his journey was to divide the land into three parts--one for the sun,
one for the king and one for the people. Then he appointed beautiful
young girls to be Virgins of the Sun and placed them in charge of
elderly women, who taught them how to spin and weave the fine hair of
the vicuna into hangings for the Place of Gold which the wise men had
already commenced to build. The girls knew how to embroider
beautifully, and it was a part of their duty to keep the sacred fires
always burning on the altar. The Golden Hearted lighted the fire
himself, and it was kept burning night and day for hundreds of years.
In the Houses of the Virgins no man, not even the king, could go, and
if any one ever did, the people not only killed him but tore down his
house. When they did anything of this kind they called it "sowing the
ground with stones," and ever afterward his family and friends wore
mourning on account of the terrible disgrace.
The Place of Gold was a temple in the center of Cuzco so named because
the gold wedge sunk immediately into the ground when it was tried, and
the wise men said it was appropriate because "gold was the tears wept
by the sun." It is said that no building in the world was ever more
beautiful than this wonderful temple. The wise men and the Golden
Hearted did the best work they knew how, and there was plenty of gold
and precious stones in the mountains, so they could use as much as
they liked. In front of the eastern entrance was a huge sunburst made
like a human face, with rays of light starting out in every direction.
Each ray was thickly set with emeralds, and when the sun rose in the
morning, the reflection of the shining gold and the sparkle of the
emeralds lighted up the whole temple. Besides this they had burnished
plates and cornices and vases and animals and flowers of gold all
around the walls, and the water urns and incense pans were also of the
bright yellow metal.
"We will celebrate a great festival of Rami; the renewal time, when
the sun is coaxing the earth back to fertility; when the buds and
leaves are putting forth, and the birds are beginning to nest," said
the Golden Hearted, as soon as the temple was completed.
"Show the Children of the Sun that we honor the soil by turning the
first sod yourself," said the wise men, when told about the coming
celebration.
"I will," said the prince, who was now called Manco-Capac, and was the
ruler of the kingdom, "and the Virgins of the Sun shall drop the
seeds. Let every one come in holiday clothes and with songs and
dancing and feasting we will commemorate the day."
The next morning all the people came together to watch the sun rise.
The Virgins were dressed in white with wreaths of flowers on their
heads and every one wore ornaments and jewels and was as blithe and
gay as if he were going to a picnic.
[Illustration: "THE PEOPLE SHOUTED HAILLE HAILLE!"]
Just as the sun peeped up over the edge of the horizon and smiled
"good morning" to them, the Golden Hearted poured a libation on the
ground from a golden goblet, and the people all shouted "Haille!
Haille!" meaning triumph. The prince, the wise men and everybody faced
the risen sun with bared heads and bowed three times. Then the prince
said:
"Many think that the Sun is the Maker of all things. But he who makes
should abide by what he has done. Now many things happen when the sun
is absent; therefore he cannot be the universal creator. And that he
is alive at all is doubtful for his trips do not tire him. Were he a
living thing he would grow weary like ourselves. Were he free he would
visit other parts of the heavens. He is a tethered beast who makes a
daily round under the eye of the Master. He is like an arrow which
must go whither it is sent; not whither it wishes. I tell you that he,
our father and master, the Sun, must have a lord more powerful than
himself who constrains him to his daily circuit without pause or
rest."
The Golden Hearted spoke like this because he did not wish the
Children of the Sun to believe it was really their father or God
either.
All the assemblage took off their sandals and went into the Place of
Gold and prayed; then came out to the court yard and offered up
sacrifice of perfumes, fruits and flowers. When this was done they
hurried to the fields and after the Golden Hearted turned the first
sod every one else began to work. They had no plows, and those who did
not break the ground with a dull saber, dropped seeds all day long. As
the sun went down they laid aside their toil, and marched home
shouting and singing, because now they were going to have a feast,
with bonfires and dancing as late into the night as they wished.
Bochica and the Zipa
In the Cinnamon country not far from Cuzco lived the Muscas, a rich
and powerful nation who were less civilized than the Children of the
Sun and were so quarrelsome that they constantly disputed among
themselves. Finally the Zipa, or king, died and then there was great
danger of war breaking out between the different factions as to who
should be the new ruler.
