248 WHEN TIIKY WEBB CONSTRUCTED. 



When enterprising races inhabit a land where the 

 form of ili<' ground presents to them difficulties on a 

 grand scale which they may encounter and overcome, 

 this contest with nature l>ecomes a means of increasing 



their strength and power as well as their courage. Und-r 

 the despotic centralizing system of the Inca-rule, security 

 and rapidity of communication, especially in the move- 

 ment of troops, became an important necessity of govern- 

 ment. Hence the construction of artificial roads on so 

 grand a scale, and hence also the establishment of a 

 highly improved postal system. Among nations in very 

 different stages of cultivation we see the national activity 

 display itself with peculiar predilection in some particular 

 directions, but we can by no means determine the general 

 state of culture of a people from the striking development 

 of such particular and partial activity. Egyptians, Greeks, 

 Etruscans, and Romans, Chinese, Japanese, and Hindoo-. 

 show many interesting contrasts in these respects. It is 

 difficult to pronounce what length of time may have been 

 required for the execution of the Peruvian roads. The 

 great works in the northern part of the Empire of the 

 Incas, in the highlands of Quito, must at all events have 

 been completed in less than thirty or thirty -five years ; 

 i. e. within the short period intervening between the 

 defeat of the Ruler of Quitu, and the death of Iluayna 

 Capac. But entire obscurity prevails as to the period of 

 the formation of the Southern roads. 



Notwithstanding the tribute of admiration which the 

 first Conquistadores paid to the roads and aqueducts of 

 the Peruvians, they not only neglected the repair and 

 preservation of both these classes of useful works, but 

 they even wantonly destroyed them ; and this still more 



