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Book 1
Book 1
Orders Of The State—Provisions For Justice—Division Of Lands- Revenues And Registers—Great Roads And Posts- Military Tactics And Policy If we are surprised at the peculiar and original features of what may be called the Peruvian aristocracy, we shall be still more so as we descend to the lower orders of the community, and see the very artificial character of their institutions,—as artificial as those of ancient Sparta, and, though in a different way, quite as repugnant to the essential principle
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Peruvian Religion—Deities—Gorgeous Temples—Festivals- Virgins Of The Sun—Marriage It is a remarkable fact, that many, if not most, of the rude tribes inhabiting the vast American continent, however disfigured their creeds may have been in other respects by a childish superstition, had attained to the sublime conception of one Great Spirit, the Creator of the Universe, who, immaterial in his own nature, was not to be dishonored by an attempt at visible representation, and who, pervading all space
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Education—Quipus-Astronomy-Agriculture—Aqueducts-Guano— Important Esculents "Science was not intended for the people; but for those of generous blood. Persons of low degree are only puffed up by it, and rendered vain and arrogant. Neither should such meddle with the affairs of government; for this would bring high offices into disrepute, and cause detriment to the state.1 Such was the favorite maxim, often repeated, of Tupac Inca Yupanqui, one of the most renowned of the Peruvian sovereigns. It
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Peruvian Sheep—Great Hunts—Manufactures—Mechanical Skill— Architecture—Concluding Reflections A Nation which had made such progress in agriculture might be reasonably expected to have made, also, some proficiency in the mechanical arts—especially when, as in the case of the Peruvians, their agricultural economy demanded in itself no inconsiderable degree of mechanical skill. Among most nations, progress in manufactures has been found to have an intimate connection with the progress of husbandry.
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Book 2
Book 2
Francisco Pizarro—His Early History—First Expedition To The South— Distresses Of The Voyagers—Sharp Encounters—Return To Panama— Almagro's Expedition 1524-1525 Francisco Pizarro was born at Truxillo, a city of Estremadura, in Spain. The period of his birth is uncertain; but probably it was not far from 1471.1 He was an illegitimate child, and that his parents should not have taken pains to perpetuate the date of his birth is not surprising. Few care to make a particular record of their transgres
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The Famous Contract-Second Expedition—Ruiz Explores The Coast— Pizarro's Sufferings In The Forests—Arrival Of New Recruits- Fresh Discoveries And Disasters—Pizarro On The Isle Of Gallo 1526—1527 On his arrival at Panama, Almagro found that events had taken a turn less favorable to his views than he had anticipated. Pedrarias, the governor, was preparing to lead an expedition in person against a rebellious officer in Nicaragua; and his temper, naturally not the most amiable, was still further sou
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Indignation Of The Governor—Stern Resolution Of Pizarro- Prosecution Of The Voyage—Brilliant Aspect Of Tumbez- Discoveries Along The Coast—Return To Panama- Pizarro Embarks For Spain 1527—1528 Not long after Almagro's departure, Pizarro sent off the remaining vessel, under the pretext of its being put in repair at Panama. It probably relieved him of a part of his followers, whose mutinous spirit made them an obstacle rather than a help in his forlorn condition, and with whom he was the more will
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Book 3
Book 3
Peru At The Time Of The Conquest—Reign Of Huayna Capac- The Inca Brothers—Conquest For The Empire- Triumph And Cruelties Of Atahuallpa Before accompanying the march of Pizarro and his followers into the country of the Incas, it is necessary to make the reader acquainted with the critical situation of the kingdom at that time. For the Spaniards arrived just at the consummation of an important revolution,—at a crisis most favorable to their views of conquest, and but for which, indeed, the conques
