The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-10-23
Syndicate Obtains Concession to Drain
Peru's Sacred Lake of TiticaCa
for Votive Offerings
Made by lnCas.

adobe mud Some Of their floors were
mosaic composed of small pebbles
Mecca Of the Pilgrims.
As the seat Of spiritual power. Title
AGA became a center Of pilgrimage. and
the inhabitants OF the surrounding couu-
try came 20 partake in great sacrdciaI
celebrations held in the open squaresr
where priests, pilgrims. Indian maidens,
virgins Of the sun and captives OF con-
quered tribes all united in the sacred
chants and dances.
All who came were appareIed I'm their
richest garments, lavishly adorned with
-rappings of gold and silver and dyed iu
gorgeous C0lors. A glituering display of
wealth was a Fundamental element of
the Inca religion. for its chief god was
the all-gIirteriug SUM- Cuzco, the chief
capital on the mainland. was the scene
of like ceremoniaIs.
In sailing TO the sacred islands the pill
grims were wont 10 propiuaJe their gods
by casting into the water some sort of
treasure. The kind of craft which the
votaries used closely resemhled the mod
ern balza one of which was brought
back by the Bandeiier party. The balza
is made entirely from reeds from the
totarar a bamboo plant which grew in
abundance around the shores or the
lake
Two cigar-shaped compartments formed
the bottom and were dashed to-
gether by cross-pieces, and on this the
framework OF the boat rested. A mum
Der of split t0tara reeds were woven
into a square sail Both the bow and
stern project several feet above the
water The island OF Tiucaca at pres
eut Is owned by Manuel Garces. who
has several hundred Indians al work
on what he calls the Hottest hacienda
I'm the world. Many relics have been
obtained by him, which he has sold to
museums.
Robes in Stone Chests.
In almost as good preservation as the
vessels Of gold and silver are the COS
tunes which the pilgrims wore One
splendid paucho. for instance, was found
ia massive stone chest several feet
square, excavated from the ruins OF a
temple ol the island Of Coat Other
pouCEos were found ia nearby places.
and were probably buried at the base
Of shrlnes.
The garments are woven from the
slkiike threads OF the coat Of the
Vicuna, an animal OF the cameI0id type
ana cousin OF the llama. Its fleece may
be spun into threads almost as fine as
silk The C0IOEing seems as bright and
fresh today as when the garments, cen
turtles ago. left the veaver's loom.
The secret OF such a preservation OF
color is lost with that Of "a dye which
was extracted from certain vegetable
substances unknown 10 the modern
world and regarded as practically fade
less. Weaving was au art widely prac-
ticed among the ancient PeFuyiaus. and
the people OF the coast so particular ex-
ceiled in the products of their looms
Ponchos Woven by Girls.
Captive maidens woye the ceremonial
ponchoz OF the Inca court. and it is es-
timated that &c took the deft fingers OF
one Of these girls six months to COM
plete an elaborate pouchO. One OF the
richest p0uchos discovered, which con
tanned from nifty 10 sixty threads 10 the
/ square inch. eXceIs in fueness the best
Egyptian cloth. which has only forty
seven. Another poucho had 200 different
. patterns on front and back. consisting of
. squares and geometTieal designs, most
VI which are limitations Of animals. while
a few are adaptations of vegetable
forms. such a polcL0 ls composed OF
F two pieces OF cloth. each 0T the same
size. about a yard lu length sewn TO-
+ RatIer. with au opening ia tLe center for
1 tle head and arms.