8 



ancient city. 



In the centre of the valley are the remains of an ancient city ; the 

 ruins ot stone walls were 12 feet high, and from 1 to 1^- foot thick. 

 Those of the present day are generally adobe, from 3 to 4 feet thick. 

 Some of the buildings have been round ; others oblong, but generally 

 square, 12 by 18 feet. The round ones are largest and best situated. 

 The streets very irregular and narrow ; no appearance of plaza, or church. 

 The ruins extend half a mile north and south, and 200 yards east and 

 west, on a knoll, which may have been an island before the Inca road 

 was built, now hedged in on both sides with cactus. As the land about 

 this ancient city is now cultivated as a corn-field, no remains of curious 

 things could be found. The mason-work is very rough, but remains of 

 mortar are there. How the houses were roofed is doubtful, but by the 

 slanting down on the inner sides of the stones of those houses which 

 were round, the mason work may have been carried up till it met at 

 a point, which would give the house a sugar-loaf shape. Besides door- 

 ways, there were window openings. • 



Droves of jackasses pass, loaded with small raw-hide bags filled with 

 quicksilver from the mines of Huancavelica, on their way to the silver 

 mines of Cerro de Pasco. 



On Saturday evening, July 12, 1851, we encamped on the south side 

 of the town of Huancayo, and remained till Monday morning, giving 

 the party their usual day of rest. Upon entering this town we saw the 

 first signs of improvement in the construction of a stone bridge ; the 

 mason work compares well with that of more flourishing places. The 

 men and cows of this place are larger than any we have seen. The 

 people are very polite. The Indians oblige us with all we require, and 

 seem interested in bur industry. Jose asks permission to go to church, 

 and for money to buy shoes. The singing of frogs reminds us of home. 

 Some of the trees are much larger than those hitherto passed. 



Marks of small-pox are seen among the people ; but there are no 

 chills and fevers here. Some of the women have. dreadful swellings in 

 their necks, called by them "cota," or goitre, caused by drinking bad 

 water, or snow-water deprived of salts. But why this disease is generally 

 confined to the women I cannot say, unless the men never drink water. 

 It was very certain, from the noise after church,, that they find something 

 stronger. I do not think the people are generally dissipated, except on 

 Sunday afternoons, when both sexes seem disposed to frolic. During 

 the week they are otherwise employed. 



Leaving the Juaja valley, we passed through a rough, hilly country. 

 In barley stubbles ewes are giving lambs. 



A woman planting beans after the plough, has her baby slung over 



