MONUMENTS OP ANCIENT PERU. 



17 



fathers, in the weaving of lliellas, anacos, and chuces, and in the 

 manufadlure of topos, huaqueros, &c.* 



Of their ancient writing, some traces are to be found among 

 the shepherds, who make use of quipos-f to reckon the num- 

 ber, increase, or diminution of their flocks, not forgetting the 

 day or hour on which a sheep died, a lamb was ewed, or one 

 of the flock stolen. The language they employed when they 

 invoked the protection of the deity, may serve to give an idea 

 of their oratory. Of their poetry and music many records still 

 exist. The modern Indians, who are excessively fond of 

 dancing, have not forgotten the wind instruments, and the 

 immense variety of quick and lively airs which were the de- 

 light of their ancestors. Their tradition has handed down a 

 few idyls and odes, and many elegies, which are revived and 

 augmented, as well by the jirabicus\ as by the Spaniards, 



by 



* The lliella Is a very fine square covering, adorned witli much labour, which 

 serves the Indians as a mantle. The anaco also forms a part of their dress, but 

 is much larger. The chuce is a kind of carpet. The topo is a pin of gold, 

 silver, or other metal, witJi a large solid head, either circular or square, on which 

 various figures are sculptured. Its use is to fasten the lliella at the breast, and 

 to ornament it. The huaquero is a small earthen vessel. 



t The Peruvian tradis of Madame Grasigny induced an Italian nobleman, a 

 member of the Academy of La Crusca, and a dutchess of the same nation, to write 

 a large volume in quarto, entitled An Apology for the Sluipos. After introducing 

 into this work what Garcilaso has written on the subjecSl, the authors describe with 

 CO much confidence the grammar and diflionary of the ^ipos, and, in short, 

 whatever relates to Quipographia, that we should have fancied we had fallen in with 

 some ^ipo-Camayu (secretary) of the Yncas, if, unfortunately, all the conje£tures 

 had not been utterly false. « 



X Arabicus. Name of the Peruvian poets, from which is derived that of the yara- 

 v'leSi bestowed on their elegiac songs. The style, efFeft, and peculiar music of 



D these 



