a successor to take his place after his death. He called together the
Incas his relations, of the _ayllus_ of Hanan-cuzco and Hurin-cuzco and
said, "My friends and relations! I am now, as you see, very old, and I
desire to leave you, when my days are over, one who will govern and
defend you from your enemies. Some propose that I should name Amaru
Tupac Inca, but it does not appear to me that he has the qualifications
to govern so great a lordship as that which I have acquired. I,
therefore, desire to nominate another with whom you will be more
content." The relations, in their reply, gave thanks to the Inca, and
declared that they would derive great benefit from his nomination. He
then said that he named his son Tupac Inca, and ordered him to come
forth from the house. He had been there for 15 or 16 years to be brought
up, without any one seeing him except very rarely and as a great favour.
He was now shown to the people, and the Inca presently ordered a fringe
of gold to be placed in the hand of the image of the Sun, with the
head-dress called _pillaca-llaytu_[100]. After Tupac Inca had made his
obeisance to his father, the Inca and the rest rose and went before the
image of the Sun where they made their sacrifices and offered _capa
cocha_ to that deity. Then they offered the new Inca Tupac Yupanqui,
beseeching the Sun to protect and foster him, and to make him so that
all should hold and judge him to be a child of the Sun and father of his
people. This done the oldest and principal _orejones_ took Tupac Inca to
the Sun, and the priests took the fringe from the hands of the image,
which they call _mascapaycha_, and placed it over the head of Tupac Inca
Yupanqui until it rested on his forehead. He was declared Inca Ccapac
and seated in front of the Sun on a seat of gold, called _duho_[101],
garnished with emeralds and other precious stones. Seated there, they
clothed him in the _ccapac hongo_[102], placed the _suntur paucar_ in
his hand, gave him the other insignia of Inca, and the priests raised
him on their shoulders. When these ceremonies were completed, Pachacuti
Inca Yupanqui ordered that his son Tupac Inca should remain shut up in
the House of the Sun, performing the fasts which it is the custom to go
through before receiving the order of chivalry; which ceremony consisted
in opening the ears. The Inca ordered that what had been done should not
be made public until he gave the command to publish it.
[Note 100: _Pillaca-llatu_ is a cloth or cloak woven of two colours,
black and brown.]
[Note 101: This word is corrupt. _Tiana_ is the word for a seat.]
[Note 102: Ccapac uncu. The word _uncu_ means a tunic.]
XLIII.
HOW PACHACUTI ARMED HIS SON TUPAC INCA.
Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui found happiness in leaving memory of himself.
With this object he did extraordinary things as compared with those of
his ancestors, in building edifices, celebrating triumphs, not allowing
himself to be seen except as a great favour shown to the people, for as
such it was considered, on the day that he appeared. Then he ordered
that no one should come to behold him without worshipping and bringing
something in his hand to offer him. This custom was continued by all his
descendants, and was observed inviolably. [_Thus, from the time of this
Pachacuti began an unheard of and inhuman tyranny in addition to the
tyrannies of his ancestors._] As he was now old and desirous of
perpetuating his name, it appeared to him that he would obtain his
desire by giving authority to his son and successor named Tupac Inca. So
the boy was brought up, confined in the House of the Sun for more than
16 years, seeing no one but his tutors and masters until he was brought
and presented to the Sun, to be nominated as has already been explained.
To invest him at the _huarachico_ the Inca ordered a new way of giving
the order of chivalry. For this he built round the city four other
houses for prayer to the Sun, with much apparatus of gold idols,
_huacas_ and service, for his son to perambulate these stations after he
had been armed as a knight.
Affairs being in this state, there came to the Inca Pachacuti, his son
Amaru Tupac Inca, who had been named by his father as his successor some
years before, because he was the eldest legitimate son. He said, "Father
Inca! I understand that you have a son in the House of the Sun whom you
have ordered to be successor after your own days. Order that he may be
show to me." The Inca, looking upon this as boldness on the part of
Amaru Tupac, replied, "It is true, and I desire you and your wife shall
be his vassals, and that you shall serve and obey him as your Lord and
Inca." Amaru replied that he wished to do so, and that for this reason,
he desired to see him and offer sacrifice to him, and that orders should
be given to take him where his brother was. The Inca gave permission for
this, Amaru Tupac Inca taking what was necessary for the ceremony, and
being brought to where Tupac Inca was fasting. When Amaru saw him in
such majesty of wealth and surroundings, he fell on his face to the
earth, adoring, offering sacrifices and obedience. On learning that it
was his brother, Tupac Inca raised him and saluted him in the face.
