6. A Room Full of Gold
BY FRANCISCO XERES (1533)
GOVERNOR PIZARRO received news from the natives that the way to Cuzco
passed through very populous districts which were rich and
fertile;[32] that there was an inhabited valley called
Caxamalca ten or twelve
days' journey from the settlement where Atahuallpa, the greatest lord
among these natives, resided.
[33] When
Atahuallpa had come to the province of Caxamalca years before he found
it to be so rich and pleasant that he settled there and continued to
conquer other lands from thence. This lord was held so much in dread,
that the natives of the valley did not dare to leave his service for the
service of the king of Spain; so they told the Christians and their
leader, Governor Pizarro, that a small detachment of Atahuallpa's army
would be sufficient to kill all the Christians. Governor Pizarro
thereupon resolved to march in search of Atahuallpa to reduce him to the
service of the king of Spain and to win over the surrounding countries.
The Governor departed from the city of San Miguel in search of
Atahuallpa on the twenty-fourth of September,
1532.[34] He arrived at the town of Caxamalca two months
later at the hour of vespers. In the middle of the town there was a
great open space surrounded by walls and houses. The Governor occupied
this position and sent a messenger to Atahuallpa to announce his
arrival, to arrange a meeting, and in order that he might show him where
to lodge; meanwhile he ordered the town to be examined with a view to
discovering a strong position where he might pitch his camp. He ordered
all the troops to be stationed in the open space and the cavalry to
remain mounted until it was seen whether Atahuallpa would come.
This town, which is the principal place in the valley,
is situated on the edge of a mountain, with an open plain in
front of it. Two rivers flow through the valley, which is level
and well peopled with
about two thousand inhabitants. Near the entrance there are two bridges
because two rivers flow past: The plaza
[35] is
larger than any in Spain, surrounded by a wall and entered by two
doorways which open upon the streets of the town. The houses are more
than two hundred paces in length, very well built, being surrounded by
strong walls, three times the height of a
man.
[36] The roofs are covered with straw and wood, the
interiors are divided into eight rooms, much better than any we had seen
before. Their walls are of well cut stones, and each lodging is
surrounded by a wall of masonry with doorways, and has its fountain of
water in an open court brought from a distance by pipes for the supply
of the house.
Atahuallapa feared that the Spaniards would kill him, so he told
Governor Pizarro that he would give his captors a great quantity of gold
and silver.[37] The Governor asked him: "How
much can you give and in what time ?" Atahuallapa said: "I will give
gold enough to fill a room twenty-two feet long and seventeen wide up to
a white line which is half way up the wall. The height will be once and
a half that of a man's stature." Atahuallapa also said, that up to that
mark he would fill the room with different kinds of golden vessels, such
as jars, pots, vases, besides lumps and other pieces. As for silver, he
said that he would fill a whole chamber with it twice over. He undertook
to do this in two months. Governor Pizarro told him to send off
messengers for this purpose, and that when it was accomplished he need
have no fear.
Then Atahuallapa sent messages to his captains who were in
the city of Cuzco, ordering them to send two thousand
Indians, laden with gold and silver. After
some days, several of the family of Atahuallapa arrived. There was his
brother, who came from Cuzco, and sisters and wives. The brother brought
many vases, jars, and pots of gold and much silver, and he said that
there were more on the road; but that as the journey was long, the
Indians who were bringing the treasure became tired and could not come
so quickly, but that every day more gold and silver would arrive . And
it came. On some days twenty thousand, on others fifty or sixty
thousand
pesos of gold arrived.
[38] The
Governor ordered it to be put in the house where Atahuallapa had his
guard, and to be stored there until he had accomplished what he had
promised.
And so the gold was delivered to the Christians by little and
little and slowly, because it was necessary to employ many Indians who
had to go from village to village to collect
it.[39] The Governor ordered the pieces of gold to be
counted, and the gold vessels and plates to be melted down and weighed.
It was found
that there was over three million
pesos of good gold.
Of this, Governor Pizarro had as his share two hundred
thousand
pesos of gold and fifty thousand of silver.
The "royal fifth" was set aside for the Spanish king. All the
rest was divided among all the conquerors who had
accompanied Governor Pizarro, and the men who had been
friendly to them during the expedition. Thus every one of
Pizarro's helpers in the country received something out of
this room full of gold.
[40]
[[32]]
Pizarro was a Spanish officer who had got permission
from Spain to conquer the region in South America which we call Peru.
Cuzco was the native capital.
[[33]]
Atahuallpa was king of the natives.
[[34]]
Pizarro had only 213 men and 63 horses.
[[35]]
Plaza = the Spanish name for public square.
[[36]]
A pace is about three feet.
[[37]]
A great battle between Atahuallapa's forces and
Pizarro's took place, in which Atahuallapa was taken prisoner.
Throughout his captivity he was kindly treated, but he felt uneasy about
his safety.
[[38]]
A peso = a dollar.
[[39]]
Worth about $17,500,000 in our money. The Spanish king
demanded a certain fixed share of treasures found in the new
world.
[[40]]
Having got the gold, Pizarro murdered Atahuallpa, and
enslaved the people.