How the native Indians of this kingdom were great masters of the arts of
working in silver, and of building; and how they had excellent dyes for
their fine cloths.
From the accounts given to us by the Indians, it appears that, in
ancient times, they had not the same order in their affairs as they
established after they were subdued by the Yncas. For verily things may
be seen made by their hands with such skill, that they cause admiration
to all who have any knowledge of them. And what is more curious is that
they have few tools for making what they do make, and yet that they work
with great skill. When this kingdom was gained by the Spaniards, they
saw pieces of gold, silver, and clay welded together in such fashion
that they appeared to have been born so. They also saw very curious
figures and other things of silver which I do not describe, as I did not
see them myself. It is sufficient to say that I have seen vases made of
pieces of copper or stone, and jars, fountains, and other things richly
ornamented by means of the tools they have. When they work, they make a
small furnace of clay, where they put the charcoal, and they then blow
the fire with small canes, instead of bellows. Besides their silver
utensils, they make chains, stamped ornaments, and other things of gold.
Even boys, who to look at them one would think were hardly old enough to
talk, know how to make these things.[532] Few are the things they now
make in comparison with the great and rich ornaments they made in the
time of the Yncas. They, however, make the _chaquiras_,[533] so small
and accurately worked, by which they show themselves still to be eminent
workers in silver. Many of these silversmiths were stationed by the
Yncas in the principal parts of the kingdom.
These Indians also built strong foundations and grand edifices with
great skill; and now they build the houses of the Spaniards, make bricks
and tiles, and put large stones one on the top of the other with such
exactness that the point of junction is scarcely visible. In many parts
they do these things with no other tools than stones, and their own
wonderful skill. I do not believe that there is any people or nation in
the world who could lead irrigation channels over such rugged and
difficult places as do these Indians. They have small looms for weaving
their cloth; and in ancient times, when the Kings Yncas ruled in this
kingdom, the Mama-cunas, who were held to be sacred, and were dedicated
to the service of the temples of the sun, had no other employment than
to weave very fine cloth of vicuña wool, for the lords Yncas. This cloth
was as fine as any they have in Spain. The dresses of the Yncas
consisted of shirts of this cloth, some embroidered with gold and silver
work, some with emeralds and other precious stones, some with feathers
of birds, and some merely with the cloth. To make these clothes they had
such perfect colours--crimson, blue, yellow, and black--that in this
respect they have the advantage of Spain.[534]
In the government of Popayan there is an earth with which, and with the
leaves of a tree, they make a perfect black dye; but it would be
wearisome to repeat all the details connected with the way they make
these dyes, and it seems sufficient, therefore, to mention the principal
one.