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.

110 Royal Commentaties. BoaK IV. chac chey íhould obferve a~d keep that Law of Jefüs .~hriíl: whic~1 th~y had lately received. and for ever praife and chank God for fendmg chem fo mefhmable a be- nefit ancl honour, and ferve che Spaniards for having been che means and infiru- rnents of fuch Divine Revelations; and:chat th ey íhoul d ferve and obey their Maíler with íingular Affuétion) to whofe loe and forru.ne ic fho.uld fall ro be their Lord and Governour; la fil y, he told them, chat íi_nce it w as the Cuílome of their Councrey to eleét che moíl: vercuous u~to their Governmem, he clwged them to rnake choice of cha~erfon amongíl h1s Sons, whom they eíl:eerrled the llJofi de- ferving; and that in cafe none of them appeared worthy of their paternal Succef- fion and Honour , that then, pafling them by, they íhould chufe fu ch a Perfon from amon11íl: themfelves, whom they reputed of greateíl: Honour and W orthi- nefs; for chat lince nothing was fo dear to him as che common Good, and Beóe.fit of his People, he defired not the promotion of his Children farther chan as it tended to thac end and deíign: · All which a Prieíl:, who had been hís Confef. four , reported as a remarkable T eílament and Pa~ge in thofe barbarous· pares. ·• CH A P. XI. Of their Ceremonies when they weaned, and JhaveJ, and gave Names to their Children. T HE JncM, when they,weaned their Eldeíl: Sons, chey ¡:nade great Feafis and rejoycing, which chey did not obferve for their Daughcers, or fecond or chird Sons, at leaíl: not with that folemnity; for the order of Primogenirure of Males was in high Eíleem with che lnw, ami by rheir .Example with all their Subjefü. · , They weaned them at two years of age, and upwards, and then clipt off the Hair of their Heads, and with that gave them rheir Names: At which cere- mony che Kindred aífembled, and he that was to impofe the Name, fhore offche firíl: lock ofche Infant's Hair. Tbeir Sciífers were made of a Flint, for .as yec che Jndians were not arrived to a betrer Invenrion; afrer the God-father had foipped his lock, che reíl: of che Kindred did the like, one afrer the orber, ac¡cording'to their Age and Qg_ality_; and wben the Infant was quite fhorn, then the Name was given, with che Prefents which they brought; for fome gave him Garmenrs, and clothing, others beíl:owed Carde, others Arms of divers Fafhions, orhers Cups of Gold and Silver to drink in: che which was performed onely towards tne Princes of the Royal Bloud; for that che Commonalw were nor permirtea chis Hogfla-r, unlefs by particular Privilege or Difpenfarion. . After this Ceremony was ended, then came in their drink , for a dry Feaíl: was accounred dull, and wich Singing, and Dancing, 1hey paífed che whole Day, unrill Nigbt parted them; which Jollity being che next day renewed, cominued for diree or four days, according to che quality of rhe Parems; the like Ceremony was obferved, when the locks of che young Prince, and Heir ap- parenr, were clipc, at which che High Prieíl: of che Sun affifted, and was.rhe firíl: to cut his Bair; moreover at chis folemnity the Curac.u of che whole Kingdom eithf: in Períon, or by their Deputies appeared, and were afliíling at this Feíl:ival: wlüch continued for che [pace of at leaíl: twency days, offering rbeir Prefenrs of Gold, and Sil ver, and prerioqs íl:ones, and what elfe was curious and rare, in theit refpeé'ti e Provinces. In refemblance hereof (becaufe it is natural for People to imicace rbeir Pdnce) che CuracM, and generally all che Nations of Peru followed chisExample, in fome proportion agreeable to cheir Qg_ality and Abilicy; and chis w;is accounred one of their moft jolly and rnerry meerings. CH A P.