tampo

tampo (tambo/tampu) [MC].
A rest-house found along Inca roads in South America. These stations were spaced at intervals of about 3km, with larger examples at intervals of about one day's travel. Tampo were used by official travellers and as posts for relay runners. Each tampo was equipped with rest-rooms and government stores; stationed at each were the runners (chasqui) responsible for carrying messages relay-fashion throughout the empire.