ua love-songs is given by
_Garcilaso de la Vega_, in his "Commentaries and Poems." It is copied
from papers left by a monk named Blas Valera; and some lines of it are
here subjoined. The subject is an old Peruvian tradition:--A maiden of
royal blood (_nusta_) is appointed by the Creator of the world
(_Pacchacamac_) in heaven, to pour water and snow on the earth out of
a pitcher; her brother breaks the pitcher, whereupon thunder and
lightning arise.

Cumac nusta Beautiful Princess,
Turallayquim Thy Pitcher
Puynuyquita Thy brother hath broken
Paquicayan Here in Pieces;
Hina mantara For that blow
Cunununun It thunders; and lightning
Yllapantac Flashes all around.

There were, however, instances of versification which may properly be
called poetry. Of this the _Yaravies_, or elegies, afford some fair
examples. These poems have for their subjects unfortunate love, or
sorrow for the dead. They were recited or sung by one or more voices,
with an accompaniment of melancholy music, and made a great impression
on the hearers. A foreigner, who for the first time hears one of these
_Yaravies_ sung, even though he may not understand the Quichua words, is
nevertheless deeply moved by the melody. The strain is sad and sweet. No
other music is at once so dismal and so tender. What the _donina_ is as
an instrument, the _yaravie_ is in singing; both convey the expression
of a deeply troubled heart. The _yaravie_ has been imitated by the
Spaniards in their own language, and some of the imitations are very
beautiful; but they have not been able to reach the deep melancholy of
the Quichua elegy. The modern poetry of the Indians is inferior to the
old; the words are a mixture of Quichua and Spanish, and are scarcely
intelligible. The Spanish words have often Quichua terminations affixed
to them; on the other hand, sometimes the Quichua words are inflected
after the Spanish manner, making altogether a barbarous compound.

The ancient Peruvians had no manuscript characters for single sounds;
but they had a method by which they composed words and incorporated
ideas. This method consisted in the dexterous intertwining of knots on
strings, so as to render them auxiliaries to the memory. The instrument
consisting of these strings and knots was called the QUIPU. It was
composed of one thick head or top string, to which, at certain
distances, thinner on