covered with white cotton cloths, and adorned with flowers.
The Acllas, or virgins of the sun, then appeared, dressed in white robes, with diadems of gold. They came to serve at the feast. Commencing with the Inca and the Ccoya, they gave to all abundantly, adding plenty of chicha. Finally they gave to each guest a piece of the Illay Tanta, or sacred bread, which was looked upon as a precious gift, and preserved by the recipient as a relic.
After the feast the virgins brought the cloth they had been weaving during the whole year, and presented the best and most curious pieces to the Inca and the members of his family, then to the principal lords and their families. The cloth was all of vicuna wool, like silk. The virgins also presented robes, garlands, ornaments, and many other things. To the rest of the great assembly they distributed coarser cloth of wool and cotton. The harvest festivities were continued for several days.
Chahuar Quiz,[1] the next month, from July 22 to August 22, was the season for ploughing the lands, without cessation and by relays. The sign on the breastplate seems to indicate that the work was continuous, both by the light of the sun, and of the moon and stars.
- ↑ Betanzos has Cahuaquis, or Chahuar Huarqui according to Polo, Acosta, Cobos, and Fernandez. Molina has Tarpuy Quilla and Moron Passa. Huaman Poma has Chacra Cunacuy. Passa should be Pacsa, the moon, and Tarpuy Quilla means the sowing month. Cunacuy is to consult together, and Chacra, a farm; Balboa has Chahuar-quis.
