152 



tent on making prisoners, all of whom they put to death and 

 devoured. On the death of any distinguished person a cer- 

 tain number of his attendants were chosen to accompany him 

 to the other world, put to death and buried in the same 

 tomb. 



The victims of superstition who seem not to have been fo- 

 reigners, but native Mexicans, and probably of the lowest 

 class, were still more numerous. For according to the most 

 accurate account, they amounted to 2500 annually. Robert- 

 son, 315. 



This empire must then be deemed semi-barbarian. 



Of the Peruvian Government. 



This government was perfectly theocratic. Mango Capac 

 and his wife pretended they were children of the sun. He 

 was their first Inca or sovereign, and none but his descendants 

 could aspire to the sovereignty. His authority was consi- 

 dered as that of the divinity, and therefore implicitly obeyed. 

 3 Roberts. 164, &c. 



Among the Peruvians a great inequality of ranks prevailed, 

 and the great body of the inhabitants were held in a state of 

 servitude. 



The 



