Omniana/Volume 2/Glow Beast
242. Glow-Beast.
"The Valley of Calchaquina, running 30 leagues in length from N. to S. is but of a small breadth, and almost enclosed on both sides by high ridges of mountains, that make the borders of Peru and Chili. It is reported that in the night there is a sort of creature seen here which casts a mighty light from its head, and many are of opinion that light is caused by a carbuncle; but as yet this creature could never be taken or killed, because it suddenly baffles all the designs of men, leaving them in the dark, by clouding that light[1]."
The existence of this animal is still believed. The Missionary Fr. Narciso y Barcel says, in a letter written in 1791, "I had scarcely reached Manoa before I began the commission with which his Excellency the Viceroy charged me, concerning the search of the carbuncle. I found a Pagan of the Pira nation, who has not only seen one, but has killed one, and thrown it away, through ignorance, as a thing of no value. He assured me that there were two kinds, one about a quarter, the other about half a vara high. The curtain, or lid, with which it covers its splendor, is, he says, a thing of exquisite plumage, and that it has on its breast spots of singular beauty. He called it in his 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.
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. He had caught a carbuncle-beast, and taken out the stone,.. but the canoe in which he embarked with it upset, and the jewel was lost, I, says D. Martin, saw him lamenting his evil fortune, and heard him say, that if he had not lost the carbuncle, he would have presented it to King Philip[2].