The travels of Pedro de Cieza de Léon; part 2

by Pedro de Cieza de León

With these victories Cari became very proud, and the news spread abroad. When Zapana, the lord of Hatun-colla, heard of it, he was very sad, and he assembled his friends and vassals to take the field and despoil Cari. But he could not do this so secretly as to prevent Cari from understanding the design of Zapana, and he retired in good order to Chucuito by an unfrequented road, so that Zapana could not molest him. Having arrived in his own country, Cari assembled his principal chiefs, that they might consult touching the designs for Zapana, whose destruction was meditated by Cari, that there might be only one lord in the Collao. Zapana had the same thought in his mind.

And as the valour of the Incas, and the great power of Viracocha was spread abroad over all that region, each of these chiefs, desiring to obtain his friendship, sent ambassadors to Cuzco to secure his alliance and induce him to take part against the rival chief. These messengers set out with great presents, and arrived at Cuzco when the Inca was at the places or tampus which, for his diversion, he had ordered to be built in Xaquixaguana. Hearing that they were coming, the Inca ordered that they should be lodged in the city and provided with all they required.

The Inca consulted with the Orejones and venerable councillors touching the course that ought to be adopted in the matter of the embassies that had come from the Collao; and it was decided that a reply should be sought from the oracles. This is done by the priests in front of the idols. They bow down their shoulders, put their chins into their breasts, and begin to speak in loud voices. Occasionally I myself, with my own ears, have heard the Indians converse with the devil. In the province of Cartagena, in a seaport town called Bahayre,[176] I heard the devil answer in a clear whistle, and so loudly, that a Christian who was in the same town but more than half a league from where I was, heard the same whistle and was dismayed, being rather unwell. On another day the Indians made great shoutings, publishing the reply of the devil. In some parts of these lands where they keep the dead in hammocks, the devils occasionally enter into the bodies and give answers. I heard a man named Aranda say that, in the island of Carex,[177] he also saw one of these dead bodies speak, and the lies and nonsense they utter are laughable.

When the Inca determined to seek for an answer from the oracles, he sent for those who were accustomed to manage those things, and they say that the reply was that he should arrange to go to the Collao and seek the alliance of Cari. So he ordered the messengers of Zapana to be brought before him, and told them to say to their lord that he would shortly leave Cuzco and march to the Collao, where he would treat of the question of friendship. To those who came on the part of Cari he said that they were to explain to the lord how he was preparing to come to his aid, and that he would soon be with him.[178] When this was done, the Inca ordered forces to be assembled to march from Cuzco, leaving one of the principal persons of his lineage as governor.

CHAPTER XLII.

How Viracocha Inca passed by the provinces of the Canches and Canas, and marched until he entered the territory of the Collao, and of what happened between Cari and Zapana.

HAVING determined to march to the Collao, the Inca set out from the city of Cuzco with a large force, passing by Muyna, and by the towns of Urcos and Quiquijana. When the Canches,[179] heard of his approach, they determined to assemble and come forth with their arms, to defend the passage through their land. The Inca, on receiving news of their intention, sent messengers to represent that they should not undertake such an enterprise, for that he did not wish to give them any affront, but rather desired to be their friend, and if their chiefs and captains would come to him, he would give them to drink from his own cup. The Canches replied to the messengers that the Inca should not pass by reason of what they said, and that they were there to defend their country which had been invaded. Returning with this answer, the messengers found the Inca Viracocha in Cangalla, full of anger at the small account in which the Canches held his embassy. He made a rapid march, arriving at a town which is called Compata. Near a river which flows close by, he found the Canches drawn up in order of battle, and here the combat between the two forces took place. Many died on both sides, and the Canches were defeated. Those who were able to do so, fled, and were followed by the conquerors, killing and taking prisoners. After a long time the pursuers returned with the spoils, bringing with them many prisoners, both men and women.

After this had happened, the Canches, throughout the province, sent messengers to the Inca, beseeching him to pardon them, and to receive them into his service. As the Inca desired nothing else, he granted the usual conditions, which were that they should receive those of Cuzco as sovereign lord, and submit their laws and customs, offering tribute of what they produced, in accordance with what was done by other subjects. After passing some days in arranging these affairs, and in making the Canches understand that they must live together in towns, and must not engage in quarrels or wars amongst themselves, he passed onwards.

The Canas[180] had assembled together in large numbers, at a place called Luracachi; and as they had news of what had befallen the Canches, and that the Ynca did not injure those who wished to be his allies, nor allow others to do so, they resolved to make friends with him. The Inca advanced and, when he approached Luracachi and heard of the good will of the Canas, he was much pleased. As there was a temple of Aconcagua in that district, he sent great presents to the idols and priests.

When the ambassadors from the Canas arrived, they were well received by the Inca Viracocha, who replied to them that the principal and most venerable of the Canas should be near, where they would see him; and when he had been some days at the temple of Vilcañota he would hasten to be with them. He gave some fine cloth and ornaments to the messengers, and ordered his own soldiers not to enter the houses of the Canas, nor to take anything that belonged to them, that their good will might not be disturbed nor give place to any other thought.