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From "World Explorer", Vol. 2, No. 3. by David Hatcher Childress ll are architects o! !ate, Wor"i#$ the %alls o! time& 'ome %ith massive deeds a#d $reat( 'ome %ith lesser rhyme. )*o#$!ello%, "+he ,-ilders" What i! . told yo- that . had bee# i#side a !a#tastic t-##el system that r-#s be#eath the co#ti#e#t o! 'o-th merica/ Wo-ld yo- thi#" me a liar/ 0r %orse yet, i#sa#e/ +ho-$h . admit it is a story that seems di!!ic-lt to believe, . am telli#$ the tr-th. 1ead o#, dear reader, a#d decide i! . am mad or lyi#$. ltho-$h it seems i#credible, there is a $reat deal o! evide#ce to sho% that a #et%or" o! a#cie#t t-##els exists thro-$ho-t m-ch o! 'o-th merica. *e$e#ds abo-#d o# this t-##el system, a#d . ca# state that . have eve# bee# i#side some o! the t-##els o# this stra#$est o! co#ti#e#ts. The Gold of the Incas *e$e#ds o! t-##els i# 'o-th merica s-r!aced almost immediately a!ter the co#2-est %he# the 'pa#iards discovered that the .#cas had hidde# m-ch o! their treas-re)sacred relics o! p-re $old either be#eath the .#ca capital o! C-3co or i# a secret city "#o%# as 4aititi. Either %ay, le$e#d had it that a t-##el system %as -sed. +he history o! the co#2-est o! the .#ca Empire by the 'pa#ish is o#e o! the most bi3arre a#d i#credible stories o! history. +hat Fra#cisco 4i3arro %ith o#ly 563 me# co-ld co#2-er a sophisticated empire o! several millio# people is a !eat that has #ever bee# e2-aled, a#d probably #ever %ill be7 4i3arro made his !irst expeditio# do%# the 4aci!ic Coast !rom 4a#ama i# 5829, attracted by r-mors o! $old a#d other treas-re. :ree" o! his compa#y %e#t alo#e !rom the ship i#to a# .#ca villa$e o# the coast, a#d %as ta"e# to be a ret-r#i#$ $od by the #atives. +hey bro-$ht him to a temple !illed %ith more $old tha# he had see# i# his li!e. 1et-r#i#$ to the ship, he told 4i3arro abo-t the !ab-lo-s %ealth he had see#. 'atis!ied that the r-mors %ere tr-e, 4i3arro ret-r#ed to 4a#ama a#d the# to 'pai# to prepare a#other expeditio#. He set o-t a$ai# i# 5835, la#ded o# a lo#ely beach i# Ec-ador a#d be$a# marchi#$ i#la#d. He %as e#teri#$ the #e%ly -#ited .#ca empire, %hich had ;-st recovered !rom a civil %ar. +he people o! 4er-, ,olivia, a#d rest o! the .#ca empire %ere #ot all tr-e .#cas, b-t lar$ely <-ech-a a#d ymara .#dia#s. .#cas %ere the r-li#$ elite, o! a di!!ere#t race, %ho believed themselves desce#ded !rom "=a#coCapac," a red)haired, bearded messe#$er !rom :od. !ter ta"i#$ the to%# o! +-mbe3 a#d p-tti#$ 2-ite o! !e% o! the people to death, the 'pa#ish co#2-istadors co#ti#-ed their march so-th. t Ca;amarca, they %ere received by .#ca royalty %ith $reat pomp, sple#dor, a#d $i!ts. +he r-ler o! the .#cas >or more correctly, "the .#ca"? tah-alpa %as impressed by their beards a#d %hite s"i#, believi#$ them to! -l!ill a prophecy abo-t the ret-r# o! Viracocha, the le$e#dary bearded prophet !rom a !ar a%ay la#d %ho had visited the 'o-th merica# peoples ma#y h-#dreds o! years be!ore. merica# .#dia#s have #o !acial hair, tho-$h the !irst .#cas are said to have had reddish)bro%# hair a#d beards, li"e Viracocha. +here!ore, tah-alpa believed that the 'pa#ish %ere .#cas themselves, 'o#s o! the '-#, $ods i# their o%# ri$ht, ;-st as he, the .#ca, %as a $od.
+he co#2-istadors remai#ed i# Ca;amarca !or a time, %hile the .#ca sho%ered them %ith $i!ts. .# !act, the .#cas believed that the horses ridde# by the 'pa#iards %ere also me#, a#d ass-med by the %ay the horses co#sta#tly che%ed o# their bits that these %ere the horses@ !odder. +he .#cas %o-ld p-t bars o! $old a#d silver i# the horses@ !eedi#$ tro-$hs, sayi#$, "Eat this, it is m-ch better tha# iro#." +he 'pa#iards !o-#d this 2-ite am-si#$, a#d e#co-ra$ed the .#dia#s to "eep bri#$i#$ $old a#d silver !or the horses to eat7 Fi#ally, tah-alpa himsel! came to the 'pa#iards !rom his #earby palace. D-ri#$ this a-die#ce i#side the %alls o! Ca;amarca, tah-alpa had %ith him #o less tha# 3A,AAA me#, all -#der strict comma#d #ot to harm the 'pa#iards, eve# i! they themselves %ere attac"ed. +his prohibitio# proved to be their do%#!all. +he co#2-istadors "ept ma#y o! their me# i# hidi#$, ready to attac", as 4i3arro a#d his $e#erals %ith the Domi#ica# !riar Vi#ce#te de Valverde had their a-die#ce %ith tah-alpa i# the to%#s2-are. +he .#ca %elcomed them as Viracocha .#cas a#d !ello% 'o#s o! the '-#. +he# the !riar Valverde addressed the .#ca, telli#$ him abo-t the o#e tr-e !aith, a#d the most po%er!-l me# o# earth, the 4ope a#d Bi#$ Charles o! 'pai#. !ter a lo#$ speech tra#slated by the .#dia# Felipe, the .#ca as"ed the so-rce o! the !riar@s material, %ho respo#ded by ha#di#$ the .#ca a ,ible. +he .#ca placed it to his ear. Heari#$ #othi#$, he thre% it to the $ro-#d. +his rather -#)pio-s $est-re !rom tah-alpa %as ;-st %hat the co#2-istadors %ere %aiti#$ !or. +he 'pa#iards attac"ed i# !-ll !orce, ma#y !rom hidi#$, a#d be$a# a sla-$hter o! the .#cas. +hey "illed literally tho-sa#ds, ma#y o! %hom %ere tryi#$ to escape. Not o#e co#2-istador %as h-rt, %ith the exceptio# o! Fra#cisco 4i3arro himsel!, %ho %as %o-#ded by o#e o! his o%# me# as he reached !or tah-alpa. #d so %as tah-alpa "id#apped by a mere 5CA $old)cra3ed co#2-istadors >some o! the ori$i#al 563 had died o! disease a#d i# earlier battles?. +o sec-re his !reedom, tah-alpa o!!ered to $ive the 'pa#iards $old i# excha#$e !or his release. 'e#si#$ that they still did #ot reali3e the !ab-lo-s %ealth at his comma#d, tah-alpa stood -p i# the room i# %hich he %as impriso#ed a#d reached as hi$h as he co-ld( he o!!ered to !ill the room %ith $old to that hei$ht i# ret-r# !or his release. +he 'pa#iards a$reed. Complicati#$ the story at this poi#t %ere several i#tri$-es. First, there %as a $reat rivalry bet%ee# Fra#cisco 4i3arro, his brother Ferdi#a#d, a#d Do# Die$o de lma$ro. .#deed, Fra#cisco 4i3arro a#d de lma$ro %ere bitter e#emies. 'eco#d, tah-alpa %as still at odds %ith his brother H-ascar, %ho by ma#y acco-#ts %as the le$itimate heir to the .#ca thro#e. .t had bee# the civil %ar bet%ee# the t%o brothers that had %ea"e#ed the .#ca Empire ;-st prior to the arrival o! the 'pa#ish. While he %as still i# captivity, tah-alpa ordered H-ascar arrested, believi#$ him to be plotti#$ a ta"eover o! the Empire. ,oth tah-alpa a#d H-ascar #o% too" a rather !atalistic attit-de to the eve#ts ta"i#$ place, as their !ather had predicted s-ch a co#!lict be!ore his death. +hird, most o! the s-b;ects o! the .#ca Empire %ere #ot .#cas, b-t commo# .#dia#s o! e#tirely di!!ere#t races a#d c-lt-ral herita$es. Fe% %ere loyal to the .#cas, a#d ma#y o! them eve#t-ally sided %ith the 'pa#ish. Fi#ally, a$ai# !rom captivity, tah-alpa ordered his brother H-ascar "illed, thi#"i#$ this %o-ld save the empire !rom him, believi#$ that the 'pa#iards may #ot release him eve# a!ter the ra#som %as paid. ll o! these !actors to$ether set the sta$e !or the !all o! the $reatest civili3atio# exta#t i# the Wester# Hemisphere at the time. .t too" some time !or the $old to reach Ca;amarca, as it had to be bro-$ht !rom <-ito, C-3co, a#d other cities that %ere h-#dreds o! miles a%ay. While the ra#som %as bei#$ $athered, 4i3arro se#t some o! the co#2-istadors as emissaries to <-ito a#d C-3co to e#s-re that tah-alpa had #ot ordered a# assa-lt o# Ca;amarca. Whe# they ret-r#ed, they reported that !ab-lo-s %ealth %as to be !o-#d i# these cities. +he .#cas did #ot -se $old, silver, a#d precio-s sto#es !or c-rre#cy as E-ropea#s a#d other c-lt-res did. .#stead, they %ere val-ed !or decoratio#, a#d -sed exte#sively !or reli$io-s ob;ects, !-r#ishi#$s, a#d eve# -te#sils. =a#y b-ildi#$s had i#terior $old)li#ed %alls, a#d exterior $old rai# $-tters a#d pl-mbi#$. +here!ore, %he# the .#ca %as ra#somed !or a room!-ll o! $old, to the .#cas it %as as i! they %ere payi#$ %ith pots a#d pa#s, old pl-mbi#$, a#d rai# $-tters7
