ANCIENT PERU.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1925, Page 3

ANCIENT PERU.

A 01.1 M PSE OF THE INCAS. In l.oiidoii recently Dm ('oiisul-Oen-el'iil for Peru. S'enor Salomon, delivered an inlerestiuy lei'tnre on ancient Peru, lie pointed mu that the ruins ol the Inca civilisation were spread over a wide area from Panama to Chile, cinbraeiny Columbia. Ecuador, Pel'll, and Bolivia. But still more important than the linn civilisation was the fact ol a pre-Inca civilisation, called Tin lluaneo. superior to that of the Inca, the remains of which monuments, monoliths, palaces, fortresses, etc. —were found scattered over Bolivia, in Cuzco, r mild I.ilk? Titicaca, and in many other places. The proper name ol this preI ilea civilisation was Tahiinnlisuyu. which means a connlry divided iulo lour districts —north, simili. east, and west. As for the liiui', they were a yrcat iiyrieuliural people. and the remains ol their canals and afpicdnet s, which modern cnyiiiccriny considered as serviceable as those constructed to-day, miylit he seen in many places, especially atony the coasts of Peril. The Incas worked the metals—-yuld and silver. While failiny to attach value to them like the moderns, they ornamented their palaces. temples and fortresses with them, and the specimens in the British Museum of their yold and silver works were proofs of their artistic ability. They had no rich and no poor. But, said the lecturer, everyone was happy and discontent was unknown ainony them. The State did everythiny for ils subjects, intereferiny in all tliinys, even in the affairs of private life. Indeed, the system was Socialistic. There were three classes —the royal family. the priests, and the people. The chief priest and the head ot the nrinv were drawn from the royal bouse. The Inca had many wives and a In rye proyeny, and he married his sister in order to keep the royal blood uiiinixed. Every man of L’l and every yirt of IN was compelled to marry. To every child born a piece of land was yiveu a bov yettiny more than a yirl. All the work was done bv the people, and every person, -limit, woman and child (from live upwards), had his or her allotted share of work to do. No one was permitted to lie overworked, but no one flared be lazy under penalty ol fleatli for such a crime ayainst the State. The ayrieultiiral season was opened by the linn himself with a yulden plouyh. It was verv curious to note that in the re-

muter parts of Peru to-day many of these old customs are still followed, and the old communistic spirit still prevailed. Transport was on the backs of the natives or bv the llama—the camel ol Peru for immemorial ayes.—" Chemical News."