desir’d, to every Temple through the whole Kingdom of _Peru_, where the
Inhabitants receiv’d them with great Reverence, having before confess’d
all their sins to their _Yaburies_, or Father-Confessors, who being
chosen to that Office with a great deal of Ceremony, impos’d greater or
lesser Penances, according to the sins of the Penitent: those that were
suspected to have conceal’d any of their sins, were put to cast Lots, or
had the Entrails of the Beasts which they had kill’d to that purpose
consulted about them, and thereby were discover’d if they had conceal’d
any of their sins; which whenever it hapned, the Priests falling upon
the false Penitents, thump’d them with a Stone on their Backs so long,
till they had confess’d all their Faults, which the Priest was not to
reveal on pain of Death, but to make Expiatory Offerings. The sins about
which they were Examin’d, were chiefly Theft, Murder, Adultery,
preparing of Poyson, or sleighting their _Inga_ or Gods; for each of
which Transgressions they had several kinds of Punishments. When the
_Inga_ fell sick, all People in general were forc’d to come and make
Confession of their sins; also every one went to his Confessor when he
was in trouble, or expected some Misfortune to befall him: The _Inga_
himself Confess’d his sins to none but the Sun, which he desir’d to
relate to _Viracocha_, and to beg pardon of him for the same; which
done, he bath’d himself in a running Stream, and cry’d, _I have made my
sins known to thee, O Sun; do thou, O River, wash away mine Iniquities,
and discharge them into the Sea, that they may never be more laid to my
charge_: which custom of Bathing, call’d _Opacuna_, was also us’d by all
other Penitents. A Father losing his Son by Death, was censur’d for a
great Sinner, wherefore he could not be permitted to be Confess’d before
he had been whipp’d with Nettles by a certain ill-look’d Officer
appointed for that end; after which their Fathers _Ychuris_ enjoyn’d
such Penances as they thought fit; some were order’d to last several
days; others to pay rich Garments, Silver, Gold, or the like; others
receiv’d a certain number of Blows; some were condemn’d to live on the
Mountains, excluded from the society of all Men. If their Sorcerers at
any time foretold a Fathers Death, then he immediately Sacrifis’d his
Son, that with his Death he might buy his own Life. No People were more
respected than their Soothsayers, as Men that could discover private
Thefts, Accidents that hapned in remote Countreys, and also future
Events, and so far their Credit amongst the Vulgar carried them, that
they undertook to tell the _Spaniards_ when their Countrey-men should be
Conquerors, and when defeated in the War they maintain’d against the
_Netherlanders_. There were also cunning Women, who making themselves
dead Drunk with _Chica_, with which they mix’d the Herb _Viloa_, and
afterwards coming to themselves again, answer’d all the Questions that
were proposed to them.
[Sidenote: Their monthly Feasts.]
The _Peruvians_ kept two sorts of Feasts, the first at certain times,
the others on special occasions; the set-Feasts were kept Monethly; on
the first Moneth _Rayme_, agreeing with our last Moneth _December_, as
aforesaid, they kept the great Feast _Capacrayme_, on which they brought
Multitudes of Sheep and Lambs for Burnt-offerings, besides Silver and
Gold. Not far from the Fire stood three Carv’d Images of the Sun, and
three others representing Thunder; and this was generally the Day of the
Installation of the young _Inga_’s, which was after this manner: The
chief Priest boring a Hole through his Ear, cover’d the upper part of
his Body with the holy Cloth _Guaras_, whilest the inferior Priests
whipt him with knotted Cords, and painted his Face with the Blood.
During these Ceremonies no Stranger was suffer’d to remain in _Cusco_,
but after the Feast was ended they all return’d, and as before, receiv’d
Cakes bak’d of _Maiz_ and Blood, as a testimony that they lov’d and
honor’d the _Inga_.
[Illustration]
[Sidenote: Their Harvest Ceremonies.]
[Sidenote: Their Feast _Ytri_.]