+hese %ere se#t $ladly, tho-$h reli$io-s ob;ects a#d those %ith esthetic val-e %ere #ot. +he ra#som paid has bee# estimated to have bee# CAA)C8A to#s o! $old a#d ;e%els a#d 36D millio# "pesos de oro," the e2-ivale#t o! E8AA,AAA,AAA i# 5FDA. :ive# the rise i# the price o! $old si#ce the#, today that ra#som %o-ld be %orth almost !ive billio# dollars. Not s-rprisi#$ly, o#ce the ra#som %as paid, tah-alpa %as #ot released. +he .#dia# i#terpreter, Felipe, had !alle# i# love %ith o#e o! tah-alpa@s %ives, a#d he %as "ee# to see that the .#ca did #ot s-rvive. He spread the r-mor that tah-alpa %as raisi#$ a# army to storm Ca;amarca. +his bei#$ the o#ly exc-se the 'pa#iards #eeded to exec-te the .#ca, he %as co#dem#ed to death. 'pa#iards %ho had be!rie#ded tah-alpa advised him to co#vert to Christia#ity be!ore his exec-tio#, %hich %o-ld allo% the Domi#ical !athers to stra#$le him as a Christia# rather tha# b-r# him at the sta"e as a heretic. He complied, %as bapti3ed, the# stra#$led. +his %as do#e eve# tho-$h more $old %as o# its %ay, as part o! a seco#d ra#som, %orth m-ch more tha# the !irst. =ea#%hile, three 'pa#ish emissaries came bac" !rom C-3co, the .#ca capital, %ith eve# more treas-re, looted !rom the '-# +emple. +hey bro-$ht a# imme#se car$o o! $old a#d silver vessels loaded o# the bac"s o! 2AA sta$$eri#$, s%eati#$ .#dia#s. #d the seco#d ra#som trai# o! 55,AAA llamas %as o# its %ay to 4i3arro@s camp. *oaded %ith $old, it had bee# se#t by tah-alpa@s 2-ee# !rom C-3co. ,-t %he# they heard o! the .#ca@s assassi#atio#, the .#dia#s drove the llamas o!! the road a#d b-ried the 5AA po-#ds o! $old that each a#imal carried. 'ir Cleme#ts =ar"ham, %ho had a partic-larly "ee# "#o%led$e o! 4er-, believed that the $old %as hidde# i# the mo-#tai#s behi#d 3a#$aro. +he Cordillera de 3a#$aro is a %ild sierra little "#o%# to !orei$#ers, the #ame i# <-ech-a mea#i#$, "place !arthest a%ay." .t is believed that this %as the easter#most poi#t i# the #dea# cordilleras %hich the old .#ca empire domi#ated. Ho%ever, other versio#s o! this story say that the treas-re %as hidde# i# a system o! t-##els that $oes thro-$h the #des. 0#e !a#tastic treas-re story i#volves "+he :arde# o! the '-#." 'armie#to,a 'pa#ish historia# >5832)586F?, %rote that this s-bterra#ea# $arde# %as located #ear the +emple o! the '-#. "+hey had a $arde# i# %hich the l-mps o! earth %ere pieces o! !i#e $old. +hese %ere cleverly so%# %ith mai3e the stal"s, leaves a#d ears o! %hich %ere all o! $old. +hey %ere so %ell pla#ted that #othi#$ %o-ld dist-rb them. ,esides all this, they had more tha# t%e#ty sheep %ith their yo-#$. +he shepherds %ho $-arded the sheep %ere armed %ith sli#$s a#d staves made o! $old. +here %ere lar$e #-mbers o! ;ars o! $old a#d silver pots, vases, a#d every "i#d o! vessel." 'hortly a!ter the co#2-est o! 4er-, Cie3a de *eo#, part .#ca a#d part 'pa#ish, %rote, ".! all the $old that is b-ried i# 4er- ... %ere collected, it %o-ld be impossible to coi# it, so $reat the 2-a#tity( a#d yet the 'pa#iards o! the co#2-est $ot very little, compared %ith %hat remai#s. +he .#dia#s said, @+he treas-re is so co#cealed that eve# %e, o-rselves, "#o% #ot the hidi#$ place7@ ".!, %he# the 'pa#iards e#tered C-3co they had #ot committed other tric"s, a#d had #ot so soo# exec-ted their cr-elty i# p-tti#$ tah-alpa to death, . "#o% #ot ho% ma#y $reat ships %o-ld have bee# re2-ired to bri#$ s-ch treas-res to old 'pai# as is #o% lost i# the bo%els o! the earth a#d %ill remai# so beca-se those %ho b-ried it are #o% dead." What Cie3a de *eo# did #ot say %as that, altho-$h the .#dia#s as a %hole did #ot "#o% %here this treas-re lay, there %ere a !e% amo#$ them %ho did "#o% a#d closely $-arded the secret. !ter seei#$ the !i#e#ess o! the treas-res i# tah-alpa@s !irst ra#som, 4i3arro had dema#ded that he be sho%# the so-rce o! this !ab-lo-s %ealth be!ore he %o-ld release the .#ca. He had heard that the .#cas possessed a secret a#d i#exha-stible mi#e or depository, %hich lay i# a vast, s-bterra#ea# t-##el r-##i#$ ma#y miles -#der$ro-#d. Here %as s-pposedly "ept the acc-m-lated riches o! the co-#try.
Ho%ever, le$e#d has it that tah-alpa@s 2-ee# co#s-lted the ,lac" =irrorat the +emple o! the '-#, a sort o! ma$ic mirror similar to that i# the story o! '#o% White. .# it she sa% the !ate o! her h-sba#d, %hether she paid the ra#som or #ot. 'he reali3ed that her h-sba#d a#d the empire %ere doomed a#d that she m-st certai#ly #ot reveal the secret o! the t-##els or %ealth to the $old cra3ed co#2-istadors. +he horri!ied 2-ee# ordered that the e#tra#ce to the $reat t-##el be closed -#der the directio# o! the priests a#d ma$icia#s. lar$e door i#to a roc"y %all o! a cli!! $or$e #ear C-3co, it %as sealed by !illi#$ its depths %ith h-$e masses o! roc". +he# the dis$-ised e#tra#ce %as hidde# -#der $ree# $rass a#d b-shes, so that #ot the sli$htest si$# o! a#y !iss-re %as perceptible to the eye. Co#2-istadors, adve#t-rers, treas-re h-#ters, a#d historia#s have all %o#dered abo-t a#d p-rs-ed this le$e#d. What i#credible treas-re did the .#cas seal i#to these t-##els/ #d as to the t-##els themselves, %he# a#d ho% %ere they made, a#d %here do they $o/ 1esearchers li"e Harold Wil"i#s believed that the t-##els r-# !rom the ce#tral #des aro-#d C-3co !or h-#dreds o! miles #orth a#d so-th thro-$h the mo-#tai#s, as !ar as Chile a#d Ec-ador. Wil"i#s believed that there %ere other sp-rs o! these t-##els that ra# to the east, comi#$ o-t at the lost city o! 4aititi i# the hi$h ;-#$le some%here. #other sp-r %as said to r-# to the %est, do%# to the coastal desert o! 4er-. +his sp-r o! the t-##el system co-ld have come o-t #ear *ima, the area o! the a#cie#t .#ca city o! 4achacamac, or #ear 4isac a#d the Ca#dlestic" o! the #des, %hich is !-rther so-th alo#$ the coast. Wil"i#s believed, as did appare#tly =adame ,lavats"y >a %ell "#o%# psychic a#d !o-#der o! +he +heosophical 'ociety?, that a sp-r o! the a#cie#t t-##el system came o-t i# the tacama Desert #ear to rica a#d the c-rre#t border bet%ee# Chile a#d 4er-, %hich is !-rther so-th still. =adame ,lavats"y related the story, retold by Wil"i#s, o! the a#cie#t treas-re a#d t-##el system. 'ometime aro-#d the year 56DD, a Catholic priest %as called to absolve a dyi#$ <-ech-a .#dia#. Whisperi#$ 2-ietly to the priest, the old .#dia# told a# ama3i#$ story abo-t a labyri#th a#d a series o! t-##els b-ilt !ar be!ore the days o! the .#ca emperors o! the '-#. .t %as told -#der the i#violable seal o! the co#!essio#al, a#d co-ld #ot be div-l$ed by the priest -#der pai# o! death. +his story %o-ld probably #ever have bee# told, except that the priest, %hile traveli#$ to *ima, met %ith a "si#ister .talia#." +he priest let o-t a hi#t o! $reat treas-re, a#d %as later s-pposedly hyp#oti3ed by the .talia# to $et him tell the story7 ". %ill reveal to thee %hat #o White ma#, be he 'pa#iard, or merica#, or E#$lish, "#o%s," the dyi#$ .#dia# had said to the priest. He the# told o! the 2-ee#@s closi#$ o! the t-##els %he# the .#ca tah-alpa %as bei#$ held captive by 4i3arro. +he priest added -#der hyp#osis that the 4er-via# $over#me#t, i# abo-t 563A, had heard r-mors o! these t-##els a#d se#t a# expeditio# o-t to !i#d a#d explore them. +hey %ere -#s-ccess!-l. .# a#other similar story, the Father 4edro del 'a#cho tells i# his 1elacio# that i# the early period o! the co#2-est o! 4er-, a#other dyi#$ .#dia# made a co#!essio#. Father del 'a#cho %rote, "...my i#!orma#t %as a s-b;ect o! the .#ca# Emperor. He %as held i# hi$h esteem by those i# po%er at C-3co. He had bee# a chie!tai# o! his tribe a#d made a yearly pil$rima$e to C-3co to %orship his idolistic $ods. .t %as a c-stom o! the .#cas to co#2-er a tribe or #atio# a#d ta"e their idols to C-3co. +hose %ho %ished to %orship their a#cie#t idols %ere !orced to travel to the .#ca# capital. +hey bro-$ht $i!ts to their heathe# idols. +hey %ere also expected to pay homa$e to the .#ca# emperor d-ri#$ these ;o-r#eys." Del 'a#cho co#ti#-es, "+hese treas-res %ere placed i# a#cie#t t-##els that %ere i# the la#d %he# the .#cas arrived. lso placed i# these s-bterra#ea# repositories %ere arti!acts a#d stat-es deemed sacred to the .#cas. Whe# the hoard had bee# placed i# the t-##els, there %as a ceremo#y co#d-cted by the hi$h priest. Follo%i#$ these rites, the e#tra#ce to the t-##els %as sealed i# s-ch a ma##er that o#e co-ld %al" %ithi# a !e% !eet a#d #ever be a%are o! the e#tra#ce.
