The Nevada journal., 1857-04-03
Peru in the Fifteenth Century.


The Peruvian Empire, at the time of
the discovery of America, included the
modern republics of Ecuador, Peru, Boil
ivia and Chile, in direct line North
and South; he Pacific forming its Yves
tern boundary, while its Eastern was in
definitely defined, but extending, in
some parts, far beyond the Andes or
Copper Mountains, to the confines of the
barbarous nations of the Atlantic
Hemmed in by colossal mountains,
whose snowy SUBMITS resisted the most
feryent rays of a tropical sun, and which
nothing but the glowing fires of their
volcanic furnaces could divest of their
rigid aspect the surface of the country
presented formidable barrier to agri-
culture and internal communication, for
rough sierras and hideous chasms, or
quebradas, down whose granite and
porphyritic sides rushed furious torrents,
which were soon lost in the dark abyss,
whose fathomless depths terrified the
heart of the most intrepid traveller, were
obstacles seemingly yinsurmountable. but
which proved no impediment TO the un-
firing industry of the Indian of Peru.
Canals and subterraneous acqueducts
fertilized the parched deserts of the
coasts, and clothed them in soft verdure
The rugged mountain sides, by constant
cultivation, produced abundantly fruits
common to both torrid and temperate
climes; while numerous hocks of Hamas,
Or Peruvian sheep, guarded by shep-
herds, browsed on the stunted vegeta-
ton of the snowy peaks.
Quiet tamlets occupied the fowery
plateaus among the mountains, and no.
bier towns and cities dotted the broad
plains. Roads were constructed through
the wild mountain passes to facilitate
the intercourse of the Inhabitants
These roads were often cnt out of the
solid rocks for leagues. Frightful ra-
vines were filled up and covered with an
cement, which still resists
the desolating finger of time. Suspen-
sion bridges, of osier cables, covered |
with planks, spanned the otherwise i'm
passable ravines; and where descent
was necessary, stairways, hewn out of
the solid granite and porphyry, attested
the wonderful industry of this nation in
promoting inland and seaport commu-
nication.
Posts were established centuries be-
fore the more civilized nations of the
world had given them thought
These extensive roads were divided in
to short distances of something less than
five miles, so that each runner might
have. ample opportunity for rest, while
his burden or message was rapidly |
carried en- by another; lin this way
one hundred and fifty miles per day (
could be travelled with case; thus rem
dering the business communication at
once facile and rapid. Montesinos as
serts that the royal table was supplied
with fish taken a hundred leagues from
the capital in twenty-four hours after
being drawn from the ocean.
The rich mines of gold and silver be-
came an inexhaustible revenue to the
country where none but royalty had oc-
casion to make use of these treasures, as
currency was unknown among them.
Magnificent temples were erected to
The sun, the ornaments of which, were
Of solid gold, as well as the vessels of
and implements of husbandry
used on the sacred grounds belonging to
the temples. The people of this extern
sive empire, all speaking one language
and wisely governed by mild but des
potic prince, were contented, industrious
and happy. To them great riches and
extreme poverty were alike unknown,
for there the agrarian law was fully car
RED out; save that the king like true
father to his people was absolute pro-
prietor of all the land and wealth of his
vast empire, and each subject received
MS portion of rented land every year,
with the privilege of retaining it, at the
usual rent as long as he proved himself
an industrious and careful husbandman.
Now conquered and subdued by for
sign immigration, whose laws and Gus
IONS were to them unknown, their great
ness has passed away, and the children
IF the sun. as they were designated, be-
vail the faie of their noble sovereigns,
as they in sadness still listen to the an
;ient songs of triumph now remembered
and sung by the Spanish invaders.--Pa-
sfc Sentinel