258 . 
textiles that have ever been made. Not only 
were they strong and durable, as well as of 
fine texture, but they were also exquisitely 
dyed with tasteful designs. Some of them 
were wonderfully embroidered; still others had 
striking patterns painted upon them. To-day 
the cotton raised on the Peruvian coast is 
rapidly getting to be the best grown any- 
where. The supply of llama and alpaca wool 
might soon be vastly improved if care were 
devoted to the matter. Furthermore, there is 
no reason why, after necessary experiments 
as to methods had been made, the two other 
great fabric materials of the world (linen and 
silk) should not be grown in Peru. With 
plenty of raw material at hand, why could not 
steps be taken to make use of the weaving 
ability which to-day is remarkably strong in 
the coast Indians? Of course, to put such an 
enterprise on a modern and economically pro- 
ductive basis weaving machinery would have 
to be used. But that would prove no draw- 
back, as far as the people themselves are con- 
cerned. They are very intelligent, and they 
take quickly to mechanical contrivances, as is 
proved by the success with which Indians are 
used in cotton gins, sugar mills and similar 
places. Perhaps it would be best to work out 
some variety of loom half-way between their 
hand-looms and our North American type. 
This might result in giving greater play to 
their natural genius for weaving. 
In the matter of irrigating the Indians long 
ago proved themselves adepts. Steps should be 
taken to encourage them to re-irrigate those 
parts of the country in which the old irrigat- 
ing canals were destroyed by the Spaniards. 
To encourage this, the owners of the land 
could hold out special rewards to enterprising 
Indians, such as practical freehold (long lease 
or a percentage in the profits). The whites 
have not the aptitude in this direction that 
the Indians haye. White engineers, in their 
eagerness to plan and build enormous hy- 
draulic works that would cost millions, lose 
sight entirely of the tremendous amount of 
work that once was and could again be done 
in a small way, by building slowly a little at a 
time. In many cases, the engineering prob- 
SCIENCE 
[N. 8. Vou, XLVIII. No. 1237 
lems involved, especially those which concern 
the restoration to use of ancient irrigation 
canals, are not of great difficulty, and more 
could be done along the piecemeal, bit by bit 
line than by elaborate dams and prohibitively 
expensive pumping works. 
In the matter of architecture, the ancient 
pottery of the coast people shows us that the 
people used to build houses which were not 
only tasteful and picturesque but were airy 
and cool as well. They had gabled roofs, made 
of thick thatch, and thick walls of adobe. 
There were windows of various odd and quaint 
shapes, as well as doors. When one compares 
these admirable structures to the wretched 
flimsy huts made of cornstalks and old tin 
cans daubed over with mud which serve the 
people to-day, he sees how much better was 
their old condition. If the ancient skill of 
these people in making fine and durable adobe 
could be turned to the manufacture of the 
still better concrete, and if the systematic 
use of good houses designed after those an- 
ciently used could be introduced, the living 
conditions, health, productiveness and vigor 
of the people would mount rapidly. 
In all these directions, as well as in others 
which lack of space forbids me to mention, 
there is imperative need of a judicious adapta- 
tion to modern needs of the inherent abilities 
of the people. 
In the highlands, the situation is far less 
satisfactory. The climate is cold and de- 
pressing. There is a general lack of fuel for 
warming the houses and for warming water 
for bathing purposes. In addition, there is 
the necessity of constant and very heavy labor 
if any but the most meager crops are to raised. 
Alcoholism is a pronounced evil in the high- 
lands. As a result of all these sadly adverse 
circumstances, the people are doltish, filthy 
and depraved, not only the Indians but also 
some of the whites. It is for the more felic- 
itously situated and enlightened elements of 
the population to do what they can, especially 
by rigidly enforcing the laws to curb alcohol- 
ism, to ameliorate these conditions. Race- 
appreciation here, as on the coast, must play 
an important part, for today almost nothing is 
