The royal commentaries of Peru, in two parts the first part, treating of the original of their Incas or kings, of their idolatry, of their laws and government both in peace and war, of the reigns and conquests of the Incas, with many other particulars relating to their empire and policies before such time as the Spaniards invaded their countries : the second part, describing the manner by which that new world was conquered by the Spaniards : also the civil wars between the Piçarrists and the Almagrians, occasioned by quarrels arising about the division of that land, of the rise and fall of rebels, and other particulars contained in that history : illustrated with sculptures / written originally in Spanish by the Inca Garcilasso de la Vega ; and rendered into English by Sir Paul Rycaut, Kt.

CHAP. VII.

That Gold, and Silver, and other things of value, were not given by way of Tribute, but of Presents.

ALL that great quantity of Gold and Silver, and pretious Stones which the Incas possessed, were not Rents, nor Fruits issuing from Tribute, but Pre∣sents which the People voluntarily offered to their Kings; for neither Gold nor Silver were esteemed necessary for maintenance of Peace, nor (as we will have it) the Sinews of War, nor reckoned as any part of Riches, or Estate, nor were they measures in buying or selling, or given in payment to the Souldiers; for they could neither drink nor satisfie their hunger with those Metalls, and therefore were valued at no other rate, than for their glittering Lustre, and resplendent Beauty, designed onely for Ornaments to adorn the Temples of the Sun, and the Palaces of the Incas, and the Monasteries of the Virgins, as we have already made appear, and shall hereafter have occasion to prove more at large. They found out the Mines of quick-silver, but knew not the use of it, onely that it was hurt∣full, and of a quality noxious to the Head, and for that reason prohibited the People from gathering or medling with it.

We say then, that Gold and Silver was a free Offering from the Subjects to their Prince, and never demanded by them in way of Tribute, or Duty: and in regard it was a custome amongst that People, never to appear before their Supe∣riours with empty hands, for when nothing better offered, even a basket of dry or ripe fruit was acceptable: and that also it was accustomary for the Curacas, and Princes, who had sovereign Authority over Subjects, to present themselves be∣fore the Inca at the principal feasts of the Year, which were dedicated to the Sun, such as Raymi, and at other times when Triumphs were celebrated for great and signal Victories, or when a Prince and Heir was born, or his Head shorn, or that the Inca visited the Provinces, and the like, the Curacas did then never pre∣sume to appear before the Inca, and kiss his Hands, without their Presents of Gold, and Silver, or pretious Stones, such as the Indians, who were their Vassals, had at their leisure times extracted from the Mines; for in regard that these things were not necessary for support of humane Life, the acquisition of them was scarce esteemed worth their labour, and the employment onely appointed for their vacant hours; for when they knew that there was no other use for them, but onely for the adornment of their Temples, and Palaces of the Inca, they then esteemed them worthy their trouble, for no other reason, than that they might appear with confidence before their Gods, who were the Sun and the Inca.

Moreover besides such rich Gifts as these, the Curacas did commonly present to the King Timber of the best and strongest nature for his Buildings, with excel∣lent Masters, and the most able Artists and Workmen to erect them; for it there were any Persons ingenious, or excellent in Arts, or Crafts, such as Silver-smiths, Painters, Stone-catters, Carpenters, or others, they were always preferred and recommended by the Curacas to the service of the Inca; for indeed such Persons as these could find no Employment or Encouragement with the common People, every one of which had skill and art sufficient for building his own poor Hutt or Cottage where he dwelt, and making his own Shoes and Garments; for though anciently the Community had the care of providing every Family with a House, yet now, since every single Person hath learnt that mystery, and become a rare Architect, and can, with the assistence of a few Friends and Relations, be able to form his own Nest and Habitation; the Art of Surveyors, and the La∣bour of Workmen is of little use to them, for being poor, and living onely with design to supply the necessities of humane Life, they have no need of those super∣fluities

which are necessary to support the Magnificence and Pomp of great Per∣sonages.

Moreover they presented to the Inca wild Beasts, such as Tygers, Lions and Bears, with other Creatures less fierce, such as Drills, Monkies, Mountain-Cats, Deer, Parots, and other greater Birds, as Ostritches, and another sort of Bird cal∣led a Cuntur, which is the biggest of any in the world: Hereunto they some∣times added Serpents which were produced in Antis; the biggest and largest of which they call Amaru, being twenty five or thirty foot in length, as also Toac's of a monstrous bigness; and Snakes that were very fierce. And from the Sea-coast they sent Soils and Allagators, which they called Caymanes, and were some of them twenty five or thirty foot in length. In short, there was no creature excellent in its kind either for ferocity, or bigness, or nimbleness, which they omitted to carry and present with their Offerings of Silver and Gold, that so by this way of Homage, and Duty, they might acknowledge him the supreme and universal Lord of all, and testify the zeal and affection they bore to his Service.