134 FROM PUNO TO OUZCO. Chap. IX. 



CHAPTER IX. 



NAKRATIVE OF THE INSURKECTION OF JOSE GABRIEL TUPAC 

 AMARU, THE LAST OF THE INCAS. 



The basin of lake Titicaca is bounded on tlie north by the 

 mountains of Vilcaiiota, which unite the maritime cordillera 

 with the Eastern Andes, and the river of Vilcamayu rises in 

 these mountains, and flows north through a fertile and well- 

 peopled valley, which is covered with fields of Indian corn. 

 The road from Puno to Cuzco, after crossing the Vilcafiota 

 range by the pass of Santa Eosa, descends the valley of the 

 Vilcamayu, passing through the towns of Marangani, Sicuani, 

 Cacha, Tinta, Checacupe, Quiquijana, and Urcos ; and then 

 leaves the river near Oropesa, and ascends a valley for three 

 leagues to the city of Cuzco. On either side of the ravine of 

 Vilcamayu are lofty table-lands, which only yield potatoes and 

 quinoa ; the wild hills are covered with coarse grass, often 

 weighed down with snow ; and in several places there are 

 large Alpine lakes. Uninviting as this bleak region appears, 

 it still contains several Indian villages, ruled in 1780 by 

 native caciques, who were subject to the corregidor of Tinta, 

 in the valley. The principal villages under the jurisdiction 

 of Tinta in this cold and lofty district are Sangarara, Lanqui, 

 Pampamarca, Su^mani, Yanaoca, and Tungasuca — the latter 

 of which was the home of Tupac Amaru. It is a small vil- 

 lage, with a few patches of potatoes and quinoa round it, near 

 the banks of a wild-looking lake, with rocky mountains rising 

 abruptly from the water. 



