Pira language Inuyucoy. He promised to bring me one dead, since it is impossible to take it alive; I regaled him plentifully for the sake of encouraging him, and he set off in full confidence that he should not return without it. As soon as I get this precious jewel, (alhaja,) I will send it to his Excellency.
Mer. Per. N. 152.
D. Joseph Ignacio de Lequanda: (Mar. Peruan. N. 249,) relates some stories of this carbuncle animal, and evidently believes them. By his account, it opens this eye of light when it is in danger, and dazzles its enemy. At other times the eye is covered with its veil, or lid,..like Prince Arthur's shield.
The author of the verse-Argentina, D. Martin del Barco, says he had seen this beast, and often hunted it in vain, and that happy man would he be who should catch one. Ruy Diaz Melgarejo, he adds, had been thus fortunate.
