The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-09-06
rMaHE traveller who is able to en-
dure high attitudes will look
about the world today be-


dure high attitudes will look
about the world today be-
fore finding a more pic
turesque or Interesting historic spot
than the region Of the Peruvian
Andes the original home of the Incas
Cuzco, the City of the Sun, was their
capital and the seat of the old dynasty
that ruled an empire extending from
Quito in Ecuador to the southern coast
of Chile.
Here ON the west coast of South
America there existed a civilization in
the early part of the sixteenth CEN
fury when the Spanish conquerors ar
rived which was more advanced and
productive of agricultural results, es-
pecially, than that which has been
seen since under the rule of the Peru
VANS of Spanish stock, writes Clayton
Sedgwick Cooper in Christian Herald.
Although these Inca remains are
found throughout the Andean sections
of Peru, the capital city Of these races
of men, who lived and worked and
NtiAAAOA Oh QA OAuCA GU SlNtltLotlOu
before our fair North American lands
were discovered or settled, continues
to be the great center of interest to
those who find in these early ruling
races of South America subjects of
fascinating study. Every part of Cuzco
is remindful of the past. 1t is one Of
the most antique and spectacular of
cities. 1t is too remote to have been
very thoroughly modernized as yet,
though railway recently built, and
owned by an English company, con-
meets it with the west coast at Mol
lendo, after two days train ride.
"Sorochee," or mountain sickness, is
common to travellers visiting these
lofty regions where one reaches over
$4,000 feet above sea-level. Yet the
proximity to the equator affords cli-
mate capable of permitting many kinds
Of agriculture on the rolling plains and
in the rich valleys of this mountain
world. White men are comparatively
few. Mixed breeds abound. The In
dams do virtually all the work, and
under conditions that resemble slav-
cry much too closely.
Strange Scenes In the City.
As one enters Cuzco through a wide
green valley studded frequently with
Indian villages, he finds this old and
famous seat of power lying In hollow
Of the hills, with green mountains all
about and an air of remoteness and
age afforded by the decaying buildings
and great Inca walls and temples. 1t
is at once evident that the city with
its wide plazas was built for much
larger population than that which is
found there today. The sanitary con-
dition Of the town reminds one of
Seoul, Korea, before the Japanese ar
rived The medieval air of ecclesias-
ticism is felt in the old churches, the
cathedral. and in the monasteries filled
with Spanish priests. The Indians
whose famous capital here at Cuzco
ruled the land, now sell their trinkets
and vegetables in the market places
under picturesque booths and clad in
their even more picturesque ponchos
and fiat, round hats; or bend double
beneath their heavy loads as they trot
through the winding streets.
The Plaza des Armes of Cuzco is
unforgettable. 1t is sea of color,
color everywhere. There are Indian
men and women in variegated clothing
from the distant Sierras,. modern
cholos wearing hats made in Germany /;
team of mules drags the antiquated
Cuzco horse-car and long trains of
s0fty-necked llamas sweep by you each
with his back-full of alpaca from the
high interiors
Shops and Their Keepers.
We called 1t a four-ringed circus.
&nd SO it is; SIS you sit in this great