had several times had it thrown even upon his face, without injury.

Llamas are employed in transporting the rich ores out of the mines of Potosi. In their journeys, they will sometimes travel four or five days successively before they seem desirous of repose; and they then rest spontaneously twenty or thirty hours before they resume their toil. Sometimes, when they are inclined to rest a few minutes only, they bend their knees, and lower their bodies with great care, to prevent their load from falling off, or being deranged: when, however, they hear their conductor's whistle, they rise with equal caution, and proceed on their journey. In going along during the day-time, they browse wherever they find herbage, and generally spend the night in chewing their cud. If, after they are determined not to rise