But to return to our subject. They affirm that the Indians of this valley increased so rapidly in numbers and in power, that those of the other neighbouring valleys sought friendship and alliance with them as a great honour and advantage. Finding themselves so powerful, they are said to have set out to rob the provinces of the Sierra at the time that the first Yncas were founding the city of Cuzco. They are said to have done much mischief in Soras and Lucanas, and to have got as far as the great province of the Collao, whence, after having taken great spoils, and gained many victories, they returned to their valley. Here they and their descendants lived, given up to their pleasures and amusements, with over many women, and following the same rites and customs as the other tribes. The valley was so populous, that many Spaniards say, that when the Marquis conquered it, it contained more than 25,00 men. At present, I believe, that there are barely 500, such have been the strifes and misfortunes they have gone through. The lordship of this valley was also safe and prosperous until the valiant Ynca Yupanqui extended his rule in this direction. Wishing to bring the chiefs of Chincha under his rule, he sent a captain of his own lineage, named Ccapac Ynca Yupanqui, with an army of many Orejones and others, who reached the valley, and had several encounters with the natives. Not being able to subjugate them, the Orejones passed on; but in the time of Tupac Ynca Yupanqui, father of Huayna Ccapac, they were finally conquered, and from that time they obeyed the laws of the Lords Yncas; the villages of the valley were ruled by them, and great buildings and storehouses were erected for the King. The Yncas did not deprive the chiefs of their lordship, but his delegate lived in the valley, and the natives were ordered to worship the sun. Thus a temple was built, and many virgins and priests to celebrate festivals resided in it. But, notwithstanding that this temple of the sun was so pre-eminently established, the natives did not cease to worship also in their ancient temple of Chinchaycama. The Kings Yncas also sent Mitimaes into this great valley, and ordered that, during certain months in the year, the native chiefs should reside at the court of Cuzco. The chief of Chincha, who is still living, was in most of the wars which were waged during the time of Huayna Ccapac. He is a man of ability and good understanding for an Indian.
This valley is one of the largest in all Peru, and it is a beautiful thing to see its channels of water and groves of trees, and the great abundance of fruit, more especially the luscious and fragrant pepinos, not like those of Spain, although they bear some resemblance. These are yellow when the peel is taken off, and so delicious that it is necessary to eat many of them before a man is satisfied. In the thickets there are the same birds as have already been mentioned. There are scarcely any sheep of the country, because the wars between the Christians have caused their destruction. This valley yields plenty of wheat, and they cultivate vines which they have planted. The valley yields all the other things which have been planted by the Spaniards.
There were an immense quantity of burial-places made on the surrounding arid heights. The Spaniards opened many of them, and obtained a great quantity of gold. The native Indians were fond of dancing, and the chiefs went about with much ceremony and parade, and were reverenced by their vassals. After the Yncas established their rule, the natives copied many customs from them, adopted their dress, and imitated them in all other things as their sole lords.
The large population of this great valley has been reduced by the long civil wars in Peru, and because many natives have been taken away to carry burdens for the Spaniards (as is well known).
CHAPTER LXXV.
Of the other valley, as far as the province of Tarapaca.
AFTER leaving the beautiful province of Chincha, and travelling over sandy wastes, the traveller reaches the refreshing valley of Yca, which was not less rich and populous than the others. A river flows through it, which, during some months in the year when the season is summer in the Sierra, has so little water that the inhabitants of the valley feel the want of it. In the days of their prosperity, before they were subdued by the Spaniards, and when they enjoyed the government of the Yncas, besides the channels with which they irrigated the valley, they had one much larger than the rest, brought with great skill from the mountains in such wise that it flowed without reducing the quantity of water in the river.[383] Now that this great channel is destroyed, they make deep holes in the bed of the river when it is dry, and thus they obtain water to drink, and for watering their crops. In this valley of Yca there were great lords in former times who were much feared and reverenced. The Yncas ordered palaces and other buildings to be made in the valley. The inhabitants had the same customs as the other Indians, burying live women and great treasure with their dead.
In this valley there are very large woods of algaroba trees, and many fruit trees of the kinds already described; besides deer, pigeons, doves, and other game. The people breed much cattle.[384]
From this valley of Yca the road leads to the beautiful rivers and valleys of Nasca,[385] which were also very populous in times past, and the streams were made to irrigate the fields. The late wars destroyed by their cruelty (as is well known) all these poor Indians. Some Spaniards of credit told me that the greatest harm to the Indians was done during the dispute of the two governors Pizarro and Almagro, respecting the boundaries of their jurisdictions, which cost so dear, as the reader will see in the proper place.
In the principal valley of those of Nasca (which by another name is called Caxamalca) there were great edifices built by order of the Yncas.[386] I have nothing more to say of the natives than that they also assert that their ancestors were valiant, and esteemed by the Kings of Cuzco. I have heard that the Spaniards took a quantity of treasure from the burial-places, or huacas. These valleys being so fertile, as I have said, a great quantity of sweet canes have been planted in one of them, of which they make much sugar for sale in the cities of this kingdom. The great road of the Yncas passes through all these valleys, and in some parts of the desert signs may be seen to indicate the road that should be taken.