The Legend of the Incas. 9 



the Indians, sent two of liis children, Manco Capac and Mama 

 Oello Huaco, to gather the wandering tribes into communities, to 

 teach them the arts of civilized life and to inculcate the worship 

 of the Sun. From Lake Titicaca, this brother and sister, husband 

 and wife, went down the valley to Cuzco, where they were bidden 

 to found an empire. Manco Capac was thus the first Inca. There 

 were ten or twelve Incas before the conquest of Peru. Their 

 conquests extended through the entire valley of the Cordilleras, 

 until over four hundred tribes, with a population of many 

 millions, became subject to their dominion. 



The territory of the Incas extended from the southern part 

 of Chili northward into Colombia, beyond Quito, a distance of 

 two thousand miles, and west to the Pacific Ocean. On the 

 eastern slope of the Cordilleras, toward the great plain of the 

 Amazon, the Incas met a stronger and more savage people, with 

 whom they were in constant warfare. In the several passes of 

 the Cordilleras they constructed fortifications to protect their 

 borders and prevent invasion. 



The capital of the territory, Cuzco, was situated in a beautiful 

 valley ten thousand feet above the sea. Amidst the Alps, such 

 a valley would be buried in eternal snow, but within the tropics 

 it enjoys a perpetual spring. Here the Incas loved to dwell, and 

 remains of immense fortresses, palaces and temj^les, testify to 

 their power and culture, and to the number of their subjects. 

 Tens of thousands of laborers must have been required to con- 

 struct such edifices. When we reflect that these peojale had 

 no beasts of burden except the llama, which could only carry 

 light loads, and no mechanical means for transportmg the vast 

 blocks of stone used in constructing these buildings, we are 

 astonished at what they accomplished. The pyramids of Egypt 

 are not more wonderful. 



Great highways were built, running north, south and west, 

 connecting different parts of the Empire. One followed the 

 valley between the Cordilleras and Andes to Quito, another 

 crossed the Andes and followed the sea-coast north and south to 

 the extreme limits of their country. All traveling was on foot. 

 Large and comfortable tambos, or inns, were erected every few 

 miles, and larger ones at the end of a day's journey. Couriers 

 were stationed at regular intervals, each of whom had his allotted 

 station, between which and the next it was his duty to run at a 

 certain pace bearing his message, and on his approach to the 

 3— Nat. Geog. Mag., vol. Ill, 1891. 



