The royal commentaries of Peru : in two parts / written originally in spanish by the Inca Garcilasso de la Vega; rendred into english by sir Paul Rycaut.

BooK III. Royal Commentaries. ver, as are alfo the other four; ali which they firained very hard; by help of tbe Rocks on the other fide ; and where thyy found not che convenience of Rocks, ' there they drove in Stakes, or cut into Qiarries of Srone, as íl:roog and fiable as the Rock it felf. The Bridge of Apurimac, which is now in che King's High- way of Cow, is fixed on one íide to a living Rock, and on the other íide to a Pillar hewed out of a Qg_arry. Thefe íhores or fupporrs of the Bridge are made with great hales and crunl'!els, through which che Rapes país; and for íl:rength- ning them che betcer, chey are fortified wirh Walls on each fide; chrough this hollowneís of che Rock five or fix Beams are croffed from one Wall to che o- ther, and placed one above che other, like che íl:eps of aLadder; on each of rhefa Bearns chey give a tura of che Rope belongiog to rhe feveral pieces, which are Matted with Ofiers, and firain chem as hard as by a Capíl:one, fo rhat che Bridge may noc fink with its ow·nweighc: Howfoever, this Bridge is noc fo cight, but that it finks in the middle, whereby chofe who país it defcend ar firíl:, and afrerwards mount again, untill chey come to che end, fo that it remains iil the fafhion of a Bow ; nor is it fo firm, but that it íhakes as· ofcen as the Wind blows harder than ordinary. Three Of thefe thick matted pieces were laid one on che other for the floor and foundation of the Bridge , and the other two ferved for the Rails or Walls on each fide : che 'floor they covered with thin Boards, which they láid crofs-- ways, fo that the length of che Board took che whole breadch of the Bridge, be- ing about two Yards : thefe Boards ferved to íl:rengthen the rnat~ed pieces, and · kee_p them from be.ihg fuddenly worn out ; and alfo they were crolfed with Rirns or Ledges of Wood, which ferved to keep the feet of the Beaíl:s which paffed from ílipping : the Rails or Walis ·of the Bridge were great!y fortified with thin Boards, clofe tied to the rnatted pieces, which ferved to Jl:rengthen it in that man- ner, that both Man and Beaíl: might pafs fecurely over ir. This füidge of Apu- rimac , vhich is the moíl: confiderable of any, is about .rwo hundred paces in lengrh. For my own part, I cannot fay that I ever meafured ir, but that 'diícour- fing rhereof wirh fome in Spain, they affured me that the lengch was rachtr more 1 than leís, and that feveral Spaniard1 had paffed ir on horfe-back, and forne of them running, which íhews perhaps more raíbnefs rhan prudence, and lelS wit rhan fear. This great Machine, which is begun onely wirh a Twiíl: of three Oliers, is at length brought to a mighty and íl:upendious work, and is more curious and wonderfoll than I have been able to defcribe ; the ufefulneís of it harh preved fo grear, that it hath been untill thefe days kept in repair at the publick charge, and not fuffered to fall to decay like orher greater Machines which the Spaniards found in that Countrey. In the times of die l nw thofe Bridges were yearly repaired by the Neighbouring Provinces, which were appoinred to provide the Matetiafs,. and pay rhe Workmen according to a Tax laid on rhem refpefüvely, and propor- tioned to their nearnefs and ability ; which alfo is in ufe to rh~s day. CH A -P. VIII. The Renown and-Fame of this Bridge is the caufe that many Nations fubmit themfelves. T HE ·Inca being informed that che Bridge was finiíhed, commanded his Ar- my to meet at their rendezvous ; which confiíling of twelve thoufand able Souldiers, under the Comrnand of experienced Officers, he marched cowards the Bridge, ~vhich h~ found well guartied a~ainft any attempt the Enemy co~ld make to bum it : But míl:ead thereof, the J11d1ans of Peru, who to rhe very ame that che Spaniards invaded rhem, were fo firnple as to admire any new invention, did K now