[44] Western Peru, from the peaks of the eastern Cordillera to the shores of the Pacific, has hardly any venomous animal except the scorpion, which exists in the warm intermediate valleys (in some of which a small black and white snake is also found, which is said to be highly venomous): but alligators, as we have seen, abound about Guayaquil; and the coast of central America is famous for its venomous snakes, as well as for the antidote to their poison, or the bejuco guaco, which in infusion makes an agreeable bitter, something like quassia. The same antidote Providence has planted in the neighbourhood of Tarapoto, on the eastern frontiers of Peru, where venomous snakes also abound. The popular story in Peru respecting the discovery of the properties of the guaco is, that an Indian happening to be present when a condor, or some strong hawk of the numerous species which inhabit the Cordillera, was engaged in mortal combat with a tremendous snake, observed that as often as the bird was wounded he retired to a thicket of guaco, broke off the bark with his beak, dressed his wounds and pruned his feathers with the sap, and returned to the fight with confidence and spirit, till at length he killed the snake, and carried it away in triumph. From this the Indian inferred, that in the juice of the guaco resided the property that counteracted the poison of the snake; and it is vulgarly believed that if you rub your hand and arm with the juice of this bejuco, you may grasp the deadliest serpent with impunity. But, however that may be, the fact is never disputed, that the guaco is a quick, powerful, and certain antidote against the poison of the serpent.—Translator’s Note. [45] Notes on State of Virginia, p. 62. [46] _Paco_: so called (in the Indian language) because its wool is long and of a bright reddish colour. Alppa-co, _sheep of the country_, has the wool long and very smooth; and, though coming under the denomination of Peruvian camel, is not very well fitted to carry a burden. Llama llamscanni, or the _working sheep_ (of the Indian) has the wool short and rough; and is the tallest, strongest, and best adapted for the cargo. EXTERIOR PROPORTIONS OF THE LLAMA. Feet. In. Lines. From the crown of the head to the extremity of the sacral bone 6 5 0 The coccyx or tail has of length 1 0 0 From the upper lip to the crown of the head measures 1 1 0 Length of the ear 0 6 6 Length of the neck from its first to its last vertebra 2 5 0 Anterior height, measured from the base of the fore-foot to the edge of the shoulder-blade parallel with the spine 5 5 0