The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-03
Peruvian Antiquities.

Mr. Evans, of New Rochelle, Pa, spent
several years in Peru engaged in the con-
struction OF railways. One OF these roads
| among the Peruvian Andes is said to reach
higher altitude than any other railway in
| the world. A picture of section of an
other, the Lima and Oraya Railway, shows
span supported upon an iron pier as high
as Trinity steeple. 1t was while laying
out the route of railway that Mr.. Evans
discovered the timc-worn relics now in his
possession. In the southern part of Peru
lies the valley Of the Santa, near Chimbolc.
llcrc for miles is a stretch of fine white
sand. From distance its smooth surface
is said to resemble the unruiilcd sea. But
when the sand was disturbed in the process
OF working upon the railway it was found
that the remains of a prehistoric race lay
buried beneath. Then the utmost care was
taken. Soundings were made constantly
with long iron rods, to determine the pres
encc of any relics. The result was aston
ishing. For twenty-five miles in the sandy
valley the worl1mcn dug through an i'm
mcnse graveyard. Tombs were found
eleven and twelve feet below the surface of
the glound, the depth indicating somewhat
the years that had passed away since they
were built.
These tombs whose quiet WAS disturbed
by the advent Of the locomotive engine
were constructed of stone. The average
size was about six feet in length, four in
width. and three i'll heighth. The walls
werGol masonry securely plastercd, while
heavy hagstones lay across the top. When
the iiaSs were removed strange sight was
presented within tho graves. In the cor
ners with grim, blackencd, 1cshlcss faces
sat mummics wrapped in cloths. Near
them were the skeletons Of dogs. There
were carthcn vessels of quaint shapes and
specimens Of gold and silver work The
scmains of what had been once corn, beans
and peas were also found. The mumnies
were prepared in Il strange manner. The
bodies had bccn doubled up and the hands
cluspcd around the knees. Then tho whole
had been wound with kind of coarse
cloth until only tho face was left visible.
The misshapcd bundles were placed inva-
riably with tho faces to the west. The
cereals i'll the graves are supposed to have
been intended for tho sustcnancc of the
dead in tho spirit world The utensils may
also have been designed for their use 1t is
supposed that these graves and relics ante
date the reign Of the lncas, though their
exact aye cannot be known. 1t, is said
| that the pottery is the oldest known in the
world.
There is large number Of pieces in Mr..
Evans collection, all showing differ cnt de-
| signs. They arc called huacas, and are re-
ceptaclcs for liquids. They are composed
OF baked clay, usually reddish, but in son.r
cases covered rcd Or black. They are
moulded to represent rude busts, masks,
slatucttes, fruit and ANIMALS. One re-
markable circumstance is that the pottors'
| hpnl hnS moi fl,non
clcs, and the manner in which they were
moulded ls unknown. The workmanship
10 md" nnh the. faces and fiqnres arc eX-
ccedinSly grotcsquc. Ono shows, appar,
emily, Il musician clutching drum. An
other shows gay rcvcllor overcome with
strong drink and sinking down sIcepily
| over his cups. From the. heads of the fig
ures rise long narrow nccks, often forming
Ill arch below, which unite into one neck
above. The busls Of The figures swell out,
forming TASKS. One represents u culprit
with his hands tied behind :hlm, anu
another clumsy cut formidable person
armed with whip. On the sides 81 some
of the huacus are depicted hidcous drag
Ons, and animals which much resemble
school boys first effort at. drawing. ~
| bird, apparently paroquet, forms the
| body of several huucas. In some cases
they are double, q bird OF figure being AT
tachcd to a comparatively plain flask.
There arc several representations Of fruit,
one giving the form Of a kind of melon
which is said 10 taste exactly like vanilla
ice cream. Another consists OF four clay
globes, each about the size of an orange,
which are joined together. From the middle
Of the arcncd and hollow handlc rises u
long neck.
a black hlaca consists of n Cat curlea H.,
| in ball, from whose back peers out u
snakes head. They wear usually some
sort OF remarkable head dress. Tusks pro-
trudc from the corners Of their mouths
| Still, grotcsquc as thcy are there is n certain
| expression Of hlmor visible in the very ug-
lness. The most curious of these pieces OF
pottery arc what arc called tho ''whisiliny
huacas." They arc usually small and OF
varied shapes. BY blowing into the neck
clear, distinct whistle is produced. These
utensils arc supposed to have had sacred
as well as practical use. They were proba-
| bly, intended for representations OF mousse
hold dcitics, and the whistle is thought to
have been intended for the voice of a god.
In addition to the collection Of grotcsuuc
pottery, Mr.. Evans has some interesting
specimens OF & I'D and silver iilagrcc work
done by the Indians Of Peru. uo has also
some OF the cocoa leaves aud lime, on which
alone the natives are said, III the tales or
travellers, to live for week ut q time and
travel 100 miles day.
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