The alpaca and vicuna, now an important article of trade and manufacture, although well known to the native Peruvians at the time of the conquest by the Spaniards, has only come into notice within the last twenty years.
It is supplanted by our colonial wool, which is steadily advancing in quality and quantity, while angora goat, and alpaca wools are forcing their way into and enhancing the value of our stuff trade.
It was not until the introduction of cotton warps into the Bradford trade about 1836 that the true qualities of alpaca could be developed in the fabric.
In 1830 Benjamin Outram, of Greetland, near Halifax, appears to have again attempted the spinning of this fibre, and for the second time alpaca was condemned.
Unsuccessful attempts were made to acclimatize the alpaca goat in England, on the European continent and in Australia, and even to cross certain English breeds of sheep with the alpaca.
Of the four the alpaca and the vicuna are the most valuable wool-bearing animals: the alpaca on account of the quality and quantity, the vicuna on account of the softness, fineness and quality of its wool.
The colour of the greater proportion of alpaca imported into the United Kingdom is black and brown, but there is also a fair proportion of white, grey and fawn.
Apparently alpacayarn was spun in England for the first time about the year 1808.
Where the cotton warp and mohair or alpaca weft plain-cloth came from is not known, but it was this simple yet ingenious structure which enabled Titus Salt (q.
It does not appear to have made any headway, however, and alpaca wool was condemned as an unworkable material.
The llama and the alpaca are domesticated; the guanaco and the vicuna run wild.
In the early days of the 19th century, the usual length of alpaca staples appears to have been about 12 in.
In stature the alpaca (Lama huanacos pacos) is considerably inferior to the llama, but has the same unpleasant habit of spitting.
These two attempts to use alpaca were failures owing to the style of fabric into which the yarn was woven---a species of camlet.
It is, however, more broadly applied to a style of fabric originally made from the alpaca wool but now frequently made from an allied type of wool, viz.
She knew when it was coming; for Kami would gather his black alpaca coat into a bunch behind him, and, with faded flue eyes that saw neither pupils nor canvas, look back into the past to recall the history of one Binat.
Attempts have been made to introduce and acclimatize the alpaca in Europe and in Australia, but no measure of success has attended the experiments.
Cloth made from imported alpaca wool is manufactured in England, principally in Yorkshire.
He glanced quickly down at his own little body in the alpaca knickerbockers and sailor blouse, and then, with a sigh of relief, looked up again at the strange group facing him.
The soul in that little body covered with alpaca knickerbockers and a sailor blouse seemed suddenly to have access to a storehouse of knowledge that must have taken centuries, rather than a few short years, to acquire.
Shawl dresses were the novelty of that season, and at Stewart's I found a modestly priced dark-gray shawl overskirt and jacket that I could wear over a black alpaca skirt for two acts.
When she came back into the parlor again she was wearing that yellowish raincoat, that hat with hearse plumes nodding over its sticky straw, that grayalpaca skirt.
With her finger-nail she followed the burst seam of the dark pigskin purse that slid about on her shiny alpaca lap.
Just think, dear FLORA, what heaps of sorrow I should endure, if that base man's suspicion about my alpaca waist should be only a pretence, to frighten me into ultimately receiving his addresses.
Was dressed in a dark alpaca frock, black woollen sontag with white border; black velvet hat, no trimming, high laced boots, striped stockings.
I have lost a nephew who was very fond of apples, and a black alpaca umbrella of great value.
Bumpus slipped off the waggon, took a handful, crammed his pipe, and put the remainder in his alpaca coat pocket.
He carried his large elastic-sided boots in his hand and a blackalpaca coat over his arm.
A sudden heart-throb stretched the seams of her flatalpaca bosom, and a pulse leapt to life in each of her temples.
The llama andalpaca do not exist in a wild state at all, and the variety in the colours of their fleeces seems to be a sign of long domestication.
The finer fleece of the alpaca was reserved for the use of the sovereign and his nobles.
For one thing, he wore Spanish alpaca clothes, a black Spanish hat and a red sash, and looked like a brigand from the opera.
Mr. Salt has done what he can to provide for a supply by introducing the alpaca sheep into Australia and the Cape of Good Hope.
Where alpaca and other fine cloths are so largely manufactured, the question as to a continuous supply of finest wool becomes of serious importance.
The Llama, (Llama peruana) and the Alpaca (Llama pacos) are other species of this family.
The Alpaca which is also domesticated is useful for its fleece.
He was leaning against the town pump in front of the post-office, the sun glancing impotently off the bright badge on the lapel of his alpaca coat.
Only in the privacy of his own back yard did he go without the black alpaca coat; he was beginning to despise the other days, when he had gone coatless from dawn till dark, on the street or off.
It was closing time, and Miss Fisher, one of the skirt fitters, came up, in her black alpaca apron with a pair of scissors suspended by red tape from her waist, to ask Madame a question.
Our leading townsmen, sir," said young Mr Benny, "favour an alpaca lounge coat with this particular line.
Captain Cai reached the footpath-gate in a bath of perspiration, despite his alpaca coat and notwithstanding that the last half mile of his way had lain under the light shade of budding trees.
The calico made another frock and two nice pinafores, the black alpaca some small aprons.
But Keziah, entering the sitting room dressed in black alpaca and carrying the hymn book with her name in gilt letters on the cover, forbade his leaving the parsonage thus early.
She was dressed in a new black alpaca which rustled so very much like silk that nearsighted people might have been deceived by it.
