426 [Assembly 



of the benefits received, travelled with joy and satisfaction through 

 the roclcs and woods, to communicate the happy tidings of the Child- 

 ren of the Sun, who, for the common good of all, appeared on the 

 earth, repeating the benefits they had received, and showing them 

 their new habiliments, and diet, and relating to them that they lived 

 in houses and in political society. This relation induced these wild 

 people to mingle with their civilized brethren, in order to learn and 

 obey; and thus, one calling and inviting the other, the fame spread 

 far and near, and their number increased to such a degree, that in 

 six or seven years, thelncahad composed an army sufficient for war; 

 and having taught them how to make bows and arrows, lances, and 

 such other weapons as we use to this day, they were^ not only capa- 

 ble of defending, but also to repulse an enemy, and to compel those 

 by force, who led a bestial life, to live in human sgciety. 



* These were our first Incas and kings in the earlier ages of our 

 empire, from whom the succeeding princes, and w^e ourselves, are 

 descended; but how many years it maybe since our Father, the Sun, 

 sent his offspring among us, I am not able precisely to say, but I im- 

 agine that it may be about four hundred years. 



* And thus having satisfied the request you made to me, at length, 

 dear cousin, allow rae to close by telling you, that in the course of 

 my narrative, in order that I might not incline you to sadness, I ab- 

 stained from venting tears from my eyes, which, notwithstanding, 

 drop in blood on my heart, caused by that inuard grief I feel, to see 

 our Incas, and their empire ruined and destroyed.' " 



To this legend, many others of ancient date might be added, one 

 of which is, that the rays of the sun, after the univeriial deluge, first 

 fell on the island in Lake Titicaca, before they appeared in any 

 other place, and gave a sign and promise that from that spot the 

 first doctrines of the light of knowledge should emanate ,which pro- 

 mise was afterwards accomplished by those kings who preceded them, 

 and taught the world to throw off their turpitude, and live according 

 to the dictates of nature and of reason. By advantage of these and 

 other similar inventions, it was not difficult for the Incas to persuade 

 the rest of the Indians that they actually descended from the sun, 

 and to confirm their belief by the manifold benefits and advantages 

 ■which their doctrine and religion brought with them. On the assu- 

 rance of these two fables, it is said, the Incas and all their subjects 

 did really esteem this island to be a sacred and holy piece of ground, 

 upon which, with that opinion, they erected a rich temple, all plated 



