r exquisite gardens, and luxurious baths replenished with clear
water, which flowed through subterranean channels of silver into basins
of gold. The gardens were full of flowers and plants, which flourished
in this temperate climate of the tropics; but strangest of all were
those borders which glowed with various forms of vegetable life,
cunningly fashioned in gold and silver. Among these is specially
recorded the beautiful Indian corn, its golden grain set off by broad
silver leaves, and crowned with a light tassel of silver. But all the
wealth displayed by the Inca belonged to himself alone. When he died,
or, as they put it, 'was called home to the mansions of his father the
Sun,' his palaces were abandoned, and all his treasures and possessions
were suffered to remain as he left them, lest his soul should at any
time return to its body, and require again the things it had used
before. The body itself was skilfully embalmed and removed to the great
Temple of the Sun at Cuzco, where were the bodies of all the former
Incas and their queens, ranged in opposite files. Clothed in their
accustomed attire, they sat in chairs of gold, their heads bent, their
hands crossed upon their breasts, their dusky faces and black, or
sometimes silver, hair retaining a perfectly natural look. On certain
festivals they were brought out into the great square of Cuzco,
invitations were issued in their names to all the nobles' and officers
of the Court, and magnificent entertainments were held, when the display
of plate, gold, and jewels was such as no other city in the world ever
witnessed. The banquets were served by the retainers of the respective
houses, and the same forms of courtly etiquette were used as if the
living monarch had presided, instead of his mummy. The nobility of Peru
consisted of two Orders--the Incas or relatives of the sovereign, and
the Curacas, or chiefs of the conquered nations. The former enjoyed many
privileges; they wore a peculiar dress, and spoke a peculiar dialect.
Most of them lived at Court, sharing the counsels of the king, and
dining at his table. They alone were admissible to the great offices of
the priesthood, and had the command of armies and the government of
distant provinces.

The whole territory of the empire was divided into three parts: one for
the Sun, another for the Inca, and the last for the people. The revenue
from the lands assigned to the Sun supported the numerous priests, and
provided fo