reached their guard at Antamarca, where Huascar, his mother and wives, and all his friends, were massacred. One lad escaped, a natural son of Huascar named Huari Titu. He brought the news to Caxamarca, and furnished Pizarro with an excuse for the execution of Atahualpa.
On the death of Atahualpa the gold and silver ceased to arrive. All that was on its way was concealed, but already an amount equivalent to £3,500,000 of our money had reached the Spaniards at Caxamarca, chiefly in the form of square or oblong plates which had been used to adorn the walls of houses. A far greater amount was concealed, and has never yet been found, though the secret has been handed down, and on one occasion a small portion was used in the interests of the people.[1]
The story of the Spanish invasion and civil war has been told in the classic pages of Prescott and Helps, and forms no part of this essay except so far as it concerns the fate of the Incas. The army which vanquished Huascar was scattered, Quizquiz and Chalcuchima were to meet their deserts from men as ruthless and cruel as themselves. The Spaniards were on the march to Cuzco.
- ↑ When the old chief Pumacagua was about to head an insurrection against the Spaniards, he had no funds for procuring arms and ammunition. After obtaining from him an oath of secrecy, the then guardian took him blindfold to the place where the vast treasure was concealed. He had to wade up a stream for a long distance. His eyes were then dazzled by the enormous masses of gold, and he was allowed to take enough to meet his needs. He was defeated and put to death by the Spaniards. No one else has ever been admitted to the secret.
