How Huayna Capac entered the country of Bracamoros, and returned flying, and of the other events that happened until he arrived at Quito.

IT is well known to many natives of these parts that Huayna Capac entered the country which we call Bracamoros, and that he returned flying before the fury of the men who dwell there. They had chosen leaders, and assembled to defend themselves against any one who should attack them. This is stated, not only by the Orejones, but also by the Lord of Chincha, and some principal men of the Collao and of Xauxa. They all say that, while Huayna Capac was engaged in settling the districts which had been traversed and subjugated by his father, it came to his knowledge how that, in the Bracamoros, there were many men and women who possessed fertile lands; that far in the interior of that land, there were many rivers and a lake; and that this region was well peopled. Desirous of discovery, and anxious to extend his dominion, he ordered a chosen band, with little baggage, to march with him into that country, leaving the camp under command of a Captain-General. Entering the country, they advanced, opening the road with great labour, for, after passing the snowy cordillera, they found themselves in the forests of the Andes. They came to great rivers which they had to cross, and heavy rains fell from the heavens. The Inca came to where the natives were watching in their strongholds, whence they insolently defied him. The war began, and so many of the savages came forth, most of them naked, that the Inca determined to retire, which he did without gaining anything in that land. The natives harassed his retreat in such sort that his soldiers, sometimes flying, at others facing their pursuers, at others sending them presents, returned flying to their own territory, saying that they had avenged themselves on the long-tailed ones. They said this because some of them had brought away the long strips of cloth which the natives wore between their legs.

From these lands they also affirm that the Inca sent captains, with a sufficient force, to explore the sea-coast in a northerly direction, and to bring under the Inca’s dominion the natives of Guayaquil and Puerto Viejo. The captains marched into these districts, where they waged war and fought some battles, sometimes being victorious and at others sustaining reverses. Thus, they advanced as far as Collique, where they met with people who went about naked and fed on human flesh, having the customs which are now practised and used by the dwellers on the river of San Juan. From this point they returned, not wishing to penetrate further, but to report what they had done to the king. Meanwhile, he had arrived at the country of the CaÑaris, where he enjoyed himself exceedingly. For they say that this was the place of his birth, and that he found that great lodgings and store-houses had been built, and abundant supplies collected. He sent embassies to inspect the districts, and ambassadors came to him from many provinces, with presents.

I am given to understand that, owing to a tumult which took place in certain towns of the district of Cuzco, the Inca was so incensed that, after having caused the leaders to be beheaded, he gave express orders that the Indians of those places should bring the quantity he should specify of the stones of Cuzco, to make edifices of the first importance in Tumebamba, and that they should drag them with cables; and his orders were obeyed. Huayna Capac often said that to keep the people of those kingdoms well under subjection, it was a good thing, when they had no other work to do, to make them remove a hill from one place to another. He even ordered stones and slabs to be brought from Cuzco, for the edifices of Quito, and to this day they remain in the buildings where they were placed.

Huayna Capac set out from Tumebamba, and went by Purnaes, resting for some days at Riobamba, in Mocha and Tacunga, and his people were allowed to drink of the beverages that had been prepared for them in all parts. The Inca was visited and saluted by many captains and lords of those parts. He sent Orejones of his own lineage to the provinces of the coast and of the mountains, to inspect the accounts of the quipu-camayos, who are their accountants, to see what was stored in the government houses, to ascertain how the governors treated the natives, and whether the temples of the Sun, the oracles, and huacas were properly maintained. He also sent messengers to Cuzco to see that all his orders were duly attended to. There was not a day that runners did not arrive, not a few but many, from Cuzco, the Collao, Chile, and all parts of the empire.

From Tacunga the Inca continued his journey to Quito, where he was received, according to the mode and usage, with great festivities. His father’s governor delivered up the treasures to him, which were numerous, with the fine cloth and other things that he had charge of. The Inca honoured him, praising his fidelity, calling him father, and assuring him that he would always esteem him for the great services he performed for his father and himself. The towns in the neighbourhood of Quito sent many presents and provisions for the king, and he ordered that more and stronger edifices should be built there than there were before. The works were at once commenced, and those were finished which we found when our people conquered that land.