History of the Incas

P >> Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa >> History of the Incas

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XXXIX.

PACHACUTI INCA YUPANQUI PLANTS _MITIMAES_ IN ALL THE LANDS HE HAD
CONQUERED.

As all the conquests made by this Inca were attended with such violence
and cruelties, with such spoliation and force, and the people who became
his subjects by acquisition, or to speak more correctly by rapine, were
numerous, they obeyed so long as they felt the force compelling them,
and, as soon as they were a little free from that fear, they presently
rebelled and resumed their liberty. Then the Inca was obliged to conquer
them again. Turning many things in his mind, and seeking for remedies,
how he could settle once for all the numerous provinces he had
conquered, at last he hit upon a plan which, although adapted to the
object he sought to attain, and coloured with some appearance of
generosity, was really the worst tyranny he perpetrated. He ordered
visitors to go through all the subdued provinces, with orders to measure
and survey them, and to bring him models of the natural features in
clay. This was done. The models and reports were brought before the
Inca. He examined them and considered the mountainous fastnesses and the
plains. He ordered the visitors to look well to what he would do. He
then began to demolish the fastnesses and to have their inhabitants
moved to plain country, and those of the plains were moved to
mountainous regions, so far from each other, and each so far from their
native country, that they could not return to it. Next the Inca ordered
the visitors to go and do with the people what they had seen him do with
the models. They went and did so.

He gave orders to others to go to the same districts, and, jointly with
the _tucuricos_, to take some young men, with their wives, from each
district. This was done and they were brought to Cuzco from all the
provinces, from one 30, from another 100, more or less according to the
population of each district. These selected people were presented before
the Inca, who ordered that they should be taken to people various parts.
Those of Chinchay-suyu were sent to Anti-suyu, those of Cunti-suyu to
Colla-suyu, so far from their native country that they could not
communicate with their relations or countrymen. He ordered that they
should be settled in valleys similar to those in their native land, and
that they should have seeds from those lands that they might be
preserved and not perish, giving them land to sow without stint, and
removing the natives.

The Incas called these colonists _mitimaes_[96], which means
"transported" or "moved," He ordered them to learn the language of the
country to which they were removed, but not to forget the general
language, which was the Quichua, and which he had ordered that all his
subjects in all the conquered provinces must learn and know. With it
conversation and business could be carried on, for it was the clearest
and richest of the dialects. The Inca gave the colonists authority and
power to enter the houses of the natives at all hours, night or day, to
see what they said, did or arranged, with orders to report all to the
nearest governor, so that it might be known if anything was plotted
against the government of the Inca, who, knowing the evil he had done,
feared all in general, and knew that no one served him voluntarily, but
only by force. Besides this the Inca put garrisons into all the
fortresses of importance, composed of natives of Cuzco or the
neighbourhood, which garrisons were called _michecrima_[97].

[Note 96: The system of _mitimaes_ was a very important part of the
Inca polity. It is frequently referred to by Cieza de Leon, and
described by Garcilasso de la Vega, ii. p. 215. See also Balboa, pp. 28,
114,143,249. Molina, pp. 4, 22, 23. Yamqui Pachacuti, pp. 95, 97, Polo
de Ondegardo, p. 161.]

[Note 97: _Michec_ a shepherd, hence a governor. _Rimay_ to speak.]

XL.

THE COLLAS, SONS OF CHUCHI CCAPAC, REBEL AGAINST INCA YUPANQUI TO OBTAIN
THEIR FREEDOM.

After Inca Yupanqui had celebrated the triumphs and festivities
consequent on the conquest of Chinchay-suyu, and arranged the system of
_mitimaes_, he dismissed the troops. He himself went to Yucay, where he
built the edifices, the ruins of which may still be seen. These being
finished, he went down the valley of Yucay to a place which is now
called Tambo, eight leagues from Cuzco, where he erected some
magnificent buildings. The sons of Chuchi Ccapac, the great Sinchi of
the Collao, had to labour as captives at the masonry and other work.
Their father, as has already been narrated, was conquered in the Collao
and killed by the Inca. These sons of Chuchi Ccapac, feeling that they
were being vilely treated, and remembering that they were the sons of so
great a man as their father, also seeing that the Inca had disbanded his
army, agreed to risk their lives in obtaining their freedom. One night
they fled, with all the people who were there, and made such speed that,
although the Inca sent after them, they could not be overtaken. Along
the route they took, they kept raising the inhabitants against the Inca.
Much persuasion was not needed, because, as they were obeying by force,
they only sought the first opportunity to rise. On this favourable
chance, many nations readily rebelled, even those who were very near
Cuzco, but principally the Collao and all its provinces.

The Inca, seeing this, ordered a great army to be assembled, and sought
the favour of auxiliaries from Gusmanco Ccapac and Chimu Ccapac. He
collected a great number of men, made sacrifices _calpa_[98], and buried
some children alive, which is called _capa cocha_, to induce their idols
to favour them in that war. All being ready, the Inca nominated two of
his sons as captains of the army, valorous men, named the one Tupac Ayar
Manco, the other Apu Paucar Usnu. The Inca left Cuzco with more than
200,000 warriors, and marched against the sons of Chuchi Ccapac, who
also had a great power of men and arms, and were anxious to meet the
Incas and fight for their lives against the men of Cuzco.

