When the Spaniards arrived, the little kingdom of Cuzco had already grown to an empire that extended to the equator on the north, and was bounded on the south by the River Maule (mä´-oo-lay) in southern Chile (chee´-lay). On the west it extended to the Pacific Ocean, and on the east faded away in the torrid forests of the Amazon and the rolling hills of the Argentine uplands. The Incas had succeeded in conquering the many tribes scattered over this whole region, and for the most part had enforced the use of their own language, the Quichua (kee´-choo-a). They had evolved a system of government which, expanding from that of a village community, had met the needs of a vast empire; and they had done it so gradually that the inhabitants at large had been conscious of little change save in the direction of increased prosperity and security. [Illustration: MACHU PICCHU RUINS General view, showing growth covering ruins] _Inca Government and Religion_ The Inca government was a despotism. The Inca--the chief magistrate of the dominant tribe--had absolute powers, and as a direct descendant of the Sun was also vested with sacred attributes. Surrounding him and under him were his immediate family. His official wife was his sister, and from their offspring was chosen the successor of the Inca. The elder was usually designated, although this rule was broken in several instances where the younger brother seemed more able. Next in the social scale were the nobles, or _orejones_ (o-ray-ho´-naze), as they were called by the Spaniards. These officials wore very large earrings. The lobe of the ear was often distorted so that ornaments several inches in diameter were inserted. Under the _orejones_ came the _caracas_ (cä-rä´-cäs), or inspectors, who had charge of the census, the estimation of local resources, and the imposition and collection of tribute. Their work was chiefly administrative, and the actual government was left to district magistrates and judges, who acted as tax-collectors also. Finally, there were the common people. These were divided for military purposes into 10s, 100s, 1,000s, and 10,000s, and the mobilization of the Inca armies was almost Teutonic in its ease and precision. [Illustration: OLLANTAYTAMBO--The Town and Fortress] As might be expected, the Inca religion included the worship of many things. The priestly historians always characterize it as extremely vile; but those of Inca ancestry insist that it was remarkably pure and spiritual, consisting of only one true worship, that of the Sun. Only those that have experienced life in the Peruvian highlands and have endured the enervation of its cold altitudes can realize how certainly must the early peoples have turned to the worship of that force which alone makes life endurable or possible on the Peruvian plateau.