480 



BRIDGE. 



Bridge. The next step is not much more complex, for in 

 a space too great for the beforementioned operations, 

 few manual arts were required to form ropes of 

 rushes or leathern thongs, to stretch as many of them 

 as were necessary between trees or posts on the op- 

 posite banks, and connect and cover them so as to 

 form a slight bridge. The following accounts given 

 by Don Antonio de Ulloa, will afford a distinct no- 

 tion how these sort of bridges were constructed and 

 used in the mountainous parts of South America. 

 See vol. ii. page 164. London, 4th edit. 8vo. 



" Over the river Desaguadero is still remaining the 

 bridge of rushes, invented by Capac Yupanqui, the 

 fifth Ynca, for transporting his army to the other 

 side, in order to conquer the provinces of Collasuyo. 

 The Desaguadero is here between eighty and a hun- 

 dred yards in breadth, flowing with a very impetuous 

 current, under a smooth, and as it were, a sleeping 

 surface. TheYnca, to overcome this difficulty, ordered, 

 four very large cables to be made of a kind of grass 

 which covers the lofty heaths and mountains of that 

 country, and called by the Indians, Ichu ; and these 

 cables were the foundation of the whole structure. 

 Two of these being laid across the water, fascines of 

 dry juncia and tortora, species of rushes, were fasten- 

 ed together, and laid across them. On these the two 

 other cables were laid, and again covered with the 

 other fascines securely fastened, but smaller than the 

 first, and arranged in such a manner as to form a level 

 surface ; and by this means he procured a safe pas- 

 sage to his army. This bridge, which is about live 

 yards in breadth, and one and a half above the surface 

 of the water, is carefully repaired, or rebuilt every 

 six months, by the neighbouring provinces, in pur- 

 suance of a law made by that Ynca, and since often 

 confirmed by the kings of Spain, on account of its 

 prodigious use ; it being the channel of intercourse 

 between those provinces separated by the Desagua- 

 dero." 



Again, in vol. i. page 430: " When the rivers are 

 too deep to be forded, bridges are made at the most 

 frequented places. Of these there are two kinds be- 

 sides those made of stone, which are very few : the 

 former of wood, which are most common ; and the 

 latter of bujucos. With regard to the first, they 

 choose a place where the river is very narrow, and has 

 on each side high rocks. They consist of only four 

 long beams laid close together over the precipice, 

 and form a path about a yard and a half in breadth, 

 being just sufficient for a man to pass over on horse- 

 back ; and custom has rendered these bridges so na- 

 tural to them, that they pass them without any ap- 

 prehension. The second, or those formed of bujucos, 

 are only used where the breadth of the river will not 

 admit of any beams to be laid across. In the con- 

 struction of these, several bujucos are twisted toge- 

 ther, so as to form a kind of large cable of the 

 length required. Six of these are carried from one 

 side of the river to the other, two of which are con- 

 siderably higher than the other four. On the latter 

 are laid sticks in a transverse direction, and over these 

 branches of trees as a flooring ; the former are fasten- 

 ed to the four which form the bridge, and by that 

 means serve as rails for the security of the passenger, 

 who would otherwise be in no small danger from the 



continual oscillation. The bujuco bridges in this 

 country are only for men, the mules swim over the 

 rivers ; in order to which, when their loading is taken 

 off, they are drove into the water near half a league 

 above the bridge, that they may reach the opposite 

 shore near it, the rapidity of the stream carrying 

 them so great a distance. In the mean time, the In- 

 dians carry over the loading on their shoulders. On 

 some rivers of Peru there are bujuco bridges so la 

 that droves of loaded mules pass over them ; particu- 

 larly the river Apurimac, which is the thoroughfare 

 of all the commerce carried on between Lima, Cusco, 

 La Plata, and other parts to the southward. 



" Some rivers, instead of a bujuco bridge, are pas- 

 sed by means of a tarabita ; as in the case with re- 

 gard to that of Alchipichi. This machine serves not 

 only to carry over persons and loads, but also the 

 beasts themselves ; the rapidity of the stream, and 

 the monstrous stones continually rolling along it, ren- 

 dering it impracticable for them to swim over. 



" The tartabita is only a single rope made of bu- 

 juco, or thongs of an ox's hide, and consist mg of 

 several strands, and about six or eight inches in thick- 

 ness. This rope is extended from one side of the 

 river to the other, and fastened on each bank to 

 strong posts. On one side is a kind of wheel, or 

 winch, to straighten or slacken the tarabita to the 

 degree required. From the tarabita hangs a kind of 

 leathern hammock, capable of holding a man ; and is 

 suspended by a clue at each end. A rope is also 

 fastened to either clue, and extended to each side of 

 the river, for drawing the hammock to the side in- 

 tended. A push at its first setting off, sends it 

 quickly to the other side. 



" For carrying over the mules, two tarabitas are 

 necessary, one for each side of the river, and the ropes 

 are much thicker and slacker. On this rope is only 

 one clue, which is of wood, and by which the beast 

 is suspended, being secured with girths round the 

 belly, neck, and legs. When this is perfoimed, the 

 creature is shoved off, and immediately landed on the 

 opposite side. Such as are accustomed to be carried 

 over in this manner, never make the least motion, and 

 even come of themselves to have the girts fastened 

 round them ; but it is with great difficulty they are 

 at first brought to suffer the girts to be put round 

 their bodies, and when they find themselves suspend- 

 ed, kick and fling, during their short passage, in a 

 most terrible manner. The river of Alchipichi may 

 well excite terror in a young traveller, being between 

 thirty and forty fathoms from shore to shore ; and 

 its perpendicular height, above the surface of the 

 water, twenty-five fathoms." 



A third mode of bridge building is, by construct- 

 ing piers of stone at a distance to be reached by 

 single stones or beams of timber; if used in shallow 

 streams, and composed of rough stones, laid without 

 mortar, it is likewise a very simple operation, and 

 such as would /eadily occur to a very rude people ; but 

 if the stream was at all times deep and rapid, and the 

 piers composed of hewn stone laid with or even with- 

 out mortar, the case was very different ; workmen 

 must have previously been accustomed to quarrying, 

 hewing, and transporting large stones, also building 

 them in a regular mannner ; working in metals, and 

 2 



