basin of Lake Titicaca by the knot of Vilcañota, which connects the eastern and maritime Cordilleras. To the north the wild mountains of Vilcapampa finally sink down into the tropical Amazonian forests.
Between the rivers there are four zones, in which the aspects of the land differ, mainly owing to varying elevations above the sea. To the south there is a vast extent of lofty tableland, with a very rigorous climate, where there were flocks of llamas, some scattered villages, and a few large lakes. Next, to the north, is the region of mountains and valleys with drainage to the two rivers. This was the most densely inhabited zone, yielding crops of maize and of edible roots. In its centre is Cuzco, with its two torrents of Huatanay and Tulumayu, uniting and then flowing down its long valley to join the sacred river. There were other valleys with picturesque lakes, and ravines filled with trees and flowering bushes. The lakes were frequented by a large goose (huallata), two ducks (nuñuma and huachua), flamingoes, cranes, herons, egrets, and a black ibis, as well as the Andean gull (quellua). The sides of the hills were occupied by terraced cultivation, but above the terraces the slopes were frequented by partridges (yutu) and quails (chuy), plover (llecco-llecco) and the Andean hare or uiscacha. Sometimes a condor might be made out, far up in the sky, like a black speck, while eagles (anca) and falcons (alcamari and huaman) are occasionally seen, soaring in mid
