Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-07-05
ANCIENT PERU.
THE PRIESTS AND SACRED VIRGINS.

The priests of the Sunwere almost innumer-
able, and in all the temples Of the empire,
both by day and night, certain number OF
them were obliged to keep watch, and dis
charge the various functions prescribed by
their ritual. They enjoyed the highest esti-
nation, but before entering upon their duties
were subjected to the severeSt tests of capaci-
ty, and obliged to undergo the severest penan-
ces. Before all of the great festivals of the
Sun, they had to fast for long periods, and to
20 through many lustrations. In some parts
of the empire they were bound to constant eel
ibacy; in other parts they were permitted to
marry, but for long periods were cut off from
any communication with their wives. The
high priest, who was always an Inca Of the
royal line, belonged to the brotherhood of the
priests, and was subjected to the same regi-
men, He resided in Cuzco, where he made
augeries from the flight of birds, and by con-
sulting the entrails of animals, concerning the
destinies of the Jncas and of the empire. In
the great festivals, the reigning Inca himself
officiated as high priest, and was therefore ini-
tiated into all the mysteries ofreligion.
The virgins dedicated to the Sun, were con-
sidered as spouses OF God, and lived in con-
vents, in the greatest secluson and retirement.
The most celebrated of these establishments
was the .4caliahuasi, or House of the Elect, in
Cuzco, where only those went who were dis
tinguished for their lineage or beauty, and
which contained more than a thousand virgins.
None could be admitted here by right, except
girls of the royal blood, who, in their earliest
youth were taken from their parents, and pla-
ced under the care of certain aged matrons,
who had grown grey in the cells of the clois-
ter. When sufficiently advanced to do SO,
they were obliged to take an oath of perpetual
secluson and virginity, to have no relation:
with their parents or the world; and so faithful
ly they kept their vow, and SO vigorously OBJ
served their seclusion, thss the Emperor him.
self could not enter the shadows of their clois-
ter-a privilege reserved for the Coya or queen
alone. Under direction of the matrons, the
spouses of the Sun learned the sacred duties of
their office. Their occupations were to spin
and weave the fine cloth for the Royal family,
to make the vestments in which the Inca sacri
feed to the Sun, and the chiua and little cakes
Of maize called sancms for the use OF the court.
Their converts were as richly furnished as the
palaces of the Inca, and the Temples of the
Sun, so that nothing should be wanting to in
vest their institutions with dignity and infiu-
ence.
The Moon was regarded as sister and spouse
of the Sun, and as such was the object of great
generation, although its worship was compar-
atirely restricted. 1t was supposed to be the
special protectress of women, and invoked in
oil the circumstances connected with materni-
ty.
Besides the priests of the Sun, there were
others of less distinction, who were attached
to the worship of the different classes of deities
which have already been enumerated. Each
huaca had its priest, and through him their or
acle was consulted. There were priests thro'
whom the proprietors of Comopas consulted
them, and others who attended at child-births
and at funerals, to drive away evil influences
from the newborn and the dead. There were
others also, wild wanderers, whom the early
Spaniards denounced sweepingly as witches.
One class, called Soeyac, professed to foretell
events, and predicted through the means of
little piles of kernels of maize; others by
means of the insects which they found in hou-
ses; others afectedto interpret dreams in short