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‹Better GutenbergHistory of the IncasXXXII — Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui Depopulates Two Leagues of Country… · 36 of 76Contents›

History of the Incas

by Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa

36 of 76 · Contents · Download EPUB

XXXII.

Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui Depopulates Two Leagues of Country Near Cuzco.

After Pachacuti had done what has been described in the city, he turned his attention to the people. Seeing that there were not sufficient lands for sowing, so as to sustain them, he went round the city at a distance of four leagues from it, considering the valleys, situation, and villages. He depopulated all that were within two leagues of the city. The lands of depopulated villages were given to the city and its inhabitants, and the deprived people were settled in other parts. The citizens of Cuzco were well satisfied with the arrangement, for they were given what cost little, and thus he made friends by presents taken from others, and took as his own the valley of Tambo [which was not his].

The news of the enlargement of this city went far and wide, and reached the ears of Viracocha Inca, retired in Caquia Xaquixahuana[88]. He was moved to go and see Cuzco. The Inca Yupanqui went for him, and brought him to Cuzco with much rejoicing. He went to the House of the Sun, worshipped at Huanacauri and saw all the improvements that had been made. Having seen everything he returned to his place at Caquia Xaquixahuana, where he resided until his death, never again visiting Cuzco, nor seeing his son Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui.

[Note 88: This great plain to the north-west of Cuzco, called Xaquixahuana, and Sacsahuana, is now known as Surita. Most of the early writers call it Sacsahuana. Sarmiento always places the word Caquia before the name. Capuchini is to provide, capuchic a purveyor. Hence Capuquey means "my goods," abbreviated to Caguey, "my property." The meaning is "my estate of Xaquixahuana."]

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