Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1911-04-12
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fruits. In old days maize and cotton were extern
siyey cultivated here and in many of the earliest
graves seed pods Of cotton have been found. 1t
still grows easily in soil surprisingly rich when
irrigated nearby hacienda apparently con.
tanning the most extensive of the ancient burial
places. Is chiefly devoted to the fuzzy bolls and
brown stalks of this plant.
The most scholarly and reliable authority
upon Pachacamac history is undoubtedly DR..
Max Uhle, now head Of the new National mu-
scum at Lima To him is due calculation of
many puzzling anachronisms in this rich region.
and 1t was our good fortune to be accompanied
on this trip by Doctor Uhle-to whom every wall
and angle and brick has absolute significance
The name Of the creator god as applied to
sanctuary. town and river. came into use only
about 40 years before the Spanish conquest. No
older name has yet been found.
Burial places always bring rich returns to
those who can interpret their annals. Here is
an enormous number OF graves. not less than
10000 to 10000. among them a few stall-like
cells. much cruder and earlier than the majority
Graves are found in the open, in houses. in tenn
pies. most OF which have. years ago. been rified
for the gold. silver and gems supposed to be in
tered with the dead.
Previous to the Inca conquest probably at
least two civilizations met a Pachacamac-the
culture OF the highlands and the newer customs
OF the coast After a cemetery had been used
for long time the temple was destroyed; even
the sort of civilization itself was changed
third epoch shows a cultural decline inferior
but supplanting. despite the general advance of
the world at large. The founding and growth
OF the Inca empire was of the last great
events of preSpanish centuries
Although Pachacanac graves were so rich in
articles from which the story of the past can
be read. larger outlines of life and custom may
be traced in the ruins of town and temples
Approaching from the north one sees the con-
vent, still called by its ancient name Mamacona
cmothers. as applied to the nuns), and a sub
iect Of especial study by Doctor Uhle. In the
land Of the lncas cellbate women were not un-
common. and were generally attached to some
temple of the sun. The mamacona was secluded
on three sides. the front only facing plain and
sea- with entrance openings No fewer than 200
of these nuns lived here. and they were obliged
to pass through the inner and outer sanctuary
OF Pachacamac to reach the sun temple.
From the convent 1t is best to pass on to the
former. huge structure 400 feet long, $50 wide
and covering twothirds of an acre. Once there
were terraces on three Sides each 20 feet high.
but the sand has SO blown In and and about
them that they really discernible now upon
only one Its approaches by five low and
narrow grades" slightly over three feet high
and six In length: the walls covered with
polychrome frescoes, rich in color and extremely
ancient. though traces of design still remain.
The -top Of the temple is a large plateau, $50
feet by 1870. 1t was at least once rebuilt before
the Inca period. and may date from about B. G.
2000 but 1t is not in any event. later than B. c.
LOO.
The valley. and indeed the entire region. was
ruled by chief at Pachacamac. who had the
right to enter the temple of the highest deity,