The lost cave of Pachamama

[Crow]

Hello All



Here is yarn that has been tossed about over many a drinking session. Not just in my den of iniquity but through hundreds of story tellers across the Andes. In my time working for a mining company we worked with various labourers in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Chilli. Shamefully those workers was paid a hell of a lot less than us. So we tried various ways to take care our hired crew being comfortable and well supplied. And most of all we shared food and drinks with our hired hands. A lesson I had learned well in New Guinea.



In these somewhat fleeting friendships of working and for a time with these nationals one thing you will understand baring the language is the universal love of telling a story. And its in one of those moments with the respect and the right coaxing with the local beer you flesh out amazing stories of life which most of us would consider an alien world.


It is amazing a shared meal smoke or drink can do to break barriers. All of these roof of the world dwellers of the Altiplano had a story of a legend to tell. They all told their stories with a gleam in their eyes, especially if they saw you deeply interested in what they are saying. One such legend sprang up in conversation in Peru in the Atacama desert and the other in the high Altiplano of southern Bolivia in high dry salt lakes region where the frost of the dry salt lake mirrors the sky, where heaven and earth become one.


The stories all be it slightly different in description tells of a fabulous legend of a Silver adorned Goddess or Inca priestess hidden in a remote mountain cave and the old ones, the Incas used to send once a year a virgin female child as sacrifice to appease the earth Goddess along with finely wrought items of silver used to adorn each Sacrifice toPachamama. The cave was always situated at the base of a High Andean volcano in the cold desert of the Altioplano.


Even today my fine Andean friends would tip part of their food and drink in appeasement of the godless. For she was the goddess for fertility and crops as well as earthquakes when she is annoyed. She was the Earth mother the source of creation in Andean Mythology. In most country villages today before any meeting or gathering it is always etiquette to say a small prayer with a token offering of food or drink to the mother Goddess. In more important occasion a llama would be sacrificed to her.


The catholic church had to blend her into the virgin Mary, however the her toast is called challa and it is made almost every day. Pachamama has a special worship day called Martes de challa (Challa's Tuesday).



People bury food, throw candies, and burn incense. In some cases, celebrants assist traditional priests, known as Yatiris in Aymara, in performing ancient rites to bring good luck or the good will of the goddess, such as sacrificing guinea pigs or burning llama foetuses (although this is no longer common). But I was fortunate to have stayed in a home where they burnt one. Her festival coincides with Shrove Tuesday also celebrated as Carnevale or Mardi Gras.



Many tried to find this sacred site of legend but the description was so vague it could be a cave on any number of Andean volcanoes? Her festival is conducted on many mountains today but as legend stated about the Inca one sacred mountain was used for the Virgins of Pachamama



The story intrigues me so was there any truth to this wild and woolly folk tales?

Crow

 

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[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

Crow, to dreamers like us that 'have' seen legends come true, YES !!!!!!!! How much, or how close to the original story, is another matter.



Don Jose de La Mancha

 

[Crow]

Hello Don Jose

Here is a newspaper story from 1926. A rather melodramatic penny dreadful article straddled between fiction and fact. In some newspaper article the boundary between reporting a story and outright fiction is some what blurred. The story echos HP Lovecraft mountains of madness unseen evil horror theme through it. However does reflect some aspects about Andean folk takes of Pachamama.

Natuarally I tried to identify the identity of this women explorer Hestacombe. Could not find and trace of her. Or the alleged location of the hill by name given. That says a lot in volumes to me however it is clear this tale has evolved from earlier Andean Folk tales. Such as the ones that was told to me.

And yet in the folk tales there is a grain of truth as early 17 century documents tell of ancestor worship of Inca deities hidden away in caves from the prying eyes of outsiders.

Crow

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

Mi compadre Crow, I would love to be able to read that newspaper cliping, but unfortunately it is too small, and If i enlarge it, it is too blurry, soooo if you want your coffee, please post it in a larger version.

Love stories such as this.

Don Jose de La Mancha

 

[Crow]

Mi compadre Crow, I would love to be able to read that newspaper cliping, but unfortunately it is too small, and If i enlarge it, it is too blurry, soooo if you want your coffee, please post it in a larger version.

Love stories such as this.

Don Jose de La Mancha

Hello Don jose

Sadly that was the best quality version I have. Some papers when scanned was slightly out of focus. however just for you I will write out the version.

