Of the situation of the City of Kings, of its founding, and who was the founder.

THE valley of Lima is the largest and broadest of all those of which I have written between it and Tumbez; and, as it was large, so it was very populous. But now there are few native Indians, for, as the city was built on their land, and as their fields and water-courses were taken from them, some have now gone to one valley and some to another. If by chance some have remained, they continue to irrigate their fields. At the time when the Adelantado Don Pedro de Alvarado came to this kingdom, the Adelantado Don Francisco Pizarro, who was his Majesty’s governor, was in Cuzco; and, while the marshal Don Diego de Almagro was doing those things which I mentioned in my chapter on Riobamba, he came down to the coast, and determined to found a city in this valley. At that time neither Truxillo, Arequipa, Guamanga, nor any of the other cities were commenced. While the governor Don Francisco Pizarro was thinking of founding this city, after having inspected Sangallan, and other sites on the coast, he one day came with some Spaniards to the place where the city now stands, and it appeared to him a convenient site, possessing all necessary advantages. He, therefore, soon afterwards laid out a plan, and built the city on a level part of the valley, two short leagues from the sea. Above this site a river flows from the east, which has little water when it is summer in the Sierra, but which is somewhat swollen when it is winter. The city is so near the river that a strong arm may throw a small stone into it from the plaza, and on that side it cannot be enlarged. After Cuzco it is the largest city in the whole kingdom of Peru, and the most important.[369] It contains very fine houses, and some ornamental buildings with towers and terraces. The plaza is large[370] and the streets broad, and through every street a channel of water flows, which is no small convenience. The water from these channels serves to irrigate the orchards and gardens, which are numerous, refreshing, and delightful. At this time the Court and Royal Chancellory is established in the city, for which reason, and because all the business of the country is done here, there are always many people in the city, and rich shops for the sale of merchandise. In the year that I departed from this kingdom there were many inhabitants of this city who possessed encomiendas of Indians, and were so rich and prosperous, that they valued their estates at 150,00 ducats and upwards. In fine, I left them very rich and prosperous, and ships often sail from the port of this city, each carrying 800,00 ducats, and some more than a million. I pray to Almighty God that, as it will be for his service, for the spread of our holy faith, and for the salvation of our souls, he will allow this wealth to increase continually.

On the east side of the city there is a great and lofty hill, on the top of which a cross is planted.[371] Outside the city there are many farms and estates on all sides, where the Spaniards have their flocks and pigeon-cotes, vineyards, and refreshing orchards full of the fruits of the country, figs, bananas, sugar-canes, melons, oranges, lemons, limes, citrons, and beans brought from Spain. All is so good, that no fault can be found, but rather thanks should be offered up to the great God our Lord, who made all these things. Certainly, if all commotions and wars were at an end, this would be one of the best countries in the world to pass a life in,[372] for we see in it neither hunger, nor pestilence, nor rain, nor thunder and lightning, but the heavens are always serene and very beautiful. I could have mentioned some other particulars, but as it seems to me that I have said enough, I shall pass on, concluding by saying that the Adelantado Don Francisco Pizarro, governor and captain-general in these kingdoms, founded the city in the name of his Majesty the Emperor Charles our lord, in the year of our salvation 1535.[373]