The royal commentaries of Peru : in two parts / written originally in spanish by the Inca Garcilasso de la Vega; rendred into english by sir Paul Rycaut.

280 Royal Commentaries. BooKVn. CH A P. XVIII. Of .the Preparations which were made far the Conquefl of ChiII. . '· ) / T Hough the good King _Yup~nqui had had but ill fuccefs againíl: the Chirih11ana1, yet it clid not difcourage his DeGgn for the Conqueíl: of Chili, or for Atchieve- 1,11enrs of a more nóble Nature: For in regard the great Maxime of the lnc11.n State was the increa[e of their Empire, they were ever attempting and defigning fome rhing towards the enlargement of it; and indeed füch was the Confütution of it in thofe days, that they could not well fubGíl: without War, their people be- ing numerous, and without Employment, and the Stores of Arms, Clorhs and Shoes, which were the Tribute of rhe Provinces, yearly increafmg, there would have been no confumptiori of .them without aWar, but woald have decayed and periíhed in the Magazines, or Store-houfes, without ufe; for as to Gold and Silver, (as we have fald) none was exaéted, nor were they in ufe as currentCoin, but onely were the voluntary Prefents which the Vaffals gave for adornment of tbe Royal Palaces, and Temples belonging_to the Sun; for thefe Reafons, and for the Love and Obedience which his Subjeéts bore towards him, the King Yupan- qui accoumed himfelf to be in a proper and able condition for making a War up- an the Kingdom of Chili, to which end having advifed with his Council concer- ning rhe way and manner ofcarrying on the War, and having confütuted and or- dained Officers for adminiíl:ration ofcommon Jufüce, during his abfence; he pro- ceeded on his way, to Chili, as far as Atacama, which was the moíl: remoce Pro- vince d1at was peopled on that fide, berween which and Chili were great Defam, without People or Provifions; and there h~ intended to'pirch bis Carnp, to give heat and life to the defign. ·· From Aracama the Inca fent his Spies, anda party like a Forlorn-hope, ro dif- cover and obferve rhe ways and Difficulties of the paffage; and becaufe the care. was grear, and the true Difcovery of vaíl imporrance, the charge of it was com- mitted to lncM onely; the Kings not being willing to entruíl: the common fafery .to the faithfulnefs of any, but foch as were of the Royal Lineage. Thefe Jnca1 took with them certain lndians from Atd~·t1ma and T11cma for their Guides, for (as we have faid before) rheíe h:rd fome knowledgé of the way; for the better aífu- rance of which it was ordered, that from two Leagues to two Leagues rhe Gnides íhould go, and return with a report of the .way, and difficulties which they en- • coumred in it; and fhould by fuch Advices accordingly comrive with moíl: ad- vantage to lodge, and lay their Provifions for che Army in tl~e moíl: cornmodious pbces. With this labour and diligence they penetrated eighry Leagues through rhis deíart Countrey, which is as far as from Atacama to .Copayapu, which is a lit- tle but a well peopled Province, environed round with long and wide Defarts, for to pafs forward, as far as to Cuquimpu , are other eighty Leagues of defart- Countrey. TheSpies having made a Diícovery as far as Copayapu, and taken as much no- tice of every rhing, as could be done by a furvey of rheir Eyes, they returnec,i with ali diligence to .render an account to the Inca of what they had feen and obferved. The Inca having received their lnformation, ordered ten thoufand Men to be made ready, under the Command of General Sinchiruca, and two other Major Gene- .rals, whoíe Names are not known, the which being diíparched, marched in the belt arder that the way would permit, having their Proviíions carried on the backs of Sheep, whofe Fleíh alfo ferved for Viétuals. This Arrny being difpeeded away , the' Inca Yu¡anqui commanded that they fhould be followed by ten thoufand more, for the füccour and reinforcement of their Companions, which marched before, che which added to the greater terrour and affiighcmen,t of the En~rny, The firíl: Army being arrived near ro Copayap11, Cene