Diario las Américas., 1958-04-25
Know thv
Nei9bhori
By ANTONIO RUIZ

~ OAA OpOU SillGElLS
Ecuador from the north, on the
Colombian border, the traveller
goes, via Pan American High
way, onto the roof" of the coun-
try, in a dramatic and thrilling
journey, including the cloud-swept
Altiplano" or high plateau, down
through the Incompatible save
nue. of Volcanoes" to Lola.
Centuries before the Pan Anne
rican Highway was even dreamed
of, many sectors of this same route
were part of what the SpaniardS
called Eel Canine Real" or Royal
Road, which linked Quito and Cuz-
co, the two capitals of the great
Inca Empire. The Canine Real
was only a foot-path, as there were
no wheel vehicles nor horses in
the country. Since the Incas had
no written language, and the horse
and wheel were unknown to them,
important messages were transmit
ted by means of a relay system of
runners, known as "chasquis." The
road was paved with cobblestones,
and had suspension bridges and
inns or supply stations along the
route. The ruins of one of these
stations may still be seen at In
gapirca, near Cuenca.
The Rumichaca natural bridge,
where the gorge of the Carchi Riv-
er is squeezed into a bottleneck,
marks the boundary between Co.
lombia and Ecuador. From Rimi-
chaca the road begins its tortous
climb through the jungles to Tul-
can, the capital of Carchi Province,
which at 5000 feet above sea level
is one of the highest E%cuadorean
cities, center of a rich farm area
and famous for its excellent dairy
products.
Beyond Tulcan, the road climbs
to the top of the "Paramo del b.
liche," a plateau rising to a height
of 12,200 feet at Eel Angel" its
summit. The road then descendS
in sharp curves to Chota, inhabited
by coal black descendants of eScap-
ed slaves. Although they dress and
speak like mountain Indians, they
still retain some of the tribal
customs of their African ancestors.
At the foot of a great purple
mountain is the city of San Anto-
MO de Ibarra, capital of Imba-
bura Province, as we'll as center
of the Ecuadorean lake region.
Founded in 1906 the city was
largely destroyed by an earthquake
in 1880. Ibarra has been for a long
time a carving center, noted for
its beautiful images, as well as for
its exquisite silver work. About
five miles from the center of the
town, there are some ruins revered
by the natives as the birth place
of Princess Paccha, mother OF the
great Inca Atahualpa, and OF Alta
hualpa himself.
Also near Ibarra is Yaguarocha
Lake of Blood, so named be-
cause according to legend, it
turned red when the victorious In
cas- threw their slain enemis, the
Caras, into the blue-gray waters
of the lake. Cotacachi, a highly in
teresting Indian town, produces
leather goods, cotton textiles, and
wooden ponchos. 1t is noted for Its
hot springs and the nearby water
fall of Peguche.
From Ibarra, the highway con-
tinues curving down to the Ottawa
10 Valley. In the distance the
great Imbabura shows its rounded
peak over the "Nudo de Cajas," a
cluster of mountains. Directly
ahead, the visitor can take a glance
at the imposing Cotacachi mount
ain. To the left of the highway is
Otavalo, a charming town surround
ed by green fields, cut by rows OF
slender EUCALYPTUS trees. Otavalo is
noted for its picturesque fairs,
which are held every Saturday.
From Otavalo the road leads to
Cayambe, and from there to Quito,
the capital of the Republic, which
is only about three hours drive.
Spanish Version Page 8