Of the lake of Bombon, and how it is supposed to be the source of the
great river of La Plata.
This province is strong from its position, and because the natives were
very warlike. Before the Yncas could conquer them they fought great
battles with them, until (according to what many of the oldest Indians
declare) they at length induced them to submit by the use of intrigues
and presents. There is a lake in the country of these Indians which is
more than ten leagues round. This land of Bombon is level and very cold,
and the mountains are some distance from the lake.[413] The Indians have
their villages round the lake, with large dykes. These natives of
Bombon had great numbers of sheep, and, although most of them have been
destroyed in the late wars, yet some still remain, and in the desert
heights there are quantities of the wild kinds. There is little maize in
this country on account of the cold, but there is no want of other
provision by which the people are sustained. There are some islands and
rocks in the lake, where the Indians form garrisons in time of war, and
are thus safe from their enemies. Concerning the water which flows from
this lake, it is held for certain that it forms the source of the famous
river of La Plata, because it becomes a powerful river in the valley of
Xauxa, and further on it is joined by the rivers of Parcos, Vilcas,
Abancay, Apurimac, and Yucay. Thence it flows to the west, traversing
many lands, where it receives other rivers which are still unknown to
us, until it finally reaches Paraguay, the country discovered by those
Christian Spaniards who first came to the river of La Plata. I myself
believe, from what I have heard of this great river, that it owes its
origin to two or three branches, or perhaps more; like the rivers
Marañon, Santa Martha, Darien, and others in those parts. However this
may be, in this kingdom of Peru, we believe that it owes its source to
the lake of Bombon, which receives the water caused by the melting of
the snow from the heat of the sun on the desert heights, and of this
there cannot be little.[414]
Ten leagues beyond Bombon is the province of Tarma, the inhabitants of
which were not less warlike than those of Bombon. The climate is here
more temperate, and much maize and wheat are grown, besides various
fruits of the country. In former times there were great buildings and
store-houses of the Kings Yncas in Tarma. The natives and their wives go
dressed in clothes made from the wool of their sheep, and they adore the
sun, which they call _Mocha_. When any of them marry, the friends
assemble together, and, after drinking, saluting their cheeks, and
performing other ceremonies, the marriage of the bride and bridegroom is
complete. When the chiefs die they are buried in the same way as amongst
all the other tribes, and their women shave their heads and wear black
cloaks, also anointing their faces with a black ointment, and this state
of widowhood lasts for a year. When the year is over, as I understood,
and not before, they may marry again. These people have their annual
festivals and fasts, which they carefully observe, abstaining from meat
and salt and from sleeping with women. They also ask him who is
considered most religious, and on the best terms with their gods and
devils, to fast for a whole year for the benefit of the others. This
being done, at the time of maize harvest, they assemble and pass some
days and nights in eating and drinking.
* * * * *
It is notorious that some of them conversed with the devil in their
temples, and the devil replied in a terrible voice. From Tarma,
travelling by the royal road of the Yncas, the traveller reaches the
great and beautiful valley of Xauxa, which was one of the principal
districts in Peru.