The natives of Otabalo and Carangue are called Guamaraconas (Huayna cuna[266]). The name arose from what was said after the massacre ordered by Huana Ccapac in the lake, where most of the men were killed. Only boys were left in these villages, and the word means in our language “Now you are boys.” The natives of Carangue are very hostile to those of Otabalo for the following reason. When the news of the arrival of the Spaniards was spread abroad in the provinces of Quito, together with the imprisonment of Atahualpa, the people were filled with wonder and fear, and were particularly astonished at what they heard concerning the swiftness of the horses. Thus they awaited their arrival, thinking, that as they had overthrown the Ynca their Lord, they also would be subjugated. At this time the Lord of Cayambe had a great quantity of treasure in his charge, and he of Otabalo observed that his neighbour was in great fear and perturbation for the safety of the precious treasure. The chief of Otabalo then called together his people, and, selecting those who were most agile and cunning, ordered them to dress in shirts and long mantles, and, with wands in their hands, to mount their best sheep and to climb up into the heights, so that they could be seen by those of Carangue. He, with most of his people and some women, in the mean time, fled to Carangue with great demonstrations of fear, saying that he was flying from the fury of the Spaniards, who had reached his villages on their horses, and that he had left all his valuables behind, to escape from their cruelty.
This news caused great terror, and it was received as certain, because the Indians, mounted on sheep, could be seen on the hills, so the people of Carangue began their flight. Otabalo pretended to do the same, but he and his people returned to Carangue, and stole all the treasure they could find, which was not little. When those of Carangue returned, at the end of a few days, the deceit was discovered.
This strange robbery caused much agitation among the people of Carangue, and they had several debates among themselves; but, as the captain Sebastian de Belalcazar, with the Spaniards, entered the provinces of Quito a few days after this occurrence, they dropped their quarrels in order to defend themselves. Thus the people of Otabalo retained what they had robbed, as is stated by many Indians of these parts, and the feud has not ceased amongst them.
From the station of Otabalo the road leads to that of Cochesqui, and crosses a snowy pass, where it is so cold that there is some trouble in preserving life. From Cochesqui the road passes on to Guallabamba, which is four leagues from Quito, and here, the land being low and nearly on the equator, it is warm, but not so much so as to prevent it from being very populous, and it yields all things necessary for the support of man. We who have travelled in these parts know what there is on this equinoctial line, which some ancient authors held to be an uninhabitable region. Under the line there is winter and summer, and the country is thickly inhabited, the crops which are sown yielding abundantly, especially wheat and barley.
The road which unites these stations is crossed by several rivers, all with bridges, now much out of repair, and there are grand buildings and many other things to be seen.
The distance from Guallabamba to Quito is four leagues, and there are several houses and farms along the roadside, where the Spaniards have their flocks until the plains of Añaquito is reached. Here, in 1545, during the month of January, the viceroy Blasco Nuñez Vela arrived with a company of Spaniards, who followed him, in opposition to those who upheld the tyranny. Gonzalo Pizarro, who had seized the government of the country, and called himself governor under false colours, accompanied by most of the conquerors of Peru, marched out of the city of Quito and gave battle to the viceroy. The unfortunate viceroy, and many brave knights who were showing their loyalty and desire to serve his Majesty, were left dead on the field. Passing this plain of Añaquito, the city of Quito is presently reached.
CHAPTER XL.
Of the situation of the city of San Francisco del Quito, of its foundation, and who it was who founded it.
THE city of San Francisco del Quito is in the northern province of the kingdom of Peru. This province is nearly sixty leagues long from east to west, and twenty-five or thirty broad. The city is built amongst ancient buildings, which the Yncas, in the days of their power, had ordered to be raised in these parts. They were the work of the illustrious and powerful Huayna Ccapac, and of the great Tupac, his father, and the natives called these royal and noble buildings Quito, whence the city took its name.[267] The climate is healthy, and more cold than warm. There is little or no extent of view from the city, because it is situated in a hollow surrounded by high mountains, and the level space is so confined that there will be some difficulty in building if it is desired to enlarge the city, but it could be made very strong if it was considered necessary. To the west are the cities of Puerto Viejo, and Guayaquil, which are about seventy and eighty leagues distant, and to the south are the cities of Loxa and San Miguel, the one one hundred and thirty and the other eighty leagues distant. To the east are the forests and the sources of the river which is called the fresh water sea,[268] and to the north is the government of Popayan, which we have just passed.
The city of Quito is under the equinoctial line, indeed only seven leagues distant from it. The surrounding country appears to be sterile, but in reality it is very fertile, and all kinds of cattle are bred in it plentifully, besides other provisions, corn and pulse, fruit and birds. The country is very pleasant, and particularly resembles Spain in its pastures and its climate, for the summer begins in April, and lasts until November, and, though it is cold, the land is no more injured by it than in Spain.