Of the valley of Pachacamac, and of the very ancient temple in it, and how it was reverenced by the Yncas.

FOUR leagues from the City of the Kings, travelling down the coast, is the valley of Pachacamac, which is very famous among these Indians. This valley is fruitful and pleasant, and in it there was one of the grandest temples that is to be seen in these parts. They say of it that, although the Kings Yncas built many temples besides the temple of Cuzco, and enriched them greatly, yet none were equal to this temple of Pachacamac. It was built on the top of a small hill, entirely made of earth and adobes (bricks baked in the sun). The edifice had many doors, and the doors and walls were painted over with wild beasts. Within the temple, where they placed the idol, were the priests, who feigned no small amount of sanctity. When they performed sacrifices before the people, they went with their faces towards the doors and their backs to the idols, with their eyes to the ground, and they were filled with a mighty trembling. Indeed, their perturbation was so great, according to the accounts of those Indians who are still living, that it may almost be compared with that of which we read concerning the priests of Apollo when the gentiles sought for their vain replies. The Indians further relate that they sacrificed animals, and some human blood of persons whom they had killed, before the figure of this devil, which, at their most solemn festivals, gave replies, and when the people heard them, they believed them to be true. In the terraces and lower parts of this temple a great sum in gold and silver was buried.

The priests were much reverenced, and the chiefs obeyed them in many of the things which they ordered. Near the temple many great buildings were erected for the use of those who came on pilgrimage, and no one was considered worthy to be buried in the vicinity of the temple except the chiefs, or those who came as pilgrims bringing offerings to the temple.[374] When the annual festivals of the year were celebrated, a great concourse of people assembled, rejoicing to the sound of such instruments of music as they use.

When the Lords Yncas, in extending their sway, came to this valley of Pachacamac, and saw the grandeur and great antiquity of the temple, and the reverence paid to it by all the people in the neighbourhood, they knew that it would be very difficult to put aside this feeling, although it was their general practice to order temples to the sun to be built in all the countries they conquered. They, therefore, agreed with the native chiefs and with the ministers of this god or devil, that the temple of Pachacamac should continue with the authority and reverence it formerly possessed, and that the loftiest part should be set aside as a temple of the sun. This order of the Yncas having been obeyed, the temple of the sun became very rich, and many virgins were placed in it. The devil Pachacamac was delighted with this agreement, and they affirm that he showed great satisfaction in his replies, seeing that his ends were served both by the one party and the other, while the souls of the unfortunate simpletons remained in his power.

Some Indians say that this accursed demon Pachacamac still talks with the aged people. As he sees that his authority and credit are gone, and that many of those who once served him have now formed a contrary opinion, he declares that he and the God of whom the Christians preach are one, and thus with other false and deceitful words induces some to refuse the water of baptism. Nevertheless God, taking pity on the souls of these sinners, is served by many coming to His knowledge and calling themselves sons of the church. Thus every day some are baptised. The temple is now so completely dismantled that the principal edifice is gone altogether, and in the place where the devil was once so served and adored, a cross is planted to increase his terror, and to be a comfort to the faithful.

The name of this devil is intended to signify “creator of the world,” for camac means “creator,” and pacha, “the world.” When the governor Don Francisco Pizarro (God permitting it) seized Atahualpa in the province of Caxamarca, he heard wonderful reports of this temple, and of its great riches. He, therefore, sent his brother, the captain Hernando Pizarro, with some Spanish troops, with orders to seek out the valley, and take all the gold he could find in the accursed temple, with which he was to return to Caxamarca. Although the captain Hernando Pizarro succeeded in reaching the temple of Pachacamac, it is notorious among the people that the priests had already taken away four hundred loads of gold, which have never yet appeared, nor do any Indians now living know where they are. Nevertheless Hernando Pizarro (the first Spanish captain who came to this place) found some gold and silver. As time passed on, the captain Rodrigo OrgoÑez, Francisco de Godoy, and others, took a large sum of gold and silver from the burial places. It is considered that there is much more, but as the place where it was buried is unknown, it was lost. From the time that Hernando Pizarro and his Christians entered the temple, the devil has had little power, the idols have been destroyed, and the temple and other edifices have fallen into ruins. Insomuch that very few Indians now remain in the place. This valley is as full of trees as the other valleys, and many cows and other stock are reared in the fields, besides mares, from which come some good horses.[375]