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TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE
The work of Pedro Sancho is one of the most valuable accounts of the Spanish conquest of Peru that we possess. Nor is its value purely historical. The "Relación" of Sancho gives much interesting ethnological information relative to the Inca dominion at the time of its demolition. Errors Pedro Sancho has in plenty; but the editor has striven to counteract them by footnotes. In every instance the translator has preserved Pedro Sancho's spelling of proper names, calling attention to the modern equi
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RELATION
RELATION
Of the events that took place during the conquest and pacification of these provinces of New Castile, and of the quality of the land, and of the manner in which the Captain Hernando Pizarro afterward departed to bear to His Majesty the account of the victory of Caxamalca [1] and of the capture of the Cacique Atabalipa. [2]...
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CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I
Concerning the great quantity of silver and gold which was brought from Cuzco, and of the portion thereof which was sent to H. M. the emperor as the royal fifth: How the imprisoned Cacique Atabalipa declared himself free of his promise which he had made to the Spaniards to fill a house with gold for ransom: And of the treason which the said Atabalipa meditated against the Spaniards, for which betrayal they made him die. The Captain Hernando Pizarro had departed with the hundred thousand pesos of
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CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II
They choose as lord of the state of Atabalipa his brother Atabalipa [10] in whose coronation they observed ceremonies in accordance with the usage of the caciques of those provinces. Of the vassalage and obedience which Atabalipa and many other caciques offered to the Emperor. This done, the governor commanded the immediate assembling in the chief plaza of that city of all the caciques and principal lords who were then living there in company with the dead lord; they were many, and from distant
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CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
While leading a new colony of Spaniards to settle in Xauxa, they receive news of the death of Guaritico, [13] brother of Atahualpa. Afterwards they passed through the land of Guamachucho, [14] Adalmach, [15] Guaiglia, [16] Puerto Nevado, and Capo Tombo, [17] and they hear that in Tarma many Indian warriors are waiting to attack them, on account of which they take Calichuchima prisoner, and then proceed intrepidly on their journey to Cachamarca, [18] where they find much gold. At this time he [th
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CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV
They arrive at the city of Xauxa; they leave some soldiers there to guard that place, and others go against the army of the enemy with which they fight. They win a victory, and return to Xauxa. The natives all came out along the road in order to look at the Christians, celebrating much their coming because they thought that, through it, they would issue forth from the slavery in which that foreign army [the Incas] held them. [The Spaniards] wished to await a later hour in the day at this place,
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CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V
They name new officials in the city of Xauxa in order to establish a settlement of Spaniards, and, having had news of the death of Atabalipa, with great prudence and much craftiness in order to keep themselves in the good graces of the Indians, they discuss the appointment of a new lord. And for this reason, as soon as the baggage and the rear-guard, which he had left at Pombo, had arrived, he [the Governor] published an edict to the effect that whereas he was determined to found a settlement of
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CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI
Description of the bridges which the natives are wont to make in order to cross the rivers; and of the toilsome journey which the Spaniards had, in going to Cuzco, and of the arrival at Panarai and Tarcos. This captain departed with those who were to follow him on Thursday, and the Governor with the rest of the troops, and Chilichuchima with his guard left the following Monday. In the morning they were all ready with their arms and other necessary things; the journey they were to make being long
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CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII
While proceeding on their journey they have news sent by the forty Spanish horsemen of the state of the Indian army with which the latter had fought victoriously. On the next day, which was Saturday, All Saints' day, the friar who was with this company said mass in the morning, according to the custom of saying it on such a day, and later all set out and journeyed until they arrived at a full river three leagues beyond, always descending from the mountains by a rough and long slope. This river,
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CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII
After having suffered various inconveniences, and having passed the cities of Bilcas and of Andabailla, [42] and before arriving at Airamba, [43] they have letters from the Spaniards in which they ask for the aid of thirty cavaliers. Having received this letter, the Governor and all the Spaniards who were with him were filled with infinite content over the victory which the captain had obtained, and at once he sent it, together with another, to the city of Xauxa, to the treasurer and to the Span
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CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX
Having arrived at a village, they find much silver in plates twenty-feet long. Proceeding on their journey, they receive letters from the Spaniards relating the brisk and adverse struggle they had had against the army of the Indians. Here were found two dead horses, [48] from which it was suspected that some misfortune had befallen the captain. But, having entered the village, they learned, from a letter that arrived before they retired for the night, that the captain had here encountered some w
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CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X
News comes of the victory won by the Spaniards, even to their putting the Indian army to flight. They command that a chain be placed about the neck of Chilichuchima, holding him to be a traitor. They cross the Rimac [54] and all reunite once more at Sachisagagna, [55] where they burn Chilichuchima. This news reached the Governor near the last river, as I have said, and he, without showing any change in his countenance, communicated it to the ten horsemen and twenty peons whom he had with him, co
