History of the Incas

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

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[Note 59: All the authorities concur that Sinchi Rocca was the
second sovereign of the Inca dynasty, except Montesinos, who makes him
the first and calls him Inca Rocca. Acosta has Inguarroca, and Betanzos
Chincheroca.]

[Note 60: Cieza de Leon and Garcilasso de la Vega also say that
Sinchi Rocca waged no wars. The latter tells us that, by peaceful means,
he extended his dominions over the Canchis, as far as Chuncara.]

XVI.

THE LIFE OF LLOQUI YUPANQUI, THE THIRD INCA.

On the death of Sinchi Rocca the Incaship was occupied by Lloqui
Yupanqui, son of Sinchi Rocca by Mama Cuca his wife. It is to be noted
that, although Manco Ccapac had ordered that the eldest son should
succeed, this Inca broke the rule of his grandfather, for he had an
elder brother named Manco Sapaca[61], as it is said, who did not
consent, and the Indians do not declare whether he was nominated by his
father. From this I think that Lloqui Yupanqui was not nominated, but
Manco Sapaca as the eldest, for so little regard for the natives or
their approval was shown. This being so, it was tyranny against the
natives and infidelity to relations with connivance of the _ayllus_
legionaries; and with the Inca's favour they could do what they liked,
by supporting him. So Lloqui Yupanqui lived in Ynti-cancha like his
father[62]. He never left Cuzco on a warlike expedition nor performed
any memorable deed, but merely lived like his father, having
communication with some provinces and chiefs. These were Huaman Samo,
chief of Huaro, Pachaculla Viracocha, the Ayamarcas of Tampu-cunca, and
the Quilliscachis[63].

[Note 61: Manco Sapaca, the eldest son of Sinchi Rocca, is also
mentioned by Balboa, pp. 14, 20, 22.]

[Note 62: All the authorities concur in making Lloqui Yupanqui the
third Inca, except Acosta, who has Iaguarhuaque. Herrera spells it Lloki
Yupanqui, Fernandez has Lloccuco Panque, merely corrupt spellings. Cieza
de Leon also represents this reign to have been peaceful, but Garcilasso
de la Vega makes Lloqui Yupanqui conquer the Collao.]

[Note 63: Huaro or Guaro is a village south of Cuzco in the valley
of the Vilcamayu (Balboa, p. 110). Huaman Samo was the chief of Huaro.
Balboa mentions Pachachalla Viracocha as a chief of great prudence and
ability who submitted to Lloqui Yupanqui, pp. 21, 22. The Ayamarcas
formed a powerful tribe about 12 miles south of Cuzco. The Quilliscachis
formed one of the original tribes in the valley of Cuzco (Yamqui
Pachacuti, p. 110). Tampu-cunca only occurs here.]

One day Lloqui Yupanqui being very sad and afflicted, the Sun appeared
to him in the form of a person and consoled him by saying---"Do not be
sorrowful, Lloqui Yupanqui, for from you shall descend great Lords,"
also, that he might hold it for certain that he would have male issue.
For Lloqui Yupanqui was then very old, and neither had a son nor
expected to have one. This having been made known, and what the Sun had
announced to Lloqui Yupanqui having been published to the people, his
relations determined to seek a wife for him. His brother Manco Sapaca,
understanding the fraternal disposition, sought for a woman who was
suitable for it. He found her in a town called Oma, two leagues from
Cuzco, asked for her from her guardians, and, with their consent,
brought her to Cuzco. She was then married to Lloqui Yupanqui. Her name
was Mama Cava, and by her the Inca had a son named Mayta Ccapac.

This Lloqui did nothing worthy of remembrance. He carried with him an
idol, which was his _guauqui_ called _Apu Mayta_. His _ayllu_ is _Avayni
Panaca Ayllu_, because the first who had the charge of this _ayllu_ was
named Avayni. This Inca lived and died in Ynti-cancha. He was 132 years
of age, having succeeded at the age of 21, so that he was sovereign or
"ccapac" for 111 years. He died in 786, Alfonso el Casto being King of
Spain and Leo IV Supreme Pontiff. Some of this _ayllu_ still live at
Cuzco. The chiefs are Putisuc Titu Avcaylli, Titu Rimachi, Don Felipe
Titu Cunti Mayta, Don Agustin Cunti Mayta, Juan Bautista Quispi Cunti
Mayta. They are Hurin-cuzcos. The Licentiate Polo found the body of this
Inca with the rest.

