_How the Incas ordered the people to form settled towns, dividing the
lands concerning which there was any dispute, and how it was ordered
that all should speak the language of Cuzco._
In former times, before the Incas reigned, it is well understood that
the natives of these provinces had no towns as is now the case, but only
strong places with forts, which they call _pucaras_, whence they came
forth to make war one with another; and so they always passed their
time, living in great trouble and unrest. The Incas, reigning over them,
considered their manner of living to be evil, and induced them, partly
by menaces and partly by favours, to see the wisdom of ceasing to live
like savages, but rather as reasonable beings, establishing themselves
in towns, both on the plains of the coast and in the mountains, and
settling on the land according to the regulations that were made. In
this way the Indians abandoned the _pucaras_ in which they originally
dwelt, and formed themselves into communities in towns, as well in the
valleys of the coast as in the mountains, and on the plain of the
Collao. The Incas caused the boundaries of fields to be set up, in order
to prevent quarrels, settling the land which each man was to occupy, for
their knowledge and for that of those who might be born after them. The
Indians at the present day clearly state that this division was made.
They told me at Xauxa that one of the Incas divided the plains and
valleys amongst them which they now hold, and that this arrangement was
then in force, and would continue. In many places in the mountains there
are irrigating channels taken from the rivers with great skill and
ingenuity, while all the towns were full of lodgings and store-houses of
the kings, as I have already stated in many places.
It was understood by them that it would be very troublesome to travel
for great distances over the land, and at each league to have a new
language; while it would be very difficult to find interpreters for all
of them. Selecting the best language, the Incas ordered, on pain of
serious punishment, that all the natives of the empire should understand
the tongue that was spoken at Cuzco, as well the men as the women. Even
a child had scarcely left the breast of its mother before they began to
teach it the language which it was bound to know. Although this rule was
difficult to enforce at first, and many only wished to talk in their own
native tongue, yet the power of the kings was such that they succeeded
in enforcing their intention, and the people found it to be best to
comply with their order. So completely was this policy enforced, that in
a few years the language was understood and used over an extent of more
than twelve hundred leagues. Yet although this language was used, all
the tribes also spoke their own, which were so numerous that if they
should be written down it would not be believed.
When a captain of Cuzco, or some one of the Orejones, set out to take an
account of the revenues, or to act as judge on commission among the
provinces, or on any other duty, he did not speak any other language
than that of Cuzco to the people, nor they to him. This language is very
good, concise, and comprehensive, and composed of many words. It is so
clear, that in the few days that I studied it, I knew sufficient to ask
for many things in the part where I wished to travel. They call
A man _Runa_.
A woman _Huarmi_.
A father _Yaya_.
A brother _Huauque_.
A sister _Ñaña_.
The moon (month) _Quilla_.
The year _Huata_.
Day _Punchau_.
Night _Tuta_.
Head _Uma_.
Ear _Rincri_.
Eye _Ñaui_.
Nose _Senca_.
Teeth _Quiru_.
Arm _Maqui_.
Leg _Chaqui_.
I only insert these words in my chronicle because I now see, that even
as regards the language that was formerly used in Spain, they are
varying and altering it bit by bit; and as regards the days that are to
come, it is only God that knows what will happen in them. If the time
should come when a language which was used by so many people shall be
forgotten, it should at least be known which words belonged to the first
and general language, and whence they came. Further, I declare that it
was a great advantage to the Spaniards to have found this language, for
with it they could travel in all directions; but now in some places it
is beginning to be lost.