342 PERUVIAN SACRIFICES. 



LIB. v. quailes was very ordinarie. Those of Peru did sacrifice the 

 birdes of the Puna, for so they call the desart, when they 

 should go to the warres, for to weaken the forces of their 

 adversaries Huacas. They called these sacrifices Cuzcovicsa, 

 or Contevicsa, or JIuallavicsa, or Sopavicsa, and they did it 

 in this manner : they tooke many kindes of small birdes of 

 the desart, and gathered a great deale of a thornie wood, 

 which they called Yanlli, the which being kindled they 

 gathered together these small birdes. This assembly they 

 called Quiso. Then did they cast them into the fire, about 

 the which the officers of the sacrifice went with certaine 

 round stones carved, whereon were painted many snakes, 

 lions, toades, and tigres, vttering this word Vsachum, 1 which 

 signifies, let the victorie be given vnto vs, with other wordes, 

 whereby they sayed the forces of their enemies Huacas were 

 confounded. And they drew forth certaine black sheepe, 

 which had beene kept close some daies without meate, the 

 which they called Vrciif and in killing them they spake these 

 words: &quot;As the hearts of these beasts be weakened, so let 

 our enemies be weakned/&quot; And if they found in these sheep 

 that a certaine peece of flesh behind the heart were not con 

 sumed by fasting and close keeping, they then held it for an 

 ill augure. They brought certaine black dogs, which they 

 call Apurucos? and slew them, casting them into a plaine with 

 certaine ceremonies, causing some kinde of men to eate this 

 flesh, the which sacrifices they did lest the Ynca should be 

 hurt by poison ; and for this cause they fasted from morn 

 ing vntill the stars were vp, and then they did glut and de 

 file themselves like to the Moores. This sacrifice was most 

 fit for them to withstand their enemies gods ; and, although 

 at this day a great part of these customes have ceased, the 

 wars being ended, yet remaines there some relikes by reason 

 of the private or generall quarrels of the Indians, or the 



1 From Usaclmni, I accomplish. 2 The male animal. 



3 Apu, chief. Ruccu, old or decrepid. In Quichua allco is a dog. 



