e the year was measured, were called _Pucuy Sucanca_.
Those notifying the beginning of spring were _Chirao Sucanca_. _Suca_
means a ridge or furrow and _sucani_ to make ridges: hence _sucanca_,
the alternate light and shadow, appearing like furrows. Acosta says
there was a pillar for each month. Garcilasso de la Vega tells us that
there were eight on the east, and eight on the west side of Cuzco (i. p.
177) in double rows, four and four, two small between two high ones, 20
feet apart. Cieza de Leon says that they were in the Carmenca suburb (i.
p. 325).

To ascertain the time of the equinoxes there was a stone column in the
open space before the temple of the Sun in the centre of a large circle.
This was the _Inti-huatana_. A line was drawn across from east to west
and they watched when the shadow of the pillar was on the line from
sunrise to sunset and there was no shadow at noon. There is another
_Inti-huatana_ at Pisac, and another at Hatun-colla. _Inti_, the Sun
God, _huatani_, to seize, to tie round, _Inti-huatana_, a sun circle.]

Besides this, as he was curious about the things of antiquity, and
wished to perpetuate his name, the Inca went personally to the hill of
Tampu-tocco or Paccari-tampu, names for the same thing, and entered the
cave whence it is held for certain that Manco Ccapac and his brethren
came when they marched to Cuzco for the first time, as has already been
narrated. After he had made a thorough inspection, he venerated the
locality and showed his feeling by festivals and sacrifices. He placed
doors of gold on the window Ccapac-tocco, and ordered that from that
time forward the locality should be venerated by all, making it a prayer
place and _huaca_, whither to go to pray for oracles and to sacrifice.

Having done this the Inca returned to Cuzco. He ordered the year to be
divided into twelve months, almost like our year. I say almost, because
there is some difference, though slight, as will be explained in its
place.

He called a general assembly of the oldest and wisest men of Cuzco and
other parts, who with much diligence scrutinized and examined the
histories and antiquities of the land, principally of the Incas and
their forefathers. He ordered the events to be painted and preserved in
order, as I explained when I spoke of the method adopted in preparing
this history.

XXXI.

PACHACUTI INCA YUPANQUI REBUILDS THE HOUSE OF THE SUN AND ESTABLISHES
NEW IDOLS IN IT.

Having ador