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CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
A son of the cacique Guainacaba [68] visits them; they agree upon friendship with him, and he tells them of the movements of the army of hostile Indians with which they have some encounters before entering Cuzco, where they establish as lord the son of Guainacaba. [69] Here the Spaniards rested that night, having set good guards, because they were given to understand that Quizquiz was close by with all his men. And on the following morning, came to visit the Governor a son of Guainacaba and a br
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CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII
The new cacique [72] goes with an army to drive Quizquiz from the state of Quito. He has some encounters with the Indians, and, because of the roughness of the roads, they return, and they later go thither again with a company of Spaniards, and before they set out, the cacique pays his obedience to the emperor. As soon as this was done, he [the Governor] gave orders to the new cacique to assemble many warriors in order to go and vanquish Quizquiz and drive from the land those of Quito, and he [t
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CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIII
They suspect that the cacique wishes to rebel. It turns out to be unfounded. Many Spaniards go with him and twenty thousand Indians against Quizquiz, and of what happens to them they give news in a letter to the Governor. And when the Spanish captain with the Indians and the cacique were about to depart within two days in order to go against the enemy ... [76] the Governor was informed by some Spaniards, some Indian friends and some allied natives of the country that among some of the cacique's
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CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XIV
Of the great quantity of gold and silver which they caused to be smelted from the figures of gold which the Indians adored. Of the foundation of the city of Cuzco where a settlement of Spaniards was established, and of the order which was set up there. When this good news was learned by the Governor, he had it published at once, and because of it the Spaniards were filled with content and gave infinite thanks to God for having shown himself favorable in everything to this enterprise. Then the Go
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CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XV
The Governor sets out with the cacique for Xauxa, and they receive news of the army of Quito, and of certain ships which some Spaniards who went to the city of San Miguel saw on those coasts. When these things were done, the Governor set out for Xauxa, taking the cacique with him, and the citizens remained guarding the city [according] to orders which the Governor left them so that they might govern themselves until he should command something else. Journeying by forced marches, on the day of Ea
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CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVI
They build a church in the city of Xauxa, and send some three thousand Indians with some Spaniards against the hostile Indians. They have news of the arrival of many Spaniards and horses, on which account they send soldiers to the province of Quito. A Relation of the quality and people of the land from Tumbez to Chincha, and of the province of Collao and Condisuyo. [90] The Governor received this messenger, read the letters which he brought, and asked him many other things, and, in order to arra
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CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVII
Description of the city of Cuzco and of its wonderful fortress, and of the customs of its inhabitants. The city of Cuzco is the principal one of all those where the lords of this land have their residence; it is so large and so beautiful that it would be worthy of admiration even in Spain; and it is full of the palaces of the lords, because no poor people live there, and each lord builds there his house, and all the caciques [104] do likewise, although the latter do not dwell there continuously.
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CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XVIII
Of the province of the Collao and of the qualities and customs of its people, and of the rich gold mines that are found there. The two Christians who were sent to see the province of the Collao were forty days upon their journey, and, as soon as they had returned to Cuzco where the governor was, they gave him news and a report of all that they had seen and learned, which is set forth below. The land of the Collao is far off and a long way from the sea, so much so that the natives who inhabit it,
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CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XIX
Of the great veneration in which the Indians held Guarnacaba [122] when he lived [123] and of that in which they hold him now, after death. And how, through the disunion of the Indians, the Spaniards entered Cuzco, and of the fidelity of the new cacique Guarnacaba [124] to the Christians. The city of Cuzco is the head and principal province of all the others, and from here to the beach of San Mateo and, in the other direction, to beyond the province of Collao, which is entirely a land of arrow-u
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NOTES
NOTES
[1] The modern Cajamarca; called by the Indians Casamarca. [2] Properly Atahualpa. [3] Thus the original. Something is lacking to complete the sense.—Note by Icazbalceta. [4] The peso is about an ounce. [5] Jauja. [6] Properly Challcuchima or Calicuchima. This remarkable Indian general was a son of Epiclachima, younger brother of Cacha, last Caran Scyri of Quito. Cacha was conquered by Huayna Capac about 1487, and Calicuchima entered the service of Atahualpa who was his kinsman through Paccha hi
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BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS CONSULTED IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSLATION OF PEDRO SANCHO
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS CONSULTED IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSLATION OF PEDRO SANCHO
Acosta, Joseph de: Appleton's Encyclopaedia of American Biography: Bandelier, Ad. F.: Beuchat, Henri: Bingham, Hiram: Blas Valera: Cabildos de Lima: Cieza de Leon, Pedro de: Cieza de Leon, Pedro de: Cobo, Bernabe: Estete, Miguel de: Garcilasso de la Vega el Ynca: Hodge, F. W.: Hrdlicka, Ales: Icazbalceta, Joaquin García: Jimenez de la Espada, Marcos: Joyce, T. A.: Lafone-Quevedo, Samuel A.: Markham, Sir Clements: Montesinos, Fernando: Moses, Bernard: Oviedo y Valdes, Gonzolo Fernandez de: Pinker
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