Few countries arc richer -in 'legends of buried treasure than- Chili, South America, the home of ancient and vanished civilization. whose wealth of gold and jewels

was an a fabulous scale. One of the most fascinating of treasure legends, deals with lost treasure said to be hidden in the Cavern of the Silver Priestess, in Sueco Hill, , ? ?

A description of the terrible experiences which befell miss Hastcombe, an English woman, 'She was the last adventurer lo attempt to solve tho mystery, are given in_ The Sunday News (London). In the legends of Chili tell of a religion founded on blood sacrifice to strange and terrible gods, of weird and cruel ceremonies, and of the wealth and power of tho Silver Priestess who dominated the vast country from her rock-girt cavern high on the great Sueco Hill -looking to wards the giant peaks of the Bolivian Andes. Miss Hestacombe, who lived for years', in Valparaiso the capital of Chili, had studied the ancient legends of the country very deeply. She was the authority on all that pertained to ancient South America, and she made out a good case for probability of a vast treasure hoard being secreted in this high cavern. She claimed that the rites of the Silver Priestess of Sueco Hill resembled certain aspects of' the religion of Rome. The Silver Priestess, according to the legend. was a virgin priestess who guarded the cavern temple of the gods of the harvest, just as the vestral virgins ancient Rome guarded the Temple of Diana. Slid was convinced that the legend was founded on fact, and now was determined to put her theory to the test. Cavern's Dead Guardian.

She set out at the head of an expedition to unravel the mystery, taking with her a train of Indian guides and carriers. Before starting she said that if she located the cavern she expected to find evidence of a number of guardians of the treasure, an inner chamber, and a secret room. where the treasure had been stored— and it Possibly might still lie. Exactly what happened in the cavern? Miss Hestacombe was never able to tell. All that is known was gleaned from the guides who wait with her. The cavern was found on a high peak commanding a superb view of the colossal Andes. Vegetation had obscured its wide V mouth, and a landslide had partially dosed it. When these obstructions were removed a strange sight met the eyes of The treasure hunters. Across the entrance of the cavern lay the bleached skeletons of 50 men.

Far from being frightened at this sight. Miss , Hestacombe was jubilant that her theory had been verified. With high hopes she lit her flare and passed into the yawning cavity which lay before her. After passing beyond the last shaft- of daylight the party found the floor covered with. icy water. and from then on they had to follow narrow lodges cut into the rock face, where a slip meant a plunge into what was now a black stream' of unknown Depth. A Perilous March. . A long and eerie march through gloom, illuminated by the glare of torchlight's, brought the party to a large circular chamber from whose roof hung .huge stalactites. There was further evidence of the long-dead priests. At one end of the great hall a pillar' supported, an. altar-like erection; rude carvings in the


naked rock of the walls depicted the procession of worshipers bearing gilts of cold and jewels to the sods of the harvest, and one scene- was of the human sacrifice upon the altar. Working along with her escort. Miss Hestacombe found a small opening behind tho altar. - She announced her intention of exploring it, but her guides drew back. They were already nervous. The sinister tunnel opening, a cavern within a cavern terrified them. - Argument failing to move them. Miss Hestacombe ordered them to await at tho month of the great cavern, and plunged with her torch into the narrow opening.

After waiting for_ hours without seeing or hearing anything of the woman treasure hunter. The guides timidly re entered the cavern and hallooed at the entrance of the tunnel into which their leader had disappeared. No answering shout came. They returned and camped on the open' hillside, and waited. Next morning they again entered the cavern, shouting Into tho echoing shadows. The voice that answered them made their blood run cold. Miss Hestacombe appeared out of the gloom, her hair streaming, her clothes torn, her eyes wide in horror. She was entirely bereft of her senses. And in that condition she was brought' by the Indians back to Valparaiso.

Although' Miss Hestacombe recovered her reason, She was never able to reveal what she saw, heard, and suffered in that inner sanctuary of the Cavern of the Silver Priestess' on 'Sueco Hill

Crow

 

[Crow]

Hello Again

Of course the stories I heard was not so drastic as that newspaper story. But the question remain what still lies out there hidden away on some remote mountain top? Of our fellow Bolivian Worker who told me the story. Pedro we call him because we could never pronounce his name. Stories and folklore among the ordinary native Bolivian went side by side with their Catholic religion, just like the natives of Peru. Even in Potasi the famous silver mine that operated for centuries has their own resident deity called TITO.

