s
of Peru,... uniting the legislative and executive power, the supreme
command in war, absolute sovereignty in peace, and a venerated
high-priesthood in religious feasts,... exercised the highest power ever
known to man."<29> Even so cautious a writer as Mr. Squier speaks of
the Incas as ruling "the most thoroughly organized, most wisely
administered, and most extensive empire of aboriginal America."<30>

It is freely admitted that there is much that is indeed wonderful in the
culture of the Incas; but it has, undoubtedly been greatly exaggerated.
To deal with this question as it should be would require an entire
volume of itself, and would require far more extensive research than the
writer has been able to make, or is, indeed, prepared to make. It will
do no harm to see what we can learn by comparing the statements of some
of the early writers with what we have now learned of Indian society.

Let us first inquire as to the council. There is no question as to the
existence of a council. Garcillasso and all the early writers refer to
it in an accidental sort of way. To show the force of this statement,
we will give a few quotations. Garcillasso, speaking of the movements of
the Inca Viracocha, says: "Having passed some years in making journeys,
he returned to Cuzco, where, with the advice of his councilors, he
resolved on war." And, in another place: "Having consulted with his
council" he assembled his army. Talking about the son of the foregoing,
he says: "In fine, this king, with the advice of his council, made many
laws, rules, ordinances," etc.<31> In the foregoing we are made aware of
the existence of a council, but are not told as to its size or powers.
Each gens would of course be represented in the council. We have spoken
in one place of the number twelve. Mr. Bandelier tells us that the
council consisted of sixteen members.<32> As to its power we are also
left in the dark; but, judging from what we have learned of the council
among the Mexicans and Indian tribes of the North, who can doubt but
that it was the supreme governing body?<33>

The more we study this question, the more points of resemblance we would
find with the social organization of the Mexicans. The tenure of land
was of course the same, as we learn from the report of Ondegardo--some
differences may have occurred in regard to tribute.

The Mexicans, we must remember, were at the head of a confederacy, and
the tribute was brought to Mexico to be