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] CHAPTER XXIV. _How the Incas ordered the people to form settled towns, dividing the lands concerning which there was any dispute, and how it was ordered that all should speak the language of Cuzco._