164 A VOYAGE TO Bqok VIÍ. 



Icy of Orcos ; and tlioiif;li numbers of Spaniards ani- 

 mated M'ith the flattering hopes of such immense 

 treasures niade frequent attempts to recover them^, 

 the great depth of the water, and the bottom being 

 covered with sUme and mud, rendered all their endea- 

 vours abortive. For notwithstanding the circuit is 

 not a])Ove half a league, yet the depth of water is in 

 most places not less than twentj-thrce or twenty-four 

 fathoms. 



Tov.ARDs the S. part of the lake Titi-caca, the 

 banks approach each other, so as to form a kind of 

 bay, which terminates in a river called el Desaguade- 

 ro, or the drain, and afterwards forms the lake of Pa- 

 ria, which has no visible outlet ; but the many whirl- 

 pools sufficiently indicate that the water issues by a 

 Sjubterrancous ptissage. Over the river Desaguadero is 

 still remaining the bridge of rushes, invented by Ca- 

 pac Yupanquij the fifth Ynca, for transporting his 

 army to the other side, in order to conquer the pro- 

 vinces of CoUasuyo. 'Tlie Desaguadero is here be- 

 tween eighty and a hundred yards in breadth,' flowing 

 with a very impetuous current under a sni'joth, and.. 

 as it were, a sleeping surface. The Ynca to overcome 

 this difficulty ;, ordered four very large cables to be 

 made of a kind of grass which covers the lofty heaths 

 and mountaiüíí of iiiat country, and called by the In- 

 dians Ichu ; and these cables were the foundation of 

 the whole structure. Two of these -being laid across 

 the water, fascines of dry juncia and totora, species of 

 rushes, were fastened together, and laid across them. 

 On these the two other cables were laid, and again 

 covered uith the other fascines securely fastened, but 

 .smaller tlian the first, and arranged in such a manner 

 as to t>onn a level surface; and by thii» nK'jtns he j)ro- 

 cured a safe passage to his army. This bridge, which 

 is about five yards in breadth, and one ar.d a half 

 above the surface of the water, i^ carefully rcjiaired, or 

 rebuilt every ¿ix months^, bv the neighbouring ];ro- 



