Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23

only be conjectured, all of which were prob
ably among the first which the lncas erected
on the Pacific coast. Though built OF adobes,
huge bricks lying scattered all around in
widest confusion, their general resem blance
to the architecture OF Cuzco, Limatambo,
and other 1ncarial strongholds, proves their
identity beyond doubt.
AN ODD RACE OF INDIANS.
The next village, across long strip OF
desert, IS Chilca, collection of cane nuts
surrounding fine old church, in no way re-
markable, except for being inhabited by
race of Indians, who, in this isolated oasis
OF the wilderness, have managed to resist
oppression from every source and to pre-
serve intact the spirit of their ancestors. An
example of their character Is related by a
recent explorer. His soldier escort was so
unwise as TO get into a wrangle with the
Syndic of the village, in course of which the
latter bareiooted dignitarv received blow
on the head from the butt end of the soldiers
pistol. Instantly the whole population were
wild with excitement. Assembling in the
plaza they demanded that the fellow should
be remanded at once TO Lima iDr trial; nor
would they permit him to remain over night
in the town, but sent him off into the desert,
weary as he was after hard days journey.
So jealous are these Indians of their rights
and SO suspicious of all outsiders, that until
within few years there was one particular
room in the Jefe's house which was kept on
purpose for the accommodation of white
travellers. All who came were put into 1t
and well guarded, were the party large or
small. The Jeie supplied them with food,
but Immediately informed them that on no
account, whatever their business, would
they be allowed to remain in the village
more than "a hours.
A TRADITION OF GIANTS.
The Chilca Indians are an industrious
community, many of them being employed
rs farm hands III the neighboring valley of
Mala, others working on their own account
as muleteers and fisherman, while the
women braid colored straw into pretty bas-
kets and cigar cases. There is a widespread
tradition among all the coast Indians that
ages.before the appearance of Monco Capac,
the country was inhabited by race OF
giants, who came from over the western
ocean in great canoes of blown-up skins.
Landing first near Guayaauil, Ecuador. they
gradually overspread the country; and to
this day the fossil and bones of the NAM
moths and mastodons, which are often found
imbedded in the hard clay, are pointed out
as proof of the existence OF those mythical
Coming down from Panama, the wooded
shores OF Ecuador no sooner disappear than
the aspect of the continent Is entirely
changed. High, bare rocks, frayed and
crumbling, line the beach and beyond
stretches wilderness of sand, beside which
Sahara would be a blooming garden. 1t is
the very dominion of desolation, strewn
with bleaching skeletons left by the old
time whalers and the bones of mules and
horses which starved to death by the way
side, its eternal silence broken only by the
short, quick bark of sea lions and the
screams of water fowl. For the most part
the sand is hard, swept smooth by the winds;
but in many places it has drifted up into
mounds, called Medanos. Each heap is
crescent shaped, with the bow of the cres-
cent toward the wind, as regular and sharp
in outline as the new moon.
FANNIE B. WARD.