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

Mariano Eduardo de Rivero y Ustariz

Date:: 1854

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

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$among the barbarous nations of the Pampa del Sacramento, who eat the flesh of the victims of war, after burning the entrails as an offering. The most ordinary sacrifices were of llamas, principally to the Sun, This deity had numerous flocks of these animals, and the pasturing of them was one of the occupations of the Indians of Puna. In the general sacrifices, the color of the fleece was immaterial, but for the inaugural holocaust, the law commanded a black llama without a spot of any other color. An accurate calculation demonstrates that in the single city of Cuzco, there were beheaded annually some two hundred thousand llamas in honor of the Sun. As we have already said, the flesh of the holocausts was roasted and dis- tributed among the assistants at the feast, with the exception of the black sheep, and the blood and intestines of the others, which were reserved for the Deity and converted into ashes. From the wool of these animals the Inca ordered to be woven clothes for the soldiers. The Alpacas, Vicunas and huanacos were also victims offered to the Sun, or to the Huacas. The fat {Iluira) of all these animals formed one of the most precious objects of the offering. In the present province of Jauja^ they sacrificed dogs {Alljo\ foxes (Atoe), pole-cats {Anash)\ in others small rabbits {Cuys\ flies {Cuspi\ hares, squirrels, {Carachupas), apes, deer, {Lluchos) and stags, {Tarush or Taruco.) Of the ferocious and noxious animals which they could not take alive for sacrifices, such as tapirs, {Anta) lions, {Puma), tigers, serpents, lizards, etc., they made figures of them in gold or silver, which they presented to the Deity j and the same proceeding was observed with the llamas by those who came from distant territories [where the animal did not range] to the feast. The birds chiefly destined for sacrifice were the IHhuru,$