Answers for
Audioconference 3
(August 6)
1. Kirsty Opie, Aria School
What time is it over there now? (11:15am NZ
time)
Right now its about 6:15 on Tuesday evening
(yesterday, for you). Cuzco is about 17 hours behind New
Zealand.
2. Jude Symons, Arataki Primary School
How high in the mountains did the Incas live?
I’m not sure of the exact heights, but there were
(and still are) people living in the Andean highlands as
high as 17,000 ft (5,200 metres), and possibly even
higher. However, the major highland communities were
located between 10,000 and 15,000 ft (3,050 and 4,600
metres). Just for comparison, New Zealand’s highest
Mountain (Mt. Cook) is 12,300ft or 3753 metres.
One of the biggest problems with living at high
altitudes is the cold. It doesn’t snow in Cuzco – but the
temperature can get below freezing at night. Higher up it
does snow, which makes it difficult for those living in
primitive huts. There are few trees growing at high
altitudes, so the Incas (and their descendants today)
burnt llama dried dung
on fires to heat their homes. This works – but it
makes their houses a little smelly.
3. Tammy James, Centennial Park School
Have you seen any evidence of early Inca
civilisation?
Yes I have. Many of the buildings in Cuzco today and built
on top of foundations and walls constructed by the Incas.
You can still see these walls if you know how to
recognise them. Yesterday I went horse-riding, and
visited for old Inca temples carved into rocks, plus the
remains of an old fortress called Sacsayhuaman.
4. Jade Williams, Mahoenui School
How big is the city of Cuzco?
In Inca times it had about 300,000 people – which
made it quite big, similar in population to Wellington
excluding the Hutt Valley and outlying areas. Today,
Cuzco isn’t all that much bigger than it was in Inca
times (although it covers more land area)
5. Liam Jimmerson, Maungatapu School
What language do the people of Cuzco speak?
There are two languages here. The primary one in Spanish.
But many of the Indians still speak Quechua
– the old language used by the Inca. Quechua is more
common outside the city and in the highlands. Allillanchu
is Quechua for Hello. Hola is Spanish.
6. Ashleigh Tett, Aria School
Have you seen any endangered animals this week?
I haven’t seen any endangered animals. Though I
have seen llamas and
alpacas which are commonly farmed here (and
aren’t endangered). Alpacas are mainly farmed for
their wool – with a full coat of wool they sometimes
look like a sheep with a very long neck. The local farms
also have sheep, cattle, and pigs – just like NZ
farms.
The only endangered animal that I’ve seen here
was an ocelot, which
I saw stuffed in a local marketplace. Endangered animals
living wild around Cuzco include Guanaco and Vicu±a
which are the animals from which llama and alpaca were
domesticated.
7. Sarah Russell, Arataki Primary School
Has very much been dug up by scientists to tell us
how the Incas
lived?
Lots. There are many ruins here – and
archaeologists are always making new discoveries, finding
mummies and burial grounds, or finding tools and other
artefacts. But perhaps the most important thing is that
the descendants of the Incas still live here, and still
know a lot about old traditions.
Luckily we know a lot about what life was like for the
Incas –through archaeological discoveries, through
old books written by the early Spaniards and Inca
descendants, and from the stories and traditions of the
Indian people who still live here.
8. Sonny Teddy, Centennial Park School
How does Cuzco
differ from your home town of Palmerston North?
Cuzco is much older than Palmerston North. Cuzco has
lots of old buildings, and there are many people around
dressed in colourful traditional costumes. Palmerston
North is just over 100 years old – most of the
buildings are quite new and quite flash. The people in
Palmerston North have better houses, better cars, and
more money compared to the people in Peru. And of course,
Palmerston North never had any Incas – and
doesn’t get as many tourists from all over the
world.
9. Alex Dunsmuir, Mahoenui School
Have you visited a school in Peru? What is their
school day like?
Its school holidays in Peru right now – so all
the schools are closed. Peruvian children start school at
age 6, and their school day wouldn’t be too
different from yours. They still have to learn how to
read and write, do maths, and all the same things that
you do. Most of the schools in the towns are taught in Spanish,
but some in remote areas are taught in Quechua.
10. Alex Dive, Maungatapu School
Where do the children go to school and how old are
they when they start going to school in Peru?
Every city and town has a primary school – just
like in New Zealand. So things aren’t too different.
But there mightn’t be high schools and universities
in remote areas – so if students want further
education they might need to go and live in the city
(perhaps living with other family and friends). Peruvian
children start school at six years of age.
11. Hayden Ballantyne, Aria School
Do you carry any weapons to protect yourself?
