Re: Amerindian navigators

["Larry J. Elmore" <ljelmore@montana.campus.mci.net>]

Douglas Weller <dweller@ramtops.demon.co.uk> wrote in article
<33d9106f.122957879@news.demon.co.uk>...
> On 14 Jul 1997 23:09:19 GMT, in sci.archaeology.mesoamerican, Yuri
> [SNIP]Kuchinsky wrote:
> >
> >If only Williams bothered to read the early historical accounts of the
> >Spanish invaders to see that the Incas, although based in the highlands,
> >controlled a huge maritime trading network run by their allies, the
> >Chincha, on the coast! Williams needs some remedial learning here in a
> >hurry... When Pizarro arrived on the coast in 1532, all that was still
in
> >evidence, although one needs to note that that amazing maritime
> >civilization of Chincha collapsed very quickly after the Spanish
influence
> >was firmly established.
> 
> They used balsa rafts, right?

Actually, they used both balsas and totora reed ships. Judging from their
art, reed ships were predominant in earlier times. The balsas were dominant
when the Spanish arrived (and were preferred by them over their own
longboats to ferry men, horses and equipment from ship to shore because of
their superior stability and safety). The reed ships they used had a double
stern that produced a more stable craft that was also easier to climb
aboard from the water, and was very much easier to land on a surf-washed
beach (the double stern greatly minimized the tendency of a ship to turn
sideways to the waves).

Larry