Peruvian antiquities / by Mariano Edward Rivero and John James von Tschudi ; translated by Francis L. Hawks.

  • Mariano Eduardo de Rivero y Ustariz
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Peruvian antiquities / by Mariano Edward Rivero and John James von Tschudi ; translated by Francis L. Hawks. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    X. Umu-Raymi (September, from Umu, bead, and JRaymt, dance). In this month took place the enrolling of those liable to be taxed in the empire, and the verification of the prior register, celebrating for this purpose large feasts. They also denominated it Goyaraymi, because they married at that time the Coyas or royal princesses, to whose connec- tions succeeded those of the rest of the empire. The women wore gala dresses, and at this time was cele- brated the fourth principal feast, or Asitua-raymi, preceded by a day of fast.—Puscuayquiz. XL Aya-Marca (October). We are not positively told the etymology of this word. The majority of historians write the name of this month, Ayarmaca^ but in our opinion it should be written. Xyctmarca, from Aya^ corpse, and Marca^ carry in arms, because they celebrated the solemn feast of the commemoration of the dead with tears, lugubrious songs and plaintive music, and it was customary to visit the sepul- chres of relations and friends, and leave in them food and drink. It is worthy of remark, that this feast was celebra- ted among the ancient Peruvians at the same period and on the same day that the Christians solemnized the commemo- ration of the dead (2d of November). At this period the potters made large bottles for the chicha, and in each house was this beverage devoted to the feasts of the following month.—Cantarayquiz. XII. Capac-rayvxi (November, from capaxi and ray mi). This was the last month, or that of the solemn bulls to conclude the year. The feasts and dances possessed at times a character of excessive joy, which degenerated into intoxica- tion and licentiousness. In this epoch they finished sowing. In the public square of Cuzco, they were in the habit of repre- senting comedies and tragedies composed by the Amautas. At the same time the Peruvians amused themselves wdth
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