COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND ARTS CUZCO. 



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CHAPTER III. 



College of sciences and arts at Cuzco — Students — Library — Popularity of 

 Fenimore Cooper's works— Convents-JCock-pits — Procession — Condition of 

 the aborigines anterior to the Incas — Manco Capac and his wife — Their lan- 

 guage — Antiquities — Inca's fortress — Worship of the planetary bodies — Suspi- 

 cion of intercourse between ancient civilized Asia and South Peru — Tempera- 

 ture of bull's blood — Reception of the prefect's family — Sham fight among the 

 Quichua Indians — Barley and corn crops — Trade — Loss of Paititi — Thermal 

 aprings — Hospitality of a cura — Lampa — Gold mines of Carabaya — Lake 

 Titicaca — Appearance of the Indians— Pimo— Military — Niggardly soil. 



The city of Cuzco has a population of about 20,000, with a greater- 

 proportion of Creoles than any place between it and Lima. There is 

 but one newspaper published — an official called El Triunfo del Pueblo, 

 (the Triumph of the People.) 



Id the museum are many ancient curiosities : mummies, mining tools, 

 earthen, stone, and metal ware, war-clubs, hatchets, and Indian costumes. 

 In a small library hangs a translation, into Spanish, of the declaration 

 of independence of the United States. Among the few readers met 

 there, questions were often asked of Fenimore Cooper, who seems to be 

 better known in South America than any other North American. I 

 received much kindness from those of Spanish descent who had read 

 Mr. Cooper's works. The distinct pronunciation of his name shows the 

 deep impression made upon their mind by that distinguished author. 



In the college of sciences and arts were three hundred boys. The 

 president seemed anxious to give a favorable impression of the institution. 

 In the picture gallery, some of the most choice drawings, executed by 

 the students from* time to time, were preserved. There seemed to be 

 natural talent displayed, but a want of good instruction. Mathematics, 

 philosophy, Latin grammar, and drawing, are the principal studies. 

 While walking on the balcony among the boys, wrapped up in broad- 

 cloth cloaks and caps, we observed a youngster deeply interested in a 

 very greasy-looking little book. He seemed to be the only one disposed 

 to study. He said, "Poetry is my lesson for to-day." He was asked 

 which he preferred to be, a Byron or a farmer? The boys around us 

 laughed, when he spoke out quickly — "a Byron, sir." On the wall of 

 a dressing-room hung in line three hundred Napoleon-fashioned cocked 

 hats, which the president informed me were worn by the boys in proces- 



