How ambassadors from the tyrants of the Collao came to Cuzco, and of the departure of Viracocha Inca for the Collao.

MANY histories and events fell out between the natives of these provinces in early times; but as I make a rule only to relate what I hold to be certain, according to the opinions of the learned natives and to the narrative I took down at Cuzco, I leave out what I do not clearly understand, and treat of what I feel sure, as I have already explained several times.

It is well known, among the Orejones, that at this time ambassadors came to Cuzco from the province of the Collao. For they relate that, in the reign of Inca Viracocha, a lord named Zapana ruled over Hatun-colla. In the lake of Titicaca there are islands inhabited by people with large balsas, and another lord named Cari went to the islands, where he fought with the people insomuch that there were great battles between them, out of which the Cari came forth a conqueror. But he had no other object than to destroy the villagers and carry off plunder, without troubling himself to take prisoners. He returned to Chucuito, where he had established himself, and he had under his sway the towns of Ylave, Yuli, Zepita, Pomata, and others. With the people he could collect, after having offered up great sacrifices to his gods or devils, he determined to march to the province of the Canas. These men, when they heard of his approach, assembled together, came forth to meet him, and fought a battle in which they were defeated with much loss. After this victory Cari determined to continue his advance, and arrived at Luracachi, where it is said that he fought another battle, and was equally fortunate.

With these victories Cari became very proud, and the news spread abroad. When Zapana, the lord of Hatun-colla, heard of it, he was very sad, and he assembled his friends and vassals to take the field and despoil Cari. But he could not do this so secretly as to prevent Cari from understanding the design of Zapana, and he retired in good order to Chucuito by an unfrequented road, so that Zapana could not molest him. Having arrived in his own country, Cari assembled his principal chiefs, that they might consult touching the designs for Zapana, whose destruction was meditated by Cari, that there might be only one lord in the Collao. Zapana had the same thought in his mind.

And as the valour of the Incas, and the great power of Viracocha was spread abroad over all that region, each of these chiefs, desiring to obtain his friendship, sent ambassadors to Cuzco to secure his alliance and induce him to take part against the rival chief. These messengers set out with great presents, and arrived at Cuzco when the Inca was at the places or tampus which, for his diversion, he had ordered to be built in Xaquixaguana. Hearing that they were coming, the Inca ordered that they should be lodged in the city and provided with all they required.

The Inca consulted with the Orejones and venerable councillors touching the course that ought to be adopted in the matter of the embassies that had come from the Collao; and it was decided that a reply should be sought from the oracles. This is done by the priests in front of the idols. They bow down their shoulders, put their chins into their breasts, and begin to speak in loud voices. Occasionally I myself, with my own ears, have heard the Indians converse with the devil. In the province of Cartagena, in a seaport town called Bahayre,[176] I heard the devil answer in a clear whistle, and so loudly, that a Christian who was in the same town but more than half a league from where I was, heard the same whistle and was dismayed, being rather unwell. On another day the Indians made great shoutings, publishing the reply of the devil. In some parts of these lands where they keep the dead in hammocks, the devils occasionally enter into the bodies and give answers. I heard a man named Aranda say that, in the island of Carex,[177] he also saw one of these dead bodies speak, and the lies and nonsense they utter are laughable.

When the Inca determined to seek for an answer from the oracles, he sent for those who were accustomed to manage those things, and they say that the reply was that he should arrange to go to the Collao and seek the alliance of Cari. So he ordered the messengers of Zapana to be brought before him, and told them to say to their lord that he would shortly leave Cuzco and march to the Collao, where he would treat of the question of friendship. To those who came on the part of Cari he said that they were to explain to the lord how he was preparing to come to his aid, and that he would soon be with him.[178] When this was done, the Inca ordered forces to be assembled to march from Cuzco, leaving one of the principal persons of his lineage as governor.