Note 409 — Chapter LXXXI

The Yncas restricted all hunting by their subjects, and the number of animals of all descriptions consequently multiplied prodigiously. At a certain season of the year, after breeding time, the Yncas and governors of provinces held a grand hunt, called Chacu in Quichua. As many as thirty thousand Indians were assembled, who surrounded a space of several square leagues, and gradually drove all the animals into the centre, closing upon them until they were so close as to be easily caught by hand. Very often there were as many as forty thousand head of guanacos and vicuñas alone. Most of the female guanacos and vicuñas, and a certain number of males, were then released; but they were shorn of their wool before they were allowed to go free. The rest were killed. The deer were also killed, and the meat was distributed amongst the Indians. An accurate account was kept of the number released, the number killed, and the number shorn, by means of the quipus. The coarse wool of the guanacos was then given to the people, while that of the vicuñas, as fine as silk, was reserved for the Ynca’s service. These hunts were held in each district every four years, giving three years of rest for the animals to multiply. The Indians dried the meat which was served out to them, and this preserved meat, called charqui in Quichua (hence “jerked beef”), lasted them until another hunting year came round. G. de la Vega. Comm. Real, i, lib. vi, cap. 6.