Page:Ollanta An Ancient Ynca Drama.pdf/12

4 they were placed in authority over their vassals as agents of the Spanish Corregidores. They wore their peculiar dresses down to the time of the rebellion of Tupac Amaru in 1780, after which their use was prohibited. It is thus clear that the Ynca chiefs were permitted by the Spaniards to retain a portion of their authority, that they were encouraged to continue the use of their costumes in order to increase the magnificence of religious processions, and that some at least of the old Ynca customs were preserved by special enactments. Under these favourable circumstances, the chiefs would almost certainly preserve the memory of the former grandeur of their country, and encourage the people to recite the ancient songs and dramas, some of which would