CHAPTER IV - THERE WERE MANY OTHER HOUSES OF VIRGINS. THE STATEMENT RESPECTING THE RIGOROUS LAW IS VERIFIED BY ZARATE

Summary

All that has been said was with reference to the convent of the virgins of Cuzco, dedicated to the Sun. There were many others like it in other parts of the kingdom, in provinces where the Ynca, as a great privilege, ordered them to be built. Into these were admitted, not only maidens of the blood royal, but also those of mixed blood. As a great favour, the daughters of the Curacas were also allowed to enter; and those of the common people, who were very beautiful, were selected as concubines of the Ynca, but not of the San. Their parents held it to be their greatest happiness to have the girls chosen as concubines of the king, as did the girls themselves.

These girls were guarded with the same care and vigilance as those of the Sun. They had servant-maids like the others, and were maintained out of the estates of the Ynca, because they were his women. They could do the same work as those of the Sun, weaving and sewing, making clothes in very great quantities for the Ynca, and making all the other things we have mentioned as being the work of the virgins of the Sun. The Ynca distributed the work of these girls among the royal family, the Curacas, war captains, and all other persons whom he desired to honour with presents. These gifts were not prohibited, because they were made by the Yncas and for him, and not by the virgins of the Sun for the Sun.