History of the Incas

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

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Huayna Ccapac was a brave man, and was not dismayed. On the contrary it
raised his spirit and he resolved to be avenged. He again got ready his
forces and marched in person against the fortress of the Cayambis. He
formed the army in three divisions. He sent Michi with a third of the
army to pass on one side of the fortress without being seen. This
detachment consisted of Cuzco _orejones_, and men of Chinchay-suyu. They
were to advance five marches beyond the fortress and, at a fixed time,
return towards it, desolating and destroying. The Inca, with the rest of
his army marched direct to the attack of the fortress, and began to
fight with great fury. This continued some days, during which the Inca
lost some men. While the battle was proceeding, Michi and those of
Chinchay-suyu turned, desolating and destroying everything in the land
of the Cayambis. They were so furious that they did not leave anything
standing, making the very earth to tremble. When Huayna Ccapac knew that
his detachment was near the fortress, he feigned a flight. The Cayambis,
not aware of what was happening in their rear, came out of the fortress
in pursuit of the Inca. When the Cayambis were at some distance from
their stronghold, the Chinchay-suyus, commanded by Michi, came in sight.
These met with no resistance in the fortress as the Cayambis were
outside, following Huayna Ccapac. They easily entered it and set it on
fire in several parts, killing or capturing all who were inside.

The Cayambis were, by this time, fighting with the army of Huayna
Ccapac. When they saw their fortress on fire they lost hope and fled
from the battle field towards a lake which was near, thinking that they
could save themselves by hiding among the beds of reeds. But Huayna
Ccapac followed them with great rapidity. In order that none might
escape he gave instructions that the lake should be surrounded. In that
lake, and the swamps on its borders, the troops of Huayna Ccapac, he
fighting most furiously in person, made such havock and slaughter, that
the lake was coloured with the blood of the dead Cayambis. From that
time forward the lake has been called _Yahuar-cocha_, which means the
"lake of blood," from the quantity that was there shed.

It is to be noted that in the middle of this lake there was an islet
with two willow trees, up which some Cayambis climbed, and among them
their two chiefs named Pinto and Canto, most valiant Indians. The troops
of Huayna Ccapac pelted them with stones and captured Canto, but Pinto
escaped with a thousand brave Canaris.

The Cayambis being conquered, the Cuzcos began to select those who would
look best in the triumphal entry into Cuzco. But they, thinking that
they were being selected to be killed, preferred rather to die like men
than to be tied up like women. So they turned and began to fight. Huayna
Ccapac saw this and ordered them all to be killed.

The Inca placed a garrison in the fortress, and sent a captain with a
detachment in pursuit of Pinto who, in his flight, was doing much
mischief. They followed until Pinto went into forests, with other
fugitives, escaping for a time. After Huayna Ccapac had rested for some
days at Tumipampa, he got information where Pinto was in the forests,
and surrounded them, closing up all entrances and exits. Hunger then
obliged him, and those who were with him, to surrender. This Pinto was
very brave and he had such hatred against Huayna Ccapac that even, after
his capture, when the Inca had presented him with gifts and treated him
kindly, he never could see his face. So he died out of his mind, and
Huayna Ccapac ordered a drum to be made of his skin. The drum was sent
to Cuzco, and so this war came to an end. It was at Cuzco in the _taqui_
or dance in honour of the Sun.

LXI.

THE CHIRIHUANAS COME TO MAKE WAR IN PERU AGAINST THOSE CONQUERED BY THE
INCAS.

While Huayna Ccapac was occupied with this war of the Cayambis, the
Chirihuanas, who form a nation of the forests, naked and eaters of human
flesh, for which they have a public slaughter house, uniting, and,
coming forth from their dense forests, entered the territory of Charcas,
which had been conquered by the Incas of Peru. They attacked the
fortress of Cuzco-tuyo, where the Inca had a large frontier garrison to
defend the country against them. Their assault being sudden they entered
the fortress, massacred the garrison, and committed great havock,
robberies and murders among the surrounding inhabitants.

