"Stay till you see the army of the Inca, and try to number our
standards; then tell me if you think the white faces can withstand
them."
I thought it better not to dwell on the subject, for fear of irritating
the chief; but I recalled to my memory the handful of Spaniards who
conquered the well-trained armies of the Inca Atahualpa, and had little
hope for the success of his descendant, Tupac Amaru, with his host of
undisciplined levies; though doubtlessly their opponents had greatly
degenerated from the hardy warriors who fought under Pizarro.
As it was necessary to supply food for the army, and we were passing
through a part of the country where the vicunas abounded, the party
halted to engage in a grand hunt, which is termed a _chacu_. About two
hundred men were told off for this purpose; some remaining encamped, and
others being sent as scouts, to the rear, to ascertain that no Spaniards
were following us. Pedro, Ned, and I were invited by the cacique to
accompany him. Half the party were supplied with weapons called
_bolas_. These _bolas_ were composed of three balls of lead or stone,
at one end of as many long lines, formed of the twisted sinews of the
vicuna, the opposite ends being fastened together. One ball is rather
lighter than the others, and when used, this is held in the hand, while
the heavier ones are swung in a circle round the head. When the Indian
is about twenty paces from the object he wishes to strike, he lets go
the lighter ball, and the weapon flies off, and the strings encircle in
many folds the neck or legs of the animal.
Besides the _bolas_, the party had procured from the neighbouring
villages a quantity of rope and a number of stakes, and with them we
repaired to an extensive, elevated plain, where many herds of vicunas
were observed feeding. Having selected a spacious level spot, the
stakes were planted in the ground, at a distance of fifteen feet apart,
and were connected together by the ropes about two feet and a half from
the ground. A circular space was thus formed, of perhaps a mile and a
half in circumference, an opening of about two hundred paces being left
to serve as an entrance. Along the rope were fastened bits of coloured
rags, which blew about in the breeze, and were intended to frighten the
animals, and prevent them from leaping over the barrier. This enclosure
is properly called a _chacu_. It being arranged, we withdrew, and
breaking into a number of small parties, we formed a circle at a little
distance apart from each other, and several miles across. We then began
to close, driving before us, with loud shouts, all the herds of vicunas
we met with. The men opposite the entrance advanced more slowly than
the rest; and the timid animals, seeing the fluttering bits of cloth,
ran before us with affright, till they reached the open space, when they
darted into the _chacu_. Some fifty vicunas were thus in a very short
time collected, when the Indians, running among them, began throwing
their _bolas_ with the greatest dexterity, never failing to entangle the
legs of the game, which they speedily killed with their clubs or knives.
Sometimes the Indians use the _bola_ on horseback; and I must remark
that it requires great dexterity to do so with effect, as a clumsy
person is very likely to twist the cords round his own neck or that of
his steed, instead of the animal he is hunting. As soon as the vicunas
were killed, they were carried off to the camp to be skinned and cut up;
and we then moved to a distance, to form a new _chacu_. During three
days, which we passed in the neighbourhood, we killed two hundred
vicunas; and then, laden with their flesh, we continued our journey.
The vicuna is a more beautiful animal than either the llama or the
alpaca. It is between them in size, measuring four feet from the ground
to the top of the head, and two and a half feet from the ground to the
shoulders. The neck is longer and more slender; and the wool is finer,
short, and curly. The top of the head, neck, and back, and the thighs,
are of a peculiar reddish hue; and the inner part of the limbs and the
lower part of the neck are of a bright ochre colour; and the breast and
lower part of the body is white. Each herd consists of from six to
fifteen females and one male, who, standing at a distance, acts the part
of guardian, while the rest are grazing, and when danger approaches,
gives a peculiar whistle and stamp of the foot. The herd look, with
outstretched necks, in the direction of the danger, and then take to
flight, the male stopping every now and then to cover their retreat, and
watch the movements of the enemy. Should he be killed or wounded, the
Indians declare that the females will gather round him in a circle, and
uttering shrill cries of lamentation, will suffer themselves to be
destroyed rather than desert him.
As we proceeded on our march, we fell in with many other parties of
Indians, advancing in the same direction; some of whom were of the
savage tribes from the far interior, summoned to swell the host of the
Inca. Many of them were accompanied by troops of llamas, carrying
provisions. Some of these had bells hung round their necks, and were
adorned with bows of ribbons at their ears. They proceeded at a slow
pace, carrying their long, graceful necks something like the camel, and
gazing anxiously around on either side with their wild prominent eyes,
to watch the movements of their guides, or to observe the appearance of
the country. They were of a variety of colours; brown, black, white,
and pie-bald. I may here remark that the extreme height of the animal,
from the sole of the foot to the top of the head, is not more than four
feet and from six to eight inches; and from the sole of the foot to the
shoulder, rather under three feet. Their frames are so slight that they
will not carry a load of more than about seventy pounds weight; but they
have the valuable qualification of being able to live many days, find
even months, without drinking, owing to their power of generating saliva
in their mouths.
Other parties had mules for the same purpose. Some were on horseback,
and formed an irregular and very Scythian-like looking cavalry. Several
bands of those on foot were followed by their wives and children;
showing that they felt confident of victory, and came prepared to take
possession of the territories they hoped to conquer. At length, after
passing through a dark gorge, and climbing a steep acclivity, we once
more began to descend; when, from the height on which we stood, we
looked down upon the vast army of the Inca, collected on a plain, or
rather wide valley, between ranges of lofty mountains.
"What say you now?" exclaimed the cacique, with a look of triumph. "Do
the white faces dream of the mighty host collected to liberate for ever
the kingdom of the Incas from their cruel hands?"
"I have heard that it was prophesied that the kingdom of the Incas
should be restored by the people of my country. There are none of them
there," I replied.
