276 



TRAVELS AMONGST TEE GREAT ANDES, chap. xiy. 



A number of other objects in stone in my collection are dis- 

 tinctly Ornaments, and in several instances were 

 found still being worn by Indian women, who 

 parted with them unwillingly. With others, 

 in many instances, it is difficult to distinguish 

 whether they were ornamental or useful. This 

 is the case with the imitations of heads of 

 animals which seemed to have been in favour 

 in the basin of Kiobamba, and with anvil-shaped 

 objects which were very numerous throughout 

 Imbabura. 



That the principal part of these objects 

 and implements in stone are of considerable 

 or of great age is apparent from the fact that 



Garcilasso de la Vega scarcely mentions them. He says that 



the Indians 



**knew not the invention of putting a handle of Wood to their Hammers, 

 but worked with certain Instruments they had made of Copper, mixed 

 with a sort of fine Brass. Neither did they know how to make Files or 

 Graving-tools, or Bellows for Melting down Metals. . . But above all, their 

 Carpenters seemed to be worst provided with Tools ; for though ours use 

 many Instruments made of Iron, those of Peru had no other than a Hatchet, 

 and a Pick-axe made of Copper ; they neither had Saw, nor Augre, nor 

 Planer, nor any other Tool for the Carpenter's work, so that they could not 

 make Arches or Portals for doors ; onely they hewed and cut their Timber, 

 and whitened it, and then it Was prepared for their Building : And for 

 making their Hatchets and Pick-axes, and some few Rakes, they made use 

 of the Silversmiths, for as yet they had not attained to the Art of "Working 

 in Iron. Nor did they know how to make Nails, or use them, but tied all 

 their Timber with Cords of Hemp. Nor were their Hewers of Stone more 

 artificial, for in cutting and shaping their Stones, they had no other Tool, 

 than one made with some sharp Flints and Pebbles, with which they 

 rather wore out the Stone by continual rubbing, than cutting," — The Royal 

 Commentaries of Peru, pp. 53-3. 



From this passage it appears that at the time of the Pizarros 

 the Indians used tools of metal for most purposes. The con- 



