102 LAKE TITICACA. 



bridge, with a current three-quarters of a mile per hour running south. 

 The color of the water is blue; it is fresh and cool — temperature 

 of 60° ; the Indians drink it here. This is the only stream flowing out 

 of Lake Titicaca. After running southwardly some eighty leagues, the 

 water spreads over a flat, forming what is called Lake Pampas Aullagas, 

 from which there is no flow into either ocean. 



We were told that in the year 1846 there were heavy rains to the 

 south of Desagueclero ; the river flowed for thirty days north into Lake 

 Titicaca ; with that exception it is reported to flow as we saw it. 



In the rainy season the river rises about nine feet, the rapid current 

 often sweeps away the bridge ; at the same time the flats on both sides 

 of the river are overflowed. The width of the Desaguedero vaUey, at 

 the outlet from the lake, is three-quarters of a mile, nearly all over- 

 flowed in the rainy season by the waters seeking an escape between the 

 small hills on both sides. 



At the southern end of Lake Titicaca the water is clearer, sweeter, 

 and cooler, than it is on the n©rth side. There is no offensive odor 

 from the lake here. There are nine kinds of fish caught near the outlet, 

 and as many of water fowl. Fish are found on the tables, while in Puno 

 they are seldom used. We know on the ocean that currents of warm 

 water pass through cold water like oil, refusing to mingle. The streams 

 of cold water are quite as exclusive. 



When Lake Titicaca is at its lowest it receives more water from the 

 snow peaks on its eastern shore, than from any other source during the 

 dry season. As the snow streams are generally clear, we concluded the 

 cold water runs through the lake in streams towards the outlet. In the 

 wet season, as the muddy streams fill up the lake, they deposit their 

 loads of earthy matter on the western and northern side, which disturb 

 animal life. The fish seek a quiet retreat and are, therefore, found more 

 plentifully on the southern and eastern sides of the lake. 



All the dead rushes, driven by the east winds to the west side, lodge 

 on the flats and beach, manure the dry places, and deposit their seed ; 

 more rushes grow there to catch the sediment as the water filters 

 through. Year after year the growth dies off, breaks down, and helps 

 the upward levelling law. The rush grows from six to eight feet long. 

 It is called totora by the Indians. The stalk is of the size and shaped 

 like the blade of a bayonet, with a head and flower resembling clusters 

 of ripe buckwheat. It supplies the place of wood, iron, canvass, and 

 greens. The Indians were taught by the Incas to make bridges of it, 

 over which they passed their armies; besides their boats and sails, 

 houses and beds are sometimes made of it. An old Indian was seen re- 



