CHAPTER I

THE BUILDING AND DECORATION OF THE ROYAL PALACES

The service and decoration of the palaces of the Kings Yncas of Peru were no less grand, splendid, and majestic than all other things appertaining to them. Some of their furniture, indeed, exceeded anything that has been recorded of the houses of all the kings and emperors that have been described throughout the known world. In the first place, the walls of their houses, temples, gardens, and baths were extremely regular as regards the placing of the wonderfully cut masonry. The stones were placed so exactly against each other, that there was no need of mortar. It is true, however, that they did use a red clay, called in their language llancac alpa, which is sticky, and when made into mud, shows no sign of its having been applied between the stones. Hence it is that the Spaniards asserted that they laid the stone without mortar, while some declared that they made lime. These are mistakes, for the Indians of Peru did not know the use of lime, nor of plaster, nor of bricks.

In many of the palaces and temples of the Sun, they used molten lead, silver, and gold instead of mortar. Pedro de Cieza, in his ninety-fourth chapter, says the same; and I rejoice to have a Spanish historian to support my statement.