The news reached Huayna Ccapac at Quito, and he received it with much
heaviness. He sent a captain, named Yasca, to Cuzco to collect troops,
and with them to march against the Chirihuanas. This captain set out for
Cuzco, taking with him the _huaca_ "Cataquilla[118]" of Caxamarca and
Huamachuco, and "Curichaculla" of the Chachapoyas; and the _huacas_
"Tomayrica and Chinchay-cocha," with many people, the attendants of the
_huacas_. He arrived at Cuzco where he was very well received by the
Governors, Apu Hilaquito and Auqui Tupac Inca. Having collected his
troops he left Cuzco for Charcas. On the road he enlisted many men of
the Collao. With these he came up with the Chirihuanas and made cruel
war upon them. He captured some to send to Huayna Ccapac at Quito, that
the Inca might see what these strange men were like. The captain Yasca
rebuilt the fortress and, placing in it the necessary garrison, he
returned to Cuzco, dismissed his men, and each one returned to his own
land.

[Note 118: It was the policy of the Incas that the idols and
_huacas_ of conquered nations should be sent to Cuzco and deposited
there. Catiquilla was an idol of the Caxamarca and Huamachuco people.
Arriaga calls it Apu-cati-quilla. _Apu_ the great or chief, _catic_
follower, _quilla_ the moon. Apu-cati-quilla appears to have been a moon
god. The other _huacas_ are local deities, all sent to Cuzco. Catiquilla
had been kept as an oracle in the village of Tauca in Conchucos
(Calancha, p. 471). _Cati-quilla_ would mean "following moon." (See also
_Extirpation de la idolatria del Peru_, Joseph de Arriaga. Lima, 1627.)]

LXII.

WHAT HUAYNA CCAPAC DID AFTER THE SAID WARS.

As soon as Huayna Ccapac had despatched the captain against the
Chirihuanas, he set out from Tumipampa to organize the nations he had
conquered, including Quito, Pasto, and Huancavilcas. He came to the
river called Ancas-mayu, between Pasto and Quito, where he set up his
boundary pillars at the limit of the country he had conquered. As a
token of grandeur and as a memorial he placed certain golden staves in
the pillars. He then followed the course of the river in search of the
sea, seeking for people to conquer, for he had information that in that
direction the country was well peopled.

On this road the army of the Inca was in great peril, suffering from
scarcity of water, for the troops had to cross extensive tracts of sand.
One day, at dawn, the Inca army found itself surrounded by an immense
crowd of people, not knowing who they were. In fear of the unknown
enemy, the troops began to retreat towards the Inca. Just as they were
preparing for flight a boy came to Huayna Ccapac, and said: "My Lord!
fear not, those are the people for whom we are in search. Let us attack
them." This appeared to the Inca to be good advice and he ordered an
impetuous attack to be made, promising that whatever any man took should
be his. The _orejones_ delivered such an assault on those who surrounded
them that, in a short time, the circle was broken. The enemy was routed,
and the fugitives made for their habitations, which were on the sea
coast towards Coaques, where the Incas captured an immense quantity of
rich spoils, emeralds, turquoises, and great store of very fine _mollo_,
a substance formed in sea shells, more valued amongst them than gold or
silver.

Here the Inca received a message from the Sinchi or Curaca of the island
of Puna with a rich present, inviting him to come to his island to
receive his service. Huayna Ccapac did so. Thence he went to
Huancavilca, where he joined the reserves who had been left there. News
came to him that a great pestilence was raging at Cuzco of which the
governors Apu Hilaquito his uncle, and Auqui Tupac Inca his brother had
died, also his sister Mama Cuca, and many other relations. To establish
order among the conquered nations, the Inca went to Quito, intending to
proceed from thence to Cuzco to rest.

On reaching Quito the Inca was taken ill with a fever, though others say
it was small-pox or measles. He felt the disease to be mortal and sent
for the _orejones_ his relations, who asked him to name his successor.
His reply was that his son Ninan Cuyoche was to succeed, if the augury
of the _calpa_ gave signs that such succession would be auspicious, if
not his son Huascar was to succeed.

