Purchas his pilgrimage. Or Relations of the vvorld and the religions obserued in all ages and places discouered, from the Creation vnto this present In foure partes. This first containeth a theologicall and geographicall historie of Asia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the Floud ... With briefe descriptions of the countries, nations, states, discoueries, priuate and publike customes, and the most remarkable rarities of nature, or humane industrie, in the same. By Samuel Purchas, minister at Estwood in Essex.

CHAP. X.

Of the Gods or Idols of Peru, and other their opinions.

THe Peruuians acknowledged a supreme Lord and Author of all things, a 1.1 which they called Viracocha, and gaue him names of great excellence, as, Pachacamac, or Pachayachachic, which is, the Creator of Heauen and Earth, and Vsapu, that is, admirable, and other the like. Him they did worship as the chiefest of all, and honoured him in beholding the heauens. Yet had b 1.2 they no proper name for God no more then the Mexicans, but such as in this sort might signifie him by his attributes or workes, & ther∣fore are forced to vse the Spanish name Dios. In the name of Pachacamac, or Creator, they had a rich Temple erected to him, wherein they worshipped notwithstanding the Diuell and certaine figures. The name of Viracocha was of the greatest sound in their deuotions, and so they called the Spaniards, esteeming them the sonnes of heauen. Benzo c 1.3 alledgeth another cause of that name giuen to the Spaniards. It signifi∣eth (saith hee) the froth of the Sea, (Vira is forth, Cochie the Sea) because they thought them ingendered of Sea-froth and nourished therewith, in regard of co∣uetousnesse and cruelty deuouring all things: applying that name to them in re∣spect of their vvicked practises, and not for Diuine Originall. Yea, they curse

the Sea, which sene such a cursed broode into the land. (The Spaniards came thither by Sea, as you haue heard.) If I, saith Benzo, asked any of them for any Christian by that Title, they would neither looke on me nor answere, but if I enquired for them by the name of Viracochie, they would presently make answere. And there (would the father point to the Childe) goes a Viracochie.

To reconcile these two wholly, is impossible; not so, to shew some reason why the same name might be giuen both to their Idoll, and the Spaniards. These might be so termed, as comming thither at first by Sea: and haply because at the first they thought somewhat more then humane to be in them, and that which at first they gaue for ho∣snour may now be continued in an Ironie, or Antiphrasis, whiles they thought them better then men, and found them little inferiour to Diuels.

Viracocha their great Author of Nature, may be called by this Sea-name, d 1.4 for some especiall, Sea-rites obserued in his honour, or for the same cause that the Mythologians ascribe to Venus her Sea-generation. For they pictured Venus swimming on the Sea (as e 1.5 Albricus affirmeth) and the Poet singeth, Venus, Orta Mari: which the Mytholo∣gians apply to the motion and moisture required to generation, and to that frothie nature of the Sperme. So saith Ph••rnutus: f 1.6 Venus a Mari nata perhibetur quód ad omni∣um generationis cansa•• motu & humiditate ••pus sit; Et fortè quòd spu••••sa fi••t animanti∣um semina: therefore (saith g 1.7 Fulgentius) she is called Aphrodite: for •••••••• is froth, and so is Iust in regard of the vanitie: and so is seed, in regard of naturall qualitie. Perhaps also the first Maister of Virarochas Mysteries, which taught them first in Peru, came thi∣ther by Sea.

But to returne to Acosta, h 1.8 he telleth that the Ingua Yupangui (to make himselfe more respected) deuised, that being one day alone. Viracocha the Creator spake to him, complaining, that though he were vniuersall Lord and Creator of all things, and had made the Heauen, the Sunne, the World, and Men, and ruled all, yet they did not yeeld him due Obedience, but did equally honour the Sunne, Thunder, Earth, and other things: giuing him to vnderstand, that in Heauen where he was, they called him Viracacha Pachayachachia, which signifieth vniuersall Creator: promising also that he would send men inuisibly to assist him agaïnst the Changuas, who had lately defea∣ted his brother.

