The Treasure of the Incas
Excerpt
The mysterious loss of a large portion of the treasure of the
Incas has
never been completely cleared up. By torturing the natives to
whom the
secret had been entrusted, the Spaniards made two or three
discoveries,
but there can be little doubt that these finds were only a
small
proportion of the total amount of the missing hoards, although for
years
after their occupation of the country the Spaniards spared no pains
and
hesitated at no cruelty to bring to light the hidden wealth.
The story of
the boat which put to sea laden with treasure is historical, and it
was
generally supposed that she was lost in a storm that took place
soon after
she sailed. It was also morally certain that the Peruvians
who left the
country when the Spaniards became masters carried off with them a
very
large amount of treasure into that part of South America lying east
of
Peru. Legends are current that they founded a great city
there, and that
their descendants occupy it at the present time. But the
forests are so
thick, and the Indian tribes so hostile, that the country has never
yet
been explored, and it may be reserved for some future
traveller,
possessing the determination of my two heroes, to clear up the
mystery of
this city as they penetrated that of the lost treasure-ship.
It need
hardly be said that the state of confusion, misrule, and incessant
civil
wars which I have described as prevailing in Peru presents a true
picture
of the country at the period in which this story is laid.
