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.

'80 Royal Commentaries,. BooK 111. would fubrnit and proíl:race themfelves before him, and acknowledge him to be of the true race ar¡d progeoy-of che Sun. · Though chis people was in no capacicy of giving conditions to the Inca, yet he was pleafed to accepc fuch as chey offered ; being refolved to adhere to che old Maximof his Anceíl:ours, which was rarher to conquer w1ch love and affeétion, than by force ; and therefore he aífored them on bis word, that ·n ca fe chey did not think to adore bis Father che Sun, nor yec to accept his Laws, he woµJd thea Ieave them to their own .choice and freedom :. The which promife he made on an undoubted confieence, that fo foon as thofe Myíl:eri<;; and excellent Statutes were revealed to them, they could not but accept and embrace them ; and that i:hey would onely be troubled, that fuch admirable beaucy of reafon arrived fo late to their bearing and knowledge. Upon this aífurance and promife the Inca entred into Chayanta, where he was received with mue~ awe and veneration, but not with that mirth and rejoyc."ng as they ufed in ocher pares at chis Solemnity : For as yet thefe poor pe ple fiood wavering between hope and fear, untUl the Reverend Cotinfellours deputed by the Inca, with the Prince lús Son and Heir, took fome pains for feveral days to declare, and expound to rhem che La\.vs relating to cheir IdolatrousReligion, and to their Secular Government : the which they inculcared fo frequent ly, and wich fuch patience and plainnefs, untill at length they became capable of that Doéirine which chey taught. The · Indians íl:ood gaping 211 this while with wonderfull at- tentíon, admiring that füch Laws íhould be made for their honour and advamage; - and rhen burl1: oút into Ac;clamations, faying, That worthy were they to be ac- counred Gods, and eíl:eemed for Lords of the Uni 1 erfe,-who were able to frarne and dellver füch Laws and Sramres to Mankind ; che which chey promifed to re- ceíve and obey ; and that renouncing ali their former Id0ls, rices and vain cuíloms, they vowed and fwore to embrace the Religion of the Inca ; ;rnd in token thereof they profüated themfelves before che Prince, who reprefented che Perfon of his Father rhe Sun, and the Inclf, Capac TupanqHi. Having thus ·yieldedthemfelves in a folemn m:mner, they fell to Dancing after the faíhion of rheir Countrey, fhewing fome new Dani;:es which they had pur- pofely made for che entertainmem of che Incas ; and ali people habited rhemfelves in their beíl cloathes, wirh Tinfel and Ribbons, finging Ballads made in honour and praife of the Sun, and rhe Incas, and of rheir good La 1 ..vs and Government. and in fine, they made all che dernoníl:rations of love and affefüon imaginable. · ' / .. CH A P. XVI. O/ the many InventÍons which the Indians made to pafs Ri- vers, añd to ta1<..,e Fijh. H Aving already mentioned the two feveral forts bf Bridges which rhe Incas made for paffing Rivers ;. one of which wa~ compofed ~f Ofiets and rhe orbe~ of Ru!hes and G_anes. ":Ne fhall now pro~eed to declare fome'other In- bent10ns whKh the Jnd1~ns pró)eéted for the farne purpofe ; for in regard che la- our a~d charge of ~akmg Bndges Wé!S fo we,ar, ~hat they were ondy rnade for '?nven!enc~ of che great Roads and t~e Kmg s High-ways ; and thar che Coun- - ney bem~ m orh~r p_laces large ~nd. w1de, w~med ~1at convenience whereby. the P;~ple .m1ghr mamtam comrnu~ICauon one w1th ch other; wherefore Neceffiry, '1 hrc~ is th~ Mother of IngenUity, ~aught them feve :al comrivances accorqing ro t e difpofitwn and nar~r.e of che Rivers, as alfo ho"\to .Í\vim on che Seas with fuch ~ats, as ferved theu- prefent occaíions ; for chey had not as yec attained to che