382 Geography of Guatemala. of Sinacam, were peaceably received by that monarch, settled and feasted in his residence, why should they quit all these conveniences, at the hazard of incurring the ill-will of the sovereign, to found a city and build themselves habitations, when the capital of the kingdom was at their command; to fatigue themselves in search of every thing they wanted, when they could enjoy inexhaustible abundance in the city?" -JUARROS, English translation, p. 402. This reasonable supposition is at once upset, or greatly invalidated, by a single fact, namely, that when Bernal Diaz came in Alvarado's company to ancient Guatemala, though the Indian buildings were in existence, and were noble edifices, the Spaniards, after sleeping one night in the city, went out and encamped near it for ten days. "Passamos á dormir á la ciudad, y estavan los aposentos y las casas con tan buenos edificios y ricos, en fin como de Caciques que mandavan todas las Provincias comarcanas, y desde allí nos salimos á lo llano, Y hizimos ranchos y choças, y estuvimos en ellos diez dias."-BERNAL DIAZ, cap. 193. The truth is, that a city, however well built for one people, seldom suits another. The Spaniards had horses; the Guatemalans had never seen such animals, and, of course, had not provided for them in their towns. I allude to the above controversy about the site of Guatemala merely to point out the difficulties of reviving ancient geography, and the cautious spirit of criticism with which any such attempt should be received. CHAPTER I. THE EARLY LIFE AND VOYAGES OF PIZARRO. CHAPTER II. PIZARRO GOES TO THE SPANISH COURT.-RETURNS TO PANAMÁ. -STARTS FOR THE CONQUEST OF PERU.FOUNDS THE TOWN OF SAN MIGUEL. CHAPTER III. THE HISTORY, LAWS, RELIGION, AND CUSTOMS OF PERU PREVIOUS TO THE CONQUEST, AND THE STATE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. CHAPTER IV. PIZARRO MARCHES FROM SAN MIGUEL TO CASSAMARCA.-PROJECTED INTERVIEW BETWEEN PIZARRO AND ATAHUALLPA.-ROUT OF THE PERUVIANS AND CAPTURE OF THE INCA. CHAPTER V. AGREEMENT FOR ATAHUALLPA'S RANSOM.-FERDINAND PIZARRO'S JOURNEY TO THE TEMPLE OF PACHACAMÁC.-MESSENGERS SENT TO CUSCO.-ARRIVAL OF ALMAGRO AT THE CAMP OF CASSAMARCA. CHAPTER VI. GUASCAR INCA'S FATE.-ATAHUALLPA'S TRIAL.-ATAHUALLPA'S EXECUTION. CHAPTER I. THE EARLY LIFE AND VOYAGES OF PIZARRO. THIS history would be very imperfect without some account, however brief, of the conquest of Peru. It was in those golden regions that the narrative of the Spanish Conquest assumed its darkest and its brightest colors. The kingdoms of Mexico and Peru are the two best known, if not the two most important centres of Indian civilization. There are other parts of America, which, from their being among the earliest discoveries, such as Hispaniola; or from their becoming the starting-points of remarkable expeditions, such as Cuba and the Terra-firma; or from their being the occasional residence of those men who were most concerned in the Spanish legislation for the Indies, such as Guatemala, require to have their histories told. But Mexico and Peru, both from their extent and from their civilization, necessarily demand a large share of our attention, as they did that of the Spanish conquerors and of the Spanish court. The name that first occurs, even to most children, on the mention of the word Peru, is that of Pizarro. To the readers of this work he is already well known, as they will have noticed that he had been concerned in some of the most remarkable enterprises in the Terra-firma. When Ojeda parted from his little band of men at San Sebastian, promising to return in fifty days, Pizarro was left in command. When Comogre's* son * See vol i., p. 328. VOL. III.-R 386 Pizarro's early Enterprises. gave Vasco Nuñez the account of the riches of some country lying southward, "where there was more gold than there was iron in Biscay," Pizarro, as I conjecture, was one of the eager listeners who marveled at the oration of the naked young man, and earnestly considered his sayings. Pizarro was the second European who descended to the shore of the Pacific. Pizarro was engaged in the cruel expedition sent from Darien by Pedrarias, and commanded by Morales, which entered the territories of the warlike cacique Birú (at the eastern end of the Gulf of San Miguel), whose name was certainly the origin of the name given by the Spaniards to the great kingdom of Peru. This was the expedition in which they stabbed their captives as they went along, hoping thus to occupy the attention. of the Indians in pursuit, as the hunter would throw her cubs to a pursuing lioness. Lastly, Pizarro was the officer who, by order of Pedrarias,* arrested Vasco Nuñez-a curious and dramatic circumstance, as Pizarro was to fulfill the part which Vasco Nuñez, a far superior man, had long and sedulously prepared for. In all these expeditions and transactions Pizarro makes a good figure. He is never heard of as a rebellious or contentious man, but was, I imagine, a laborious, cautious, obedient, much-enduring, faithful man-at-arms. Placed under Vasco Nuñez, whose loss it is very sad to reflect upon at this juncture, Pizarro would have been invaluable; but, for a chief in command, he lacked statesmanlike qualities, and in dealing with his own countrymen-not with the Indians-was * "What is this, Francisco Pizarro ?" Vasco Nuñez exclaimed ; ઃઃ 'you were not wont to come out in this fashion to receive me." p. 403. vol. i., See |