How certain men and women appeared in Pacarec-Tampu, and what they relate touching their proceedings after they came forth from there.

I HAVE already stated more than once, how, as an exercise and to escape from the vices caused by idleness, I took the trouble to describe all that I obtained touching the Incas and their system and good order of government. As I have no other account nor writing beyond what they gave me, if another should undertake to write more certainly than I have, on this subject, he may well do so. At the same time, I have not spared pains to make what I write clear; and to ensure greater accuracy I went to Cuzco when the Captain Juan de Saavedra was Corregidor.[74] Here he arranged that Cayu Tupac should meet me, who is one of the surviving descendants of Huaina Capac. For Sairi Tupac, son of Manco Inca, has retired to Viticos, where his father took refuge after his great war with the Spaniards at Cuzco. I also met others of the Orejones, who are those that are held to be most noble amongst themselves. With the best interpreters that could be found, I asked these Lords Incas of what race they were, and of what nation. It would seem that the former Incas, to magnify their origin with great deeds, exaggerated the story they had received, in their songs. It is this. When all the races who lived in these regions were in a state of disorder, slaughtering each other and sunk in vice, there appeared three men and three women in a place not far from the city of Cuzco, which is called Pacarec Tampu. And according to the interpretation, Pacarec Tampu is as much as to say the House of Production.

The men who came forth from there were, as they relate, the one, Ayar Ucho, and the other, Ayar Cachi Asauca, and the other, they say, was named Ayar Manco. Of the women, one had the name of Mama Huaco, the other Mama Cora, the other Mama Rahua.[75]

Some Indians give these names after another fashion and in greater number, but I have put them down from the informations of the Orejones, who know better than any one else. They say that these people came forth, dressed in long mantles, and some vestments like a shirt without collar or sleeves, made of very fine wool, with patterns of different kinds, which they called tacapu, and in our language the meaning is “vestures of kings.” And each of these lords held in the hand a sling of gold with a stone in it. The women came out dressed very richly like the men, and they had much gold. Going forward with this, they further say, that they obtained great store of gold, and that one of the brothers named Ayar Uchu spoke to his brethren that they should make a beginning of the great things that they had to do; for their presumption was such that they thought they were to make themselves sole lords of the land. They were determined to form in that place a new settlement, to which they gave the name of Pacarec Tampu; and this was soon done, for they had the help of the inhabitants of the surrounding country. As time went on, they put great quantities of pure gold and jewels, with other precious things, into that place, of which the fame goes that Hernando Pizarro and Don Diego de Almagro the lad, obtained a large share.

Returning to the history, they say that one of the three, named Ayar Cachi, was so valiant and had such great power, that, with stones hurled from his sling, he split the hills and threw them up to the clouds. When the other brothers saw this they were sorry, thinking that it was an affront to them who could not do such things, and they were enraged by reason of their envy. Then they asked him sweetly and with gentle words, though full of deceit, to return and enter the mouth of a cave where they had their treasure, to bring out a certain vase of gold that they had forgotten, and to pray to their father the Sun that he would prosper their efforts so that they might be lords of that land. Ayar Cachi, believing that there was no deceit in what his brother said, joyfully went to do what they required of him, but he had scarcely got into the cave when the other two so filled the mouth up with stones that it could not be seen. This done, they relate for a certainty that the earth trembled in such a manner that many hills fell into the valleys.

Thus far the Orejones relate the story of the origin of the Incas, because they wished it to be understood that as their deeds were so marvellous, they must have been children of the Sun. Afterwards, when the Indians exalted them with grand titles, they were called Ancha hatun apu intipchuri![76] which means, “Oh very great lord, child of the sun.” That which, for my part, I hold to be the truth in this matter is that as Zapana rose up in Hatuncollao, and other valiant captains did the same thing in other parts, these Incas must have been some three valiant and powerful brothers with grand thoughts who were natives of some place in those regions, or who had come from some other part of the mountains of the Andes; and that they, finding the opportunity, conquered and acquired the lordship which they possessed. Even without this supposition it might be that what they tell of Ayar Cachi and the others was the work of magicians, who did what is told of them through the Devil. In fine, we cannot get from the story any other solution than this.

As soon as Ayar Cachi was secured in the cave, the other two brothers, with some people who had joined them, agreed to form another settlement, to which they gave the name of Tampu Quiru, which is as much as to say, “Teeth of a residence or of a palace”, and it may be supposed that these settlements were not large nor more than sufficient for a small force. They remained at this place for some days, being now sorry at having so made away with their brother Ayar Cachi, who was also called Huanacaure.[77]