Ch. XII. SOUTH AlUERICA. 129 



^and fruits. It alio abounds in valuable filver mines, in 

 which chiefly the riches of Peru confift, and by that 

 means made the center of a very large commerce ; 

 great numbers of merchants reforting hither with 

 their goods, and others for purchafing fuch provi- 

 fions as their own countries do not afford, for which 

 they give in exchange ingots and pin n as of filver. 

 III. Diocefs of the audience of Lima, 

 Cusco. 



Of all the cities in Peru, Cufc^ is the moft an- 

 cient, being of the fame date with, the eaft empire of 

 the Yncas. It was founded by the fiVft Ynca Mango 

 Capac, as the feat and capital of his empire. Hav- 

 ing peopled it with the firft Indians who voluntarily 

 fubmitted to him, he divided it into two parts, 

 which he called high and low 'Cufco, the former 

 having been peopled by Indians which the emperor 

 himfdf had afiembled, and the latter by thofe whom 

 his confort Mama-Oello had prevailed upon to leave 

 their wandring manner of life. The firft forms the 

 N. and the latter the S. part of the city. The houfes 

 originally were low and fmall like cottages ; but as 

 the empire encreafed they affumed a new appearance ; 

 lb that when the Spaniards landed in thefe parts, they 

 were aftoniflied at the largenefs and fplendor of the 

 city, efpecially the magnificence of the temple of the 

 fun, the grandeur of the palaces of the Ynca, and 

 the pomp and richhefs becoming the feat of fo vaft 

 an empire. It was in the month of October 1534, 

 when Don Francifco Pizarro entered and took pol- 

 fcfllon of it in the name of Charles V. emperor, and 

 king of Spain. This was followed by a fiege of the 

 Ynca Mango, who laid great part of it in afhes, but 

 without diflodging the Spaniards. 



This city Hands in a very uneven fituation on the 

 fides of the mountains, there being no other more 

 convenient near it. On a mountain contiguous to 

 the north part of the city are the ruins of that fa- 



VoL. II. K mous 



