_How it was the custom among the Incas that they celebrated in their
songs, and by making statues of those who were valorous and extended the
bounds of the empire, and performed any other deed worthy of memory;
while those who were negligent or cowardly received little notice._
I understood, when I was in Cuzco,[89] that it was the custom among the
kings Incas, that the king, as soon as he died should be mourned for
with much lamentation, and that great sacrifices should be offered up in
accordance with their religion. When these ceremonies were over, the
oldest people of the country discussed the life and acts of the recently
deceased king, considering whether he had done good to the country, and
what battles he had gained over the country’s enemies. Having settled
these questions, and others which we do not entirely understand, they
decided whether the deceased king had been so fortunate as to merit
praise and fame, and to deserve that his memory should for ever be
preserved. They then called for the great _quipos-camayos_[90] who
preserve the records, and understand how to give an account of the
events that occur in the kingdom. Next they communicated with those who
were most expert, and who were selected for their skill in rhetoric and
the use of words. These knew how to narrate the events in regular order,
like ballad singers and romance writers. These compose the songs, so
that they shall be heard by all at marriage ceremonies and other
festivities. Thus they were instructed what to say concerning the
deceased lord, and, if they treated of wars, they sang, in proper order,
of the many battles he had fought in different parts of the empire. And
for other events, there were songs and romances to celebrate them on
suitable occasions, so that the people might be animated by the recital
of what had passed in other times.
Those Indians who, by order of the kings, had learnt the romances, were
honoured and favoured, and great care was taken to teach their sons and
other men in their provinces who were most able and intelligent. By this
plan, from the mouths of one generation the succeeding one was taught,
and they can relate what took place 500 years ago, as if only ten years
had passed.
This was the order that was taken to prevent the great events of the
empire from passing into oblivion. When a king died, if he had been
valiant and a good ruler, without having lost any province inherited
from his father, nor been guilty of mean or paltry actions, it was
permitted and ordained that songs in his honour should be composed, in
which he should be praised in such wise as that all the people should be
astonished to hear of deeds so mighty. These songs were not to be
recited always and in all places; but only on occasions when there was a
great and solemn assembly of people from all parts of the empire, or
when the principal lords met together before the king on special
occasions, or when they held their _taquis_,[91] or drinking bouts.
Then, those who knew the romances, standing before the Inca, sang, with
loud voices, of the mighty deeds of his ancestors. If any of his
predecessors had been negligent, cowardly, or vicious, or preferred
pleasure to the labour of extending the bounds of the empire, it was
ordered that such a king should receive little or no mention. If the
name was preserved, it was merely to complete the line of succession. On
other points there was silence concerning him, and the good and valiant
alone were kept in memory.
The memory of those who were great and good was so venerated that the
successor of such an one sought no inheritance from him, but he
succeeded to the empire alone. It was the law that the riches and the
royal insignia of one who had been King of Cuzco should never pass to
another, and should never be forgotten. With this end, a figure was made
in the resemblance of the deceased king, which was called by his
name.[92] These figures used to be placed in the square of Cuzco on
festivals, and round each figure stood the women and servants of the
dead king, with his food and drink. For the Devil was accustomed to
speak out of these figures. And each figure had its orators, who pleased
the multitude with pleasant speeches. All the treasure which the
deceased lord possessed was left in the care of his servants and
confidential attendants, who brought it out at the festivals, with great
ceremony. Besides this, the servants and attendants had their
_chacaras_, which is their name for fields where they cultivate maize
and other crops, and with these the women and family of the deceased
lord were maintained, although he was dead and gone. No doubt this
custom explains the fact that, in this empire, there was such vast
treasure as we here beheld with our eyes. The Spanish conquerors heard
that when, in discovering the provinces of the kingdom, they entered
Cuzco, the figures of the deceased kings were there. This appears to
have been true, for when Manco Inca Yupanqui, son of Huayna Capac,
desired to assume the fringe, these figures were publicly brought out
into the square of Cuzco, in the sight of all the Spaniards and Indians
who were present on that occasion.
It is true that the Spaniards got possession of a great part of the
treasure; but the remainder is concealed in such wise as that few or
perhaps none know where it is. Of the figures and of their other
wonderful things, there is now no memory except what is preserved in
their songs.[93]