Hijlorie of the Indies, lib. 



What tkt Inditmrefort 



CHAP. 25. 



IT is no matter of any great importance , to know 

 what the Indians the mfclves report of their begin 

 ning, being more like vnto dreames , then to true Hi-- 

 ftories.They make great mention of a deluge hapncd in 

 their Countrfe : but we cannot well iudgeif this de 

 luge were vniverfall (whereof the Icripturc makes men- 

 lion,) or fome particular inundation of thofe regions 

 where they are . Some expert men lay , that in thofc 

 Countries are many notable figrces of fbme great in 

 undation , and I am of their opinion which thinke that 

 thcfe markes andfliewesofa deluge, was not that of 

 Not , but fome other particular ,, as that which PUto 

 fpcakcs of,or De#cafiws{{Qud>whkh the Poets fing of: 

 wharfoever it be,the Indians fay,tha t al men were drow 

 ned in this delugeiand they report that out of the great 

 LzktTiticaca, came one Viracocha, which ftaied in Ti~ 

 tguanACO) where at this day there is to bee feene the ru- 

 ines of ancient and very ftrange buildin gs , and from 

 thence came toCttfeo , and fo began mankinde to mul 

 tiply. They (hew in the fame Hand a fmall Lake, where 

 they faine that the funne hid himfclfe , and fo was pre- 

 ferved- and for this reafon they make great facrifices 

 vnto him in that place,both of (heepe and men.O thers 

 report, that fixe , or I know not what number of men^ 

 cameoutofacertainccave by a window , by whome 

 imenfirft began tomultiplie: and for this reafon they 

 call them Pacaritampo.A.nd therefore they are of opini 

 on, that the Tam&os is themofl ancient race of men. 

 They fay alfb, that Mango Cap A, whom they acknow 

 ledge for the founder and chiefs of their ingua^^ was 



lifted 



