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.

Koy~l Commentaries. BooK IV. ever fince the Spaniards entred firft upon the conqueft of that Empire ; and on the ·conrrary the Souldiers of the Vice-king were ali new-raifed men, lately corpe out of Spain not trained to the War, poor, ill-habited and armed, and their pow- der bad, beftdes other wants which were amongft them. CH A P. XXV. 1he great preparations and provifions made by Gon~alo Pi- ~arro to pafs a Defar t. He faces the Vice-kjng' s Forces, · who retreateq to ~itu. The good ancl prude?tt e ondua of Loren~o de Aldana. G. Onftzlo Piyarro, being in che Province of Co/liq11e and in che parts thereabours, made all che provifions he could for the fubfülence of his Army ; for he was ro rravel overa hor, dry, fandy Defart of rwenty leagues over, where was neirher Water nor any orher refrefhment. And becaufe Water was che rnofl: neceífary of any thing ÍQ that hot ·and dry paífage, he fummoned in ali the Indians of thofe pares round, to bring ali cheir Pails, Buckecs and Jarrs for Water, and commanded rhat che Indians who were appointed for the Carriages of che Army, fhould Jeave all tbe Souldiers Cloches and other B:iggage behiad, ro carry Water and Provifi- ons which were neceffary for che fupporr of Man and Beaít. In chis manner the Jndians were Jaden wichout any other incumbrance than chat ofWater; and twen- ty five Horfemen were fent before by che common Road, who were to give out, in cafe they mee wich che Scoucs of che Vice-king's Army, chac Gonp:do Pi1arro was coming in perfon tbrough the Defart rhac way, but rhar che reí!: ofhis Army had taken che other Hoad. la rhis manner they travelled, every Horfeman carry- ing che provifion of his own Horíe behind him. The Vice-king, who had his Spies upon boch che Roads, received advice of che approach of rhe Enemy fome time before chey carne ; upon which an alarm was gi ven, and ir was íaiJ rhat chey would go out and give chem Batee!: but fo foon as hi Forces were broughr toge- tber, they rnarched ouc of rhe Cicy to che ftde of a I-Iill·called C.?f[a, from whence chey haftned away wich ali che fpeed rhey were able; of which Gonfalo Pi1arro re- ceiving intelligence about four hours afrer, he made no ílay ac Sr. Michaefs, noc fo much as to enter che Town or recruir his Provifions, but wichom ftopor delay purfued after che Enemy, and chat nighr travelled eight leagues, where overcaking rhem he took rnany Prifoners, feiíed ali che Baggage of che Carnp, hanged feveral whom they thought fit ; and paffing over rocky and almoíl unaccefiible ways without refrefhments, they took Priíoners every day, who for want of llrengch lagged behind . · Then Leccers were wrote and fem by Indiam to Íe\ eral perfons of Quality in che Vice-king's Carnp, promifing Pardon and grear Rewards to any perfon who íhould kill him; che which fe rved to creare jealouftes and füípicions arnongíl: thoíe who were joyned wich the Vice-king, every one being afraid of each ocher; which fuípicions proved of fatal confequence, and (as we have rnentioned before) were che caufe of many a man's deach; for che Libels which were caíl: abroad, which none would own or jufüfie, ferved howfoever ro creare jealoufies in che mind of che Vice-king, and rnade hím afraid of his own People, not knowing whom ro rruft of chofe who were about him. And though it is cerrain, that neicher Gonfalo Pir¿arro, as ali Authours agree, did ever give order to kili che Vice- king, or rhat che Vice-king did plot in the like nacure againíl: Pifarrº ; yet in ali Civil Wars, je:iloufies and feats are natural to the rninds of men. And chus Gon- f'dº Pi pirro having purfued che Vice-king through Mountains, Defarts and unin- hab!ted places wichout provifions or refreíhmenrs (for we rnay be!ieve, that rhe Vice-king carried ali away with him) he carne at lengch ro a Province called Ayahuaca, where he ítay'd to refrefh bis men, who were much cired and haraífed with ~h~ir hard march~s in wam of all chings neceffary, fo that here they gave o ver