207 Proceedings of the Spaniards in the Conquest of Peru. ance he relied for the execution of 1518. 208 in which he had grown old. In this school he had acquired a frankness which is more frequently learnt here than in other situations; as well as that obduracy and cruelty, which are but too common, and in the knowledge of which it was soon found that they had made a fatal proficiency. The fortunes of these two men, though considerable, being found insufficient for the conquest they meditated, they communicated their intention to Fernando de Luques, from whose character they anticipated a cordial co-operation; and they were not deceived. Luques was a mercenary priest, who had amassed prodigious wealth, by all the methods which superstition renders easy to his profession, and by some means peculiar to the age in which he lived. From this period, some years passed away, before any steps were taken to accomplish the great and important | purposes for which the expedition was destined. Murder and rapine had marked the footsteps of Pedrarias; and he is chiefly known to posterity by the memorable circumstances of having massacred the Indians, deso- As the basis of their association, lated their country, and deprived Bal- these confederates agreed, that each boa of his life. In this state the expe- | should embark the whole of his prodition languished, until three men of perty in this enterprise; that the obscure birth started into public no- wealth acquired should be equally tice, who undertook at their own ex-shared;-and that they should repense to subvert an empire which had subsisted in glory for many ages. Francis Pizarro, who is the most known among them, was the natural son of a gentleman of Estramadura. His education had been so neglected, that he could not read. The tending of flocks, which had been his first employment, not being suitable to his character, he abandoned a shepherd's life, and embarked for the New World, of which the most romantic tales were always kept in circulation. His avarice and his ambition inspired him with inconceivable activity. He joined in every expedition, and so signalized himself in most of them, that he acquired in his various situations such knowledge of men and things, as is indispensably necessary to advancement; but especially to those, who, by their birth and obscure fortune, have to contend with every difficulty. The use he had hitherto made of his natural and acquired abilities, persuaded him that nothing was above his talents; and under this impression, he formed the plan of exercising them against Peru. In this romantic design, he associated with him, Diego De Almagro, | whose birth was equivocal, but whose courage had been often tried. He had ever been found temperate, patient, and indefatigable, in those camps ciprocally observe an inviolable secrecy. The parts which each was to take, were distributed as the good of the common cause required. Pizarro was to have the command; Almagro was to conduct the succours; and Luques was to manage the means. This plan of ambition, avarice, and rapaciousness, was completed by fanaticism. Luques officiating as a priest, consecrated a host, part of which he ate, and the rest he divided between his associates, each swearing by the sacrament which they had polluted, that they would not spare the blood of their fellow-creatures. The expedition, commencing under these horrid auspices, towards the middle of November, 1524, and consisting of no more than 112 men and four horse, was exposed to disasters which none of the adventurers had anticipated. The weather proved so unfavourable, that Pizarro was but seldom able to land; and in the few places where it was possible for him to get on shore, he met with nothing but plains deluged with water, impenetrable forests, and savages who would have no connection with him. Almagro, who brought him a reinforcement of seventy men, had not met with more promising adventures. In a severe conflict, which he had been compelled to sustain with a body of 209 Proceedings of the Spaniards in the Conquest of Peru. 210 Indians, he had lost an eye; and the frowning elements seemed to indicate the displeasure of the Almighty. Through these various calamities, nearly one half of the Spaniards perished; and such as survived, the climate threatened with an early grave. The condition of these miserable adventurers becoming known to Los Rios, who had succeeded Pedrarias in the government, induced him to send an order, out of mere compassion to the perishing remnant, directing them to return immediately to the colony. In making this attempt, they found their fortune more adverse than on former occasions, being compelled to pass six months in the little island of Gorgon, a spot more unhealthy than any they had hitherto visited. Their destiny, however, after some, time, grew milder, and their courage revived with the prospects, which a more favourable aspect of things inspired. In a small vessel which had been sent to furnish them with relief, they determined to embark, and, feeble as they were, to pursue their voyage. This they did; and, after some time, they landed near Tumbez, a large village of the empire which they intended to invade. From this place, where every thing seemed to bear the marks of civilization, Pizarro returned to Panama, where he arrived at the end of the year 1527, taking with him some gold dust, some vases of that precious metal, a few other valuable articles, and three