Among their Religious persons, I may reckon their Confessours. They
helde
opinion that all Aduersities were the effects of sinne: for remedy whereof they v∣sed
sacrifices. Moreouer, they confessed themselues Verbally almost in all Prouin∣ces,
and had Confessors appointed by their superiours to that end, with some Re∣seruation
of Cases for the Superiours. They receiued Penance, and that some∣times
very sharpely, when they had nothing to giue the Confessor. This office
of Confessor was likewise exercised by women. The manner of the Ychuyri
was
most generall in the Prouinces of Collasuio. They discouered by lotts, or by the
view of some beasts, if any thing were concealed, and punished them vvith ma∣ny
blowes of a stone vpon the shoulders, vntill they had reuealed all: after that
they enioyned them Penance, and did sacrifice. They likewise vsed Confession,
when their Children, Wiues, Husbands or Caciques vvere sicke, or in any great
exployt. When the Ingua vvas sicke, all the Prouinces confessed themselues,
chiefely those of Collao. The Confessors were bound to hold their Confessions se∣cret,
but in certaine cases limited. The sinnes vvhich they chiefely confessed were,
killing one another out of warre, stealing, to take another mans Wife, to giue
poison, or Sorcerie, to doe any harme, to bee forgetfull in the reuerence of their
Guacas, not to obserue Feasts, to speake ill off, or to disobey the Ingua. They
accused not themselues of secret sinnes. The Ingua confessed himselfe to no man,
but to the Sunne, that hee might tell them to Viracocha, of him to obtaine
forgiuenesse: which done, hee made a certaine bath to clense himselfe, in a run∣ning
Riuer, saying; I haue told my sinnes, to the Sunne, receiue them then Riuer,
and carry them to the Sea, where they may neuer appeare more. Others that con∣fessed
vsed likewise those bathes. When any mans Children died; hee was hol∣den
for a greeuous sinner, saying, that it was for his sinnes, that the sonne died
before the Father. Such therefore, after they vvere confessed, were bathed in
the said bathe, and then came a deformed person, to whippe them with certaine
Nettles. If the Sorcerers or Inchanters by their lotts or diuinations affirmed that
any sicke body should dye, the sicke man makes no difficultie to kill his owne sonne,
though he had no other, hoping by that meanes to escape death, saying that in his
place he offered his sonne in sacrifice. The Penances enioyned them in Confessions
were, to fast, to giue apparell, gold or siluer, to remaine in the mountaines, and to re∣ceiue
many stripes vpon the shoulders.
The Sacrifices of the Indians may be
reduced into three kindes; of insen∣sible
things; of beastes; of men. Of the first sort vvere their sacrifices of Coca
(an Herbe of much esteeme) of Mays, Feathers, Gold, and Siluer, in figures of little
beasts, or in the forme of that which he sought for: also of sweet wood, and diuers o∣ther
things, whereby their Temples became so rich. They made these offerings
to ob∣taine
a good winde, health, faire weather and the like.
Of the second sort of Sacrifices, were their Cuyes, which are like Rabbets,
and for rich men in matters of importance, Pacos (the great Camell-fashioned
sheepe) with curious obseruation of the numbers, colours, and times. The manner
of killing their Sacrifices, is the same vvhich the Mores now vse, hanging the
beast by the right fore-legge, turning his eyes toward the Sunne, speaking certaine
words, according to the qualitie of the sacrifice. For if it were coloured, they direct∣ed
their words to the Thunder, that they might want no water; if white, to the Sunne,
that he might shine on them; if gray, to Viracocha. In Cusco they did euery yeare kill
and sacrifice with this solemnitie, a shorne sheepe to the Sunne, and did burne it, clad
in a red Wastcoate, casting small baskets of Coca into the fire. They sacrificed also small
birds on this manner: they kindled a fire of Thornes, and cast the small birds in, certaine
officers going about with round stones, wherein were carued or painted Snakes, Lyons,
Toads, Tygers, & saying Vsachum, that is, let the victory be giuen vs, with other words.
They drew forth certayne blacke sheepe, called Vrca, which had beene kept certaine
dayes without meate, and therefore vsed these words: So let the hearts of our enemies