4 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



as do the veins and arteries of the human body, 

 London being the heart, whereas the other big towns 

 throughout England, Scotland, and Wales may be said 

 to represent the less important blood-vessels. But in 

 speaking of highways, we must remember that they 

 did not owe their existence to mere chance, like 

 byways ; they were formed by competent road con- 

 structors, who were probably the most able men of 

 their time in this particular branch of industry to 

 penetrate the kingdom in all directions and connect 

 towns of importance. 



In early days there is no doubt that all attempt 

 at locomotion on wheels away from the main roads 

 was an impossibility. But to speak of the commercial 

 importance of good roads, they are of importance to 

 commerce in so much as they tend to civilise a 

 country. Roads are always the first things thought 

 of in new countries and by early settlers, and the 

 construction of roads always follows upon an invasion 

 and occupation of a foreign country. 



To cite an instance of skilful road construction in 

 past times, the Peruvians were great road-rnakers. 

 There is a maofnificent road from Ouitto to Cusco 

 in Peru, extending into Chili over the grand Plateau, 

 and passing over pathless sierras, through solid rocks, 

 and over bridges suspended almost in mid-air. There 

 are roads in Peru extending from fifteen hundred to 

 two thousand miles. The road from Ouitto to Cusco 

 is twenty feet wide, made of freestone, with bituminous 

 cement on the top. I merely mention these roads as 

 showing the skill possessed by the ancient inhabitants 

 of these regions, and the ability with which they 

 overcame the extraordinary difficulties presented by 

 Nature. 