The three Images of the Sun before-mention’d they call’d _Apointi_,
_Churiunti_, and _Intiquaoqui_, that is, _Father-Sun_, _Son-Sun_, and
_Brother-Sun_. In like manner they nam’d the three Images of Thunder,
_Chuquilla_, _Catuilla_, and _Intillapa_; from which _Acosta_ judges
that the Devil had obscurely taught the _Peruvians_ the Mysteries of the
holy _Sacrament_ and _Trinity_, (that their glory might be eclips’d by
Idolatrous Errors) especially the last, which seems plainly to be
signifi’d by the _Peruvian_ Deity _Tangatanga_, whom they affirm’d to be
One in Three, and Three in One. And that other Nations also had a
glimpse of the same may be collected from _Philip Cluverius_, who
endeavors to demonstrate, that the antient _Germans_ and _Gauls_
obscurely ador’d the _Trinity_ in the midst of their _Heathenism_, under
the notion of _Sun_, _Moon_, and _Fire_, the Sun signifying the
_Father_, the Moon the _Son_, and the Fire the _Holy-Ghost_; to confirm
which he makes use of _Cæsar_’s Testimony, _viz._ _They onely esteem
those Gods whom they see, and those that assist them_, viz. _the_ Sun,
Vulcan, _and the_ Moon; _for they have never heard any thing concerning
any other Gods_. _Diodorus Siculus_ seems also to ascribe a glimpse of
this Mystery to the _Egyptians_, when he says, That the antientest
People in _Egypt_, when they view’d the World, and were amaz’d at all
things on the Earth, they judg’d that two Gods Govern’d them all, _viz._
the _Sun_ and _Moon_, by whom all things flourish’d and encreas’d; to
whom they added a third, namely _Fire_, to which they attributed a
Divinity, as conducing much to the increase and growth of all things.
The _Moon_, which was also call’d _Juno_, they judg’d to be the
Offspring of God, (for Son and Daughter were promiscuously taken) who,
according to _Homer_, Marrying with _Jupiter_, brought forth _Vulcan_,
which might haply be to them a Type or Figure of the _Holy-Ghost_,
proceeding from the _Father_ and _Son_: _Vulcan_ was by her plac’d a
President over the Fire, by which the _Heathens_ seem’d to imitate the
fiery Power of the _Holy-Ghost_, purifying and cleansing all things: and
this cleansing Power was aim’d at by _Romulus_, when, according to
_Dionysius Halicarnassensis_, he commanded his Soldiers to leap through
a Fire made before his Tent, that so they might be purifi’d from all
their Crimes. But it may be thought strange, that the _Peruvians_,
_Germans_, or _Egyptians_, lost in a Wood of gross Idolatry, could have
any apprehension, though never so obscure, of the holy _Trinity_, when
as the most nice and curious _Greek_ and _Roman_ Wits have made such
gross mistakes concerning God. But to return again to the _Peruvians_:
They kept their second Feast in the second Moneth _Camay_, on which they
threw the Ashes of their Offerings into the River, and follow’d them on
the Shore for the space of five Leagues, praying the River to carry the
Ashes to the Sea, where _Viracocha_ would receive them. In the third and
fourth Moneths they kill’d a hundred and ten black spotted and grey
Sheep. In the beginning of _May_ (by the _Peruvians_ call’d
_Hatuncuzqui_) they gather’d in their _Maiz_, and kept the Feast
_Aymorai_; after which they return’d home Singing from their Fields,
call’d _Chacra_, and carried a great heap of _Maiz_ with them, nam’d
_Perua_, wrapping it up in rich Garments; three Nights they continu’d
their Ceremonies, imploring the _Perua_ to preserve their Harvest of
_Maiz_ from any damage that might chance to come to it, and also to let
that grow prosperously which they should Plant next. Lastly, their
Sorcerers consulted whether the _Perua_ could last till the next year?
to which if they were answer’d _No_, they carried it into the Fields,
and burning it, made a new _Perua_, which when they knew to be
sufficient to last good a year, they carried it to the Granary in great
triumph. In the seventh Moneth _Ancayacuzqui_, they kept the Feast
call’d _Intraymi_, with a hundred Sheep, in honor of the Sun. They also
made several Images of the Wood _Quimia_, which they put in rich Habits,
strew’d the Ways with Flowers, Danc’d a strange Dance nam’d _Cayo_,
Singing several Songs. Persons of Quality put Golden Plates about their
Knees, as the common People painted them with divers Colours. In the
eighth Moneth _Chahua_ they kept the high Feast _Huarqui_, on which they
Offer’d a hundred grey Sheep; the like number, but of a Chesnut colour,
they Offer’d the following Moneth _Yupaquis_, besides a thousand
_Cuies_, that the Air, Water, or Sun, might not spoil their Plants.
