PERUVIAN FESTIVALS. o75 



made the feast that is called Lit ir ay mi, in the which they LlB - v - 

 sacrificed a hundred sheepe called Guanacos, aud saide it 

 was the feast of the Sunne. In this moneth they made 

 many Images of Quinua 1 wood carved, all attired with rich 

 garrnentes, and they made their dancings which they do 

 call Cayo. At this feast they cast flowers in the high wayes, 

 and thither the Indians came painted, and their noblemen 

 had small plates of golde vpon their beards, and all did sing; 

 wee must vnderstand that this feast falleth almost at the 

 same time whenas the Christians observe the solempnitic of 

 the holy Sacrament, which doth resemble it in some sort, 

 as in dauncing, singing, aud representations. And for this 

 cause there hath beene, and is yet among the Indians, 

 which celebrated a feast somewhat like to ours of the holy 

 Sacrament, many superstitions in celebrating this ancient 

 feast of Intiraymi. The eight month is called Chahua 

 Huarqui,* in the which they did burne a hundred sheepe 

 more, all grey, of the colour of Viscacha, according to the 

 former order, which month doth answer to our luly. The 

 ninth moneth was called Yapaquisf in the which they burnt 

 an hundred shcepo more, of a chesnut colour; and they do 

 likewise kill aud burue a thousand Cuyes, 4 to the end the 

 frost, the ayre, the water, nor the sunue should not hurt 

 their farmes: and this moneth doth answer vnto August. 

 The tenth moneth was called Coyarami, 5 in the which they 

 burnt a hundred white sheepe that had fleeces. In this 

 month, which answereth to September, they made the feast 

 called Sltua in this manner: they assembled together the 

 first day of the moone before the rising thereof, and in 

 seeing it they cryed aloude, carrying torches in their handes 

 and saying, &quot;Let all harme goe away/ striking one an 



1 QuefiiKir (Polylcpis). 



2 The next month was Anta-asituit according to other authors. 



3 CccijMic-asitiiQ. * Guinea pigs. 

 5 I mn-Rdijnn of Molina uiul Vela.seo. 



