Home1778 Edition

CUSCO

Volume 3 · 226 words · 1778 Edition

a large and handsome town of South America, in Peru, formerly the residence of the Incas. It is seated at the foot of a mountain, and is built in a square form, in the middle of which there is the best market in all America: four large streets terminate in this square, which are all as straight as a line, and regard the four quarters of the world. The Spaniards tell us wonderful things of the richness of the Inca's palace, and of the temple of the sun; but more sober travellers, judging from what remains, think most of them to be fabulous. At present it contains eight large parishes, and five religious houses, the best of which belongs to the Jesuits; and the number of the inhabitants may be about 50,000, of which 3,414th are the original natives, Americans. From this town there is a very long road, which runs along the Cordelima; and, at certain distances, there are small houses for resting-places, some parts of which are so artificially wrought, that it is surprising how a people, who had no iron tools, could perform such workmanship. There are streams of water run through the town, which are a great convenience in so hot a country, where it never rains. It is 375 miles east of Lima. W. Long. 74. 37. S. Lat. 13. 0.