Page:The Incas of Peru.djvu/450

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410
THE FOUR FOUNTAINS

called utusi. The princess returned it to the shepherd, and took leave of him, carrying well in her memory the name of the ornament and the figures, thinking with what delicacy they were drawn, almost seeming to her to be alive. She talked about it with her sister until they came to their palace. On entering, the Puncu-camayoc[1] looked to see if they brought with them anything that would do harm, because it was often found that women had brought with them, hidden hi their clothes, such things as fillets and necklaces. After having looked well, the porters let them pass, and they found the women of the Sun cooking and preparing food. Chuqui-llantu said that she was very tired with her walk, and that she did not want any supper. All the rest supped with her sister, who thought that Acoya-napa was not one who could cause inquietude. But Chuqui-llantu was unable to rest owing to the great love she felt for the shepherd Acoya-napa, and she regretted that she had not shown him what was in her breast. But at last she went to sleep.

In the palace there were many richly furnished apartments in which the women of the Sun dwelt. These virgins were brought from all the four provinces which were subject to the Inca, namely Chincha-suyu, Cunti-suyu, Anti-suyu and Colla-suyu. Within there were four fountains which flowed towards the four provinces, and in which the women bathed, each in the fountain of the province where she was born. They named the fountains in this way. That of Chincha-suyu was called Chuclla-[2]-puquio, that of Cunti-suyu was known as Ocoruro[3]-puquio, Sicllat[4]-puquio was the fountain of Anti-suyu, and Llulucha[5]-puquio of Colla-suyu. The most beautiful child

  1. Puncu, door ; camayoc, official.
  2. Chuclla, a cob of maize; puquio, a fountain.
  3. Ocoruro, damp fruit.
  4. Siclla, a blue flower.
  5. Llulucha, spawn.