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.

~oyal Commentaries. B O O K IV. C HA P. l. Of the Convent of thofe Virgins who were dedicated to the Sun. A MON G·s T the many things worthy ofObíervation, which thofe Heathen Kings followed in their vain Religion and Gentilifin; the Profeffion which fome of their Women made of perpecual Cha- fücy, and the Retirements which were built for them in feveral Provinces are not here to be ornitted; atd for better underílan- ding who chofe Women were, to whom they dedicated them- felves, and wherein they were employed, we fhall declare very difünétly, be- cauíe it is a matter which che Spanijh Hiílorians touch but ílightly, and as che Proverb goes, as the Cat dorh a Coal of fire: and particularly we íhall here treac of che H u[e at Couo, becaufe chat chat was che model or pattern ofali the refr.. In chat Cicy is a cercain Lane, which chey call Acllahuaci, which is as much as the Hou[e of the íeparated Virgins: This Lane paffed through the two Streecs, which lead frorn che Market-place to che Convem of St. Dominíck_, which was anciemly che Temple of che Sun; one of cheíe Screecs paffed direél:ly from a Comer of che Markec-place, bending on che lefc hand cowards the greac Church to the Norrh- ward. When, in che Year 1 570. that I depaned from chat Cicy, chis then was che chief Screet for che Merchants; and che other Streec which paífes frorn che middle of che Markec-place, where in my time che Prifon was, led direél:ly on che righc hand ro che fciid Convem of St. Dominick_: The Front of chis Houfe was jufl oppoÍtte to che Marker-place, and opened becween chofe cwo Streets before mencioned; tbe b:ickfide of it bordered on another Screet, whlch croffes Eaíl: to Weíl:; fo chat chis Houíe "as placed in an open íquare between che Market- place and che chree Streets; and between chis and che Temple of che Sun there was a feparate pile of Buildings, with che great Area, or Courc-yard, befare the Temple. Whence we plainly perceive the miíl:ake of thofe Writers, who reporr, chac chofe Virgins had cheir Lodgings within che Temple of che Sun; and thaé chey were Prieíl:effes, and Affiílancs ro che Prieíl:s in their Offeiwries and Sacri- fices. For in regard it was che defign and intention of che lncM ro feparace thefe Virgins from che converfation, and fociety of Men; and that as Women were not permitted co encer within che Temple ofche Sun, fo neither were men allow- ed admiílion imo che retirernems of cheíe Virgins; it cannot be rationally belie- ved chacchefe Virgins could have any ocher than a diíl:inét Houíe, diílanc and dií- joined fTom any ocher; and for this reafon chey called them the feleét, becauíe O s ' they