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The important fortr esses \vere us.ually con–

structed of gr eat stones, and built on the tops of

tbe most commanding mountains, at the foot of

vvhich they established their temporary dwellings.

The great fortress of Sacsahuaman is

.a.n

example

of this class of architecture.

The sanctuaries and shrines W·ere built with

comparatiyely small, simooth stones.

The dwellings were also

carefuily con–

st.ructed in accordance with the prevailing artis–

tic standards.

An Inca -palace ' vas arranged as follows: a

surrounding wall with a single entrance which

was closed vvith gates of he.avy

timber. Com–

municating windows were veny exceptional.

~'ithin

this enc·11 ..cl ing wal

ere t e dwelling

rooms, all on -one floo , forming

independent

habitations in such a mann

er that ·the interior of

the house was a

iglomerate of small separate

buildings.

In the interior walls o-f these habita–

tions were reee-sses in which idols, as well as

d01mes tic utensils, were placed. These recesse·s,

therefore, which are found in most Inca ruins,

served a double purpose-relig®usi and mun–

ctane: The

unction of clwellings, one with the

other, · formed small streets, giving an urban

aspec.t~

There w·e·re also buildings for the general

public known as "taimpus" and "canchas". The

tampus were used for the storage of provisions,

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