Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-04-26
HAD PROFESSIONAL RUNNERS.
Important News Was Carried BY Fleet
Footed Messengers In the Andes.

| Important NcWS was Sarrioo by FIeot-
| Footed Messengers In the Andes.
In the Andes there is kind of pro-.
fessional runner, or messenger, known
as the chaquis, who for many years,
looked upon In those regions as ne
cessity, much as we regard the tele-
graph or the telephone. These runners
have been known in the Andes since
the days of the Incas, by whom. in
deed. they first were trained. Men were
specially selected for the task by rea-
son of thir physical qualifications. and
severe tests were made of their speed
and endurance.
1t is related that when the Spanish
invaded Peru they wondered greatly
how 1t was that the Indians were able
invariably to anticipate their move
ments. Every move Of the foreigners
seemed instantly to be communicated
to the most distant parts of the en-
pire. 1t was not long before the Span
ish discovered there was an organized
system of runners in Peru that carried
news with astounding speed, accom-
plishing a distance Of 500 miles in fif-
ty hours across the snow-corered
mountains and barren deserts.
Along the old Canine Real, the
royal highway Of the Incas, there are
ervation the little buildings wherein re-
lays of chaquis were lodged. These
buildings were erected on hillocks, so
they might be used also as points Of
of messengers might be seen from a
distance. AS one arrived, heated and
breathless, another would be ready
to receive the message and convey to
delay. Frequently the Inca commune
Gated messages to his soldiers and Of
ficials by means Of signs. A ring
bit Of wood or a leaf might be sent
along the line, an object that meant
nothing to the messenger who bore 1t
or to those who might see 1t In his
hand, but which was significant
enough to him for whom 1t was in
tended.
AS evidence of the speed OF these
chaquis 1t is of record that the royal
table at Cuzco or at Quito was often
served with fresh sea fish caught 80
or 40 hours before at distance cover
ed in later years in from six to ten
days by the ordinary traveller.
The chaquis still exists, but not to
the extent he formerly did. He is to
be. seen in nearly every town in the
Andes, and Is variously employed by
the government, by merchants and
by persons who have messages or pack
ages to send into the interior.
There was famous chaquis Of the
name of Quainapambo, who, very
swift Of foot and almost a stranger
to fatigue, was employed during the
war with Chill by President Caceres
Of Peru Quainapambo was known to
carry message $50 miles without
halting for sleep, and to return with
the answer within week, and that
through the enemy's country.
1t never has been the custom Of
chaquis to carry food with him-he
always has picked 1t up on the way
as he could. II he finds none, there
Is the coca leaf that Is constantly In
his mouth. This not only satisfies his
hunger but stimulates his nerves. He
carries his coca leaves in a little buck
skin bag about his neck, with another
bag in which he has sort Of potash
made from potato skins. This, when
mixed with the coca, brings out Its
strength. These professional runners
have little idea Of either time or dis
tance. They proceed until tired, stop
for as long a time as they like and
reach their destination "as fate Wills.
The business Of the chaquis has de-
preciated in usefulness and effective
ness. The system is nothing like as
we'll organized as in the old days, and
many of the runners are untrust-
worthy. In the tropics and on the
lower levels the movements Of the
chaquis are not impeded by cloth
ing for he proceeds as nearly naked
as possible; but in the mountains,
where the nights are always cold, and
where he Is in constant danger Of be-
ing overtaken by terrific storms, he
dresses accordingly.-New York Press.