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.

34 Royal Commentarier. BooK II. rake an aécount of the Births and Burials of ali thofe that were born, or died 'tliat year, under their jurifdiétion, and of thofe who wenr to the Wat. Thofe people whom they conquered, though fübdued by force of Arms, yet they did never plunder or take away rheir goods. This w.ord Decurion, which is compofed from the Latin Decem, which is ten ., 2tld cura ~are; that is, a e<tre over ten; anfwers direétly to the Jndian word Chun- ca c.:imayu, chunca fignifying ten, and camayu care ~ and by information of thefe the ínc.u carne to a knowledge of the number of their Subjeéts in every Province that [o according thereunto they mighr proporrion the Taxes and lrnpofitions fo; publick Works , füch as the building .of Bridges, m:iking and repairing High- ways, ereéting Forts and Royal Pa!ftces, with what nurnber of Souldiers rhey ot1ght to ferve rhe Inca in bis Wars. By thefe compurations alfo rhe Inca was better enabled to fend Provifions into thofe Provinces, which by reafon of rl-e íl:eriliry of rhe year occaíioned by Flouds, or unfeafonable weather, were become waming of Corn, or Corrons, or Wool ; all which were adminiílred, and fenc with füch readinefs and expedirion, that as BIM Va!ern ofren fays, the JncM took fuch care of their Subjeéls, providing for them in ali their neceffities. that they might 1:arher be íl:yle~ Fathers o( their Cou~rrey, ~nd Guardians of their Pupils, than Kings over Sub¡eéts ; and to exprefs rhis care m one word, the lndians gave thern the title of Lovers of the Poor. And leíl: the Superiour Governours íhould be remifs, or negligent, in the exe- cution of rheir Offices ; rhere was a Monitor or Remembrancer appoinied, called Tuc19-ricoc, which is as much as a Supervifor or Informer ; and his duty it was to pur the Officer in mind of the matters relating to their Government ; fo that in cafe any of thefe fhould be found remifs in bis charge, or guilry of any crime, 'his punilhment was always proportioned to bis quality, rather tban his fault; it being an opioion amongíl: chern, that the leaíl: evil •vas not to be colerated in a Miniíl:er of J uíl:ice, who was chofen by the Sun and the Inca to eradicate Evils, and r1erefore was obliged to be more uprighc and obfervanc of che Laws, than che other Subjeéts. CH A P. VI. Of certain Laws Ordained hy the lncas, ancl of the Opinion, That the Incas, and thofe of the Royal Bloud, can doe no wrong., or offeml contrary to Law. P Ecuniary :Muléts, or Confifcation 6f Goods, wa·e never impoíed by rhe In• w in way of punifhment for any offence, they eíleeming nothing fatisfac- · tory to Law but tbat which required the extirpation of rhe Evils, rather than the Life of the Offendour ; for that all other remedies give but one!y encouragement and liberty to tranígrefs. If a Curaca, or Loi-d, rebelled, which was always pu- niíhed with moíl: feverity by the Inra ; :i11d that thereby he forfeited bis life; th~ Eíl:ate notwithftanding defcended to his Son, orto his Heir, but with due admo- nitión, that by fuch example he fhould beware of the Treafon and Rebellion of his Father; fo likeWiíe if any Cacique, or Officer was deprived of his place, or his Seigniory for faults committed, the next Heir fucceeded in it, whether he were á Son or a Brot_her: the fame rule alío was obíerved amongíl: the Souldiery, whofe Commanders were Natives of tbe Countrey, and their Generals, or chief Com- ·manders, Were Priflces of the Bloud, under whom the Captains and Superiour Officers eíleerned it for a particular honour and fa'l,1our to ferve. No Judge had power to moderate the Semence of Law by any Rule of Equity, but rather to ' exaét