398 VIEWS OF NATURE. 



on the model of the more ancient structures of Tiahuanaco 

 In like manner, the Aztecs imitated the pyramidal buildings 

 of the Toltecs, and the latter copied those of the Olmecs 

 (Hulmecs) ; and thus, by degrees, we arrive at historic ground 

 in Mexico as early as the sixth century of the Christian 

 era. According to Siguenga, the Toltecic Step Pyramid of 

 Cholula, was copied from the Hulmecic Step Pyramid of 

 Teotihuacan. Thus, through every stage of civilization, we 

 pass into an earlier one, and as human intelligence was not 

 aroused simultaneously in both continents, we find that in 

 pvery nation the imaginative domain of mythology imme- 

 diately preceded the period of historical knowledge. 



The early Spanish Conquistadores were filled with admiration 

 on first beholding the roads and aqueducts of the Peruvians ; 

 yet not only did they neglect the preservation of those great 

 works, but they even wantonly destroyed them. As a natural 

 consequence of the destruction of the aqueducts, the soil 

 Was rendered unfertile by the want of irrigation. Never- 

 theless, those works, as well as the roads, were demolished 

 for the sake of obtaining stones ready hewn for the erection 

 of new buildings ; and the traces of this devastation are more 

 observable near the sea -coast, than on the ridges of the Andes, 

 or in the deeply cleft valleys with which that mountain-chain 

 is intersected. During our long day's journey from the 

 syenitic rocks of Zaulac to the valley of San Felipe, (rich in 

 fossil remains and situated at the foot of the icy Paramo of 

 Yamoca), we had no less than twenty- seven times to fbrd 

 the Rio de Guancabamba, which falls into the Amazon. 

 We were compelled to do this on account of the numerous 

 sinuosities of the stream, whilst on the brow of a steep preci- 

 pice near us, we had continually within our sight the vestiges 

 of the rectilinear Inca road, with its Tambos. The little 

 mountain stream, the Kio de Guancabamba, is not more than 

 from 120 to 150 feet broad; yet so strong is the current, 

 that our heavily laden mules were in continual danger of 



