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 VII. Royal Commentariu. " Prieíl: ~nf\ivered, thac the thing was ver~ poflible, for that ~~1e f:anguage was " fo cop1ous and eafie to be learned, that if he would apply h1s Mind to it; he' " might in the fpace of four or five months atrain to a perfeét knowledge of it; " by which being encouraged and moved with a defire of doing good to the Souls " of the poor Jndi4ns, he promifed all diligence and application ,of Mind in the " íl:udy of that Tongue; in which, after che labour-of fix months, he became fo " great a proficient, rhat he was able to hear the Confeflions of rhe Jndiam, and ' ' co preach to them to his own grear comfort, and their advantage. CH A P. lV. Of the great Vfefulnefs of this language, H Aving thus made appear the faciliry of this Language, and how ea fil your Spani~ _ . " ards, who go from hence, attain unto it, wirh how much more readinefs " muíl: the native Indians of Peru arrive ar the knowledge of it; for though the peo- " ple be of different Nations, yet their Language hath fome affinity and íimilimde " .cogether, differing onely in fome Words, Dialeéts and Accems; fo that w e fee ª how the common Indians, who frequent the City de los Reyes, and of Co: t.co, the " 1 City de fa Plata, and the Mines of Potocchi, being forced to gain their Bread ·~ and Clothing with the í\veat of their Bmws, onely by Converfation and Com" " merce with rhe .other Indians, wirhout any rules or precepts given ro rhern, " have in a few months been perfeét Maíl:ers of rhe Co:t.can-Language; to which " rhey have added this farrher advantáge, that when they have returned to their " own Coumries again, they have feemed . more poliíhed, refined and accorn· " plilhed beyond che rank of the orher Indians; and for that reafon were greatly " eíleemed and adrnired by Neighbours; which when rhe Jefuits had obferved, ' ' who lived amongíl: the People of Su/ti, (whoíe Inh:ibitants are ali Aymaraes, or " Philofophers,) they concluded that che learning of thisLanguage was of a parri- " cular advamage to the Indians, and an improvement equal with that which the " learning of Latín is to us; the which alfo is confirmed bY. rhe opinion of ' ' Prieíl:s, Judges and Officers, who have had or enterrained any Converfe or " -Communication with this people; for they have found them more juíl: and ho· " neíl: in their dealings, more docible in [pi.ritual matters, .more acure and intelli- " gent in their 1mderíl:andings_; and in fhorr, more civil and lefs barbarous, and ' ' mqre like Men and Citizens than the others; witnefs the Indians of PuquinM, " Collas, Vrm, Yunca1, and other Nations, who with the change of their Lan- " guage, have pm off all their turpitude of Manners, and elevated their Souls to " more fublime thoughts, which before were immerfed in fen[e, and rea0hed no " farther than the mere fagacity of Brutes: But the aptitude and difpoíition which ' ' the Imlians gain thereby, towards the receiving the Doétrine of the Catholick " Faith, is a coníideration above ali orhers; for ir is certain that this Speech of " Cou:o is [o copious, and foil of words fit to exprefs the Myíl:eries of divine " things, that the Preachers are pleafed ro exfpatiare in rheir Difcourfes \ 'ith ex- " cellent Flowers of Rherorick and Elegancies , which a-e made ime igib e to " the Indians by rhe knowledge of this Tongue, which bat opened a door ÍOt' ".. €ntrance of the'Goípel wirh great benefit and efficacy P.. ~d thou h rbe 1i- ' ' racles of Divine Grace have evidenced rhern[elve· bf ;ther meatis arnongíl: rhe " rude Indians o[ Vriquilt.:u, and the fierce and arbrous Chmh11anas; yet God, " who is moíl: commonly plea[ed to work by ordiu..try means , 1 arh generally " made u[e of this Tongue to convey the knowledge and iníl:ru ions of the Go- ~' fpel; foras the Incan-Kings, by the help of this cbmmon Language , which they ·.i55