[Note 98: _Calpa_ means force, vigour; also an army.]

As both were seeking each other, they soon met, and joined in a stubborn
and bloody battle, in which there was great slaughter, because one side
fought for life and liberty and the other for honour. As those of Cuzco
were better disciplined and drilled, and more numerous than their
adversaries, they had the advantage. But the Collas preferred to die
fighting rather than to become captives to one so cruel and inhuman as
the Inca. So they opposed themselves to the arms of the _orejones_, who,
with great cruelties, killed as many of the Collas as opposed their
advance. The sons of the Inca did great things in the battle, with their
own hands, on that day.

The Collas were defeated, most of them being killed or taken prisoners.
Those who fled were followed to a place called Lampa. There the wounded
were cared for, and the squadrons refreshed. The Inca ordered his two
sons, Tupac Ayar Manco and Apu Paucar Usnu, to press onward, conquering
the country as far as the Chichas, where they were to set up their
cairns and return. The Inca then returned to Cuzco, for a triumph over
the victory he had gained.

The Inca arrived at Cuzco, triumphed and celebrated the victory with
festivities. And because he found that a son had been born to him, he
raised him before the Sun, offered him, and gave him the name of Tupac
Inca Yupanqui. In his name he offered treasures of gold and silver to
the Sun, and to the other oracles and _huacas_, and also made the
sacrifice of _capa cocha_. Besides this he made the most solemn and
costly festivals that had ever been known, throughout the land. This was
done because Inca Yupanqui wished that this Tupac Inca should succeed
him, although he had other older and legitimate sons by his wife and
sister Mama Anahuarqui. For, although the custom of these tyrants was
that the eldest legitimate son should succeed, it was seldom observed,
the Inca preferring the one he liked best, or whose mother he loved
most, or he who was the ablest among the brothers.

XLI.

AMARU TUPAC INCA AND APU PAUCAR USNU CONTINUE THE CONQUEST OF THE COLLAO
AND AGAIN SUBDUE THE COLLAS.

As soon as the Inca returned to Cuzco, leaving his two sons Tupac Amaru
and Apu Paucar Usnu[99] in the Callao, those captains set out from
Lampa, advancing to Hatun-Colla, where they knew that the Collas had
rallied their troops to fight the Cuzcos once more, and that they had
raised one of the sons of Chuchi Ccapac to be Inca. The Incas came to
the place where the Collas were awaiting them in arms. They met and
fought valorously, many being killed on both sides. At the end of the
battle the Collas were defeated and their new Inca was taken prisoner.
Thus for a third time were the Collas conquered by the Cuzcos. By order
of the Inca, his sons, generals of the war, left the new Inca of the
Collas at Hatun-Colla, as a prisoner well guarded and re-captured. The
other captains went on, continuing their conquests, as the Inca had
ordered, to the confines of Charcas and the Chichas.

[Note 99: Tupac Amaru. _Tupac_ means royal, and _amaru_ a serpent.
_Apu_ a chief, _paucar_ beautiful and _usnu_ a judgment seat.]

While his sons prosecuted the war, Pachacuti their father, finished the
edifices at Tambo, and constructed the ponds and pleasure houses of
Yucay. He erected, on a hill near Cuzco, called Patallata, some
sumptuous houses, and many others in the neighbourhood of the capital.
He also made many channels of water both for use and for pleasure; and
ordered all the governors of provinces who were under his sway, to build
pleasure houses on the most convenient sites, ready for him when he
should visit their commands.

While Inca Yupanqui proceeded with these measures, his sons had
completed the conquest of the Collao. When they arrived in the vicinity
of Charcas, the natives of Paria, Tapacari, Cochabambas, Poconas and
Charcas retreated to the country of the Chichas and Chuyes, in order to
make a combined resistance to the Incas, who arrived where their
adversaries were assembled, awaiting the attack. The Inca army was in
three divisions. A squadron of 5000 men went by the mountains, another
of 20,000 by the side of the sea, and the rest by the direct road. They
arrived at the strong position held by the Charcas and their allies, and
fought with them. The Incas were victorious, and took great spoils of
silver extracted by those natives from the mines of Porco. It is to be
noted that nothing was ever known of the 5000 _orejones_ who entered by
the mountains or what became of them. Leaving all these provinces
conquered, and subdued, Amaru Tupac Inca and Apu Paucar Usnu returned to
Cuzco where they triumphed over their victories, Pachacuti granting them
many favours, and rejoicing with many festivals and sacrifices to idols.

XLII.

PACHACUTI INCA YUPANQUI NOMINATES HIS SON TUPAC INCA YUPANQUI AS HIS
SUCCESSOR.

Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui was now very old; and he determined to nominate
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 Canaris, and those who resisted were
totally destroyed. The Canaris submitted from fear, and he took their
Sinchis, named Pisar Ccapac, Canar 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_.]

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