[97] This montaña is to-day the richest and most valuable part of Peru.
[98] According to Garcilasso, Lib. II, Cap. 11, the Peruvian empire was divided into four parts, Cuzco being considered the centre. They called the northern part Chinchasuya, the southern Coyasuya, the western Cuntisuya, and the eastern Antisuyu.—Note by Icazbalceta.
[99] Lake Titicaca contains several islands, notably Titicaca and Coati.
[100] An obscure passage translated merely in most general terms.
[101] Agras I take to mean fields from its similarity to the Latin word, ager.
[102] Llamas.
[103] At this point Ramusio gives a fanciful view of the city of Cuzco, which has no real interest whatever.—Note by Icazbalceta.
[104] Cacique is really a West Indies word. The early Spanish writers are wont to apply it to any sort of native official. Here, no doubt, the correct term would be the Quichua word Curaca. Officials thus designated under the Inca dominion were the hereditary chiefs of formerly independent tribes and territories—roughly analogous to the mediatized princes of Europe. Though made vassals of the Inca, the curacas were often continued in the command of their former subjects and were intrusted with the governorship of provinces over which they were formerly sovereigns. The curacas ranked immediately below the Inca caste, and ruled what was known as a hunu. Sometimes a curaca was made an Inca-by-privilege as a reward of services.
[105] Huayna Capac.
[106] The marble was really granite. No marble was used by the Incas.