WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES — VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 553 



is thickly settled and rich in llama ranches, and at present they have 

 large ranches also of our Castilian sheep. Its boundaries run with 

 those of the Aymara province and many others. The Viceroy appoints 

 a Corregidor for its good government. On the E. it is bounded by 

 the desolate deserts of the sierra and the cold puna, where the only 

 living things are the vicunas, guanacos, and other wild animals ; 

 beyond is the Province of Yanaguara. On the S. it is bounded by 

 Los Collaguas and Condesuyos. 



1488. ESE. of this province, and between it and the Rio de 

 Apurimac is the Province of Los Chumbivilcas. This is extensive and 

 thickly populated, with quantities of all kinds of livestock. It is 20 

 leagues long and over lo broad. On the W. it is bounded by the 

 Provinces of Los Condesuyos and Collaguas. It is provided with 

 everything necessary for human life. In its district they raise 

 quantities of potatoes, quinua, corn, and much native and Spanish 

 fruit. It has a Corregidor appointed by the Viceroy for the dispensing 

 of justice ; he resides in the village of Velille. 



1489. From the Rio de Apurimac one proceeds to the royal palaces 

 of Limatambo, crossing the Vilcaconga Sierra, where Don Diego de 

 Almagro had a battle with the Indians and scattered them before he 

 made his entry into Cuzco. Two leagues farther on is the Sacsahuana 

 Valley, which lies between high sierras ; although small, it is prolific 

 in wheat, corn, and other cereals and Spanish and native fruit. It 

 was at the head of this valley that Gonzalo Pizarro and his few 

 followers were defeated, the majority of his force having passed 

 over to His Majesty's army which was commanded by Licentiate 

 Pedro de la Gasca; this was on April 9 of the year 1548. It was 

 here also that Don Francisco Pizarro ordered that Atahualpa's 

 General, Calicuchima, should be burned. This valley once contained 

 sumptuous buildings and many places for recreation, to which the 

 lords and many people from Cuzco came for their diversion. At 

 present they raise wheat and corn with other cereals and root crops ; 

 residents of Cuzco have cattle ranches here, and sugar plantations, 

 with a few mills. It is 5 leagues from the Sacsahuana Valley to the 

 imperial city; part of it is paved highway (calgada) and part of it 

 is up and down slight grades before reaching the city. 



Chapter LXXIV ( ) 



Of the Imperial City of Cuzco, Court City and Capital of the 

 Kingdoms of Peru ; of Its Splendors, and Its Founding. 



1490. The imperial city of Cuzco, which was another Rome for 

 those southern regions in the days of its heathendom, was founded 



