else。
On the appointed day there was a great gathering of the nobles of the
land； especially of those of the Inca blood； and of all that were
〃earmen；〃 a class of the same rank as our peers in England； to hear
the proclamation of Kari as the Inca's heir。 It was made before this
gorgeous company in the Great Temple of the Sun； which now I saw for
the first time。
It was a huge and most wondrous place well named the 〃House of Gold。〃
For here everything was gold。 On the western wall hung an image of the
Sun twenty feet or more across； an enormous graven plate of gold set
about with gems and having eyes and teeth of great emeralds。 The roof；
too； and the walls were all panelled with gold； even the cornices and
column heads were of solid gold。
Opening out of this temple also were others dedicated to the Moon and
Stars； that of the Moon being clothed in silver； with her radiant face
shaped in silver fixed to the western wall。 So it was with the temple
of the Stars； of the Lightnings and of the Rainbow； which perhaps with
its many colours that sprang from jewels； was the most dazzling of
them all。
The sight of so much glory overwhelmed me； and it came into my mind
that if only it were known of in Europe； men would die by the ten
thousand on the chance that they might conquer this country and make
its wealth theirs。 Yet here； save for these purposes of ornament and
to be used as offerings to the gods and Incas； it was of no account at
all。
But in this temple of the Sun was a marvel greater than its gold。 For
on either side of the carved likenesses of the sun； seated upon chairs
of gold； sat the dead Incas and their queens。 Yes； clothed in their
royal robes and emblems； with the Fringe upon their brows； there they
sat with their heads bent forward； so wonderfully preserved by the
arts these people have； that except for the stamp of death upon their
countenances； they might have been sleeping men and women。 Thus in the
dead face of the mother of Kari I could read her likeness to her son。
Of these departed kings and queens there were many； since from the
first Inca of whom history told all were gathered here in the holy
House and under the guardianship of the effigy of their god； the Sun；
from whom they believed themselves to be descended。 The sight was so
solemn that it awed me； as it did all that congregation； for I noted
that here men walked with unsandalled feet and that in speaking none
raised their voices high。
The old Inca； Upanqui； entered； gloriously apparelled and accompanied
by lords and priests； while after him came Kari with his retinue of
great men。 The Inca bowed to the company whereon everyone in the great
temple； save myself alone whose British pride kept me on my feet；
standing like one left living on a battlefield among a multitude of
slain； prostrated himself before his divine majesty。 At a sign they
rose again and the Inca seated himself upon his jewelled golden throne
beneath the effigy of the Sun； while Kari took his place upon a lesser
throne to the Inca's right。
Looking at him there in his splendour on this day when he came into
his own again； I bethought me of the wretched； starving Indian marked
with blows and foul with filth whom I had rescued from the cruel mob
upon the Thames…side wharf； and wondered at this enormous change of
fortune and the chain of wonderful events by which it had been brought
about。
My fortune also had changed； for then I was great in my own fashion；
who now had become but a wanderer； welcomed indeed in this glittering
new world of which yonder we knew nothing； because I was strange and
different； also full of unheard…of learning and skilled in war； but
still nothing but an outcast wanderer； and so doomed to live and die。
And as I thought； so thought Kari； for our glances met； and I read it
in his eyes。
Yonder sat my servant who had become my lord； and though he was still
my friend； soon I felt he would be lost in the state matters of that
great empire； leaving me more lonely than before。 Also his mind was
not as my mind； as his blood was not my blood； and he was the slave of
a faith that to me was a hateful superstition doubtless begotten by
the Devil； who under the name of /Cupay/； some worshipped in that
land； though others declared that this /Cupay/ was the God of the
Dead。
Oh！ that I could flee away with Quilla and at her side live out what
was left to me of life； since of all these multitudes she alone
understood and was akin to me； because the sacred fire of love had
burned away our differences and opened her eyes。 But Quilla was
snatched from me by the law of their accursed faith； and whatever else
Kari might give； he would never give me this lady of the Moon； since；
as he had said； to him this would be sacrilege。
The ceremonies began。 First Larico； the high…priest of the Sun；
clothed in his white sacerdotal robes； made sacrifice upon a little
altar which stood in front of the Inca's throne。
It was a very simple sacrifice of fruit and corn and flowers； with
what seemed to be strange…shaped pieces of gold。 At least I saw
nothing else； and am sure that nothing that had life was laid upon
that altar after the fashion of the bloody offerings of the Jews； and
indeed of those of some of the other peoples of that great land。
Prayers； however； were spoken； very fine prayers and pure so far as I
could understand them； for their language was more ancient and
somewhat different to that which was used in common speech； also the
priests moved about； bowing and bending the knees much as our own do
in celebrating the mass； though whether these motions were in honour
of the god or of the Inca； I am not sure。
When the sacrifice was over； and the little fire that burned upon the
altar had sunk low； though I was told that for hundreds of years it
had never been extinguished； suddenly the Inca began to speak。 With
many particulars that I had not heard before he told the tale of Kari
and of his estrangement from him in past years through the plottings
of the mother of Urco who now was dead； like the mother of Kari。 This
woman； it would appear； had persuaded him； the Inca； that Kari was
conspiring against him； and therefore Urco was ordered to take him
prisoner； but returned only with Kari's wife； saying that Kari had
killed himself。
Here Upanqui became overcome with emotion as the aged are apt to do；
and beat his breast； even shedding tears because most unjustly he had
allowed these things to happen and the wicked triumph over the good；
for which sin he said he felt sure his father the Sun would bring some
punishment on him； as indeed was to chance sooner than he thought。
Then he continued his story； setting out all Urco's iniquities and
sacrileges against the gods； also his murders of people of high and
low degree and his stealing of their wives and daughters。 Lastly he
told of the coming of Kari who was supposed to be dead； and all that
story which I have set out。
Having finished his tale； with much solemn ceremonial he deposed Urco
from his heirship to the Empire which he gave back to Kari to whom it
belonged by right of birth and calling upon his dead forefathers； one
by one； to be witness to the act； with great formality once more he
bound the Prince's Fringe about his brow。 As he did this； he said
these words：
〃Soon； O Prince Kari； you must change this yellow circlet for that
which I wear； and take with it all the burden of empire； for know that
as quickly as may be I purpose to withdraw to my palace at Yucay；
there to make my peace with God before I am called hence to dwell in
the Mansions of the Sun。〃
When he had finished Kari did homage to his father； and in that quiet；
even voice of his； told his tale of the wrongs that he had suffered at
the hands of Urco his brother and of how he had escaped； living but
maddened； from his hate。 He told also how he had wandered across the
sea； though of England he said nothing； and been saved from misery and
death by myself； a very great person in my own country。 Still； since I
had suffered wrong there； as he； Kari； had in his； he had persuaded me
to accompany him back to his own land； that there my wisdom might
shine upon its darkness； and owing to my divine and magical gifts
hither we had come in safety。 Lastly； he asked the assembled priests
and lords if they were content to accept him as the Inca to be； and to
stand by him in any war that Urco might wage against him。
To this they answered that they were content and would stand by him。
Then followed many other rites such as the informing of the dead
Incas； one by one； of this solemn declaration； through the mouth of
the high…priest； and the offering of many prayers to them and to the
Sun their father。 So long were these prayers with the chants from
choirs hidden in side chapels by which they were interspersed； that
the day drew towards its close before all was done。
Thus it came about that the dusk was gathering when the Inca； followed
by Kari； myself； the priests； and all the congregation； left the
temple to present Kari as the heir to the throne to the vast crowd
which waited upon the open square outside its doors。
Here the