Presently Inca Yupanqui caused the necessary preparations to be made for
investing his son with the order of chivalry. When all was ready, the
Inca, accompanied by all his principal relations and courtiers, went to
the House of the Sun, where they brought out Tupac Inca with great
solemnity and pomp. For they carried with him all the idols of the Sun,
Vircocha, the other _huacas, moro-urco_. All being placed in order with
such pomp as had never been seen before, they all went to the great
square of the city, in the centre of which a bonfire was made. All
relations and friends then killed many animals, offering them as
sacrifices by throwing them into the flames. They worshipped the heir,
offering him rich gifts, the first that brought a gift being his father.
Following the example all the rest adored, seeing that his father had
shown him reverence. Thus did the _orejones_ Incas and all the rest who
were present, seeing that for this they had been called and invited, to
bring their gifts and offer them to their new Inca.
[Illustration: GROUP OF INCAS, in ceremonial dresses, from the pictures
in the Church of Santa Ana, Cuzco A.D. 1570. From a sketch by Sir
Clements Markham, 1853.]
This being done, the festival called _Ccapac Raymi_ was commenced, being
the feast of kings, and consequently the most solemn festival kept by
these people. When the ceremonies had been performed, they bored the
ears of Tupac Inca Yupanqui, which is their mode of investiture into the
order of chivalry and nobility. He was then taken to the stations of the
Houses of the Sun, giving him the weapons and other insignia of war.
This being finished his father the Inca Yupanqui gave him, for his wife,
one of his sisters named Mama Ocllo, who was a very beautiful woman with
much ability and wisdom.
XLIV.
PACHACUTI INCA YUPANQUI SENDS HIS SON TUPAC INCA YUPANQUI TO CONQUER
CHINCHAY-SUYU.
The Inca Yupanqui desired that his son should be employed on some
service that would bring him fame, as soon as he had been proclaimed his
successor, and armed as a knight. He had information that Chinchay-suyu
was a region where name and treasure might be acquired, especially from
a Sinchi named Chuqui-Sota in Chachapoyas. He, therefore, ordered all
preparations to be made for the conquest of Chinchay-suyu. He gave the
prince for his tutors, captains, and captains-general of his army, two
of his brothers, the one named Auqui Yupanqui and the other Tilca
Yupanqui. The army being assembled and the preparations made, they set
out from Cuzco.
Tupac went in such pomp and majesty that, where he passed, no one dared
to look him in the face, in such veneration was he held. The people left
the roads along which he had to pass and, ascending the hills on either
side, worshipped and adored. They pulled out their eyebrows and
eyelashes, and blowing on them, they made offering to the Inca. Others
offered handfuls of a very precious herb called _coca_. When he arrived
at the villages, he put on the dress and head-gear of that district, for
all were different in their dress and head-gear as they are now. For
Inca Yupanqui, so as to know each nation he had conquered, ordered that
each one should have a special dress and head-gear, which they call
_pillu_, _llaytu_ and _chuco_, different one from the other, so as to be
easily distinguished and recognized. Seating himself, Tupac Inca made a
solemn sacrifice of animals and birds, burning them in a fire which was
kindled in his presence; and in this way they worshipped the sun, which
they believed to be God.
In this manner Tupac Inca began to repeat the conquests and tyranny of
all his ancestors and his father. For, although many nations were
conquered by his father, almost all were again with arms in their hands
to regain their liberty, and the rest to defend themselves. As Tupac
Inca advanced with such power, force and pride, he not only claimed the
subjection of the people, but also usurped the veneration they gave to
their gods or devils, for truly he and his father made them worship all
with more veneration than the Sun.
Tupac Inca finally marched out of Cuzco and began to proceed with
measures for subduing the people in the near vicinity. In the province
of the Quichuas[103] he conquered and occupied the fortresses of Tohara,
Cayara, and Curamba, and in the province of Angaraes the fortresses of
Urco-colla and Huaylla-pucara, taking its Sinchi named Chuquis Huaman
prisoner. In the province of Xauxa he took Sisiquilla Pucara, and in the
province of Huayllas the fortresses of Chuncu-marca and Pillahua-marca.
