The travels of Pedro de Cieza de Léon; part 2Cieza de León, Pedro de
History
The travels of Pedro de Cieza de Léon; part 2
Cieza de León, Pedro de
Incas; Peru -- History -- To 1548
When the great King Tupac Inca Yupanqui died, they prepared to perform
the obsequies and ceremonies of his interment after the manner of his
ancestors, and with great pomp. The Orejones relate that some provinces
conspired to recover their liberty, and shake off the yoke of the Incas,
but the good management of the Inca governors, assisted by the captains
and _mitimaes_, kept order during a trying time. Huayna Capac was not
careless, nor did he fail to understand that it would be necessary for
him to display valour in order to preserve that which his father had
gained with so much labour. Shortly he entered upon the fast, and he who
governed the city proved loyal and faithful. There did not fail to be
some disturbance among the Incas themselves, for some sons of Tupac
Inca, begotten on other women than the Coya, wished to set up a claim to
the royal dignity. The people, however, were loyal to Huayna Capac, and
not only would not consent, but applauded the punishment inflicted on
them. When the fast was ended, Huayna Capac came forth with the fringe,
very richly adorned, and performed the ceremonies according to the
custom of his ancestors, at the end of which his name was declared with
great acclamations: “_Huayna Capac_,” “_Inca zapalla tucuillacta uya_,”
which is as much as to say--“Huayna Capac alone is king; let all the
city hear him.”[229]
Huayna Capac, according to the account of many Indians who had seen and
knew him, was not of any great stature, but well-built, with good
features and much gravity. He was a man of few words but many deeds, a
severe judge, who punished without mercy. He wished to be so feared that
the Indians should dream of him at night. He ate according to the custom
of his people. He listened to those who spoke well to him, and believed
very easily. Parasites and flatterers, who are not wanting among those
people, had much influence. He gave ear to lies, which was the reason
that many died without fault. The youths who, tempted by the flesh,
slept with his wives or damsels, or with those who lived in the temple
of the Sun, were ordered to be put to death, and the women suffered the
same punishment. The penalties for making disturbances and for
insubordination were deprivation of property, and the bestowal on
another. For other offences there was merely corporal chastisement. His
father looked over many of these crimes, especially with regard to
women; for when any one was detected with them, he said that he was only
a boy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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