XVII.

THE LIFE OF MAYTA CCAPAC, THE FOURTH INCA[64].

[Note 64: All authorities agree that Mayta Ccapac was the fourth
Inca, except Acosta and Betanzos. Acosta has Viracocha. Betanzos places
Mayta Ccapac after Ccapac Yupanqui, whom other authorities make his son.
His reign was peaceful except that he encountered and finally vanquished
the Alcabisas. But Garcilasso de la Vega makes him the conqueror of the
region south of lake Titicaca, as well as provinces to the westward,
including the settlement of Arequipa. All this is doubtless a mistake on
the part of Garcilasso.]

Mayta Ccapac, the fourth Inca, son of Lloqui Yupanqui and his wife Mama
Cava, is to those Indians what Hercules is to us, as regards his birth
and acts, for they relate strange things of him. At the very first the
Indians of his lineage, and all the others in general, say that his
father, when he was begotten, was so old and weak that every one
believed he was useless, so that they thought the conception was a
miracle. The second wonder was that his mother bore him three months
after conception, and that he was born strong and with teeth. All affirm
this, and that he grew at such a rate that in one year he had as much
strength and was as big as a boy of eight years or more. At two years he
fought with very big boys, knocked them about and hurt them seriously.
This all looks as if it might be counted with the other fables, but I
write what the natives believe respecting their ancestors, and they hold
this to be so true that they would kill anyone who asserted the
contrary.

They say of this Mayta that when he was of very tender years, he was
playing with some boys of the Alcabisas and Culunchimas, natives of
Cuzco, when he hurt many of them and killed some. And one day, drinking
or taking water from a fountain, he broke the leg of the son of a Sinchi
of the Alcabisas, and hunted the rest until they shut themselves up in
their houses, where the Alcabisas lived without injuring the Incas.

But now the Alcabisas, unable to endure longer the naughtiness of Mayta
Ccapac, which he practised under the protection of Lloqui Yupanqui, and
the _ayllus_ who watched over him, determined to regain their liberty
and to venture their lives for it. So they selected ten resolute Indians
to go to the House of the Sun where Lloqui Yupanqui and his son Mayta
Ccapac lived, and enter it with the intention of killing them. At the
time Mayta Ccapac was in the court yard of the house, playing at ball
with some other boys. When he saw enemies entering the house with arms,
he threw one of the balls he was playing with, and killed one. He did
the same to another, and, attacking the rest, they all fled. Though the
rest escaped, they had received many wounds, and in this state they went
back to their Sinchis of Calunchima and Alcabasa.

The Chiefs, considering the harm Mayta Ccapac had done to the natives
when a child, feared that when he was grown up he would destroy them
all, and for this reason they resolved to die for their liberty. All the
inhabitants of the valley of Cuzco, that had been spared by Manco
Ccapac, united to make war on the Incas. This very seriously alarmed
Lloqui Yupanqui. He thought he was lost, and reprehended his son Mayta
Ccapac, saying, "Son! why hast thou been so harmful to the natives of
this valley, so that in my old age I shall die at the hands of our
enemies?" As the _ayllus_, who were in garrison with the Incas, rejoiced
more in rapine and disturbances than in quiet, they took the part of
Mayta Ccapac and told the old Inca to hold his peace, leaving the matter
to his son, so Lloqui Yupanqui took no further steps in reprehending
Mayta Ccapac. The Alcabisas and Culunchimas assembled their forces and
Mayta Ccapac marshalled his _ayllus_. There was a battle between the two
armies and although it was doubtful for some time, both sides fighting
desperately for victory, the Alcabisas and Calunchimas were finally
defeated by the troops of Mayta Ccapac.

