The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-11
TREASURES OF THE INCAS
Suggestions of Great Wealth
Buried in Peru.
Legends Concerning Undiscovered
Fortunes n Regions Long Ago De-
serted by Miners - The Famous
Mountains Known as the Tres Tor
tillas-Grand Sentinels Over Mines.

In the far distant interior of the old
those countries over which extended that
unique and barbarous civilization, Gus
toms and habits have changed as little
since the fall of that gorgeous despotism
as in any part of the world. Without
modification the native races have pre-
served all their personal cowardice and
their collective cruelty, all their abste-
miousness (only varied by bouts of
drunkenness), and their propensity to
hoard. like monkeys and magpies. secret
ing that hoard in the strangest of places.
During many years, even centuries, of
disturbed and often despotic rule doubt
less great quantities of the precious
metals have been secreted, the greater
part of which will never be brought to
the light of day, but during recent years,
by systematic search. when the tradition
of the hidden treasure appeared to be
more definite than usual, some tapadas
thoards) have been discovered, and have
well repaid the time and expense of the
search. apart from the excitement insep-
arabic from such an enterprise.
One of the latest Of the Incas to escape
from victorious rival had retired to
wild spot just below the SUBMITS of the
eastern Cordilleras, and here the tradition
persistently fingered that in a certain spot
high in the mountains the fleeing Inca
had buried treasure which had never
been recovered. as he had been murdered
on his return to CuZco. Many retainers OF
the local landholders searched in vain I'M
der the scorching midday sun or shivered
in the bitter wind that blows at 1900 feet
above the sea.
At last the time came and also the man
to open the tomb closed by the fugitive
ruler of that long dead empire. The old
proprietors, who at the conquest, had re-
ceived a grant of the district from the
Spanish crown, had degenerated into race
of dissolute gamblers, and they sold part
of their possession about the size of a
British county for few thousand pounds
to a new man more capable and erterpris-
ing than the old race. The legend was in
vestigated; then different versions were
obtained from various sources and care
fully compared. 1t soon became evident
that some keyword had at first been at
tached to the story; but the most diligent
inquiry could discover neither the word it
self nor the use to which it was to be put
when ascertained. Many years passed: the
new owner, by managing the property upon
slightly more modern methods-that is, by
adopting the Improvements Of the time of
the sixteenth century instead of adhering
strictly to the mode of farming as carried
on by primeval man-had accumulated a
fortune.
He had discounted his dillgent search for
the lost treasure of the Incas. and was now
about to retire definitely to the town and
sell the property. One winter night. how
ever. a message was brought that far away
in distant valley a woman, reputed to be
over 100 years of age. was dying and had
a word to say to the patron before she died.
In the morning he started on the long
journey over the immense slopes of rock
covered with coarse grass. the snow-cov-
cred submits rising overhead. At the end
of the journey, deep in the recesses of the
mountains, was mud hut, within which
lay shriveled, decrepit object that 100
years before had first looked out a black
eyed baby, upon the wonderful view of
cloud, mountain, and far distant forest.
She was alone and dying. without relatives
or friends; for she was witch, and none
had dealings with her or ventured near of
their own free will Feared and hated by
her own people, she turned at the end to
her patron. who had cared neither for her
charms nor her curses. to tell him that
word which was whispered to her in the
dim past by the aged grandmother, who
had died more than eighty years before,
where she was dying now-the word that
would reveal the hiding place of that treas
ure, the secret of which was to be care
fully guarded until the Incas should appear
again to claim their own and drive the
cOnquerors back to the sea. The word was
whispered 1t meant in the old language
the lake of the two stones" That was
Mt I'M ~
had no more to tell, and died that night.
Although the word was now known. tn
difficulties were not all overcome In
fact, many months of eager search fol-
lowed. At last the place was found-a
narrow valley containing two small lakes,
in one of which stood showing above the
water. two stones. After a LONG and I'M
successful search upon the margins the
searchers determined to drain the lake
containing the stones. This was next done
and it was at once discovered that the
larger stone had been carefully placed
where 1t stood, for under it was a pIat-
form of masonry resting on the bed of
the lake. With infinite labor an opening
was made. as the structure had become
solid. What followed will probably new
be known except to a very few intere st ed
persons. That the treasure was found
and was of considerable worth is I'M
but it's precise value or CT what
it consisted has never transpired. A pa
ternal government is occasionally a lit lie
exacting, and in this case, at least. ST.
lence was golden.
Another and less extraordinary nara
tive OF treasure hidden many years ago
by an old Spanish immigrant, states that
the owner had built on his property high
and thick adobe wall, far too substantial
Tor the purpose it was ostensibly designed
TO serve-a division between two sections
Of the farmland before he died had left
strict injunctions that no matter what
else was sold. the strip of land on which
this wall was built should always be re-
tanned in the family. He left two chill
iren. one son. who took the property;
the other daughter, married to he |
owner OF neighboring proprietario. who |
had received her dowry. In course Of
time the descendants of the son became |
poorer. and little by little |
llienated the estate. A few years ago the |
OF once extensive property.
including the ancient wall now half in |
ruins and wholly useless. were offered for |
sale. The proprietor of the adjacent farm
he lineal descendant of the daughter OF |
The old Spaniard. bought i, eagerly. In
this branch of the family had fingered |
he memory of the last words of the long
lead ancestor, and directly the transfer |
was made the former owner was aston
shed to see the new proprietor, with all |
his poems. busily engaged In demolishiny
he apparently useless structure. long an |
'yesore to the neighborhood The tapa la |
was found. and consisted of gold and sill |
yer in coin or bars, amounting to several |
lines the value of the property
An old man, the owner of some pack
mules, was in the habit OF entering the |
,atio of house in one of the principal |
owns, where he was not known. about |
lusk, and going to one particular spot |
rhe owner, happening to notice this. |
watched him on the next occasion and saw |
lin take out an adobe from the wall and |
nut small parcel behind it, The adobe