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 Commentgries. . BooK ·v1.. fuíl:ain fuch hardíhips as thefe, they reje~ed, as not worthy to be admicéed into the number of Novitiates. The Faíl: bemg performed, and that they were re- fteíhed and íl:rengchene~ again with .tl;eir ufual no~tfí}ime!1t; 'then trial was ma~e of their natural nimblel.feís, and aéhv1ty of Body m runnmg, from the Mountam called Huanacauri, which was eíl:eemed facred by the~, to the Caíl:le ofthe City, being about a League. and a half; at che end ?Í which race a fignal was. fet up, where he chat firíl: arnved, wás eleéted Captam ove~ all che ~eíl:. Nor d1d all.the others lofe cheir Honour here?y, ÍO! che fec?nd, thrrd, unto the tench, ·acqu1red repuration; but chofe who famced m the courfe~ :md were not able t~ hold out, were noced for íluggards and Cowards, and p1tifull perfons; and therefor~ their , Parencs and Relations, would intercept chem in the way as they ran, encouraging chem to íl:rain and force chemfelves all chey were able, celling them, chat chey had better dye, ·and break their hearcs in che Race, than come 'off with lnfat'ny and I>iíhonour. ' Another day theíe ·Novitiates were to be divided into two equal parts'j one half was to garrifon and.tnaintain che Forti'efs, aod che other half was to affault and fiorm ir:; and having chus foughc and contended a whole day, then che day fol- lowing chey changed cheir íl:ations, and chofe who had before defended rhe For- trefs were now to affault it ; fo that rrials were made in every reípeét of cheir Scre~gch and Agilicy ofBody, and of cheir Art :md Conduét in War. In chefe Skirmifhes chough chey foughc wich blurited Arms, yet fo much was the heat with which both qdes contended for cheir Reputation, chat many were wqunded; and oftentimes fo¡ne killed in earneft. ' C 'H A P. That thefe Novitiates were to k11o'í1] how to m'ake their own Arn1s and Shoes. H. Aving performed thefe E?'e;cifes, they were in che next place to wreílle one with che other, being macched according to c.heir age, and proportion of Body; chen chey were to leap, and chrow che Scone, che Launce, and Darc, and ocher Weapons, ·wJiich were thrown by hand; then chey fhoc ar Buces wich Bow and Arrows, to cry cheir dextericy in Archery; chen they tried who could throw fartheíl: againfr the Walls of che ForcreíS, for proof of the íl:rengch and ex- ~rciíe of cheir Armes; in like manner tl1ey threw at marks wich their Slings, and managed ali forts ofArms which they uíed in War; then they rried their vigilance and watchfulñefs, how well they were able to endure tl'le wanc ofSleep, fetting them on che Ceminel for ten or twe lve nights together; and in cafe any one was found , fieeping on the Guard, be w.as feverely reproached, as unworchy t-0 take any De- gree of military Order. They tried :tlío how hardy rhey were in cheir Flefh, anp how able co endure and fttffer W ounds, which they made with che fharp points of Rods in their Arms and Legs, and ocher pares, which acc01•dii;ig to the Habit and Fafhion of Peru, were commonly naked; they obferved when thofe Wounds were made, with what courag~ chey received them, whether chey changed their coumenance, or fhrunk up their Legs or Arms; for unlefs they feemed iníeníible of che fmart, they were rejeéted as nice, and efferninace, and their Flefh not har- dy, nor enquring the Blows and wounds of an Enemy. Somet.imes chey placed them ~n a narrow Trench, where a Fencing-maíler wich a club w1elded w1th boch hands, ora Q!arter-ílatf, which che Indian1 calf Macana tame to them, or with a half Pike, which chey call Ch11q11i, which they brandifhed and fl9ur~fhed before tb~ir Eyes and Faces, nyking offers at cheil\Legs and Heads, nt which if they unluck1ly feemed to wink, or fhrink away, as if they feared th~ blow,