At last the oldest son of the dead Zipa came to Cuzco to ask the
Golden Hearted to decide who should inherit the kingdom.
"This is a matter of grave moment," said he, "and I must warn you that
my time of ruling the Children of the Sun is near an end. Soon must I
go to build the temple of Guatavita, the Good Life, and then must I
leave this part of the world for another clime where much work awaits
me."
"Come to us and build the temple of Good Life, and I promise you that
both I and my brave Muscas shall be the guardians of your teachings.
You shall be a demi-god among us."
"I have no wish to be anything more than an elder brother to you and
your people," replied the Golden Hearted. "I am come from my home to
serve humanity and must go with you if you need me--not because you
wish to honor me."
The son of the Zipa then offered him many presents of gold, rich
cloth, and precious stones, but the Golden Hearted refused to accept
any of them. Finally the young man said:
"I am greatly disappointed, good prince, and have only this piece of
bark and a strange kind of fruit to offer you. The bark is royal in my
country because it cures the hated fever and is worthy your best
confidence. As to the fruit, taste it for yourself."
To his surprise the Golden Hearted and the wise men were much pleased
with the bark which we know to-day as Peruvian and from which quinine
is made, and the pineapple tastes as sweet to us as it did to the
Golden Hearted.
The son of the Zipa and his nobles conducted the wise men and the
Golden Hearted over one elevated table-land after another until they
came to one of the highest lakes in the world, where people can live,
and its name is Gautavita.
"These terraced mountain sides show that your example has been well
profited by the Children of the Sun," said the son of the Zipa, as
they trudged along the royal roadway leading from Cuzco to the
cinnamon country. "The instruction of the wise men in building canals
and aqueducts has turned this into a garden spot even though nature
intended it to be barren."
The Golden Hearted thought this would be a good opportunity to let his
new friend know that he did not approve of war, and that the adherents
of the Good Law, must not fight among themselves, so he said gently:
"All that you see before you is the working out of a fixed principle.
Universal kindness is the secret of our success. Treat the earth
gently and with consideration and she blesses you seven fold. Dig into
her bosom and she yields her choicest treasures, and the beasts and
birds respond to your affectionate touch. The heart of the man is the
same, my friend. The obedience and allegiance of your subjects must
come from the heart. If when I go among them they tell me they wish
you to be their Zipa then will I go to your opponent and persuade him
to relinquish his claim in your favor."
"And if he does not consent--"
"Then must you yield to him peaceably. I will not allow any blood shed
on either side."
The son of the Zipa knew by the firm tone of the Golden Hearted that
he meant what he said and his face turned a bright red, because he
thought his own selfish purpose was known to his guest. Down in his
heart he was planning to go into the capital city with a grand
flourish and pretend that the Children of the Sun had sent their ruler
and wise men to help him capture the throne. Now he knew very well he
would not dare do anything of the kind.
"But you do not know my people, good prince," he said. "They will
never obey a Zipa they do not fear."
"I am not familiar with the faces of your subjects, but I know the
heart of all mankind, and whether he be white or black, young or old,
the child of fortune or the opposite, he is amenable to the law of
love. Win his affection and he will serve you as faithfully and
obediently as a dog."
"I am afraid my turbulent warriors would not respect such a policy,"
replied the son of the Zipa, shaking his head.
"Remember in dealing with either man or animal that fear degrades
while love ennobles."
By this time they were coming in sight of the calm peaceful waters of
the lake stretched out like a sheet of glass before them.
"Water," said the Golden Hearted, "is like a pure mind--limpid and
clear. It permits us to look into its depths for hidden treasures, or
to see our own image reflected back from its surface. Let your heart
and mind be such a mirror, and trust your people to make the right
selection."
With this he laid his hand upon the shoulder of his young companion
and as their eyes met, the son of the Zipa felt certain that he had a
loyal and disinterested friend who would help him in the right way.
The next morning the prince and the wise men called the nobles and
warriors together, and listened patiently to all they had to say for
and against the two candidates. As he came into the audience chamber
the strange one scowled and frowned at the visitors, but to his
surprise the Golden Hearted took his hand and said:
"We have made a long, wearisome journey, my brother, in order to serve
your own and your state's best interest. Speak freely that we may be
able to judge fairly between the two."
