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.

Royal Commentaries. Book t e HA P. IV. Of the Idolatry and Gods which the Ancient Incas adored, ami Manner of ~heir Sacrifices. F OR better tinderíl:anding of the Life, Cuíl:bms and Idolatry of the. Indiani of Pcru, it will be nece.ffary to diíl:inguiíh the times before the Incai, from thofe wherein their Rúle and Empire began, l 1eir Gods and Sacrifices and Cuíl:oms being much different, according to the Ages; fer tbe Men them- felves, in the fufr times , were at beíl: bue as tamed Beafis, and others were worfe than the fierceíl: Creamres. · To begin with their Gods, we muíl: know, that they were agreeable to the quality of their own corrupt ~nd 'abominable man- ners, and every Nation, Province, Tribe and Houfe had its particular God; for their Opinion was, that one God would have bufinefs fufficient to take care of ene Province, or Family, and that their Power was fo con.fined, that it could have no virme or extent within the J urifdiétion of another: and becaufe their Fancies were not fo fublimated, as to frame abíl:raéted Notions ofDcities, fuch as Hope, Viél:ory, Peace, and the like, as the R<n»ans did in the time of Genti- lifm; they adored wliatfoever they faw, fuch as Flowers, Plants, Herbs, Trees, efpecially, Pines and Elmes ~ Caves, Stones Rivers; and particularly in that.. Province, which is called the Old Port, they had á high Veneration for the Ef- merald, becaufe it is the Pretious Stone of that Countrey, and the Diamond and RW>y are in no eíl:eem, becaufe they are not known to them; they alfo wor- íhipped the Lion, Tyget and Bear, for rheirfierceneíS, and with that fubrniffion and humili[y, tbat they would not fly from rhem, but offer themfelves to be de- voured ~y them. In fine they adored any thing wherein they obferved an Excel- Jency; as the Fox and Monky for Crafr, the Hart for his Swifinefs, rhe Falcon for his ~gility ;!nd Co~rage, ~nd t~e ~agle for ~he AcurenefS of his Sight: füch was the va111ty aud folly in the llTiagmauon of thlS favage People, who had no Scrip- tures to teach and enlighten them, nor Prince to govem and proteét them. Howfoever there were other Nations more confiderate in choice of their Deities, adoring none bur fuch as afforded them benefir and advanrage; <'S Foun- tains, and cool Springs which yielded them Drink, Rivers thar warered their Pa- íl:ures; the Earth they called their Mother, and worfhipped, becaufe it yielded them Food, the Air, becaufe they bre4t!<:ed in it, and was their Life, the Fire, becaufe it warmed rhern, and dreffed their Mear; fome alfo made choice of Sheep, and Corn, and Cartel, and every thing that abounded moíl: in rheir Couw trey, and ferved for nourifhmenr, to be a God, and worthy of Divi{le Honour. The Inhabitants near the Cordillera woríhipped that Mountain for its heighr, rhofe of the Coaíl: made rhe Sea their God, whicb in rheir language rhey cal! Mam.t-- choca, :rnd is as much as to fay, rhe Mothcr Sea : rhe VVhale for íts prodjgio115 bignefs was in no lefSVeoer:ition rhan rhe reft, and every fon ofFilh which aboun- ~ed amongft them was de1fied, becaufe they believe rhar the firíl: FHl1 ~"' rhe \rv orld above them, takes always careto provide them with a number of rhe like fort ar fpecies fufficienr to mainrain and nourifh them. Befides thefe there are two Nations which are Chirihuanas, and others living abour the Cape of Paf[au, (which are the North and South Borders of Per11,) rhat have no thoughts or incli- nations toReligio11, and worfhip norhing ei ther above or below; bur giving them- felves over to íl:upidity and ílorh, neither having fear nor !ove, live with the fame fení~ality ch.ar.Be.'.líls ~o, becaufe they have nor as yet h,ad the happinefS ~oreceive the rnílruéhons, doéh1rte and government of rhe lncM, who are the Ind1a11 Kings. The Sacrifices wbich théy 1nade to thefe Gods were as cruel and barbarous as the Góds were ftripid anp [en[ele(s, to whom they offered them; for befides Beal1s, and Fruits, and Coro, they facrificed Meo and Women of all ages, which they had taken in the War.! And fome Narions of rhefe exceeded fo far in their inhuma· ility, that rhey offered not onely tbeir Enemies, bur ou fome occaGons their very Clill ren