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.

/ 442- Royal Commentarie!. BooK L So foon as the 'Ambaífadours were returned back again to their King, the Spa- niards made rnany reflexions, and put divers interpretations on the Meífage and Prefents which were fent : Sorne were of opinion, that thofe Gifts and Offerings, by how much the more rich and rnagnificent they were, by fo rnuch more they were to be faípeékd; fanfying that they were defigned with intemion to amufe and lull them into a kind of fecurity and confidence in their faich and fimplicity, and fo furprize and kill them with more eafe and advancage; and therefore look- , ing on thefe Prefencs as fallacious, and defigAed for traps and fnares, ic was argued tbar chey fhould be the more watchfull and circumfpeQ: in ali their proceedings: Howfoever the other Spaniard1, who were the greateíl: number, being of a leíS, foípicious nature, were of opinion thac thefe Gifts and Offerings were onely evi- ' _dences of the good will of the Indians : And that though the Rules of Military J;>ifcipline did ohlige chem to be always vigilant and cautious in an Enemies Coun- rrey, yet they could not bue applaud and eíl:eem the Magnificence ef the Inca, the fuavity of his Words, and the Majeíl:y of bis Embaífy ; which to render more honourable, he was pleafed to perform it by the hands of his Brother, whofe cour- tefie and difcrecion were very vifible. boch in bis Reafons, and in bis Comporr- ment ; though for wam of a good Incerpreter to underlland che Language of Cú.¿_ 'º' much of his fenfe and words !oíl: cheili true force and vigour : che which ap- peared in his Speech, which feerned to be uttered in long Sencences, wich cheír due Accencs, Paufes and Periods ; but in the rendering of thern, the Imerprecer delivered them in fuch broken Speeches, without coherence or fenfe, that they were fcarce intelligible to the Spaniards ; bue howfoever tbey cook al! in good parr, thac which was waming in che words, being fupplied by the better effeéts of Prefencs. That night, and feveral other days after, they cheered themfelves wirh the Preíems of Atahu1t!pa, and fo marched towards Caj{amarca, where though they found noc the Inc1i, as was expeéled, yet they were received there by the Indians; who, by order ofche King, had aífembled both Nobles and Commoners to feafr and treat the Off-[pring of che Sun, and Children of che God Virt1cocha, fl:rowing ali their Chambers and Lodgings with Flowers, and fweet-finelliog Herbs; likewi[e they emertained them with plemy of Meat and Drink ; che care and charge of al! which was cornrnicted to C11!lqui Human, ·who was the Curaca; or Lord, of Caf[t1111arc 11 and who in obedience to the Cornmands of his King, did eadeavoflr to exceed fu all poims of civility and refpeél towards rhe Spaniard1. But among<t che many Services which the lndiani fhewed to thern, there was one of íingular remark. which was, that they obferving chat che Bits and Curbs which che Horfes luid j~ their mourhs, were made of !ron, they prefemly imagined rhac the Iron was their Meat ; and cherefore not to be defeétive in any poim ofService rowards rhe Spa- niardI, chfy readily broughc feveral lng_o~s of Gold and Silv.er, which they laíd in che Mangers befare che Horfes, delmng chern to eat oí chofe Metals, whích ·were much more delicate Mear than the lron; the Spa11iard! who obCe1 ved .and .laughed at chis fimplicity of che JndianJ, commended rheir kindneís to che Horiés telling chem, thar they could not oblige them more, chan by giving them gooJ ftore of that Provinder. _,..,...,,.-~·--~- ~- CH A P.