44 



BRIDGE. 



produces an immense quantity of small red berries in large bunches. 

 The leaves, when crushed, have a strong aromatic smell; and many 

 persons believe that it is certain death to sleep under its shade. Dr. 

 Smith, in his book, called " Peru as it is," says that " this tree is much 

 prized for fuel. The sugar refiners of the interior use the ashes from it 

 in preference to those from any other wood, on account of their higher 

 alkaline properties, and consequent efficiency in purifying the cane-juice 

 when being boiled down to a proper consistence to be cast into moulds. 

 The Inca tribe, as we learn from Garcilasso de la Vega, made a highly 

 valuable and medicinal beer, which some of the Indians of the interior 

 still occasionally prepare, from the clusters of small grained fruit that 

 hang gracefully and abundantly from this pretty tree." 



We saw several cases of tertiana, or chills and fever, at Yanacoto. 

 The people seem to have no remedy, except drinking spirits just before 

 the chill comes on, and using as a drink, during the fever, the juice of 

 the bitter orange, with sugar and water. When the case is bad, those 

 who can afford it — such as the mayordomos and tamberos (the keepers 

 of the road-side inns, called tambos) — send to Lima and get medical 

 advice and physic. Our tambero killed a mutton for us, and (leaving 

 out the lard, which is always abominable) made a good chupe. The 

 roast was a failure ; but we got poultry and eggs, and had a very good 

 time. 



The elevation of Yanacoto is two thousand three hundred and thirty- 

 seven feet, a little more than one thousand feet above Pacayar. The 

 distance between them is about ten miles; showing a rise to the mile of 

 about one hundred feet, which is very little greater than that between 

 Callao and Lima. 



May 24. — Had observation for time; breakfasted, and started at ten. 

 Valley still narrowing; the hills becoming mountains, mostly of granite; 

 rock piled upon rock for hundreds of feet, and in every variety of shape ; 

 no vegetation, except where the hardy cactus finds aliment in the crev- 

 ices of the rock. 



About four and a half miles above Yanacoto we passed the hacienda 

 of Lachosita, and soon after the little village of San Pedro Mama, 

 where the first bridge is thrown over the Rimac. Heavy, rough stone- 

 work is built on each side of the river, into which are inserted massive 

 pieces of timber, standing out a few feet from the face of the masonry, 

 and hewn flat on top. On their ends are laid trunks of trees, crossing 

 the river, and securely lashed. Athwart these are laid sticks of wood, 

 of some two or three inches diameter, lashed down, and covered over 

 with bundles of reeds, mud, and stones. 



