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.

BooK VI. Royal Commentaries. blow, chey were rejeéted, and not fuffered to pafs .the Muíl:er, faying, chac fuch as were fearfull of receiving blows, .which were prafüfed in Exercife onely, with- out delign of hure, would be much more tirnorous when they appeared before che face of an Enemy, from whom chey could expec.1 nothing bdt Death, or Wounds withouc. favour br niercy; fo chac none were app.roved, but fuch as were unfha~ ken, and were ·Bullies as immovable as che Rock it felf. • Moreover and belides ali .chis, they were to have learned che Trade of rnaking wich their own hands aJI forts of offenlive Arms, which were ufed in che War, ac Jeafl:, fucb as were rnoíl: common, and whjch were made wirhout che help of a forge, or are of a Smith ; fuch as Bows and Arrows, and Launces, which were íharpened and pointed without lron; and Slings which were made of Hemp or Flax; of all which Arrns they were to make ufe, as occalion required: As to ~fenftve Arms chey made ufe•of none, unlefs chey were fhields, or Targecs, which they called Hualcanca. Thefe Targets they were obliged to make wich their own hands, at leafl: to know how to make them; as alfo cheir'Shoes, whicn they call Vfa1ra, which is aSole of Leacher .tied about che Foot wich packchread, fuch as forne wear in Spain, and are like che Sandals of che Francifcan Friars. Thé füings which chey ufed for thefe Shoes were made of Wool cwifl:ed witli a Spindle, which they held in one Hand, and the Thread in the bther, the íl:ring was made as thick as the middle finger, and broad, chat it might noc hure or ·gaul the Foot, half a yard whereof for each Foot was fufficient, whicb rnay ferve to confute che Words ofa Spanijh Hifl:orian, who, writing of the Jndians, fays that they wove they knew not how, nor for whom; bue we may pardon chis falfe Re- lation, fo much to che Difreputation of':he Indians, which alfo is not altogecher wirhout fome reflexion on the Spaniards themfelves; for fuch Men as chefe being· Strangers, and not verfed in th~ Cufl:oms of chat Coumrey , take up ac hazard any Report which Men out oflgnorance or Imereíl: deliver to them. Onely chis Opinion 1 would have che World to enterrain of thefe lndians, that of all che· Gentiles in che World, there never was any Nation more rnaflly, and which va- lued themfelves more Oil che account of Hardinefs and Bravery, in detefl:ation of all forrs of efferninacy, .than <lid che !ne.u ; for they being generally puffed up,- and exa!ce.d with che lofty rhoughts of Alliance to che Sun, were Heroick to an high Degree , and afpiring to greater matrers than thofe which fall within the fphere and cornpafs of cheir management. · · This rnanner offpinning Wool they called Milluy, which fignifies as m11ch as to fpin Wool for making firings to tie Shoes, or Ropes for carriages or Burchens 5 tbe which work was che proper buftnefs .of Men, tbe Wornen had another forc of Spinning, \.vhich tbey called Buhca, which ftgnifies as much as to fpin with a Di- fiaff, and is that Word which is onely applied to che Work of Wor1'en; which different Expreffions and Proprieties of Speech I have denoted, for fatisfafüon of fuch as are curioi.¡s in chis Language, for wam of which knowJedge in che propriecy ofWords belonging to that Speech, ITTany Spaniards who have writ Hiíl:ories of Pmt, and diíperfed them in Spain, have been guilty of groís rnifl:akes; having charged che l ncM with many Cufl:orns and Práétices never known , or in ufe amongfl: thern. But ·ro return again to our purpofe: We fay, that the Novi- tiates were obliged to learn che Trade ofmaking their own Arrns and Shoes, fo as to be able ro provide themfelves with fuch neceífaries at any time, when che ur- gency ofWar, or any other emergent accident coníl:rained tbem to have recourfe co their own Art and Indufl:ry. · · G g 2 CH A P.