But not for this did the Alcabisas give up the attempt to free
themselves and avenge their wrongs. Again they challenged Mayta Ccapac
to battle, which he accepted. As they advanced they say that such a hail
storm fell over the Alcabisas that they were defeated a third time, and
entirely broken up. Mayta Ccapac imprisoned their Sinchi for the
remainder of his life.

Mayta Ccapac married Mama Tacucaray, native of the town of Tacucaray,
and by her he had a legitimate son named Ccapac Yupanqui, besides four
others named Tarco Huaman, Apu Cunti Mayta, Queco Avcaylli, and Rocca
Yupanqui.

This Mayta Ccapac was warlike, and the Inca who first distinguished
himself in arms after the time of Mama Huaco and Manco Ccapac. They
relate of him that he dared to open the hamper containing the bird
_indi_. This bird, brought by Manco Ccapac from Tampu-tocco, had been
inherited by his successors, the predecessors of Mayta Ccapac, who had
always kept it shut up in a hamper or box of straw, such was the fear
they had of it. But Mayta Ccapac was bolder than any of them. Desirous
of seeing what his predecessors had guarded so carefully, he opened the
hamper, saw the bird _indi_ and had some conversation with it. They say
that it gave him oracles, and that after the interview with the bird he
was wiser, and knew better what he should do, and what would happen.

With all this he did not go forth from the valley of Cuzco, although
chiefs from some distant nations came to visit him. He lived in
Ynti-cancha, the House of the Sun. He left a lineage called _Usca Mayta
Panaca Ayllu_, and some members of it are still living in Cuzco. The
heads are named Don Juan Tambo Usca Mayta, and Don Baltasar Quiso Mayta.
They are Hurin-cuzcos. Mayta Ccapac died at the age of 112 years, in the
year 890 of the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Licentiate Polo
found his body and idol _guauqui_ with the rest.

XVIII.

THE LIFE OF CCAPAC YUPANQUI, THE FIFTH INCA[65].

[Note 65: All authorities are agreed that Ccapac Yupanqui was the
fifth Inca, except Betanzos, who puts him in his father's place.
Garcilasso attributes extensive conquests to him, both to south and
west.]

At the time of his death, Mayta Ccapac named Ccapac Yupanqui as his
successor, his son by his wife Mama Tacucaray. This Ccapac Yupanqui, as
soon as he succeeded to the Incaship, made his brothers swear allegiance
to him, and that they desired that he should be Ccapac. They complied
from fear, for he was proud and cruel. At first he lived very quietly in
the Ynti-cancha. It is to be noted that although Ccapac Yupanqui
succeeded his father, he was not the eldest son. Cunti Mayta, who was
older, had an ugly face. His father had, therefore, disinherited him and
named Ccapac Yupanqui as successor to the sovereignty, and Cunti Mayta
as high priest. For this reason Ccapac Yupanqui was not the legitimate
heir, although he tyrannically forced his brothers to swear allegiance
to him.

This Inca, it is said, was the first to make conquests beyond the valley
of Cuzco. He forcibly subjugated the people of Cuyumarca and Ancasmarca,
four leagues from Cuzco. A wealthy Sinchi of Ayamarca, from fear,
presented his daughter, named Ccuri-hilpay to the Inca. Others say that
she was a native of Cuzco. The Inca received her as his wife, and had a
son by her named Inca Rocca, besides five other sons by various women.
These sons were named Apu Calla, Humpi, Apu Saca, Apu Chima-chaui, and
Uchun-cuna-ascalla-rando[66]. Apu Saca had a son named Apu Mayta, a very
valiant and famous captain, who greatly distinguished himself in the
time of Inca Rocca and Viracocha Inca, in company with Vicaquirau,
another esteemed captain. Besides these Ccapac Yupanqui had another son
named Apu Urco Huaranca[67]. This Ccapac Yupanqui lived 104 years, and
was Ccapac for 89 years. He succeeded at the age of 15, and died in the
year 980 of the nativity of our redeemer Jesus Christ. His _ayllu_ or
lineage was and is called _Apu Mayta Panaca Ayllu_. Several of this
lineage are now living, the principal heads being four in number,
namely, Don Cristobal Cusi-hualpa, Don Antonio Picuy, Don Francisco
Cocasaca, and Don Alonso Rupaca. They are Hurin-cuzcos. The Licentiate
Polo found the idol or _guaoqui_ of this Inca with the body. They were
hidden with the rest, to conceal the idolatrous ceremonies of heathen
times.

