_Of what else was done by the General Pero Alvarez Holguin, and
how he departed from Cuzco._
In previous chapters we related how Pero Alvarez Holguin was received
in the city of Cuzco as General, and how Don Alonso de Montemayor had
arrived there with despatches from Don Diego. Although he had written
word of his coming, and that he had been sent by Don Diego, confidence
was not felt in Don Alonso. The Adelantado Almagro had always thought
highly of him, and he went with the Adelantado to Chile; moreover, he
was on his side at the battle of Las Salinas, so it was feared that
he might try to gain men over to Don Diego's party. He tried, indeed,
to slip away from Cuzco, because he was told, before Pedro Anzures
arrived, that some men who were not on very good terms with himself,
were coming from the town of Plata in that leader's company, and he
feared, in those troublous times, they might seek to kill him. Hence
he tried to escape. But Pero Alvarez presently took measures to keep
him in hand, and ordered his arrest, treating him liberally as his
position deserved.
Pedro Anzures having arrived, and the captains having been appointed,
it was found that the force numbered 300 men--including mounted
pikemen, arquebusiers, and musketeers. News had come that his Majesty
had appointed the licentiate Vaca de Castro to be Judge, and that he
had actually arrived at Buenaventura, and must by now be at Quito.
So leaving a sufficient force behind to uphold Justice in the King's
name, it was decided to set out from Cuzco with the intention of
giving battle to Almagro and his followers if they should cross their
path; while, if not, they would march on until they could join Vaca de
Castro wherever they might meet him. They began the march to Guamanga
in good order, always throwing out scouts to reconnoitre in case there
should be signs of an enemy's approach.
Were one ordered to enumerate the great evils, injuries, robberies,
oppression and ill-treatment inflicted on the natives during these
operations, without exaggeration, there would never be an end of it,
for they took no more thought about killing Indians than as if they
were useless beasts, nor stopped to consider that Christ, our God,
was placed on the Cross for them as well as for us. If the captains
wished to place some check on such great evils they were powerless to
do so; for in past disturbances and civil wars soldiers have always
held to robbery and profit. If a remedy was attempted they mutinied,
and passed over from one camp to the other; or they stayed away in
the villages, if they were not allowed to follow their own devices.
In very truth we may in some measure acquit them of blame, for the
country is so rough and so devoid of beasts of burden that many
must travel afoot, through having nothing to ride. There are also
uninhabited wilds where it is necessary, owing to the great cold, to
carry tents and means of subsistence, so that where it is done with
moderation, I would not condemn the employment of Indian carriers.
But since my readers know what I can vouch for, I do not wish to say
more on this subject than that if a man had need of one pig he killed
twenty, if four Indians were wanted he took a dozen. To speak quite
plainly, there were many who made the poor Indians carry their public
women in hammocks borne on their shoulders.
After leaving Cuzco the General Pero Alvarez Holguin travelled
until he reached Guamanga, where Don Diego's deputy was one Vasco
de Guevara. He, fearing that he might receive some ill-treatment,
absented himself from the city, and concealed himself among the
mountains. But some soldiers sent out by Pero Alvarez to search for
him, found him, and brought him back. Then Pero Alvarez got himself
accepted as General in Guamanga, and after he had established order
and settled the city in the service of His Majesty he departed,
accompanied by some citizens and others who were soldiers from that
city. General Pero Alvarez followed the royal road of the Incas,
marching always with scouts in advance, until he arrived within half
a league of Parcos. He then desired all the captains, cavaliers,
gentlemen, and soldiers gathered under his banner to acknowledge
him afresh as their General and swear him in as such. This public
solemnity was there celebrated. They then discussed what should
next be done. Some said that they should go and give battle to Don
Diego, who had already left Lima, as we shall presently tell. Others
disagreed, saying that it would be better to continue their march
to Caxamarca, where they would obtain news of the Judge, and, in
conjunction with his men, they would be strong enough to resist the
enemy, who had been busying themselves only with increasing their
forces, and renewing their arms. Finally they agreed to continue their
journey, and join forces with Vaca de Castro and with the captain
Alonso de Alvarado.
Alonso de Toro, the citizen of Cuzco, pretending that he was going
back in search of some Indian girls, left the camp. They say that the
citizens of Cuzco were dissatisfied with the nomination of Holguin
as their General, and that this person had some quarrels here with
Don Pedro Puertocarrero; and things came to such a pass that Holguin
took his horses and arms away and would have turned him out of the
camp. The other captains intervening, however, peace was restored; and
Alonso de Toro came back into camp, and they continued their journey.
We will now leave them, and speak of the departure of Don Diego from
Lima.