Incas, placing those who had belonged to
Upper Cuzco on the side where that lineage was stationed, and the same
with those of Lower Cuzco." Other examples could be given, but this
point is well established. In games this same division was observed,
since we read that in the month of December, "on the first day of the
month, those who had been armed as knights--as well those of the lineage
of Upper Cuzco as those of Lower Cuzco--came out into the square with
slings in their hands,... and the youths of Upper Cuzco hurled against
those of Lower Cuzco." We may therefore consider it well established
that the Incas were a tribe of Indians having two phratries.

Let us now see how the matter stands in regard to gens. This division
follows almost as a matter of course, but it is well to see what
separate grounds exist for the assertion. Garcillasso, in his
description of Cuzco, after a reference to the division into Upper and
Lower Cuzco, tells us further that it was divided into twelve wards.
Mr. Squier gives us a map of the ancient city. From this we see that
the twelve wards were arranged in an irregular oval around the principal
square. Seven of them belonged to the division of Upper Cuzco, the other
five to Lower Cuzco.

This division is utterly unintelligible to us, unless we suppose them
to be subdivisions of the phratries. It makes no difference what name we
bestow upon them, in effect they can be nothing else than gentes. As to
the number of them, it is well to notice a coincidence in the statement
of an Indian writer, Salcamayhua.<27> On a certain very important
occasion there were assembled "_all_ the councilors. The governor
entered the chamber, where _twelve_ grave councilors were
assembled."<28> The most reasonable explanation that can be given
for the number twelve is that each gens had one representative in the
council. The Incas are thus seen to be very probably, at least, no
exception to the general rule of Indian tribes.

From our present standpoint what can we learn as to their government? It
is, of course, well known what the position of the early writers on
this subject is. They all agree that the government of the Incas was
a monarchy of the strictest type. We have seen what a wonderful empire
they bestowed on the Mexicans. The Peruvian Empire is painted in still
brighter colors. Modern writers have not allowed the early accounts to
suffer by repetition. Rivero uses the following language: "The monarch