"...=y i#!orma#t said that the e#tra#ce lay i# his la#d, the territory %hich he r-led. .t %as -#der his directio# a#d by his s-b;ects that the ope#i#$s %ere sealed. ll %ho %ere i# atte#da#ce %ere s%or# to sile#ce -#der the pe#alty o! death. ltho-$h . re2-ested more i#!ormatio# o# the exact locatio# o! the e#tra#ce, my i#!orma#t re!-sed to div-l$e more tha# %hat has bee# %ritte# do%# here." #other i#teresti#$ story o! the t-##els aro-#d C-3co a#d the i#credible treas-re they co#tai# i#volves Carlos .#ca, a desce#da#t o! a# .#ca emperor, %ho had married a 'pa#ish lady, Do#a =aria Es2-ivel. His Castilia# %i!e tho-$ht that he %as #ot ambitio-s e#o-$h, a#d that he did #ot "eep her i# the style she deemed be!itti#$ her ra#", or his desce#t. 4oor Carlos %as pla$-ed #i$ht a#d day by his %i!e@s #a$$i#$, -#til lateo#e #i$ht, he bli#d!olded her a#d led her o-t i#to the patio o! the hacie#da. G#der the cold li$ht o! the stars, %he# all aro-#d %ere asleep a#d #o -#see# eye %as o# the %atch, he be$a# to lead her by the sho-lders. ltho-$h he %as exposi#$ himsel! to ma#y ris"s i#cl-di#$ tort-re a#d death at the ha#ds o! the <-ech-as, he proceeded to reveal his secret. He t%irled her aro-#d three times, the#, ass-mi#$ her disorie#ted, led her do%# some steps i#to a co#cealed va-lt i# or -#der 'acsayh-ama# Fortress. Whe# he removed her bli#ds, her to#$-e %as !i#ally sile#ced. 'he stood o# the d-sty, sto#e !loor o! a# a#cie#t va-lt, cl-ttered %ith $old a#d silver i#$ots, ex2-isite ;e%elry, a#d temple or#ame#ts. ro-#d the %alls, ra#$ed i# !i#e $old, %ere li!e)si3e stat-es o! lo#$ dead .#ca "i#$s. 0#ly the $olde# Dis" o! the '-#, %hich the old .#cas treas-red most, %as missi#$. Carlos .#ca %as s-pposedly o#e o! the c-stodia#s o! the secret hidi#$ place o! .#ca treas-re that el-ded the 'pa#ish a#d other treas-re see"ers !or ce#t-ries. +he G.'. Commissio#er to 4er- i# 569A comme#ted o# this episode& " ll . ca# say is i! that secret chamber %hich she had e#tered has #ot bee# !o-#d a#d despoiled, it has #ot bee# !or %a#t o! di$$i#$ ...+hree)h-#dred years have #ot s-!!iced to eradicate the #otio# that e#ormo-s treas-res are co#cealed %ithi# the !ortress o! C-3co. Nor have three)h-#dred years o! excavatio#, more or less co#sta#t, e#tirely disco-ra$ed the searchers !or tapadas, or treas-re mo-#ds." +here certai#ly appears to be some repetitio# a#d borro%i#$ bet%ee# some o! these stories. Het most historia#s a#d archaeolo$ists believe that they are based o# some !act. +hat t-##els a#d lost treas-re exist, there seems to be #o do-bt. ,-t the real 2-estio#s are, %here are they/ #d, %ho made them/ +he treas-re o! the .#cas is believed to still be hidde# i# the t-##els that r-# -#der C-3co a#d the r-i#s o! the me$alithic !ortress me#tio#ed above called 'acsayh-ama#. The Fortress of Sacsayhuaman +he stories o! a s-bterra#ea# %orld !asci#ated me a#d . decided that 'o-th merica %as a $ood place to i#vesti$ate %hatever reality there mi$ht be i# the ma#y le$e#ds. *ost treas-re has its appeal as %ell, a#d ma#y t-##els %o-ld probably #ever be explored i! it %ere #ot !or some promised treas-re at the e#d. . be$a# my search i# 4er- %here . visited .ca, 4isco a#d Na3ca to loo" at the m-mmies, $eo$lyphs a#d catacombs. . the# co#ti#-ed o# to C-3co to loo" i#to the t-##els that %ere r-mored to be i# the vici#ity. D-ri#$ this visit . %e#t to 'acsayh-ama#. +he road leads -p !rom the 4la3a de rmas to a hill o# the #orth side o! C-3co. t a leveli#$ o!! o! the hill, loo"i#$ over the C-3co Valley, is the colossal !ortress, o#e o! the most imposi#$ edi!ices ever co#str-cted. Wal"i#$ aro-#d, %e co-ld hardly believe o-r eyes7 Here %as a sto#e str-ct-re that covered the e#tire hill( it appeared almost -#%orldly. .t co#tai#s t-##el e#tra#ces that are sealed. +he visitor ca# %al" a short dista#ce i#side some o! the t-##els, b-t they are -ltimately bloc"ed a!ter 2A or 3A !eet. ll over 'acsayh-ama# $i$a#tic bloc"s o! sto#e, some %ei$hi#$ more tha# 2AA to#s >DAA tho-sa#d po-#ds? are !itted to$ether per!ectly. +he e#ormo-s sto#e bloc"s are c-t, !aced, a#d !itted so %ell that eve# today o#e ca##ot
slip the blade o! a "#i!e, or eve# a piece o! paper bet%ee# them. No mortar is -sed, a#d #o t%o bloc"s are ali"e. Het they !it per!ectly, a#d it has bee# said by some e#$i#eers that #o moder# b-ilder %ith the aid o! tools o! the !i#est steel co-ld prod-ce res-lts more acc-rate. Each i#divid-al sto#e had to have bee# pla##ed %ell i# adva#ce( a 2A)to#sto#e, let alo#e o#e %ei$hi#$ 6A to 2AA to#s, ca##ot ;-st be dropped cas-ally i#to positio# %ith a#y hope o! attai#i#$ that "i#d o! acc-racy7 +he sto#es are loc"ed a#d dovetailed i#to positio#, ma"i#$ them earth2-a"e)proo!. .#deed, a!ter ma#y devastati#$ earth2-a"es i# the #des over the last !e% h-#dred years, the bloc"s are still per!ectly !itted, %hile the 'pa#ish Cathedral i# C-3co has bee# leveled t%ice. +ho-$h this !a#tastic !ortress %as s-pposedly b-ilt ;-st a !e% h-#dred years a$o by the .#cas, they leave #o record o! havi#$ b-ilt it, #or does it !i$-re i# a#y o! their le$e#ds. Ho% is it that the .#cas, %ho reportedly had #o "#o%led$e o! hi$her mathematics, #o %ritte# la#$-a$e, #o iro# tools, a#d did #ot eve# -se the %heel, are credited %ith havi#$ b-ilt this cyclopea# complex o! %alls a#d b-ildi#$s/ Fra#"ly, o#e m-st literally $rope !or a# expla#atio#, a#d it is #ot a# easy o#e. Whe# the 'pa#iards !irst arrived i# C-3co a#d sa% these str-ct-res, they tho-$ht that they had bee# b-ilt by the devil himsel!, beca-se o! their e#ormity. .#deed, #o%here else ca# yo- see s-ch lar$e bloc"s placed to$ether so per!ectly. . have traveled all over the %orld searchi#$ !or a#cie#t mysteries a#d lost cities, b-t . had #ever i# my li!e see# a#ythi#$ li"e this7 +he b-ilders o! the sto#e%or"s %ere #ot merely $ood sto#e maso#s) they %ere excelle#t7 'imilar sto#e%or"s ca# be see# thro-$ho-t the C-3co Valley. +hese are -s-ally made -p o! !i#ely c-t, recta#$-lar bloc"s o! sto#e %ei$hi#$ -p to perhaps a to#. $ro-p o! stro#$ people co-ld li!t a bloc" a#d p-t it i# place( this is -#do-btably ho% some o! the smaller str-ct-res %ere p-t to$ether. ,-t i# 'acsayh-ama#, C-3co, a#d other a#cie#t .#ca cities, o#e ca# see $i$a#tic bloc"s c-t %ith 3A or more a#$les each. t the time o! the 'pa#ish co#2-est, C-3co %as at its pea", %ith perhaps 5AA,AAA .#ca s-b;ects livi#$ i# the a#cie#t city. +he !ortress o! 'acsayh-ama# co-ld hold the e#tire pop-latio# %ithi# its %alls i# case o! %ar or #at-ral catastrophe. 