El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-05-16

races, now gone to ruin and almost
desert, which these people mad made
70 blossom like the rose
such terraces are seen on the sides
OF the mountains above almost every
Peruvian valley Of the plateau and
along the west coast. They run up the
slopes like so many steps, the earth
being held back by stone walls
Nation Of Shepherds
The subjects OF the Incas were a nation
OF shepherds. They had millions OF alpacas
anc hamas, and they also used the wool
o. the vicunas. which they trapped or shot
They were a nation Of potters. They
maze beautiful. vessels OF clay and they
were also skilled IN the working OF copper.
silver and gold have seen here some OF
the tools which they used in erecting their
bulldlngs- they had way Of tempering
an alloy OF copper and tin so that the tools
mace OF Il had an edge like a razor and
co1lu Work the hardest o. stone
Further on in this letter I viii describe
some OF their wonderful walls which sim
stand Iney are more accurately cut than
those OF the great buildings at Washington
and blocks weighing tons are fitted together
have seen stones that are solid blocks
twice as nigh as a man upon horseback
and i feet IN thickness. and have exam
out mortar and fitted more evenly than
we're the tombs Of the Egyptian kings
CurzO Strange City.
But It would take a large book 10 describe
the wonders OF the Inca rule and the many
phases OF Its civilization In this letter I
can show you only some OF the remains as
they exist here in the city OF Cuzco.
This city today has only about 10000 In
habitants- It runs up and down hill at
the head OF beautiful valley situated more
than two miles above the sea level in the
heart Of the Andes. 1t is at the head OF
the valley. and standing upon the hills
above Il you can look over vast eTpanse
OF cultivated fields and OF irrigated farms.
The town is one Of two and three story
houses with walls OF bright colors and roofs
OF RED Ties II mas plaZaS ana gardens a
great market and many comfortable homes.
Its population is made up OF indians and
whites and mixture the offspring OF the
two races II IS a Latin American city.
with many Catholic churches and with
civilization much like that OF Spain some
generations ago It IS nothing like the
Cuzco OF the past. and you will have TO put
on the thinking cap Of your imagination 20
realize the difference between the capital
OF the Incas and the town Of today
In the first place. the present Cuzco does
not cover One-tenth Of the area OF the
ancient Inca city The latter contained
at the height OF its fame it may have been
as large as the city Of Washington
Deeply Religious.
There Is no doubt about the religious na-
ture OF these people Of the high Andes
The Quichas, who are the descendants OF
the subjects OF the meas are the CHIEF
churchgoers OF Peru They are largely the
support OF the priesthood, and although in
portion OF what they make TO the support
Of the church
In travelling through the country one sees
a little wooden cross rising above the
matched roof OF every indian hut and in
the services at the cathedral here there are
more indians than whites
Mixed with their worship OF Christ and
the Madonna, they have still much OF the
ancient ceremonies and beliefs Of the Incas.
They pray facing the sun. and they cross
themselves when they approach Cuzco. the
sacred city Of their ancestors
Many sun Temples.
am told that there were temples OF the
sun at many other places in Peru. and that
in certain centers the virgins OF the sun
had their converts These leople had an
sented by the sun II was this being who
created the world. and who in the future
LORDS prayer. which was somewhat as FOL
lows
20 ConquerinE and Ever-preseut Cres-
tor thou who Eavest lie and strength 10
mankind. saying let this be a man. and let
this be woman thou who gavest life and
who vouchsafest that man shall live in
the heights in the storm clouds and in the
thunder. hear US and have us in thy keep
ing. thou who art without equal unto the
ends OF the earth grant US eternal life and
keep US free from danger
Wonderful Palace.
Other Interesting remains are the walls
Of the palaces which formed the homes 81
the meas. Take that Of Pachacutec which ]
stood not far from where the great cathe- /
dral OF CuzcO now IS
The street upon which It faces IS not
more than Is feet wide and the original I
walls Of the palace are still preserved to /
the height OF the first story. From there
20 the second story The building IS CO. 1
.oniaL
It now forms a fine residence. occupied ]
by Tomas Gonzales. ore OF the rich men 4
OF Cuzco. The Inca walls begin with the /
street and extend for perhaps 800 feet in 9
Guiding the greater part Of the block The
stones are granite blocks Of different sizes. |
AEs q. OV