The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-03-03
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CHARLOTTE N c. FRIDAY MORNING. MARCH B. 1854

! Our road lies through rich valley, often four
/ miles wide, and level a floor. The mountains
on both sides dry and unproductiye except in
! the ravines. The haIfyeary displacement OF
earth is very great During the rainy season the
mountain torrents come down from the summit
loaded with soil. The decrease IN the size Of the
mountains from the time Of their creation to the
present day, and The filling up Of this basin, nau
rally leads one to wonder, whether the present
valley not once a lake. The Juaia rver
which takes Its rise in Lake Chincay ycocha to the
north of Tarma, flows sluggshly and serpen:-like
through the whole leugh OF the valley, and creep
ing through the Andes suddenly rushes off at
rapid rate, as though sensible OF its long journey,
! by the UcayaIi and Amazon TO the Atlantic ocean.
These waters descend over 1000 feet before
they mingle with the briny deep. The bed of the
river is half amile wide, and in the wet season
is probably fifteen fee: deep. There is very little
wafer in it now. The banks break down perpen-
dicularIy. The growth of small trees and flow
ers gives fresh appearance to the valley, but The
sun is very warm pace along the dusty road.
| The apple trees about the size of raspberry
| bushes
There are few varieties OF birds in the valley
some pigeons and doves keep the table pretty well
supplied. Little Ignacio takes great interest in
the sport, and his sharp eyes constantly on the
lookout for shot. By the river snipe, are found,
and among the flowers the hummIng bird is seen
| and heard
| The road crosses a number of dry beds Of
| streams OF considerable size in the rainy season.
There is only waller enough at present for the
wash-women, whose soap.suds spoil the wafer for
our beasts. We pass through the village Of San
Lorenzo and the small town of Conception.
deahllke silence pervades these places. The
| people in the fields, except some Creoles
seated among the flowers in their neat little court
yards. The streets are narrow and the houses
small All the towns Of the Puma" " are built
much after the same fashion and Of the same ma
teria! the only difference in their outward ap-
pearance being produced by the cultivation OF
| foliage and flowers, where the climate and soil
permit. When this is no: the case, the town pre-.
sents stupid, uninteresting aspect Children,
| dogs and pigs, earthen rots, and beds OF straw
surround a smoking fire on the ground.floor OF
| one-roomed house; the smoke escapes through
the doorway, the only opening for light or
change of air. During storms or at night the
door is closed; one peep inside satisfies the North
American he can find no rest there. But kere in
the valley the cooking is done under the trees, and
the inmates OF the house wander out in the shade.
We have often noticed expressions OF friendship
between the children and dogs; the latter show
! ing his pleasure by waggIng his tail, while the
smiling child pulls his ears. The pig is the most
restless creature at this height; while by himself
he is seen tossing up the bottom OF the valley.
a cork-screw motion 10 his tail, jumps and swings
his hams about, with inviting grunt to play
Before long he is laying his side, with the child
on top of him, while the dog is paving and snap.
ping at that laug ghabe twist OF the tail. The al.
lection the different species Of animals have for
one another in these associations, is remarkable.
The dog in any other place will sometimes kill
and eat the sheep; here he protects it by night
and by day. The pig forms attachment 10 the
,0Iyn yhT0I Ionx rf fho
Tor the female of his own kind. The ram becomes
intimate with a horse or bull, and it is with diff.
fculty they be separated. The lamb follows
the Indian girl in direct dsobedience and neglect
of its mothers call. Domestic cats are few they |
cannot live on high elevations.
There is no part Of Peru which is more densely |
populated than the valley of Juaja. There, close |
under the mountains the east side, stands the
town Of Ocopa, with its converts and schools
From that place missionaries have branched off
in different directions the forests in the east a,
greast risk of life and loss of all its comforts, to
leach the savage red man how to change his man.
ners customs, and belief. Some have uccoeded !
others have failed, and were murdered or driven
back by the batle.axe, their settlements destroyed
by fire, and years Of labor lost; yet some never
tire.
Ignacio carries our tent.pole across the pun.
mel Of his saddle. His thirsty mule ran between
l"O o'hCIS loouS" WI" ALio Uoe was
swept off and dropped over the creatures heels
into the middle OF the stream he regained his
saddle in a short time; his father laughed at him,
and took the pole himself
In the centre of the valley are the remains Of
an ancient city. The stone walls twelve
feet high and from 10 one and half feet
thick those Of the present day generally
adobe, from three to four ieet thick. Some Of the
buildings have been round, others obIong, but
generally square, twelve by eighteen feet; the
round ones are largest and best situated; the
streets very irregular and narrow; no appearance
of plaza or church. The ruins extend half mile
north and south and two hundred yards and
west. On a knoll, which may have been an
island before the Inca road was built, are trav-
elng, hedged in on both sides with cactus AS
the land about this ancient city is now cultivated
as cornfeld, no remains OF curious things could 6
be found. The mason work is very rough, but {
remains of mortar are there. How the houses
were rooted is doubtful; but by the slnnting down
on the inner side of the stones OF those houses
which were round, the mason-work may have {
been carried up I'LL il met at point, which would {
give the house sugar.loaf shape. Besides door. /
ways, there window openings. 4
Droves of jackasses pass, loaded with small I
.aw hide bags, filled with quicksilver, from the 6
mines of Huancavelica on their way 10 the silver
mines Of Cerro de Pasco. e
Marks of smallpox seen among the peo. t
,le ; but there chIlls and fevers here 4
Some of the women have dreadful sweIIIngs n