242 / 1060
Royal
Commentaries.
fufrain fuch hardfhips as tbefe, they rejetted, as not worthy to be admitted into
the number of Novitiates. The
Fafl:
being performed, and that thef were re–
freilied and fuengthened again
with
their ufual nourifhment; then tria was made
of their natural nimblenefs, and attivity of Body in running, from the Mountain
called
Huanacauri,
which was efreemed facred by them, to the
Cafrle
of the City
being about a League. and a
half;
at the end
?f
which race a fignal
was
fet up:
where
he
that
fidl:
arnved,
was
eletl:ed Captam over all the reft. Nor did
all
the
others lofe their Honour hereby, for the fecond, third, unto the tenth, acquired
reputation; but thofe who fainted
in
the c
ur~
?
an
were not able
to
hold out,.
were noted for fluggards and Coward , and
p1tifull
perfons; and therefore their
Parents and Re ations, would intercept them
in
the way
as
they ran, encouraging
them
to
firain and for e themfelves all they were able, telling them, that they
h d
better dye, and break their hearts
in
the Race, th1n come off with
Infamy and
Difhonour.
Another day thefe Novitiates were to be divided into two equal parts;
one
half
was
to
gan-ifon
and
maintain
the Forrref5,
and the
other half
was
to
affault
and
ftorm
it;
and having thus fought and c ntended
a
whole
day, then the
day
fol·
lowing
they
changed their fiations, and thofe who
had
before defended
the
For–
tre~,
were now
to
affimk
it;
fo
that
rr· , ls
were made
in
every refpeet of theJ.r
Strength and
Agility
of Body, and of their Art and
ondacr
in
WJr.·
In
thefe
SkirmHhes,
though they fought
ith blunted
Arm ,
yet
fo
mach
was
the
heat
with
hich
both £ides contended
for
their Reputation,
that
many
were wounded,
and oftentimes fome killed
in
earneft.
That
thefe
Novitiates
were
to
k._now how
to
111ake
Ar111s
and Shoes.
H
Avi~g
performed thefe Exercifi , t11ey
\~ere
in
the
_next
place to wrefl:!e one
with the other, bemg matched atcordmg to their age, and proportion o
Body; then they were to leap, and throw the Stone, the Launce, and Dart, ana
other Weapons,
which
were thrown by hand;
then they
fhoc at Butts widi
Bow and Arrows,
to
try their dexterity
in
Archery; then they erred who could
thro
fartheft again
fl:
the Walls of the Forrre!S,
for
proof of the firength and ex...
erci[e
of their Armes;
in
like manner they threw at
~arks
with their
Slings,
and
managed all forts ofArms which they ufed
in
Vv
ar; then they
tried
their vigilance
and " atchfulnefs, how well they were able co endure the want ofSlee , fetting them
on
the
Cenrinel for ten or twelve nights together; and
in
cafe any
one
\Vas
found
fleeping on the Guard,
he
was feverely reproached, as unworthy
to
take any De–
gree of military Order. They tried
alfo
how hardy they were in their Flefh,
and
how able to endure and fuffer Wounds, which they made with the !harp points
of Rods
in
their Arms and Legs, and other
pares,
which according
to
the
Habit
and Failiion of
Peru,
were commonly naked; they obferved when thofe Wounds
were made, with what courage they received them, whether they changed their
countenance, or ilirunk
up
their Legs or Arms; for unlefs they feemed infenfible
of the fmart, they were rejeeted
as
nice, and effeminate, and their
Flefh
nor
har–
dy,
nor enduring the Blows and wounds of an Enemy.
Sometimes they placed them in a narrow Trench., where a Fencing-mailer
with
a club wielded with both hands, or a Qgaiter-fiaff, \ hich the
lndianJ
call
Macana,
tame to chem, or with a half Pike, which they call
ChHq11i,
which
they brandHhed
and flourifhed before their Eyes and Faces,
making
offers ac
their
Legs and
Heads,
at
\I\
hich
if
they unluckily
feemed
t
wink,
or
!brink
a"'-ay,
as
if
tney feared che
blow,