In Chachapoyas the fortress of Piajajalca fell before him, and he took
prisoner a very rich chief named Chuqui Sota. He conquered the province
of the Paltas, and the valleys of Pacasmayu and Chimu, which is now
Truxillo. He destroyed it as Chimu Ccapac had been subdued before. He
also conquered the province of the Cañaris, and those who resisted were
totally destroyed. The Cañaris submitted from fear, and he took their
Sinchis, named Pisar Ccapac, Cañar Ccapac and Chica Ccapac, and built an
impregnable fortress there called Quinchi-caxa.
[Note 103: The province of the Quichuas was in the valley of the
Pachachaca, above Abancay.]
Tupac Inca Yupanqui then returned to Cuzco with much treasure and many
prisoners. He was well received by his father with a most sumptuous
triumph, and with the applause of all the _orejones_ of Cuzco. They had
many feasts and sacrifices, and to please the people they celebrated the
festival called Inti Raymi with feasts and dances, a time of great
rejoicing. The Inca granted many favours for the sake of his son Tupac
Inca, that he might have the support of his subjects, which was what he
desired. For as he was very old and unable to move about, feeling the
approach of death, his aim was to leave his son in the possession of the
confidence of his army.
XLV.
HOW PACHACUTI INCA YUPANQUI VISITED THE PROVINCES CONQUERED FOR HIM BY
HIS CAPTAINS.
It has been related how the Inca Yupanqui placed garrisons of Cuzco
soldiers, and a governor called _tucuyrico_ in all the provinces he
conquered and oppressed. It must be known that owing to his absorbing
occupations in conquering other provinces, training warriors, and
placing his son in command for the conquest of Chinchay-suyu, he had not
been able to put his final intentions and will into execution, which was
to make those he oppressed submissive subjects and tributaries. Seeing
that the people were in greater fear at beholding the valour of Tupac
Inca, he determined to have a visitation of the land, and nominated 16
visitors, four for each of the four _suyus_ or divisions of the empire,
which are _Cunti-suyu_ from Cuzco south and west as far as the South
Sea, _Chinchay-suyu_ from Cuzco to the north and west, _Anti-suyu_ from
Cuzco to the east, and _Colla-suyu_ from Cuzco to the south, south-west,
and south-east.
These visitors each went to the part to which he was appointed, and
inspected, before all things, the work of the _tucuyricos_ and the
methods of their government. They caused irrigating channels to be
constructed for the crops, broke up land where this had been neglected,
built _andenes_ or cultivated terraces, and took up pastures for the
Sun, the Inca, and Cuzco. Above all they imposed very heavy tribute on
all the produce, [_so that they all went about to rob and desolate
property and persons_]. The visitations occupied two years. When they
were completed the visitors returned to Cuzco, bringing with them
certain cloths descriptive of the provinces they had visited. They
reported fully to the Inca all that they had found and done.
Besides these, the Inca also despatched other _orejones_ as overseers to
make roads and hospices on the routes of the Inca, ready for the use of
his soldiers. These overseers set out, and made roads, now called "of
the Inca," over the mountains and along the sea coast. Those on the sea
coast are all provided, at the sides, with high walls of _adobe_,
wherever it was possible to build them, except in the deserts where
there are no building materials. These roads go from Quito to Chile, and
into the forests of the Andes. Although the Inca did not complete all,
suffice it that he made a great part of the roads, which were finished
by his sons and grandsons.
XLVI.
TUPAC INCA YUPANQUI SETS OUT, A SECOND TIME, BY ORDER OF HIS FATHER, TO
CONQUER WHAT REMAINED UNSUBDUED IN CHINCHAY-SUYU.
Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui knew from the report made by his son when he
returned from the conquest of Chinchay-suyu, that there were other great
and rich nations and provinces beyond the furthest point reached by
Tupac Inca. That no place might be left to conquer, the Inca ordered his
son to return with a view to the subjugation of the parts of Quito. He
assembled the troops and gave his son the same two brothers as his
colleagues, Tilca Yupanqui and Anqui Yupanqui, who had gone with him on
the former expedition. [_Tupac inflicted unheard of cruelties and deaths
on those who defended themselves and did not wish to give him
obedience_.]
In this way he arrived at Tumipampa, within the territory of Quito,
whose Sinchi, named Pisar Ccapac, was confederated with Pilla-huaso,
Sinchi of the provinces and site of Quito. These two chiefs had a great
army and were determined to fight Tupac Inca for their country and
lives. Tupac sent messengers to them, demanding that they should lay
down their arms and give him obedience. They replied that they were in
their own native country, that they were free, and did not wish to serve
any one nor be tributaries.
