Inca Land

is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The book chron icles Bingham's fascinating journeys through southern Peru, exploring the remnants of the Incan civilization and traversing diverse terrains, from the deserts to the heights of the Andes. It promises to shed light on the myster ies surrounding the Incas, their architecture, and the landscapes they inhab ited. The opening of the work sets a vivid scene of Bingham's motivations and experiences leading up to his explorations. Beginning with the inspira tion drawn from a book about a bridge of the Apurimac Valley, Bingham recounts how he became intrigued by the hidden past of the Incas. He dis cusses his travels, including acclimatizing to varying altitudes and climates, and hints at the dangers and challenges faced during his expeditions. The narrative includes references to his companions and the multifaceted envi ronment he encountered, hinting at the complex interplay between explo ration and the untold history he seeks to uncover in the highlands of Peru.

C A kind friend in Bolivia once placed in my hands a copy of a most inter esting book by the late E. George Squier, entitled "Peru. Travel and Explo ration in the Land of theIncas."Inthatvolumeisamarvelouspictureofthe Apurimac Valley. In the foreground is a delicate suspension bridge which commences at a tunnel in the face of a precipitous cliff and hangs in mid air at great height above the swirling waters of the "great speaker." In the distance, towering above a mass of stupendous mountains, is a magnificent snow-cappedpeak. ThedesiretoseetheApurimacandexperiencethethrill of crossing that bridge decided me in favor of an overland journey to Lima. As a result I went to Cuzco, the ancient capital of the mighty empire of the Incas, andwasthereurgedbythePeruvianauthoritiestovisitsomenewlyre discovered Incaruins. Asreadersof"AcrossSouthAmerica"willremember, these ruins were at Choqquequirau, an interesting place on top of a jungle covered ridge several thousand feet above the roaring rapids of the great Apurimac. There was some doubt as to who had originally lived here. The prefect insisted that the ruins represented the residence of the Inca Manco and his sons