_How Huascar was acknowledged as King in Cuzco, after the death of his
father._
Huayna Capac being dead, and the mourning and lamentation having been
performed, although he left more than forty sons, none attempted to
deviate from their allegiance to Huascar, to whom, as they well knew,
the kingdom belonged. Although it was known that the order of Huayna
Capac was that the uncle of Huascar should govern, there were not
wanting those who advised the young Inca to assume the fringe at once,
and with it the government of the whole country as king. As most of the
native lords of provinces had come to Cuzco for the obsequies of Huayna
Capac, it was represented that the feast of the coronation might be very
grand, and thus he resolved to act. Leaving the government of the city
in the hands of the officer to whom it had been entrusted by his father,
he entered upon the fast with the accustomed observances. He came forth
with the fringe, and there were great festivities. The cable of gold was
brought out into the square, with the images of the Incas, and, in
accordance with their usage, they spent some days in drinking-bouts. At
the end of these days of feasting, the news was sent to all parts of the
kingdom, with the orders of the new king, and certain Orejones were sent
to Quito to bring back his father’s women and household.
Atahualpa received the news that Huascar had assumed the fringe, and
that he desired that all should yield him obedience. The captains of
Huayna Capac had not yet departed from Quito and its neighbourhood, and
there were secret communications between them as to the possibility of
remaining in those lands of Quito, without going to Cuzco at the call of
Huascar, for they had found the land of Quito to be as good as that of
Cuzco. Some among them hesitated, saying that it was not lawful to
refrain from recognising the great Inca, who was lord of all. But Illa
Tupac[251] was not loyal to Huascar, as Huayna Capac had requested, and
he had promised; for they say that he engaged in secret negotiations and
discussions with Atahualpa, He said that, among the sons of Huayna
Capac, this one showed the most spirit and valour, and that his father
ordered that he should govern Quito and its territory. He spoke in this
way to the captains Chalcuchima, Acla-hualpa, Rumi-ñaui,[252] Quizquiz,
Pecopagua,[253] and many others, urging them to assist in making
Atahualpa the Inca of those parts, as his brother was of Cuzco. These,
with Illa Tupac who was a traitor to his natural lord Huascar, having
been left as governor until the Inca should be of full age, agreed to
recognise Atahualpa, who was then declared to be lord. The women of his
father were delivered to him, whom he received as his own, and his
father’s household and house service were handed over to him, to do with
them according to his will.
Some say, that some of the sons of Huayna Capac, brothers of Huascar and
Atahualpa, with other Orejones, fled to Cuzco, and reported what had
happened to the Inca. Huascar, and the other Orejones of Cuzco, felt
what had been done by Atahualpa to be an evil act worthy of reprobation,
contrary to the will of their gods, and to the laws and ordinances of
the departed kings. They said that they would not consent or endure that
the bastard should take the name of Inca, and that he must be punished
for the favour he had obtained from the captains and soldiers of his
father’s army. Huascar, therefore, ordered that a summons should be sent
to all the provinces, that arms should be made, and the store-houses
provided with all things necessary, because he had to make war on the
traitors, if they would not recognise him as their lord. He sent
ambassadors to the Cañaris, inviting their friendship. It is also said
that he despatched an Orejon to Atahualpa himself, to persuade him not
to persist in his intentions, being so evil. The envoy was also to speak
with Colla Tupac, the Inca’s uncle, to advise him that he should become
loyal. These things being done, Huascar named one of the principal lords
of Cuzco, named Atoc,[254] as his Captain-General.