Of the Indian villages between the buildings of Tumebamba and the city
of Loxa, and concerning the founding of that city.
Setting out from Tumebamba, in the direction of Cuzco, the great road
passes through the province of the Cañaris, until it reaches Cañaribamba
and the buildings a little further on. Villages belonging to the same
province are seen on either hand, and to the eastward there are
mountains, on the other side of which the country, which is inhabited,
slopes down towards the river Marañon. Beyond the boundary of these
Cañaris Indians is the province of the Paltas, in which there are some
buildings now known as “the stones,” because many are to be seen which
the Yncas, in the time of their power, had sent to their superintendents
or delegates. These _tampus_[316] were ordered to be built, because the
province of the Paltas was considered important. They were extensive and
handsome, the masonry being well executed. The quarry whence the stones
were brought is near the source of the river of Tumbez. Here the tribute
was collected, which the natives were obliged to pay to their king and
lord, or to the governors in his name.
To the westward of these buildings is the city of Puerto Viejo, and to
the eastward the province of Bracamoros,[317] where there are vast
territories and many rivers, some of them very great and powerful. There
is hope that by marching for twenty or thirty days, a rich and fertile
land will be reached. But there are great forests in the way, some of
them very frightful and dangerous. The Indians go naked, and are not so
intelligent as those of Peru, nor were they subdued by the Kings Yncas.
They are not so civilised, nor have they any polity, any more than the
Indians subject to the city of Antioquia, or to the town of Arma, or
those in the government of Popayan. These Indians of the province of
Bracamoros resemble those mentioned above in their customs, and they are
said to be very valiant warriors. Even the very _Orejones_ of Cuzco
confess that Huayna Ccapac turned and fled before their fury.
The captain Pedro de Vergara was occupied for some years in making
discoveries and conquests in this region, and founded a settlement in
it; but the troubles of Peru prevented its complete exploration, and the
Spaniards entered it two or three times in the course of the civil wars.
Afterwards the president, Pedro de la Gasca, sent the captain Diego
Palomino, a citizen of the town of San Miguel, to undertake this
discovery. When I was in the City of the Kings, certain conquerors
arrived to give an account of what they had done for the said president
and the judges. As the doctor Bravo de Seravia, a judge of the Royal
Audience, is very curious, they gave him a particular account of what
had been discovered. In truth, any captain who set out in that direction
with a sufficient force, would bring to light a very rich land, as I
learn from the reports I have heard. But, although I have heard that the
captain Diego Palomino settled in those parts, yet I shall say no more,
as I have not obtained any certain intelligence, and what I have already
said is sufficient for the understanding of what may have been done.
The distance from the province of Cañaris to the city of Loxa (which is
also called La Sarza) is seventeen leagues, the whole road being rugged
or boggy, and half way is the town of the Paltas, as I have already
said. Soon after leaving the building of “the stones,” an ascent
commences which lasts a little more than ten leagues. Here it is very
cold, and at the end of the descent there is another building called
Tamboblanco, whence the royal road leads to a river called Catamaya. On
the right-hand side, near the same river, is the city of Loxa, which was
founded by the captain Alonzo de Mercadillo, in the name of his Majesty,
in the year of our Lord 1546.[318]
There are numerous villages around the city of Loxa, and the natives
have almost the same customs as those in the neighbouring districts.
They wear a particular fringe, or band, on their heads to distinguish
them. They performed sacrifices, and worshipped the sun as well as other
more common objects, but, like the other Indians, they believed in a
Creator of all things. As regards the immortality of the soul, they all
understand that man is composed of something more than the mere mortal
body. When their chiefs die, deceived by the devil, in common with all
the other Indians, they bury women alive with the bodies. Now, however,
as some of them understand that it profits nothing to persevere in their
ancient evil practices, they will not kill women by burying them with
dead bodies, nor are they now so particular in this matter of sepulture.
Indeed, they laugh at those who still continue the customs which their
ancestors considered of such importance. Not only do they refrain from
spending so much time in making these tombs, but, on the approach of
death, they desire to be interred like Christians in small and humble
graves. This is done by those who, having been washed in the most holy
water of baptism, deserve to be called the servants of God and the sheep
of his pasture. But there are many thousands of old Indians who are now
as bad as they ever were, and will continue to be so until the goodness
and mercy of God brings them to a true knowledge of his laws. These
desire their bodies to be placed in secret places, far from the roads
and villages frequented by Christians, on lofty mountains, or amidst
snow-covered rocks, wrapped in richly-coloured mantles, with all the
gold they possess.
Most of the villages subject to the city of Loxa were under the rule of
the Yncas, ancient lords of Peru, who (as I have said in many parts of
this history) had their court in the city of Cuzco, which was always the
capital of these provinces; and, notwithstanding that many of the
natives were dull and stupid, they abandoned their barbarous ways, and
became more civilised by contact with the Yncas. The climate of these
provinces is pleasant and healthy, and in the valleys and on the banks
of rivers it is more temperate than on the mountains. The cultivated
part of the mountains is good land, but rather cold, and the snowy rocks
and desert places are intensely so. There are many _guanacos_ and
_vicuñas_, which are like their sheep; and partridges, some a little
smaller than domestic fowls, and others larger than doves. On the banks
of the rivers there are flowering shrubs, and many fruit trees of the
country. The Spaniards have now planted pear, fig, orange, and other
trees of Spain. In the district of Loxa they also breed large herds of
swine of the Spanish sort, goats, and sheep, for there is excellent
pasture and many streams of water flowing in all directions, which
descend from the mountains. There are hopes that the district may
contain rich mines of gold and silver, and some have already been
discovered. The Indians, now that they are secure from the turmoils of
war, and are the masters of their persons and property, raise many
Spanish fowls, pigeons, and other birds. Pulses grow well in the
district.
The natives of the country round Loxa are of middle height, and dress
in shirts and mantles, both men and women. Within the forests, it is
affirmed by the natives that there are numerous tribes rich in gold, and
some large rivers. These tribes go naked, both men and women, for the
country is hotter than Peru, and was never subjugated by the Yncas. The
captain Alonzo de Mercadillo, with a force of Spaniards, set out in the
year 1550 to verify these reports.[319]
The situation of the city of Loxa is the best and most convenient that
could be found within the province. The _repartimientos_ of Indians held
by the citizens were first obtained in _encomienda_ by those who were in
Quito and San Miguel. As the Spaniards who travelled by the royal road,
to go to Quito and other parts, ran risks from the Indians of
Carrochamba and Chaparra, this city was founded; and, notwithstanding
that Gonzalo Pizarro had ordered it to be peopled while he was engaged
in his rebellion, still the president Pedro de la Gasca, considering
that it would be for the service of his Majesty that it should not be
abandoned, approved of its being founded, and after the judgment on
Gonzalo Pizarro, he gave Indians to the settlers. It appears to me that
I have now said enough concerning this city, so I shall pass on, and
treat of the other cities in this kingdom.