10 Gardiner G. Hubbard — South America. 



next station he signalled to the next chasquir, as the couriers were 

 called, to be ready to carry forward the message. In this way, 

 it is said, abont 150 miles a day were made. 



These couriers traveled more quickly than the mail-carriers of 

 Europe, and the means of communication were then, Squier tells 

 us, far better than they are to-day. Many of these old tambos 

 are still maintained. One in which Squier spent the night was 

 180 feet in length, with rooms forming three sides of a court. 



The country of the Incas had every variet}^ of climate, and the 

 products were those of every part of the new world. On the 

 coast, perpetual summer reigns, with all the variety and beauty 

 of tropical vegetation. At a higher elevation, the trees are 

 always green, and while one kind sheds its blossoms and ripens 

 its fruit another is budding and unfolding its bloom. Meantime, 

 on the top of the mountains is eternal winter. In some places, 

 as at Potosi, the changes of temperature are frequent and extremes 

 of heat and cold are experienced in a single day. The weather in 

 the early morning is frosty ; in the forenoon, mild and balmy ; 

 in the afternoon, scorching, and in the evening, cool and delicious. 



On the Pacific slope of the Andes, reservoirs were constructed, 

 from which irrigating canals watered the whole plain now lying 

 desolate and barren. 



The conquered tribes were incorporated into the nation and 

 became the people of the Incas. If the conquered tribe was 

 strong and warlike, some of its members were removed to distant 

 parts of the country and were replaced by the inhabitants of 

 those regions, to whom privileges and immunities were given as 

 compensation for the change of home. The conquered tribes 

 quickly realized the benefits of the rule of the Incas and became 

 faithful and loyal subjects. 



The government of the Incas was a paternal despotism con- 

 trolling the most minute affairs of daily life. Knowledge, the 

 Incas taught, " was not intended for the people, but for those of 

 generous ability, for it would render persons of low degree vain 

 and arrogant." 



The Incas 'established a communal system similar to that of 

 Russia. One-third of the land belonged to the Inca, one-third 

 to the priests of the Sun, and the remainder to the people, who 

 were required to cultivate the land of the Inca and of the 

 priests, as well as their own. The land was divided among 

 the families yearly, according to their number. Every newly 



