Page:The Incas of Peru.djvu/67

Rh The list of kings, assuming Blas Valera to have been the compiler, was derived from the ancient quipu records, expounded by learned men of the time of the Incas, called and, who had charge of these records previous to the Spanish conquest. It is conceivable that such records may have been preserved. The ancient Peruvians, like other races in the same stage of civilisation, were genealogists, and had an unusual number of words to distinguish relationships. The chronology of the list, as shown by the length of reigns, is not exaggerated. It gives an average of twenty-five to twenty-seven years for each reign. It is true that, if the whole represents a succession of fathers and sons, it would take us back to 950 B.C. But a large allowance may be made for successions of brothers or cousins, and for repetitions, which would bring the initial date down to about 200 B.C.

The list commences with the names of the Deity,. We are told that the first word,, means 'Light.' means 'foundation or beginning of things.' The word  is said to be a corruption of , meaning the 'depository or store-house of creation.' But here there is some confusion. For the name of