The travels of Pedro de Cieza de Léon; part 2

by Pedro de Cieza de León

How Atahualpa set out from Quito with his army and captains, and how he gave battle to Atoc in the villages of Ambato.

AS the posts on the royal roads were so numerous, nothing happened in any part of the empire that was unknown, and when it was understood that Atahualpa had escaped by such good luck, and was in Quito assembling his troops, it was known that a war was certain. Hence there were divisions into parties; great disturbances; and thoughts directed to evil ends. Huascar had no one who would not obey him, and did not desire that he should come out of the affair with honour and power. Atahualpa had, on his side, the captains and men of the army, and many native lords and mitimaes of the Quito provinces. They relate that, being in Quito, he made haste to prepare his army to march, swearing, in their manner, that he would inflict great punishment on the Cañaris for the affront he had received from them. He knew that Atoc was approaching with his army, which exceeded, according to what they say, forty huarancas or thousands of men, and he made haste to come forth and meet him.

Atoc advanced because Atahualpa had not been able to assemble the men in the provinces. He addressed his men, exhorting them to do honour to the Inca Huascar, and to exert themselves to chastise the shameless conduct of Atahualpa. To justify his cause, Atoc sent certain Indians as messengers to Atahualpa, urging him to rest satisfied with what he had already done, and not to plunge the empire into civil war; but to submit to the Inca, as the wisest course for him. Although these messengers were principal Orejones, they relate that Atahualpa laughed at what they had to say, and that, after many threats, he ordered them to be killed. He then pursued his road in a rich litter, carried on the shoulders of his principal and favourite followers.

They say that Atahualpa entrusted the conduct of the war to his Captain-General Chalcuchima, and to two other chiefs, named Quizquiz and Ucumari.[255] As Atoc did not halt with his army, they encountered him near the town called Ambato, where the battle began, and was hotly contested. Chalcuchima, having occupied a hill, came down with 5,000 chosen men, at an opportune moment, and attacked the tired enemy, killing a great number, while the rest fled in confusion. They were pursued, and many were captured, including Atoc himself. Those who gave me this information say that he was fastened to a post, where they killed him with great cruelty. Chalcuchima made a drinking-cup out of his skull, adorned with gold. The most correct estimate, in my judgment, is that 15,000 or 16,000 men were killed in this battle, on both sides. Those who were taken prisoners were killed without mercy, by order of Atahualpa. I have passed by this town of Ambato, where they say that the battle was fought, and, judging from the number of bones, it would appear that even more people were killed than they state.

With this victory Atahualpa remained in great renown. The news was divulged in all parts of the kingdom. His adherents were called together, and hailed him as Inca. He said that he would assume the fringe at Tumebamba, though, if this ceremony was not performed at Cuzco, it was considered absurd and invalid. He ordered his wounded to be cured, he was served as a king, and he marched to Tumebamba.

CHAPTER LXXIII.

How Huascar sent new captains and troops against his enemy, and how Atahualpa arrived at Tumebamba, where he perpetrated great cruelties; also what happened between him and the captains of Huascar.

FEW days elapsed after the Captain Atoc was defeated at Ambato, before the disaster was known, not only in Cuzco, but throughout the empire. Huascar was much alarmed, and from that time he feared that the end of the trouble might be fatal. His councillors decided that Cuzco should not be abandoned, but that a fresh army with new captains should take the field. But there were great lamentations for the dead, and sacrifices were offered up in the temples and to the oracles, according to custom. Huascar summoned many native chiefs of the Collao, of the Canchis, Canas, Charcas, Cavangas, those of Condesuyo, and many of those of Chincha-suyo. When they had assembled, he spoke to them of what his brother had done, and appealed to them to be good friends and companions. They answered as he desired, because they venerated the religious custom not to receive any one as Inca, except him who had assumed the fringe at Cuzco, which Huascar had done some days before. As it was necessary to arrange for the continuance of the war, the Inca appointed his brother, Huanca Auqui, to be his Captain-General. Some Orejones say that he was not a brother of the Inca, but a son of Ilaquito.[256] With him other principal chiefs were sent as captains, named Ahuapanti,[257] Urco Huaranca, and Inca Rocca. These captains set out from Cuzco with all the soldiers they could collect, and accompanied by many native lords and mitimaes, and Huanca Auqui reinforced his army on the road, as he advanced. He marched in search of Atahualpa, who was at Tumebamba, with his captains and many principal men who had come to gain his favour, seeing that he was a conqueror. The Cañaris were afraid of Atahualpa, because they had imprisoned him and despised his commands, and they knew him to be vindictive and very blood-thirsty. When he came near the principal edifices, I heard from many Indians that, to appease his anger, they sent a great company of children, and another of men of all ages, to go forth to his richly-adorned litter, in which he travelled with great pomp, bearing green branches and palm leaves in their hands, and praying for grace and friendship, and that past injuries might be forgiven. They besought him with such clamour and with such humility, that it would have broken a heart of stone. But it made little impression on the cruel Atahualpa, for they say that he ordered his captains and soldiers to kill all who had come out to him, which was done, only sparing a few children and the women dedicated to the service of the temple, who were kept without shedding any of their blood, to preserve the honour of their deity the Sun.

This being done, he ordered some particular chiefs in the province to be killed, and placed a captain of his own to govern it. Assembling his principal adherents, he then assumed the fringe and took the title of Inca in Tumebamba, although the act was invalid, as has been explained, because it was not performed in Cuzco. However, he had the right of his arms, which he held to be good law. I have also heard from some Indians of position that Atahualpa assumed the fringe in Tumebamba before Atoc was defeated or even set out from Cuzco, and that Huascar knew it and provided accordingly. But on the whole it seems to me that the version I first wrote is the most probable.

Huanca Auqui made rapid marches, wishing to arrive at the country of the Cañaris before Atahualpa could do the harm which he actually did. Some of those who escaped from the battle of Ambato had joined him. All authorities affirm that he had with him more than 80,000 soldiers, and Atahualpa assembled little less at Tumebamba, whence he set out, declaring that he would not stop until he reached Cuzco. The two armies encountered each other in the province of the Paltas, near Caxabamba, and after the captains had addressed their troops, the battle began. They say that Atahualpa was not present; but that he witnessed the conflict from an adjacent hill. God was served in that, notwithstanding that there were many Orejones and captains well instructed in the art of war in the army of Huascar, and that Huanca Auqui did his duty like a loyal and good servant of the king, Atahualpa should be victorious, with the death of many of his adversaries. They declare that in both armies more than 35,000 were killed, besides many wounded.