416 YNCA BRIDGES. 



LIB. vi. were they so artificially wrought, that in many places they 

 could not see the ioyntes, and many of these stones are so 

 big, that it were an incredible thing if one should not see 

 them. At Tiahuanaco I did measure a stone of thirty eight 

 foote long, of eighteene broade, and six thicke. And in the 

 wall of the fortresse of Cusco, which is of masonry, 1 there are 

 stones of a greater bignes. And that which is most strange, 

 these stones being not cut nor squared to ioyne, but con 

 trariwise, very vnequall one with another in forme and 

 greatnes, yet did they ioyne them together without ciment 

 after an incredible maner. All this was done by the force 

 of men who endured their labour with an invincible patience. 

 For to ioyne one stone with an other, they were forced to 

 handle and trie many of them often, being vneven. The 

 Ynca appoynted every yeare what numbers of people should 

 labour in these stones and buildings, and the Indians 

 made a division amongest them, as of other things, so as no 

 , man was oppressed. Although these buildings were great, 

 yet were they commonly ill appoynted and vnfit, almost 

 like to the mosques or buildings of the Barbarians. 



They could make no arches in their edifices, nor mortar 

 or cyment to builde them withall. When they saw arches 

 of wood built vpon the river of Xauxa, the bridge being 

 finished, and the wood broken downe, they all beganne to 

 runne away, supposing that the bridge, which was of stone, 

 should presently Kill; but when they found it to stand 

 firme, and that the Spaniards went on it, the Cacique saide 

 to his companions, &quot;It is reason we should serve these 

 men, who in trueth seeme to be the children of the Sunne&quot;. 

 The bridges they made were of reedes plaited, which they 

 tied to the bankes with great stakes, for that they could not 

 make any bridges of stone or wood. The bridge which is at 

 this day vpon the Desaguadero or river draining the great lake 

 Chucuito 2 in Collao is admirable, for the course of that water 

 1 u Mamposteria.&quot; ~ Or Titicaca. 



