26 



the number or quantity. This is all the use that 

 I have been able to discover in such a *register, 

 in which some authors have pretended to find a 

 substitute for the art of writing. This admirable 

 art was unknown to the Chilians ; for although 

 the word Chilean^ to write^ is met with in their 

 language, it was originally nothing more than 

 a synonym of guiriti, which signifies to sketch 

 or paint. Of their skill in this latter art, I am 

 ignorant ; but if we may form an opinion from 

 representations of men that are cut upon certain 

 rocks, we must conclude that they were entirely 

 unacquainted with it, as nothing coarser or more 

 disproportioned can be imagined. 



Far different was the progress which they 

 made in the sciences of physic and astronomy, it 

 was indeed wonderful ; but an account of these, 

 of their religion, their music and military skill, 

 I shall reserve till I treat of the Araucanians, 

 who still continue the faithful depositories of all 



* The quipos is still used by shepherds iii Peru, who 

 keep account by it of the number of their flocks, and of the 

 day and hour when the ewe yeaned, or the lamb was lost. 



An'^talian author, after the publication of M. Grafigny's 

 novel, wrote a large quarto volume concerning the quipos. 

 He describes every thing relating to quipography, says the 

 Limas-Essarist, as confidently as if he had been Quipo-CamSyn 

 to the Incas ; but the misfortune is, that all his conjectures are 

 erroneous. E. E. 



Mercurh PeruanOf Marco 17, 179I, T, l.f. 206* 



