346 THE INDIANS OF THE CORDILLERAS. 



stretched across the water, and conducted through rings or 

 holes cut in immense buttresses of stone raised on the 

 opposite banks of the river, and there secured to heavy pieces 

 of timber. Several of these enormous cables bound together, 

 side by side, formed a bridge — which, covered with planks 

 well secured, and defended on each side by a railing of the 

 same material, afforded a safe passage for the traveller. The 

 length of this aerial bridge, sometimes exceeding 200 feet, 

 caused it — confined as it was only at the extremities — to 

 dip, with an alarming inclination towards the centre ; while 

 the motion given it by the passenger created an oscillation 

 frightful to one whose eye glanced down into the dark 

 abyss of waters, that foamed and tumbled many a fathom 

 beneath. 



Over these roads a system of communication throughout 

 the country was kept up by running postmen, called chasquis. 

 Along the roads small buildings were erected, within five 

 miles of each other, at which a number of chasquis were 

 stationed. They were trained to the employment, and 

 selected for their speed and fidelity. As the distance each 

 had to perform was small, he ran over the ground with great 

 swiftness, and messages were carried along all the routes at 

 the rate of a hundred and fifty miles a day. The chasquis 

 not only carried despatches, but brought fish from the distant 

 ocean, and fruits, game, and other commodities, from the warm 

 regions on the coast. 



It is not our province to describe the gorgeous temples, 

 palaces, and convents, in which the Virgins of the Sun resided, 

 and the numerous other public buildings, extensive remains 

 of which still exist scattered throughout the region. The 

 glory of the Incas has departed. But few of their descend- 



