it pleases him, even though he has no need of repose.” The feast of Raymi was the most brilliant and popular of all the national celebrations. It usually took place at Cuzco, as the permanent residence of the Inca was in that city, and was held at the period of the summer solstice, which, south of the equator, occurs in December. Three other fiestas of especial importance were held during the year to celebrate the solstices of June, March, and September, though none of these equalled in elaborate ceremony and display the “Ccapac-Raymi.” For three days previous to the 21st of December there was a general fast, and on the morning of that day the Inca, in company with his family and the nobles of his court, attired in gala dress and wearing their most gorgeous adornments, awaited the appearance of the rising sun. A multitude filled the plaza, presenting in the variety of their dress and ornaments,—as they represented the different tribes gathered under the standard of the rainbow in many campaigns,—the aspect of an assembly gathered from the four corners of the globe. As the sun rose, smiling on the sacred city in benediction, the crowd broke forth in a shout of praise and thanksgiving; while joyous songs and the melody of music from a thousand curious instruments throbbed on the air. Dr. Lorente in describing this feast says: “The Inca, filling two glasses with _chicha_, (a fermented liquor of maize, the popular drink of the Indians in the sierra to-day as it was hundreds of years ago,) offered them to his divine father, the Sun, and then poured the contents of the glass he held in his right hand into a golden receptacle, which by a secret channel flowed into the Temple of the Sun. The contents of the other glass were first sipped by the Inca, who passed it to his nobles that they might do the same.” After this libation, all repaired to the temple, which they entered barefooted, the multitude being required to remove their sandals two hundred steps from the sacred portal, which they might not enter. After the Inca’s invocation to the Sun, the procession made its way to the plaza where the sacrificial offerings of llamas were made and the feasting began in all its intensity. It lasted for a week, during which the chicha jars—huge earthenware vessels—were increased and refilled constantly, and dancing was kept up day and night without ceasing. The feast of the harvest, held the 21st of March, was regarded with great reverence, as it was then the fire was drawn from the Sun’s rays to light the sacred flame for the altar; the rays were focussed on a metallic mirror which the Inca wore in a bracelet on his right arm, and by this means a small piece of cotton was ignited, the fire being then guarded by the Virgins of the Sun until the feast of the ensuing year. [Illustration: THE HOUSE OF THE SERPENTS, CUZCO.]