How and in what manner they made the royal hunts for the Lords of Peru.

IN the First Part[104] I related how, in this kingdom of Peru, there was a very great quantity of flocks, both wild and tame, of urcos[105] sheep, pacos, vicuÑas, and llamas, and excellent pastures in all parts, so that they could be well maintained. Although they were so numerous, it was forbidden by the kings, on pain of severe punishment, to kill females, and if the rule was broken, punishment followed, so that they were never eaten. They multiplied so that the number when the Spaniards arrived in the country is incredible. The principal reason for this order was to ensure the growth of sufficient wool to make clothing; for in many parts, if the flocks were wanting, I certainly do not know how the people could preserve themselves against the cold, if they had not any wool wherewith to make clothes. But by this arrangement there were many store-houses in all parts, where they kept the clothing, as well for the soldiers as for the rest of the people, and most of this cloth was made of the wool of guanacos and vicuÑas.

When the lord desired to enjoy a royal hunt, it is noteworthy how many animals were taken and killed; as many as thirty thousand head. Tents were pitched in a position selected by the lord, on such occasions as he was pleased to amuse himself with the chase. For, on the high parts of the mountains, in whatever place was chosen, there were sure to be flocks in such quantities as we have stated. Having assembled fifty thousand or sixty thousand people, they surrounded the plains and broken ground in such sort that they gradually approached each other, at the same time descending from the steeper heights to the more level plains, and making the country resound with the noise of their voices. Gradually they approached each other, until they formed a ring with hands joined, and in the enclosed space bounded by their bodies the flocks were detained and secured. The lord was so placed as to witness the slaughter. Then certain Indians entered the enclosure armed with ayllos,[106] which are used to secure the legs, and others with sticks and clubs, and began to seize and kill. Among the great quantity of captured animals there were many guanacos, which are rather larger than small donkeys, with long necks like camels. They tried to escape by spitting into the faces of the men and rushing about with great leaps. They say that it was a marvellous thing to hear the noise made by the Indians in catching them, and to see the efforts made by the animals to escape in all directions. If the king wished to kill any of the chase without entering into the tumult, it was arranged in any way he pleased.

Many days were passed in these hunts, and a multitude of animals was killed. Then the overseers ordered the wool to be taken to the store-houses, and to the temples of the Sun, where the mamaconas were expert in making very fine cloth for the lords, the fineness being such that it appeared to be of silk, and of various colors. The flesh of the slaughtered animals was eaten by those who were present with the king, and some of it was dried in the sun,[107] to be kept in the storehouses, as provisions for soldiers on the march. All these animals, it must be understood, were in wild flocks and not domesticated. They also took many deer and biscachas,[108] as well as foxes, and some bears and small lions.