Evening star., 1900-02-24
WONDERS OF BOLIVIA
Graphic Description Given in Lecture by
William E. Curtis.
Most Attractive Sea Voyage in the
World-Palaces of the
Incas.

The regular lecture In the popular course
of the National Geographic Society at the
Congregational Church last night was de-
hvered by Mr. William E. Curtis who de-
scribed the journey from Washington to
Bolivia and the curious and interesting
things that are to be seen there. Mr.. Curtis
spent last summer in the great basin of the
Andes for the purpose of writing book
upon the four republics of the west coast
Ecuador. Peru, Bolivia and Chile-which
will be issued under the title Between the
Andes and the Ocean,
A graphic description of the voyage from
New York to the Isthmus, a brief account
of the progress that has been made on the
Panama canal. a sketch of the most VEN
cradle city upon the American continent.
surpassed only in age by the city of Santo
Domingo, were given to introduce the voy-
ager to the wonders that are to be seen
upon the west coast, and each step of the
journey was Illustrated by lantern Slides
many of which were snap shots made by
the kodak of Mr.. Curtis daughter. who ac-
coulpanied him. The colored slides were
particularly effective.
Most Attractive Voyage.
Mr.. Curtis declared that the most at
tractiye sea voyage In all the world was
down the west coast from Panama to VAL
paraiso. where there were splendid steam
climate was remarkable and gratifying to
people who are apt to be seasick because
the water was never rough, gales are ab-
solutelv unknown. no rain storms ever oc-
cur. and 1t was June from one end of the
year TO the other. The Temperature upon
the equator was cooler on the Fourth of
July than Mr.. Curtis had experienced upon
the first day of June in Washington. and
never during the entire voyage did the ther-
mometer go above seventy-eieht This
DnenOInGnA n IT,
as the Humboldt current. which flows
northward along the coast of South Amer
lea from the eternal ice fields of the antarc-
tic zone.
He described the deserts that lie between
the Andes and the ocean. and related his
experience in visiting. with Mr. Dudley
our minister to Peru, the ruins of the an
cient city of Pachacamac the Mecca of the
Incas. where the Spaniar(ls found the most
populous city. the largest temples and pal
aces and the richest booty In gold and sill
yer and precious stones. 1t is now entirely
destroyed, but the walls have resisted the
winds and weather for nearly four centu-
ries. and remain mute witnesses of the
thorough manner in which the Spaniards
civilized the western world.
Remarkable Railroad
From the port of Mollendo Mr.. Curtis es-
corted his audience up the wonderful rail-
road built by Henry Meigs of California
and John L. Thorndike of Detroit in 1872.
which was the first in the world whose
track was laid upon shelf carved In the
side Of a mountain. A short stop was
made to describe the ancient city Of Are
qu1pa. which claims to be the greatest re-
ligious and educational center of South
America. where the air Is so pure and the
elevation so great that it was selected as
the site Of the Harvard astronomical OBJ
servatory. Prof. Bailey and his assistants
are now engaged there making a map of
the heavens Of the southern hemisphere
with one of the finest telescopes that was
ever built. On the summit of Ell Misti
Harvard University has established me-
teoroiogicaI station. with fun set Of in
struments similar to those used by the
weather bureau, which register automat-
icaily the atmospheric phenomena at an
elevation of 10000 feet. Mr.. Curtis gave
photographs of the observatory and station
and also a portrait of DR.. Eduordo Romano
the present president of Peru. who he said
was the Second civilian who had ever occu-
pied the executive chair of that country.
and the only man who ever reached that
honor without fighting for 1t.
Highest Town in the World.
town called Crucero Alto. 14666 feet above
the sea. which Mr.. Curtis said was the
highest habitation in the world reached by
a railway. although the Galera tunnel IS
nearly 100 feet higher. Crossing the great
divide. the party descended into the basin
OF the Andes. where was established twelve
OF fifteen hundred years ago mighty en-
pire. whose rule extended from one end Of
South America to the other. and which was
farther advanced in civilization than any
other community upon this hemisphere. In
arts and science and industry the people
we're quite UP to those of Egypt, and their
political orge niZation was the first ever
framed IN which the eqaul rights Of all
men were recognized. The religion was
founded upon the theory that the sun was
the greatest benefactor Of the human race.
Palaces of the Incas.
The ruins of the Inca palaces and temples
that are scattered over this great basin
were described at length. sketch of the
ancient city of Cuzco, the capital Of the
Inca empire and its picturesque architec-
ture. was given, with many illustrations
thrown upon the screen. and the peculiari-
ties of the mysterious Lake Titicaca, the
highest navigable water in the world, re-
ceived proper attention. Mr.. Curtis also re-
lated the experience of Prof. Adolph Ban
dalier. the famous archaeologist formerly
connected with the geological survey. who
has been working for several years in Peru
and Bolivia in the interest of the New York
Museum of Natural History. He gave
picture of Prof. BandaIier and his wife in
their exploring costume.
The journey from Lake Tlticaca to La
Paz, and an account Of that interesting city,
was given, with appropriate pictures of
street scenes. public buildings. private resi-
dences. market places and other interest
ing features of Bolivian life, and the lecture
closed with an illustrated narrative of a
visit to Copocabana. the shrine Of the pa
tron saint of South America which has
been visited by millions of children and Is
Believed to perform miracles. Mr. Curtis
was fortunate enough to arrive at Copoca-
bana Just at the time Of the annual festival
which draws thousands Of people from
Peru and Bolivia, and Is the occasion of
the greatest religious interest on the south
ern continent.
Travel a Luxury.
The Royal Limited finest day train in
the world. leaves Washington, B. & o. sta