History of the Incas

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

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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 Canaris. They encountered each
other, both sides fighting with resolution and skill. The victory was
for a long time doubtful because the Quitos and Canaris 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 Canaris 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 Huanapi, 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 Mendana, 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.

He had four legitimate sons by his wife Mama Anahuarqui, and he had 100
sons and 50 daughters who were bastards. Being numerous they were called
_Hatun-ayllu_, which means a "great lineage." By another name this
lineage is called _Inaca Panaca Ayllu_. Those who sustain this lineage
at the present time are Don Diego Cayo, Don Felipa Inguil, Don Juan
Quispi Cusi, Don Francisco Chaco Rimachi, and Don Juan Illac. They live
in Cuzco and are Hanan-cuzcos.

Pachacuti was a man of good stature, robust, fierce, haughty, insatiably
bent on tyrannizing over all the world, [_and cruel above measure. All
the ordinances he made for the people were directed to tyranny and his
own interests_]. His conduct was infamous for he often took some widow
as a wife and if she had a daughter that he liked, he also took the
daughter for wife or concubine. If there was some gallant and handsome
youth in the town who was esteemed for something, he presently made some
of his servants make friends with him, get him into the country, and
kill him the best way they could. He took all his sisters as concubines,
saying they could not have a better husband than their brother.

This Inca died in the year 1191. He conquered more than 300 leagues, 40
more or less in person accompanied by his legitimate brothers, the
captains Apu Mayta and Vicaquirao, the rest by Amaru Tupac Inca his
eldest son, Ccapac Yupanqui his brother, and Tupac Inca his son and
successor, with other captains, his brothers and sons.

This Inca arranged the parties and lineages of Cuzco in the order that
they now are. The Licentiate Polo found the body of Pachacuti in
Tococachi, where now is the parish of San Blas of the city of Cuzco,
well preserved and guarded. He sent it to Lima by order of the Viceroy
of this kingdom, the Marquis of Canete. The _guauqui_ or idol of this
Inca was called _Inti Illapa_. It was of gold and very large, and was
brought to Caxamarca in pieces. The Licentiate Polo found that this
_guauqui_ or idol had a house, estate, servants and women.

XLVIII.

THE LIFE OF TUPAC INCA YUPANQUI[105], THE TENTH INCA.

[Note 105: All authorities agree that Tupac Inca Yupanqui was the
successor of Pachacuti except Betanzos, Santillana and Garcilasso de la
Vega. Betanzos has a Yamqui Yupanqui. Garcilasso gives the reign of
another Inca named Inca Yupanqui between Pachacuti and Tupac Inca. He
was ignorant of the fact that Pachacuti and Inca Yupanqui were the same
person. Santillana follows Garcilasso but calls Pachacuti's other self
Ccapac Yupanqui.]

When Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui died, two _orejones_ were deputed to watch
the body, and to allow no one to enter or go out to spread the news of
his death, until orders had been given. The other Incas and _orejones_
went with Tupac Inca to the House of the Sun and then ordered the twelve
captains of the _ayllus_ of the Inca's guard to come. They came with
2200 men of the guard, under their command, fully armed, and surrounded
the Yupanqui with the fringe, and gave him the other insignia of
sovereignty, as he had now inherited and succeeded his father. Taking
him in the midst of themselves, and of the guards, they escorted him to
the great square, where he was seated, in majesty, on a superb throne.
All the people of the city were then ordered to come and make obeisance
to the Inca on pain of death.

Those who had come with the Inca, went to their houses to fetch presents
to show reverence and do homage to the new Inca. He remained with his
guards only, until they returned with presents, doing homage and
adoring. The rest of the people did the same, and sacrifices were
offered. [_It is to be noted that only those of Cuzco did this, and if
any others were present who did so, they must have been forced or
frightened by the armed men and the proclamation_.]

This having been done, they approached the Inca and said, "O Sovereign
Inca! O Father! now take rest." At these words Tupac Inca showed much
sadness and covered his head with his mantle, which they call
_llacolla_, a square cloak. He next went, with all his company, to the
place where the body of his father was laid, and there he put on
mourning. All things were then arranged for the obsequies, and Tupac
Inca Yupanqui did everything that his father had ordered at the point of
death, touching the treatment of his body and other things.

XLIX.

TUPAC INCA YUPANQUI CONQUERS THE PROVINCE OF THE ANTIS.

Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui being dead, and Tupac Inca ruling alone, he
caused all the Sinchis and principal men of the conquered provinces to
be summoned. Those came who feared the fury of the Inca, and with them
the Indians of the province of Anti-suyu, who are the dwellers in the
forests to the eastward of Cuzco, who had been conquered in the time of
Pachacuti his father.

