Page:The Incas of Peru.djvu/140

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110
HOUSEHOLD GODS

sun, the moon, a star, a mountain, rock, spring, or any other natural object, the Peruvians had some peculiar beliefs which pervaded their daily life. They had special personal deities in which they trusted. The sovereign Incas kept such images always with them and gave them names, calling them Huauqui, or brother. That of the Inca Uira-cocha was called Inca Amaru, probably in the form of a serpent. It was found by Polo de Ondegardo, with that Inca's ashes. Pachacuti had a very large golden Huauqui, called Inti Illapa, which was sent in pieces to Caxamarca for the ransom. Cusi Churi was the name of the Huauqui of the Inca Tupac, which was found concealed at Calis Puquio, near Cuzco, by Polo. The Huauqui of Huayna Ccapac, a gold image of great value, has never been found. It was called Huaraqui Inca. The tradition handed down in the Incarial family is that the Huauqui of Manco Ccapac was a sacred bird called Inti, kept in a sort of hamper; that of Sinchi Rocca was called Huanachici Amaru; that of Lloque Yupanqui, Apu Mayta. The rest of the Orejones and many others had their special Lar or brother, and the Huauqui was buried with the body of the deceased.

The universal belief of the Peruvians was that all things in nature had a spiritual essence or counterpart, to which prayers and sacrifice might be offered if the spirit belonged to any of the reproductive powers of nature, or good might be