It was not until 1780, however, that the Spaniards met with the first really serious shock of Indian insurrection since the first extinction of the power of the Incas.  This belated attempt was destined to be the last.  The revolution had its origin in the system of forced labour which, despite the warnings and commands that from time to time were received on the subject from Spain, was continued to be imposed on the Indians.

In addition to this the unfortunate people were made to suffer further wrongs sufficient to rouse the most meek to rebellion.  Thus by the laws of the Indies officials were appointed to provide the Indians with goods at certain prices.  This system became abused to the point that the Spanish officials would distribute as much of these goods as they thought fit among the Indians at a price arbitrarily named by themselves.  In consequence of this the impoverished folk were obliged to pay enormous and unfair prices for goods of which they were probably in no need of whatever, and did not desire.

An intelligent Indian, Jose Gabriel Condorcanqui, determined on a desperate effort to alleviate the condition of his people.  Condorcanqui had received a far more generous education than the majority of his fellows, and had studied at the College of San Bernardo, in Cuzco.  He spoke the Castilian tongue perfectly, and was thus enabled to hold a minor official post in the Spanish service.  Claiming descent from the Royal Incas, he subsequently added the name of Tupac-Amaru to his own.

[Illustration:  DUTCH AND SPANISH VESSELS ENGAGED OFF CALLAO, THE PORT OF LIMA.

From a seventeenth-century engraving.]

It was on November 4, 1780, that Tupac-Amaru, by which name he was now universally known, made his first move.  Gathering some trusty men about him, he captured a Spanish corregidor, Arriaga, and, charging that official with offences against the Indians, caused him to be executed.  On this the Indians flocked to their new defender’s standard, and he was soon at the head of 6,000 men.  Tupac-Amaru now determined on an extensive campaign.  After an attack on Cuzco, he marched with 60,000 Indians to besiege La Paz itself, while the isolated Spanish forces were overwhelmed in all directions.

La Paz succeeded in resisting the desperate onslaught of the Indian army, and the tide of fortune now turned against the Inca leader.  After a battle waged in the open, he was captured and put to a horrible death.  His tongue was torn out by the executioner; each of his limbs was attached to a horse, then, the four horses being furiously driven in different directions, his body was torn into four portions.  It was in this way that the unfortunate Tupac-Amaru died, the last of the Inca race who attempted to assert the rights of his people.