In which the narrative continues, and the villages are described as far
as Tiahuanaco.
Returning to the road where I left it, which was at Hatuncolla, I have
to say that it passes thence by Paucar-colla, and other villages of
this nation of the Collas, to Chucuito, which is one of the principal
and most complete towns in any part of this great kingdom, and is the
chief place of the Indians owned by his Majesty in this province. It is
certain, too, that the Yncas in former times held Chucuito to be an
important place, and, according to the accounts of the Indians, it is
the most ancient place of any that I have yet described. Cariapasa was
the chief of this place, and, for an Indian, was a very intelligent man.
There are large buildings here; and, before the chiefs were subjugated
by the Yncas, they were very powerful, among whom the Indians mention
two as the principal, named Cari and Yumalla. Chucuito is now, as I have
said, the principal village of the Indians of his Majesty, whose other
villages are Juli, Chilane, Acos, Pomata, and Zepita, in which there are
chiefs who command the Indians. When I passed through these parts the
corregidor was Simon Pinto, and the governor was an Indian named Gaspar,
an intelligent and clever man. The natives are rich in flocks, and they
have plenty of provisions. In other parts they have _Mitimaes_ stationed
to raise their maize and coca. There are fine churches in these villages
founded by the reverend father friar Tomas de San Martin, principal of
the Dominicans. The young men, and others who most desire it, assemble
to hear the evangelical doctrine preached by the friars and clergymen.
Most of the chiefs have turned Christians. Near Zepita flows the
Desaguadero, where, till the days of the Yncas, there used to be toll
takers who received tribute from those who passed over the bridge, which
is made of bundles of stalks, in such sort that men and horses can cross
over it. In one of these villages, called Juli, the master of the camp,
Francisco de Carbajal, hung the captain Hernando Bachicao.[497] This is
one of the examples which show us that the civil wars and troubles in
Peru were the scourges of God, for they killed each other with great
cruelty, as I shall relate in the proper place.
Beyond these villages is Huaqui, where there were buildings of the
Yncas, one of which is now a church, where the children may hear the
Christian doctrine at the proper hours.