[Note 66: _Calla_ means a distaff. _Humpi_ means perspiration.
_Saca_ is a game bird, also a comet. Chima-chaui is a proper name with
no meaning. The name of the fifth son is rather unmanageable.
Uchun-cuna-ascalla-rando. _Uchun-cuna_ would mean the Peruvian pepper
with the plural particle. _Ascalla_ would be a small potato. _Rando_ is
a corrupt form of _runtu_, an egg. This little Inca seems to have done
the marketing.]

[Note 67: _Urco_, the male gender. _Huaranca_, a thousand.]

XIX.

THE LIFE OF INCA ROCCA, THE SIXTH INCA[68].

When Ccapac Yupanqui died, Inca Rocca, his son by his wife Ccuri-hilpay,
succeeded by nomination of his father and the guardian _ayllus_. This
Inca Rocca showed force and valour at the beginning of his Incaship, for
he conquered the territories of Muyna[69] and Pinahua with great
violence and cruelty. They are rather more than four leagues to the
south-south-east of Cuzco. He killed their Sinchis Muyna Pancu, and
Huaman-tupac, though some say that Huaman-tupac fled and was never more
seen. He did this by the help of Apu Mayta his nephew, and grandson of
Ccapac Yupanqui. He also conquered Caytomarca, four leagues from Cuzco.
He discovered the waters of Hurin-chacan and those of Hanan-chacan,
which is as much as to say the upper and lower waters of Cuzco, and led
them in conduits; so that to this day they irrigate fields; and his sons
and descendants have benefited by them to this day.

[Note 68: All authorities are agreed respecting Inca Rocca as the
sixth Inca. Garcilasso makes him extend the Inca dominion beyond the
Apurimac, and into the country of the Chancos.]

[Note 69: Muyna is a district with a lake, 14 miles S.S.W. of Cuzco.
Pinahua is mentioned by Garcilasso as a chief to the westward, i. p.
71.]

Inca Rocca gave himself up to pleasures and banquets, preferring to live
in idleness. He loved his children to that extent, that for them he
forgot duties to his people and even to his own person. He married a
great lady of the town of Pata-huayllacan, daughter of the Sinchi of
that territory, named Soma Inca. Her name was Mama Micay. From this
marriage came the wars between Tocay Ccapac and the Cuzcos as we shall
presently relate. By this wife Inca Rocca had a son named Titu Cusi
Hualpa[70], and by another name Yahuar-huaccac, and besides this eldest
legitimate son he had four other famous sons named Inca Paucar, Huaman
Taysi Inca, and Vicaquirau Inca[70]. The latter was a great warrior,
companion in arms with Apu Mayta. These two captains won great victories
and subdued many provinces for Viracocha Inca and Inca Yupanqui. They
were the founders of the great power to which the Incas afterwards
attained.

[Note 70: _Titu_ means august or magnanimous. _Cusi_ joyful.
_Hualpa_ a game bird. _Paucar_ means beautiful or bright coloured.
_Huaman_ a falcon. _Vica_ may be _nilca_ sacred. _Quirau_ a cradle.]

As the events which happened in the reign of Inca Rocca touching the
Ayamarcas will be narrated in the life of his son, we will not say more
of this Inca, except that, while his ancestors had always lived in the
lower part of Cuzco, and were therefore called Hurin-cuzcos, he ordered
that those who sprang from him should form another party, and be called
Hanan-cuzcos, which means the Cuzcos of the upper part. So that from
this Inca began the party of upper or Hanan-cuzcos, for presently he and
his successors left their residence at the House of the Sun, and
established themselves away from it, building palaces where they lived,
in the upper part of the town. It is to be noted that each Inca had a
special palace in which he lived, the son not wishing to reside in the
palace where his father had lived. It was left in the same state as it
was in when the father died, with servants, relations, _ayllus_ or heirs
that they might maintain it, and keep the edifices in repair. The Incas
and their _ayllus_ were, and still are Hanan-cuzco; although afterwards,
in the time of Pachacuti, these _ayllus_ were reformed by him. Some say
that then were established the two parties which have been so celebrated
in these parts.