Peruvians, who were destined sooner or later to become interpreters, and to assist in the ruin of their country. Far from being discouraged by the misfortunes they had experienced, the three associates were inflated with a more ardent passion for treasures, now known to exist. But they were in want of soldiers and of subsistence, and the colony denied them these succours. Cut off from every hope of succeeding, by any assistance they could raise in the New World, Pizarro repaired to Europe, to lay his case before the Spanish ministry. In this expedition he was more successful than he had been in his late adventures. They listened favourably to his representation, and authorized him without reserve to levy troops, and to purchase provisions, and added to this indefinite liberty every favour that drew nothing from the treasury. But notwithstanding this propitious reception, the associates, by combining their means, could only equip three small vessels; on board of which they put one hundred and forty-one infantry, and thirty horse. This was but a contemptible force, when compared with the conquest of an empire, which they had in contemplation. But in the New World, the Spaniards expected every thing from their courage, their discipline, and their arms; and under this impression Pizarro did not hesitate to embark, with his diminutive force, for the conquest of Peru, in the month of February, 1531. The knowledge he had acquired of the seas he was to navigate, taught him to avoid the calamities which had rendered his former expedition abortive; and he met with no other misfortune in this, than that of being obliged, by contrary winds, to land nearly one hundred leagues from the harbour in which he had intended to disembark. This circumstance occasioned a considerable delay, although their travelling by land furnished them with an opportunity of examining the country, and of making themselves acquainted with the dispositions of the Indians, of which knowledge they stood much in need. In travelling to the great object of their wishes, they followed the coast; but this, from its irregularities, was found an exceedingly difficult task. From the natives whom they discovered on their march, they extorted provisions, and then plundered every article of gold which they possessed; thus giving themselves up to that spirit of rapine and cruelty, which distinguished the manners of those barbarous times. The island of Puna, which protected the road to Tumbez, though vigorously defended by the Indians, was taken by storm; and the Spanish troops entered the village with all the triumphs of victory, where disorders of every kind detained them nearly three months. The arrival, however, of two reinforcements, that came from Nicaragua, afforded them some consolation for the anxiety which their delay had occasioned. These reinforcements, indeed, consisted only of thirty men each, but they were commanded by officers who had acquired a brilliant reputation. The Spaniards were not disturbed in their first conquests, and we must now mention the occasion of it. 211 Proceedings of the Spaniards in the Conquest of Peru. 212 The empire of Peru, which, like | expedition depended. The Indians, many other dominions, was originally totally unacquainted with European of small dimensions, had been succes- discipline, duplicity, and arms, witsively enlarged. It had in particular nessed the movements which were received a considerable aggrandize- making without the least suspicion. ment from the eleventh emperor, Pizarro stationed his cavalry in the garHayma Capac, who had possessed den of the palace, where they could not himself by force of the vast territory be seen; the infantry took their stand of Quito, and who, to conciliate the in an open court; and the artillery was people as much as possible, had mar- pointed towards the gate through which ried the sole heiress of the dethroned the emperor was to enter. monarch. From this union, which was reprobated by the laws, and discountenanced by public opinion, Atabalipa was born; who, on the death of his father, claimed the inheritance of his mother. This succession was contested by his brother Huscan, who was born of another bed, which had no stain upon it. These powerful interests induced the competitors to take up arms. One of them had the people in his favour, and the sanction of immemorial custom; but the other had previously secured the best troops. The one who had the troops on his side was victorious; and putting his rival in chains, he became more powerful than he had expected. At the time appointed, Atabalipa came, attended by about 15,000 men, to visit a banditti, who without any provocation were meditating their destruction. He was carried on a throne of gold, and gold glittered in the hands of his troops and attendants. His views of the strangers corresponded in dignity with the splendour of his appearance. "These strangers," said he, speaking to his principal officers, are the messengers of the gods. Be careful of offending them." 66 The procession was now drawing near the palace which was occupied by Pizarro, when a Dominican, named Vincent De Valverdo, with a crucifix in one hand, and his breviary in the other, came up to the emperor, and, stopping him in his march, delivered a long speech, in which he expounded the Christian religion. He then pressed him to embrace the form of worship which he recommended, and proposed to him to submit to the king of Spain, to