Tupac and his colleagues rejoiced at this answer, because their wish was
to find a pretext to encounter them with blows and to rob them, which
was the principal object of the war. They say that the Inca army
numbered more than 250,000 experienced soldiers. Tupac ordered them to
march against the men of Quito and the Cañaris. They encountered each
other, both sides fighting with resolution and skill. The victory was
for a long time doubtful because the Quitos and Cañaris pressed
stubbornly against their enemies. When the Inca saw this he got out of
the litter in which he travelled, animated his people, and made signs
for the 50,000 men who were kept in reserve for the last necessity. When
these fresh troops appeared the Quitos and Cañaris were defeated and
fled, the pursuit being continued with much bloodshed and cruelty, the
victors shouting, "Ccapac Inca Yupanqui! Cuzco! Cuzco!" All the chiefs
were killed. They captured Pilla-huaso in the vanguard. No quarter was
given, in order to strike terror into those who heard of it.
Thence Inca Tupac marched to the place where now stands the city of San
Francisco de Quito, where they halted to cure the wounded and give much
needed rest to the others. So this great province remained subject, and
Tupac sent a report of his proceedings to his father. Pachacuti rejoiced
at the success of his son, and celebrated many festivals and sacrifices
on receiving the tidings.
After Tupac Inca had rested at Cuzco, re-organized his army, and cured
the wounded he went to Tumipampa, where his wife and sister bore him a
son, to whom he gave the name of Titu Cusi Hualpa, afterwards known as
Huayna Ccapac. After the Inca Tupac had rejoiced and celebrated the
birthday festivals, although the four years were passed that his father
had given him to complete the conquests, he heard that there was a great
nation towards the South Sea, composed of Indians called Huancavelicas.
So he determined to go down to conquer. At the head of the mountains
above them he built the fortress of Huachalla, and then went down
against the Huancavelicas. Tupac divided his army into three parts, and
took one by the most rugged mountains, making war on the Huancavelica
mountaineers. He penetrated so far into the mountains that for a long
time nothing was known of him, whether he was dead or alive. He
conquered the Huancavelicas although they were very warlike, fighting on
land and at sea in _balsas_, from Tumbez to Huañapi, Huamo, Manta,
Turuca and Quisin.
Marching and conquering on the coast of Manta, and the island of Puna,
and Tumbez, there arrived at Tumbez some merchants who had come by sea
from the west, navigating in _balsas_ with sails. They gave information
of the land whence they came, which consisted of some islands called
Avachumbi and Ninachumbi, where there were many people and much gold.
Tupac Inca was a man of lofty and ambitious ideas, and was not satisfied
with the regions he had already conquered. So he determined to challenge
a happy fortune, and see if it would favour him by sea. Yet he did not
lightly believe the navigating merchants, for such men, being great
talkers, ought not to be credited too readily. In order to obtain fuller
information, and as it was not a business of which news could easily be
got, he called a man, who accompanied him in his conquests, named
Antarqui who, they all declare, was a great necromancer and could even
fly through the air. Tupac Inca asked him whether what the merchant
mariners said was true. Antarqui answered, after having thought the
matter well out, that what they said was true, and that he would go
there first. They say that he accomplished this by his arts, traversed
the route, saw the islands, their people and riches, and, returning,
gave certain information of all to Tupac Inca.
The Inca, having this certainty, determined to go there. He caused an
immense number of _balsas_ to be constructed, in which he embarked more
than 20,000 chosen men; taking with him as captains Huaman Achachi,
Cunti Yupanqui, Quihual Tupac (all Hanan-cuzcos), Yancan Mayta, Quisu
Mayta, Cachimapaca Macus Yupanqui, Llimpita Usca Mayta (Hurin-cuzcos);
his brother Tilca Yupanqui being general of the whole fleet. Apu
Yupanqui was left in command of the army which remained on land.
Tupac Inca navigated and sailed on until he discovered the islands of
Avachumbi and Ninachumbi, and returned, bringing back with him black
people, gold, a chair of brass, and a skin and jaw bone of a horse.
