Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-23

with wings Of paradise feathers, enthuse
over her visit to the Incan capital OF
Cuzoo, whose colossal walls were built
thousands OF years ago and stand to-day.
At Pissac. near Cusco, are the ruins Of
the famous astronomical observatory, be-
fore which our greatest star gazers stand
speechless at the stellar knowledge of IT'S
builders. for It suggests profound grasp Of
problems beyond our greatest astronomical
lore.
Al Ollantaytambo. a few leagues away.
one nnds- cyclopean blocks greater than
NOSE OF the pyramids, brought, no one
KNOWS how, from their quarry three miles
across the river and deposited for the
foundations of the central structure, from
which extend subtorranean passages to
smaller palaces supposed TO have been CO.
oupied by priests and mobiles of the court.
The Incas Of yesterday are the pariahs OF
to-day and give little hint OF their splendid
ancestry, simply adding q picturesque
dash Of color to the gray dssolation in
their scarlet ponchos. Their full dress
retains the character OF the Spanish rule
and In the faded volvet knee breeches and
Louis XIV. coats, ornamented with tar
rlished silver lace, they appear as ouairt
pastels where everything else is rushing
into the black pit OF modernity.
The women IN their gorgeously incrusted
poiedos ana Carmen hats are sufficiently
fascinating. The Spanish poet Campoamor
exclaimed at his first visit-''There are not
dozen pair OF eyes in Andalusia that can
equal those 1 see everywhere here!" Wo-
men OF the lower classes are but Charming
animals. children OF nature, OF the earth
earthy-of the dirt dirty, as Won choose
II IL an interesting fact that ali these
Christopher Columbus Indians, as / would
eau them. to distinguish from my Aryan
tnossaAs' nave their distinctive dress ac-
oordins TO the pueblo or town 10 which
they belong, the same as in India to-day
where the embroidery on q woman's skirt
the jewels that fringe her forehead the
way she wears her nose ring, tell exactly
the village TO which she belongs, 40 one
acquainted with South America can tail :,
glance from the indigenous blanket os
poncho, or from the native woman's mari
terra Just what town she halls from as
surely az a Highlander's tartan reveals
his clan. very good thing for art A. TINS.
as gives each district a personal pride
ana preserves tradfuons which are entirely
DESTROYED by following fashions that have
no indigenous root
The last tour OF q thousand rn,Ias on
muleback through the interior or RoIIvta
was considered madness for II was taLen
at . season Of the year when the stoutest
hearted native seeks the shelter OF his hut
WhyH Because. arriving not knowinS
anything about seasons, the senors
Americans refused to turn back
/ II was the first time on record tha, n
lady had made the journey ANYWAY
Horses had to be abandoned, the nonntain
roads. quilted by torrents. being we'll
nigh impossible save for the sufe foot
silver shod mule.
I The caravan spent twsnty-four aav. An
the saddle Pack mules carried bedding
and provisions.
[ At night the travellers silent in adm,
huts provided By the Bolivian soyernmsnI
free Of cost for their protectioh an
In the entire long journey were never mo.
( Tested IN any way. which speaks much
for the character Of the natives, who ar al
!, ways represented 10 NJ as being IN A con.
I slant state OF instruction.
1 a picturesque member OF the cortA..
was the Indian position. or courier. w.
duty Il was TO. conduct the marty f-o',
posta TO posta. OF medieval psftesn ts sDt
1 tssaue In his haDilimsnts. he was IN 49,
acter quite different from his species n
other parts Of the world. Silent ana or.
), eumspset, he carried his rags ana dir,
with an ancient Incan dignity. His siIva,
tipped horn showed his rank. and a dlmInf,'
tive "charanga." or guitar. which he helS
tightly under his arm and twanged mourn.
fully ~ intervals told his passion. II 1,