_How the captain Jorge Robledo assigned the Chiefs among the
settlers who had to remain in the city of Santa Ana, and how he
departed and discovered another part of the great river of Santa
Marta._
The events we have related having passed, the captain Jorge Robledo
desired to cross the great river Santa Marta, and explore the regions
on the other side. He first divided the native Chiefs among those
who had to remain as settlers; and then, having assigned them, he
left the captain Ruy Vanegas in his place, and departed from Anzerma
early in the year 1540, taking with him as his ensign Suer de Nava, a
native of Toro. We set out, a little over a hundred Spaniards, horse
and foot. The _Comendador_ Hernán Rodríguez de Sosa was Camp-master.
We arrived at the village of _Irra_, which is on the banks of the
river of Santa Marta, where the current flows with great velocity.
The natives made rafts on which the horses and baggage crossed. The
Spaniards made contrivances for crossing consisting of two bamboos as
thick as a leg, to the head of which a pole was fastened. One man went
in front with a reed, hauling on the bamboos, and two others behind
to guide them. Thus, with great risk and much hard work the Spaniards
crossed this great river. I certainly believe that if the Romans had
undertaken the conquest of these parts, even at the time of the most
flourishing period of their empire, when they ruled the world, they
would not have been powerful enough to do what a few Spaniards have
achieved. As for the hardships and hunger they have faced, no other
nation in the world could have endured it. For they are worthy to be
counted as scions of the most excellent nation in the world and the
one which is foremost in all things.
Having crossed to the other side of the river we went to sleep on the
rising ground, whence the captain sent messengers to _Carrapa_, which
is a large and rich province with abundant supplies of provisions,
to persuade the inhabitants to receive him as their friend and to
yield obedience to his Majesty. As the fame of the Spaniards' valour,
their great power, and the endurance of their horses had reached
all these districts, the natives agreed, in order to escape being
wounded by swords or torn to pieces by dogs, to admit them to their
territory and supply them with provisions; and this they sent to say.
Next day we entered Carrapa. The Chiefs came to see the captain, and
presented many golden ornaments, and vases, among them a salver which
weighed over 2,000 _pesos_. We were there more than a month. The
Indians said that after crossing the cordillera of the Andes there
was a very populous plain country where there were great and very
rich Chiefs, and that that country was called ARBI. They also said
that near it were the provinces of PICARA, PAUCURA, and POZO, all
great and powerful, and hostile to each other. At that time those of
Carrapa were at enmity with Picara. After we had stayed for the time
mentioned the captain asked for guides to advance further, also that
some principal natives should come with the number of men he might
want, to make war on those who refused to be friendly. The people of
Carrapa were content, and gave 600 Indians to carry the baggage on
their shoulders and 4,000 armed men to help in the war. Thus we left
Carrapa and went to the province of Picara, which is larger and more
populous. When tidings came of our approach, the natives of Picara
armed themselves for war, but after they had made a tremendous noise,
they grounded their arms and fled. Those of Carrapa pursued them, and
killed many in the ravines. Others they made prisoners, and ate them
all without sparing any. Such is the cruelty and savagery of these
people!
Our camp was formed on a plain. The captain Robledo, the first
discoverer of these regions, sent messengers to all the villages of
that province to warn the natives that they must come in and render
obedience to his Majesty, for that otherwise he would wage war with
ruthless cruelty. Most of them, fearing their cruel enemies of
Carrapa, determined to come and offer peace to the Spaniards. During
the few days that we were encamped on that plain, the principal
Chiefs, named _Picara_, _Chanvericua_, _Chuscuruca_, and _Ancora_,
came to our camp. When the _repartimiento_ was made, this last one
was given to me in _encomienda_, with other principal men, I being
a _conquistador_ of these parts. These Chiefs brought many gold
ornaments, rich and of much value, which they gave to the captain, who
took possession for his Majesty, and for the royal crown of Castille.
Having made some agreement convenient for them and for us, the captain
ordered the men of Carrapa not to kill any more people, nor to do
any more harm than they had done already. After having been in this
province twenty-five days, we set out for _Pozo_, which is situated
among some breaks in a mountain range, the Chiefs having their houses
and compounds on the slopes higher up. At the approaches there are
fortifications of stout bamboos, and above these are _barbacoas_ or
platforms for making their sacrifices upon, and for use as watch
towers.
These Indians are the boldest and most valiant in all the Indies of
Peru. None of them are ever in their plantations, sowing or gathering
the produce, without having their arms ready at hand. They were feared
by all their neighbours and they would not keep at peace with any one.
Both men and women go naked. They have much gold. Their territory
extends to the river of Santa Marta. They came originally from among
the people of Arma. Their weapons are lances, darts, and slings; but
of this I treat more fully in my _Book of Foundations_. They had news
of our entrance into Picara, and of what we had done in Carrapa, but
they trusted in the strength of their fortified places, and held the
Spaniards of little account. Having made great sacrifices and prayers
to their gods, and having spoken with the devil in accordance with
their customs, more than 6,000 of them assembled, with their arms, on
the summit of their mountains, to defend the pass. We set out from
Picara, as I have said, with more than 5,000 Indians of that province,
led by their principal Chiefs, all eager to attack the province of
Pozo and kill its inhabitants.