3G8 PERUVIAN SORCERERS. 



LIB. v. an( j those of the King s partie, and of private men, the which 

 have beene knowne the same day they chanced, or the day 

 after, a thing impossible by the course of nature. To worke 

 this divination, they shut themselves into a house, and be 

 came drunk vntil they lost their sences, a day after they an 

 swered to that which was demanded. Some affirme they 

 vse certaine vnctions. The Indians say that the old women 

 do commonly vse this office of witchcraft, and specially those 

 of one Province, which they call Coaillo, and of another 

 towne called Manchay, and of the Province of Huarochiri. 

 They likewise shew what is become of things stolne and 

 lost. There are of these kindes of Sorcerers in all partes, 

 to whom commonly doe come the Anaconas, 1 and Chinas, 

 which serve the Spaniardes, and when they have lost any 

 thing of their masters, or when they desire to know the 

 successe of things past or to come, as when they goe to the 

 Spaniardes citties for their private affaires, or for the pub- 

 like, they demaund if their voyage shall be prosperous, if 

 they shall be sicke, if they shall die, or return safe, if they 

 shall obtaine that which they pretend : and the witches or 

 coniurers answer, yea, or no, having first spoken with the 

 Divell, in an obscure place ; so as these Anaconas do well 

 heare the sound of the voyce, but they see not to whom 

 these coniurers speake, neither do they vnderstand what 

 they say. They make a thousand ceremonies and sacrifices 

 to this effect, with the which they mocke the Divell and grow 

 exceeding drunke, for the doing whereof, they particularly 

 vse an hearbe called Villca, 2 the iuyce whereof they mingle 

 with their Chicha, or take it in some other sort, whereby we 

 may see how miserable they are, that have for their masters, 

 the ministers of him whose office is to deceive. It is mani 

 fest that nothing doth so much let the Indians from receiv 

 ing the faith of the holy Gospel, and to persever therein, as 



1 Yana-cunas, or Indians held to domestic service. See Balboa, p. 

 120. * A tree, the fruit of which is a purgative. Mass?.. 



