Purchas his pilgrimage. Or relations of the world and the religions observed in all ages and places discovered, from the creation vnto this present. Contayning a theologicall and geographicall historie of Asia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the floud, the heathenis, Iewish, and Saracenicall in all ages since ... / by Samuel Purchas.

  • Samuel Purchas
Date:
1626
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Purchas his pilgrimage. Or relations of the world and the religions observed in all ages and places discovered, from the creation vnto this present. Contayning a theologicall and geographicall historie of Asia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the floud, the heathenis, Iewish, and Saracenicall in all ages since ... / by Samuel Purchas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1001/1028 (page 947)
    C H'A p,i2. ijiMRRlCA. The ninth Bookt. y ( ?47 which he would fctmsco imitate. In thefccond moneth, called ^awi/^.belides the Sacrifices which they made, they call the afhes into the RVuer,following fine or (ix leagues aftcijpray- ing it came them into the Sea, for chat the Ktracech* Ihould there receiuethjs prefeRt. In the tliird, fourth, and fifth moneth, they offered a’hnndred SK'eepe, bl'ackilpccklcd, and gray, with many other things. In the fixe moneth they offered i'bundred Slieepc more, of all colours ; and then made a Fealt; bringing Mayz from the fields into the heufe, which they yet yfe. This Feall it thade, cobming from the Farme t6 the Ffoufe, faying cettaTne Songs, and praying that the Mayzlihay long continue^ They put a quantitie ot chc'Mayz (the belt that groweeh in their Farmes) ill a tiring which they call With ttni'ifX X.\tetii6tnes, lO watching three nights.Then doc they put it in the neheft garment they haut j^nd being thus wrapped ind dreffed, theyworfhip this holding it in great Veneration, and iaytilgjlt is the Mother of the Mayz of cheirlnheritanccivland that by^thiSmeanea.thcMayzaog)- irentt,andispreferued. Inthrrmancth they make a particulafSaccifice ,hand the Witches doanand of this Pirua, if it hath ffrength enough'tocontiriue vnfillthe next ryeerc. A^nd.if It anfweres no, then they carriethis Miiz tothe Farme whenceirwas taken, tobuine,and make anothe Pirua as before: and this foolidi variitie ftill continoetb'.In the lenieiithmoncth they made the FeiA lKtiraymi,znd Cacrificed an hundred Guanacos'in howodradf tuc.Swflwe »* they made many Images ofQninua-wood carued,all attired with rich garment ^•*.they dan4 ced, and call flowtes in the high-wayes, and thither came the Indians painte'd'and iinging.-f ao - In the eighth moneth they burned an hundred Sh€epc,aU gray^bf the colour of f^ifcachai with the former Solemnities. InTapa^nit their ninth month , they burnt a hundred She;epe of Chelnuc colour^ and likewife^a choufand Cuyes (a kind of Rabbet) to thc 'entl>^the Frolt; Ayrc, Watcr,and SuiTne,(]iould not hurt their Farmes.In the tcdih'tnoneth called they burnt a hundred white Shcepethathad ffcccesj and thenThcy made the Feaff Sitfta in this manner: They a ffembled together the firtt day of the Mobiye before the riling thcreol, carrying Torches in their hands: and whenthey faw it, they cry ed aloud ^ faying/ i LitaS hArmegoe avpaj^ ftrtking one another With theirTbrclres : which Being'dqnc / they weDC-to the common Bath, to the Riuers and Fountayrics, and cuerydne to'jlds bwne Biih' fetc-ing themfelues todrinke foure dayes together. In thif moneth alfd the A/^m4cewi(^'made their 30 Loaues(as isfaid)of communicating with the , and4he /w/»4. The Bathes-, Dlun- kennelTe and fome reliques of this Situs remayne flill; with the Cerfem'onieiia li^^tle dif- ferentjbiit very fecrecly. In the eleucnth’moneth they bfftrcdalfd three hundred Sheepe. And it they wanted water, to procure raltic, they f^t'a black Shcepe tycd in-the midft ot a Plainc, powringrtach Chica about it,and giuing it nothing to eat till it rayncd.Thi^'Chica il l drinke or wine made of Mayz, fteepedand boylCd, and will fooner make one drunke then Wine of Grapes: they haue another way to make it, by champing the Maiz, which they hold then beft, when it is done (after tbcbeaftlicll manner) by olde withered Women. This drunken people will Ipend whole dayes and nights in drinking it, and it is therefore forbidden by the Law. But what Law can preuaile againll the Deuill and the Drunkard i 40 We neednotgoe toPerU toproue this. ' ' .1 . The twelfth and laft moneth they facrificed a hundred Shcepe 5 and folemnized the Feaft called RAymAcantar%4yqHu. In this moneth they prepared what was neceffaty for the chil¬ dren that Ihould be made Nouiccsithe moneth folio wing the old men madea cer:aine (hew, together with the children, in rounds and turnings, which they commonly do/, when it raineth too much,or too little, and in the time of Plague. ' ^ Among the extraordinary Fcafts (which were many) the moft famous was that which they call r/«,This had no time prefixed, but by Neceffitie or Di^reffe. And then the people prepared themfelues thereto,by faffing two dayesjduring which,they did ncyther company with their wiues, nor eat any meate with Sale or Garlicke, nor drinke any Chica. All did Jo tflTemble together in one place, where no Stranger, noranybeaft might be admittedjthey had Garments and Ornaments which fcrucdonely for this Feaft. They marched very quietly f in Proctfllon, their heads eouered with their vciles,founding of Drummes, without fpea^- king one totnothcr. This continued a day and a night; The day following, they danced and made good cheere for two dayes and two nights together, faying, that their Prayer was ac¬ cepted.Eucn ffill they vftd one which is fomewhat like thii.cdled v^yms, with Garments oncly feruing to that end, and make<Proceffion with their Dumroes, ‘hauing faffed Before, concluding with good cheere,And although the Indians forbear Sacrifices becaufe-oftheSpa- niards,yetthey vie many Ceremonies Itill, which had their beginning from their ancient Superfficions. d Thejr which did tbiSi were called Fe?iee»- eoi. -U i/s.'!. eAcojl.l./^.c.i€. Chica, what it IS. Fcafts extraor* dinary. f Procefion. M m m m i ^ n.