NOTICES OF PERU. 



399 



ment, a tall Indian, whose person was but partially concealed 

 by a dirty poncho rolled about him, who was leaning against 

 a post, arms folded, a leg crossed over the other, toe resting 

 on the ground, and head reclining slightly backward, listening 

 silently to our conversation, remarked, that it would be dan- 

 gerous to visit that huaca, because it was enchanted. No hay 

 tal — tu no sabes nada" — It is no such thing — thou knowest 

 nothing — said the priest snappishly, and then in a softer tone 

 said to me, No le crea V'"'^-" — Dont you believe him — at 

 the same time, with a significant look, moving his forefinger 

 before his nose, from one side to the other. He then observed, 

 that there was a huaca near the mouth of the river, which be- 

 came enchanted in a curious manner. Two parties, without any 

 knowledge of the intentions of each other, commenced mining 

 on opposite sides, at night, with the view of keeping their 

 work secret. At last the adits met in the centre, and when the 

 earth between them grew thin, they heard strange sounds, 

 which they attributed to enchanted Indians, who were disturb- 

 ed by their labors. Presently the partition broke, and there 

 was a rush of wind through the aperture, that reduced all to 

 darkness. The workmen threw down their tools, and fled in 

 great consternation, and though it was fully explained, the 

 lower orders never could be persuaded that the huaca was not 

 enchanted. 



Though many Huacas have been explored, and yielded large 

 amounts in gold, there are still many which remain untouched j 

 these may reward the enterprise of some fortune-hunting indi- 

 vidual. There is an anecdote told in Truxillo, of a poor but in- 

 dustrious Spaniard, who gained the esteem of an old Indian, 

 by kind offices, and protecting him from the operation of the 

 mita system. The Indian described a spot in Chimu, where 

 the Spaniard found more than a million in gold, in utensils and 

 ornaments, and promised to tell him before his death where 

 he might obtain much more, saying that he had only got a 

 single egg fi^om the nest. In gratitude for this mark of confi- 

 dence, the Spaniard purchased an exemption from personal 

 service in the mines, for the Indian and all of his tribe, but the 

 old man died, and his secret was buried with him ! 



