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.

.~~yal C01r¡menta.rie1. BooK Vl. frefhment rather than as any effential Ceremony belonging to the Order. From this word Huaracu, which fully ex[Jreffes all the Solemnity of this Feíl:Íval; the word Ruara is derived, which fignifies a Cloth or Veíl:ment, and implicitely de.:. notes tbat cbac Perfoñ who deferves fuch Habit, hath a lawfull Title of pretence to au' tbofe Dignities, Honours, and Royalties, which may .be acquired, either by War or Peace. Moreover they placed on the Head of chefe Novitiates Gailands . of cwo feveral forts ofFlowers; one was ofthat which they call Cantut; being of a very beautifull form, .and of various Colours, fuch as yellow, murry, red, and orhers, all being very lively and cbearfull. The otber fort of Flower was called Chihuayhua, being ofa deep incarnation, not únlike the Gilliflowers of Spain. Thefe two forts of Flowers were appropriated onely to rhofe of tbe Royal Family; it noc, being lawfull for theCommonalty, nor for any CuMca, how great foever he were, to wear tbat fort of Flower. ~ Moreover chey wore upon their Heads tbe Leaf of :m Herb called Vinay Huayna, whicb fignifies youchfull, being very verdant and green, and bearing a Leaflike thac of che Lilly; it conferves it felf freíh for a long time; and though it be withered, yet it concinues•its colour. Al! tbe Badges of Cbivalt'y and Honour, fuch as the Flowers and Leaves be- fore mentioned, and other chings, 'were tonferred alike on all Noviciates, as well as on tbe Heir apparent; who was differenced from chem onely in the Wreach which bound bis Temples, which was four fingers broad, not round, as che Spani- arc& imagine it, but like a Frin~e, rnade of Wool ; for che Indians bad no Silk in tbeir Countrey; tbe colour was ofa pale yellow, like a Lemon-cólour. This di- (üriél:ion _was not worn by the f>rince, umill he had ·paffed bis time qf ApprO: bation; and tben it was bis !ingle and peculiar Badge of J;Ionour, not being al- lowed to any other, no not to his own Brocber. · · The laíl: Royal difünél:ion diey gave unes che Prince, was a kind of Pole-ax:; with a Handle of abouc a yard long, which chey called Champi. This Irnn had an edge lilce a f word on one fide, :md the poim of a Diamond on the other, being like á Parcefan, onely thac it wanted a point. When tbis·Weapon was put imo· bis Hand, they faid Aucacunapac, w.hich isa Noun of che Dative Cafe, and .figni- fies for Tyrants, for Traytors, for cruel Perfons, for falfe Breakers of their Fáith, for this and much more rhis word Auca fignifies ; thefe Arms which were put in- to his Hands, ferved for an Ernbleme of Juíl:ice, wich which he was to puniíh Offenders: che otber particulars of Floyvers, and odoriferous Herbs, fignified Cle- mency, Piety, Gentleners: and.other Vertues ·and Royal Endowmems of a Prince; wbich he ought to make ufe of towards bis faithfull and loyar Subjeéts. For as .his Father tbe Sun had cauféd thofe Flowers to grow in the "Fields for rhe con- tencrnent and pleafure .of Mankind; fo likewife bu~ht a Prince to cultivare the· Flowers ofVertue in his Mind; that fo he rnight juftly claim the Title of Lover of the Poor, and tbat under thac charaéter and notion bis Name might fmell fweet, and be pretious in tbe World. · . · The Officers of Chivalry having in the. prefence of the Inca made and conclu- , ded this Difcourfe unto the Prince; then immediately the Uncles and Brothers of . the Prince prefenting themfelves on their Knees befare .him, adored and reverenced himfor the true·and undoubted Child of tbe Sun, and Heir of tbe Inca. The which Ceremony feems a kind of Iníl:alment of che Prince, and Admiflion to che here- ditary Succeffion of tbe Empire; wbich being done, they bound his Temples with rhe yellowifh Wreath. And thus the Feaíl: of the Novitiates, adrnitted into che Order of Chivalry, concluded. · CH.AP .