Vnder this colour, he assembled a mighty armie, and ouerthrew the Changuas: and from that time commanded that Viracocha should be held for vniuersall Lord, and that the images of the Sunne and Thunder should doe him reuerence. And from that time they set his image highest: yet did he not dedicate any thing to him, i 1.9 saying, that he being Lord of all had no neede. As for those inuisible Souldiours (a conceit like that which wee haue mentioned of the Turkes) hee said that no man might see them but himselfe: and since they were conuerted into stones: and in that regard gathered a multitude of stones in the mountaines, and placed them for Idols, sacrificing to them. He called them Pururancas, and carried them to the warres with great deuotion, ma∣king his souldiours beleeue, that they had gotten the victorie through their help. And by this meanes he obtained goodly victories.

Next to Viracocha they worshipped the Sunne: and after him the Thunder, which they called by three names, Chuquilla, Catuilla, and Intijllapa, supposing it to be a man in heauen with a Sling and a Mace, in whose power it is to cause Raine, Haile, Thun∣der and other effects of the aery Region.

This Guaca (so they called their Idols) was Generall to all the Indians of Peru: and in Cusco they sacrificed to him Children, as they did to the Sunne. These three, Vira∣cocha, the Sunne, and Thunder, had a more especiall worship then the rest: they put as it were a Gantles or Glone vpon their hands, when they lifted them vp to worshippe them. They worshipped the earth in the name of Pacha••••a••a, & esteemed her the Mo∣ther of all things: the Sea also, and called in Mamacocha: and the Raine-bow, which with two Snakes stretched out on each side, were the armes of the Ingas. They attri∣buted diuers offices, to diuers Starres, and those which needed their fauour worship∣ped them: so the Shepheard sacrificed to a Starre, by them called Vrcuchillay, which

they hold to be a sheepe of diuers colours, and two others starres called Catuchillay and Vrcuchillay, which they fained to be and Ewe and a Lambe. Others worshipped a starre which they name Machacuay, to which they attributed the power ouer Snakes and Serpents, to keepe them from hurting them. To another Starre called Chug ••inchinch••y (which is as much as Tigre) they ascribed power ouer Beares, Tigres, and Lyons. They haue generally beleeued that of all the beasts in the earth, there is one like vnto them in heauen, which hath care of their procreation and increase. Many other Starres they worshipped, too tedious to rehearse. They worshipped also Riuers, Fountaines, the mouthes of Riuers, entries of mountaines, Rockes or great stones, Hills, and the tops of mountaines, which they call Apachitas. They worshipped all things in Nature, which seemed to them remarkeable and different from the rest.

They shewed me, (it is Acostas speech) in Cazamalca, a Hill or Mount of sand, which was a chiefe Idoll or Guaca of the ancients. I demanded what Diuinitie they found in it; they alledged the wonder, it beeing a high mount of Sand in the middest of the thicke mountaines of stone. In the Citie de los Reyes, for the melting of a Bell, we cut downe a great deformed Tree, which for the greatnes and Antiquitie thereof had been their Guaca. They attributed the like diuinitie to any thing that was strange in this kinde, as stones, or the Rootes Papas & Lallatrecas (which they kissed & worshipped) Beares also, Lions, Tigres and Snakes, that they should not hurt them. And such as their Gods be, such are the things which they offer vnto them in their worship. They haue vsed, as they goe by the way, to cast in the crosse-waies on the hilles and topps of mountaines, old shooes, Feathers, and Coca chewed. And when they had nothing else, they cast a sloue as an offering, that they might passe freely and lustily; hence it is, that they finde in the high-waies great heapes of stones offered, and such other things. They vsed the like ridiculous offering in pulling off their haires of the eye-browes to offer to the Sunne, hills, windes, or any other thing which they feare. They report of one of the Inguas that said he did not take the Sun to be a God, because he laboureth so much in his daily iourney. In fine, k 1.10 euery one worshipped what liked him best. The Fishers worshipped a Sharke or some other Fish: the Hunter, a Lyon, Foxe, or other Beast, with many birds; the country-man, the water, and Earth. l 1.11 They beleeued that the Moone was Wife to the Sunne: when they sweare they touch the earth, and looke vp to the Sunne. Many of their Idols had Pastorall staues and Miters like Bishops, but the Indians could tell no reason thereof: and when they saw the Spanish Bishops in their Pontificalibus, they asked if they were Guacas of the Christians.

