10. Puñuc ruccu, “Dotage.” No work. Sixty and upwards.
A Chunca consisted of ten Purics, with the other classes in proportion. The Puric was married to one wife, and, while assisted by the young lads and the elderly men, he supported the children and the old people who could not work. The Peruvian laborer had many superstitions, but he was not devoid of higher religious feelings. This is shown by his practice when travelling. On reaching the summit of a pass he never forgot to throw a stone, or sometimes his beloved pellet of coca, on a heap by the roadside, as a thank-offering to God, exclaiming, Apachicta muchani! “I worship or give thanks at this heap.” Festivals lightened his days of toil by their periodical recurrence, and certain family ceremonials were also recognized as occasions for holidays. There was a gathering at the cradling of a child, called quirau. When the child attained the age of one year, the rutuchicu took place. Then he received the name he was to retain until he attained the age of puberty. The child was closely shorn, and the name was given by the eldest relation. With a girl the ceremony was called quicuchica, and there was a fast of two days imposed before the naming-day, when she assumed the dress called aucalluasu.
[1213] The tupu was a measure of land sufficient to support one man and his wife. It was the unit of land measurement, and a puric received tupus according to the number of those dependent on him. In parts of Peru, especially on the road from Tarma to Xauxa, these small square fields, or tupus, may still be seen in great numbers, divided by low stone walls.
[1214] The shares for the Inca and Huaca varied according to the requirements of the state. If needful, the Inca share was increased at the expense of the Huaca, but never at the expense of the people’s share.
[1215] From Taripani, I examine.
[1216] It should probably be Apunaca: Apu is a chief, and naca the plural suffix in the Colla dialect.
[1217] Hatun, great, and uilca, sacred. This official held a position equivalent to a Christian bishop.
[1218] [On the use of guano see Markham’s Cieza de Leon, p. 266, note.—Ed.]
[1219] [Max Steffen, in his Die Landwirtschaft bei den Altamerikanischen Kulturvölkern (Leipzig, 1883), gives a list of sources.—Ed.]
[1220] [The llamas were used in ploughing. Cf. Humboldt’s Views of Nature, p. 125.—Ed.]