that I might not incline you to sadness, I abstained from venting tears from my eyes, which, notwithstanding, drop in blood on my heart, caused by that inward grief I feel, to see our Incas, and their empire ruined and destroyed.” ’
To this legend, many others of ancient date might be added, one of which, is, that the rays of the sun, after the universal deluge, first fell on the island in Lake Titicaca, before they appeared in any other place, and gave a sign and promise that from that spot the first doctrines of the light of knowledge should eminate, which promise was afterwards accomplished by those kings, who preceded them, and taught the world to throw off their turpitude, and live according to the dictates of nature and of reason. By advantage of these, and other similar inventions, it was not difficult for the Incas to persuade the rest of the Indians, that they actually descended from the sun, and to confirm their belief by the manifold benefits and advantages which their doctrine and religion brought with them. On the assurance of these two fables, it is said, the Incas and all their subjects did really esteem this island to be a sacred and holy piece of ground, upon which, with that opinion, they erected a rich temple, all plated with gold, to be dedicated to their Father, the Sun; where all the Indians of the provinces, subject to the Incas, generally assembled once a year to offer gold, silver, and precious, stones, in thankful acknowledgments of the great blessings they had received. And so immense was the quantity of gold and silver, which was amassed in that island, besides what was cast and wrought into utensils, for the service of the temple, that the report of it made by the Incas, is incredible, and is more to be admired than believed. Blas Valera, a Spanish historian, in speaking of the riches of this temple, says, that after all the vessels and ornaments were supplied, he was told by the Indians of Copa-Cabano, that there was such a superfluity of gold and silver, after all was finished, that another such temple might have been erected without the aid of any other materials! And