They worshipped also (as before is said) the dead bodies of the Inguas, prefer∣uing them with certaine Rosin, so that they seemed aliue. The body of Yupangui, the Grandfather of Atabaliba, was thus found, hauing eyes made of a fine cloth of Golde so Artificially set, as they seemed naturall, hauing lost no more haire then if hee had died the same day, and yet hee had beene dead threescore and eighteene yeares. There also the Spaniards found his seruants and Mamacomas, which did seruice to his memorie.

In some Prouince m 1.12 they worshipped the image of a Bull, in an other of a Cocke, and in other, others. In the principall Temple of Pachicama; they kept a she∣Foxe and worshipped it. The Lord of Manta kept a great and rich Emerald, as his ancestors also before him had holden it, in great veneration: on some daies it vvas brought forth in publike to be worshipped. They which were sicke came in Pilgri∣mage to visit it, and there offered their gifts, which the Cacique and Ministers turned to their owne profit. The Diuell in many places did appeare vnto them, and he indeed was Author of all these superstitions.

They haue a Tradition concerning the Creation, n 1.13 that at the beginning of the world there came one from the North, into their countrey, called Con, which had no bones, went very light and swift, cast downe mountaines, lift vp the hilles, onley with his will and word: He said he was the sonne of the Sunne, and filled the earth with men and women which they created, giuing them fruits and bread & other things necessarie for humane life. But being offended with some, he countermanded

that former good, and turned the fruitfull lands into barren sands, as they are now in the Plaines, and tooke away the water that it should not raine (hence it came that there it raines not) onely leauing them the Riuers, of pure compassion, that they should maintaine themselues with labour. Afterwards o 1.14 came another from the South, called Pachicama, the sonne also of the Sunne and Moone, who banished Con, and turned his men into Cats, Monkeyes, Beares, Lyons, Parrats, and other Birdes, and created the Progenitors of the present Indians, and taught them to husband the earth and the Trees. They againe to gratifie him, turned him in their imaginations and superstitions vnto a God, and named the prouince foure leagues from Lima of his name. Hee p 1.15 continued till the Christians came to Peru. Hee was their great O∣racle, and as some Indians affirme, hee still continueth in secret places with some of their old men and speaketh to them. Of this Temple we shall after speake.

They hold opinion q 1.16 also, that on a time it rained so exceedingly, that it drow∣ned all the lower Countries, and all men, saue a few, which got into caues vpon high hilles vvhere they shutte vp themselues close, that no raine could get in: there they had stored much prouision and liuing creatures. And when they perceiued that it it had done raining, they sent forth two Dogges, but they returning all myrie and foule, they knew that the waters had not yet ceased: after that they sent forth more Dogges, which came backe againe dry. Then did they goe forth to people the Earth: but were mightily afflicted with multitudes of great Serpents which had sprung vp out of those mirie Reliques of the Floud: r 1.17 but at last they killed them. They beleeue also that the world shall haue an end, but before the same shall goe a great drought, and the Sunne and Moone, which they vvorship, shall bee consumed: and therefore they make greeuous lamentations when there is any Eclipse, especially of the Sunne, fearing the destruction of it and the world. They beleeue the immorta∣litie of the soule, as wee shall more fitly see when vvee come to their Buriall∣rites.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Acost.l.5.c.3.
• b 1.2

  No name in the Cuscan or Mexican tongues to sig∣nifie God.
• c 1.3

  Benzo l.3.c.21
• d 1.4

  See cap.12.
• e 1.5

  Albricus de Imag.dcorum.
• f 1.6

  Ph••rnuti de Nat. dier. Spe∣culum.
• g 1.7

  Fulgentii My∣tholog.l.2.
• h 1.8

  Ac.l.6.c.21.
• i 1.9

  So haue some reasoned In Templis quid facit aurum? Pers.
• k 1.10

  Ac.l.5.c.5.
• l 1.11

  Gom.c.121.
• m 1.12

  Cieza.c.50.
• n 1.13

  Gom. hist. gen.c.122. Apollon.l.••.
• o 1.14

  Calueto in Benz. l.3.c.2••.
• p 1.15

  Cieza c.72.
• q 1.16

  Gom. vbi sup.
• r 1.17

  This is like Ouids tale of Pyth••n, &c.Met.1.