How Inca Yupanqui set out from Cuzco and marched to the Collao, and of what happened there.

THESE Indians have no letters, and can only preserve their history by the memory of events handed down from generation to generation, and by their songs and quipus. I say this, because their narratives vary in many particulars, some saying one thing, and others giving a different version. Human judgment would not suffice to decide what is truest, without taking, from these various stories, what the people themselves consider to be most accurate, for record. I write this for the benefit of the Spaniards who are in Peru, and who pretend to a knowledge of many native secrets. They are aware that I knew and understood what they think that they know and understand, and a good deal more; and that from all this, I have decided upon writing what they will see, having worked hard at collecting the materials, as they themselves well know.

The Orejones relate that, the affairs of Inca Yupanqui being in this state, he determined to set out from Cuzco with a large force, to march to the region they call Collao. Leaving a governor in the city, he set out and marched until he arrived at the great town of Ayaviri. The people did not wish to come to him in due form. The Inca, therefore, took them by surprise, and killed all the inhabitants, both men and women, doing the same to the people of Copacopa. The destruction of Ayaviri was such, that nearly all perished. There only remained a few who were horrified to see so great a calamity, and wandered, like mad creatures, in the fields, calling on their ancestors with great moanings and words of fear.[211] The Inca hit upon the useful idea of planting a colony in the beautiful meadows and fields of Ayaviri, near which the bright river flows; and he ordered that sufficient mitimaes should come, with their women, to people the district. So it was done, and large buildings with a temple of the Sun were erected for them, with a storehouse and provisions. Thus Ayaviri, peopled by mitimaes, continued to be more prosperous than it was before; and the Indians who survived from the wars and the cruelty of the Spaniards, are all descended from mitimaes, and not from natives, as has been written.

Besides this, they relate that certain captains having gone, by order of the Inca, with a sufficient force to make war on those of Anti-suyu, comprising the tribes in the forests to the eastward, they came upon snakes as large as thick beams, which killed all they could, insomuch that, without seeing any other enemy, these creatures made war on them in such sort, that very few returned out of the great number that set out. The Inca was much incensed when he received this news. Being with his followers, a sorceress said to him that she would go and charm the snakes, so that they should be gentle and foolish, and do no harm to any one, even though they themselves should feel the desire. Approving of the plan, if it should be equal to the promise, the Inca ordered it to be put in execution, which was done accordingly in the belief of the people, but not of mine, because it seems nonsense. The snakes having been enchanted, the enemies were attacked, many were made to submit by force, and others by persuasion and kind words.

The Inca set out from Ayaviri, and they say that he marched by the road of Omasayo, which was, for the convenience of his royal person, made broad as we now see it. He went by Asillo and Azangaro, where he had some encounters with the natives. But he spoke such words, and gave them such presents, that he brought them to his friendship and service. Thenceforward they adopted the policy which all other tribes use who have friendship and alliance with the Incas, and they arranged their habitations in towns on the open plain.

Passing forward, they relate that the Inca Yupanqui visited the other tribes bordering on the great lake of Titicaca; and, by his wise dealings, he brought them all into his service. In each town he wore the dress used by the natives, a thing which gave great pleasure to them. He entered upon the lake of Titicaca, and beheld the islands which are surrounded by it, ordering a temple of the Sun and palaces to be erected on the largest, for the use of himself and his descendants. Having brought the whole region of the Collao under his sway, he returned in great triumph to Cuzco, where, as soon as he entered, he ordered that there should be the customary festivals, and people came from the other provinces with valuable presents, and the governors and delegates were very careful to comply with all that the Inca commanded.