Photo by Hiram Bingham 



A BIT OF OLIvANTAYTAMBO, SOUTHERN PKRU 



On top of the crag, which overlooks the Httle village of Ollantaytambo, the Incas and 

 their predecessors built a remarkable fortress. Some of the single stones used in the con- 

 struction of this fortress weigh over eight tons. 



ble to visit Pacaritampu, and no one 

 knew whether there were any buildings 

 with windows, or caves, there. 



It was part of our plan to settle this 

 question, and Dr. Eaton undertook the 

 reconnaissance of Pacaritampu. He re- 

 ports the presence of a small ruin, evi- 

 dently a, kind of rest-house or tavern, 

 pleasantly located in the Apurimac Val- 

 ley, but not naturally defended by na- 

 ture and not distinguished by windows. 

 In fact, there are neither windows nor 

 caves in the vicinity, and the general 

 topography does not lend itself to a ra- 

 tional connection with the tradition re- 

 garding Tampu Tocco (see page 415). 



The presence at Machu Picchu of 

 three large windows in one of the most 

 conspicuous and best-built structures led 

 me to wonder whether it might not be 

 possible that the Incas had purposely de-v 

 ceived the Spaniards in placing iampu 



Tocco southwest of Cuzco when it was 

 actually north of Cuzco, at Machu Picchu. 

 The Incas knew that Machu Picchu, 

 in the most inaccessible part of the Andes, 

 was so safely hidden in tropical jungles 

 on top of gigantic precipices that the 

 Spaniards would not be able to find it 

 unless they were guided to the spot. It 

 was naturally to their advantage to con- 

 ceal the secret of the actual location of 

 Tampu Tocco, a place which their tra- 

 ditions must have led them to venerate. 

 The topography of the region meets the 

 necessities of the tradition : The presence 

 of windows in the houses might readily 

 give the name Tampu Tocco, or "place 

 of temporary residence where there are 

 windows," to this place, and the three 

 conspicuous windows in the principal 

 temple fits in well with the tradition of 

 the three brothers coming out of three 

 yvindows. 



4H 



