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.

8 Royal Commentaríes, BooK I. CH A P. V. Of t he Govemment, Diét dnd Cioathing o[ the Anclent Indians. T Hefe People were as batbarous in rheir manrier of living in tbeit Houíes and Hab'ications, as they were in the Worfhip of their Gods, and Sacrifices ~ fuch of rnen'í as obferved any rhing of a Polirical Governmem, lived in a kind of Sociery, having houfes near tog,erner, placed without order of Srreets or Paffages, appearing rathe~ like Pens or Sheepfolds, than humane Habitations: Others, by rea fon of che Wars and Variances amongíl: rhemfelves, lived on Rocks and Moun- tains, and places inacceffible for their Enemies; others dwelr i little Couages, fcattered over the fields and vallies; and every one feated himfelf as well as he thoughr conyenient for com1~od'<;mfnefs of Viétuals and Water, whether it were in Caves rlnder ground, or in .rHe Hollow ofTrees, the necefiiries, rarher rhan che conveniences of living bei'ng provided for; and of. this fon of People rhere are fome yet remaining about the Cape of Paj{au, as the Chirihu11nru and other Nati~ ons, wfiom' the lncru have ¿Oníluered, and who íl:ill continue rheir ancient barba- rity, and favage mannets: and thefe are rhe móíl: difficult of any to be reduced ro the fubjeétion of rhe Spaniards, or the Chri(l:lanReligion; for having never ha<{ Learning, or fcarce Language füfficient tó underíl:and each orher, they live like Beal1s, wirhout Commtfnication, Friendfhip or Commerce. Thofe amongíl: rhem who had mofl: of Underíl:anding, or of a Spirit moft daring took the privilege to Rule , and govern tbe orhers, wbom he rreated as his s1 1 ~es, wich foch Tyranny and Cruelty, rhat he made u(e of their Wives and Daughters at his pleafure·, all things being cpnfounded with War and Ruine. LJ fome Provinces, they flead the Captiv'es taken in War, and with rhei r Skins co- \¡ered rheir Drums , thinking .wich the found of them to ai·fright their Enemíes; fór rheir opinion was, rhat when theit Kindred heard the ru rnbling noife of thofe Drúms, they would be immediately felzed wirh fear, and put to flighr. For rhe rnoíl pare they li:ved by Rob\;>eriés, and rhe Spoils each of other ; the ltronger preying ttpon che weaker was che <Zaufe of feveral petty Kings; fome ofwhich per• haps being of a mote gentJe narure rhan orhers, and who rreated their Subjeéts with lefs tigotlr and crue!ty, were for that reafon adored by chem for Gods 1 fra- mrng w rherrlfelves forne reprefentation of Divinity in che good aétions of foch men, who had fome allays in tl: 11.úr cruel and cyr~nnical Goyemment. In other parts; they lived withottt Lords, or order of a Common-wealth; but like fo manySheep palfed rogether ih al! íimpliciry; nor that Verrue moderared rheir malice, bue their ltupidiry and ignoránce made them fenfelefs and uncapable o( good or evil. Their manner of Cloathing, or covering rheir Bodies, were in fome CountritíS as immodeíl: as they were ridiculous ; their Diet alfo was [o foul and barbarous, that we, wlid know better, may wonder at rhe beaíl:iality. In rhe bot Coun- tr.ies, which wete moíl: H-uitfull, they fowed lirtle or nothin", but comented .themfelves with H@rbs .and Roots, aod wild Fruits, and wirh rhat which the Earrh prodaced of it re!r, for they, requiring no more than mtural füíl:enance, lí- ved with lirtle, and creai;ed no accidtmal neceffities for fupport of Li fe. In fome Countries they were fuch great lovers of Man's Flefh, rhat when rhey were kil- 1ing an Jndi,in, chey would fuck his bloud ~r rhe Wound rhey had given him; and when they qnartered his body, they would lick their fingers, thar not one drop of bloud íhould be waíl:ed: in their Sliambles they commonly fold Mens Bodies, rn<tking Saufages of their Guts, fiuffing rhem with fleíh, that nothing might be fort. Peter of Ciecd in the 26th Chapter of his Book, declares fo much, and af· firms, rhar he faw it with his own Eyes; and thac [o far rheir glutrony pro- vok@d them in chis kind, that chey did not [pare rhofe very Children, which they begoc \