many of the artisans of the country, "because they were very expert in
the working of metals, and the fashioning of jewels and vases in gold
and silver." In the cut following we have two vases--the smaller one
of gold, the larger of silver. The material is very thin, and the
ornaments are produced by hammering from the inside.

Illustration of Gold and Silver Vases.---------------Illustration of
Bronze Knives and Tweezers.-------------

Besides such works as just described they had the art of casting
representations of men, animals, and reptiles in silver--sometimes
hollow, sometimes solid. They even cast more complex objects. Mr. Squier
says he has one "representing three figures--one of a man, and two
women, in a forest. It rises from a circular base about six inches
in diameter, and weighs forty-eight and a half ounces. It is solid
throughout--or, rather, is cast in a single piece, and rings, when
struck, like a bell." The trees, he says, are well represented, their
branches spreading in every direction. The human figures are also well
proportioned, and full of action. They also knew how to manufacture
bronze. Many agricultural implements are found, not only at Chimu, but
all along the coast. In the preceding cut we have bronze knives and
tweezers--also, a war-club of the same material.

All the coast tribes of Peru excelled in the manufacture of pottery.
Mr. Squier tells us that, in this sort of work we find "almost every
combination of regular or geometrical figures"--men, birds, animals,
fishes, etc., are reproduced in earthenware. In this cut we have one of
the many forms. Notice the serpent emblem.

Illustration of Water-jar.---------------------Illustration of
Water-jars from Ancon,-----------

The people of Chimu, whose ruins we have been describing, belong to the
coast division--differing in many respects from the Peruvian tribes
in the interior. Our information in regard to the coast people is very
limited. We have to judge them almost entirely from the ruins of their
towns, and the remains of their handiwork. There is no reason to suppose
they were the inferiors of the Peruvians in culture. It is quite the
custom to speak of them as if they were low savages before the Incas
conquered the country; and that they owe to the latter all their advance
in culture. On the contrary, we may well doubt whether their condition
was at all improved by the Inca conquest. The coast people are supposed
to have