[355] The vineyards of the Peruvian coast valleys have become famous for the delicious grape spirits called italia and pisco. In 1860 the valleys of Yca and Pisco alone yielded seventy thousand botijas or jars of spirits, and ten thousand barrels of excellent wine.
[356] Next to the wonderful roads, these irrigating channels are the most convincing proofs of the advanced civilisation of the Yncas. Once nearly all the coast valleys were supplied with them, and thousands of acres were reclaimed from the desert; but, owing to the barbarism or neglect of the Spaniards, they nearly all went to ruin very soon after the conquest. In one valley alone, that of Nasca (or, more properly, Nanasca, “pain”), the irrigating works of the Yncas are still in working order, and from them an idea may be formed of the extent and grandeur of the public works of the Yncas throughout the coast region of Peru.
The valley of Nasca descends from the Andes by an easy and gradual slope, widening as it descends, and is hemmed in by lofty mountains on either side. It is covered with cultivation, consisting of vineyards, cotton plantations, fields of aji, maize, wheat, pumpkins, melons, and other vegetables, and fruit gardens. In 1853 I examined the irrigation channels of this valley very carefully. All that nature has supplied, in the way of water, is a small water course, which is frequently dry for six years together; and, at the best, only a little streamlet trickles down during the month of February. The engineering skill displayed by the Yncas, in remedying this defect, is astonishing. Deep trenches were cut along the whole length of the valley, and so far into the mountains that the present inhabitants have no knowledge of the place where they commence. High up the valley the main trenches or puquios are some four feet in height, with the floor, sides, and roof lined with stones. Lower down they are separated into smaller puquios, which ramify in every direction over the valley, and supply all the estates with delicious water throughout the year, feeding the little streams which irrigate the fields. The larger puquios are several feet below the surface, and at intervals of about two hundred yards there are man-holes, called ojos, by which workmen can get down into the channels, and clear away any obstructions.
Further on Cieza de Leon describes other works of irrigation in the valley of Yca, on the same magnificent scale, which, even when he wrote, had already been destroyed by the barbarian Spaniards.
The subterranean channels were called huirca in Quichua, and those flowing along on the surface rarca. In all parts of the Sierra of Peru the remains of irrigating channels are met with, which the Spaniards destroyed and neglected, and thus allowed the once fertile fields to return to their natural sterility. The principal remains of works of irrigation, in the Sierra, are to be found at Caxamarca and at Cerro Pasco. Garcilasso de la Vega relates how the Ynca Huira-ccocha caused an aqueduct to be constructed, twelve feet in depth, and more than one hundred and twenty leagues in length. Another aqueduct was made in the province of Condesuyos (Cunti-suyu), which was more than fifty-five leagues long. The Ynca historian justly exclaims: “These are works worthy of the grandeur of such princes. They are equal to the finest works of the kind in the world, considering the enormous rocks which were cut through to form them, without iron or steel tools. When a deep ravine crossed the intended course of the aqueduct, it was led round to the head. The channels were cut out of the living rock in many places, the outer side being formed of a stone wall of large six-sided slabs, fitting exactly into each other, and banked up with earth.”
[357] There is a fox (Canis Azaræ, Pr. Max.) which abounds in the coast valleys, where it preys on the lambs.
[358] Prosopis horrida, Willd. This tree grows to a large size. The wood is very hard, the leaf small, and the branches bear an abundance of clusters of pods, which form excellent food for mules and cattle, and for immense herds of goats.
[359] “Formerly the valley of Chacama was called the granary of Peru, and, until the great earthquake of 1687, the wheat produced its seed two hundred fold. This valley alone harvested two hundred thousand bushels of this grain.” Stevenson, ii, p. 124-5.
[360] “The valleys of Chimu, Chacama, and Viru, may be considered as one, being separated from each other only by the branches of the Chacama river. United they are about twenty-eight leagues long and eleven broad. Their soil, irrigated by the waters of the river, is very fertile.” Stevenson, ii, p. 124.
[361] The ruins in the valley of Chimu or Truxillo are a league and a half from the port of Huanchaco. It is not known when they were built, but in the time of Pachacutec, the ninth Ynca (about A.D. 1340 to 1400), a powerful chief reigned in this valley, called Chimu-Canchu. After a long war with the Ynca’s son Yupanqui, the Chimu consented to worship the sun, and to abandon his own idols, consisting of figures of fish and other animals.