YNCA GOVERNMENT. 413 



many feathers, and a thousand sheepc, which must be of _ 

 divers colours. Then the chiefe Priest tooke a yong child 

 in his handes, of the age of six or eight yeares, pronouncing 

 these wordes with the other ministers speaking to the image 

 of Viracocha, &quot; Lord, we offer this vnto thce, that thou maiest 

 maintaine vs in quiet, and helpe vs in our warrcs, maintaine 

 our Lord the Ynca in his greatncs and estate, that hee may 

 alwaies increase, giving him much knowledge to governe 

 vs.&quot; There were present at this ceremony and oatli men of 

 all partes of the llealme, and of all Guacas and Sanctuaries. 

 And without doubt, the affection and reverence this people 

 bare to their Kings Yncas, was very great, for it is never 

 found that any one of his subiectes committed treason 

 against him, for that they proceeded in their government?, 

 not only with an absolute power, but also with good order 

 and iustice, suffering no man to be oppressed. The Yncu 

 placed governours in divers Provinces, amongst the which 

 some were superiors, and did acknowledge none but hiin- 

 selfe, others were of lesse commaund, and others more par 

 ticular, with so goodly an order, and such gravitie, as no 

 man durst bee drunke nor take an care of Mays from liis 

 neighbour. These Yncas held it for a maxime, that it was 

 necessary to kecpo the Indians alwaies in action : and there 

 fore we see it to this day, long cawscis and workes of great 

 labour, the which they say were made to exercise the In 

 dians, lest they should remaine idle. When he conquered 

 any new Province, he was accustomed presently to send the 

 greatest part, and the chiefe of that country into other 

 Provinces, or else to his Court, and they call them at this 

 day in Peru Mitimas, and in their places hee sent others of 

 the Nation of Cusco, especially the Orejones, which were as 

 Knights of an ancient house. They punished faultes rigor 

 ously. And therefore such as have any vnderstanding 

 hecreof hold opinion that there can be no better govern 

 ment for the Indians, nor more assured then that of the 

 Yncas. 



