The record-union., 1891-02-28


must not fail to visit, perhaps the most
important are those found on a nearby
hill, called Sachahuaman. Here was not
only the fortress that defended the ancient
capital, but the palace of Nance Capac,
the first Inca. By the way, the word
Cdpac signifies powerful in the Peru
Wan tongue, and was applied to several
of Manco's successors-as was Yupd3qui,
meaning ''rich in all the virtues" Inca
means king or monarch.
In the old days Sachahuaman had sew
eral terraces, each four yards high and
proportionately long, reached by stair
way passing through sort of tunnel
This opening led to a vast inclosure, sur
rounded by walls twenty feet high, which
contained numerous narrow inches, like
cupboards. This fortress, said to have
been built about the year lib, is a re-
markable piece of work, and held the
same relation to CuZco that 1.-The Rock"
does to Gibraltar or the Acropoiis did to
Athens. 1t consists of three terraces, 767
feet higher than the city, reached by "a
winding road which was so constructed
that it could be easily defended Military
men say that its walls were built III ac-
cordance with the best engineering sci
ence of modern times, its only assailable
its defenders could cover every point by Il
parallel fire. The walls were composed
of immense blocks of cut limestone, and
each salient had one of these at its end.
Blocks measuring fifteen feet long, twelve
wide and ten feet thick, are common in
the outer walls, and there is one great
stone twenty-seven feet high, fourteen feet
wide and twelve feet thick, piled upon
another of almost equal dimensions. Re-
membering that these enormous masses
were hewn from the hills and fashioned
into shape by people ignorant of the
use of iron; that they were brought from
distant quarries without the aid Of beasts
of burden, raised TO their elevated posi-
ton on the sierra and adjusted with the
incest accuracy without machinery, one
Is filled with astoniShment. Twenty thou
sand men are said to have been enplo we'd
for fifty years Oh this great structure; and
1t was but Il part of a system of fortifica-
tionS which the incas established through
out their domains. There were three tow
ers on Sachahuaman, each some distance
from the others; one most elaborately
carved, for the use Of the Inca, and the
others held by a garrison of Peruvian no.
bles, commanded by officers of royal
blood-for the position was considered OF
too great importance to be Entrusted to in
ferior hands. Below the towers were sew
eral subterranean galleries communicate
ing with the city, now mostly obstructed
by fallen debris.
CuZco was also defended on the other
side by d single wall of great thickness,
1900 feet long, and in another place by
two semi-circular walls of the same length,
separated u considerable distance. All
were built Of heavy blocks of cut lime
stone, and though no cement was used,
the enormous stones were so carefully
adjusted that to this day a llnife-blade
cannot be thrust between them.
The best idea of how the old capital
s,e,t 10. Cd 1nf -
may be gained in the street now named
TriuniO. The remains of several ancient
palaces are Incorporated into it's modern
houses, among them the House OF the
Virgins of the Sun. There is a sort OF
ancient-shaped platform, which is be-
sacrifice in the Sun temple; and the IA
nous Piedra Haroada, or .'stone with
cuttings" which shows seats, steps, ba-
sins and altar, all hewn out OF immense
rock. Near by is the Roadero, or place
where the sun was tied up"-a gigantic
stone ring, which shows the meridian of
Cuzco. The old aquecrct, which brought
water to the city from Lake Chicheros,
twelve miles away, was partially de-
stroyed by the Spariards; and there is
another, even more curious, which leads
down from the lofty fortress, mostly by
underground passages.
Among the sights Of modern CuZco
which the tourist must not neglect are the
Museum of San Andres; a wonderful arch
and some spiral steps in the Church OF
La Companla; comical, but much vene-
rated painting, representing pGrgatory,
IN the Church of San Francisco; pit filled
with water behind the High Altar of the
Cathedral, which is believed to have been
an Inca bathing pool, fed by unknown
springs; the Casa of Senor Don Silvac,
wherein the Spanish soldiers played with
dice for the golden Sun stolen from the
temple; some remarkable arches in the
inner court of The Convent of La Merced;
beautifully carved pulpit OF jet black
wood in the Church of Santa Ana, repre-
senting on twelve panels the lives and
acts of the Apostles; in short, wherever
one turns something strange and. inter-
eSting evokes admiration.
Remains of many other temples, fort
resses and palaces may be found in the
neighborhood of Cuzco. There are Will
ages whose people live in stone casas that
were erected five or six centuries ago
their walls unchanged, though the
thatched roofs have been many times re-
newed. In other places, the lazy half
breeds have built little huts of cane
and straw by the side of the more sub
stantial dwellings of their ancestors,
rather than to take the trouble of renew
ing the larger roofs.
Various delightful excursions may be
made from Cuzco without incurring great
fatigue. 1t is pleasant horseback ride
OF only twenty-four miles to Lake Huai-
po, on the road to Urubamba, The latter
Indian town, as well as Yucay and HUI
ayllbra. is quaint enough to repay a
visit. They lie in the Valley of Ucayali,
where both climate and scenery are the
most perfect on the face of the earth. In
this Peruvian Eden are natural groves OF
fruit trees-tigs. apricots, mangoes, chir-
moyas, etc.-and immense fields of wild
Strawberries. Yucay was the ancient
bathing resort of the Incas and their
courts. There are eXhaustless springs
and pools and sparkling rivers, fed from
the eternal SHOWS of the mountains, and
many basins of hewn stone that probably
served for private reservoirs. \ good
pedestrian may walk through this charm
ing valley and enjoy every mile of it.
We rode, carrying no outfit but the inev-
liable kodac, and everywhere met with
most hospitabie entertainment from the
poor but kindly people.
From Uruhamba to Ollataytambo is
twelva miles, under the shadow of wide
spreading trees, which, during half the
year, are a mass of scarlet blossoms,
while q mountain river ripples on each
side of the way. Just before entering
Ollataytambo, one sees, high up on q wall
of sandstone. the colossal figure of {. man
outlined in veins of iron oxide. OF course
1t is q freak of nature, but many super
stitious stories are told concerning its
origin, and no native viii pass the place
without taking of his hat, crossing hin-
self and repeating an Ave Marie. Close
by this apparition are three stone houses,
now stained yellow, which appear to hang
like birds'-nests on the very brink OF u
precipice, high up the mountain side.
and are said To have been Inca hospitals.
One may spend n profitable week in
Oilataytambo examining ruins and forti-
fications; and will be sure of a welcome
in the house of the curate. Tho village
is doubly Interesting from having been