'ome historia#s have stated that the !ortress %as b-ilt a !e% years be!ore the 'pa#ish i#vasio#, a#d that the .#cas ta"e credit !or the str-ct-re. ,-t, the .#cas co-ld #ot recall exactly ho% or %he# it %as b-ilt7 +he 'pa#ish disma#tled as m-ch o! 'acsayh-ama# as they co-ld. Whe# C-3co %as !irst co#2-ered, 'acsayh-ama# had three ro-#d to%ers at the top o! the !ortress, behi#d three co#ce#tric me$alithic %alls. +hese %ere ta"e# apart sto#e by sto#e, a#d the sto#es -sed to b-ild #e% str-ct-res !or the 'pa#ish. 'acsayh-ama# %as also e2-ipped %ith a s-bterra#ea# #et%or" o! a2-ed-cts. Water %as bro-$ht do%# !rom the mo-#tai#s i#to a valley, the# had to asce#d a hill be!ore reachi#$ 'acsayh-ama#. +his i#dicates that the e#$i#eers %ho b-ilt the i#tricate system "#e% that %ater rises to its o%# level. :arcilaso de la Ve$a, %ho %rote ;-st a!ter the co#2-est, said this abo-t the t-##els be#eath 'acsayh-ama#& " # -#der$ro-#d #et%or" o! passa$es, %hich %as as vast as the to%ers themselves, co##ected them %ith o#e a#other. +his %as composed o! a 2-a#tity o! streets a#d alley%ays %hich ra# i# every directio#, a#d so ma#y doors, all o! them ide#tical, that the most experie#ced me# dared #ot ve#t-re i#to this labyri#th %itho-t a $-ide, co#sisti#$ o! a lo#$ thread tied to the !irst door, %hich -#%o-#d as they adva#ced. . o!te# %e#t -p to the !ortress %ith boys o! my o%# a$e, %he# . %as a child, a#d %e did #ot dare to $o !arther tha# the s-#li$ht itsel!, %e %ere so a!raid o! $etti#$ lost, a!ter all that the .#dia#s had told -s o# the s-b;ect ... the roo!s o! these -#der$ro-#d passa$es %ere composed o! lar$e !lat sto#es resti#$ o# ra!ters ;-tti#$ o-t !rom the %alls." +here are i#deed t-##els that o#e may e#ter at 'acsayh-ama# a#d #earby <e#2o. .! o#e %al"s behi#d the .#ca@s sto#e seat i#side the !ortress to%ard <e#2o, o#e %ill !i#d all sorts o! bi3arre sto#e c-tti#$s, -pside)do%#
staircases, a#d seemi#$ly se#sless roc" carvi#$ o# a $ra#dscale. +here are also t-##el e#tra#ces i# this area. Vario-s roc")c-t t-##els lead do%# i#to the earth a#d at least o#e $oes to a#other part o! the mo-#tai# area o! <e#2o. ll o! these t-##els are bloc"ed at some poi#t a#d this area o! 'acsayh-ama# is still bei#$ excavated by 4er-via# archaeolo$ists. +he area is 2-ite !asci#ati#$, b-t it seems 2-ite clear that o#e ca##ot pe#etrate i#to the t-##els be#eath C-3co !rom these #o%)bloc"ed t-##el e#tra#ces. +he old chro#iclers say the t-##els %ere co##ected %ith the Corica#cha, a #ame $ive# to the '-# +emple a#d its s-rro-#ds i# old C-3co. +he Corica#cha %as ori$i#ally lar$er tha# it is today a#d co#tai#ed ma#y a#cie#t temples, i#cl-di#$ the +emples o! the '-# a#d the =oo#, a#d all o! these b-ildi#$s %ere believed to be co##ected %ith 'acsayh-ama# by -#der$ro-#d t-##els. +he place %here these t-##els started %as "#o%# as the Chi#ca#a, or "the place %here o#e $ets lost." +his e#tra#ce %as "#o%# -p -#til the mid)56AAs, %he# it %as %alled -p. co#ti#-ed i# part t%o
Subterranean Tunnels & the Hollow Earth My Search for Tunnels in the Earth Part Two
From "World Explorer", Vol. 2, No. 3. by David Hatcher Childress ll are architects o! !ate, Wor"i#$ the %alls o! time& 'ome %ith massive deeds a#d $reat( 'ome %ith lesser rhyme. )*o#$!ello% "+he ,-ilders" Co#ti#-ed !rom part o#e& .# his boo" "I-#$le 4aths a#d .#ca 1-i#s", Dr.William =o#t$omery =c:over# states& "Near this !ortress J'acsayh-ama#K are several stra#$e caver#s reachi#$ !ar i#to the earth. Here altars to the :ods o! the Deep %ere carved o-t o! the livi#$ roc", a#d the ma#y bo#es scattered abo-t tell o! the sacri!ices %hich %ere o!!ered -p here. +he e#d o! o#e o! these caver#s, Chi#ca#a, has #ever bee# !o-#d. .t is s-pposed to comm-#icate by a lo#$ -#der$ro-#d passa$e %ith the +emple o! the '-# i# the heart o! C-3co. .# this caver# is s-pposed, a#d %ith $ood reaso#, to be hidde# a lar$e part o! the $olde# treas-re o! the .#ca Emperors %hich %as stored a%ay lest it !all i#to the ha#ds o! the 'pa#iards. ,-t the caver# is so h-$e, so complicated, a#d its passa$es are so ma#i!old, that its secret has #ever bee# discovered." "0#e ma#, i#deed, is said to have !o-#d his %ay -#der$ro-#d to the '-# +emple, a#d %he# he emer$ed, to have had t%o $olde# bars i# his ha#d. ,-t his mi#d had bee# a!!ected by days o! bli#d %a#deri#$ i# the s-bterra#ea# caves, a#d he died almost immediately a!ter%ards. 'i#ce that time ma#y have $o#e i#to the caver#)#ever to ret-r# a$ai#. 0#ly a mo#th or t%o be!ore my arrival the disappeara#ce o! three promi#e#t people i# this .#ca cave ca-sed the 4re!ect o! the 4rovi#ce o! C-3co to %all i# the mo-th o! the caver#, so that the secret a#d the treas-res o! the .#cas seem li"ely to remai# !orever -#discovered."
#other story, %hich may %ell be derived !rom the same so-rce, tells o! a treas-re h-#ter %ho %e#t i#to the t-##els a#d %a#dered thro-$h the ma3e !or several days. 0#e mor#i#$, abo-t a %ee" a!ter the adve#t-rer had va#ished, a priest %as co#d-cti#$ mass i# the ch-rch o! 'a#to Domi#$o. +he priest a#d his co#$re$atio# %ere asto#ished to hear s-dde#, sharp rappi#$s !rom be#eath the ch-rch@s sto#e !loor. 'everal %orshipers crossed themselves a#d m-rm-red abo-t the devil. +he priest 2-ieted his co#$re$atio#, the# directed the removal o! a lar$e sto#e slab !rom the !loor >this %as the co#verted +emple o! the '-#7?. +he $ro-p %as s-rprised to see the treas-re h-#ter emer$e %ith a bar o! $old i# each ha#d. Eve# the 4er-via# $over#me#t $ot i#to the act o! explori#$ these C-3co t-##els, oste#sibly !or scie#ti!ic p-rposes. +he 4er-via# 'eria Doc-me#tal del 4er- describes a# expeditio# -#derta"e# by sta!! !rom *ima G#iversity i# 5F23. ccompa#ied by experie#ced speleolo$ists, the party pe#etrated the trape3oid)shaped t-##els starti#$ !rom a# e#tra#ce atC-3co. +hey too" meas-reme#ts o! the s-bterra#ea# apert-re a#d adva#ced i# the directio# o! the coast. !ter a !e% days, members o! the expeditio# at the e#tra#ce o! the t-##el lost co#tact %ith the explorers i#side, a#d #o comm-#icatio# came !or t%elve days. +he# a solitary explorer ret-r#ed to the e#tra#ce, starvi#$. His reports o! a# -#der$ro-#d labyri#th o! t-##els a#d deadly obstacles %o-ld ma"e a# .#dia#a Io#es movie seem tame by compariso#. His tale %as so i#credible that his collea$-es declared him mad. +o preve#t !