The royal commentaries of Peru : in two parts / written originally in spanish by the Inca Garcilasso de la Vega; rendred into english by sir Paul Rycaut.

Royal Commentaries. B OOK VIII. The Caciques who lived in the pares adjacent to th<! City carne rhi ther to bear a part and fhare in the Solemniry, attended with their Kindred, and No- bility of their Provinces; and attired in ali the finery and gallantry with which they u!ed to drefs themfelves at times of their own moft Religious Feafts ; of which we have given a Narrative in the firft part of thefe Commentari es ; eve- ry Sept or Linage carrying the Enfigns or Signals .of their own Race and Fa- rriilies, fo which they take much pride, and Jihew great o11entation. Sorne of them carne in the habit (as H errnles is painted) with the Lions Sk in, the Head of which fer vcd-him for a Cap; and chis is the moft honou- rable drefs, for they value themfclves very much to be defcended from a L.ion : Othersappeared with great Wings extended at a la i:ge breadth like to Angels, wh ich they took from the Fowle called by them Cuntur, which is much rn • eíl:eem with them, and from which they alfo glory to derive their defcent. Others were habited in Cfoathes painted with Rivers, F ountains, Lakes., Mounra ins, Caves, and the like, having a Tradition amon.gft cbem, that their Forefathers had their original from fuch places. Others had ftrange devifes with Gold and Silver, and Coronecs of G~ld: Sorne appeared like Monfrers, 11aviflg the·ir Ha!lds llk~ Claws, or the Paws of Wild-beafts which they took in hunting. Others fe.igned themfelves to be Fools anct Idiots, endeavonring in all guifes to pleafe and div~ert their Kings and Governours. Sorne would aél: the part of Riches and Grandor-e, others perfonated Mifery and Povercy; and every Prov ince alfumed fome thing, that they thought might adminifter to divertilement and delight, and which might ferve to make up the folemnity of the Feftival; well knowing that variety was pleafing, and contributed much to che fatisfaéti0n of the Min~. By foch Scene~ and Reprefencations as chefe, with wltich .t he l ndians did ufe to celebrate tne Feafts of their own Kings, did thcy now, though with mo1'e oftentation appear, and bear a part in !hewing honour .to the .Moft Holy Sacrameñt, which is our true God, Redeemer, and Lord of al l ; che w hich chey performed • ith fuch Devotion and Sincerity., as plainly demonfl:rated chem to be a People freed from the Superftition and Vanity of their·Gentilifm. . · T·he 'Qlergy and Ciriieris were not wantÍnft alfo to contribnte their part to render chis f eftival thf more great and glorious ; ito which end a Sca.ffold was ereéted in the Yál'd leading to the Church, on that fide which fronts the Chief fyf arket -place, where che Moft Holy Sacrament was expofed in a rich C~·de of Gold and Silver. The Qfficers of the Church placed them!dves on t he r ight-hand, and chofe ef the City on the left : with ·them were feveral ~f rhoíe Incas which remained of the Royal Line; to whom they gave a place of Precedence in token t'hat that Empire was their l'atrimony. The l nJians of the fe veral Difl:riél:s palfed in their Chairs, or Sedans,".with t heir Kindred , and Attendances; every Province finging in thcir own Mother, langua13e, :rnd not in thc general Tangue which is common to the Court, the bem:r w rnake a differc nce between ode-Nation and another,; · • Wirl) t hem they.carried their Drums, 'fintes, Pipes, and Cymbals, and cither fo rcs of rural aud barba ro11s Mulick; and feveral of the Men were followed by their JJVives, who ter ved to bear a part in the Chorus. Íhe fubfra nce of their Songs were Praifes ro God, returning him thanks for having brought them out of• lgnorance, to the light of true Knowledge. And rertdring alfo Thanks to ·t.he Spaniards of what condition foever, whe- ther Spiritual or Temporal, for having infrruéted them in the Doétrine of the Chrifti an Fair:h. · , Orher Provioces, according to the Cuftom in the times of their Kings, fent t he Men only, without rhe cornpany or fociety of their Women. T o tbe upper fide of che Church-yard, or Cymererie, whichis aboot feven or eight Sreps higher than the Marke,t -placc, they arcended by Scairs to adore theMofi: Ho'ly Sacrarnent; evéry Sept, or Race in diftintl: divifions, being fe- parated from each ot h'" r ten or twelve pa~ces diftant, to avoid diforder and ("Onfuíiori ; and hav ing made their Adoration, they defcended by another pair of baé'k Stairs , which w~s e~ eet:.ed on . th~ right-~arid of che Scaffold. Every Nauon proceeded accordmg to Its Sen1onty, wh1ch was taken and meafured bf t he time tba t the Incas had madé the Conquefl: of them : So thofe who were t!ic lail:' íubd ued, were placed t he fidt in the Proce ilion; and thofe who were the more