These trophies were preserved in the fortress of Cuzco until the
Spaniards came. An Inca now living had charge of this skin and jaw bone
of a horse. He gave this account, and the rest who were present
corroborated it. His name is Urco Huaranca. I am particular about this
because to those who know anything of the Indies it will appear a
strange thing and difficult to believe. The duration of this expedition
undertaken by Tupac Inca was nine months, others say a year, and, as he
was so long absent, every one believed he was dead. But to deceive them
and make them think that news of Tupac Inca had come, Apu Yupanqui, his
general of the land army, made rejoicings. This was afterwards commented
upon to his disadvantage, and it was said that he rejoiced because he
was pleased that Tupac Inca Yupanqui did not appear. It cost him his
life.
These are the islands which I discovered in the South Sea on the 30th of
November, 1567, 200 and more leagues to the westward, being the great
discovery of which I gave notice to the Licentiate Governor Castro. But
Alvaro de Mendaña, General of the Fleet, did not wish to occupy
them[104].
[Note 104: This story of the navigation of Tupac Inca to the islands
of Ninachumbi and Avachumbi or Hahua chumpi is told by Balboa as well as
by Sarmiento. They were no doubt two of the Galapagos Islands. _Nina
chumpi_ means fire island, and _Hahua chumpi_ outer island. See my
introduction to the _Voyages of Sarmiento_, p. xiii; and _Las Islas de
Galapagos_ by Marco Jimenes de la Espada.]
After Tupac Inca disembarked from the discovery of the islands, he
proceeded to Tumipampa, to visit his wife and son and to hurry
preparations for the return to Cuzco to see his father, who was reported
to be ill. On the way back he sent troops along the coast to Truxillo,
then called Chimu, where they found immense wealth of gold and silver
worked into wands, and into beams of the house of Chimu Ccapac, with all
which they joined the main army at Caxamarca. Thence Tupac Inca took the
route to Cuzco, where he arrived after an absence of six years since he
set out on this campaign.
Tupac Inca Yupanqui entered Cuzco with the greatest, the richest, and
the most solemny triumph with which any Inca had ever reached the House
of the Sun, bringing with him people of many different races, strange
animals, innumerable quantities of riches. But behold the evil condition
of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui and his avarice, for though Tupac Inca was
his son whose promotion he had procured, he felt such jealousy that his
son should have gained such honour and fame in those conquests, that he
publicly showed annoyance that it was not himself who triumphed, and
that all was not due to him. So he determined to kill his sons Tilca
Yupanqui and Auqui Yupanqui who had gone with Tupac Inca, their crime
being that they had disobeyed his orders by delaying longer than the
time he had fixed, and that they had taken his son to such a distance
that he thought he would never return to Cuzco. They say that he killed
them, though some say that he only killed Tilca Yupanqui. At this Tupac
Inca Yupanqui felt much aggrieved, that his father should have slain one
who had worked so well for him. The death was concealed by many feasts
in honour of the victories of Tupac Inca, which were continued for a
year.
XLVII.
DEATH OF PACHACUTI INCA YUPANQUI.
Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui derived much comfort from his grandson, the son
of Tupac Inca. He always had the child with him, and caused him to be
brought up and cherished in his residence and dormitory. He would not
let him out of his sight.
Being in the highest prosperity and sovereignty of his life, he fell ill
of a grave infirmity, and, feeling that he was at the point of death, he
sent for all his sons who were then in the city. In their presence he
first divided all his jewels and contents of his wardrobe. Next he made
them plough furrows in token that they were vassals of their brother,
and that they had to eat by the sweat of their hands. He also gave them
arms in token that they were to fight for their brother. He then
dismissed them.
He next sent for the Incas _orejones_ of Cuzco, his relations, and for
Tupac Inca his son to whom he spoke, with a few words, in this
manner:--"Son! you now see how many great nations I leave to you, and
you know what labour they have cost me. Mind that you are the man to
keep and augment them. No one must raise his two eyes against you and
live, even if he be your own brother. I leave you these our relations
that they may be your councillors. Care for them and they shall serve
you. When I am dead, take care of my body, and put it in my houses at
Patallacta. Have my golden image in the House of the Sun, and make my
subjects, in all the provinces, offer up solemn sacrifice, after which
keep the feast of _purucaya_, that I may go to rest with my father the
Sun." Having finished his speech they say that he began to sing in a low
and sad voice with words of his own language. They are in Castilian as
follows:
"I was born as a flower of the field,
As a flower I was cherished in my youth,
I came to my full age, I grew old,
Now I am withered and die."
Having uttered these words, he laid his head upon a pillow and expired,
giving his soul to the devil, having lived 125 years. For he succeeded,
or rather he took the Incaship into his hands when he was 22, and he was
sovereign 103 years.