-rther loss o! li!e i# the t-##els, the police dy#amited the e#tra#ce. =ore rece#tly, the bi$ *ima earth2-a"e o! 5F92 bro-$ht to li$ht a t-##el system be#eath that coastal city. D-ri#$ salva$e operatio#s, %or"ers !o-#d lo#$ passa$es #o o#e had ever "#o%# existed. +he !ollo%i#$ systematic exami#atio# o! *ima@s !o-#datio#s led to the asto#ishi#$ discovery that lar$e parts o! the city %ere -#derc-t by t-##els, all leadi#$ i#to the mo-#tai#s. ,-t their termi#al poi#ts co-ld #o lo#$er be ascertai#ed beca-se they had collapsed d-ri#$ the co-rse o! the ce#t-ries. Did the C-3co t-##els explored i# 5F23 lead to *ima/ s !arbac" as the 5FDAs, Harold Wil"i#s, i# his boo"s >"=ysteries o! #cie#t 'o-th merica" a#d "'ecret Cities o! 0ld 'o-th merica"? %rote that they did. Tunnels to the Hidden City of Paititi .# my 2-est !or the lost treas-re o! the .#cas a#d the t-##el systems associated %ith it, . ;oi#ed -p i# the search !or 4aititi, the -ltimate lost city o! the .#cas accordi#$ to C-3co le$e#ds. While the .#cas placed some o! their hoard i# the C-3co t-##el system to hide it !rom the co#2-eri#$ 'pa#ish, other treas-re >i#cl-di#$ 5D $old)clad m-mmies o! the !ormer .#ca emperors removed !rom the '-# +emple? %as se#t by llama carava# i#to the #tis-yo re$io# o! 'o-th merica, the mo-#tai# ;-#$le area east o! C-3co. +he carava#@s desti#atio# %as a mo-#tai#);-#$le city called "4ai"i"i#" i# <-ech-a %hich is s-pposed to mea# "li"e the other." +he 'pa#ish called this city El :ra# 4aititi. .t is %ell "#o%# that the .#ca# Empire at its hei$ht stretched !rom #orth o! <-ito i# Ec-ador, so-th alo#$ the #des a#d %est to the coast, all the %ay do%# i#to ce#tral Chile. What is #ot $e#erally "#o%# is ;-st ho% !ar east the .#cas had set -p their roads, trade ro-tes a#d cities. +he .#cas did have a trade #et%or" that stretched east%ard deep i#to the ;-#$les o# the east side o! the #des. 'alt %as !re2-e#tly carried across the mo-#tai#s i# excha#$e !or $old a#d !eathers. ccordi#$ to Ior$e rella#o, director o! the .#stit-te o! rchaeolo$y i# *a 4a3, ,olivia, .#ca r-i#s have bee# !o-#d i# the ,olivia# state o! ,e#i, %hich is several h-#dred miles east o! the #des a#d i# de#se ;-#$le. He says that a series o! small !ortresses i# the ;-#$le !orm a li#e i# a# easterly directio#. He believes that the .#cas -sed these !ortresses as stop overs o# their mi$ratio# !rom the =adre de Dios area o! 4er-, believed by some to be the site o! 4aititi. +ho-$h there is little do-bt that 4aititi did exist, there is a $reat deal o! myth s-rro-#di#$ this lost city. Harold Wil"i#s believes that the .#cas escaped !rom the 'pa#ish a!ter the battle o! 0lla#taytambo by !leei#$ thro-$h a bra#ch o! the t-##el system disc-ssed earlier, headi#$ east to%ard 4aititi. +his may %ell be tr-e, tho-$h it %as
hardly #ecessary !or the .#cas to have !led thro-$h a t-##el. +hey co-ld have le!t by ca#oe, the# crossed the mo-#tai#s -si#$ the excelle#t .#ca roads. ss-mi#$ this t-##el did exist, Wil"i#s thi#"s it %e#t d-e east !rom C-3co, thro-$h the ;-#$les, to the empire o! 4aititi. He i#dicates that 4aititi %as a separate "i#$dom, r-led by mysterio-s %hite me# %hose "i#$ %as "#o%# as the "+i$er Bi#$." ccordi#$ to Wil"i#s, 4aititi mea#s ";a$-ar." +he +i$er Bi#$, or Ia$-ar Bi#$, lived i# a %hite ho-se by a $reat la"e. .# 5C65, a Ies-it missio#ary #amed Fray *-cero %rote o! i#!ormatio# $ive# to him by .#dia#s i# the 1io H-alla$- area o! #ortheaster# 4er-. +hey told him that the lost city o! :ra# 4aititi lay behi#d the !orests a#d mo-#tai#s east o! C-3co. +he Ies-it %rote, "+his empire o! :ra# 4aytite has bearded, %hite .#dia#s. +he #atio# called C-rveros, these .#dia#s told me, d%ell i# a place called H-rach-asi or the @%hite ho-se.@ For "i#$, they have a desce#da#t o! the .#ca +-pac mar-, %ho %ith DA,AAA 4er-via#s, !led !ar a%ay i#to the !orests, be!ore the !ace o! the co#2-istadors o! Fra#cisco 4i3arro@s day i# D 5833. He too" %ith him a rich treas-re, a#d the Castilia#s %ho p-rs-ed him !o-$ht each other i# the !orests, leavi#$ the sava$e Ch-#cho .#dios, %ho %atched their i#ter#eci#e str-$$les, to "ill o!! the %o-#ded a#d shoot the s-rvivors %ith arro%s. . mysel! have bee# sho%# plates o! $old a#d hal!)moo#s a#d ear)ri#$s o! $old that have come !rom this mysterio-s #atio#." +his story is i#depe#de#tly doc-me#ted i# the boo" " ma3o#as y El =ara#o#" by Fray =a#-el 1odri$-e3, p-blished i# 5C6D, accordi#$ to Wil"i#s. =a#y people seem to co#!-se :ra# 4aititi a#d El Dorado, tho-$h the le$e#ds locate them tho-sa#ds o! miles apart. El Dorado is o!te# believed to be i# the vici#ity o! the 0ri#oco 1iver #ear the borders o! Col-mbia, Ve#e3-ela a#d ,ra3il. .# early 588F, the Viceroy o! 4er- %a#ted to rid his co-#try o! -#employed soldiers a#d tro-blesome 'pa#ish adve#t-rers, so he se#t a party o! 39A 'pa#iards a#d tho-sa#ds o! #dea# .#dia#s o# a# expeditio# do%# the ma3o# i# search o! a le$e#dary city o! $old. +his expeditio# %as a# -tter !ail-re, d-ri#$ %hich the me# m-ti#ied, a#d a psychopathic soldier, *ope de $-irre, "illed the leader 4edro de Grs-a. +a"i#$ over the expeditio#, he aba#do#ed the search !or "El Dorado," vo%i#$ to ret-r# a#d co#2-er 4er- itsel!. +his %ild a#d i#credible adve#t-re, d-ri#$ %hich the %ome# %arriors "#o%# as ma3o#s %ere !irst reported, a#d the ma3o# 1iver %as !irst #avi$ated, %as made i#to a :erma# movie called, $-irre& +he Wrath o! :od. +his disastro-s expeditio# %as the be$i##i#$ o! the co#!-sio# bet%ee# El Dorado a#d 4aititi, the real city o! $old. .t searched i# a# area !ar removed !rom %here 4aititi appears to be located, a#d this is %hy most adve#t-rers a!ter "El Dorado" searched i# the vici#ity o! Col-mbia a#d Ve#e3-ela i#stead o! 4er-, %here the le$e#ds act-ally ori$i#ated. 0#e adve#t-rer %ho searched !or 4aititi %as 4edro ,ohor2-es, a pe##iless soldier %ho prete#ded to be a #oblema#. .# 5C8F, a!ter servi#$ i# Chile, ,ohor2-es became a %a#derer. Calli#$ himsel! Do# 4edro el .#ca, he s%ore that royal .#ca blood !lo%ed thro-$h his vei#s. ,ohor2-es set himsel! -p as emperor o! a# .#dia# "i#$dom at the head%aters o! the H-alla$a 1iver so-th o! C-3co. He co#verted almost 5A,AAA 4elados .#dia#s i#to his service, a#d declared all 'pa#iards !air $ame. He also se#t some o! his !ollo%ers o# a search !or 4aititi, hopi#$ to !i#d the treas-re. Whe# these me# did #ot come bac" %ith $old, ,ohor2-es le!t his empire a#d %e#t to *ima. G#!ort-#ately, the 'pa#iards had heard o! his decree a$ai#st them, thre% him i# priso#, a#d se#te#ced him to death. He pled !or his li!e, promisi#$ to reveal the locatio# o! the Bi#$dom o! :ra# 4aititi i! he %as released. +he ;-d$es re!-sed his o!!er, b-t ma#y $old h-#ters visited him i# priso#, be$$i#$ him to share his secret %ith them. He re!-sed, a#d %e#t to the $allo%s i# 5CC9, m-ch to the cha$ri# o! the treas-re h-#ters o! *ima.
