46 ovalle's historical relation of chile. 



The fame author fays, moreover, that through this chain of mountains there went 



two highways, in which the Ingas fhewed their great power ; one of them goes by the 



iK r. ) "^o'^'fitain all paved for nine hundred leagues, from Pofto to Chile: it was five and 



*^'**^ /*" 'twenty feet broad, and at every four leagues were noble buildings; and to this day 

 there are the places called Tambos, which anfwer our inns, where every thing necef- 

 fary is to be found by travellers ; and that which was mofl admirable, at each half 

 league there were couriers and polls, who were defigned for the conveniency of paf- 

 fengers, that they might fend their letters and advices where they were requiiite. The 

 other way, which was alfo of twenty-five feet broad, went by the plain at the foot of 

 the mountains, with the fame proportion and beauty of inns and palaces at every four 

 leagues, which were inclofed with high walls *, as alfo ftreams and rivulets running 

 through this way, brought thither by art, for the refrefhment and recreation of 

 travellers. * 



This is what Antonio de Herrera, and other authors, who treat of the Indies, do 

 tell us about this famous Cordillera. Now I (hall relate what I myfelf have feen, and 

 do know about it. 

 ^ And firfl, I mufl fuppofe, that though thefe two highways run feparate and diftindt 



through all Peru and Quito, yet they muft grow nearer each other as they rife higher 

 in the mountain ; for when they come to Chile, they are no longer two, but one. 

 This is clearly found, by experience, in thofe who crofs the Cordillera, to go from 

 Chile to Cuyo, as I have done feveral times, that I have palfed this mountain, and 



^»Ai.<f A*' never could fee this divifion, but always continual and perpetual mountains, which 

 ferve for walls and fortifications on each fide to one which rifes in the middle infinitely 

 higher than the reft, and is that which moft properly is called the Cordillera. I am 

 alfo perfuaded, that the two ways above-mentioned came but to the boundaries of 

 Chile, and ended in thofe of Peru. I have, indeed, in palling the Cordillera, met 

 with great old walls of flone on the top of it, which they call the Ingas ; which, they 

 fay, were encampments, (though not his, for he never came to Chile) but of his ge- 

 nerals and armies fent to conquer the country ; and it is not impoffible but the faid two 

 ways might be continued on to thefe buildings ; but it was not practicable, that it could 

 be with that perfeftion, as in that part of the mountain contained within the tropicks ; 

 where, becaufe the hills are more tradable, fuch ways might be made as they defcribe ; 

 but not in the mountains of Chile, which are one upon another fo thick, that it is with 

 great difficulty that a fingle mule can go in the paths of it : and the Corderilla grows 

 rougher and rougher, the more it draws near the pole, fo that it appears to be above 

 the compafs of human power to open a way through it, fo curioufly and finely con- 

 trived as it is reprefented. It was not neceffary that the Inga fhould ufe fo much art 

 and induftry, to make admirable that which is already fo much fo, as this mountain is 

 in its whole courfe through the kingdom of Chile, as it' fhall be fhewed when we dif- 

 courfe in particular of its feveral parts and properties. For firfl, fuppofmg what we 

 have faid, of its running fifteen hundred leagues in length, and forty in diameter, its 

 wonderful height makes it aftonifhing : the afcent is fo prodigious, that we employ three 

 or four days in arriving to the top of it, and as many more in the defcent, that is, 

 fpeaking properly, and only of the mountain, for otherwife it may be affirmed, that 

 one begins to mount even from the fea-fide, becaufe all the way, which is about forty 

 leagues, is nothing but an extended fhelving coafl ; for which reafon the rivers run 

 with fuch force, that their flreams are like mill-flreams, efpecially near their heads. 

 When we come to afcend the highefl point of the mountain, we feel an air fo pier-^ 



4,H^v aIs cing and fubtile, that it is with much difficulty we can breathe, which obliges us to fetch 



our 