No. I’m not very fond of weapons, and I think it
is just as likely that I would accidentally hurt myself
with them instead of wild animals. When I am in the
jungle I travel with guides who know how to avoid
dangerous areas – and who have simple weapons in
case there’s ever any need (which is unlikely). I do
carry a Swiss-Army knife, but that’s only because
its useful for many other things.
12. Joel Gray, Arataki Primary School
Are there many descendants of the Incas living in
Peru today?
Lots. Most of the people living near Cuzco (and in Peru) are
Peruvian Indian, perhaps mixed with a little Spanish
blood. This means that most of the people are descendants
of the Incas and other ancient Indian civilisations.
13. Paul Wi, Centennial Park School
What clothes do the local people wear?
Lots of the people dress like we do. But lots of
people, especially older people, dress in traditional
Peruvian costume. The women have traditional dresses,
with colourful cloaks, and funny hats.
Its hard to describe this on the phone, but perhaps
you can look at some books in your local library which
have pictures of people in Peru. I will try to get some
photos uploaded – but am having problems getting my
photos processed.
14. Jessica Jones, Mahoenui School
Where did the Incas
come from?
The Incas were one of the many Indian tribes living
around Cuzco. The
Indians had lived here for many thousands of years, and
number of different cultures rose and fell across Central
and South America. The Incas were merely the last, and
most successful, of these cultures.
15. Nicholas Meyer, Maungatapu School
Does the Amazon river go through Cuzco?
Well, the name "Amazon" isn’t used
until Manaus where
the Rφo Negro mixes with the Solim⌡es. But there are
many rivers here which are all part of the Amazon system
and eventually flow into the Amazon. The river that flows
near Cuzco is called the Apirumac, which is Quechua for
"Great Speaker". The river starts high in the
mountains and flows through steep canyons with high
cliffs on either side.
Joe Kane, who
will be speaking with you next week, descended the
Apirumac by river raft and kayak, until it flowed into
the Solim⌡es and eventually the Amazon. He travelled the
entire length of the Amazon river system from high in the
Andes to BelΘm on
the Brazilian Atlantic coast (over 6,000 km).
There are many places here where you can spend
day-trips river rafting on the Apirumac, and I am
considering it if I have the time while here.
16. Alex Opie, Aria School
What are you missing most about New Zealand?
Good ice-cream, my favourite cafes, and my friends
(though I am talking to many via the Internet).
17. Shannon Rampton, Arataki Primary School
How long ago did the Spaniards conquer Peru?
The Spaniards first visited Peru in 1526-7. Their
leader, Francisco
Pizarro and his men, visited a few towns on the
outskirts of the Empire. Pizarro returned to Spain to
gather finances and to plan the conquest. He returned in
1532, and conquered Cuzco
(the heart of the Empire) in 1533 – 464 years ago!
18. David Vesseur, Centennial Park School
Are there still deposits of gold and silver or did
the Incas
mine all of it?
The Incas mined a little. Gold was prized because it
was easy to work with, and because it made beautiful
decorations. Its yellow radiance was frequently used to
represent the Sun God, who the Incas worshipped. And
although the Incas mined a lot (or collect gold from
rivers and streams), it was the Spanish who greatly
expanded the mines.
The Spaniards’ greed for gold, silver, and
precious stones resulted in them enslaving many Indians
for forced labour in the mines. The Indians were treated
very badly, and the mining was dangerous often because of
toxins which poisoned people. It is estimated that 8
million Indians died in the silver mines at Potosφ, in
modern-day Boliva.
There is still gold in some places, which is still
being mined. But the mining is now done by companies who
machinery and are much better controlled.
19. Kate Bryant, Mahoenui School
Which ruin was your favourite?
My favourite so-far has been Sacsayhuaman (which is
Quechua for "satisfied falcon"). This site was
a massive fortress capable of supporting 5,000 warriors,
and was also a religious site. Construction started in
1450, and still wasn’t finished when the Spaniards
arrived in 1533. Some of the stones at 10 metres tall and
weigh over 120 tonnes. The rocks in the walls all fit
perfectly together like a jigsaw puzzle.
The ruins are impressive, but unfortunately only 20
percent of them remain because the stone walls and towers
were torn down and were used by the Spanish to build the
churches and houses of modern Cuzco. People were
still dismantling the rocks from Sacsayhuaman up until
the 1930s.
20. Teneale Harris, Maungatapu School
How old is the city of Cuzco?