Orders were given to proceed with the ceremony of the _calpa_, and Cusi
Tupac Yupanqui, named by the Inca to be chief steward of the Sun, came
to perform it. By the first _calpa_ it was found that the succession of
Ninan Cuyoche would not be auspicious. Then they opened another lamb and
took out the lungs, examining certain veins. The result was that the
signs respecting Huascar were also inauspicious. Returning to the Inca,
that he might name some one else, they found that he was dead. While the
_orejones_ stood in suspense about the succession, Cusi Tupac Yupanqui
said: "Take care of the body, for I go to Tumipampa to give the fringe
to Ninan Cuyoche." But when he arrived at Tumipampa he found that Ninan
Cuyoche was also dead of the small-pox pestilence[119].

[Note 119: Ninan Cuyoche is said by Cobos to have been legitimate, a
son of the first wife Cusi Rimay Huaco, who is said by Sarmiento and
others not to have borne a male heir.]

Seeing this Cusi Tupac Yupanqui said to Araua Ocllo--"Be not sad, O
Coya! go quickly to Cuzco, and say to your son Huascar that his father
named him to be Inca when his own days were over." He appointed two
_orejones_ to accompany her, with orders to say to the Incas of Cuzco
that they were to give the fringe to Huascar. Cusi Tupac added that he
would make necessary arrangements and would presently follow them with
the body of Huayna Ccapac, to enter Cuzco with it in triumph, the order
of which had been ordained by the Inca on the point of death, on a
staff.

Huayna Ccapac died at Quito at the age of 80 years. He left more than 50
sons. He succeeded at the age of 20, and reigned 60 years. He was
valiant though cruel.

He left a lineage or _ayllu_ called _Tumipampa Ayllu_. At present the
heads of it, now living, are Don Diego Viracocha Inca, Don Garcia Inguil
Tupac, and Gonzalo Sayri. To this _ayllu_ are joined the sons of Paulu
Tupac, son of Huayna Ccapac. They are Hanan-cuzcos.

Huayna Ccapac died in the year 1524 of the nativity of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the invincible Emperor Charles V of glorious memory being King
of Spain, father of your Majesty, and the Pope was Paul III.

The body of Huayna Ccapac was found by the Licentiate Polo in a house
where it was kept concealed, in the city of Cuzco. It was guarded by two
of his servants named Hualpa Titu and Sumac Yupanqui. His idol or
_guauqui_ was called _Huaraqui Inca_. It was a great image of gold,
which has not been found up to the present time.

LXIII

THE LIFE OF HUASCAR, THE LAST INCA, AND OF ATAHUALPA.

Huayna Ccapac being dead, and the news having reached Cuzco, they raised
Titu Cusi Hualpa Inti Illapa, called Huascar, to be Inca. He was called
Huascar because he was born in a town called Huascar-quihuar, four and a
half leagues from Cuzco. Those who remained at Tumipampa embalmed the
body of Huayna Ccapac, and collected the spoils and captives taken in
his wars, for a triumphal entry into the capital.

It is to be noted that Atahualpa, bastard son of Huayna Ccapac by Tocto
Coca, his cousin, of the lineage of Inca Yupanqui, had been taken to
that war by his father to prove him. He first went against the Pastos,
and came back a fugitive, for which his father rated him severely. Owing
to this Atahualpa did not appear among the troops, and he spoke to the
Inca _orejones_ of Cuzco in this manner. "My Lords! you know that I am a
son of Huayna Ccapac and that my father took me with him, to prove me in
the war. Owing to the disaster with the Pastos, my father insulted me in
such a way that I could not appear among the troops, still less at Cuzco
among my relations who thought that my father would leave me well, but I
am left poor and dishonoured. For this reason I have determined to
remain here where my father died, and not to live among those who will
be pleased to see me poor and out of favour. This being so you need not
wait for me." He then embraced them all and took leave of them. They
departed with tears and grief, leaving Atahualpa at Tumipampa[120].

