The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-10-16

$1,000 -
placed In the grave OF all the objects as
ISOLATED with the deceased in daily life:
Sumptuous garments and other personal
of gold and silver, pottery and
various miscellaneous effects have, there
fore, been found. These. Notwithstanding
their long interment beneath the soil. are
fresh as when first put In the grave by
pious hands five 10 ten centuries ago.
WEAVING IN PERU.
An important feature has been made OF
1 weaving implements and Of a series Of
marvellous textile fabrics. rich colored
ponchos. worn by the mobiles and their
families: peculiar mummy cloth. all COW
cred with a medley Of unique and artistic
designs. with forms and patterns entirely
new to modern gaze.
The brilliant cloIoring OF these graments,
which caQnot be surpassed by the best
dyers Of the present day. is due to a Ger
the race. This astonishing and remark
able display Of colors has been quickly
recognized and appreciated By, the leading
art schools, who are sending classes week
ly to copy designs. to study the shading
n other color effects of the gaily decked
Columbian bellies OF South America
From a series OF typical graves on the
west coast there were obtained a number
Of s~umptuously equipped nummies. with
NAACh pSSb1lnlr pu<1AA&A6 Go<sS ASo15s oAN
other characteristic funeral offerings.
These give an impressive and instructive
idea OF strange and elaborate methods
OF disposing Of the dead. The coast re-
in width. extending from the foot OF the
Maritime Cordilleras to the Pacific. from
500 to 600 miles in length. was the ancient
burying ground selected by the scattered
Indian inhabitants dwelling in this To-
cality In p~re-Spanish times. This is most
ly a barren stretch Of sandy desert, with
valley districts. which have been irri-
gated by mountain streams.
Rain Is never known to fall. Being i'm
possible of cultivation. this extensive re-
Thence thousands Of precious objects
were obtained. which throw new and val
liable light on the inner life of the peo-
pie Of this unknown and remote period:
The inhabitants of this territory embraced
many different tribes. with local rulers.
living in different stages of e~nl!ghten-
ment. In order to support the community
having little or no tillabe ground the
most skillful utilization Of land was prac-
ticed. In many localities men built their
dwellings among the rocks. in order 10
use the limited area OF soil for agricul-
ture.
As the Indian IN life was supplied with
q dangling bag or pocket for the keeping
OF provisions and other necessaries which
was thought necessary for his comfort In
death. The method OF packing the mummy
was to place the body In a sauattinR at
titude and TO tie 1t in skins or mating.
The whole was afterwards bound securely
together with cord. The sauare form OF
the mummy was reduced by stutiing the
sack with seaweed and leaves. TIE poor
est style Of burial was OF coarse white cot
ton cloth.
One OF the most peculiar CT all the
funeral accomplishments was the addition
OF cushion stitched on top Of the pacI
which contained the wrapped body insi1e,
and was stuffed with seaweed and leaves
The eyes, mouth and lips were frequently
represented by thin, cut-out pieces of cop
per and gold. Often 2 -.oIe mask would
be made out Of thin silver and attached
to the head. II the absence Of metal or
naments. the facial organs would be ind
Gated by red and blue ochre painting, the
hair by long fibre dyed black.
OF the man treasures brought TO light
teresting than the magnificent textile
fabrics. Hundreds of pieces were obtained
r~esplendent in coloring and ornamented
with a medley of unique designs. display,
marvellous technique the art Of weaving.
In this they were ore-eninent though
their work was produced on the most
primitive hand loom Of cane and reeds.
The finished cloth is finer woven. having
more threads to the square Inch than the
best examples Of modern workmanship.
Thew we're past masters in imparttng an
imperishable lustre TO their material.
Some of the textiles obtained in grave
deposits are to-day fresh and magnificent
in color and appearance. eoualling some
Of the choicest Gobelin tapestries of pres
ent times. Certain unknown shrubs, roots
and leaves furnished the wonderful dye
which never faded. even in washing.
Nearly all the fabrics are decorated with |
human figure. when represented. is strong
ly co~nventonalized. Few forms. IL any. |
were taken from the vegetable kingdom.
The fish is frequently used. Bird forms
occur occasionally. but few distinct types |
are employed. the most common being the
condor. The nonchcs are composed OF two
about a yard or more in length. These are |
sewn together In the middle and at the !
sides. leaving an opening in the CEN |
ter for the head and arms.
What Is said to be the finest and most
gorgeous of Peruvian workman |
ship ever recovered. and which is classed |
primitive weaving in the world. is a multi
colored royal poncho. interviewer front |
and back into 100 squares. while these in
contain more than 800 additional fig
nres. making 500 varied designs used. The
squares contain different geometric pat
terms. a conspicuous one being a series of
steps. with a bird. thought to
be the condor. ascending.
SOME CHARACTERISTIC DESIGNS.
The two lower sections contain the bor-
der. which depicts a conventionalzed war
rior. with lamp and shield, in several at
llulcs. olLtI types VI pUtlCiios anu i
garments are ornamented with
hammered discs OF silver. the size of
an ordinary saucer. These. as well as the
are festooned with handsome
feather work. Great number of these
fabrics were prepared and consumed in re-
n ceremonial rites and sacrifcial
ob~servances- Many young girls were de-
as a yearly tribute from distant
conquered tribes. and during the period of
their captivity were engaged in weaving
these brilliant ponchos. though they were
destined themselves to be offered up as a
sacrifice on some great occasion. A year
Or more. It Is thought, was needed by
captives to turn out an elaborate
poncho.
Special care was taken to perserve the
feet wild vicuna. which furnished the fine
wool. A special game. preserve was set
apart for them by the lords and the
people were not allowed to hunt
Ct. The coarse wool Of the llema aud
alpaca was allotted to the common folk
'or the weaving of their apparel, while the
silklike skeins of the vicuna were re-
served for the nobility and the ruling In