382 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



main, but to raise him and his vassals from their low state of 

 Idolatry, and to improve their laws.* 



The huacas of Chimu have yielded more treasures and curi- 

 ous antiquities than those of any other of the Peruvian valleys. 

 Large amounts in gold and silver have been extracted at dif- 

 ferent periods. Among many of these antiquities, I was shown 

 a fore-arm and hand of gold, found several years since ; it was 

 about six inches long, hollow, without any seam, and had three 

 holes on one side, and a single one opposite, like those in the 

 joint of a flageolet, and it was supposed to have been used as a 

 musical instrument. 



The city of Truxillo, (now known in public documents by 

 the name of Libertad), stands in a sandy plain, about two 

 leagues to the northward of Guanchaco, and about a league 

 from the sea. It was founded in 1535, soon after the founding 

 of Lima, by Don Francisco Pizarro, and called after the city 

 of his birth in Estremadura in Spain. The streets are of a 

 convenient breadth, and intersect each other at right angles; 

 but from the nature of the soil, and being badly paved, they 

 are dusty and dirty. Many of the houses are built of adobes, 

 two stories high, having balconies looking into the streets and 

 interior courts, resembling Lima in all respects. The po- 

 pulation does not exceed six thousand. The city is surrounded 

 by an adobe wall, intended in former times to repel the at- 

 tacks of Indians. The city contains a cathedral, two convents 

 of nuns, and a hospital. Lately, a newspaper, under the title 

 of "El Quipos dei Chimu," printed on a sheet of foolscap, 

 headed with a phoenix rising from the flames, and the motto> 

 Sin ilustracion en los ciudadanos, ni severidad en los man- 

 datarios son nulaslas Republicas," is published every Saturday, 

 at a real each number, or at the rate of six dollars a year. 

 The editor announces, that all articles intended for publication 

 must be presented before Thursday of the week, if their pub- 

 lication be desired for the following Saturday ; this illustrates 

 the activity of the press in this city. The " Quipos" contains 

 the public decrees, items of foreign news, commercial adver- 



Garcilaso. Herrera. 



