247 



ROCK OF INTI-GUAICU. 



PLATE XVIII. 



In descending the hill, the summit of which is 

 crowned by the fortress of Cannar, to a valley 

 hollowed by the river Gulan, we find small foot- 

 paths cut in the rock : these paths lead to a 

 fissure, which in the Qquichua language is called 

 Inti-Guaicu, or the ravine of the Sun. In this 

 solitary spot, shaded by a beautiful and luxu- 

 riant vegetation, rises an insulated mass of sand- 

 stone, which is only four or five metres high. 

 One of the surfaces of this small rock is remark- 

 able for its whiteness : it is cut perpendicularly 

 as if it had been worked by the hand of man. 

 On this smooth and white ground are concen- 

 tric circles, which represent the image of the 

 Sun, such as at the commencement of civiliza- 

 tion we see it figured among every nation of the 

 Earth. These circles are of a blackish brown ; 

 and in the space they enclose we perceive fea- 

 tures half effaced, which indicate two eyes and a 

 mouth. The foot of the rock is cut into 



