INVESTIGATIONS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. 53 



point above mentioned were remains of two buildings of considerable dimensions, 

 the walls of which were still several feet above the groinid. One of these build- 

 ings is said to have been a caravansary (tanqni), for the accommodation of tra- 

 vellers, and the other a palace of tlie Inca, who also had artificial baths in the 

 adjacent lake, a hundred feet lower. The brook feeding this lake flowed in a 

 tortuous artificial bed. These ruins are known under the name of Paredones. Six 

 miles further south and 2U0U leet lower than the Paredones are the ruins of an 

 edifice called Inca pirca, wall of the Inca. It is supposed to have been once a 

 castle, and is also designated as Castillo. This supposition is founded upon 

 the shape of its structure. It was oval in form and built of squared stone, two 

 stories yet remaining. Those of the second story are so nicely adjusted as to fit 

 perfectly without any uniting material. The outside of these stones is so smooth 

 as to appear polished. The stones of the lower story, which has a greater circum- 

 ference than the upper, have been cut and united with less accuracy. The remains 

 are but a small portion of the former structure, which has been demolished by 

 degrees, and the stones carried away for the construction of dwellings in the neigh- 

 boring settlement of the same name. Artificial baths surrounded the pond in tlie 

 near vicinity of the ruins ; and in the adjacent plain, which undoubtedly once 

 formed a garden, singularly shaped stones are found, which were probably used in 

 athletic games. 



The surrounding country of Cuenca, the capital of the province of the same 

 name, where I stayed some days, is very interesting in its natural history as well 

 as its archaeology. Many ancient graves have been opened, in which valuable 

 objects made of silver or gold were found. Many fabulous stories were narrated 

 about them, as tlie finding of crowns, sceptres, etc., and also concerning their great 

 value. It was said that a man had realized sixty thousand dollars from the gold 

 in the objects which he found. All such stories must be taken "cum (jrano salts." 

 It is principally in the vicinity of the village Chor-de-leg that many ancient graves 

 were found. The inhabitants of that village made a business of searching for the 

 graves and opening them. This is done with an iron rod several feet long. If the 

 rod enters easily into the ground it is a sure sign of a grave on that spot. If it 

 touches a heap of stones it is a sign that the grave contains objects of gold. In 

 Cuenca I was told that the man who makes a business of opening such graves was 

 very successful, and had many objects of gold at that time; but, inquiring through- 

 out the village of Chor-de-leg, I saw but one small figure, about an inch long, and 

 some ear-rings of gold, besides three other small figures of silver. But there were 

 many interesting objects of inferior materials, such as a brooch over a foot long, 

 similar ones of smaller dimensions being still used; various implements of copper; 

 polished and perforated ornaments of pyrites, and some beads of coral. There 

 were likewise specimens of pottery, one of which was a double whistling jar, one 

 of the openings representing the mouth of a squatting animal. I saw also many 

 stone implements of various sizes and patterns ; two stones, round at one end and 

 plain on one side, with two rows of six squares carved in each, similar to the squares 

 of a chess-board. 



