No. 15L] 423 



possible, since you have no writings, that you have been able to pre- 

 serve the memory of things past, and the origin of our kings? I 

 observe that the Spaniards and their kindred nations have their sa- 

 cred and profane histories, whereby they learn the time that their 

 own kings, and the princes of other countries, began their reigns; 

 when and how empires were changed and transferred; nay, so far 

 they go, as to tell us how many thousand years are past since God 

 created the heavens and the earth; all of which, and much more, 

 they have learned from their books; but as to yourselves — in what 

 manner can you retain the memory of your ancestors, or be informed 

 of the origin of the Tncas? As, for instance, who was the first of 

 them, or what was his name? Of what lineage, or in what manner 

 did he begin his reign? What nations did he conquer, and when 

 did he give a being to this great empire, and with what exploits did 

 our ancestors achieve their greatness? 



" The Inca was much pleased to hear me make these inquiries, be- 

 cause he took great delight in recounting these matters, and turning 

 to me, said, ' Cousin, I most willingly comply with your request; 

 for it concerns you to hear them, and keep them in your heart. 

 Remember then, that in ages past, all this region or country you see 

 around us, was nothing but mountains and wild forests, and the peo- 

 ple in those times were like so many brutes, without any religion or 

 government, with no understanding of property or a single enjoy- 

 ment of them; neither did they sow, plow, nor clothe themselves, be- 

 cause they had no idea of tilling the earth, and knew not the art of 

 weaving either cotton or wool. They dwelt two by two, or three 

 and three together, as they chanced to meet, in caves, or holes in the 

 rocks and mountains. Their food was herbs or grass, roots of trees, 

 wild fruits, and human flesh; and all the covering they had, consisted 

 of the leaves or bark of trees, and the skins of beasts. 



* And now, I pray that you listen with due attention, for I would 

 not be troubled to repeat what I am to say. Our Father, the Sun, 

 beholding these Indians as they existed in the state that I have just 

 related, took compassion on them, and sent a son and a daughter of 

 his own from heaven to earth, to instruct our people in his knowledge, 

 so that they might worship and adore him, and esteem him as their 

 God, giving them laws and precepts, unto which they might conform 

 their lives like men of reason and refinement of manners, that they 

 might live in houses and society, learn to till the earth, cultivate 

 trees, plants, and corn, feed their flocks, and enjoy them as rational 

 men, and not as brutes. With these orders and instructions, our Fa- 

 ther, the Sun, placed his two children by the Lake Titicaca, giving 



