_Which treats of the order maintained by the Incas, and how in many
places they made the waste places fertile, by the arrangements they made
for that purpose._
One of the things for which one feels envious of these lords is their
knowledge of the way to conquer the wild lands and to bring them, by
good management, into the condition in which they were found by the
Spaniards when they discovered this new kingdom. I often remember, when
in some wild and barren province outside these kingdoms, hearing the
Spaniards themselves say, “I am certain that if the Incas had been here
the state of things would be different.” So that the advantage they were
to us was well known. For under their rule the people lived and
multiplied, and barren lands were made fertile and abundant, in such
manner and by such admirable means as I will describe.
They always arranged matters, in the commencement of their negotiations,
so that things should be pleasantly and not harshly ordered. Afterwards,
some Incas inflicted severe punishments in many parts; but formerly, it
is asserted on all sides, that they induced people to submit by great
benevolence and friendliness. They marched from Cuzco with their army
and warlike materials, until they were near the region they intended to
conquer. Then they collected very complete information touching the
power of the enemy, and whence help was likely to reach them, and by
what road. This being known, the most effective steps were taken to
prevent the succour from arriving, either by large bribes given to the
allies, or by forcible resistance. At the same time forts were ordered
to be constructed on heights or ridges, consisting of circles with high
walls, one inside the other and each with a door. Thus if the outer one
was lost, the defenders could retire into the next, and the next, until
refuge was taken in the highest. They sent chosen men to examine the
land, to see the roads, and learn by what means they were defended, as
well as the places whence the enemy received supplies. When the road
that should be taken and the necessary measures were decided upon, the
Inca sent special messengers to the enemy to say that he desired to have
them as allies and relations, so that, with joyful hearts and willing
minds they ought to come forth to receive him in their province, and
give him obedience as in the other provinces; and that they might do
this of their own accord he sent presents to the native chiefs.
By this wise policy he entered into the possession of many lands without
war. In that case, he gave orders to his soldiers that they should do no
harm or injury, nor commit any robbery or act of violence; and if there
were not sufficient provisions in the province, he ordered that it
should be sent from other parts. For he desired that his sway should not
appear heavy to those who had newly come under it, so as to know and
hate him at the same time. If any newly conquered province had no
flocks, he ordered that so many thousand heads should be sent there, to
be well looked after, so as to multiply and supply wool to clothe the
people; and none were to be killed for eating until the lapse of a
certain number of years. If, on the other hand, they had flocks, but
needed some other thing, a similar course was pursued to supply the
want. If the people lived in caves or thickets, they were led, by kind
words, to build houses and towns on the more level parts of the
mountains; and when they were ignorant as regards the tilling of their
land, they were instructed, and the method of making channels to
irrigate their fields was taught to them.
In all things the system was so well regulated that when one of the
Incas entered into a new province by friendly agreement, in a very short
time it looked like another place, the natives yielding obedience and
consenting that the royal governors and _mitimaes_[109] should remain
with them. In many others, which were conquered by force of arms, the
order was that little harm should be done to the property and houses of
the vanquished; for the lord said, “These will soon be our people, as
much as the others.” For this reason the war was made with as little
injury as possible, although great battles were often fought, where the
inhabitants desired to retain their ancient liberty and their religion
and customs, and not to adopt new ways. But during such wars the Incas
always had the mastery, and when the enemies were vanquished, they were
not destroyed; on the contrary, orders were given to release the
captives and restore the spoils, and allow them to retain their estates.
For the Inca desired to show them that they should not be so mad as to
revolt against his royal person and reject his friendship; rather they
should wish to be his friends, as were those in the other provinces. In
saying this to them, he gave them beautiful women, pieces of rich cloth,
and some gold.
With these gifts and kind words, he secured the goodwill of all, in such
sort that those who had fled into the wildernesses returned, without
fear, to their houses, and all cast aside their weapons; while those who
saw the Inca most frequently, looked upon themselves as most fortunate.
All were ordered to worship the Sun as their god. Their own customs and
religious usages were not prohibited, but they were enjoined to conform
to the laws and customs that were in force at Cuzco, and all were
required to use the general language of the empire.
Having established a governor, with garrisons of soldiers, the army then
advanced, and if the new provinces were large, it was presently ordered
that a temple of the Sun should be built, and women collected for its
service, and that a palace should be erected for the lord. Tribute was
collected, care being taken that too much was not exacted, and that no
injustice was done in anything; but that the new subjects were made
acquainted with the imperial policy, with the art of building, of
clothing themselves, and of living together in towns. And if they needed
anything, care was taken to supply it, and to teach them how to sow and
to cultivate their lands. So thoroughly was this policy carried into
effect, that we know of many places where there were no flocks
originally, but where there has been abundance since they were
subjugated by the Incas; and others where formerly there was no maize,
but where now they have large crops. In many provinces they went about
like savages, badly clothed, and barefooted, until they came under the
sway of the Incas; and from that time they have worn shirts and mantles,
both men and women, so that they always hold the change in their
memories. In the Collao, and in other parts, the lord gave orders that
_mitimaes_ should go to the mountains of the Andes[110] to sow maize and
coca, fruits and edible roots, for each town the quantity that was
required. These colonists, with their wives, always lived in the places
where the crops were sown and harvested, and the produce was brought
from those parts, so that the want of it was never felt. And no town,
however small, was without these _mitimaes_ in the valleys. Further on
we shall treat of the lot of these _mitimaes_, and what they did, as
well as how they fared.