_How certain men and women appeared in Pacarec-Tampu, and what they
relate touching their proceedings after they came forth from there._
I have already stated more than once, how, as an exercise and to escape
from the vices caused by idleness, I took the trouble to describe all
that I obtained touching the Incas and their system and good order of
government. As I have no other account nor writing beyond what they gave
me, if another should undertake to write more certainly than I have, on
this subject, he may well do so. At the same time, I have not spared
pains to make what I write clear; and to ensure greater accuracy I went
to Cuzco when the Captain Juan de Saavedra was Corregidor.[74] Here he
arranged that Cayu Tupac should meet me, who is one of the surviving
descendants of Huaina Capac. For Sairi Tupac, son of Manco Inca, has
retired to Viticos, where his father took refuge after his great war
with the Spaniards at Cuzco. I also met others of the Orejones, who are
those that are held to be most noble amongst themselves. With the best
interpreters that could be found, I asked these Lords Incas of what race
they were, and of what nation. It would seem that the former Incas, to
magnify their origin with great deeds, exaggerated the story they had
received, in their songs. It is this. When all the races who lived in
these regions were in a state of disorder, slaughtering each other and
sunk in vice, there appeared three men and three women in a place not
far from the city of Cuzco, which is called Pacarec Tampu. And according
to the interpretation, Pacarec Tampu is as much as to say the House of
Production.
The men who came forth from there were, as they relate, the one, Ayar
Ucho, and the other, Ayar Cachi Asauca, and the other, they say, was
named Ayar Manco. Of the women, one had the name of Mama Huaco, the
other Mama Cora, the other Mama Rahua.[75]
Some Indians give these names after another fashion and in greater
number, but I have put them down from the informations of the Orejones,
who know better than any one else. They say that these people came
forth, dressed in long mantles, and some vestments like a shirt without
collar or sleeves, made of very fine wool, with patterns of different
kinds, which they called _tacapu_, and in our language the meaning is
“vestures of kings.” And each of these lords held in the hand a sling of
gold with a stone in it. The women came out dressed very richly like the
men, and they had much gold. Going forward with this, they further say,
that they obtained great store of gold, and that one of the brothers
named Ayar Uchu spoke to his brethren that they should make a beginning
of the great things that they had to do; for their presumption was such
that they thought they were to make themselves sole lords of the land.
They were determined to form in that place a new settlement, to which
they gave the name of Pacarec Tampu; and this was soon done, for they
had the help of the inhabitants of the surrounding country. As time went
on, they put great quantities of pure gold and jewels, with other
precious things, into that place, of which the fame goes that Hernando
Pizarro and Don Diego de Almagro the lad, obtained a large share.
Returning to the history, they say that one of the three, named Ayar
Cachi, was so valiant and had such great power, that, with stones hurled
from his sling, he split the hills and threw them up to the clouds. When
the other brothers saw this they were sorry, thinking that it was an
affront to them who could not do such things, and they were enraged by
reason of their envy. Then they asked him sweetly and with gentle words,
though full of deceit, to return and enter the mouth of a cave where
they had their treasure, to bring out a certain vase of gold that they
had forgotten, and to pray to their father the Sun that he would prosper
their efforts so that they might be lords of that land. Ayar Cachi,
believing that there was no deceit in what his brother said, joyfully
went to do what they required of him, but he had scarcely got into the
cave when the other two so filled the mouth up with stones that it could
not be seen. This done, they relate for a certainty that the earth
trembled in such a manner that many hills fell into the valleys.
Thus far the Orejones relate the story of the origin of the Incas,
because they wished it to be understood that as their deeds were so
marvellous, they must have been children of the Sun. Afterwards, when
the Indians exalted them with grand titles, they were called _Ancha
hatun apu intipchuri!_[76] which means, “Oh very great lord, child of
the sun.” That which, for my part, I hold to be the truth in this matter
is that as Zapana rose up in Hatuncollao, and other valiant captains did
the same thing in other parts, these Incas must have been some three
valiant and powerful brothers with grand thoughts who were natives of
some place in those regions, or who had come from some other part of the
mountains of the Andes; and that they, finding the opportunity,
conquered and acquired the lordship which they possessed. Even without
this supposition it might be that what they tell of Ayar Cachi and the
others was the work of magicians, who did what is told of them through
the Devil. In fine, we cannot get from the story any other solution than
this.
As soon as Ayar Cachi was secured in the cave, the other two brothers,
with some people who had joined them, agreed to form another settlement,
to which they gave the name of Tampu Quiru, which is as much as to say,
“Teeth of a residence or of a palace”, and it may be supposed that these
settlements were not large nor more than sufficient for a small force.
They remained at this place for some days, being now sorry at having so
made away with their brother Ayar Cachi, who was also called
Huanacaure.[77]