Ch. XL SOUTH AMERICA. 475 



yncas : but those of Callo, and the other two fortress- 

 es, by tlieir SLiperior symmetry, shew that they are of 

 a later date, and built under the direction of the 

 yncas, who applied themselves with exemplary at- 

 tention to promote necessary arts throughout all 

 their conquests; possibly from this political view, 

 that the people, sensible of the happy change, might 

 ])e the better subjects. All these remains of an- 

 tique edifices the Indians call Inca perca, the Yncas 

 Av^alls. 



Another Indian method of fortification, and of 

 which there are still some remains, was, to dig three 

 or four ranges of moats quite round the tops of 

 such mountains, as, though high and steep, Avere 

 not subject to frosts : and every one on the inside 

 strengthened by a parapet, whence they could safely 

 annoy the enemy. These they called Pucuras ; and 

 Avithin the last range of moats they built barracks 

 for the garrison. These kinds of forts were so com- 

 mon, that one scarce meets with a mountain with- 

 out them. On the peaks of Pambamarca, are three 

 or four ; and one of them on the place where we 

 fixed our signal for the meridian triangles. In like 

 manner we found them on almost all the other 

 mountains; and the outward moat of circumvalla- 

 tion was above a league in extent. The breadth and 

 depth of each was alike ; but in respect of one another, 

 there was not the same uniformity, some of them 

 liaving a breadth of two toises and even more, and 

 others not one ; and the like difi^erence is observable 

 in their depth. It was, however, their constant care 

 to make the inward bank at least three or four feet 

 higher than the outward, to have the greater advan- 

 tage over the assailants. 



The junction and polish so much admired in 

 all the remaining stone-works of the Indians, 

 plainly shew, that they made use of some stones 



to 