"It is true," said the cacique. "But if you and your bold friend were
to fight by the side of the Inca, might not the prophecy be thus
fulfilled?"
I at once saw the mistake I had made in thus speaking; for I felt that I
might be compelled, contrary to the advice my father had given me, to
engage actively in a contest in which I had no personal interest.
Before I had time to reply, the signal of advance was given, and the
party hurried down the steep to join their comrades in the valley. Far
as the eye could reach in either direction, and even up the mountains
sides, were extended the vast host of the Inca, drawn up in battle
array. From among their dusky lines arose a forest of waving banners,
long lances, and battle-axes, tossing to and fro, and glittering in the
rays of the noonday sun which shone down upon their heads. At intervals
might be seen rich panoplies of feather work and lofty plumes, marking
the post of some leading cacique, or Inca noble. Some way to the right,
on a rising ground, rose the magnificent canopy under which the Inca
Tupac Amaru was to be found, surrounded by his generals and nobles.
As the march was about to commence, our conductors hurried us down the
hill past the crowded ranks of the army, towards the spot where the Inca
was stationed. When a little distance off, he went forward alone, and
prostrating himself before the monarch, announced the arrival of some
captives. The Inca immediately ordered us to be brought before him. He
was seated under the canopy on a cushioned throne, richly ornamented
with gold; and on either side of him were ranged a dense mass of his
chiefs and councillors, all dressed in garments similar to those worn by
their ancestors. Tupac Amaru himself was habited as tradition has
described Atahualpa; and he wore as a crown the crimson _borla_, or
fringe, which hung down as low as the eye-brow, and gave a very peculiar
expression to his grave and handsome countenance. I have before
mentioned that he was a tall and dignified person; and he looked well
worthy in every respect to be the sovereign of the assembled multitude.
When he saw us he beckoned us to approach, and made inquiries of our
conductor respecting us, not knowing that Pedro and I understood the
Quichua language. The cacique simply stated where he had found us, and
replied that we could answer for ourselves.
I begged Pedro to act as spokesman, and he gave a short account of our
adventures, as well as of my history. The Inca seemed much interested,
and assured us of his protection; at the same time inviting us to
accompany him in his march to lay siege to Cuzco. Pedro in reply,
having expressed our gratitude to the Inca, entreated to be allowed to
remain behind, assuring the Inca that he was ready to lay down his life
for the benefit of the Indians, but that the Spaniards were his
countrymen and he could not fight against them. The nobles who stood
round seemed very much offended at this; but the Inca observing that he
should consider the subject, turned to Ned and asked him what he would
do. I put the question to him in English.
"Tell His Majesty, if it's to fight the Dons, I'll help him with all my
heart," he at once replied. "It comes natural like, and it won't be the
first time I've been at blows with them. I owe them a grudge, too, for
killing as honest a fellow as ever stepped, and that was my late
skipper. Tell him all that, mate, and say I'm his man whenever he wants
me."
The Inca appeared much pleased at Ned's reply, which I interpreted; but
he seemed less inclined to treat Pedro and me with favour. My turn came
next. I own that I felt great reluctance to refuse fighting, and having
no sufficient excuse to offer, was about to answer that I was ready to
serve in any capacity the Inca might desire, when a loud shout was
raised, and a fresh body of Indians was seen hurrying down the
mountain's side. A chief came at their head, and I looked towards him
as the loud shouts of those around me gave him welcome. I could
scarcely believe my eyes. It was my friend Manco! I was certain of it;
and forgetting the presence of the Inca and his nobles, I rushed forward
to meet him.
It was Manco in reality. We clasped each other's hands, and for a time
could scarcely speak. He had thought me dead, or lingering in a Spanish
prison, while I till now had been uncertain of his fate. He told me
that when he was led out to be shot, it had occurred to him that by
keeping his eye on the soldiers he might drop as they fired, and allow
the balls to fly over him; and that as he knew a number of Indians were
collected on the other side of the river, by swimming across, they might
assist him to escape. He never lost his presence of mind, and watching
for the moment the soldiers drew their triggers, he fell to the ground,
instantly again springing up and flying to the river. Before the smoke
from the muskets had cleared away, he had plunged in and was swimming
across. Several bullets struck the water close to him, but landing
uninjured, he and his friends set off towards the mountains as rapidly
as they could proceed. They were pursued by a strong body of Spanish
soldiers, who followed them to their retreat. It was several days
before they could elude their enemies, and they had then marched through
a number of Indian villages to collect recruits, before joining the
army.
After he had paid his respects to the Inca, he introduced Pedro and me
as his friends, and we at once perceived that we were regarded in a more
favourable light than before. We accordingly obtained permission to
remain with him; but as the Inca was desirous of having Ned to assist in
working his artillery, several pieces of which were with their army, we
very unwillingly were compelled to part from him.
Manco having performed his public duties, now set out in search of his
wife and child, whom he heard were with the women in the camp. Notice
had been given to Nita of his escape from death and safe return, and she
with her infant was ready to receive him. This meeting was very
affecting; and as the brave warrior once more took his child in his
arms, he wept over it for joy. He could not, however, remain with her
long, for his duties called him back to the army.
"Pedro, my friend," he said, "I know you would not fight against your
countrymen; to your charge, therefore, I commit my wife; watch over her,
and guard her from danger. If I fall, carry her and my child to a place
of safety, and restore her, when times of peace again return, to her
father and her people."
Pedro with tears promised to obey his wishes.
"And you, David, what will you do?" he asked.
"I will accompany you," I replied, forgetting my former resolutions, and
inspired with admiration for the gallant chieftain. "I will fight by
your side, and help to restore peace and prosperity to Peru."