Of the valley of Pachacamac, and of the very ancient temple in it, and
how it was reverenced by the Yncas.
Four leagues from the City of the Kings, travelling down the coast, is
the valley of Pachacamac, which is very famous among these Indians. This
valley is fruitful and pleasant, and in it there was one of the grandest
temples that is to be seen in these parts. They say of it that, although
the Kings Yncas built many temples besides the temple of Cuzco, and
enriched them greatly, yet none were equal to this temple of Pachacamac.
It was built on the top of a small hill, entirely made of earth and
_adobes_ (bricks baked in the sun). The edifice had many doors, and the
doors and walls were painted over with wild beasts. Within the temple,
where they placed the idol, were the priests, who feigned no small
amount of sanctity. When they performed sacrifices before the people,
they went with their faces towards the doors and their backs to the
idols, with their eyes to the ground, and they were filled with a mighty
trembling. Indeed, their perturbation was so great, according to the
accounts of those Indians who are still living, that it may almost be
compared with that of which we read concerning the priests of Apollo
when the gentiles sought for their vain replies. The Indians further
relate that they sacrificed animals, and some human blood of persons
whom they had killed, before the figure of this devil, which, at their
most solemn festivals, gave replies, and when the people heard them,
they believed them to be true. In the terraces and lower parts of this
temple a great sum in gold and silver was buried.
The priests were much reverenced, and the chiefs obeyed them in many of
the things which they ordered. Near the temple many great buildings were
erected for the use of those who came on pilgrimage, and no one was
considered worthy to be buried in the vicinity of the temple except the
chiefs, or those who came as pilgrims bringing offerings to the
temple.[374] When the annual festivals of the year were celebrated, a
great concourse of people assembled, rejoicing to the sound of such
instruments of music as they use.
When the Lords Yncas, in extending their sway, came to this valley of
Pachacamac, and saw the grandeur and great antiquity of the temple, and
the reverence paid to it by all the people in the neighbourhood, they
knew that it would be very difficult to put aside this feeling, although
it was their general practice to order temples to the sun to be built in
all the countries they conquered. They, therefore, agreed with the
native chiefs and with the ministers of this god or devil, that the
temple of Pachacamac should continue with the authority and reverence it
formerly possessed, and that the loftiest part should be set aside as a
temple of the sun. This order of the Yncas having been obeyed, the
temple of the sun became very rich, and many virgins were placed in it.
The devil Pachacamac was delighted with this agreement, and they affirm
that he showed great satisfaction in his replies, seeing that his ends
were served both by the one party and the other, while the souls of the
unfortunate simpletons remained in his power.
Some Indians say that this accursed demon Pachacamac still talks with
the aged people. As he sees that his authority and credit are gone, and
that many of those who once served him have now formed a contrary
opinion, he declares that he and the God of whom the Christians preach
are one, and thus with other false and deceitful words induces some to
refuse the water of baptism. Nevertheless God, taking pity on the souls
of these sinners, is served by many coming to His knowledge and calling
themselves sons of the church. Thus every day some are baptised. The
temple is now so completely dismantled that the principal edifice is
gone altogether, and in the place where the devil was once so served and
adored, a cross is planted to increase his terror, and to be a comfort
to the faithful.
The name of this devil is intended to signify “creator of the world,”
for _camac_ means “creator,” and _pacha_, “the world.” When the governor
Don Francisco Pizarro (God permitting it) seized Atahualpa in the
province of Caxamarca, he heard wonderful reports of this temple, and of
its great riches. He, therefore, sent his brother, the captain Hernando
Pizarro, with some Spanish troops, with orders to seek out the valley,
and take all the gold he could find in the accursed temple, with which
he was to return to Caxamarca. Although the captain Hernando Pizarro
succeeded in reaching the temple of Pachacamac, it is notorious among
the people that the priests had already taken away four hundred loads of
gold, which have never yet appeared, nor do any Indians now living know
where they are. Nevertheless Hernando Pizarro (the first Spanish captain
who came to this place) found some gold and silver. As time passed on,
the captain Rodrigo Orgoñez, Francisco de Godoy, and others, took a
large sum of gold and silver from the burial places. It is considered
that there is much more, but as the place where it was buried is
unknown, it was lost. From the time that Hernando Pizarro and his
Christians entered the temple, the devil has had little power, the idols
have been destroyed, and the temple and other edifices have fallen into
ruins. Insomuch that very few Indians now remain in the place. This
valley is as full of trees as the other valleys, and many cows and other
stock are reared in the fields, besides mares, from which come some good
horses.[375]