"There is nothing to tell that my warriors do not already know," was
the curt reply. "I am able to crush opposition and to command respect
and obedience. I do not need your assistance, sir."
For a moment there was a look of pain on the face of the Golden
Hearted. Then he said gently:
"You, more than any one else need help, because you are unable to
govern yourself much less a rich and prosperous nation."
When it became known that the representatives of the Children of the
Sun would not compel the people to accept a Zipa they did not like,
they came out of their houses where they had been hidden all day for
fear of violence, and marched up and down the streets playing on shell
trumpets, gongs and kettle drums, and shouting the name of the oldest
son of the Zipa who was in due time crowned as the rightful heir to
the throne.
His first official act was to pierce the upper part of the ear of his
subjects and put in gold wheels of fine filigree work, as large around
as an orange. As he did so he said to each one:
"Swear by Him who gives and sustains life in the Universe, that you
will faithfully keep the Good Law brought to us from the sea, by
_Bochica, our deliverer_."
This was the name the Zipa gave the Golden Hearted, and as each man
passed by him he gave them a little cake made of corn meal, and
continued:
"To-morrow our good friends leave us for many days to come, but
Bochica will return again, and to show him that we will do his bidding
willingly let us take balsas or rafts with sails and go out on the
lake where he may see the intent of our minds reflected in the water.
Put wreaths of many colored flowers on the balsas, and carry with you
gold and emeralds which we will cast into the lake in token of our
pledge to him."
For hundreds of years afterwards, the Mucas and their descendants kept
this holiday as an anniversary of the departure of the prince and the
wise men. They knew that he was called the Golden Hearted in the Happy
Island, and every year they selected a young priest from the temple of
Gautavita, to impersonate him. After his bath the priest smeared
himself all over with a fragrant oil, and then his attendants blew
gold dust through reeds onto his body until he looked like a solid
statue. They put him in the center of the flower-laden raft, and with
chants and hymns rowed out on the lake and threw emeralds and gold
dust into it. The young men wore white shirts with a red cross on the
breast, and tied a red sash around their waists. On their heads were
crowns of flowers and evergreen leaves to show that their virtues
would continue as long as they lived, and that they were followers of
the teachings of the Golden Hearted. They were always hoping and
praying for his return.
We shall hear more of this ceremony and what came of it when we read
the story of the Gilded Man.
[Illustration: "THE FLOWER-LADEN BALSA"]
Song of Hiawatha
Ye who love the haunts of nature,
Love the sunshine of the meadow,
Love the shadow of the forest
Love the wind among the branches,
And the rain-shower and the snow-storm
And the rushing of great rivers
Through their palisades of pine trees,
And the thunder in the mountains
Whose innumerable echoes
Flap like eagles in their eyries;
Listen to these wild traditions,
To this song of Hiawatha!
Ye who love a nation's legends,
Love the ballads of a people,
That like voices from a far off
Call to us to pause and listen,
Speak in tones so plain and child-like,
Scarcely can the ear distinguish
Whether they are sung or spoken--
Listen to this Indian Legend,
To this song of Hiawatha!
Ye whose hearts are fresh and simple,
Who have faith in God and nature,
Who believe that in all ages
Every human heart is human,
That in even savage bosoms
There are longings, yearnings, strivings
For the good they comprehend not
That the feeble hands and helpless,
Groping blindly in the darkness,
Touch God's right hand in the darkness
And are lifted up and strengthened
Listen to this simple story
To this song of Hiawatha!
Ye, who sometimes in your rambles
Through the green lanes of the country,
Where the tangled barbary bushes
Hang their tufts of crimson berries
Over stone walls gray with mosses,
Pause by some neglected grave-yard
For a while to muse, and ponder
On a half-effaced inscription,
Written with little skill of song-craft,
Homely phrases, but each letter
Full of hope and yet of heart-break,
Full of all the tender pathos
Of the Here and the Hereafter--
Stay and read this rude inscription,
Read this song of Hiawatha!
--Henry W. Longfellow.
