_How and in what manner they made the royal hunts for the Lords of
Peru._
In the First Part[104] I related how, in this kingdom of Peru, there was
a very great quantity of flocks, both wild and tame, of _urcos_[105]
sheep, _pacos_, _vicuñas_, and _llamas_, and excellent pastures in all
parts, so that they could be well maintained. Although they were so
numerous, it was forbidden by the kings, on pain of severe punishment,
to kill females, and if the rule was broken, punishment followed, so
that they were never eaten. They multiplied so that the number when the
Spaniards arrived in the country is incredible. The principal reason for
this order was to ensure the growth of sufficient wool to make clothing;
for in many parts, if the flocks were wanting, I certainly do not know
how the people could preserve themselves against the cold, if they had
not any wool wherewith to make clothes. But by this arrangement there
were many store-houses in all parts, where they kept the clothing, as
well for the soldiers as for the rest of the people, and most of this
cloth was made of the wool of guanacos and vicuñas.
When the lord desired to enjoy a royal hunt, it is noteworthy how many
animals were taken and killed; as many as thirty thousand head. Tents
were pitched in a position selected by the lord, on such occasions as he
was pleased to amuse himself with the chase. For, on the high parts of
the mountains, in whatever place was chosen, there were sure to be
flocks in such quantities as we have stated. Having assembled fifty
thousand or sixty thousand people, they surrounded the plains and broken
ground in such sort that they gradually approached each other, at the
same time descending from the steeper heights to the more level plains,
and making the country resound with the noise of their voices. Gradually
they approached each other, until they formed a ring with hands joined,
and in the enclosed space bounded by their bodies the flocks were
detained and secured. The lord was so placed as to witness the
slaughter. Then certain Indians entered the enclosure armed with
_ayllos_,[106] which are used to secure the legs, and others with sticks
and clubs, and began to seize and kill. Among the great quantity of
captured animals there were many guanacos, which are rather larger than
small donkeys, with long necks like camels. They tried to escape by
spitting into the faces of the men and rushing about with great leaps.
They say that it was a marvellous thing to hear the noise made by the
Indians in catching them, and to see the efforts made by the animals to
escape in all directions. If the king wished to kill any of the chase
without entering into the tumult, it was arranged in any way he pleased.
Many days were passed in these hunts, and a multitude of animals was
killed. Then the overseers ordered the wool to be taken to the
store-houses, and to the temples of the Sun, where the _mamaconas_ were
expert in making very fine cloth for the lords, the fineness being such
that it appeared to be of silk, and of various colors. The flesh of the
slaughtered animals was eaten by those who were present with the king,
and some of it was dried in the sun,[107] to be kept in the storehouses,
as provisions for soldiers on the march. All these animals, it must be
understood, were in wild flocks and not domesticated. They also took
many deer and _biscachas_,[108] as well as foxes, and some bears and
small lions.