Of the fifth king who reigned at Cuzco, named Capac Yupanqui.

IT seems to me that the Indians related few things of those Incas who reigned in Cuzco soon after the foundation of that city. Certainly it must be as they say that three or four of the Incas were those who ordained and performed all that has already been written.

Mayta Capac being dead, his obsequies were performed in the usual way, and, his image having been placed in the temple, he was canonized as a saint in conformity with their blindness. Capac Yupanqui then assumed the fringe. This was done with great feasting, and people came from all parts to attend the solemnity of the coronation. These rejoicings having been completed, drinking and singing being the chief part of them, the Inca determined to go and make sacrifice on the hill of Guanacauri, accompanied by the High Priest, the ministers of the temple, and many Orejones and inhabitants of the city.

In the province of Condesuyo it was known that at the time when the late Inca died he had intended to make war, and the people were prepared, that they might not be taken unawares. After a few days they received news of his death, and of the intended visit of Capac Yupanqui to Guanacauri. So they determined to make war upon him, and to secure spoils if they obtained the victory. Setting out from a town in that district called Marca, they came to the place where the Inca then was. He had been warned of what was going on, and was ready for their coming. Many days did not pass before they joined battle one with the other, the struggle continuing for a long time, as both sides fought with spirit. In the end, those of Condesuyos were defeated with much slaughter. The sacrifice was then performed with great rejoicing, some men and women being offered up in accordance with their blindness, and many flocks of sheep and lambs, in the entrails of which they prognosticated their extravagancies and follies. When these sacrifices were finished, the Inca returned to Cuzco, where there was great feasting and rejoicing for the victory.

Those of the enemy who escaped, returned to their homes as best they could, where they again began to assemble troops, declaring that they would either die or destroy the city of Cuzco, and kill all the strangers who were in it. Inflamed with pride and anger, they hurried their preparation, and before they had seen the temple of Curi-cancha, they divided the ladies who were in it among themselves. Having assembled together, they marched towards the hill of Guanacauri, whence they intended to enter Cuzco. Capac Yupanqui had been informed of their movements, and had called together all the people of Cuzco and the confederates. With the Orejones, he then waited until he knew the enemy were near Cuzco. He then went forth to meet them, and there was a battle, in which each captain animated his troops. Although those of Condesuyo fought obstinately, they were defeated a second time, with a loss of more than 6,000 men, and those who escaped, turned and fled to their own land.

Capac Yupanqui followed the fugitives to their homes, where he waged war upon them in such wise that they came to sue for peace, offering to recognise the Lord of Cuzco, as the other tribes had done which were in friendship with him. Capac Yupanqui pardoned them, and showed himself very friendly to them all, ordering his people not to do any harm to those whom he now considered as friends. Some beautiful maidens were then looked for in that land, to be conveyed to the temple at Cuzco. Capac Yupanqui travelled for some days in the conquered region, requiring the people to live in an orderly way, and not to build their towns in the heights or on the snow-covered rocks. All was done as he ordered, and he returned to Cuzco.

He continued to enrich the city and the temple more and more; and he ordered a house to be built for his residence, which was the best that up to that time had been erected in Cuzco. They relate that he had legitimate sons to succeed him by the Coya, that the fame of his state and of the temple he had founded spread abroad among all the neighbouring provinces, and that all the people were astonished at the good order and reason that reigned in Cuzco, and at the inhabitants being well dressed, in-so-much that these things were noised abroad in all directions.

In those days, the people who occupied the region to the west of Cuzco as far as Andahuaylas, having heard the tidings, sent ambassadors to Capac Yupanqui with gifts and offerings, and the request that he would receive them as friends and confederates. The Inca gave a very favourable answer, giving them rich pieces of gold and silver to deliver to those who sent them. These messengers were several days in the city, receiving kind treatment and hospitality, judging more by what they saw than by what they had heard; and thus they recounted all things on their return. Some of the Orejones of Cuzco affirm that the general language used in all the provinces was that which was spoken by these Quichuas,[162] who were held by their neighbours to be very valiant until the Chancas destroyed them.[163] After the Inca Capac Yupanqui had lived many years, he died at a great age.[164] When the days of mourning were passed, his son was received without any opposition as King of Cuzco, as his father had been. The new king’s name was Inca Rocca.