Chap. IV. 



AMERICA. 



¥1 



oris. 



agreeing with our December, deferves fcrious obfervation : for as long as the Feaft 

 lafted, no Stranger was fuffcr'd to Lodge in Cufco y whither they all flock'd again 

 after the Feafhwas over, to receive Cakes made by the Mamaconts (an Order of 

 Nuns) of Mai^ and the warm Blood of a white Ram, and were distributed by cer- 

 tain Priefts (Extra&ed from the Royal Family Iluqui Yupangui) who carrying them 

 up and down in Golden Difhes, gave every one of a Company one, faying at the 

 delivery of it, If you do not Reverence the Sun and Inga, this Food will witnefs againjl you 

 to your ^uine^ but if you worfhif them, then their Bodies will by this Pledge he united to yours : 

 after which thofe that had eaten of the Cakes promis'd Obedience, and thank'dthe 

 Sun and Inga for their Food. 



At the fore*mention'd Chafquis a courfe was taken to carry all that defir'd, to eve* 

 ry Temple through the whole Kingdom of <Peru, where the Inhabitants receiv'd 

 them with great Reverence, having before confefs'd all their fins to their Yahuries, 

 or Father.Confe(Tors,who being chofen to that Office with a great deal of Ceremo- Their mil*** 

 ny, impos'd greater or leffer Penances, according to the fins of the Penitent : thofe " * 

 that were fufpe&cd to have conceal'd any of their fins,were put to caft Lots, or had 

 the Entrails of the Beads which they had kill'd to that purpofe confulted about them, 

 and thereby were difcover'd if they had concealed any of their fins 5 which when- 

 ever it hapned, the Priefts falling upon the falfe Penitents, thump'd them with a 

 Stone on their Backs fo long,till they had confefs'd all their Faults, which the Prieft 

 was not to reveal on pain of Death, but to make Expiatory Offerings. The fins 

 about which they were Examined, were chiefly Theft, Murder, Adultery, prepa- 

 ring of Poyfon, or fleighting their Inga or Gods ; for each of which Tranfgre/fions 

 they had feveral kinds of Punifhments. When the Inga fell fick, all People in ge- 

 neral were fore'd to come and make Confeffion of their fins j alfo every one went 

 to his Confeffor when he was in trouble, or expe&ed fome Misfortune to befall 

 him : The Inga himfelf Confefs'd his fins to none but the Sun, which he defir'd to re- 

 late to Firacocha^nd to beg pardon of him for the fame^which done,he bath'd him* 

 felf in a running Stream, and cry'd, I have made my fins known to thee, Sun - 7 do thou y 



« 



