130 A VOYAGE TO Book VIl. 



moiis fort built by the Yncas for their d'efcnce ; 

 and it appears from thence, that the design was to 

 inclose the whole mountain with a prodigious wall, 

 of such construction as to render the ascent of it 

 absolutely impracticable to an enemy, and at the 

 same time easily to be defended by those within; 

 in order to prevent all approach to the city. This 

 wall was entirely of free-stone, and strongly built, 

 like all the other works of the Yncas, described 

 Vol. I. but still more remarkable fur its dimensions 

 and the largeness of the stones, which are of different 

 magnitudes and figures. Those composing the prin- 

 cipal part of the work are of such prodigious di- 

 mensions, that it is difficult to imagine how it was 

 possible for the strength of man, unassisted by ma- 

 chines, to have brought them hiiher from the quar- 

 ries. The interstices formed by the irregularities of 

 these enormous masses are filled with smaller, and so 

 closely joined as not to be perceived without a very 

 narrow inspection. One of these large stones is still 

 lying on the ground, and seems not to have been ap- 

 plied to the use intended^ and is such an enormous 

 mass that it is astonishing to human reason to think 

 by what means it could be brought thither. It is 

 called la Cansada, or the troublesome, alluding pro- 

 bably to the labour of bringing it from the quarrj^. 

 The internal works of this fortress consist of apart- 

 ments, and two other walls are chiefly in ruins, but 

 the outward wall is standing. 



The city of Cusco is nearly equal to that of 

 Lima. The north and west sides, are surrounded 

 by the mountain of the fortress, and others called 

 Sanca : on the south it borders on a plain, on which 

 arc several beautiful walks. Most of the houses are 

 of stone, well contrived and covered with tiles, 

 whose livelj?^ red gives them an elegant appearance. 

 The aparttuenis are very spacious, and finel}' deco- 

 rate, the iuhabitaats being noted for their elegant 



taste. 



