in obfervation or inquiry, as to have attained juft conceptions of the Deity; nor was there in their language any proper name or appellation of the Supreme Power, which intimated, that they had formed any idea of him as the Creator and Governor of the World. f) But by directing their veneration to that glorious luminary, which, by its univerfal and vivifying energy, is the best emblem of divine beneficence, the rites and obfervances which they deemed acceptable to him were innocent and humane. They offered to the Sun a part of thofe productions which his genial warmth had called forth from the bofom of the earth, and reared to maturity. They facrificed, as an oblation of gratitude, fome of the animals who were indebted to his influence for nourishment. They prefented to him choice fpecimens of those works of ingenuity which his light had guided the hand of man in forming. But the Incas never ftained his altars with human blood, nor could they conceive that their beneficent father the Sun would be delighted with fuch horrid victims. g) Thus the Peruvians unacquainted with those barbarous rites which extinguish fenfibility, and fupprefs the feeling of nature at the fight of human fufferings, were formed, by the spirit of the fuperftition which they had adopted, to a national character, more gentle than that of any people in America. f) Acofta, lib. v. c. 3. Its influence on civil policy. The influence of this fuperftition operated even upon their civil inftitutions, and tended to correct in them whatever was adverse to gentleness of character. The dominion of the Incas, though the moft abfolute of all defpotisms, was mitigated by its alliance with religion. The mind was not humbled and depreffed by the idea of forced subjection to the will of a fuperior; obedience, paid to one who was believed to be clothed with divine authority, was willingly yielded, and implied no degradation. The fovereign, confcious that the fubmiffive reverence of his people flowed from their belief of his heavenly defcent, was continually reminded of a diftinction which prompted him to imitate that beneficent power which he was fuppofed to reprefent. In confequence of thofe impreffions, there hardly occurs in the traditional hiftory of Peru, any inftance of rebellion against the reigning prince, and, among twelve fucceffive monarchs, there was not one tyrant. and on their military fyftem. Even the wars in which the Incas engaged were carried on with a spirit very different from that of other American nations. They fought not, like favages, to deftroy and exterminate; or, like the Mexicans, to glut blood - thirsty divinities with human facrifices. They con- h) Herrera, dec. 5. iib. iv. c. 4. Vega, lib. v. c. 12. 1 Peculiar ftate of property. The state of property in Peru was no lefs fingular than that of religion, and contributed likwife, 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 publick rites of religion. The fecond belonged to the Inca, and was fet apart as the provifion made by the community for the fupport of government. The third and largeft fhare was referved for the maintenance of the people, among whom it was parcelled out. No perfon, however, had a right of exclufive property in the portion allotted to him. He 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 induftry of the community. The people, fummoned by a propcr officer, repaired in a body to the fields, and performed their common tafk, while fongs and mufical inftruments cheered them to their labour. k) Effects of this. By this fingular diftribution of territory, as well as by the mode of cultivating it, the idea k) Herrera, dec. 5. lib. iv. c. 2. Vega, lib. v, c. 5. of a common intereft, 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 increafe he was to reap. A ftate 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 create ftronger attachment, and to bind man to man in clofer intercourse, than fubfifted under any form of society established in America. From this refulted gentle manners, and mild virtues unknown in the favage ftate, and with which the Mexicans were little acquainted. Inequality of ranks. But, though the inftitutions of the Incas were fo framed as to ftrengthen the bonds of affection among their fubjects, there was great inequality in their condition. The diftin&tion of ranks was fully established in Peru. A great body of the inhabitants, under the denomination of Yanaconas, were held in a ftate of fervitude. Their garb and houses were of a form different from thofe of freemen. Like the Tamemes of Mexico, they were employed in carrying burdens, and in performing every other work of drudgery. 1) Next to them in rank, were fuch of the people as were free, but dif1) Herrera, dec. 5. lib. iii. c. 4. lib. x. c. 8. |