stones of enormous size^ which we see in the 
Peruvian edifices of Cuzco and the neighbouring' 
countries. Acosta measured some at lu*aqua- 
naco, which were twelve metres (thirty-eight 
feet) long^ five metres, eight tenths (eighteen 
feet) broad, and one metre nine tenths (six feet) 
thick. Pedro Cie9a of Leon saw some of the 
same dimensions in the ruins of Tialniaiiaco 
In the citadel of Caiinar I saw no stones that 
exceeded twenty-six decimetres (eight feet) in 
length. They are in general much less remark- 
able for their bulk, than the extreme beauty of 
their shape ; the greater part are joined without 
any appearance of cement. We nevertlieless 
recognise cement in some of the buildings sur- 
rounding the citadel, and in the three houses of 
the Inca at Pullal, each of which is more than 
fifty-eight metres long. This cement is formed 
of a mixture of small stones and argillaceous 
marl, which effervesces with acids ; it is a true 
mortar, of which I detached considerable por- 
tions with a knife, by digging into the interstices 
which were left between the parallel courses of 
the stones. This fact deserves some attention ; 
because the travellers who preceded us have all 
asserted, that the Peruvians were unacquainted 
with the use of mortar ; but the supposition, 
that the Peruvians were as ignorant in this point 
* Cie 9 a, Chronica del Peru (Anvers, 1554), p. 254. 
