8 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 6] 



extensive and the region is full of ruins. The latter can be found 

 mi or near all the summits where water could be had and where 

 some of the steep slopes in the neighborhood could be terraced. 



The writer's stay at San Damian was too brief for a thorough 

 survey of the ruins and he can only report upon them collectively. 

 The nearest are known as Pueblo Viejo. They top a hill less than 

 two miles northeast of San Damian, tapering toward the east and 

 northeast. Farther on in the same direction, on the steep slope on 

 both sides of the road to Toctococha, are numerous burials in 

 shallow caves and under the rocks. On a large hill to the north of 

 that of Pueblo Viejo and across a canyon, is another ruin ; on the 

 mountain beyond that still another, and the same applies to the 

 great ridge that extends northwestward. To the south and south- 

 east, there are several ruins, one, like Pueblo Viejo, partially in 

 view from San Damian. Directly to the east a huge mountain 

 blocks the way, but to the westward appear the " Cinco Cerros " 

 or Five Peaks, a remarkable stone fortress and an important 

 burial ground (pi. 2, fig. 2), while still farther west, near Tupicocha, 

 are the ruins of Sunaikaka (recently visited by Dr. Tello), and to 

 the south there are said to be remains of still other old settlements. 



The region would well repay a three or four months explora- 

 tion in a favorable season. The writer had only ten days and most 

 of this time it was a work of traveling in clouds or chilly drizzle. 

 He did not suffer from the soroche, or mountain sickness, which 

 incapacitates so many in these altitudes ; nevertheless the climbing 

 of the steep slopes, to reach the ruins or burials, was attended by 

 considerable difficulty in breathing and a continuous effort for more 

 than three or four minutes was impossible. A piece of the rough 

 ground would be scaled, until the lungs would threaten to burst, when 

 it would be necessary to lean on some rock for several minutes until 

 more normal respiration was reestablished ; then the procedure 

 would be repeated. Nor were these the only difficulties. Serious 

 obstacles were encountered on the part of the natives, ignorant, 

 superstitious, unwilling, and enfeebled by alcohol. Reliable infor- 

 mation or help was out of question ; and due to the general poverty 

 and the season, it was almost impossible to secure the necessary 

 animals, or food for them when secured. Notwithstanding, visits 

 were made daily to ruins and fair collections were obtained from 

 the Pueblo Viejo, Uleulla, and especially from the " Cinco Cerros." 

 And the exploration would have been prolonged had it not been 

 found that the majority of the more approachable ruins had been 



