ecured by a thong round the ankle.
He took charge of a mule laden with our clothes and a supply of
provisions.

Manco took an affectionate farewell of us as we were mounting our horses
at the door of the hut. He pressed our hands as he said--

"We may meet again, dear friends, at some future time, when the children
of the sun may dare to lift up their heads in the land where their
fathers ruled. Till then, farewell."

We found, a little farther on, a band of a hundred men, well armed with
muskets and rifles, ready to escort us; and a young man of the Inca
family, their leader, told us that they were to accompany us to help us
to cross the difficult barriers which surrounded the spot we were in,
and to watch us till we reached the neighbourhood of Cuzco.

Accustomed as I was to mountain scenery, I should not before have
thought it possible for any four-footed animals to climb up the rugged
precipices, over which the Indians led and pushed our horses and mules.
In some places they were literally hauled up with ropes, and let down
again on the other side. My kind guides assisted me up and down also,
though I had nearly recovered my usual strength. A number of streams
crossed our path, adding not a little to its difficulties.

Our animals were generally driven into the water and compelled to swim
across, being then hauled up on the other side. We passed by means of a
curious kind of bridge called a Huano. It was formed of a thick rope,
which is carried by means of a lighter line across the chasm. The
lighter line was carried across by some powerful swimmer, or by a man
holding on to the mane of one of the horses or mules. On the rope ran a
roller, to which was fastened a piece of wood, and to the wood the
passenger was secured; the transit was made more easy by two light
lines, by which the piece of wood was drawn from side to side. Several
of the Indians went first across. I watched them in their dizzy
transit, and I thought, if the rope breaks, what will become of them?
When it came to my turn to cross, I held my head as high as I could, and
crossed my legs over the thick rope, which I grasped with my hands. I
did not dare to turn to look into the deep gulf below; for strong as my
nerves were, I felt that if I did, I should have let go my hold. I was
not sorry to find my head knocking against the shrubs and rocks on the
opposite side. My father followed me; and then the whole body, one by
one, passed ove