Of the great preparations that were made when the Lords set out from Cuzco on warlike expeditions; and how robbers were punished.

IN former chapters I related the manner in which the lords travelled, when they went to examine the condition of the provinces; and now I wish to explain to the reader the way in which the same lords set forth on their warlike expeditions. As these Indians are all brown and noisy,[136] and are so like each other, as we, who have dealings with them, can see at the present day; in order that they might be intelligible to each other, it was ordered that they should all speak the language of Cuzco. If this rule was not made, each man would talk in his native tongue when the Orejones visited the provinces. The same rules applied to the camps. It is clear that when the Emperor assembles a camp in Italy, and the army consists of Spaniards, Germans, Burgundians, Flemings, and Italians, each would speak in his own language. Here this confusion was avoided. Each tribe was also distinguished by differences in the head-dress. If they were Yuncas of the coast, they went muffled like gipsies. The Collas wore caps in the shape of a pump box made of wool. The Canas wore another kind of cap, larger, and of greater width. The CaÑaris had crowns of thin lathes, like those used for a sieve. The Huancas had short ropes, which hung down as low as the chin, with the hair plaited. The Canchis had wide fillets, red or black, passing over the forehead. These and all other tribes were known, one from the other, by their head-dresses, and these were so clear and distinct that, when fifteen thousand men assembled, one tribe could easily be distinguished from another. To this day, when we see an assemblage of people, we presently say that these come from such a part and those from such another part; for in this way, as I have explained, they were known one from another.

The kings established the following order in their wars, that the great concourse of people might not cause confusion. In the great square of Cuzco was the stone of war, in the shape of a sugar loaf, well enclosed, and full of gold. The king came forth, with his councillors and favourites, to a place where the chiefs of provinces were assembled, to learn from them who were most valiant among their people, and best fitted to be leaders and captains. One Indian had charge of ten men, another received authority over fifty, another over a hundred, another over five hundred, another over a thousand, another over five thousand, and another over ten thousand. All these had authority over men of their own tribe, and all obeyed the captain-general of the king. Thus, if it was intended to send ten thousand men to any battle or campaign, it was only necessary to open the mouth and give the order; and the same with five thousand or any other number; and in the same way with smaller parties for exploring the ground or going the rounds, when fewer men were required. Each captain carried his banner, and some led men armed with slings, others with lances, darts, ayllos or slings, and some with heavily knobbed sticks.

When the Lord of Cuzco set out, the greatest order was preserved, even when there were three hundred thousand men in his army. The march was regulated each day, from tambo to tambo, where sufficient food was found for all, so that none were forgotten, besides arms, sandals, tents for the soldiers, and porters and women to carry the loads from tambo to tambo. The lord lodged in a house provided at each stage, with the guard near him, and the rest of the soldiers all round; and there were always dances and drinking bouts, the soldiers rejoicing among themselves.

The natives of the districts through which the army passed were not allowed to be absent, or to fail in supplying all that was wanted, on pain of severe punishment. But neither soldiers nor captains, nor even the sons of the Incas, were allowed to ill-use or oppress the people, or to take from them so much as a grain of maize; and if this command was infringed, the punishment was death. Robbery was punished by whipping with greater severity than in Spain, and frequently the punishment of death was inflicted. All things were ordered and regulated on an established system. The natives did not fail to supply the soldiers sufficiently, while the soldiers had no desire to do evil or to rob, fearing the punishment. If there were any outbreaks of rebellion or mutiny, the principal ringleaders were brought to Cuzco, well guarded, where they were cast into a prison full of wild animals, such as serpents, vipers, tigers, bears, and other evil creatures. If any one denied the accusation, it was said that those serpents would do him no harm, but that if he lied they would kill him; and this they held and kept for certain. In this dreadful prison they always kept many people for crimes they had committed, whom they looked at from time to time. If their fate had been that they had not been bitten by any of the wild creatures, they were taken out, great sorrow was shown at their evil case, and they were allowed to return to their homes. In these prisons there were keepers sufficient to guard the captives, and to give food as well to them as to the evil lizards. Certainly, I laughed heartily when I heard that they used to have this prison in Cuzco; but although they told me the name, I do not remember it, and for that reason I have not put it down.[137]