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.

BooK 111. Royal Commentaries. Of thofe five Chambers which we have already memioned, there were rhree onel y t.hat I faw remaining in their anciem ílace of \IValls and Roof; and rhefe al- fo were defpoiled of cheir Places of Gold and Silver; bm rhe ocher rwo, which "'ere che aparcments of rheMoon and Sra_rs were demolifhed, and laid leve! wich the ground. In the omfide of chefe Walls, which bordered on che Cloiílers, were four Niches, or Tabernacles made of free Srone, as rhe \ iValls themfelves "ere; and thefe Niches had cafes of Srone cut and placed wichin che hollow of d1e Taberoacle, the which were lined with Places of Gold, not onely on the rop and fides , but on che boctom alfo ; and the corners of thefe íl:one-cafes, or frames, were ali inlaid with preE-ious Stones , fuch as Efineralds and Turquoifes, becaufe that Coumrey neicher yields Diamonds, nor Rubí es : On great fefüval _ Days the Inca did ufüally fit in one of thefe Tabernacles, fometimes in one, and fometimes in another, as was appointed for the Fefüval. In two of thefe Tabernacles, in the fame Wall which looked to the Eaíl:- ward, I remember that I obferved m:my little holes ·in che Cafe5, ór Prames, l which were emboife'd wichin the Scone , ano chofe which were ,in the corners reached from one fide to the other; .thofe boles which were iri the middle df the Tabemacle, onely marked or pitted the Wall: Enquiring of the Religious which belonged to chat Houfe, whac thefe boles meant, chey told me, thar: in che times of Jmli~n Genüliíin. thofe were rhe places ~n which the preti.ousS,cones \Vere - fet ; thefe Tabernacles, and all che Doors, which were twdve m number; chat opened tb che Cloifler, were all placed with Leaves of Gold , excépting onely the Chambers of che Moon,, togerher with thofe. of the Stars., whidi, as we ' have faid, in refemblance of what. they reprefented, were oyerlaid with Silver onely. , . · . . Beúdes thefe five principal Chambers (which .we have already mentioned to be appercaining to the Temple of the Sun) there were other Ro.oms of leílet ' note , which belonged to the Prieíls, and che Servants unaer them, who were rnade Incas by privilege, becaufe ch~t no ot~er Indi11n, how great foever he were, though a Curaca, or Lord, had not the hbercy to ·emer within tha t- Houfe rnuch leís was it granted to Women, though Daughcers, .ar Wives of the King himfelf: The Prieíls accended to the fervice of che Temple by Weeks~ which they reckoned by Qg_arters of che Moon ; during which time they abíl:ained foom the company of their Wives, not deparpng from the confines of the Temple, ei- ther by day or night. . Thofe Jndians which performed thé Drudgery of inferiour Services of.the Tem- ple, fuch as Porters, Sweepers, Cooks, Butlers, and che like , were the very fame that were Menial Servants and Officers.in the Pala~e of che l ncM ;_ for thefe two Houf es of the Father and Son were ferv~d with like attendance , excepting onely that in the Temple of che Father no Woman had admiffion, and in the Pa- lace of the Son no Sacrifices were offered; all other rnatter had an equality of Grandeur and Majeíl:y. ; I '• , ' CM A P.'