ocating odour which was
everywhere prevalent in Cuzco.

The photographs that are reproduced in the illustrations of this book
will give an idea of the grandeur of the Inca works better than any
description. As I intend to produce at a later date a special work on
that country, I am unable here to go fully into the history of the
marvellous civilization of that race.

A photograph will be seen in one of the illustrations showing the
immensity of the three-walled fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Another
photograph will show with what accuracy the Incas could carve
stone--which, mind you, in those days must have been much softer than it
is now, and not unlike the sandstone that is used in England for building
purposes.

Many curious subterranean passages were to be found on the mountains near
Cuzco, the entrances to which were among picturesque rocks. The Incas
seemed to have a regular mania for carving steps and angular channels in
rocks. Not far from the fortress could be found the place of recreation
of the Incas--the Rodadeiro--over which the Incas tobogganed, perhaps
sitting on hides. Thousands and thousands of people must have gone in for
the sport, as the solid rock was deeply grooved by the friction of the
persons who have slid on it.

The remains of ancient altars for the worship of the sun and an Inca
throne, where the king of the Incas must have sat while battles were
taking place, were indeed most interesting to examine.

More interesting than any other to me was the particular spot on the
mountain side where a kind of throne existed carved out of a huge block
of rock, and where a battle of the Incas against their enemies could be
reconstructed. Mounds of ammunition, consisting of round stones as big as
a lawn-tennis ball, had been accumulated above and near the throne. Just
below that high spot I found scattered upon the mountain side quantities
of ammunition which had evidently been thrown by the Incas at the
attacking foes.

Farther on was the "round table" where the Incas had their feasts--a huge
circular table of rock situated near a conical boulder of immense size.

Interesting fountains with carved figure-heads; an Inca bath of graceful
lines; and, some kilometres beyond Cuzco, the marvellous ruins of
Viraccocha at Tinta, where gigantic walls of a palace were to be seen
standing, and ruins of other fortresses filled one with amazement.

On the mountain side near the town were the strange gateways of
C