Inca Land eBook

Hiram Bingham
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 330 pages of information about Inca Land.

Inca Land eBook

Hiram Bingham
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 330 pages of information about Inca Land.

We felt sure we had found Uiticos; nevertheless it was quite apparent that we had not yet found all the places which were called Vilcabamba.  Examination of the writers of the sixteenth century shows that there may have been three places bearing that name; one spoken of by Calancha as Vilcabamba Viejo ("the old"), another also so called by Ocampo, and a third founded by the Spaniards, namely, the town we were now in.  The story of the first is given in Calancha’s account of the trials and tribulations of Friar Marcos and the martyrdom of Friar Diego Ortiz.  The chronicler tells with considerable detail of their visit to “Vilcabamba Viejo.”  It was after the monks had already founded their religious establishment at Puquiura that they learned of the existence of this important religious center.  They urged Titu Cusi to permit them to visit it.  For a long time he refused.  Its whereabouts remained unknown to them, but its strategic position as a religious stronghold led them to continue their demands.  Finally, either to rid himself of their importunities or because he imagined the undertaking might be made amusing, he yielded to their requests and bade them prepare for the journey.  Calancha says that the Inca himself accompanied the two friars, with a number of his captains and chieftains, taking them from Puquiura over a very rough and rugged road.  The Inca, however, did not suffer from the character of the trail because, like the Roman generals of old, he was borne comfortably along in a litter by servants accustomed to this duty.  The unfortunate missionaries were obliged to go on foot.  The wet, rocky trail soon demoralized their footgear.  When they came to a particularly bad place in the road, “Ungacacha,” the trail went for some distance through water.  The monks were forced to wade.  The water was very cold.  The Inca and his chieftains were amused to see how the friars were hampered by their monastic garments while passing through the water.  However, the monks persevered, greatly desiring to reach their goal, “on account of its being the largest city in which was the University of Idolatry, where lived the teachers who were wizards and masters of abomination.”  If one may judge by the name of the place, Uilcapampa, the wizards and sorcerers were probably aided by the powerful effects of the ancient snuff made from huilca seeds.  After a three days’ journey over very rough country, the monks arrived at their destination.  Yet even then Titu Cusi was unwilling that they should live in the city, but ordered that the monks be given a dwelling outside, so that they might not witness the ceremonies and ancient rites which were practiced by the Inca and his captains and priests.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Inca Land from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.