[Note 120: Atahualpa is said by Sarmiento and Yamqui Pachacuti to
have been an illegitimate son of Huayna Ccapac by Tocto Coca his cousin,
of the ayllu of Pachacuti. Cieza de Leon says that he was a son by a
woman of Quilaco named Tupac Palla. Gomara, who is followed by Velasco,
says that Atahualpa was the son of a princess of Quito. As Huayna Ccapac
only set out for the Quito campaign twelve years before his death, and
Atahualpa was then grown up, his mother cannot have been a woman of
Quito. I, therefore, have no doubt that Sarmiento is right.]

The _orejones_ brought the body of Huayna Ccapac to Cuzco, entering with
great triumph, and his obsequies were performed like those of his
ancestors. This being done, Huascar presented gold and other presents,
as well as wives who had been kept closely confined in the house of the
_acllas_ during the time of his father. Huascar built edifices where he
was born, and in Cuzco he erected the houses of Amaru-cancha, where is
now the monastery of the "Name of Jesus," and others on the Colcampata,
where Don Carlos lives, the son of Paulo.

After that he summoned Cusi Tupac Yupanqui, and the other principal
_orejones_ who had come with the body of his father, and who were of the
lineage of Inca Yupanqui and therefore relations of the mother of
Atahualpa. He asked them why they had not brought Atahualpa with them,
saying that doubtless they had left him there, that he might rebel at
Quito, and that when he did so, they would kill their Inca at Cuzco. The
_orejones_, who had been warned of this suspicion, answered that they
knew nothing except that Atahualpa remained at Quito, as he had stated
publicly, that he might not be poor and despised among his relations in
Cuzco. Huascar, not believing what they said, put them to the torture,
but he extracted nothing further from them. Huascar considered the harm
that these _orejones_ had done, and that he never could be good friends
with them or be able to trust them, so he caused them to be put to
death. This gave rise to great lamentation in Cuzco and hatred of
Huascar among the Hanan-cuzcos, to which party the deceased belonged.
Seeing this Huascar publicly said that he divorced and separated himself
from relationship with the lineages of the Hanan-cuzcos because they
were for Atahualpa who was a traitor, not having come to Cuzco to do
homage. Then he declared war with Atahualpa and assembled troops to send
against him. Meanwhile Atahualpa sent his messengers to Huascar with
presents, saying that he was his vassal, and as such he desired to know
how he could serve the Inca. Huascar rejected the messages and presents
of Atahualpa and they even say that he killed the messengers. Others say
that he cut their noses and their clothing down to their waists, and
sent them back insulted.

While this was taking place at Cuzco the Huancavilcas rebelled.
Atahualpa assembled a great army, nominating as captains--Chalco Chima,
Quiz-quiz, Incura Hualpa, Rumi-naui, Yupanqui, Urco-huaranca and Una
Chullo. They marched against the Huancavilcas, conquered them, and
inflicted severe punishment. Returning to Quito, Atahualpa sent a report
to Huascar of what had taken place. At this time Atahualpa received news
of what Huascar had done to his messengers, and of the death of the
_orejones_; also that Huascar was preparing to make war on him, that he
had separated himself from the Hanan-cuzcos, and that he had proclaimed
him, Atahualpa, a traitor, which they call _aucca_. Atahualpa, seeing
the evil designs entertained by his brother against him, and that he
must prepare to defend himself, took counsel with his captains. They
were of one accord that he should not take the field until he had
assembled more men, and collected as large an army as possible, because
negotiations should be commenced when he was ready for battle.

At this time an Orejon named Hancu and another named Atoc came to
Tumipampa to offer sacrifices before the image of Huayna Ccapac, by
order of Huascar. They took the wives of Huayna Ccapac and the insignia
of Inca without communication with Atahualpa. For this Atahualpa seized
them and, being put to the torture, they confessed what orders Huascar
had given them, and that an army was being sent against Atahualpa. They
were ordered to be killed, and drums to be made of their skins. Then
Atahualpa sent scouts along the road to Cuzco, to see what forces were
being sent against him by his brother. The scouts came in sight of the
army of Huascar and brought back the news.