Inca Rocca named his son Vicaquirao as the head of his lineage, and it
is still called after him the _Vicaquirao Panaca Ayllu_. There are now
some of this lineage living in Cuzco, the principal heads who protect
and maintain it being the following: Don Francisco Huaman Rimachi
Hachacoma, and Don Antonio Huaman Mayta. They are Hanan-cuzcos. Inca
Rocca lived 103 years, and died in the year 1088 of the nativity of our
Lord. The Licentiate Polo found his body in the town called Rarapa, kept
there with much care and veneration according to their rites.

XX.

THE LIFE OF TITU CUSI HUALPA, VULGARLY CALLED YAHUAR-HUACCAC.

Titu Cusi Hualpa Inca, eldest son of Inca Rocca and his wife Mama Micay,
had a strange adventure in his childhood[71]. These natives therefore
relate his life from his childhood, and in the course of it they tell
some things of his father, and of some who were strangers in Cuzco, as
follows. It has been related how the Inca Rocca married Mama Micay by
the rites of their religion. But it must be understood that those of
Huayllacan had already promised to give Mama Micay, who was their
countrywoman and very beautiful, in marriage to Tocay Ccapac, Sinchi of
the Ayamarcas their neighbours. When the Ayamarcas[72] saw that the
Huayllacans had broken their word, they were furious and declared war,
considering them as enemies. War was carried on, the Huayllacans
defending themselves and also attacking the Ayamarcas, both sides
committing cruelties, inflicting deaths and losses, and causing great
injury to each other. While this war was being waged, Mama Micay gave
birth to her son Titu Cusi Hualpa. The war continued for some years
after his birth, when both sides saw that they were destroying each
other, and agreed to come to terms, to avoid further injury. The
Ayamarcas, who were the most powerful, requested those of Huayllacan to
deliver the child Titu Cusi Hualpa into their hands, to do what they
liked with him. On this condition they would desist from further
hostilities, but if it was not complied with, they announced that they
would continue a mortal war to the end. The Huayllacans, fearing this,
and knowing their inability for further resistance, accepted the
condition, although they were uncles and relations of the child. In
order to comply it was necessary for them to deceive the Inca. There
was, in the town of Paulo, a brother of Inca Rocca and uncle of Titu
Cusi Hualpa named Inca Paucar. He went or sent messengers to ask Inca
Rocca to think well of sending his nephew Titu Cusi Hualpa to his town
of Paulo in order that, while still a child, he might learn to know and
care for his relations on his mother's side, while they wanted to make
him the heir of their estates. Believing in these words the Inca Rocca
consented that his son should be taken to Paulo, or the town of
Micocancha. As soon as they had the child in their town the Huayllacans
made great feasts in honour of Titu Cusi Hualpa, who was then eight
years old, a little more or less. His father had sent some Incas to
guard him. When the festivities were over, the Huayllacans sent to give
notice to the Ayamarcas that, while they were occupied in ploughing
certain lands which they call _chacaras_, they might come down on the
town and carry off the child, doing with him what they chose, in
accordance with the agreement. The Ayamarcas, being informed, came at
the time and to the place notified and, finding the child Titu Cusi
Hualpa alone, they carried it off.

[Note 71: The very interesting story of the kidnapping of the heir
of Inca Rocca, is well told by Sarmiento.]

[Note 72: The Ayarmarcas seem to have occupied the country about 15
miles S.S.W. of Cuzco, near Muyna. The word Ayar is the same as that in
the names of the brethren of Manco Ccapac. But others omit the r, and
make it Ayamarca, Cieza de Leon, pp. 114, 115, Garcilasso, i. p. 80,
Yamqui Pachacuti, p. 90. The month of October was called Ayamarca-Raymi.
Molina says that it was because the Ayamarca tribe celebrated the feast
of Huarachicu in that month.]

