WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 545 



tell what I know about the mines of Potosi and their processes, this 

 statement must sufifice with regard to quicksilver and the district 

 of Huancavelica. The Viceroy appoints a Governor here for the 

 administration of justice, to see that the complement of the mita of 

 Indians coming to work in the mines, is full, and to supervise the 

 smelting. 



1474. From Huancavelica it is 30 leagues to Guamanga. One sets 

 out for the King's Highway, which lies to the E., and passes between 

 sierras and slopes to the apartments and tambos of Picoy. From 

 there one proceeds to Parco ; here are other apartments of ancient 

 Indian times, which today serve as tambo or tavern for travelers. 

 This is on the ridge of a high sierra. On the way there is a short 

 desert stretch which they call the Pucara, which means stronghold 

 or fortress. Here God in His Divine Providence created so many 

 cliffs of alabaster and other valuable stone in so many shapes that 

 from near at hand they resemble men in armor on horseback, and 

 other likenesses of saints and, in short, of as many effigies as can 

 be imagined, so many did Nature create here, with many other strange 

 and wonderful things. In fact, when I went through that locality in 

 the year 161 6, I was astounded as I contemplated with attention the 

 first wonder of the world (in my judgment), which God created 

 in that spot, so that He might be glorified there by His creatures, 

 and I gave Him infinite thanks for it. In connection with it there 

 are many pyramids and battlemented towers formed out of those 

 same cliffs, so that from a distance it looks like a city with fine 

 buildings and towers ; and it may rightfully be given that name and 

 title, for in that same spot, in these very cliffs, there are very large 

 caves and caverns, which people can live in : and in particular, near 

 the road and beside a small watercourse there is one of such remarkable 

 size that it might serve by itself as a fortress. It is more than 200 

 cubits high, and over 300 paces in circuit, and under it there are such 

 large caves and hollows that well over 100 men and 50 horses could 

 find place there ; they regularly put up travelers there during the 

 rainy season, and it serves as a refuge against the rains ; and the 

 muleteers also regularly stop off there with all the merchandise they 

 are carrying, for it not to get wet ; all they are transporting, they 

 put there. This region is all cold country, about which there is much 

 that might be said. 



1475. From here one goes on to Parco, and from there to the 



Huanta Valley, in which lie the Sangaro apartments which serve at 



present as tambo for travelers. From there it is 5 leagues to the 



city of Guamanga. Off to one side, and a league away, is the Vinaque 



36 



