On the slope overlooking the ruined city the water is distributed through smaller channels over the plain, and into the numerous reservoirs in the city. A lofty wall of great thickness extended for miles along the eastern or inland borders of the city, and within it were extensive gardens each with its irrigating channel.
The ruins of this unique city now consist of labyrinths of walls forming great enclosures, each containing many buildings, with here and there gigantic mounds. These mounds or pyramids are the most marvellous features of the ruins. The huaca or mound called 'Obispo' by the Spaniards is built of stones, rubble, and adobes, covers an area of 500 square feet, and is 150 feet high. Another was called 'Toledo,' in which great treasure was found. The excavator, Garcia de Toledo, in 1577, dug out gold to the amount of 278,174 castellanos de oro,[1] of which 61,622 were paid as the royal fifths. Excavations were continued at
- ↑ The castellano de oro and peso de oro were the same (the commercial value being £2 12s. 6d.), equal to 490 silver maravedis, or 14 reals 14 maravedis. Altogether treasure worth £5,500,000 is recorded.
The amounts are derived from the records of the King's fifths, preserved in the municipal books of Truxillo, which were destroyed by the Chilians. Fortunately Mr. Blackwood had previously made extracts, and he gave copies to Mr. Hutchinson, H.M. Consul at Callao. See his Two Years in Peru, ii. p. 154. A certain Colonel La Rosa was excavating in Squier's time, and had obtained $30,000 worth of gold.
M. Clemencin wrote an essay on the value of money in the time of Ferdinand and Isabella (Memorias de Acad. Hist. de Madrid, vol. vi.), quoted by Prescott, i. p. 25 n.