Others say that this treason was carried out in another way. While the
uncle was giving the child many presents, his cousins, the sons of Inca
Paucar, became jealous and treated with Tocay Ccapac to deliver the
child into his hands. Owing to this notice Tocay Ccapac came. Inca
Paucar had gone out to deliver to his nephew a certain estate and a
flock of llamas. Tocay Ccapac, the enemy of Inca Rocca was told by those
who had charge of the boy. He who carried him fled, and the boy was
seized and carried off by Tocay Ccapac.

Be it the one way or the other, the result was that the Ayamarcas took
Titu Cusi Hualpa from the custody of Inca Paucar in the town of Paulo,
while Inca Paucar and the Huayllacans sent the news to Inca Rocca by one
party, and with another took up arms against the Ayamarcas.

XXI.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE AYAMARCAS HAD STOLEN TITU CUSI HUALPA.

When the Ayamarcas and their Sinchi Tocay Ccapac stole the son of Inca
Rocca, they marched off with him. The Huayllacans of Paulopampa, under
their Sinchi Paucar Inca, marched in pursuit, coming up to them at a
place called Amaro, on the territory of the Ayamarcas. There was an
encounter between them, one side to recover the child, and the other to
keep their capture. But Paucar was only making a demonstration so as to
have an excuse ready. Consequently the Ayamarcas were victorious, while
the Huayllacans broke and fled. It is said that in this encounter, and
when the child was stolen, all the _orejones_ who had come as a guard
from Cuzco, were slain. The Ayamarcas then took the child to the chief
place of their province called Ahuayro-cancha.

Many say that Tocay Ccapac was not personally in this raid but that he
sent his Ayamarcas, who, when they arrived at Ahuayro-cancha, presented
the child Titu Cusi Hualpa to him, saying, "Look here, Tocay Ccapac, at
the prisoner we have brought you." The Sinchi received his prize with
great satisfaction, asking in a loud voice if this was the child of Mama
Micay, who ought to have been his wife. Titu Cusi Hualpa, though but a
child, replied boldly that he was the son of Mama Micay and of the Inca
Rocca. Tocay was indignant when he had heard those words, and ordered
those who brought the child as a prisoner to take him out and kill him.
The boy, when he heard such a sentence passed upon him, was so filled
with sadness and fright, that he began to weep from fear of death. He
began to shed tears of blood and with indignation beyond his years, in
the form of a malediction he said to Tocay and the Ayamarcas, "I tell
you that as sure as you murder me there will come such a curse on you
and your descendants that you will all come to an end, without any
memory being left of your nation."

The Ayamarcas and Tocay attentively considered this curse of the child
together with the tears of blood. They thought there was some great
mystery that so young a child should utter such weighty words, and that
the fear of death should make such an impression on him that he should
shed tears of blood. They were in suspense divining what it portended,
whether that the child would become a great man. They revoked the
sentence of death, calling the child _Yahuar-huaccac_, which means
"weeper of blood," in allusion to what had taken place.

But although they did not wish to kill him then and with their own
hands, they ordered that he should lead such a life as that he would die
of hunger. Before this they all said to the child that he should turn
his face to Cuzco and weep over it, because those curses he had
pronounced, would fall on the inhabitants of Cuzco, and so it happened.

This done they delivered him to the most valiant Indians, and ordered
them to take him to certain farms where flocks were kept, giving him to
eat by rule, and so sparingly that he would be consumed with hunger
before he died. He was there for a year without leaving the place, so
that they did not know at Cuzco, or anywhere else, whether he was dead
or alive. During this time Inca Rocca, being without certain knowledge
of his son, did not wish to make war on the Ayamarcas because, if he was
alive, they might kill him. So he did no more than prepare his men of
war and keep ready, while he enquired for his son in all the ways that
were possible.

XXII.

HOW IT BECAME KNOWN THAT YAHUAR-HUACCAC WAS ALIVE.

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