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.

Royal Commentaries. B O O K IJ. CH A P. t iJ[ the Idolatr; of the·Second Age, and the Original O¡ if. T HA T which we cali the fecond Age' ahd the Idolatry, W,hicfi was ufed iri it at tbat time , receivep its firfr beginning from the· Inca, Manco Caeac, who_was the firíl: rhar raifed the Monarchy of the lnw, who were ilie K.ings of Peru, and whó in a direét Line reigned for the fpate of four hundred Yéars, though Fa- .. tber lilas T/a!n·a will have it, that their Government continued between fivé ánd fix hundred. We have already declated the áél:ions of .Manc8 Capac, how, and in what ma nner he reduced the Índians to live 1 in a political way ofSociety, teaching them.to íow and plant, to build houfes, and ptovide·au things .conducing to Huma ne Life: and how ~ama Oello, hisWife, inílruéted the Indian Womeó in the art of fpinrtiríg 'and weaving, ·and ·ali other ways of góod Huf- wifery: W e have declared alfo that it was this Manco Capac whb taught them tó adore the Sun, by reprefenting to them the many benefits that he had conferred on them, faying that this Pacha Chamac (which fignifies as much as the fuílainer of all things) bad in vain exalted them ab9ve the Stars, whom' he had made their Servants, if théy did not advanee his Woríhip above all other Cn~atures, qnd had ill conferred bis benefits on them, in cafe they íhould íloop to the mean Idolatry of low and bafe things, fuch as Toads and Frogs and Lizards, forfaking the fer- vice of that true Deity, whofe Glory and Brightnefs frruck awe and reverence into all Creatures. . The Jndians, convinced by thefe arguments, and more by rhe fenfible bene.fits received, acknowle;dged che San for their God, without aífuming a Facher, ora. Brother into fociety with him. Their Kings they ever íl:yled to b~ cbild1;en of the Sun, and defcended from Heaven; and adored rhem with as much Vene- racion as the ancient Gentiles, fuch as che Greek¿ and Roman!, did cheir {upirer, Mars, Pemu, &c. Thus che Idolatrous \Voríhip of the Sun, and of the Inctu, as they b'elieved, defcended from him, prevailed ; and even to this day chey ne· ver name cheir K.ing~ ( the l ncM) but with wonderfull reverence and .adoration; fo that if they be asked, why they woríhip thofe for Gods whofo they know to be but Men, chey will prefently reply; that ir is true, they are now undeceived ánd can confider rhem no otherwife in reality than as Men; yet having received fo much good and benefit from.chem, they cannot eíleem chem lefs than of Di- vine Race; and di~ others appear in thefe days equal or comparable to rhem, they would readily perfonn the fame Honours and Adorations towards rhem¡ • .J • • • • - • 'rhis