How Tupac Inca once more set out from Cuzco, and how he went to the Collao, and from thence to Chile, subjugating the nations in that direction, and of his death.

TUPAC Inca, having returned to Cuzco after having gained the great victories which have been described, was enjoying himself at banquets and drinking-bouts, with his wives, damsels, and children, for several days. Among his children was Huayna Ccapac, he who was to succeed as king, and who was growing up very vigorous and brave. After the festivities, Tupac Inca thought of visiting the Collao and subduing the region beyond. With this object, he ordered the soldiers to be summoned from all parts, and many tents to be prepared for passing the night in the desert places. The troops began to arrive with their captains, and were lodged round the city, those whom the law prohibited not entering Cuzco. Both one and the other were provided with all that was necessary, the governors and purveyors of the city keeping a full account. When all who had to go to the war were assembled, sacrifices were offered up to their gods in conformity with their blindness, making the soothsayers seek an answer touching the war from the oracles. After a general and very splendid feast, Tupac Inca set out from Cuzco, leaving his eldest son Huayna Ccapac as his lieutenant; and with great splendour and state, he travelled to Colla-suyu, visiting his garrisons and royal tampus, and being entertained in the villages of the Canas and Canchis.

Entering the Collao, he advanced as far as Chucuito, where the chiefs of the land assembled to make a festival. Owing to the good order that was established, they had sufficient provisions ready for the 300,000 men who composed the army. Some chiefs of the Collao offered to go in person with the Inca. He went on the lake of Titicaca, with some lords whom he selected, and approved of the edifices which his father had ordered to be built, and of the excellence of the work. He offered up great sacrifices in the temple, and presented rich gifts to the priests and to the idol, worthy of so great a lord as he was. He then returned to the army, and marched through the whole province of the Collao until he came to the end of it. He sent his messengers to all the nations of the Charcas, Carangas, and other inhabitants of that region. Of these, some consented to submit, while others resisted; but the Inca’s power was such that the latter were easily subdued. The conquered were treated with great clemency, and those who submitted with much affection. In Paria, the Inca ordered edifices to be built, and also in other parts. Certainly great events must have taken place in connection with Tupac Inca, many of which have been forgotten, owing to the want of letters; and I set down briefly some few out of many that we know, having been heard by us who are in those parts.

Having been victorious in the country beyond Charcas, the Inca traversed many provinces, and vast snow-covered deserts, until he arrived in the country we call Chile. He conquered, and became lord over all that land; and they say that he advanced as far as the river Maule. In Chile he built some edifices, and received, as tribute from those parts, much gold. He left governors and mitimaes, put the conquered country in good order, and returned to Cuzco.

Towards the eastern limits he sent instructed Orejones, in the dress of merchants, to see what lands there were in that direction, and what kind of people dwelt there. Having arranged these things, he returned to Cuzco, whence they affirm that he set out again at the end of a few days. With the troops he had ordered to assemble he then entered the region of the Antis, and suffered great hardships in forcing his way through the dense forests. He conquered some of the tribes, and ordered large plantations of coca to be cultivated for the supply of Cuzco, to which place he returned.

They affirm that after a few days the Inca was attacked by an illness, of which he died, leaving to his son the government of his kingdom, his wives and children; and, after saying a few other things, he expired. There was great lamentation, and such strong feeling, from Quito to Chile, that it is wonderful to listen to the Indians who relate the events of that time.

Where or in what place he was interred they do not say. They relate that a great number of women, servants, and pages were killed, to be buried with him, with so much treasure that it must have amounted to more than a million: for ordinary lords have been buried with upwards of 100,000 castellanos. Besides the people who were put into his tomb, they put to death and buried many men and women in divers parts of the kingdom; and in all parts they mourned for an entire year. Most of the women shaved their heads, putting on ropes of grass; and at the end of the year they came to do him honour. The other things which they used to do, I prefer not to repeat, because they savour of heathenism. But the Christians who were in Cuzco in 1550 will remember what they saw of the honours done at the end of the year of mourning for Paullu Inca,[228] who had himself become a Christian. So that they can imagine what it must have been in the days when the departed kings were reigning, and before they lost their empire.