Home1810 Edition

INCA

Volume 11 · 192 words · 1810 Edition

or YNCA, a name given by the natives of Peru to their kings and the princes of the blood. Pedro de Cieca, in his Chronicles of Peru, gives the origin of the incas; and says, that that country was, for a long time, the theatre of all manner of crimes, of war, diffusion, and the most dreadful disorders, till at last two brothers appeared, one of whom was called Mangocapa; of this person the Peruvians relate many wonderful stories. He built the city of Cuzco, made laws, established order and harmony by his wise regulations; and he and his descendants took the name of inca, which signifies king or great lord. These incas became so powerful, that they rendered themselves masters of all the country from Patto to Chili, and from the river Maule on the south to the river Augafmago on the north; these two rivers forming the bounds of their empire, which extended above thirteen hundred leagues in length. They enjoyed till the divisions between Inca Guascar and Atabalipa; which the Spaniards laying hold of, made themselves masters of the country, and destroyed the empire of the incas. See PERU.