The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-04-27

azmsz aaauuf
CoYTZTT o. Tz1NZTC0ITS %

fruits. In old days maize and cotton were extern
gively cultivated here and in many OF the earliest
graves seed pods Of cotton have been found. 1t
still grows easily in a soil surprisingly rich when
irrigated. A 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 DIR.
Max Uhle, now head Of the new National mu.
scum at Lima. To him Is due calculation OF
many puzzling anachronisms I'm this rich region,
and II 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 tho 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 $4,000. amCGg them a few stall-llke
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 rihed
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 n long time the temple was destroyed; even
the sort OF civilization itself was changed. A
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 one OF the last great
events Of pre-Spanish 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 I'm the ruins Of town and temples.
Approaching from the north one sees the con
vent, stnl called by its ancient name, Mamacona
Cmothors," as applied to the nuns), and a sub
iect OF especial study by Doctor Uhle, In the
land OF the Incas celibate 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 We're obliged
TO pass through the inner and outer sanctuary
OF Pachacamac to reach the sun temple,
From the convent Il is best TO pass on 20 the
former, a huge structure 400 feet long, $50 wldo
aud covering two-thirds Of an acre. Once there
were terraces ON three sides, each 20 feet high,
but the sand has SO blown in and over and about
them that they are really discernible now upon
only one. Its approaches are by five low and
and six in length; the walls once 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. It was at least once rebuilt before
the Inca period. and may date from about b.. c.
1000; but It Is not, m any event. later than b, c.
1,1O0.
The valley, and indeed the entire region. was
ruled by a chief at Pachacamac, who had the
right to enter the temple OF the highest deity, as,