They are
said to exist in Northern Peru. We are at a loss to account for their
appearance, for certainly the people generally were ignorant of their
use.

Illustration of Relics from Graves at Pachacamac.-------

The valley of the Canete, the next one we meet going south, is a
very large and very fertile valley. It is also full of ruins, but not
differing enough from the others to justify a separate description.
About one hundred miles below Lima we notice three small islands. These
are the Chincha Islands, noticeable on account of the immense quantities
of guano they contain. It seems that at various depths in this guano
deposits are found relics of man. In our next cut we present some of
these objects. The two small vessels which were probably water jars,
were found buried in the guano at a depth of sixty-two feet. The other
figure, a wooden idol, was found at the depth of thirty-five feet.

Illustration of Relics found in Guano deposits.------

We have no very good data on which to rely when we attempt to estimate
the number of years required to bury the water jars to the depth where
found. Thousands of years must have passed.<40> The water jars are not
rude forms. No little skill is indicated by their formation. The wooden
idol is not necessarily near as old as the jars, but no one can doubt
but that it dates from long before the Inca conquest of the valley.
Another collection of small idols, and supposed royal emblems, also
found in guano deposits, but at an unknown depth, is shown earlier in
this chapter.

We have thus far been describing the ruins that occur in the territory
occupied by the coast tribes, a people in many ways different from the
great body of Peruvian people in the interior. According to traditions,
the conquest of the coast tribes took place about one hundred and fifty
years before the Spanish conquest. The details of this conquest are
given with great precision. We doubt whether any great reliance can
be placed upon them. We might remark that while Garcillasso traces the
progress of the conquest from the south north, Salcamayhua reverses this
order, and makes the victorious Incas march from the north to the south.
One or the other made a mistake in traditions.

Illustration of Prehistoric Pottery Ware.----------

The Inca conquest of the coast tribes was a very thorough one. The names
and traditions of the tribes were blotted out. The word Yunca, by which
they are known, is