Four of the attendants came
forward, carrying a curious framework apparently composed of
reeds and leather, light and flexible, from the top bar of which
hung suspended several rope-like ribbons, of various lengths and
colors and tied in curious knots. They placed it on the ground
before the double throne, at the feet of Desiree.
All doubt was then removed from my mind concerning the identity
of our captors and their king. For these bundles of knotted cords
of different sizes and colors I recognized at once.
They were the famous Inca quipos--the material for their
remarkable mnemonic system of communication and historical
record. At last we were to receive a message from the Child of
the Sun.
But of what nature? Every cord and knot and color had its
meaning--but what? I searched every avenue of memory to assist
me; for I had latterly confined my studies exclusively to Eastern
archeology, and what I had known of the two great autochthonous
civilizations of the American Continent was packed in some dim
and little used corner of my brain. But success came, with an
extreme effort.
I recollected first the different disposition of the quipos for
different purposes--historical, sacred, narrative, et cetera.
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