they reached the open space, when they
darted into the _chacu_. Some fifty vicunas were thus in a very short
time collected, when the Indians, running among them, began throwing
their _bolas_ with the greatest dexterity, never failing to entangle the
legs of the game, which they speedily killed with their clubs or knives.
Sometimes the Indians use the _bola_ on horseback; and I must remark
that it requires great dexterity to do so with effect, as a clumsy
person is very likely to twist the cords round his own neck or that of
his steed, instead of the animal he is hunting. As soon as the vicunas
were killed, they were carried off to the camp to be skinned and cut up;
and we then moved to a distance, to form a new _chacu_. During three
days, which we passed in the neighbourhood, we killed two hundred
vicunas; and then, laden with their flesh, we continued our journey.

The vicuna is a more beautiful animal than either the llama or the
alpaca. It is between them in size, measuring four feet from the ground
to the top of the head, and two and a half feet from the ground to the
shoulders. The neck is longer and more slender; and the wool is finer,
short, and curly. The top of the head, neck, and back, and the thighs,
are of a peculiar reddish hue; and the inner part of the limbs and the
lower part of the neck are of a bright ochre colour; and the breast and
lower part of the body is white. Each herd consists of from six to
fifteen females and one male, who, standing at a distance, acts the part
of guardian, while the rest are grazing, and when danger approaches,
gives a peculiar whistle and stamp of the foot. The herd look, with
outstretched necks, in the direction of the danger, and then take to
flight, the male stopping every now and then to cover their retreat, and
watch the movements of the enemy. Should he be killed or wounded, the
Indians declare that the females will gather round him in a circle, and
uttering shrill cries of lamentation, will suffer themselves to be
destroyed rather than desert him.

As we proceeded on our march, we fell in with many other parties of
Indians, advancing in the same direction; some of whom were of the
savage tribes from the far interior, summoned to swell the host of the
Inca. Many of them were accompanied by troops of llamas, carrying
provisions. Some of these had bells hung round their necks, and were
adorned with bows of ribbons at their ears. They proceeded at a slow
p