In some of the level plains of Peru there is a species of ostrich, which is taken in the following manner. Several horsemen place themselves in ambush, while others likewise on horseback pursue the ostriches and endeavour to drive them towards their companions who are concealed. These birds, although they are unable to rise in flight into the air, go with astonishing swiftness, partly by running, and partly by means of short flights close to the ground, insomuch that a man on horseback is altogether unable to get up with them, so that it requires stratagem to kill or take them alive.
In Chili there are some rivers which have water only during the day, and are entirely dry during the night. This is owing to the heat of the sun melting the snow on the mountains by day, by which temporary rivers, or torrents rather, are formed by day, which cease again at night when the cold puts a stop to the melting of the snow. When we have got about 500 leagues along the coast from Peru towards the south, or in the lat. of about 30° S. rain is often met with, and the winds are no longer so regular as nearer the line, but blow sometimes one way and sometimes another, as in Spain and other countries of Europe. Chili is a tolerably well peopled country, and resembles Peru in being divisible into two districts, the plain and the mountain, and its coast is considerably more indented by gulfs and bays than that of Peru182. It enjoys the vicissitudes of summer and winter nearly as in Spain, but at opposite times of the year, the winter of Chili being at the same time with the Spanish summer, and vice versa. The pole seen from that country, which is directly opposite our Arctic or north pole, is only marked by a kind of small white cloud or nebula, which is seen after sunset in that direction in which astronomers have placed the antartic or south pole. There is likewise seen a constellation of seven stars, four of them being in form of a cross, followed by three others, resembling the lesser bear of the astronomers which turns round the north polar star. These seven stars near the south pole are situated somewhat like those of the ursa minor, except that the four which form the cross are nearer each other than those of the north pole which are seen in our hemisphere. Our north pole is lost sight of somewhat less than 200 leagues to the south of Panama, under the equator; from whence, or a little beyond, on either side of the line, these two constellations may be seen when they rise a little above the poles of the horizon. On the south side of the equinoctial line, navigators are only able to see the four stars near the antarctic pole which form the cross, until they reach the thirtieth degree of south latitude, after which they get sight of the other three stars which form this constellation.
The change in the length of the days and nights in Chili is nearly the same as in Spain, only the longest day in Chili is at that time of the year when Spain has the day shortest. In Peru and Tierra firma and generally in all places near the equinoctial line, the days and nights are always equal or nearly so during the whole year. Even at Lima and other places the difference is so small as hardly to be noticed. The natives of Chili are clothed nearly in the same manner with the Peruvians, and use the same kind of food. The inhabitants, both men and women, are tolerably well looked. They are governed by great lords, who make war against each other, and some of whom are able to bring 200,000 men into the field. One of these lords at this time was named Leuchengorma, who possessed an island about two leagues from the coast which was consecrated to his idols, in which was a temple ministered to by two thousand priests. The subjects of Leuchengorma informed the Spaniards, that there was a great province about fifty leagues farther on, situated between two rivers, which was entirely inhabited by women, who did not admit any men among them but at certain times, for the purpose of having children, and who sent all their sons to their fathers, reserving their daughters only to be brought up among themselves. They said farther, that these women were subjects of Leuchengorma, and were ruled over by a queen named Guaboymilla, which signifies golden heaven in their language, and so named because her country produces a great quantity of gold. These women manufactured rich stuffs, in which, and in the gold produced in their country, they paid tribute to Leuchengorma. Although these things have often been spoken of, their truth has not as yet been ascertained by the discovery of the country, Almagro having made no establishment there. Of late, indeed, Pedro de Valdivia has been sent thither to establish some colonies, but he has never yet had a sufficient force for making discoveries, or for colonization, and has settled one colony only, which is placed about thirty-three degrees to the south of the equator183.
The whole coast of Chili is well peopled, as far as to the latitude of 40° south and still farther; which is known by one of the ships belonging to the fleet sent out by Don Gabriel de Carvajal bishop of Placentia, which passed through the straits of Magellan, and sailed along the whole western coast of South America from south to north, and at length reached the port belonging to Lima. This ship brought over the first rats ever seen in Peru, which have so multiplied since that there are plenty in every town of the whole country.
These animals are named ococha by the Peruvians, which word signifies having come from the sea.
Soon after the departure of Almagro from Cuzco on his expedition to Chili, Ferdinand Pizarro returned from Spain, where his majesty made him a knight of the order of St Jago, with other advantages184. He had likewise obtained an enlargement of the government of his brother to a certain extent, and brought out with him a commission for Almagro to a new government.
At this time Manco Capac, whom Pizarro had permitted to assume the nominal title of Inca of Peru, was detained a prisoner in the citadel of Cuzco, in consequence of the discovery of a conspiracy he had entered into with his brothers Paul and Villaoma to exterminate the Spaniards. Manco Capac wrote to Juan Pizarro, intreating to be set at liberty before the arrival of Ferdinand Pizarro at Cuzco; and Juan, who was then in the Collao endeavouring to reduce certain Indians who had retired into a strong place among rocks, sent orders to liberate the Inca. On the arrival of Ferdinand Pizarro at Cuzco, he treated Manco Capac with much respect, yet kept a constant guard over him, and it is believed that Ferdinand shewed great friendship for the Inca, in the hope of procuring gold from him, to send to the king of Spain or for his own use. Two months after the return of Ferdinand to Cuzco, Manco Capac solicited permission from Ferdinand to go into the district of Jucaya185 on purpose to celebrate a solemn festival, promising on his return to present him with a statue of the late Huana Capac of solid gold as large as life. Ferdinand allowed him to attend this festival, which turned out merely the unravelment of the plot which had been formed at the time when Almagro began his march for Chili. Manco Capac gave immediate orders to put to death some Spaniards who superintended the working of the mines, and others who were travelling through the country on various affairs. He sent likewise one of his captains with a considerable body of troops against Cuzco, who by a sudden and unexpected attack got possession of the castle of that city. The Spaniards indeed retook it after six or seven days, yet not without hard fighting, in which they lost Juan Pizarro; who was killed by a stone which struck him on the head, at a time when he was unable to wear his helmet in consequence of a former wound. His death was much regretted by the Spaniards, being a brave man and much experienced in the manner of carrying on war with the Indians, and besides because his manners had made him beloved by every one.
182
From the desert of Atacama in lat 25° S. to the island of Chiloe in about lat. 42° S. Chili Proper, between the Pacific ocean and the western ridge of the Andes, stretches about 1100 English miles nearly north and south by an average breadth of about 140 miles. –E.
183
Valparayso stands nearly in the latitude indicated by the text. Valdivia, taking its name from that commander, is in lat. 30°40' S. –E.
184
Zarate is extremely remiss in regard to dates, and not a little confused in the arrangement of his narrative. We learn from Robertson, II. 325, that Ferdinand Pizarro returned to Peru in 1536. –E.
185
According to Robertson, II. 326, the place where the festival was to be celebrated was only at a few leagues distance from Cuzco. Garcilasso says that it was a garden belonging to the Incas only a league from the city. –E.