The Adventures of Natividad and Toledo

The people also keep cows, that they milk to make cheese. They sometimes catch trout in the lakes and streams. They do this by hand, not with nets or a rod.

As a special treat, they might eat a guinea pig. Although these are kept as pets in some countries, they have been kept for eating in Peru for thousands of years.

The people cook on wood fires, because they have no other kind of fuel. Even wood is very hard to find, because few trees can grow high up in the mountains. The only light in the evening is from the fire or from candles, brought up the mountain on a heavily loaded horse or donkey (burro in Spanish).

Nati always stops to talk with the people he meets in the mountains. Often he gives them advice, or food, or some other kind of help.

The children who live in the mountains have a hard life. From an early age they must help the family, by watching over the animals, looking after younger brothers and sisters, or searching for firewood.

They have very few toys or other possessions, yet mostly seem happy and friendly, and certainly interested to see strangers.