Fig. 42—Rug weaver at Cotahuasi. The industry is limited to a small group of related families, living in the Cotahuasi Canyon near Cotahuasi. The rugs are made of alpaca wool. Pure black, pure white, and various shades of mixed gray wool are employed. The result is that the rugs have “fast” colors that always retain their original contrasts. They are made only to order at the homes of the purchasers. The money payment is small, but to it is added board and lodging, besides tobacco, liqueurs, and wine. Before drinking they dip their finger-tips in the wine and sprinkle the earth “that it may be fruitful,” the air “that it may be warm,” the rug “that it may turn out well,” and finally themselves, making the sign of the cross. Then they set to work.
Fig. 43—The floor of the Urubamba Valley from Tarai. The work of the glaciers was not confined to the lofty situations. Mountain débris was delivered to all the streams, many of which aggraded their floors to a depth of several hundred feet, thus increasing the extent of arable soil at elevations where a less rigorous climate permits the production of crops and encourages intensive cultivation.