Several versions are in several mines around the country as the superstitious Bolivians seem to hedge their bets between Andean and Christian imagery.

The superstition is a long held one between the miners and the everyday folk who scratch a living. Perhaps dating back to days when the Inca engaged in ancestor worship noble Incas would be taken to high cave and even sacrificed children to old Andean gods would sit mummified in the rare air of high altitude and be treated with reverence like the living. people would go these caves to consult the old ones bring gifts of Cocos leaves, cigarettes or Alcohol as offerings.

Crow

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

Ok, Ok Crow, you have earned your full pot of coffee. With a side thank you, since I appreciate the extra work involved. When are you heading up there?

Keep up the stories my friend.

Don Jose de La Mancha

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

Morning again Crow, That was a common practice brought over from Europe. In the older mines here they generally have a small alter in front of the main Portal, which is generally dedicated to a particular Saint for protection. They always have a lit candle burning there.

When are you heading for the cave?

Don Jose de La Mancha

 

[Mackaydon]

Ah, yes; TITO, the devil (underground) god and offerings to him to assure safety.
Reminds me of the Potosi mountain mine and their cob coins.
Don....

 

[Crow]

Hello Don

Tito is becoming quite an attraction for adventure tourists these days. Sadly the attraction is a distraction from the deplorable working conditions of the mine and age of the miners.

I dare say that each silver coin from Potasi has come at a high price. Now wonder you Shipwreck hunters value it so much. Each coin tells a story my friend.

Don Jose I do have a little yarn about a small half ass search we had, a day trip more than anything else.

I just need a refill of that fine coffee of yours....its late

Crow

 

[Mackaydon]

It’s not surprising that the miners of Potosí seek divine protection, be it from Jesus on the outside of the mine, or El Tío underground; it is estimated that Cerro Rico and the other Bolivian mines have resulted in 8 million deaths in the last 500 years. So the offerings continue—and so do the casualties; and so does its history.
Don........

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

G'morning Mac, and just how many deaths are attributable to ships and their influences, such as being indirectly responsible for the deaths associated with the Mines in Peru?? I.E. no ships, no mining to a great extent.

And how is mi favorite mariner doing these days?

Comon over here to where Crow and I are sitting for some hot coffee.

Don Jose de La Mancha coffee.

 

[Mackaydon]

Don Jose,
I'm doing some marine research on the computer regarding the 'outside' of Baja.
If I leave 'gringoland', I'll stop by with a bottle of tequila, some limes and langostinos--to complement your fine coffee.
Don........

 

[Crow]

Hello Don Jose and Don

Yeah we did have a little look as one version we heard of a cave near La Paz .

On one break we set the pace for a weird little half ass adventure. We had by no means planned just to sit around the bars of La Paz on our break. Our first breaks from work was just readjusting living in a new city doing the tourist thing. One of workers on our rigs gave a name of man to contact as knew who to contact to give directions of this cave. The mans name was La Certia. He was in Jail in the San Pedro Jail.

The Prison is the largest prison in La Paz. It was the strangest prison you can imagine. Basically part of a few city streets walled off to become a prison. I have since been told it has been recently been closed. It renowned for being a society within itself. Significantly different from most prisons as inmates at San Pedro have jobs inside the community. They buy or rent their accommodation, and often live with their families. the more money you have the better the accommodation you had. Most were jailed there for drug offences. The sale of Cocaine to visiting tourists gives those inside a significant income and an unusual amount of freedom within the prison walls. Elected leaders enforce the laws of the community, with murders being commonplace. The prison is home to approximately 1,500 inmates and not including the women and children that live inside the walls with their convicted husbands. Visiting guests can stay at the prison hotel. It was definitely one of moments what the hell am I doing here thing.

