The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-09-28
IN FAR TIAHUANACO
A South American City ola Very
Old Age.
A VERY STRANGE FESTIVAL

Traditions of a Mysterious people-Llamas as
Freight Carriers-How the Indians
Manage Them.
On THE Vine, July Is, 1S9O.-TSpecial
correspondence of THE HERALD = The
traveller should not bid good bye to Bolivia
without having paid some attention to an
ancient town near the northeastern edge of
Lake Titicaca, which Professor Squier has
dubbed ''the Baalbec of America 1t is
named Tiahuanaco pronounced Tee ah-
uha-nah-co), and is believed by some scien-
lists to be the Oldest collection of ruins on
the hemisphere. AT any rate it proves the
existence of race so far
ANTEDATING THE TINE OF THE INcAs,
that all knowledge of it was lost before the
Spanlards came: for when the latter ques-
toned the Indians OF those days about the
origin OF these mighty monuments, they
were told that before ever the sun appeared
In the heavens, race of giants inhabited
the earth for thousands of years; that they
grew so numerous the gods became jealous
and turned them all into stone; and what
appear to be the remains of huge buildings
are, in reality, some of the petrifed giants
themselves
This highly interesting place may be
easily reached on horseback from Chililaya;
and If visited during the westward journey
from La Paz, it is best TO come to the for
mer village day or two ahead of the dill
0encia, so as not to miss the weekly steamer
and be stranded too long on this desolate
coast.
MODERN TIAHUANACo
contains nothing whatever of interest ex-
cept that its church and many of its houses
are built or beautifully cut and polished
stones taken from ancient temples and pal
aces. Even the payements OF its streets
anu the bridges over which we pass, are
set with them. The tall stone cross in front
OF the church, stands on a lofty pedestal that
is much better wrought than the Catholic
SYMBOL above 1t, and inscribed with uude
clpherables hieroglyphics- perhaps to other
gods. The corral where our animals
are stalled has in its adobe walls
numerous blocks of slate colored
trachyte, wiki snakes toads and
other mysterious emblems carved upon
them; In short, time out of mind the won
derful ruins have served as au inexhausti-
bic quarry for the lazy and ignorant people
OF the valley.
The principal ruins lie on level plaia
within walking distance from the village,
and cover an area of about three miles
There are several artificial mounds made of
earth and stones, numerous editices and
the remains Of massive walls that probably
served as forts or enclosures. The highest
OF the mounds was once terraced, each ter
race supported by wall of cut stone and
Is completely covered and surrounded by
ruins, with
AN ENORMOUS STRUCTURE on TOP,
which modern visitors have named The
Fortress
Not far from this hill is the finest ediice
Of all. so far as decoration is concerned
now known as The Temple 1t is AS feet
long, 3SS feet wide, made of cut and pol
ished Blocks of dark basalt. each thirty
inches thick. These stones are sunk into
the earth, like gate-posts, nobody knows TO
what depth, the parts above ground vary
ing in height from nine to fourteen feet
Those ancient architects, whoever they
may have been, seem to have not under
stood the use of mortar, or may be they
did not need it, being able to build so well
without. Like King Soloman's temple, the
stones were all made to fit exactly into one
another, having round holes drilled into
the top and bottom of each, at correspond
ing distances, into which bronze pins were
placed. Scattered all about are many
highly polished blocks which appear never
to have been placed in position, indicating
that the builders were disturbed in their
work and left it incomplete.
Among the most beautifully sculptured
and curious relics is an enormous block of
sandstone. one single slab, thirteen feet by
five inches long, eighteen inches thick, and
standing little over seven feet above the
ground-whioh, though badly cracked 1.-THE
natives say by lightning), is still upright
1t must be
SUNK DEEPLY INTO THE EARTH,
to have stood so long without external sup
port; and was doubtless meant for door
way, as 1t has central cutting four feet
six inches high by two feet nine inches
wide. Across the upper face above this
doorway, figures in high relief are carved.
which closely resemble the sculpture of
Egypt, and scientists say that finer piece
of cutting in the same kind of stone, by
artisans, ancient or modern. cannot he
found anywhere in the world.
Within the temple enclosure is a hori-
Zontal slab, about fourteen feet square.
with deep hollow in the middle. cut out
like square trough. which is supposed to
have served in some of the ceremonies of
sun worship. The great temple is composed
of huge blocks of red sandstone. each four
teen feet long and of corresponding
width and thickness, all precisely alike. cut
and laid with incest care. This is the more
remarkable, Us those early people must
have been entirely unacqualnted with iron
and steel. and could have had no rlechani-
cal apparatus FOR carrying or working
heavy bcdies, every bit of the labor having
TO be
ACCOMPLISHED BY HUMAN STRENGTH.
Neither could they have had any knowl.
edge of gunpowder, or other explosives
but that they were familiar with the use of
bronze, is proved by the pins above men
toned, and a few weapons that have come
to light. From some cliffs of red sandstone.
more than fifteen miles away every one of
these enormous temple blocks must have
been carried: but no basalt nor trachyte is
found nearer than forty miles.
There seems, besides. to have been a pal.
ace, prison, a hall of justice, and other in
situations, which show that the long-past
race possessed some degree of civilization
and refinement. None can gaze upon these
monuments without being flied with won
der concerning the mysterious people who
lived and died centuries before Columbus
or any other European had sought the west
ern hemisphere. 1t does not need mighty
stretch Of imagination TO rebuild these
fallen walls ana re-people them with dark
skinned men and women, going about their
daily avocations. worshiping the sun-cod
with oarbarous rites in the great temple
or toiling up the terraced mound to look out
from its fortress for
TIE FOREIGN FOES
who seem TO have come at length and con-
quered them. Dig as you may, mot a trace
OF grave or sepulcher can be found, AMI the
superstition is that the early Tiahuanacans
either fed from their walled city or were
driven from it by invaders. The stupid
neighbors OF to day have no hints nor sup-
! restions To nffer: neither histnrr nor trnd;