52 ARCHAEOLOGICAL A x\ D ETHNOLOGICAL 



of diiFerent colors. The two first-mentioned articles are exported to other coun- 

 tries. For the manufacture of all a species of oak is used, iu wliich pieces of other 

 kinds of wood of the requisite color are inlaid. 



While in Pasto I had occasion to see some of the Indians inhabiting the Caqueta 

 mountains. They were tall, slender men, with open countenances, and long black 

 hair floating from their uncovered heads; looking as if they belonged to a different 

 race from the inhabitants of Pasto. They bring to the city the sprouts for making 

 U(ja, and the red coloring substance, and also the bark of Cinchona trees, bees- 

 wax, a vegetable wax, and Cacao, a wild species, the kernels of which are round 

 and somewhat thicker than a goose-quill. 



In my travel to the river Mayo I had to cross the river Juanambii, rolling be- 

 tween two high banks, by means of a contrivance called tarabita, consisting of a 

 rope twisted of five or six straps of raw cowhide, each about an inch wide, stretched 

 across the river and fastened to a tree on either side. Over this rope is placed a 

 y^-shaped piece of hard wood about three inches thick, its legs about two feet long 

 hanging downward. The ends of the legs are united by a similar rope of raw 

 hide, forming a triangle. To the legs and the uniting rope are attached the travel- 

 ler's saddle and small luggage, leaving space in the middle for his person. A rope 

 sling of raw hide (called cabrestro) forms the seat ; the ends of the sling being 

 secured to the wooden legs, for supporting his back. Within this rude chair tlie 

 traveller takes his seat in a somewhat crouching position, holding on to the wood 

 or rope with his hands. He then, lifting his feet from the ground, slides down the 

 rope to the opposite lower bank, propelled by his own weight. Arriving, he frees 

 himself and his luggage, when the travelling chair is pulled back by a single cow- 

 hide strap attached to it. In this manner all passengers and freight have to cross 

 the river, while the animals are conducted to a ford, where they cross partly by 

 swimming. In returning, another tarabita a short distance from the first has to 

 be used, as the bank of the river must be higlier on the side of starting. 



From the river Mayo I returned to Quito ; and thence travelled on the height 

 of the Andes toward Peru. On the plain of Mulalo I found a hill from three to 

 four hundred feet high, which by its isolation, being unconnected with any other 

 hill, and its symmetrical conical shape, impressed me with the idea of its being the 

 work of men. This supposition was confirmed by the inhabitants of the vicinity. 



Wlien further on I approached the ancient road leading to Cuzco, architectural 

 remains became more abundant. This road, built of stone, follows the undulations 

 of the ground, which often necessitated high embankments, especially when situ- 

 ated on the slope of a mountain. The sides of the hills between which the river 

 Cobschi (Germ, spell.) flows, and which I had to cross, had the aspect of terraces, 

 on which the remains of ancient walls were discernible. Similar remains were 

 also found in the vicinity of the village of Achupallas, situated on the top of one 

 of the hills just mentioned. In and near this village were found many ancient 

 graves. I received the skull of an animal which had been taken from one of these 

 graves, many of whicli had been searched, but in vain, for £rold. Descending the 

 mountain Azuai, of which the highest point reached was 13,000 feet above the 

 sea, I came on the actual remains of the ancient road. A thousand feet below the 



