VII. BOOK tector of the empire. The people were treated with lenity, and inftructed in the religious tenets of their new mafters, that the conqueror might have the glory of having added to the number of the votaries of his father the Sun. Peculiar Atate of property. THE ftate of property in Peru was no less fingular than that of religion, and contributed, likewise, towards giving a mild turn of character to the people. All the lands capable of cultivation were divided into three fhares. One was confecrated to the Sun, and the product of it was applied to the erection of temples, and furnishing what was requifite towards celebrating the public rites of religion. The fecond belonged to the Inca, and was fet apart as the provifion made by the community for the support of government. The third and largest share was referved for the maintenance of the people, among whom it was parcelled out. Neither individuals, however, nor communities, had a right of exclusive property in the portion fet apart for their ufe. They poffeffed it only for a year, at the expiration of which a new divifion was made in proportion to the rank, the number, and exigencies of each family. All thofe lands were cultivated by the joint industry of the *Herrera, dec. 5. lib. iv. c. 8. com. this. VIL. community. The people, fummoned by a proper в o OK officer, repaired in a body to the fields, and performed their common task, while fongs and mufical inftruments cheered them to their labour'. By this fingular diftribution of terri- Effects of tory, as well as by the mode of cultivating it, the idea of a common interest, and of mutual fubferviency, was continually inculcated. Each individual felt his connection with thofe around him, and knew that he depended on their friendly aid for what increase he was to reap. A state thus conftituted may be confidered as one great family, in which the union of the members was fo complete, and the exchange of good offices fo perceptible, as to create stronger attachment, and to bind man to man in clofer intercourfe, than fubfifted under any form of fociety established in America. From this refulted gentle manners, and mild virtues unknown in the favage ftate, and with which the Mexicans were little acquainted. of ranks. BUT, though the institutions of the Incas were Inequality fo framed as to strengthen the bonds of affection among their fubjects, there was great inequality in their condition. The diftinction of ranks was fully established in Peru. A great body of the 1 Herrera, dec. 5. lib. iv. c. 2. Vega, lib. v. c. 5. VII. BOOK inhabitants, under the denomination of Yanaconas, were held in a state of fervitude. Their garb and houses were of a form different from those of freemen. Like the Tamemes of Mexico, they were employed in carrying burdens, and in performing every other work of drudgery". Next to them in rank, were fuch of the people as were free, but diftinguished by no official or hereditary honours. Above them were raised, those whom the Spaniards call Orejones, from the ornaments worn in their ears. They formed what may be denominated the order of nobles, and in peace as well as war held every office of power or truft". At the head of all were the children of the Sun, who, by their high descent and peculiar privileges, were as much exalted above the Orejones, as thefe were elevated above the people. State of arts. SUCH a form of fociety, from the union of its members, as well as from the distinction in their ranks, was favourable to progrefs in the arts. But the Spaniards having been acquainted with the improved state of various arts in Mexico, feveral years before they discovered Peru, were not fo much ftruck with what they observed m Herrera, dec. 5. lib. iii. c. 4. lib. x. c. 8. n Herrera, dec. 5. lib. iv. c. 1. VII. in the latter country, and describe the appear- BOOK ances of ingenuity there with less warmth of admiration. The Peruvians, nevertheless, had advanced far beyond the Mexicans, both in the neceffary arts of life, and in fuch as have fome title to the name of elegant. ftate of agui IN Peru, agriculture, the art of primary ne- Improved ceffity in focial life, was more extensive, and culture. carried on with greater skill than in any part of America. The Spaniards, in their progrefs through the country, were fo fully fupplied with provifions of every kind, that in the relation of their adventures we meet with few of those difmal scenes of diftrefs occafioned by famine, in which the conquerors of Mexico were so often involved. The quantity of foil under cultivation was not left to the difcretion of individuals, but regulated by public authority in proportion to the exigencies of the community. Even the calamity of an unfruitful feafon was but little felt, for the product of the lands confecrated to the Sun, as well as those fet apart for the Incas, being depofited in the Tambos, or public ftore houses, it remained there as a stated provision for times of scarcity". As the extent of cultivation was determined with fuch provident attention. VII. BOOK to the demands of the ftate, the invention and industry of the Peruvians were called forth to extraordinary exertions, by certain defects peculiar to their climate and foil. All the vast rivers that flow from the Andes take their course eastward to the Atlantic Ocean. Peru is watered only by some streams which rush down from the mountains like torrents. A great part of the low country is fandy and barren, and never refreshed with rain. In order to render fuch an unpromifing region fertile, the ingenuity of the Peruvians had recourfe to various expedients. By means of artificial canals conducted, with much patience and confiderable art, from the torrents that poured across their country, they conveyed a regular fupply of moisture to their fields". They enriched the foil by manuring it with the dung of fea-fowls, of which they found an inexhaustible store on all the islands fcattered along their coafts 9. In defcribing the customs of any nation thoroughly civilized, fuch practices would hardly draw attention, or be mentioned as in any degree remarkable; but in the history of the improvident race of men in the New World, they are entitled to notice as fingular proofs of industry and of art. The ufe of the plough, P Zarate, lib. i. c. 4. Vega, lib. v. c. 1, & 24. indeed, |