Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-11-20
THE lNCA'S BRIDGE.
4 Spot in the Andes Which Presents In

4 SPOT in the Andes Which Presents In.
terestIng Features to the Tourist.
The Inca's bridge is simply an arch Of
stratified shingle, ccmented together by
deposits and petrifcations from the hot
springs which bubble up all over the neigh
boring bluff, the river Cuevas having eaten
its way through the shingle and falling in
. cascade below. The bridge Is G6 feet
high, 100 wide, and varies from 20 to 80 feet
In thickness, and seen from below the
bridge It is found to be covered with yell
lowish stalactites, more curious than beau
uful In the sides of the ravine, in grot-
toes, are bubbling hot springs of crystalline
water, which even in winter has temper
allure Of o. dogs. Fahrenheit. This water
contains sulphur. iron and other mineral
properties, and is reputed to be Of great
efficacy. Doubtless when tho transandine
railway Is opened for traffic a company
will buy up Puente del Inca, construct a
fne bath establishment, and take in hand
some profits. Even as it is, although the
grottoes are merely enclosed with few
planks, and although neither at the
springs nor at the inn is there the smallest
element Of comfort or even decency, many
people come every year from Chill and the
Argentine in order to take the baths.
Indeed a more miserable and desolate
spot could hardly he imagined. 1t Is
stretch of reddish brown ground at the
foot of the mountains, without a particle
of vegetation on 1t. Toward the river the
ground is covered with yellow or white
etflorescence that suggests coral forma-
ton, and innumerable little springs of hot
water bubble up through cracks In the
rock with a Kissing sound, and trtcle
over green or yellow floating fiber toward
the edge OF the rock, where the fiber hangs
over and gradually solidifies into stalac-
tites, which in turn become converted into
projecting lodges, on which other stalac-
titles hang. Th6~hole aspect of the ground
Is uncanny; just us Punta de las Vacas, the
inn Is surrounded with zone of filth,
bones, horns, offal and old tins AS for
the inn ITSELF it is an agglomeration OF
one story buildings Of sun dried bricks,
mud roofs, floors Of beaten earth not even
leveled, the walls whtewashed and the
doors painted bright green. In each room
are rs many trestles and mattresses rs it
can hold, and in the summer months the
traveller must expect to sleep in mixed
company, and be prepared to dispense with
washing and all other conveniences which
decency, not to say comfort, requires.
may say here that experienced travellers
strenuously deprecate the use of soap and
water during the journey across the Andes,
on the ground that 1t renders the skin ten.
der and susceptible, not SO much to the
sun, but to tho terrible dust and winds
that you meet. II you wash, they say,
your lips and nose will crack and your
skin peel of. For my part, abstained
from washing the whole time was in the
mountains, not only because felt conf
dence in the experienced advice Of other
Travellers but also because, for want OF
wuter and utensils, never had an oppor-
tunity Of washing. On the other hand,
must say that arrived at my journeys
end without any hurt or Disagreement
other than the loss Of the skin on the tip
OF my nose.-Theodore Child tu Harpers
MapuZina