It was in the grimy alley apartment we found La Certia in his apartment . He was munching on his breakfast. not looking up he immediately thought us dumb gringos had come there to buy Cocaine Base. La Certia looked like a burnt out used car salesman that had age well beyond his years. Hardluck Explained we had come to find out who we could contact for the location of a mysterious cave in the hill around la Paz. As expected La Certia snorted every come with a price Amigo. The usually bantering La certia put in his price and Hardluck halved it. Kanacki made another in between again and when la Certia saw hardluck who turned to leave he came to an acceptable price. " Yellec" La Certia spat. "That all? " Kanacki said somewhat surprised. You can find her at the "Mercado de las Brujas"

My brain at the time still trying to come to terms with Spanish word and took moment to understand ….witches market. La Paz is unique in world as it has a witches market where the local Aymara people would go for folk magic. the area is full stalls selling witch craft, spells and all sort of weird items. So of we went from the laxest jail I ever seen to an even more weirder place of the Witches Market. Of course we had already doubted the story and that the clever Bolivians had been pulling a fast on us. However though we would take it as far as we could go. It was at least better than drinking ourselves in a stupor.

We arrives in the street famous for its eccentric voodoo portions, love spells, herbal medicine potion of manner of kinds. There was several old Aymara women plugging their wears. None of the would not look out of place in a Hansel Gretel story or any other fairy tale. Old were old as hills around us and every wrinkle told a story that these Wiley old women was not to be messed with. It was some how quaint that people still believed in this folk magic and the world was not all the sterile cold scientific realism of the west.

But for 3 gringo lambs for the slaughter we entered the village or I should say street of the Witches market. Their eye gleamed with cunning at the prospect of fresh meat, rubbing their hand in anticipation we were accosted by the old women in their brightly coloured cloves and bowler hats. Plying us with all sorts of nick knacks we asked between garbled Spanish, English and Aymara and Quechua dialects. Asking for “Yellec” The old women would mutter under their breath and part to let us move on. As the gaggle of witches parted we saw a squat like old women squinting with the appearance some time ago she had a stroke. She could have been anyone,s great great grandmother. Her appearance of a frail hunch backed old women hid the fact that even in her last years of here life she had the cunning of a viper.

In a mixed conversation between two languages she ply us with wears to sell. We was just asking for direction. Realising she was not going to make a sale she hissed curses in her native tongue. Hardluck impressed her with some roughly spoken version of Aymara that impressed her. Enough at least for her to change tack.Yellec told us we needed protection against the forces of the spirits if we intend to go looking for the old one. She plied Kanacki with a wicca image, and Hardluck with a dried llama foetus, and me with she looked me over and pulled out a small bat and indicated I wear this bat under my arm as it will ward off a great sickness. All of this was for a price of course. Of course I was not buying it perhaps looking back I should of as later events gave me second thought. My refusal to pay for a bat give not go down well as she gave a stare with her wiley evil eye as hissed curses at me in her native tongue through green cocoa stained remains of teeth.


She had told Hardluck of the peak just outside of La Paz in fact over looking the city, Known as demonios dedo , the Devil's finger where we would find a shall cave of the old one. It was easy to find she claimed at you look for others and knotted grass as they were incantations by witches seeker power from the old one. Yellec gave us a warning as we left not disturb the sleep of the old one or pay a horrible price. With those words she stared at me remembering I did not buy any of her charms gave a deep evil stare at me.

We had hired a vehicle for the day and drove through the maze of streets and found the road that took us along a track to base of the devils finger. The peak was deceptive crag of broken rock dumped on a mountain top. It looked like a a little eroded volcanic plug. Along the was we did strange enough followed a trail of knotted grass where incantations had been cast. Also we found fire place remains of burnt effigies with various offering. Higher up search the peak. However Try as we may we never found the alleged cave. There are some part that you really need to be a mountain goat to traverse. The view over from the top of peak gave a fantastic view over La Paz and surrounding mountains. As the cloud and chill of the rarefied air of the Andes came in obscured the view. We realized the enormity of suck the task. I was a fun day trip but not worth a lifetime search.

The simple fact there was perhaps hundreds of sites of reverence. Some over time has been desecrated some had been lost. Without more information you could toil for years search for sites and cannot come close. The story of the silver princess is interesting and intriguing one, a mixture of ancient native folklore mixed with later European Christian concepts of spirits has created a whole mythology right across the Andes spanning several countries.

