The Amautas, who were philosophers, were not wanting in ability to compose comedies and tragedies, which were represented before their kings on solemn festivals, and before the lords of their court. The actors were not common people, but Yncas and noblemen, sons of Curacas, or the Curacas themselves, down to masters of the camp. For the subject matter of the tragedy should, it was considered, be properly represented, as it always related to military deeds, triumphs, and victories, or to the grandeur of former kings and of other heroic men. The arguments of the comedies were on agriculture and familiar household subjects. As soon as the play was over, the actors seated themselves in their places according to their rank. They did not allow improper or vile farces; but all the plays were. on decorous and important subjects, the sentences being such as befitted the occasion. Valuable presents were given to those persons who were deemed worthy of taking parts.

They had made some further advance in poetry, for they understood the composition of long and short verses, with the right number of syllables in each. Their love songs were composed in this way, with different tunes. They also recorded the deeds of their kings in verse, and those of other famous Yncas and Curacas, which they taught to their children, and they were thus handed down by tradition, that the good deeds of their ancestors might be had in memory and imitated. The verses were few, that they might the more easily be committed to memory; but, when preserved in cipher, they were compendious.