whom, he had the impudence to inform him, the Pope had given the The emperor, who had listened to These commotions, which for the first time agitated Peru, had not entirely subsided, when the Spaniards appeared. In the confusion in which the whole kingdom was then involved, no one thought of viewing the Spaniards with any other eyes, than those of curiosity, contempt, or admiration. They therefore pursued their march without any obstruction, and reach-empire of Peru. ed Caxamalca in safety. Atabalipa, whom some particular circumstances this speech with much patience, rehad conducted into the neighbourhood of this imperial palace, immediately sent the strangers some fruit, corn, emeralds, and some vases of silver and gold. He did not, however, conceal from the interpreter, his desire that they should very shortly quit his territories; but intimated that he would on the following morning pay their chief a visit, to concert with him the necessary measures for their speedy retreat. The intelligence which the messenger communicated to Pizarro was of too much importance to be neglected; but treachery was necessary to supply the deficiencies of power. Pizarro professed to make every preparation for the reception of the emperor; while in reality he was making arrangements for an engagement, upon the issue of which the fate of the plied, "I am willing to be the friend of the king of Spain, but not his vassal. The Pope must surely be a very extraordinary man, to give so liberally what does not belong to him. I shall not change my religion for another; and if the Christians adore a God that died upon a cross, I worship the sun, who never dies." He then asked Vincent, where he had learned all these strange things, which he had related respecting God and creation. In this book," replied the the monk, presenting at the same time his breviary to the emperor. Atabalipa took the book, examined it on all sides, and after smiling at what he saw, threw the breviary on the ground, adding, "This book tells me nothing of all this." Vincent then turned to the Spaniards, crying out with all his 213 Proceedings of the Spaniards in the Conquest of Peru. 214 might, "Vengeance, vengeance! Christians, do you not see how he despises the gospel? Kill these dogs, who trample under foot the laws of God." The Spaniards, who had with difficulty restrained that fury, and that thirst of blood, with which the sight of gold in the hands of infidels had inspired them, instantly obeyed the Dominican, and war was let loose in all its horrors. No language can describe the impression which, in an instant, was made on the Peruvians, by the fire of the musquetry, the glittering of swords, the roar of cannon, the trampling of horses, and the instant death of their falling friends. Overwhelmed with confusion, they fled in all directions. Death followed them in their flight. The men were murdered, and even women and children were not spared; Vincent still continuing to cry out vengeance, until the soldiers were tired with slaughter. The remaining part of this memorable day, was spent in drunkenness and debauchery. stipulated for his ransom. Quan tities were brought in from all sides, as fast as the distances of the places and the confusion which existed would allow. The whole would have been completed in a little time; but the heaps of gold incessantly exposed to the eyes of the greedy conquerors, so inflamed their avarice, that it was impossible to delay any longer a division of the quantity that had been collected. A fifth part of the whole, which government had reserved to itself, was delivered to the agents of the treasury. Twenty-two thousand pounds were then set apart for the body of troops Almagro had just brought up, and which were still upon the coasts. Each of Pizarro's cavalry received £1,800, and each infantry £883. 6s. 8d. The general and his officers had sums in proportion to their ranks. These fortunes, the most extraordinary that have ever been recorded in history, did not mitigate the barbarity of the Spaniards, nor procure liberty for the emperor. Atabalipa had given The emperor, now a prisoner, and his gold, and his name had served to closely guarded, felt all the horrors of keep the people in awe; but the mohis situation. He had discovered ment drew near that was to terminate among the Spaniards an inordinate his life, and give an additional feaattachment to gold, and through this ture to Spanish perfidy. Vincent gave medium he hoped to pay his ransom, it as his opinion, that he was a hardand obtain his liberty. To procure ened prince, like Pharaoh, and ought his liberation, he offered as much of to die. Almagro was decidedly of the this metal as his prison, which was same opinion, so far as his death was twenty-two feet in length, and sixteen thought necessary; but his reason was, in breadth, would contain, piled to as that if he should be suffered to live, great a height as the arm of a man the army of his colleague might apcould reach. His proposal was ac-propriate to itself all the booty, as cepted with much eagerness; though part of the emperor's ransom. Piwith the basest insincerity. But while zarro thought he ought to die, because those of his ministers, in whom he he had dared to despise him, had dishad the greatest confidence, were em- covered that he was unable to read, ployed in collecting what was neces- and had intimated that Pizarro was not sary to fulfil his engagements, he was so well informed as some of