The Temple of the Andes PDF

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Hiszory of the Conquest of Peru, by William H. Prescott.at least a thousand-fold their own, forced their way in, carrying with them the Spanish Flag and the Cross, signals which were unhappily to be followed by unnumbered woes and scourges to the simple people who had so long dwelt in calm behind their mountains.

After Pizarro had, by what can only be called an act of daring brigandage, exacted the ransom of his prisoner, the Inca, and then, in defiance of even thc brigand's code, murdered instead of releasing his captive,* he found the subju gation of the country comparatively easy.

The people were like bees without a queen, and seemed unable to make any but the most feeble resistance when deprived of their chief.

They were divided into two great classes - the one consisting of the nobles, or those related to the royal race; and the other of the common people.

One class ruled while the other toiled. The people were without money, and the government was of the most fatherly kind.

Every thing was regulated so as to leave no room for independent action on the part of the subject race.

They were nourished, clothed, and housed by the State; and, on arriving at the proper age, the men were even provided with wives, and given a piece of land on which to establish theirlittle homes.

Mildness, docility, and honesty were their leading characteristics.

Their discipline was shown when, at the capture of the Inca, hundreds of them submitted to be slaughtered without strikinga blow, because they had not received the word of command.

Their habitual honesty was well shown, by the fact that no one attempted to steal the plates of beaten gold, with which the outsides of some of their temples were profusely adorned.