ct-ally, it is #ot li"ely that ,ohor2-es "#e% the locatio# o! 4aititi >si#ce his adve#t-rers ret-r#ed %itho-t $old?, tho-$h he %as i# the correct area, a#d may have lear#ed the $e#eral locatio#. lso, 4aititi %as probably still a livi#$ city at this time, so it %o-ld have bee# di!!ic-lt !or ,ohor2-es or a#yo#e else to e#ter. 0! co-rse, the search !or :ra# 4aititi still co#ti#-es, a#d ma#y explorers !eel that they are $etti#$ close. +oday, ma#y !eel that 4aititi is some%here i# the 4a-cartambo area o! 4er-, east o! C-3co to%ard the =adre de Dios 1iver. +his is the same area i# %hich Fray *-cero i#dicated that :ra# 4aititi co-ld be !o-#d. 'ome expeditio#s, ho%ever, beca-se they either !o-#d the city or dist-rbed the .#dia#s too m-ch i# their search, e#d -p dead. ,osto# a#thropolo$ist :re$ory Deyerme#;ia# a#d ,ritish photo$rapher =ichael =irec"i mo-#ted their o%# expeditio# i#to this area i# 5F6D. +heir $oal %as a ;-#$le mo-#tai# i# easter# 4er- called p-cati#ti. . accompa#ied Deyerme#;ia#. ccordi#$ to ma#y so-rces, the mo-#tai# o# %hich 4aititi is located is called p-cati#ti, tho-$h exactly %hich mo-#tai# is really p-cati#ti is ope# !or debate. +he %ord mea#s "*ord o! the '-#" i# <-ech-a, a#d a#y mo-#tai# %ith this #ame >there are several? is a $ood ca#didate !or havi#$ 4aititi o# it. s #oted above, 4aititi comes !rom the <-ech-a %ord "4ai"i"i#" %hich mea#s "the same as the other" %hich has also bee# tra#slated as "the same as C-3co." What co-ld it mea#, "+he same as C-3co/" Deyerme#;ia# thi#"s that this i#dicates 4aititi is a#other sto#e city, similar i# its co#str-ctio# to that !o-#d at C-3co a#d 'acsayh-ama#( a me$alithic city li"e =ach- 4icch-. 0# the other ha#d, it may mea# that 4aititi is li"e C-3co i# the se#se that it is the abode o! the .#ca "i#$s, as C-3co o#ce %as. .! 4aititi %as b-ilt !rom scratch by the retreati#$ .#ca royal !ri#$e, the# the r-i#s are more li"ely to be similar to those !o-#d at Espirit- 4ampa& small a#d -#impressive. =ach- 4icch- also has part o! a t-##el that ca# be !o-#d o!! the trail o# the #orther# part o! the city. Historically, :ra# 4aititi %as #ot reported as bei#$ located o# top o! a mo-#tai#, b-t rather by a la"e. .! these older reports are correct, 4aititi may be !-rther i#to the ;-#$les to the east or so-th. 'ome researchers eve# believe that it may still be a livi#$ city, %here the .#ca traditio# is still carried o#. =a#y areas, partic-larly to the east, co-ld have remai#ed -#der .#ca co#trol !or 2-ite some time a!ter the 'pa#ish co#2-est. +he# a$ai#, p-cati#ti may %ell be the site o! a lo#$)dead 4aititi. Demorali3ed a#d c-t o!! !rom their !ormer empire, the s-rvivi#$ .#cas co-ld have existed o# top o! this remote mo-#tai# i# a sel!)s-!!icie#t city m-ch li"e =ach- 4icch-, -#til they died o-t. Deyerme#;ia# bac"s this theory, a#d thi#"s that the city e!!ectively died abo-t the year 5CAA, a mere 3A or DA years a!ter the .#cas escaped to their re!-$e there. .# I-#e o! 5F6C, . accompa#ied :re$ Deyerme#;ia# a#d a party o! 4er-via#s to scale the p-cati#ti i# =ameria. .t too" o#e %ee" by horsebac" to the ed$e o! the ;-#$le, a#d a !-rther t%o %ee"s o! livi#$ %ith =achi$-e#$a .#dia#s i# e!!ort to scale the pea". We discovered .#ca b-ildi#$s, ove#s, tombs a#d coca pla#tatio#s, as %ell as the !irst)ever str-ct-res i# the =adre de Dios district o! 4er-, b-t the asce#t to the top o! the mo-#tai# %as extremely di!!ic-lt. +he mo-#tai# has #o !resh %ater, a#d is covered i# thic", almost impe#etrable ;-#$le. We asce#ded the mo-#tai# !or !ive days !rom the base, %ith =achi$-e#$a .#dia#s leadi#$ the %ay. Ho%ever, a!ter r-##i#$ o-t o! !ood a#d %ater, %e had to ret-r# to the .#dia# villa$e. .# -$-st o! 5F6C, Deyerme#;ia# ret-r#ed to =ameria by himsel!, a#d made it to the s-mmit o! p-cati#ti %ith his .#dia# $-ides. +o their disappoi#tme#t, #either 4aititi #or a#y other str-ct-res %ere at the s-mmit o! the mo-#tai#. .t had bee# a !alse lead, b-t it had loo"ed li"e a $ood prospect. Deyerme#;ia# co#ti#-ed to search !or 4aititi, !oc-si#$ o# a #earby area that %as eve# more remote tha# =ameria a#d p-cati#ti. .t -r#ed my atte#tio#s to ,olivia. ! Tunnel in Eastern "oli#ia
With several old !rie#ds !rom the World Explorers Cl-b, i#cl-di#$ Carl Hart, 'teve He#o-s"as, a#d 1a-l Fer#a#de3, . ;o-r#eyed to 4er- a#d ,olivia to discover %hat %e co-ld o! the t-##els i# 'o-th merica. !ter a %ee" i# 4er-, %e set o!! o#e day !rom C-3co !or +iah-a#aco a#d the# to easter# ,olivia to the stra#$e hilltop city o! 'amaipata. . had visited 'amaipata by mysel! i# the mid)6As, a#d %rote abo-t the stra#$e "!ort" i# my boo" "*ost Cities L #cie#t =ysteries o! 'o-th merica". t the time, . %as the 583rd perso# to visit the site si#ce it had be e#ope#ed to the p-blic i# 5F9D. Erich vo# Da#i"e# had visited the site i# the early 9As a#d had described it as a "roc"et la-#chi#$ pad" !or his alie# visitors. +he site itsel! %as bi3arre e#o-$h& hi$h o# the s-mmit o! mo-#tai# %as a lar$e o-tcrop o! roc" that had bee# c-t i#to vario-s rooms, cha##els, pools, chairs, petro$lyphs a#d odd, crisscross $rooves. +he %hole place %as extremely a#cie#t a#d %or#, a#d appare#tly there had o#ce bee# %alls a#d b-ildi#$s that %ere #o% lo#$ $o#e. lar$e ;a$-ar %as carved i#to the solid at the %ester# e#d o! the "!ort." Was 'amaipata a c-lt ce#ter !or the ;a$-ar/ Was it a mi#i#$ city/ 0r possibly a remote! ort o# the easter# ed$e o! the mo-#tai# hi$hla#ds, %atchi#$ over the lo%er valleys to the east/ No archaeolo$ist has so !ar come -p %ith a# a#s%er to 'amaipata, i#cl-di#$ %ho b-ilt the "city" a#d %he#. 0# a Natio#al :eo$raphic map o! archaeolo$ical sites i# 'o-th merica that . carried %ith me, 'amaipata %as #ot eve# listed. +he stra#$est part o! 'amaipata %as a !eat-re that %as hidde# i# the ;-#$le abo-t a 5AA meters so-th o! the mai# !ort, a t-##el i#to the $ro-#d that %as called by the locals the Cami#o de la Chi#cha#a, or the "4ath o! the '-bterra#ea#." +he Cami#o de la Chi#cha#a %as a t-##el that be$a# as a t%o)meter ope#i#$ to a pit that %e#t strai$ht do%# !or abo-t C meters. 0#ce o#e had made the !irst desce#t do%# to the !loor o! the pit, somethi#$ that %o-ld ta"e a rope or a ladder, the# o#e %o-ld !i#d himsel! sta#di#$ i# a t-##el that %as hi$h e#o-$h a#d %ide e#o-$h !or a ma# to sta#d %itho-t stoopi#$. +his t-##el the# desce#ded do%#hill !rom the !ort, appare#tly $oi#$ i# a #orth%est directio#. ccordi#$ to the careta"er o! 'amaipata, the t-##el had bee# explored o#ce by ,olivia# archaeolo$ists %ho had e#tered the pit %ith a rope a#d had adva#ced some 5AA meters or more i#to the t-##el. +he air became stale a#d a small cave)i# had bloc"ed a portio# o! the t-##el. Witho-t proper breathi#$ $ear, the team %as -#able to adva#ce a#y !arther i#to the earth. +he t-##el %as clearly ma#)made, a#d at least aro-#d the e#tra#ce, it %as d-$ o-t o! dirt, rather tha# c-t o-t o! solid roc". . as"ed the careta"er o! 'amaipata %here this t-##el %as s-pposed to $o. He poi#ted to the #orth, across the valley, to a mo-#tai# abo-t 58 "ilometers a%ay. +his mo-#tai# loo"ed somethi#$ li"e the bac" molar i# a ro% o! teeth. "+here", he said, poi#ti#$ to the mo-#tai#, "there to *a =-ela el Diablo, is %here the archaeolo$ists say that the t-##el $oes. 0# that mo-#tai# is s-pposed to be a#other city, ;-st as here." Gsi#$ my dictio#ary, . tra#slated *a =-ela el Diablo as "+he Devil@s Dimple." +his t-##el %as said to r-# !rom the top o! the mo-#tai# o! 'amaipata do%# to the valley, be#eath a river, a#d the# -p to a mo-#tai# o# the other side. Carl, 'teve, 1a-l a#d . made a brie! search o! the area aro-#d the Devil@s Dimple b-t co-ld #ot !i#d evide#ce o! a#y lost city or o! a t-##el e#tra#ce. .t %as a c-rsory exploratio# that proved or disproved little. 'till the !act remai#ed that the e#tra#ce to a bi3arre ma#)made t-##el, o#e that %as appare#tly tho-sa#ds o! years old, existed at the %eird r-i#s o! 'amaipata.