Their Feast _Situa_ they kept on the tenth Moneth _Coyaraymi_ after this
manner: They gather’d all together on the first day before the Moon
rose, which no sooner appear’d, but they made a terrible noise, beat one
another with lighted Torches, then wash’d the Dirt from their Bodies,
and made themselves Drunk for four Days together. The eleventh Moneth
_Armaraimi_, was nam’d _Punchaiquis_, from the Feast they kept therein,
on which (besides the usual Offerings of eight hundred Sheep) they ty’d
a black Sheep to a Post without Meat, till such time as there fell store
of Dew. Their Feast call’d _Raymicantara Raiquis_, was kept in the last
Moneth _Ayamara_, on which their Youth were bor’d through the Ears.
Amongst the high Feasts which were kept on great occasions, the chiefest
was _Ytri_, against which they all made new Clothes after a peculiar
fashion, wearing their Cloaks muffled about their Heads; in which manner
they walked leisurely a whole Day and a Night; during which time none
durst either Eat or Drink, or open his Eyes: But after this serious
Processioning follow’d four days of extravagancy, as Drinking, Dancing,
and the like. In their Dances, which were to the sound of Drums, Pipes,
and Horns, they imitated all manner of Trades by strange motions of
their Bodies, besides divers other Frolicks and May-games which they
us’d at such times of Mirth and Festivity: But since the _Spaniards_
conquer’d _Peru_, all these _Heathenish_ Customs have been laid aside.
[Sidenote: The Destruction of the old Empire of _Peru_ foretold.]
As to the Prognostications and Fore-runners of the destruction of the
old Empire of _Peru_, it is reported, that _Guaynacava_, Father of the
last King _Attabaliba_, lying on his Death-bed in _Quito_, said to his
Princes, _This Realm, at present rais’d to the highest top of Eminency,
is hastning towards its Ruine; and though our Kingdom remain as yet free
from foreign Invasion, the Countreys round about are already conquer’d
and in Slavery: The Gods have call’d strange People from unknown
Regions, who by degrees will reach us also. With me, who am the twelfth_
Inga, _dies the Dominion of the mighty_ Peru. _A People of other
Fashions and Religion will subvert our Religion, Laws and Government,
and bring us under subjection to them._ There were also Signs and
Prodigies that portended the Dissolution of this Empire; amongst the
rest a great Eruption in the Province of _Tacinga_, which rending the
Earth asunder vomited up Flames of Fire; nor was it long e’re they were
fulfill’d, for whilest the _Peruvians_ were making of Offerings to
_Viracocha_ for the delivery of their imprison’d King _Huascar_, News
was brought to _Cusco_ of _Attabaliba_’s being taken; the Particulars
whereof, with other Matters touching the Conquest of this Kingdom by the
_Spaniards_, and how they pillag’d the Countrey, murder’d the
Inhabitants, and enrich’d themselves with their inestimable Treasures,
shall in order be related.
[Sidenote: By whom _Peru_ was first discover’d to the _Spaniards_.]
[Sidenote: Great Difficulties in the Discovery of _Peru_.]
[Sidenote: _Pizarro_ made Governor of _Peru_.]
[Sidenote: _Pizarro_ taking _Attabaliba_ Prisoner, puts a vast Ransom
upon him.]
[Sidenote: _Huascar_ burnt by Order of his Brother _Attabaliba_.]
[Sidenote: _Attabaliba_ put to death by the _Spaniards_.]
[Sidenote: _Attabaliba_ strangled by _Almagro_’s Order.]
[Sidenote: The antient Splendor of the _Peruvian Ingas_.]
[Sidenote: _Quisquis_, _Attabaliba_’s General, stabb’d and cut in
pieces.]
[Sidenote: _Mango Inga_ releas’d out of Prison, sets upon the
_Spaniards_, and is at last put to flight.]
[Sidenote: Several Parties of the _Peruvians_ set upon the _Spaniards_
and overthrow them.]
[Sidenote: They are beaten by _Alvarado_.]