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.

Boo.K U. Royal Commentaries. Ir was upon _chis Voyage when he returned a Marr'ied Man into New Spain, and carried with him feveral young Ladies for Wives, co thofe who had conquered chat Countrey, and were fecled there in good Houfes with riches and profperi.ty. Alvara~o being arrived at Huahutimallan, was there received wirh great joy of the people, and in his own Houfe, with Balls ánd Dances, whith continued ·for ma- ny Days and Nighcs. lt happened chat one day, when all che Conquerours were fate in che great Ha.L~ to bd1old che Dancing ; aad thac che Ladies were alfo look- Ing 0ut of che Jealouíies, Olí Latices, where, 2fcer che modeíl: faíhion of Spain, they remained unfeen: One of them faid to ihe others, what, are rhefa the Conquerours with whom we are to Marry ? What~ faid another, with thefa O!d rotten fe!lows? Let -thofe M arry with thmt that will, for my put, 1 will have none of them ; the Devil tak§ them, for they look,, ti& if they had 6een C~ITW from He!/; far fome of them·are Cripples, others Lame and Maimed; fome without Ear}; othef's with one Eye, or ha!f a Face, and the 6eft <¡/ them hi11th '/mm Jlafhed and hack§d o-ber and over ag;tin. No, replied die orher, we Are nót to Marry them for their goodLook.!, 1 but to inherit the E ji ates ihey hav'e.gained; for 1hey being o!d, dnd worn OHt, are to dye quick./y, that we may Marry again, and ch'ufe what young 6ri1k,,fellow w/ pleafa, M if we were to change an old Kettle for a new Pot. One of .thefe Old Gent!emen. fianding neat thefe Ladies, ;md not feen by tbem, over- heard all cliis difcourfe; and noc endmililg the frorn with which they treai:ed thefe , Old fellows, he replied upon them with affi0ntive terms, and. high indignari:On, and told al! that he had heard unto the company ' faying, Marry with them who will for me ; and lll warrant 7ou they will we/l rew{'.rd y.OHr kjndr;efi to rhem. Havi.rig faid thus much, he remrned home, ánd pFefently fenn for the Parfon, and Married his Indian Woman,_ who was of Noble Birth, and on whom he had ah'eady begot two or three ChHdren; which h© rnade legitimare, tlpt they rnigbt inberit his Plantations and Eíl:ate, rather than that Gallant, whom, the Lady í'li.ould chufe to enjoy the fruits of his labours, and make fervams·and ílaves of bis Children. There have been fome few in Peru, who havé followed hisexample, and>Married Indian Women ; but the moíl: part have. yielded to che pleafüre and counfel ·of roe Lady. The Children 0f thefe Conquerours can by experience telf us rhe truth of this t'natter, and in tbe Alms-houfes, where ~hey now remain, 1;na.y la- .ment the lofs of their Inherirances, acquired by their Fachers Toils and Valour, .and enjoyed by Strangers and Aliens, not related either {O Father or Mother. Tn the beginning of thofe times, when an lndian Wornan had btought aChild to a Sp1miar4; ali che whole family of that Woman were .dev.ored, and. fwore rhem- felves ílaves and fervants to rhat 8paniard, woríbipping and adoring him á.s theír Idol, betaufe he had entered into an affiniry wich chem ; and hereby che.y became very ufefull .co the Spaniards in théir Conqueíl: of the Indies. Ir was one of tbe. Laws made by the Conquerobrs of che new World, That every one fhould eb- joy the Lands wHich were divided to him for two Lives, that is, for his own and , his Son's life; and in ca[e he had no Child, then the Spanifh Wife vvas ro come into the Inheritance, and barred all tbe natural Children, as if the Lady had con- tributed more tow¡lrds rhe Conguell, than the Jndian Morhers : by which means it carne often to pafs, that the fine Ladies changed thei.r old ljusbaads for young GaHams. · · · . \ R rt 2 (: H A P~ 49 1