It would take too long to tell how Pizarro fared in his native country,
but the matter ended in the King's being convinced of the importance of
his discoveries, and bestowing many honours and rewards upon him. He was
also empowered to conquer and take possession of Peru, and expressly
enjoined to preserve the existing regulations for the government and
protection of the Indians, and to take with him many priests to convert
them. All being settled to Pizarro's satisfaction, he found time to
revisit his own town, where, his fortunes having somewhat mended since
he turned his back upon it, he found friends and eager followers, and
among these his own four half-brothers, Hernando, Gonzalo, and Juan
Pizarro, and Francisco de Alcantara. It was not without many
difficulties that Francisco Pizarro got together the two hundred and
fifty men he had agreed to raise, and escaped from the delays and
intrigues of the Spanish Court; but it was done at last, and the
adventurers in three vessels started from Seville, and after a
prosperous voyage reached Nombre de Dios, and there met De Luque and
Almagro. Disagreements speedily arose, for the latter naturally felt
aggrieved that Pizarro should have secured for himself such an unfair
share of the riches and honours as the King had bestowed on him without
putting forward the claims of his comrade, and matters were made worse
by the insolent way in which Hernando Pizarro treated the old soldier,
whom he looked upon as an obstacle in the path of his brother. Matters
got to such a pass that Almagro was actually preparing ships to
prosecute the expedition on his own account, but De Luque at last
succeeded in reconciling the two commanders--at least for the
moment--and the united band started for the third time. Though the
number of men in the three ships did not exceed one hundred and eighty,
yet they had twenty-seven horses, and were now much better provided with
arms and ammunition. Pizarro's intention was to steer for Tumbez, but
the wind being contrary he anchored instead in the Bay of St. Matthew,
where the troops disembarked and advanced along the coast, while the
vessels proceeded in the same direction, keeping as close inshore as
possible. When Pizarro and his men reached a town of some importance
they rushed in upon it sword in hand, and the inhabitants, without
offering any resistance, fled to the woods, leaving the invaders to
rifle their dwellings, from which they collected an unexpectedly large
store of gold, silver, and emeralds, some of the stones being of great
size. Pizarro sent the treasure back to Panama in the ships, and
continued his march, his soldiers suffering terribly in crossing the
sandy wastes under the burning sun, which beat upon their iron mail or
quilted cotton doublets till they were nearly suffocated. Here, too,
they were attacked by a dreadful disease, terrible warts of great size
breaking out upon them, of which several died. This plague, which was
quite unknown before, attacked the natives also, spreading over the
whole country. Everywhere as they advanced the Indians fled before them;
the land was poor, and the Spaniards began to grumble and wish to
retreat; but at this juncture one of the ships appeared, and the march
along the coast was continued. Reaching the Gulf of Guayaquil, Pizarro
persuaded the friendly natives of Tumbez to transport himself and his
men to the island of Puna, where he encamped for the rainy season; but
the islanders resented the presence of their enemies the men of Tumbez,
a suspicion of treachery arose, and Pizarro allowed ten or twelve
prisoners, men of Puna, to be massacred. Then the whole tribe fell upon
the Spaniards and there was a great battle, in which the white men were
victorious; but after this their position was a most uncomfortable one,
the enemy being ever on the watch to cut off stragglers and destroy
provisions, besides making night attacks upon the camp. Fortunately the
other two ships came back at this juncture, bringing a hundred
volunteers and some more horses, and with them Pizarro felt strong
enough to cross to the mainland and resume his march. He had lately
learned something of the state of affairs in the country, which he
thought he might be able to turn to his own advantage. It seemed that
the Inca Huayna Capac, who conquered Quito, had left three sons--Huascar
the heir, the son of the Queen, Manco Capac his half-brother, and
Atahuallpa, son of the Princess of Quito, who had been married to Huayna
Capac after the conquest. To Atahuallpa the Inca at his death left the
kingdom of Quito, enjoining him to live at peace with his brother
Huascar, who succeeded to the empire of Peru. This happened about seven
years before Pizarro reached Puna. For five years the brothers ruled
their respective kingdoms without dispute. Huascar was of a gentle and
peaceable disposition, but Atahuallpa was warlike, ambitious, and
daring, and constantly endeavouring to enlarge his territory. His
restless spirit at length excited alarm at Cuzco, and Huascar sent to
remonstrate with him, and to require him to render homage for the
kingdom of Quito. This at once provoked hostilities. A great battle took
place at Ambato, in which Atahuallpa was victorious, and he marched on
in the direction of Cuzco, carrying all before him, and only
experiencing a slight check from the islanders of Puna. After more
desperate encounters, in one of which Huascar was taken prisoner,
Atahuallpa possessed himself of Cuzco, and, assuming the diadem of the
Incas, received the homage of the whole country.
But his triumph was not to be for long.
We left Pizarro preparing to leave Puna and cross to Tumbez. His
surprise when he did so was great, for he found only the ruins of what
had been a flourishing town; moreover, some of his men were
treacherously attacked by the natives, whom he had supposed to be quite
friendly to him. The Spaniards were much disappointed, as they had
looked forward confidently to securing the golden treasures of Tumbez of
which they had heard so much; nor could Pizarro believe the explanation
of this state of affairs given by the Curaca, who was caught lurking in
the woods. However, it was his policy to remain friendly with the
natives if possible, so no further notice was taken. No true account
could be gathered of the fate of the two men who had been left there
from the last expedition, though it was evident that both had perished.
An Indian gave Pizarro a scroll left by one of them, upon which was
written: 'Know, whoever you may be that may chance to set foot in this
country, that it contains more silver and gold than there is iron in
Biscay.' But when this was shown to the soldiers they only thought it
was a device of their captain to give them fresh hope. Pizarro, seeing
that nothing but incessant activity could keep down the rising spirit of
discontent, now spent some weeks in exploring the country, and finally
assembling all his men at a spot some thirty leagues south of Tumbez, he
built there a considerable town, which he named San Miguel. The site
afterwards proved to be unhealthy, and was abandoned for another on the
banks of the river Piura, where a town still stands. Presently the news
reached San Miguel that Atahuallpa was encamped within twelve days'
journey, and Pizarro after much consideration resolved to present
himself in his camp, trusting doubtless that when he got there
circumstances would arise which he could turn to his own advantage.