Atahualpa then marched out of Quito to meet his enemies. The two armies
encountered each other at Riopampa where they fought a stubborn and
bloody battle, but Atahualpa was victorious. The dead were so numerous
that he ordered a heap to be made of their bones, as a memorial. Even
now, at this day, the plain may be seen, covered with the bones of those
who were slain in that battle.

At this time Huascar had sent troops to conquer the nations of
Pumacocha, to the east of the Pacamoros, led by Tampu Usca Mayta and by
Titu Atauchi, the brother of Huascar. When the news came of this defeat
at Riopampa, Huascar got together another larger army, and named as
captains Atoc, Huaychac, Hanco, and Huanca Auqui. This Huanca Auqui had
been unfortunate and lost many men in his campaign with the Pacamoros.
His brother, the Inca Huascar, to insult him, sent him gifts suited to a
woman, ridiculing him. This made Huanca Auqui determine to do something
worthy of a man. He marched to Tumipampa, where the army of Atahualpa
was encamped to rest after the battle. Finding it without watchfulness,
he attacked and surprised the enemy, committing much slaughter.

Atahualpa received the news at Quito, and was much grieved that his
brother Huanca Auqui should have made this attack, for at other times
when he could have hit him, he had let him go, because he was his
brother. He now gave orders to Quiz-quiz and Chalco Chima to advance in
pursuit of Huanca Auqui. They overtook him at Cusi-pampa, where they
fought and Huanca Auqui was defeated, with great loss on both sides.
Huanca Auqui fled, those of Atahualpa following in pursuit as far as
Caxamarca, where Huanca Auqui met a large reinforcement sent by Huascar
in support. Huanca Auqui ordered them to march against Chalco Chima and
Quiz-quiz while he remained at Caxamarca. The troops sent by Huanca
Auqui were Chachapoyas and many others, the whole numbering 10,000. They
met the enemy and fought near Caxamarca. But the Chachapoyas were
defeated and no more than 3000 escaped. Huanca Auqui then fled towards
Cuzco, followed by the army of Atahualpa.

In the province of Bombon[121], Huanca Auqui found a good army composed
of all nations, which Huascar had sent to await his enemies there, who
were coming in pursuit. Those of Atahualpa arrived and a battle was
fought for two days without either party gaining an advantage. But on
the third day Huanca Auqui was vanquished by Quiz-quiz and Chalco Chima.

[Note 121: Correctly Pumpu.]

Huanca Auqui escaped from the rout and came to Xauxa, where he found a
further reinforcement of many Indians, Soras, Chancas, Ayamarcas, and
Yanyos, sent by his brother. With these he left Xauxa and encountered
the pursuing enemy at a place called Yanamarca. Here a battle was fought
not less stubbornly than the former one. Finally, as fortune was against
Huanca Auqui, he was again defeated by Chalco Chima, the adventurous
captain of the army of Atahualpa.

The greater part of the forces of Huanca Auqui was killed. He himself
fled, never stopping until he reached Paucaray. Here he found a good
company of _orejones_ of Cuzco, under a captain named Mayta Yupanqui
who, on the part of Huascar, rebuked Huanca Auqui, asking how it was
possible for him to have lost so many battles and so many men, unless he
was secretly in concert with Chalco Chima. He answered that the
accusation was not true, that he could not have done more; and he told
Mayta Yupanqui to go against their enemy, and see what power he brought.
He said that Atahualpa was determined to advance if they could not
hinder his captains. Then Mayta Yupanqui went on to encounter Chalco
Chima, and met him at the bridge of Anco-yacu where there were many
skirmishes, but finally the _orejones_ were defeated[122].

[Note 122: This campaign is also fully described by Balboa, and in
some detail by Yamqui Pachacuti, pp. 113--116.]

LXIV.

HUASCAR INCA MARCHES IN PERSON TO FIGHT CHALCO CHIMA AND QUIZ-QUIZ, THE
CAPTAINS OF ATAHUALPA.

