PERUVIAN CALENDAR. 395 



CHAP. in. IIoic the Kings Yncas accounted tJie ycares and 



monctfts. 



I 



Although the computation of time practised amongst the LIB. 

 Mexicaines bee ingenious enough and certaine, for men that 

 had no learning ; yet, in my opinion, they wanted discourse 

 and consideration, having not grounded their computation 

 according vnto the course of the moone, nor distributed 

 their months accordingly, wherein those of Peru have fat- 

 surpassed them : for they divided their yeare into as many 

 day es, perfectly accomplished as we do heere, and into 

 twelve moneths or moones, in the which they imployed and 

 consumed the eleven daies that remaind of the inooiie, as 

 Polo writes. To make the computation of their yeare sure 

 and certaine, they vsed this industry ; vppon the moun- 

 taines which are about the citty of Cuzco (where the Kings 

 Yncas held their court, beeing the greatest sanctuary of 

 those realmes, and as we should say an other Rome), there 

 were twelve pillars set in order, and in such distaunce the - 

 one from the other, as every month one of these pillars did 

 note the rising and setting of the sunne. They called them 

 Stuainijti, 1 by meanes whereof they taught and shewed the 

 feasts, and the seasons iitte to sowe and reape, and to do 

 other things. They did certaine sacrilices to these pillars of 

 the suunc. Every month had his proper name and peculiar 

 feasts. They beganne the yeare by January, as wee doe. 

 But since, a king Ynca called Pachacutec, 2 which signifies 

 a reformer of time, beganne their yeare by December, 

 by reason (as I coniecture) that then the Sunne returueth 



1 Sucanca. Suca is a ridge or furrow in Quielma. Sncaiu\ &quot;I make 

 furrows . Sitcanca is the future passive participle, that which is about 

 to be furrowed 1 ; possibly referring to the alternate light and shadow 

 caused by the sunlight between the pillars ; making the ground appear 

 in ridges. See G. &amp;lt;h I&amp;lt;t !Y//a, i, p. 17*. 



2 Paclia, time; ( ntini. I overturn, or reform. 



