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Inca
Empire for Kids
Llama Legends
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Llama
Legends: The Incas never invented the
wheel, so they had no wheeled vehicles. They did not have horses or
cows. High in the Andes, the llama was a most important animal. The
llama was used for transportation. It provided the Incas with wool and
food. So it's understandable that many Incan legends and myths were
about llamas. Flood Story At one time, people became very evil. They were so busy doing evil deeds that they neglected the gods. Only those in the high Andes mountains were honest and true. One day, two brothers who lived in the high Andes mountains noticed their llamas were acting strangely. They asked the llamas why they were staring up at the sky. The llamas answered that they were told by the stars that a great flood was coming. The brothers believed the llamas. They moved their families and flocks into a cave they found on the highest mountain. It began to rain. The rain continued for four months and four days. At last the rain stopped. The water receded. The brothers and their families repopulated the earth. The llamas were most grateful to the stars for warning them about the flood. That is why llamas prefer to live on the mountain tops, safe from floods, and near their friends, the stars.
The llama is a member of the camel family. The llama is about four feet tall and four feet long and can weigh 300 pounds. They can travel long distances without needing water. They can carry light loads of not over 100 pounds. They can easily travel 6 miles a day over lumpy bumpy ground. On flat ground, the llama can run faster than a horse. Llamas are herd creatures. They need to be with other llamas to be happy. Most llamas have big personalities. They are very loving and gentle. But, they do not like to be stared at. If you ever meet a llama, be sure and follow this simple rule of llama etiquette - don't stare - otherwise the llama might spit in your face for being so rude! Peek at a llama out of the corner of your eye.
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