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.

88 Royal Commentaries._ BooK lll. any other Gods, though fome Writers maintain a different opinion. When the Spaniards firíl: entred the City of Couo, this Figure of the Sun fell to the lot of a certain Nobleman ca!Jed Macio Serra de Leguifano , .whom I knew, and lefr ~ AGame at there alive when I carne thenc~ for Spain; he was fo great a Gameíler at ... Pri- Cards. · mero, and all other Games ; that though the Image ·was very great, yet he made a íhift to lofe it in one Nights play ; whence that Proverb carne, as Acofta fays, Play for the Sun before the Day break¿. Sometime afrer which, the Common- Council of the City taking notice, bow much tbis Son or Member of theirs was given to play , and how much he loll, thought fit, as the befl: expedient to wean him from that Vice, to chufe him Alcalde, or Chief Jufl:ice in Ordinar)', for tbe fpace of a year : In execution of which employrnent he applied himfelf with fo much diligence and care in the difcharge of bis truít, that being a Gentle-- man of excellent parts, he took nota Card in hand for the whole year follow- ing ; the City obferving this his aéhve diligence, continued him in Office for a. year longer, and afterwards kept him coníl:antly employed in one publick charge or other; fo that this Macio Serra difüfing his courfe of Gaming, carne ar length .to abhor it, calling to mind the many dangers, croubles and inconveniences to which it had becrayed him; which ferves 1 as a pregnanc example to demon- füate to us, how much idlenefs Contributes to Vice, and employment unto Ver- tue. But to remrn ro our Hillory, we fay, that a Calcula.te may in fome mea- fure be made of the Riches of chat City, when an Image of Gold of that pro- portion and value fell to the lot and íhare of one fiogle perfon. Oo each fide of chis lmage the Eodies of che dead JncM were placed , embalmed with fuch l<lre Art ( we koow not how) chat they feerned fiill living : their poíl:ures were fitting oo Chairs of Gold, ereéted on chofe very Frames of Gold on which they ufually fate when tbey were alive: cheir Faces were curned cowards the people; onely Huayna Capac, as if he had merited a fupereminence over ali the others, was placed with his Face cowards the Figure of tbe Sun, as if he had been rhe moíl: beloved, aod greateíl: Favourite of ali his Race; and inde~d bis Verrues aod Royal Endowments, which appeared in hilll from his. Infancy, were fuch as procured for him a degree above the frfi, and a place arnoogíl: the Gods which they adored. Thefe Bodies, with what Treafure they were able, the Jndian1 con- cealed in fuch fecret Vaults, th:it none of chem carne to appear W1till th-is year of 1559, whíin the Licenciado Polo made a difcovery of five of chem, three where- of were Kiogs, and the other two were Qgeens. The principal Gate opened to che Nonh, as it is. at prefent ; befides which there were feveral other final! Doors for betrer cooveoience of che Ternple ; ali which were li.ned on che infide with Plates of Gold, as alfo the Jarnbs or Po{ls of the Doors. On the top of the Temple withc;mr, oo the higheíl: Wall, was a large Circle of Gold in form of a Crown, of above a Yard in breadch, which e~compaffed the whole Temple. · CH A P.