Was it the e#tra#ce to a lost mi#e -sed tho-sa#ds o! years a$o/ Was it a sp-r o! the le$e#dary t-##els #ear C-3co/ +he tho-$ht that o#e mi$ht be able to e#ter i#to a vast labyri#th o! t-##els be#eath the #des by e#teri#$ the Cami#o tic la Chi#cha#a %as a# exciti#$ tho-$ht. +he e#tra#ce still exists at 'amaipata, %aiti#$ !or a bold adve#t-rer %ith the ri$ht e2-ipme#t to discover its secrets. ,-t !or mysel! a#d Carl, %e %ere to co#ti#-e o# to ,ra3il a#d the eve# more i#tri$-i#$ t-##el e#tra#ce at 'ao +ome das *etras #ear 'ao 4a-lo. The Tunnel "eneath Sao Tome das $etras% 0-r WEM team had to split -p, %ith 'teve a#d 1a-l ret-r#i#$ to 4er- a#d the G.'. %hile Carl a#d . headed do%# to Cor-mba, the ,olivia# borderto%# %ith ,ra3il. From there %e too" a b-s thro-$h the =atto :rosso to 'ao 4a-lo, the lar$est city i# 'o-th merica. .# 'ao 4a-lo Carl a#d . visited my ,ra3ilia# p-blisher a#d vario-s ,ra3ilia# !rie#ds. . had received a letter !rom a ,ra3ilia# %oma# %ho had read the 4ort-$-ese versio# o! my boo" *ost Cities L #cie#t =ysteries o! 'o-th merica a#d had %ritte# me a letter co#cer#i#$ the ope#i#$ to a t-##el system at the resort mo-#tai# to%# o! 'ao +ome das *etras. Her #ame %as =arli a#d she %or"ed at o#e o! the ma#y ba#"s i# 'ao 4a-lo. Carl a#d . met %ith =arli o#e #i$ht !or di##er a#d she told -s abo-t the to%# a#d the t-##el e#tra#ce. 'ao +ome das *etras is 4ort-$-ese !or "'ai#t +homas o! the *etters" a#d is the rather lo#$ #ame o! a small to%# #orth o! 'ao 4a-lo that, li"e 'amaipata i# ,olivia, is o# the top o! a mo-#tai#. 'ao +ome das *etras is i# !act a %ell)"#o%# to-rist to%# i# 'ao 4a-lo state, tho-$h . had #ever heard o! it. ,ei#$ o# top o! a mo-#tai#, it had $ood vie%s, %as cooler tha# 'ao 4a-lo, a#d o!!ered hi"i#$ trails, $ood resta-ra#ts a#d a# artist colo#y !or atmosphere. .t also had the e#tra#ce to a ma#)made t-##el system, a !eat-re %ell "#o%# to visitors o! the small to%#. Carl a#d . s-$$ested to =arli that the three o! -s ta"e a trip to 'ao +ome das *etras a#d see the e#tra#ce to the t-##el system. 'he a$reed to accompa#y the t%o o! -s as o-r $-ide a#d i#terpreter. We le!t the #ext day, ta"i#$ a b-s !or some !o-r or !ive ho-rs o-t o! 'ao 4a-lo, headi#$ o# a ma;or hi$h%ay to%ard the city o! ,elo Hori3o#te i# the state o! =i#as :erais. 'oo# the b-s t-r#ed o!! the mai# road a#d headed -p a #arro% paved road !or some dista#t, lo% mo-#tai#s. Eve#t-ally the road %o-#d its %ay to the top o! o#e o! the mo-#tai#s a#d %e !o-#d o-rselves i# 'ao +ome das *etras. Carl, =arli a#d . $rabbed o-r l-$$a$e !rom be#eath the b-s a#d stood o# the cobblesto#e street at the lo%er ed$e o! to%#. +here %ere ma#y 2-ai#t ho-ses, all made o! %ell carved sto#e %ith tile roo!s a#d small %i#do%s. . #oticed that sto#e%or" a#d eve# stac"s o! sto#e slate, %as every%here. 'ao +ome das *etras %as #ot o#ly a to-rist to%#, it %as also a mo-#tai#top 2-arry. We %al"ed -p the mai# street a#d !o-#d a small hotel to spe#d the #i$ht, leavi#$ o-r pac"s a#d other l-$$a$e i# the hotel. ,y #o% it %as late a!ter#oo# a#d %e had o#ly time to %al" abo-t to%# a#d !amiliari3e o-rselves %ith this pleasa#t area. *ater, =arli too" -s to a local resta-ra#t %here a cro%d o! yo-#$ people had $athered to hear the local resta-ra#t o%#er tal" abo-t the mysteries o! 'ao +ome das *etras. He %as a lar$e ma#, i# his 8As, %ho spo"e i# 4ort-$-ese to the 2A or so people $athered i# his resta-ra#t. +he cro%d liste#ed i#te#tly as the ma# spo"e a#d occasio#ally . as"ed =arli %hat he %as sayi#$. "He is tal"i#$ abo-t the t-##el that is at the #orther# ed$e o! to%#," said =arli, %hisperi#$ to me. "He says that the t-##el is ope# as !ar as a#yo#e has ever %al"ed thro-$h it. t #o place is the t-##el bloc"ed. +he t-##el is ma#)made, b-t #o o#e "#o%s %ho b-ilt it or %here it $oes."
"+he ,ra3ilia# army %e#t i#to the t-##el o#e time to !i#d o-t %here it e#ds. !ter travelli#$ !or !o-r days thro-$h the t-##el the team o! rmy explorers eve#t-ally came to a lar$e room deep -#der$ro-#d. +his room had !o-r ope#i#$s to !o-r t-##els, each $oi#$ i# a di!!ere#t directio#. +hey had arrived i# the room by o#e o! the t-##els." "+hey stayed i# the room !or sometime, -si#$ it as their base a#d attempted to explore each o! the other three t-##els, b-t a!ter !ollo%i#$ each !or some time, t-r#ed bac" to the lar$e room. Eve#t-ally they ret-r#ed to the s-r!ace, here at 'ao +ome das *etras." +he ma# co#ti#-ed tal"i#$ abo-t the t-##el. ppare#tly he $ave this lect-re every #i$ht at his resta-ra#t. "No% he is sayi#$," co#ti#-ed =arli, "that there is a ma# here i# to%# %ho claims to "#o% the t-##el a#d claims that he has bee# ma#y %ee"s i#side the t-##el. +his ma# claims that the t-##el $oes all the %ay to 4er-, to =ach- 4icch- i# the #des. +his ma# claims that he %e#t completely -#der 'o-th merica, across ,ra3il a#d to =ach- 4icch-. .s#@t that ama3i#$7" . raised a# eyebro% a#d loo"ed at Carl. He #odded to me at the !a#tastic #at-re o! the story. "Does this resta-ra#t o%#er say that he has bee# thro-$h the t-##el to 4er-/" as"ed Carl. "No," said =arli, "it is #ot this ma#, it is a#other ma#. . do#@t "#o% %ho this other ma# is. ,-t #o% he is telli#$ a#other story, this time it is abo-t himsel!. He says that he %as %al"i#$ early i# the mor#i#$ o# the #orth side o! to%#, #ear to the t-##el e#tra#ce. 0# this mor#i#$, he s-dde#ly met a stra#$e ma# %al"i#$ i# the area o! the t-##el. +his ma# %as very tall, abo-t seve# !eet, a#d dressed stra#$ely, li"e the .#dia#s o! the #des i# 4era#d ,olivia. +he ma# did #ot tal" to him, b-t %al"ed a%ay. *ater, the resta-ra#t o%#er tried to !i#d this ma#, b-t #o o#e "#e% abo-t him or "#e% %ho he %as . +he resta-ra#t o%#er thi#"s that he came !rom the t-##el7" s %e le!t the resta-ra#t, Carl, =arli a#d . %ere 2-ite st-##ed. .t all seemed so i#credible. "Well, =arli," . said, "tomorro% %e m-st see this t-##el a#d explore it7" +he #ext mor#i#$ a!ter brea"!ast, %e chec"ed o-r !lashli$hts, p-t %ater a#d s#ac"s i#to o-r daypac"s, a#d set o!! -p the cobblesto#e streets o! 'ao +ome das *etras to the #orth side o! to%#. .t did#@t ta"e lo#$ to !i#d the t-##el e#tra#ce( already !o-r or !ive yo-#$ people %ere $athered aro-#d the e#tra#ce loo"i#$ i#to the %ide caver#. +he e#tra#ce %as 2-ite lar$e. .t %as a %ide mo-th o! a cave %ith a mo-#d o! dirt creati#$ a small hill over the e#tra#ce. +he caver# e#tra#ce !aced to the %est a#d immediately be$a# r-##i#$ do%# hill, i#to the earth. +he t-##elN caver# %o-ld have to $o do%#hill, as %e %ere esse#tially o# top o! a mo-#tai#. With o-r !lashli$hts i# ha#d, %e e#tered the caver#. Withi# a !e% meters, the caver# e#tra#ce #arro%ed i#to a t-##el %hich %as abo-t three meters >F !eet? hi$h a#d t%o meters %ide. +he t-##el %as d-$ o-t o! dirt, a#d %as #ot c-t o-t o! solid roc", as some t-##els are. +he t-##el headed do%# %ard at a steady slope, b-t it %as #ot too steep. s mall cha##el, made by r-##i#$ %ater movi#$ thro-$h this part o! the t-##el >a#d perhaps by the visitors %al"i#$ thro-$h it? %as i# the middleo! the !loor, sort o! a small "trail" %or# i#to the !loor. t #o poi#t %as it ever #ecessary to d-c", stoop or cra%l i# this t-##el. <-ite the opposite, it %as 2-ite %ide a#d hi$h, eve# !or the tallest ma# to %al" thro-$h, eve# someo#e %ho %as, say, seve# !eet tall7