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Severe Passage Of The Andes—Embassies From Atahuallpa— The Spaniards Reach Caxamalca—Embassy To The Inca— Interview With The Inca—Despondency Of The Spaniards 1532 That night Pizarro held a council of his principal officers, and it was determined that he should lead the advance, consisting of forty horse and sixty foot, and reconnoitre the ground; while the rest of the company, under his brother Hernando, should occupy their present position till they received further orders. At early dawn the S
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Desperate Plan Of Pizarro—Atahuallpa Visits The Spaniards— Horrible Massacre—The Inca A Prisoner—Conduct Of The Conquerors— Splendid Promises Of The Inca—Death Of Huascar 1532 The clouds of the evening had passed away, and the sun rose bright on the following morning, the most memorable epoch in the annals of Peru. It was Saturday, the sixteenth of November, 1532. The loud cry of the trumpet called the Spaniards to arms with the first streak of dawn; and Pizarro, briefly acquainting them with th
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Gold Arrives For The Ransom—Visit To Pachacamac— Demolition Of The Idol— The Inca's Favorite General— The Inca's Life In Confinement—Envoys' Conduct In Cuzco— Arrival Of Almagro 1533 Several weeks had now passed since Atahuallpa's emissaries had been despatched for the gold and silver that were to furnish his ransom to the Spaniards. But the distances were great, and the returns came in slowly. They consisted, for the most part, of massive pieces of plate, some of which weighed two or three arro
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Immense Amount Of Treasure—Its Division Among The Troops— Rumors Of A Rising—Trial Of The Inca—His Execution—Reflections 1533 The arrival of Almagro produced a considerable change in Pizarro's prospects, since it enabled him to resume active operations, and push forward his conquests in the interior. The only obstacle in his way was the Inca's ransom, and the Spaniards had patiently waited, till the return of the emissaries from Cuzco swelled the treasure to a large amount, though still below th
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Disorders In Peru—March To Cuzco—Encounter With The Natives— Challcuchima Burnt—Arrival In Cuzco—Description Of The City— Treasure Found There 1533—1534 The Inca of Peru was its sovereign in a peculiar sense. He received an obedience from his vassals more implicit than that of any despot; for his authority reached to the most secret conduct,—to the thoughts of the individual. He was reverenced as more than human.1 He was not merely the head of the state, but the point to which all its institutio
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New Inca Crowned—Municipal Regulations—Terrible March Of Alvarado— Interview With Pizarro—Foundation Of Lima— Hernando Pizarro Reaches Spain—Sensation At Court— Feuds Of Almagro And The Pizarros 1534—1535 The first care of the Spanish general, after the division of the booty, was to place Manco on the throne, and to obtain for him the recognition of his countrymen. He, accordingly, presented the young prince to them as their future sovereign, the legitimate son of Huayna Capac, and the true heir
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Escape Of The Inca—Return Of Hernando Pizarro- Rising Of The Peruvians—Siege And Burning Of Cuzco- Distresses Of The Spaniards—Storming Of The Fortress- Pizarro's Dismay—The Inca Raises The Siege 1535—1536 While the absence of his rival Almagro relieved Pizarro from all immediate disquietude from that quarter, his authority was menaced in another, where he had least expected it. This was from the native population of the country. Hitherto the Peruvians had shown only a tame and submissive temper
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Book 4
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First Civil War—Almagro Retreats To Cuzco—Battle Of Las Salinas— Cruelty Of The Conquerors—Trial And Execution Of Almagro- His Character 1537—1538 Scarcely had Almagro's officers left the governor's quarters, when the latter, calling his little army together, briefly recapitulated the many wrongs which had been done him by his rival, the seizure of his capital, the imprisonment of his brothers, the assault and defeat of his troops; and he concluded with the declaration,—heartily echoed back by h
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Pizarro Revisits Cuzco—Hernando Returns To Castile- His Long Imprisonment—Commissioner Sent To Peru- Hostilities With The Inca—Pizarro's Active Administration- Gonzalo Pizarro 1539—1540 On the departure of his brother in pursuit of Almagro, the Marquess Francisco Pizarro, as we have seen, returned to Lima. There he anxiously awaited the result of the campaign; and on receiving the welcome tidings of the victory of Las Salinas, he instantly made preparations for his march to Cuzco. At Xauxa, howe