Interest will continue in these stories and a few years ago there has been a discovery of mummified sacrifice to Pachamama found on near the summit of a volcano. So perhaps there is a cave as the legends say some where out there with silver objects venerating on of the most ancient of Andean gods somewhere in the south of Bolivia?




crow

 

[Crow]

Hello All

Just to show the knotted grass. In Aymaran culture the grass is a gift from Pachamama and for her devine intervention a witch with act of behalf of a petitioner will twist the grass into a knot as she cast the spell. To the locals its bad Karma to undo a knot because the grass knots are undistinguished between good and bad spell. You could being undoing a curse or a spell helping some one. The spell stays active until the knot is undone or over time rots away. Such is the belief in the Bolivian Andes.

crow

 

[Interested Party in UK]

Hello Crow

This thread reminds me about a story regarding Pachacamac in Peru. This place was a religious temple complex in the time of the Incas and was conquered by them. However they let the people and priests remain as part of their wise and prudent policy of settlement and even consulted the oracle there on occasion.

After the Spanish arrived and did what they did, as part of his ransom, Sapa Inca Atahualpa actually advised the Spanish to go and sack the temple of its great treasures as he had been badly advised by the Pachacamac high priest that he would have a long and successful reign. It was widely known and accepted that there was a great treasure at the temple which had been accumulated over 500-600 years and was jealously guarded by the priesthood. The rapacious conquistadores at once set out for the sight, but the priests had been forewarned and had managed to conceal their the vast majority of their treasure. Even so, the Spanish managed to get a good few arrobas of golden objects and handfuls of emeralds, but were sorely frustrated by missing out on the "biggie". They employed their usual tactics of brutality and torture, but this infuriated the priests even more who did not reveal where they had hid their valuables. In time the whole place was pretty much ransacked and the cemetery despoiled; there was even a rumour that about 1780, a peon did locate part of the booty which was less than a mile or two between two pivotal hills near the complex, and promptly moved to Lima about bought himself real estate, respect and even a title. The bulk of it said to include humongous emeralds, has never been relocated and even today, is said to be not further than a few miles from the temple itself. Perhaps the priests did have the last laugh on those conquistadors with EL Nino the weather phenomenon and the shifting sands covering up the site of the treasure, for eternity.

The book I read covering part of this, was a travelogue by an English gentleman during the 1860s and he passed this site during his travels. He said that the whole country of Peru was one massive treasure trove and the favourite past-time of all - the President down to the smallest child - was to try and uncover a portion of it for instant riches. Most failed miserably but some really did unearth fortunes.

 

[lilorphanannie]

i several several treasure leads for peru and bolivia, some are well documented . the inca military leader and accountant tupac yupanqui ordered the transport and burial of 300 cargas of placer gold and nuggets to a location high up on the sacred mountain pachatusan. antis(campas) indians were hired as porters to move the gold up the mountain to its hidden location. //// also those who read spanish might enjoy reading on the "proyecto koricancha" website.

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

Gracias mi compadre LOA.


Don Jose de La Mancha

 

[lilorphanannie]

saludos mi amigo don jose! another point that may somewhat pertinent to this post is that the city of la paz was founded by the spanish explorers initially as a placer deposit. the river that runs through the city is known as the la paz river ,the orginal name in the amayra language is chuquiapa meaning river of gold. this river ,now largely contaminated with raw sewage still carries gold. and there is an affluent chuquiaguillo is the name that may be one of the best nugget hunting areas there is,anywhere . nuggets up to 600 ounces have been found there ,the largest one is still on exibit in the museum of natural history in madrid,(i think) quite a few 2 and 300 ounce nuggets were also found. i last visited in 1997, and i planned to return with a metal detector,but so far haven't had the free time. the arroyo is very easy to locate and get to,although breathtaking. in the mountains just north of the city. i don't think anyone has ever put a metal detector in there.millions of dollars were taken out, the export records to spain are available.

 

[Crow]

Hello all

UK: Interesting post do you recall the name of the book? One thing to realize there are hundreds of sites dedicated to Pachamama. Here is a picture of one walled enclosure on an island of lake Titicaca. It is facing two mountain peaks. The snow capped mountain on the left is dedicated to Pachamama and the other mountain is for Pacha Kamaq. The mind boggles what treasure was in this sacred enclosure many centuries ago.The koricancha in Cuzco however was the greatest temple of them all.




lilorphanannie: Yes I can confirm with utmost confidence of your statement about La Paz being orginally a placer deposit. I have a 1851 newspaper story somewhere telling about finding big gold nuggets in La Paz.

Crow