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.

~oy_al Commentariet. BooK V. Every líland was by order of the Inca, afligned to fuch and fuch Provinces, and if the Iíland were very large, then cwo or three of them divided the foilage, che which they laid up in feparace heaps, that fo one Province might noc encroach on the proportion allotced m che ot~er ; and when they cal?e to make cheir Di- viíion to particular Perfons, and Ne1ghbours, they then we1ghed and íhared out to every Man the quantity he was to receive; and it was felony for any man to cake more than what belonged to him, or to rob or íl:eal ic from che ground of his Neighbour, for in regard that every man had as muchas was ileceí!ary for his own Lands,. the raking a greater quantity than what belohged to him, was judged a Crime,, and a high. offence; for that this fort of Birds ~un_g was eíleemed pre- tious, beuig the beíl: unprovement and manure for 'Land m the World. Howfoever in other parts of that Coaíl, and in the Low Countries of Atica, °Atiquipa, Tlillacori, Malla and Chillca, and other Vallies, they dung their grbunds with the Heads of a fmall fifh , like our Pilch:irds, and with no other foilage. The Natives of thefe Countries which we have named, and others under the fame Climate, live with great labour ana toil, where they ~an neither water their Grounds with ílreams from the Springs or Fountains, nor yec with the Rain or Dews from Heaven : For it is a certain truth, that (or the fpace of feven hundred Leagues along· that Coaíl: it did never rain, nor are there in all that traél: of Land füeams, or places for water, the whole Councrey being exceedingly hot, dry, and nothing almoíl: but fand; for which reafon the Natives endeavouring to moifien their grounds, fo as to make them capable to yield M"!J<:.., .they approach as near co the _Sea, as they are able, where they turn afide, and caíl: away the Sand which lies upon the furface 1 and dig clown as deep as a Man's Body is in lengrh, and fometimes twice as deep, uncill, having paífed che Sand, they come to fuch a fort of Earth as is able to bear the weight of Water, which places the Spaniard1 call HoyM, or Vaulrs; and being of different proporrions, fome greater, and fome leífer; ÍOQ.1e are not capacious enough to receive above half a meafure of Seed- corn, ochers again are fo large as to receive three or four meafures of Seed: In chefe places they neither plow, nor reap, becaufe they rather fet than fow, plan- ting their grane of May~ at an equal diílance one frorn tbe other ; and in the holes or furrows which they make; they caíl: three or fou¡ grains of May<:.., with a few Pilchards Heads; which being ali the dung they ufe, and which is onely, as they fay, proficable in that foil, they expeét their Harvefl: at .its due feafon. And to fee how Divine Providence taketh care of ali Creatures, for that neicher rbe Jn- dia1t1 may want thac Manure, which onely makes their Land fruicfuJJ, nor tbe Birds of the Iílands their food, there are fuch qu:intities of Pilchards ·caít up by the Sea at thofe feafons, as are not oneJy fufficient for the Food ofMen, and Birds, and for dunging the Earth, but even to Jade many Ships , if occafion íhou1d re- quire: lt is faid, that this Fifh is chafed afhore by fome Dolphins, or greater Fifh; be it by what meaos it will, che advantage is great, and che Providence of God is admirable ·in thefe his Bleflings towards his poor Creatures. Who was the firfl: Inventer of this manner of planting in boles with the Heads of Pilchards is uncertain; we may rather attribure it to Necefliry, which is the Mother of I~ge­ nuity; for in regard, as we have faid, chaethere is great wanc of Bread in all pam of Peru, che fame Underftanding which in fome parts taught chem to planc their Al/ay~ in holes, the fame alfo inílruéted them to make their Allies in die pares of Coz.co, and by this means every one fowing for his own maintenance, and not co fell , ali People enjoyed fufficient for their fupporc , never any fcardty or famine having been known in that Land. CHA P.