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Gonzalo Pizarro's Expedition—Passage Across The Mountains— Discovers The Napo—Incredible Sufferings- Orellana Sails Down The Amazon—Despair Of The Spaniards- The Survivors Return To Quito 1540—1542 Gonzalo Pizarro received the news of his appointment to the government of Quito with undisguised pleasure; not so much for the possession that it gave him of this ancient Indian province, as for the field that it opened for discovery towards the east,—the fabled land of Oriental spices, which had long
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The Almagro Faction—Their Desperate Condition- Conspiracy Against Francisco Pizarro—Assassination Of Pizarro- Acts Of The Conspirators—Pizarro's Character 1541 When Gonzalo Pizarro reached Quito, he received tidings of an event which showed that his expedition to the Amazon had been even more fatal to his interests than he had imagined. A revolution had taken place during his absence, which had changed the whole condition of things in Peru. In a preceding chapter we have seen, that, when Hernand
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Movements Of The Conspirators—Advance Of Vaca De Castro— Proceedings Of Almagro—Progress Of The Governor- The Forces Approach Each Other—Bloody Plains Of Chupas- Conduct Of Vaca De Castro 1541—1543 The first step of the conspirators, after securing possession of the capital, was to send to the different cities, proclaiming the revolution which had taken place, and demanding the recognition of the young Almagro as governor of Peru. Where the summons was accompanied by a military force, as at Trux
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Abuses By The Conquerors—Code For The Colonies- Great Excitement In Peru—Blasco Nunez The Viceroy- His Severe Policy—Opposed By Gonzalo Pizarro 1543—1544 Before continuing the narrative of events in Peru, we must turn to the mother-country, where important changes were in progress in respect to the administration of the colonies. Since his accession to the Crown, Charles the Fifth had been chiefly engrossed by the politics of Europe, where a theatre was opened more stimulating to his ambition th
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The Viceroy Arrives At Lima—Gonzalo Pizarro Marches From Cuzco— Death Of The Inca Manco—Rash Conduct Of The Viceroy— Seized And Deposed By The Audience— Gonzalo Proclaimed Governor Of Peru 1544 While the events recorded in the preceding pages were in progress, Blasco Nunez had been journeying towards Lima. But the alienation which his conduct had already caused in the minds of the colonists was shown in the cold reception which he occasionally experienced on the route, and in the scanty accommod
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Measures Of Gonzalo Pizarro—Escape Of Vaca De Castro— Reappearance Of The Viceroy—His Disastrous Retreat— Defeat And Death Of The Viceroy—Gonzalo Pizarro Lord Of Peru 1544—1546 The first act of Gonzalo Pizarro was to cause those persons to be apprehended who had taken the most active part against him in the late troubles. Several he condemned to death; but afterwards commuted the sentence, and contented himself with driving them into banishment and confiscating their estates.1 His next concern w
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Book 5
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Gasca Assembles His Forces—Defection Of Pizarro's Followers— He Musters His Levies—Agitation In Lima—He Abandons The City— Gasca Sails From Panama—Bloody Battle Of Huarina 1547 No sooner was Gasca placed in possession of Panama and the fleet, than he entered on a more decisive course of policy than he had been hitherto allowed to pursue. He raised levies of men, and drew together supplies from all quarters. He took care to discharge the arrears already due to the soldiers, and promised liberal p
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Execution Of Carbajal—Gonzalo Pizarro Beheaded—Spoils Of Victory- Wise Reforms By Gasca—He Returns To Spain- His Death And Character 1548—1550 It was now necessary to decide on the fate of the prisoners; and Alonso de Alvarado, with the Licentiate Cianca, one of the new Royal Audience, was instructed to prepare the process. It did not require a long time. The guilt of the prisoners was too manifest, taken, as they had been, with arms in their hands. They were all sentenced to be executed, and th
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