Exploration Fawcett by Fawcett Percy Harrison 1867-1925?;Fawcett Brian & Fawcett Brian

Author:Fawcett, Percy Harrison, 1867-1925?;Fawcett, Brian & Fawcett, Brian
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fawcett, Percy Harrison, 1867-1925?, Travel, Fawcett, Percy Harrison, 1867-1925?, Fawcett, Percy Harrison, 1867-1925?, Fawcett, Percy Harrison, 1867-1925?, Travel
Publisher: New York : Overlook Press
Published: 2010-10-19T16:00:00+00:00

animal but had not been trained for the saddle. Manley coveted this beast as a mount and undertook to break it in. We saddled it without difficulty, and approaching from its blind side—it had only one eye—he got on its back while we held it. We let go and sprang clear. For a minute nothing happened; it stood absolutely immobile. Then the 'Chticara' exploded into action, and Manley didn't know what was happening. With incredible suddenness the mule launched itself high in the air, head down between its fore-legs, and Manley shot over its neck to land heavily on his shoulder a good ten yards away! I don't think the most experienced cow-hand could have sat that buck on a saddle without knee rolls. No bones were broken, but Manley was badly shaken and dropped all idea of the i Cbucara ) as a saddle animal.

Soroche —mountain sickness—took with us the form of chronic stomach-ache, and we made our headquarters at Cojata while this trouble lasted. It was a miserable place, whipped by vicious gales, and during the winter lay under perpetual snow, but it had the advantage for us of being the nearest village to the Cordilleras\ and from it we went out to do all the necessary work during the days. Evenings were spent in entertaining and being entertained, a very necessary formality in these parts if one is to enjoy the co-operation of local authorities.

Viscachos abound here. These are animals about the size of a rabbit and similar in appearance, except that their bushy tails resemble those of squirrels and their fur is the colour of chinchilla. They jumped about the rocks on the mountain-sides in their thousands and were esteemed good eating by the local people. I marvel that the fur industry has not taken toll of these animals, for the pelt is infinitely superior to rabbit, and they are to be found everywhere in the Altiplano.

Pelechuco was our next stop after leaving Cojata. This place contrasted most favourably with the villages on the Puna, or high plain, for here was abundance of green, and in spite of being 12,000 feet up geraniums, fuchsias, pansies and roses grew wild and in profusion. The great condor of South America is at its best near here. Senor Carlos Franck, a German-Bolivian with whom we stayed, told us much about them. As is generally known, these are the largest of birds, and the king condor often reaches as much as fourteen feet across the wings. They rarely come down below fifteen or sixteen thousand feet, except to carry off a sheep or—and there are authenticated cases of it happening—a child. Their strength is amazing. A wounded condor has been known to drag a mule along; near Pelechuco a full-grown man was carried about twenty yards by one. But generally they attack the rather small mountain sheep; carry them up a thousand feet or more, and then drop them, to be devoured at leisure.

Carlos Franck, who knew these mountains like the palm of his hand, once came upon a council of king condors.

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