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Show ered. These master cords were not In ordinary use, but were probably reserved re-served for the royal statlatlcluns. ARITHMETIC WAS KNOWN TO THE ANCIENT INCAS Existence of Wei-Developed System of Figuring Proven. Lima, Peru. The fact that ancient Inca civilization In Teru possessed an efficient calculating machine has been established by a recent discovery of Francisco Loaysa of Lima. The Instrument In-strument consists of a knotted cord or "qulpu," unearthed in a prehistoric tomb neor Cajnummi. While Jt tyis been well known that the Inca's made use of "qulpas" in common with many other aboriginal peoples In the new world, Loaysa Is the first historian who has been able to Interpret and describe fully the use to which this device wus put. His studies show that the Iiwns hud a well-developed well-developed system of arithmetic, based on the decimal system, and that they employed the "qulpu" for purpose of rapid calculation In subtraction, multiplication mul-tiplication and division. The "master qulpu" discovered by Loaysa consists of a cord about 18 yards long, containing 100 knots. These knots are divided into 10 unequal sections sec-tions by as many silver beads, representing repre-senting the odd numbers from 1 to 19. The sections are of different colors, including in-cluding brown, yellow, blue and green. The colors are Important factors in the calculating process. The silver beads placed between the groups represent rep-resent the even numbers from 2 to 20. By counting according to the rules discovered dis-covered by Loaysa, all arithmetical operations can be carried out In a rapid and mechanical ninnner. Calculations Calcu-lations Involving tens, hundreds and thousands are possible by this device. Many simple form" of "qulpus" have been found In Peru, but this is the only highly developed one yet dlHcov- |