No one really knows for sure because no one knows when
the first people arrived, and there are no records. There
were certainly people here before the Incas (1000AD). Some
artefacts found nearby have been dated at about 1,000 BC.
This means that the city may be about 3,000 years old
– or even older.
Part 2
21. Richard Merrilees, North Taieri School
What is the population of Cuzco?
In Inca times it had about 300,000 people – which
made it quite big, similar in population to Wellington
excluding the Hutt Valley and outlying areas. Today,
Cuzco isn’t all that much bigger than it was in Inca
times. The population estimate back in 1990 was 275,000
people.
22. St Anne's School
How many countries does the Amazon river flow
through and what are their names?
The main path of the Amazon river flows through Peru,
Colombia, and Brazil – but its tributaries also flow
through Ecuador, Venezuela, and Bolivia.
23. St John's Hill School
Who were the Incas
and what happened to them when the Spanish settlers
arrived?
The Incas were a civilisation of native Indians living
in Peru at the time that the Spaniards arrived. They
built great cities, roads, and ruled over about one-third
of South America. When the Spaniards arrived, many of the
Incas died from Smallpox
and other introduced diseases. The Spaniards tortured and
killed many other Incas – forcing them to give up
their culture, destroying their temples, and stealing
their gold and land.
The Inca people weren’t entirely wiped out. There
are still many Peruvian Indians descended from the Incas
– but their culture is very different.
24. Linda McLeod, Stanley Avenue School
Is there much pollution and how clean is the air
and water in Peru?
I haven’t seen much pollution in Cuzco and Peru.
That’s because there aren’t many factories near
where I’m staying. But many of the cars and trucks
are quite old, creating thick exhaust fumes and smoke.
Some of the sanitation isn’t so good – and
I’ve even seen a few people going to the toilet in
some of the back streets. But overall, what I’ve
seen doesn’t seem too bad. The air in the mountains
seems fresh and clean, and so does the water (although I
don’t drink it from streams because there could be
giardia or similar bacteria).
25. Te Tane Trinick, Waterlea School
What do you think will be your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge is trying to communicate with
people in languages which I don’t know very well (Portuguese,
Spanish,
and Quechua).
I am managing okay – but sometimes things are a
little difficult and I’m not sure what the other
people are trying to say. It would be really nice to have
a conversation with the local people – which I can
manage in Portuguese, but not so well in the other
languages.
26. Timothy Stevens, North Taieri School
Do any of the native people link into the tradition
of the Incas?
There are still some traditions left. The Church and
colonial Spanish tried to ban most of them – but
some are becoming popular again. Once of the keystones of
the Inca faith was a respect for the earth. Many local
people have adopted nearby mountains as their
"protectors" (all of the mountains have names)
and sometimes make offerings to the mountains. Offerings
include food, flowers, and coca leaves. One nearby
mountain is often covered in snow, and people travel from
all over to visit the mountain, and drink water from its
melted snows in the belief that it will purify them.
Many Indian people also perform small ceremonies in
their homes. The ceremonies date from Inca times and are
supposed to bring good luck. Some ceremonies are even
performed at the ruins of nearby temples by local people
who are trying to keep old traditions alive. The biggest
ceremony is the annual Sun Festival which attracts many
people (and tourists).
27. St Anne's School
Describe how you felt when you first saw the
ancient ruins of Cuzco?
The Inca walls in Cuzco were difficult to see at first
because newer buildings had been built over top of them.
But once I was able to identify them it was easier. My
first impression was awe at the skills of the Incas
cutting and fitting the stones perfectly together to make
their buildings. The second feeling was sadness because
so much of the city (and nearby ruins) was destroyed by
the Spaniards. I believe that Cuzco as it was in Inca
times would have been much more beautiful and impressive
than it is today.
28. St John's Hill School
What made the Incas
such a powerful civilisation?
The Incas were a little like the ancient Romans. They
were great warriors, engineers, and administrators. This
meant that they could capture territories to expand their
empire; build great cities, roads, and agricultural
works; and had people with the skills for running and
administering a huge nation.
29. Jessica Kidd-Edmunds, Waterlea School
Have you met any Amaz⌠nian Indians
yet?
Yes, I’ve met several. But most of them have been
in the cities and live pretty much like you and me. Some
in the countryside are living just like the other
settlers. This is similar to the way that the day-to-day
life of Maori in New Zealand is similar to everyone
else’s.
But, next week, I will be going into Manu Reserve where there
are still many Amazon Indians living life as they
traditionally have. I think this will be very interesting
and will tell you in an upcoming audioconference.
30. Nick Gwynne, Stanley Avenue School
How are you going to talk to and understand the Indians you
meet?