Michabo, the Great White Hare
Unless you know what river was called the "Father of Waters" it will
be a secret as to where the Golden Hearted and the wise men went when
they took leave of the Zipa. There are many quaint stories told about
this river, and also about the queer mounds and earthworks built by a
strange race of men who lived ages ago in that part of our country.
Their descendants are not very civilized and seem to have forgotten
much that their ancestors knew although they have some very pretty
ideas. For instance, they imagine that they hear voices in the growing
branches and whispering leaves of the trees, and they see little
vanishing men in the cliffs everywhere. They say that the Great Spirit
makes the Indian summer by puffing smoke out of his cheeks, from his
great peace pipe.
Before the Golden Hearted came they built a medicine lodge--a kind of
temple facing the sunrise, in a place called the "Moon of Leaves."
When it was finished, Wunzh, a youth of noble character and tender
heart, summoned the spirits of the four quarters of the world and the
day maker to come to his fire and disclose the hidden things of the
distance and future.
No one can tell why they named the Golden Hearted, "Michabo, the Great
White Hare," unless it was because he came in the time of the year
represented in their calendar by a rabbit. They kept a record of the
seasons by crude pictures drawn on the inside bark of trees, and with
them the months were called moons.
No one blames them for saying the wise men were jossakeeds or
prophets, because they really did look peculiar in their long robes,
beards and tall black hats, especially to men who had on buffalo robes
and feather head dresses.
Wunzh and his tribe received the Golden Hearted with solemn faces and
much respect when they heard that he came from the Four Quarters of
the World, which we know was the land of the Inca, very far south.
"Welcome, great white chief," they said, "come and sit by our council
fire. Our hearts have long been weary waiting for you."
When they were all seated Wunzh handed the Golden Hearted a peace pipe
shaped like a tomahawk filled with tobacco and already lighted. Not a
word was spoken until every one present had taken three whiffs out of
the pipe. Then the Golden Hearted said:
"I come to speak for my brothers, the fish, the animals, the creeping
things and the feathered messengers of the air. I often listen to
their complaints and they charge you with slaying them for food when
the grains and fruits would serve you better."
"We are not disdainful of the grapes and berries concealed in our
forests," replied Wunzh, "but we have no grain save rice and this must
be carried on our backs for many days. Our snows and chill winds kill
the plant before its seeds appear."
"Whatever the reason may be you will never do any real good in the
world until you learn how to fast days at a time and can live without
eating so much flesh. Even your vaunted skill with bow and arrow is
not genuine. I am a better shot."
The wise men were alarmed for a moment fearing that Wunzh would be
angry and that his followers would be offended also. Besides they had
never heard the Golden Hearted speak boastfully before, and they were
puzzled to know what would happen next.
"I am willing to try the bow with my friend," said Wunzh, with a flash
of the eye and a toss of the head, which showed that he was vain and
had an uncertain temper.
"When will it suit you to make the contest," quietly asked the Golden
Hearted, as he arose and turned to leave the council fire.
"To-morrow's sun," answered Wunzh, haughtily, "and when it is so
high," indicating a space in the sky that would make it quite early in
the morning.
"Let it take place in the large square surrounded by your lodges,"
said the Golden Hearted, carelessly as he walked toward the one
assigned for his use.
To the wise men he said:
"Leave me for a little time, I wish to be alone."
They wondered what he could mean by such language and such actions. It
was evident that he did not intend to make any explanation to them, so
they could only wait to see what the outcome would be.
Once inside the tent the Golden Hearted began to work on a plaited
disc of straw. As soon as it was finished, he drew rings of red, blue,
black and white all around the big yellow center, and was propping it
up to dry when Wunzh appeared at the door of the lodge.
"I have come to show you the center pole where you may hang up the
target, and we will then step off the distance between the different
shooting stations," he said. "The rule requires each of us to speed
two dozen arrows from the nearest point, twice that many from the
middle ground, and seventy-two from the outside post."
While in the Happy Island, the prince had learned all about the use of
the bow and arrow, but this was the first time he had an opportunity
to show his skill, and the wise men were anxious that he should not
fail, because they knew that the friends of Wunzh would not have much
respect for him if he did. They could not understand how he could be
so smiling and unconcerned.
