How Inca Yupanqui set out from Cuzco, and what he did.

THE fame of Inca Yupanqui flew over the land in such wise that his great deeds were discussed in all parts. Many, without seeing either banner or captain of his, came to know more and to offer vassalage, affirming that his ancestors must have fallen from heaven, seeing that they knew how to live in such concert and honour. Inca Yupanqui, without losing his gravity, answered them kindly, that he did not wish to injure any nation whatever, but that they should obey him, seeing that the Sun wished and commanded it. When he had again assembled an army, he set out towards the region called Condesuyo (Cunti-suyu), and subjugated the Yanahuaras and Chumbivilicas, and with some other tribes of Condesuyo he had sharp encounters. Yet, although they offered much opposition, his power and ability were such that, after much loss to themselves, they accepted him as lord, as the rest had done. Having arranged the affairs of these districts, and appointed rulers over the people, ordering that they should do no injury to his subjects, he returned to Cuzco. First, however, he placed governors in the principal places, whose duty it was to regulate the affairs of the provinces, both as regards the mode of living of the people, including the assembling into regular towns, and the prevention of any wrong being done, even to the most humble.

After this, they further relate that the Inca rested for some days at Cuzco, for he wished to proceed in person to the Andes (Antis), whither he had sent his spies and harbingers to examine the country and report upon the condition of the people. As the whole country was, by his order, full of deposits of provisions, he arranged that the road he had to take should be well supplied, and it was so. He then set out from Cuzco with the captains and men of war, leaving a governor for the administration of justice. Traversing the mountains and snowy passes, he received reports from his scouts, touching the density of the forests, and how that, although they found the great snakes which are engendered in these thickets, yet they did no harm; yet the scouts were astounded to see how fierce and monstrous they were.

When the natives of these parts knew that the Inca had entered their country, as many of them had already been engaged in his service by the captains who preceded him, they came to do mucha[212], bringing presents of plumes of feathers, coca, and other products of their land, and he received them all kindly. As regards the rest of the Indians in the forests, those who wished to be his vassals sent messengers, and those who did not, abandoned their habitations and retired with their women into the densest parts of the forests.

Inca Yupanqui received important information that, after a few days’ journey to the eastward, there was a rich and well-peopled country. He became very anxious to discover it, and would have passed onward. But tidings came of some disturbance at Cuzco, when he had arrived at a place called Marcapata. So he returned in great haste to Cuzco, where he remained for some days.

The Indians say that the province of the Collao was very large, and in those days it contained a great number of people and of lordships among the natives, which were very powerful. When they knew that Inca Yupanqui had entered the forests of the Antis, believing that he would either be killed there or return defeated, they agreed as one man, from VilcaÑota onwards, but in great secrecy, to rebel and not to continue under the dominion of the Incas. They declared that united they were great, that their fathers had been free, and they would not remain captive, with so many lands subject to one sole lord. They all detested the rule which the Inca had placed over them, although they had received no injury or ill treatment, nor had the governors or delegates been tyrannical or exacting. But they assembled in Hatuncolla and in Chucuito, where there met together Cari, and Zapana, and Humalla, and the lord of Azangaro, and many others. They made their vow, in accordance with their blindness, to proceed with their design and resolve; and for greater assurance, they all drank from one cup, and ordered that it should be placed in a temple amongst sacred things, as a testimony of what they had done. Throughout the empire this rebellion in the Collao, and the deaths that had been inflicted on the Orejones, became known. The tidings led to other disturbances in several parts, and in many places there were insurrections. This disturbed the arrangements respecting the mitimaes. The governors were warned; and above all, the great valour of Tupac Inca Yupanqui was displayed, who reigned from that time, as I shall explain.