Unfortunately I don’t know the native Indian
languages. But in most cases I will be travelling with a
guide – who will stop me from getting lost and, who
speaks the local languages. The guide should be able to
translate a little for me.
31. Jolene Young, North Taieri School
Have you seen any Inca
artefacts? What are they like?
Yes, I’ve seen a few. The biggest and most
impressive ones are their walls and ancient buildings.
But, the local museums also have smaller artefacts like
textiles and small statues – and even Inca mummies
left over from their occasional human sacrifices.
Most of the artefacts look a little tattered because
they are so old, so you have to use your imagination a
little too think of how they looked when they were new.
Some similar artefacts (textiles and statues) are still
being made today – which helps.
32. St Anne's School
Which minerals do the Peruvian╣s mine?
The Peruvian Andes are still rich in minerals. Gold
and silver are still being mined here by some mining
companies – along with iron, zinc, lead, and copper.
By the coast and in the Amazon basin there are also
deposits of oil being extracted by the oil companies.
33. St John's Hill School
What kinds of buildings did the Incas build?
The Incas built many things, ranging from great cities
to small temples. The cities and fortresses (eg. Cuzco, Sacsayhuaman,
and Machu Picchu)
used rocks cut from nearby quarries. Some of the rocks
were very big and may have needed hundreds of people just
to move them. Amazingly, the rocks aren’t held
together with mortar – instead, they are specially
cut so that they fit together perfectly like a big
jigsaw. The big fortresses are a little like European
castles.
Other temples were passageways and alters cut into
naturally occurring mounds. They were decorated with
carved shapes of animals such as snakes, llamas, and
condors.
34. James Mora, Stanley Avenue School
Are there things you miss about New Zealand?
Good ice-cream, my favourite cafes, and my friends
(though I am talking to many via the Internet). I also
miss being able to understand what everyone is saying (in
English).
35. Brent Griffiths, Waterlea School
What types of animals have you seen this week?
I’ve seen lots of dogs (Peruvians like pet dogs)
and a few pigs roaming the back streets. Occasionally I
see llamas and alpacas
– but most of the farms nearby have sheep and
cattle, while llamas and alpacas are more common further
up the mountains.
36. Anna Thomas, North Taieri School
What still remains form the ancient city?
Nearby Cuzco are
the remains of a giant fortress called Sacsayhuaman. It
is huge and very impressive – but unfortunately only
20 percent of it remains because the Spanish and local
people disassembled the stones and used them to build
their houses and churches. But within Cuzco, lots of the
colonial Spanish buildings are built on top of the
remains of old Inca buildings.
You can tell the Inca parts by the Incas’ unique
stonework.
37. St Anne's School
Apart from being used as pack animals, what else
were the Llamas
used for?
Llama wool is sometimes used (though alpaca wool is
finer and much better). Llamas were also once commonly
used for their meat – through beef is more common
today.
In Inca times, llamas were a popular animal used in
the ritual sacrifices to appease the gods and ensure good
harvests.
38. St John's Hill School
What happened to the Incas in the end
and are their descendants still living today?
Many of the Incas died from imported European
diseases, like smallpox.
Others were slaughtered by the Spanish during the conquests and in
their greed to steal land, gold, and force changes to the
Incas’ religion. But, fortunately, not all of the
Incas died. Their descendants are still living in Peru
today – but their traditions and beliefs are now
very different.
39. Kirsty Mikkelson, Stanley Avenue School
Being high up in the Peruvian Andes, what effect
does the climate have on the plant life?
It is high in Cuzco.
It is almost the same as standing on top of Mt. Cook.
But, strangely, it never snows in Cuzco. This is because
the location is close to the equator, so it doesn’t
get as cold as Mt. Cook in New Zealand. The temperature
is about 20║C during the day, often dropping to 0║C at
night. This temperature means that you can grow plants
similar to NZ – apples, carrots, onions, lettuce,
and other plants. There are local trees – but
eucalyptus (from Australia) and pine (from Europe) are
commonly grown.
Higher up, it is too cold for many trees to grow
– so the landscape is quite barren with brown
tussock grasses
40. James Steele, Waterlea School
What are your plans if you run into a wild and
fierce animal?
It depends on what the animal is. In most cases my
instinct will be to run and to get away. This would work
for snakes and alligators, but not in
the case of a jaguar
which can run very fast.
I’m not sure about jaguars – it is rare for
them to hurt people. But, if it did attack I would
probably run and hide behind my guide (maybe the guide
would get eaten first, giving me the chance to run away).
 
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