. %as ama3ed at this a#cie#t !eat o! e#$i#eeri#$. We %ere desce#di#$ do%# i#to the earth i# a %ide, $rad-ally sloppi#$ t-##el that %as d-$ i#to a red, clay)type dirt. .t %as #ot the smooth, laser)c-t roc" %alls that Erich vo# Da#i"e# had claimed to have see# i# Ec-ador i# his boo" :old o! the :ods, b-t it %as ;-st as i#credible. .t %o-ld#@t have ta"e# some space)a$e device to ma"e this t-##el, ;-st simple tools( yet, it %as clearly a colossal -#derta"i#$. Why %o-ld a#yo#e b-ild s-ch a t-##el/ Was it a# a#cie#t mi#e that %e#t deep i#to the earth, searchi#$ !or a# el-sive vei# o! $old or merely red clay !or the lo#$ $o#e ceramic "il#s/ Was it a# elaborate escape t-##el -sed i# the horri!ic %ars that %ere said to have bee# !o-$ht i# 'o-th merica)a#d aro-#d the %orld)i# the dista#t past/ 0r %as it some bi3arre s-bterra#ea# road that li#"ed -p %ith other t-##els i# the #des a#d -ltimately co-ld be -sed to ;o-r#ey sa!ely to s-ch places as =ach- 4icch-, C-3co or the tacama Desert/ =aybe a combi#atio# o! all three. =arli, Carl a#d . co#ti#-ed %al"i#$ thro-$h the t-##el !or a "ilometer or so. 0ther visitors to 'ao +ome das *etras !ollo%ed -s i#to the s-bterra#ea# system. +he t-##el %as #ot per!ectly strai$ht, b-t %o-#d le!t a#d ri$ht a#d occasio#ally dropped do%# a !e% !eet a#d co#ti#-ed o#..t %as per!ectly dry a#d the air %as !resh a#d 2-ite breathable. Eve#t-ally, a!ter a# ho-r or so, %e came to a spot i# the t-##el %here it s-dde#ly dropped do%# abo-t a meter a#d a hal!. .t %as #ot a $reat obstacle a#d %e co-ld see the t-##el co#ti#-i#$ do%#%ard, b-t it %as a co#ve#ie#t place to stop. We had a ca#dy bar a#d a dri#" !rom o-r daypac"s a#d rested at this spot a#d the# decided to $o bac" to the s-r!ace. We had #o i#te#tio# o! co#ti#-i#$ !or several days to the !abled room o! !o-r doors deep be#eath ,ra3il. We simply %ere#@t prepared !or s-ch a# expeditio#. ,ac" o# the s-r!ace, %e had l-#ch i# o#e o! the resta-ra#ts a#d prepared to $et a b-s bac" to 'ao 4a-lo. We tal"ed abo-t the bi3arre t-##el. .t %as real, there %as #o do-bt abo-t that. .t %as ma#)made as %ell, as the t-##el %as per!ectly -#i!orm a#d co#tai#ed #o !iss-res or !a-lts o! a#y "i#d. Did it really $o to =ach- 4icch- a#d the #des/ .t seemed i#credible, b-t %e co-ld #ot disco-#t this story. Not yet a#y%ay. 4erhaps i# the !-t-re %e %o-ld ret-r# to 'ao +ome das *etras, a#d !i#d the secret o! the room %ith !o-r doors. The $ost Pyramid in the &alley of the "lue Moon% ,ac" at the World Explorers Cl-b, . be$a# i#vesti$ati#$ other tales o! t-##els a#d lost cities i# 4er-. =y search eve#t-ally led me to the stra#$e story o! the Valley o! the ,l-e =oo# a#d a secret mo#astery o! the #des. +his mo#astery is the s-b;ect o! a boo", "'ecret o! the #des", by :eor$e H-#t Williamso#, %ritte# -#der the pe# #ame ,rother 4hilip. Williamso# %as also the a-thor o! a#-mber o! other boo"s, i#cl-di#$ "+he 'a-cers 'pea"" >5F8D?, "0ther +o#$-es, 0ther Flesh" >5F89?, "'ecret 4laces o! the *io#" >5F86? a#d "1oad i# the '"y" >5F8F?. He %as a# adve#t-rer a#d a#thropolo$ist, a#d a believer i# lost co#ti#e#ts. Williamso# %as #o do-bt a !asci#ati#$ perso# >he died i# 5F6C?, ho%ever it is clear that he !abricated m-ch o! the "tr-e" i#!ormatio# i# his boo"s a#d eve# -sed material typed directly !rom 1ichard 'haver@s boo" ". 1emember *em-ria7" as his o%# past li!e "memories." ,-t :eor$e H-#t Williamso# ca##ot be dismissed too easily. He m-st be $ive# credit !or bri#$i#$ some o! the pop-lar mysteries o! 'o-th mericai# to the !ore!ro#t. Williamso# had made expeditio#s i#to the =adre deDios ;-#$les o! 4er- i# search o! 4aititi i# the early 5F8As, as ma#y ,ritish explorers %ere attempti#$ to do. .# his vario-s boo"s, he tal"ed abo-t ma#y o! the mysteries o! 4er- i#cl-di#$ 4aititi, t-##el systems, the %eird sto#e !ormatio#s o# the =arcah-asi 4latea- #ear *ima, a#d the Na3ca *i#es alo#$ the so-ther# coast. G#do-btedly, later %riters s-ch as Erich vo# Da#i"e#, Charles ,erlit3 a#d 1obert Charro-x -sed his %riti#$s as early $-ideboo"s to the mysteries o! 4er-.
While at times the !act a#d !a#cy i# the pa$es o! 'ecret o! the #des seem to mer$e, the !irst part o! the boo" ma"es $ood readi#$. ccordi#$ to Williamso#, a "*ord =-r-" arrived at *a"e +iticaca at some time i# the remote past, %he# the #des =o-#tai#s %ere !irst -pli!ted i# a cataclysmic eve#t that also sa#" the 4aci!ic co#ti#e#t o! =-. *ord =-r- set -p the "=o#astery o! the ,rotherhood o! the 'eve# 1ays," %hich %as to "eep the secrets a#d treas-res o! his race i# its archives. mo#$ these treas-res %as the :olde# '-# Disc o! =-. Williamso# mai#tai#s that this '-# Disc %as later $ive# to the .#cas, %he# they had adva#ced e#o-$h spirit-ally to appreciate it. ,-t %he# the 'pa#iards co#2-ered 4er-, the '-# Disc %as removed !rom the '-# +emple at C-3co, a#d placed bac" i# sa!e"eepi#$ at the mo#astery. +here is still some i#dicatio# that a t-##el system, a#d perhaps a hidde# "mo#astery" does exist i# 'o-th merica. +he le$e#d o! the Valley o! the ,l-e =oo# is o#e that has a li!e beyo#d ,rother 4hilip a#d :eor$e H-#t Williamso#. 0#e story told to me by a !rie#d !rom .#dia#apolis, ,rya# 'trohm, also te#ds to co#!irm that there is a secret, -#der$ro-#d, "city" i# the #des east o! *a"e +iticaca. ,rya# came to visit me at the World Explorers Cl-b i# Bempto# %hile . %as researchi#$ the t-##els a#d told me o! his 2-est !or the Valley o! the ,l-e =oo# some years be!ore. ,rya# arrived i# *ima a#d !le% to C-3co to ta"e the trai# to 4-#o. From 4-#o he too" a tr-c" to 'a# I-a# del 0ro, i# the r-$$ed mo-#tai#s #ortheast o! *a"e +iticaca. He co#ti#-ed past 'a# I-a# del 0ro by tr-c" to a#other small villa$e %here he met a school teacher %ho told him a# i#teresti#$ story o! a local <-ech-a .#dia# %ho had %a#dered over a hi$h altit-de rid$e i# the mo-#tai#s %here he sa% a small mo-#tai# la"e %ith $rassy !ields leadi#$ do%# to it. .t %as a small, hidde# valley i# the #des. +he .#dia# %as campi#$ beside this la"e %he# late at #i$ht he heard the so-#d o! cha#ti#$. He hid behi#d a b-sh, a#d soo# sa% a $ro-p o! me# dressed i# %hite robes. +hese me# came %al"i#$ do%# a trail to the la"e, cha#ti#$ a#d carryi#$ some "i#d o! li$hts %ith them. +erri!ied, the ma# hid behi#d the b-sh a#d the# %atched as the me# i# %hite robes be$a# to cha#t aro-#d the la"e. +he %ater i# the small mo-#tai# la"e the# levitated o-t o! the la"e. sto#ished, the ma# the# sa% steps that %ere c-t i# the solid roc", $oi#$ do%# to a pedestals a#d a plat!orm made o-t o! sto#e. +here may have bee# some sort o! door $oi#$ i#to the earth amo#$ these sto#e str-ct-res. +he me# i# %hite robes the# per!ormed some -#"#o%# ceremo#y. +he ma# %atched !or some time -#til s-dde#ly he %as see# by the ce#tral !i$-re o# the pedestal %ho t-r#ed to the hidi#$ ma# a#d s-dde#ly raised his arms i#to the air a#d created a storm. clo-d immediately appeared a#d be$a# to hail o# the ma#. bolt o! li$ht#i#$ str-c" #earby. +he <-ech-a .#dia# ra# !rom the b-shes a#d, %ith the hail a#d li$ht#i#$ !ollo%i#$ him, %e#t bac" do%# the mo-#tai#s the %ay he had come. Whe# he ret-r#ed to the villa$es belo% he told the stra#$e story to others, a#d it %as #o% %ell "#o%#. ,rya# also me#tio#ed that the Valley o! the ,l-e =oo#, %hich appears to be i# a di!!ere#t locatio# !rom the la"e, %as said to have a h-$e pyramid at the e#d o! it. ,rya# spe#t t%o %ee"s hi"i#$ o# the trails aro-#d 'a# I-a# del 0ro a#d eve#t-ally came to lar$e b-t hidde# valley %hich had a $i$a#tic pyramid)shaped mo-#tai# at the e#d o! it.
+he pyramid)mo-#tai# %as dista#t a#d obsc-red by clo-ds. +hey tho-$ht that they mi$ht reach the area o! the pyramid %ith o#ly a day@s %al" a!ter $limpsi#$ the pyramid, b-t t%o a#d a hal! days later they had still #ot reached it. Clo-ds obsc-red their vie% most o! time, b-t occasio#ally they %o-ld clear !or a short time a#d reveal the pyramid)mo-#tai# to them. +his pyramid)mo-#tai#, he believed, %as the tr-e locatio# o! the secret brotherhood %hich :eor$e H-#t Williamso# had described i# his boo"s. 'torms a#d lac" o! !ood eve#t-ally drove their party bac" to a small villa$e #ear 'a# I-a# del 0ro. +hey did#@t reach their desti#atio#, b-t ,rya# said that they %ere all co#vi#ced that they had !o-#d the Valley o! the ,l-e =oo# a#d that there %as somethi#$ -#-s-al abo-t it. +here are ple#ty o! people %ho !eel that somethi#$ -#-s-al is $oi#$ o# -#der$ro-#d, #ot o#ly i# 'o-th merica, b-t i# North merica, E-rope, sia, !rica a#d aro-#d the %orld. h-$e -#der$ro-#d t-##el system co##ecti#$ dista#t poi#ts o# earth is a !asci#ati#$ possibility. Does it exist/ Who %ill !i#d it/ Ho% !ar bac" %as it b-ilt/ +ime, shall %e say, %ill tell. OOOOOO +he E#d OOOOOOO