his cominformed, that his rival, whom we have mon soldiers. The interpreter Phialready seen in chains, had promised lippillo, who, on the emperor's imprito the Spaniards three times the quan- sonment, had formed a criminal contity of gold which he was about to nection with one of his wives, thought pay for his ransom, if they would rein- he ought to suffer death, lest his liberastate him on the throne of his ances- tion might withdraw the object of his tors. He was alarmed at this unex- sensual gratification, and thus disturb pected negociation; and to prevent his pleasures. These reasons were it from coming to maturity, he resolv- deemed of sufficient weight to render ed to strangle a rival which was dan- his death inevitable. gerous, though confined. To conceal these designs from the Spaniards, and to dissipate any suspicion which reports might excite in their minds, Atabalipa urged with fresh zeal the collecting of the metal The Spaniards had the effrontery to bring him to a formal trial; and this atrocious farce was followed by those horrid consequences which might naturally be expected from it,-the ignominious death of Atabalipa. The 215 Awful Occurrence.-Virtues of Savage Life.. 216 final conquest of Peru was the conse- | however, after this time had elapsed, quence of these iniquitous transactions. AN AWFUL OCCURRENCE. IN a village not far from Lymn in Cheshire, lately lived a man and his wife, distinguished among their neighbours for the singularities of their respective characters. The husband was covetous, niggardly, avaricious in an extreme, and always complaining of poverty; he parted with money to purchase even the common necessaries of life, as though blood had been extracted from his heart; and nearly starved himself, his wife, and her mother, who lived with them. The wife was remarkably passionate; and when provoked, would pour out the most abominable wishes and horrid imprecations, against the objects of her vengeance, particularly against her husband, who repaid her with bitter lamentations and woe, which agitated his whole frame, whenever any demand was made on his purse. Accompanied with vollies of oaths and curses, she oftentimes rejoiced in the anticipation of seeing him stiff, hoped that death would not call at their house when he was from home, and frequently wished his soul in hell. In this unhappy state they lived several years; but both the avarice of the one, and the passion of the other, grew more powerful as they advanced in age, so that the last twelve months of their lives, exhibited, what has not unaptly been termed, a "hell upon earth." On the 9th of January, 1821, some new cause of difference arising between them, many angry words ensued, connected, no doubt, with the common aggravation of oaths and curses. This was carried to such height, that the wife expressed her resolution to leave the husband; and on bidding him farewell, she declared that she would never speak to him again while she lived. Scarcely had she uttered this passionate determination, before her specch was taken from her; and shortly after, she lost the use of her right side. In this state she continued three days, during which time little notice was taken of her, the family thinking that it was nothing more than a fit of sullenness, of which she had previously given several instances. Finding, that it was probably something more than hypocrisy could produce, they sent for a doctor, who, on his arrival, informed them that he feared his assistance was called in too late. He nevertheless advised the husband to purchase a pint of brandy, and to get her to swallow a large quantity. The husband, on hearing this, objected, on account of the expense; intimating that half a pint would be sufficient, and this was actually procured, but not until he had repeatedly declared that he had no money, and had in vain solicited the landlady to give him credit for the amount. This circumstance had such an effect upon him, that on carrying home the brandy, he retired into the barn, and, putting a cord round his neck, terminated his miserable existence. The day after he was buried, the wretched woman, who had never spoken after her resolution, breathed her last, amidst the most excruciating sufferings, but apparently destitute of all recollection. On examining the clothes of the unhappy man, after he was cut down, they found in the pocket of his small clothes, six notes, and twenty shillings in silver; and the day on which his wife expired, they discovered twelve notes concealed in the inside of his old waistcoat. The house was then examined; and ninety guineas in gold were brought to light, wrapped up in probably twenty parcels. Some were in old rags, others tied up in paper, and part into an old box among shavings, and other lumber. This poor wretch has left behind him upwards of a thousand pounds in money, besides an estate that lets for nearly forty pounds per annum, which property, as he had no children, is gone among his relations, to be, we hope, the instrument of new virtues, and not of additional crimes. We can scarcely anticipate any thing more awful than the thought of two such spirits meeting so suddenly in another world. ON THE VIRTUES OF SAVAGE LIFE; WITH SOME ANECDOTES. IN the consciousness of our own superiority, and in the pride of our own wisdom, we are but too apt to undervalue the character of that portion of our fellow-creatures, to whom the benefits of civilization have not begla ex |