rp point into the earth as it was dragged along, while
women followed after to break up the clods as they were turned.

Much of the wealth of the country consisted in the huge flocks of llamas
and alpacas, and the wild huanacos and vicunas which roamed freely over
the frozen ranges of the Cordilleras. Once a year a great hunt took
place under the superintendence of the Inca or some of his officers.
Fifty or sixty thousand men encircled the part of the country that was
to be hunted over, and drove all the wild animals by degrees towards
some spacious plain. The beasts of prey they killed, and also the deer,
the flesh of the latter being dried in strips and distributed among the
people. This preparation, called 'charqui,' was the only animal food of
the lower classes in Peru. The huanacos and vicunas were only captured
and shorn, being afterwards allowed to escape and go back to their
haunts among the mountains. No district was hunted over more than once
in four years. The Peruvians showed great skill in weaving the vicuna
wool into robes for the Inca and carpets and hangings for his palaces.
The texture was as delicate as silk, and the brilliancy of the dyes
unequalled even in Europe. They also were expert in the beautiful
feather-work for which Mexico was famous, but they held it of less
account than the Mexicans did. In spite of some chance resemblances in
their customs, it seems certain that the Mexicans and Peruvians were
unaware of each other's existence. They differed in nothing more utterly
than in their treatment of the tribes they conquered. While the Mexicans
kept them in subjection by force and cruelty, the Peruvians did
everything they possibly could to make the conquered people one with the
rest of the nation.

RELIGION OF THE PERUVIANS

In religion the Peruvians acknowledged one Supreme Being as creator and
ruler of the universe, whom they called Pachacamac, or Viracocha. In all
the land there was only one temple dedicated to him, and this had
existed before the Incas began to rule. They also worshipped many other
gods, but the Sun was held far above the rest. In every town and village
were temples dedicated to him, and his worship was taught first of all
to every conquered tribe. His temple at Cuzco was called 'the Place of
Gold,' and the interior was a wonderful sight. On the western wall was a
representation of the Sun-god, a human face surrounded by numberless
rays of light. This was engraved upon a