As the fortune of Huascar and his captains, especially of Huanca Auqui,
was so inferior to that of Atahualpa and his adventurous and dexterous
captains Chalco Chima and Quiz-quiz, one side meeting with nothing that
did not favour them, the other side with nothing that was not against
them, such terrible fear took possession of Huanca Auqui and the other
Inca captains after the battle of Anco-yacu bridge, that they fled
without stopping to Vilcas, 20 and more leagues from Anco-yacu, on the
road to Cuzco.

Over the satisfaction that the captains of Atahualpa felt at the glory
of so many victories that they had won, there came the news sent by
Atahualpa that he had come in person to Caxamarca and Huamachuco, that
he had been received as Inca by all the nations he had passed, and that
he had assumed the fringe and the _Ccapac-uncu_. He was now called Inca
of all the land, and it was declared that there was no other Inca but
him. He ordered his captains to march onwards conquering, until they
encountered Huascar. They were to give him battle, conquer him like the
rest, and if possible take him prisoner. Atahualpa was so elated by his
victories, and assumed such majesty, that he did not cease to talk of
his successes, and no one dared to raise his eyes before him. For those
who had business with him he appointed a lieutenant called "Inca Apu,"
which means "the Inca's lord," who was to take his place by the Inca
when he was seated. Those who had business transacted it with him,
entering with a load on their backs, and their eyes on the ground, and
thus they spoke of their business with the _Apu_. He then reported to
Atahualpa, who decided what was to be done. Atahualpa was very cruel, he
killed right and left, destroyed, burnt, and desolated whatever opposed
him. From Quito to Huamachuco he perpetrated the greatest cruelties,
robberies, outrages, and tyrannies that had ever been done in that land.

When Atahualpa arrived at Huamachuco, two principal lords of his house
came to offer sacrifice to the _huaca_ of Huamachuco for the success
that had attended their cause. These _orejones_ went, made the
sacrifice, and consulted the oracle. They received an answer that
Atahualpa would have an unfortunate end, because he was such a cruel
tyrant and shedder of so much human blood. They delivered this reply of
the devil to Atahualpa. It enraged him against the oracle, so he called
out his guards and went to where the _huaca_ was kept. Having surrounded
the place, he took a halberd of gold in his hand, and was accompanied by
the two officers of his household who had made the sacrifice. When he
came to where the idol was, an old man aged a hundred years came out,
clothed in a dress reaching down to the ground, very woolly and covered
with sea shells. He was the priest of the oracle who had made the reply.
When Atahualpa knew who he was, he raised the halberd and gave him a
blow which cut off his head. Atahualpa then entered the house of the
idol, and cut off its head also with many blows, though it was made of
stone. He then ordered the old man's body, the idol, and its house to be
burnt, and the cinders to be scattered in the air. He then levelled the
hill, though it was very large, where that oracle, idol or _huaca_ of
the devil stood.

All this being made known to Chalco Chima and Quiz-quiz, they celebrated
festivals and rejoicings, and then resumed their march towards Cuzco.
Huascar received reports of all that had happened, and mourned over the
great number of men he had lost. He clearly saw that there only remained
the remedy of going forth in person to try his fortune, which had
hitherto been so adverse. In preparation he kept some fasts--for these
gentiles also have a certain kind of fasting, made many sacrifices to
the idols and oracles of Cuzco, and sought for replies. All answered
that the event would be adverse to him. On hearing this he consulted his
diviners and wizards, called by them _umu_, who, to please him, gave him
hope of a fortunate ending. He got together a powerful army, and sent
out scouts to discover the position of the enemy. The hostile army was
reported to be at a place, 14 leagues from Cuzco, called Curahuasi[123].
They found there Chalco Chima and Quiz-quiz, and reported that they had
left the main road to Cuzco, and had taken that of Cotabamba, which is
on the right, coming from Caxamarca or Lima to Cuzco. This route was
taken to avoid the bad road and dangerous pass by the Apurimac bridge.

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