Tupac Inca ordered them all to do homage, adore, and offer sacrifices.
The Antis were ordered to bring from their country several loads of
lances of palm wood for the service of the House of the Sun. The Antis,
who did not serve voluntarily, looked upon this demand as a mark of
servitude. They fled from Cuzco, returned to their country, and raised
the land of the Antis in the name of freedom.

Tupac Inca was indignant, and raised a powerful army which he divided
into three parts. He led the first in person, entering the Anti-suyu by
Ahua-tona. The second was entrusted to a captain named Uturuncu Achachi,
who entered Anti-suyu by a town they call Amaru. The third, under a
captain named Chalco Yupanqui, advanced by way of Pilcopata. All these
routes were near each other, and the three divisions formed a junction
three leagues within the forest, at a place called Opatari, whence they
commenced operations against the settlements of the Antis. The
inhabitants of this region were Antis, called Opataris, and were the
first to be conquered. Chalco Yupanqui carried an image of the Sun.

The forests were very dense and full of evil places; so that they could
not force their way through, nor did they know what direction to take in
order to reach the settlements of the natives, which were well concealed
in the thick vegetation. To find them the explorers climbed up the
highest trees, and pointed out the places where they could see smoke
rising. So they worked away at road making through the undergrowth until
they lost that sign of inhabitants and found another. In this way the
Inca made a road where it seemed impossible to make one.

The Sinchi of the greater part of these provinces of the Antis was
Condin Savana, of whom they say that he was a great wizard and
enchanter, and they had the belief, and even now they affirm that he
could turn himself into different shapes.

Tupac Inca and his captains penetrated into this region of the Antis,
which consists of the most terrible and fearful forests, with many
rivers, where they endured immense toil, and the people who came from
Peru suffered from the change of climate, for Peru is cold and dry,
while the forests of Anti-suyu are warm and humid. The soldiers of Tupac
Inca became sick, and many died. Tupac Inca himself, with a third of his
men who came with him to conquer, were lost in the forests, and wandered
for a long time, without knowing whether to go in one direction or
another until he fell in with Uturuncu Achachi who put him on the route.

On this occasion Tupac Inca and his captains conquered four great
tribes. The first was that of the Indians called Opataris. The next was
the Mano-suyu. The third tribe was called Manaris or Yanasimis, which
means those of the black mouth: and the province of Rio, and the
province of the Chunchos. They went over much ground in descending the
river Tono, and penetrated as far as the Chiponauas. The Inca sent
another great captain, named Apu Ccuri-machi, by the route which they
now call of Camata. This route was in the direction of the rising of the
sun, and he advanced until he came to the river of which reports have
but now been received, called Paytiti, where he set up the frontier
pillars of Inca Tupac. During the campaign against these nations, Tupac
Inca took prisoners the following Sinchis: Vinchincayua, Cantahuancuru,
Nutan-huari[106].

[Note 106: This expedition of Tupac Inca Yupanqui into the montana
of Paucartambo, and down the River Tono is important. Garcilasso de la
Vega describes it in chapters xiii., xiv., xv. and xvi. of Book vii. He
says that five rivers unite to form the great Amaru-mayu or Serpent
River, which he was inclined to think was a tributary of the Rio de la
Plata. He describes fierce battles with the Chunchos, who were reduced
to obedience. After descending the River Tono, Garcilasso says that the
Incas eventually reached the country of the Musus (Moxos) and opened
friendly relations with them. Many Incas settled in the country of the
Musus. Garcilasso then gives some account of Spanish expeditions into
the montana, led by Diego Aleman, Gomez de Tordoya, and Juan Alvarez
Maldonado.

The account in the text agrees, in the main, with that of Garcilasso de
la Vega. Sarmiento gives the names of four Indian tribes who were
encountered, besides the Chunchos.]

During the campaign an Indian of the Collas, named Coaquiri, fled from
his company, reached the Collao, and spread the report that Tupac Inca
was dead. He said that there was no longer an Inca, that they should all
rise and that he would be their leader. Presently he took the name of
Pachacuti, the Collas rose, and chose him as their captain. This news
reached Tupac Inca in Anti-suyu where he was in the career of conquest.
He resolved to march against the Collas and punish them. He left the
forests, leaving Uturuncu Achachi to complete the conquest, with orders
to return into Peru when that service was completed, but not to enter
Cuzco triumphing until the Inca should come.

L.

TUPAC INCA YUPANQUI GOES TO SUBDUE AND PACIFY THE COLLAS.

As the Collas were one of those nations which most desired their
freedom, they entered upon attempts to obtain it whenever a chance
offered, as has already been explained. Tupac Inca Yupanqui resolved to
crush them once for all. Having returned from the Antis, he increased
his army and nominated as captains Larico, the son of his cousin Ccapac
Yupanqui, his brother Chachi, Cunti Yupanqui, and Quihual Tupac. With
this army he advanced to the Collao. The Collas had constructed four
strong places at Llallaua, Asillo, Arapa, and Pucara. The Inca captured
the chiefs and the leader of all, who was Chuca-chucay Pachacuti
Coaquiri, he who, as we have said, fled from Anti-suyu. Afterwards these
were the drummers[107] of Inca Tupac. Finally, owing to the great
diligence of Inca Tupac, although the war occupied some years, the Incas
conquered and subdued all [_perpetrating great cruelties on them_].

Following up his victories, in pursuit of the vanquished, he got so far
from Cuzco that he found himself in Charcas. So he determined to advance
further, subduing every nation of which he received notice. He
eventually prosecuted his conquests so far that he entered Chile, where
he defeated the great Sinchi Michimalongo, and Tangalongo, Sinchi of the
Chilians as far as the river Maule. He came to Coquimbo in Chile and to
the banks of the Maule, where he set up his frontier columns, or as
others say a wall, to show the end of his conquests. From this campaign
he returned with great riches in gold, having discovered many mines of
gold and silver. He then returned to Cuzco.

These spoils were joined with those of Uturuncu Achachi, who had
returned from the forests of the Antis after a campaign of three years.
He was at Paucar-tampu, awaiting the return of his brother, who entered
Cuzco with a very great triumph. They made great feasts to commemorate
the conquests, presenting gifts and granting many favours to the
soldiers who had served with the Inca in these campaigns. As the
provinces of the Chumpi-vilicas saw the power and greatness of Tupac
Inca Yupanqui they came to submit with the rest of Cunti-suyu.

[Note 107: _i.e._ their skins were made into drums.]

Besides this the Inca went to Chachapoyas, and crushed those who had
been suspected, visiting many provinces on the road.

On his return to Cuzco he made certain ordinances, as well for peace as
for war time. He increased the _mitimaes_ which his father had
instituted, as has been explained in the account of his life, giving
more privileges and liberty. Besides, he caused a general visitation to
be made of all the land from Quito to Chile, registering the whole
population for more than a thousand leagues; and imposed a tribute [_so
heavy that no one could be owner of a_ mazorca _of maize, which is their
bread for food, nor of a pair of_ usutas, _which are their shoes, nor
marry, nor do a single thing without special licence from Tupac Inca.
Such was the tyranny and oppression to which he subjected them_]. He
placed over the _tucuricos_ a class of officers called _Michu_[108] to
collect the taxes and tributes.

[Note 108: _Michu_ should be _Michec_ a shepherd, also a governor.
_Michisca_ the governed.]

Tupac Inca saw that in the districts and provinces the Sinchis claimed
to inherit by descent. He resolved to abolish this rule, and to put them
all under his feet, both great and small. He, therefore, deposed the
existing Sinchis, and introduced a class of ruler at his own will, who
were selected in the following way. He appointed a ruler who should have
charge of 10,000 men, and called him _huanu_, which means that number.
He appointed another ruler over 1000, and called him _huaranca_, which
is 1000. The next had charge of 500, called _pichca-pachaca_, or 500. To
another called _pachac_ he gave charge of 100, and to another he gave
charge of 10 men, called _chunca curaca_. All these had also the title
of _Curaca_, which means "principal" or "superior," over the number of
men of whom they had charge. These appointments depended solely on the
will of the Inca, who appointed and dismissed them as he pleased,
without considering inheritance, or succession. From that time forward
they were called _Curacas_, which is the proper name of the chiefs of
this land, and not _Caciques_, which is the term used by the vulgar
among the Spaniards. That name of _Cacique_ belongs to the islands of
Santo Domingo and Cuba. From this place we will drop the name of
_Sinchi_ and only use that of _Curaca_.

LI.

TUPAC INCA MAKES THE YANACONAS.

Among the brothers of the Inca there was one named Tupac Ccapac, a
principal man, to whom Tupac Inca had given many servants to work on his
farms, and serve on his estates. It is to be understood that Tupac Inca
made his brother visitor-general of the whole empire that had been
conquered up to that time. Tupac Ccapac, in making the visitation, came
to the place where his brother had given him those servants. Under
colour of this grant, he took those and also many more, saying that all
were his _yana-cunas_[109], which is the name they give to their
servants. He persuaded them to rebel against his brother, saying that if
they would help him he would show them great favours. He then marched to
Cuzco, very rich and powerful, where he gave indications of his
intentions.

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