Of the situation of the City of Kings, of its founding, and who was the
founder.
The valley of Lima is the largest and broadest of all those of which I
have written between it and Tumbez; and, as it was large, so it was very
populous. But now there are few native Indians, for, as the city was
built on their land, and as their fields and water-courses were taken
from them, some have now gone to one valley and some to another. If by
chance some have remained, they continue to irrigate their fields. At
the time when the Adelantado Don Pedro de Alvarado came to this kingdom,
the Adelantado Don Francisco Pizarro, who was his Majesty’s governor,
was in Cuzco; and, while the marshal Don Diego de Almagro was doing
those things which I mentioned in my chapter on Riobamba, he came down
to the coast, and determined to found a city in this valley. At that
time neither Truxillo, Arequipa, Guamanga, nor any of the other cities
were commenced. While the governor Don Francisco Pizarro was thinking of
founding this city, after having inspected Sangallan, and other sites on
the coast, he one day came with some Spaniards to the place where the
city now stands, and it appeared to him a convenient site, possessing
all necessary advantages. He, therefore, soon afterwards laid out a
plan, and built the city on a level part of the valley, two short
leagues from the sea. Above this site a river flows from the east, which
has little water when it is summer in the _Sierra_, but which is
somewhat swollen when it is winter. The city is so near the river that a
strong arm may throw a small stone into it from the _plaza_, and on that
side it cannot be enlarged. After Cuzco it is the largest city in the
whole kingdom of Peru, and the most important.[369] It contains very
fine houses, and some ornamental buildings with towers and terraces. The
_plaza_ is large[370] and the streets broad, and through every street a
channel of water flows, which is no small convenience. The water from
these channels serves to irrigate the orchards and gardens, which are
numerous, refreshing, and delightful. At this time the Court and Royal
Chancellory is established in the city, for which reason, and because
all the business of the country is done here, there are always many
people in the city, and rich shops for the sale of merchandise. In the
year that I departed from this kingdom there were many inhabitants of
this city who possessed _encomiendas_ of Indians, and were so rich and
prosperous, that they valued their estates at 150,000 ducats and
upwards. In fine, I left them very rich and prosperous, and ships often
sail from the port of this city, each carrying 800,000 ducats, and some
more than a million. I pray to Almighty God that, as it will be for his
service, for the spread of our holy faith, and for the salvation of our
souls, he will allow this wealth to increase continually.
On the east side of the city there is a great and lofty hill, on the top
of which a cross is planted.[371] Outside the city there are many farms
and estates on all sides, where the Spaniards have their flocks and
pigeon-cotes, vineyards, and refreshing orchards full of the fruits of
the country, figs, bananas, sugar-canes, melons, oranges, lemons, limes,
citrons, and beans brought from Spain. All is so good, that no fault can
be found, but rather thanks should be offered up to the great God our
Lord, who made all these things. Certainly, if all commotions and wars
were at an end, this would be one of the best countries in the world to
pass a life in,[372] for we see in it neither hunger, nor pestilence,
nor rain, nor thunder and lightning, but the heavens are always serene
and very beautiful. I could have mentioned some other particulars, but
as it seems to me that I have said enough, I shall pass on, concluding
by saying that the Adelantado Don Francisco Pizarro, governor and
captain-general in these kingdoms, founded the city in the name of his
Majesty the Emperor Charles our lord, in the year of our salvation
1535.[373]