The fame of Wunzh as a bowman was known far and wide and the
descendants of the Mound Builders were certain he would win. At
daybreak the next morning there was a solid line of warriors around
the ring where the trial was to be made, and they were as motionless
and stolid looking as if they had been carved out of wood. No one
could tell by their faces what they were thinking and they would not
have turned their heads for anything. Some of them made a kind of
music on a tom-tom or Indian drum and Wunzh and the Golden Hearted
marched in step like soldiers, and smiled and bowed to everybody as
they came into the ring. The Golden Hearted knew all the time that he
was the doubtful one, and just for a moment he glanced at the anxious
faces of the wise men. Though not sure in their hearts they nodded
encouragingly and before he had touched a bow every eye in the crowd
was upon him.
The keepers of the bows and arrows were very fair minded, and were
careful to see there were no knots or gnarls or cracks in the waxy
brown hunting bow made of straight grained mulberry wood. The one to
be used was six feet long and its tips were of polished elk horn, and
there was a buckskin handhold in the center. The hickory arrows were
as smooth as glass with very sharp saw-teeth edges on the flint heads.
Around the notch end there were three vanes of eagle feathers.
The descendants of the Mound Builders were courteous enough to give
their guest the first shot. As the Golden Hearted pulled a buckskin
shield over his right hand he looked up at the wise men, and his eyes
said:
"Trust me! I shall not fail."
Then he stooped quickly and raised the bow from the ground and placed
it against his knee cap to get a good purchase. With an upward body
movement he drew the long bow as far as he could, faced the painted
disc target and let fly. Like the arrow that sped so swiftly that it
caught fire as it flew, this one sang through the air and imbedded
itself in the blue ring where it rocked and shook violently.
"The Great White Hare has won five points!" shouted the tally keepers
in the Judge's corner.
"What skill!" said one pointing to the still quivering arrow. "What
strength!" said another, while the wise men began to feel very proud
indeed.
It was such hard work that the face of Golden Hearted was flushed but
he shut his teeth together hard, and was determined to make a still
better effort.
His second shot sent the arrow into the red ring nearly opposite the
blue, and this scored him seven points.
"There is fine aiming!" said the judges to each other, while the other
people leaned over in their seats and watched intently.
There was just a shadow of a smile on the lips of the Golden Hearted,
as he made ready for the final shot from the first station.
"Ping!" and the third arrow fairly whistled as it hit the exact center
of the yellow spot.
Instantly the whole crowd were on their feet, all talking at once and
making so much noise that the tally keepers could not be heard.
"Five--seven--nine are the points; twenty-one for final score," they
shouted.
The Golden Hearted flung down his bow and stepped to one side to make
room for Wunzh. He stood wiping the perspiration off his forehead and
was pleased because he saw that every one felt kindly toward him.
"Now the jossakeeds will learn how to shoot!" exclaimed the men who
had backed Wunzh.
"He will never equal the first score," said others who were skillful
with a bow and arrow themselves and knew how hard it was to make such
fine shots.
Wunzh sent his first arrow with a vim and energy that showed he had
been in constant practice, but all three of his darts sped feebly and
barely indented the black ring.
"The jossakeeds hold the first station," announced the judges. "Move
on to the next one."
Now came the real test of skill, and every man was interested because
they all made use of the bow and arrow, in hunting and in war, and had
no other kind of weapon except a knife. Hundreds of the spectators
left their seats and crowded around the contestants.
The heavy hunting bow was laid aside now and one made of elastic but
tough yew was substituted. The arrows had finely-pointed obsidian
heads, matched and smooth but sharp as a needle.
The Golden Hearted was careful to see that the yew was properly
seasoned and when satisfied, he placed the arrow on the left side of
the bow with its notch set on the string. He drew the string back to
just below the chin, aimed over the arrow tip and let fly.
The spectators were quick to see that his aim, draw, finish and loose
was perfect even in speeding the arrows so fast they could scarcely be
seen. When shooting three at a time he drove all of them into the
yellow center within a quarter of an inch of each other!
The friends of Wunzh shouted and screamed: