of the 'Indies lit .5. 



They called this houfc or monaflery A- 

 _ r, which is to fay, the houfe of the chofcn.Hvc 

 ry monaflery had his Vicar or Governour called Appo- 

 partAca , who had liberty and power to choofc whome 

 he pleafed, of what qualitie loever, being vnder eyght 

 yeares ofage, if they feemed to be of a good ftature and 

 conftitution. 



Thefe Virgines thus fhut vp into thefe rnonaflcries, 

 \vereinflrufted by the Momacoma*, in diverfc thinges 

 needcfall for the life of man , and in the cuftomcs and 

 ceremonies of their gods ; and afterwardes they tooke 

 them from thence , being above fouretccne , lending 

 them to the Court with furegards, whereof fome were 

 appoynted to ferve the Guacas and San&uaries , keep 

 ing their virginities for ever : fome others were for the 

 ordinary facrifices that were made of maidens, ando- 

 ther extraordinary facrifices, they made for the health, 

 death., orwarresof the /##<*; and the reft fervcd for 

 wives and concubines to the Ingm , and vnto other his 

 kinsfolkes and captaines, vnto whome hee gave them, 

 which was a great and honourable recompencc : This 

 diflribution wa's vfed every yearc . Thefe monafierics 

 poflefled rents and revenues forthcmaintenaunceof 

 thefe Virgins,which were ingreatnumbers.lt was not 

 lawfull for any father to refufehis daughters when the 

 AppopatMctTcquircd them for the fervice of thefe mo- 

 nafleries. Yea many fathers did willingly offer their 

 daughters , fuppofing it was a great merit to be facrifi. 

 cedforthe/^/t. If any of thefe Mortt<,uontMmAclIa$ 

 were found to have trefpafled againfl their honour, it 

 was an inevitable chafticement to bury them alive, or 

 to put them to death by fome other kind of cruell tor 

 ment, 



Bb The 



