(The heading of this chapter is unfit for translation.)

IN many parts of these Indies the people worshipped the sun, although they also believed in a Creator whose seat was in heaven. The worship of the sun was either received from the Yncas, or, as in the province of Guancavilcas, established from ancient times.

The people of Guancavilcas (so they say) used to pull out three teeth in each jaw, the fathers doing it to their children when of very tender age, which they thought was no evil, but rather a service very acceptable to their gods. They marry in the same way as their neighbours. [The remainder of this paragraph is unfit for translation.]

The chiefship is inherited by the son (according to the account which they gave me), and, failing sons, then the next brother, and, failing brothers, the sons of the sisters. There are some women who are good looking. Among the Indians of whom I am now treating the best-flavoured maize bread is made in all the Indies. It is so good and well kneaded, that it is even better than some wheaten bread.

In some villages of these Indians they have a great quantity of skins of men full of ashes, the appearance of which is as frightful as those in the valley of Lile, near the city of Cali. [The rest of the paragraph is unfit for translation.]

They have heard the preaching of many clergymen and friars, and begin to understand that our faith is the perfect and true one, and that the teaching of the devil is false, so that his deceitful communications have ceased. In all parts where the holy evangel is preached, a cross is placed at which the devil is terrified and flies away. But it is true that the faith impresses itself more on the young than on the old; for as the latter are grown old in their vices, they do not cease to commit their former sins in secret, and in such sort that the Christians cannot detect them. The youths listen to our priests, and follow our Christian doctrine, so that in these districts there are good and bad, as in all other parts of the world.