Of the lake of Bombon, and how it is supposed to be the source of the great river of La Plata.

THIS province is strong from its position, and because the natives were very warlike. Before the Yncas could conquer them they fought great battles with them, until (according to what many of the oldest Indians declare) they at length induced them to submit by the use of intrigues and presents. There is a lake in the country of these Indians which is more than ten leagues round. This land of Bombon is level and very cold, and the mountains are some distance from the lake.[413] The Indians have their villages round the lake, with large dykes. These natives of Bombon had great numbers of sheep, and, although most of them have been destroyed in the late wars, yet some still remain, and in the desert heights there are quantities of the wild kinds. There is little maize in this country on account of the cold, but there is no want of other provision by which the people are sustained. There are some islands and rocks in the lake, where the Indians form garrisons in time of war, and are thus safe from their enemies. Concerning the water which flows from this lake, it is held for certain that it forms the source of the famous river of La Plata, because it becomes a powerful river in the valley of Xauxa, and further on it is joined by the rivers of Parcos, Vilcas, Abancay, Apurimac, and Yucay. Thence it flows to the west, traversing many lands, where it receives other rivers which are still unknown to us, until it finally reaches Paraguay, the country discovered by those Christian Spaniards who first came to the river of La Plata. I myself believe, from what I have heard of this great river, that it owes its origin to two or three branches, or perhaps more; like the rivers MaraÑon, Santa Martha, Darien, and others in those parts. However this may be, in this kingdom of Peru, we believe that it owes its source to the lake of Bombon, which receives the water caused by the melting of the snow from the heat of the sun on the desert heights, and of this there cannot be little.[414]

Ten leagues beyond Bombon is the province of Tarma, the inhabitants of which were not less warlike than those of Bombon. The climate is here more temperate, and much maize and wheat are grown, besides various fruits of the country. In former times there were great buildings and store-houses of the Kings Yncas in Tarma. The natives and their wives go dressed in clothes made from the wool of their sheep, and they adore the sun, which they call Mocha. When any of them marry, the friends assemble together, and, after drinking, saluting their cheeks, and performing other ceremonies, the marriage of the bride and bridegroom is complete. When the chiefs die they are buried in the same way as amongst all the other tribes, and their women shave their heads and wear black cloaks, also anointing their faces with a black ointment, and this state of widowhood lasts for a year. When the year is over, as I understood, and not before, they may marry again. These people have their annual festivals and fasts, which they carefully observe, abstaining from meat and salt and from sleeping with women. They also ask him who is considered most religious, and on the best terms with their gods and devils, to fast for a whole year for the benefit of the others. This being done, at the time of maize harvest, they assemble and pass some days and nights in eating and drinking.

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It is notorious that some of them conversed with the devil in their temples, and the devil replied in a terrible voice. From Tarma, travelling by the royal road of the Yncas, the traveller reaches the great and beautiful valley of Xauxa, which was one of the principal districts in Peru.