Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-29
NOTES ON THE ANDEs-CosrIsuEp.

In the nat Dot0m near the t0Wn OF Surltl some sma
fish bottled from snowwaer stream, intended for
Prof Agassiz. During heavy hail-storm from the
southeast sheep focked together in small gangs, and
stood in ring with heads out like drove of parrdges
going to rest
AS we rise to the top Of small gap and pass under
large arch which supports webuilt stone aqueduct,
halted and gazed with delight at the ancient curiosity
of the world. The city of Cuzco, centuries ago
the seat Of the Incas. The view is beautiful Close
against the hills at the west of the valley the ruins
Of the temple Of the sun; Catholic church steeples
rise amidst smaller buildings of larger city the floor
Of the valley is carpeted in green while afar off, oppo-
site he church steepes the white Andes
in clear blue sky.
BY the roadside grave; the gravedgger has thrown
up skull Why may not that skull be that of Nance
Capac, Inca ? Over his bones find the most inter-
esng study of American antiquity 1t for the
great master Shakespeare 1t reminds of the dialogue
between Hamlet and Horatio:
Ham. To what base may return, Horatiol Why
may not imagination trace the noble dust Of Alexander tall
Hos Twers Is consider to- surionsly 10 consider CO.?
Ham. No faith, jot; but TO fellow him thher with
| sa.dsety cnough and likelihood to lead IT." DC.
Entering the Goyernment house found the prefect
the department Of Cuzco sick in bed with sspeste,
infuenza, attended by doctor and priest His aid.
de-oamp appeared in full uniform and aughingy told
he was lieutenant in the Peruvian navy, with o
majors commission in the army.
Jose hung his saddle wallets behind the door for fear
the dogs again eat his bread and cheese The old
man and the mules need rest we have been 45 days on
the road from Tarma. The arrieros when leaving
wished to kiss my hand practice encouraged by the
priests and authorities but particularly offensive to the
North American especially after the poor Indian has
faithfully performed his duties.
In the plaza we find for sale maize barley, wheat,
beans, sweet potatoes white potatoes, onions cab
bage, yuca, sugarcane, pneappes, cherimoyas, plan
tans bananas, oranges lines, papayas, water
4 srt atcn
apples grapes and cherries There is great display
pottery well made and fancfully colored White and
printed cotton goods bring high prices do coarse
woollen cloths, particularly those Of blue and scarlet
The whole population require thick clothing.
The city Of Cuzco has scanty population. The de-
partment contains 346,031 souls. / found very
friendly disposition towards the expedition, with de-
sire to aid The prefect offered twenty soldiers
escort in the low country to the east of the Andes
number of young men volunteered to accompany me- A
meeting of the citizens held for the purpose Of form
ing company to join At their suggestion the Pre-
sdent Of Peru applied to for the payment OF
appropriated by Congress for the exploration of the Rio
Madre de Dio supposed to be the with the River
Purus, rising among the mountains to the eastward Of
Cuzco was very much pleased also to hear spirited
young officer had applied to command the soldiers From
investigations made found that the head of the Rio Ma
DIRE de Dos distance beyond the line between
civilization and the savages, the Chuncho Indians.
SEPTEMBER 16.The day for my departure had arrived
but neither volunteers regulars ready Richards
sick, and left behind with the baggage We mount
ed the hills to the left of the valley, taking the short
twelve leagues road to Paucartombo The wind and
easterly with cold rain falling in small
drops. Temperature of spring 600, the air $40.
At daylight in the morning, entered deep gorge,
the breezes mixed with the cold mountain air.
reminded me of spring time at home.
wedressed old Indian, with scarlet vest, kindly Of
fered part Of his breakfast We crossed wellbut
bridge the Mapacho river which is said to
The houses Of the town of Paucartambo small,
and the population 1000; the creoles of the town
have great fears of the Chuncho tribe Of Indians,
who are at war with the Peruvian Government The
sub project and his wife were very kind Twenty-Five
ablebodied creoles volunteered to accompany
cepted their services but the next day the arrero being
alarmed deserted The volunteers backed out to man,
when Jose suggested opinion that volunteers did not
act so in North America.
At Totora farm we halted for the night, and met q
young Philadephian named Charles Leechler engaged
in collecting Peruvian bark for number of years He
at first spoke with difficulty in his native language, but
with true American spirit said, Mr.. Gibbon you may
depend open companion" He knew parts of the
country was directed to explores his services the
more acceptable. He joined me-
Turning from the river we ascend steep ridge Of
mountains the eastern ridge at last heavy mist watts
upwards the winds drive it against the side Of the An
des that view shortened to few hundred yards
We hope the curtain will rise that may view the pro-
ductons of the tropical valley below but the mist thick
ens and the day gets dark with heavy heapedup black
clouds. rain storm follows The grasses thrifty
and the top of the ridge covered with thick Sod By
At midday thermometer $40. Riding along the
ridge to the northward, the road suddenly turned
east and, Immediately descending, meet with TO-
liage, flowers and fruit, among them few inti-
mates, the blackberry and whortleberry, the
fruit large, but very acid At every step take the
growth increases in size, until after descending the noun
tain sde are enclosed in forest trees Our course in
winding down has been the centre OF the earth
that the compass is of to The way is lined
with bones of mules and horses killed by falling down
these precpces which don't deserve to be called roads
Among the limbs of the parrots chaerng with
monkeys. Trains of large ants cross our path This
insect is never seen on the top of the Andes
Under rude she'd by the side Of the mountain torrent
Chermayo wefound shelter heavy rain large drops
Upon nqurng of Leechler the number of inhabitants he
informed few were gathering Peruvian bark in
the woods, but it difficult to tell where they were,
the cnchona trees thny scattered the country
The bark is represented inferior The best quality
sells at S25 the hundred pounds in the market Of Cuzco
The regular rainy will set in, when oil the
cascareroe the barkgatherers called carry the
bark home The tree is feed by the bark stripped
off, dried, made into small bundles, and carried the
backs Of the men, who generally Mestzos, to
the nearest point at which n mule may be brought
Leechler pointed out the cinchona trees. The casca
rilleroes distinguish them at distance by their bright
coored leaves very smooth, and light green with here
and there yelowish leaf Standing side of the
rayine the count the value Of the opposite sde
they climb to the tops Of the oet trees and survey the
country The forest trees here very valuable for
also to give idea of the number Of beautiful and
valuable. tiger skins to be found in the bushes had
been thinking of the water dashng by for
MILL when, before going to Sleep he said, Cover your
head sir, at night; for the serpents very large
There productions not always enumerated in COM