years they discovered no good land; all was
swamp and inundated land without inhabitants."

This expedition accomplished nothing further than to obtain definite
information as to Peru. Pizarro's grant from the governor having
expired, and the further fact that he had spent all his fortune in these
unsuccessful expeditions, made it necessary for him to go to Spain.
Received by the emperor with favor, clothed with ample authority, he was
able to raise men and money, and finally sailed from Panama in 1531 on
his third and successful expedition for the conquest of Peru. Thus was
made known to the world what is regarded as the most wonderful example
of native civilization in the two Americas.

The dawn of history for Peru was the sunset of her native culture. In a
few short years what has come down to us as the Empire of the Incas
was completely overthrown; the enslaved Indians were groaning under the
weight of Spanish oppression; the demolition of her ancient monuments
had already begun, and romance, tradition, and wonder had already thrown
their subtle charms around the ruins. The old customs and usages were on
the sudden dropped, a new culture was forced upon the unwilling natives,
and prehistoric Peru, though distant but a few years in time, was
as completely separated from historic Peru as is the culture of the
Neolithic Age in Europe from that of the early historic period.

The magician's wand in the fairy stories of olden days did not present
results more bewildering in their changes than did the operations of
the Spaniards in Peru. All accounts unite in praising the government of
ancient Peru. There is probably no question but what the government
the Spaniards overthrew was one far better adapted to the wants of the
native inhabitants than the one they forced them to accept. But when we
read the accounts of that government as set forth by the early writers,
we are at a loss to know what to believe. There is such an evident
mixture of fables, traditions, and facts, that the cautious student
hesitates, and asks what support the researches of later scholars give
to these early writers. We doubt whether we have to this day clear ideas
of the culture of ancient Peru. This is to be regretted. There is no
question but that here was the highest development of the Indian race in
America. If we accept the accounts given us, here rose an empire which
will not suffer by comparison with the flourishing empires of early
times in