162 DIEGO'S DECREE. Chap. X. 



The Indians still remained in arms round Cuzeo, especially 

 in the heights above Urubamba and Galea, and at Lauramarca 

 and Ocungate. Those near Galea fortified themselves in a 

 place called Ghayna-ccasa, against whom the General sent a 

 force of 400 men under Don Jose de Barela, and the Indians 

 were defeated with great slaughter ; while Don Joaquim 

 Balcarcel kept the insurgents in check, who continued to 

 thi'eaten Paucartambo. 



After the retreat of General del Valle from Puno, Diego 

 Tupac Amaru established his head-quarters at the town of 

 Azangaro, while Andres Mendagure and IVIiguel Bastidas 

 overran the provinces on the eastern shore of lake Titicaca, 

 captured the town of Sorata, and placed tJiemselves in com- 

 munication with the insurgent forces in Upper Peru. It is 

 said that fifteen mule-loads of treasure, consisting of spoils 

 from the provinces of Omasuyos and Larecaja, were brought 

 into Azangaro at this time and bmied. Diego Tupac Amaru 

 occupied a house near the plaza, where he gave audience in a 

 long sala ; and he went from this house to the church every 

 night, wrapped in a large cloak. This story made people 

 believe that he was concealing treasure, and many a fruitless 

 search has since been made for it.'^ 



The hopes of the Indians were now beginning to wane. 

 Diego, though a man of considerable talent, was not possessed 

 of the same influence over the people as his unfortunate 

 cousin ; and the Sj)anish officials were rapidly receiving rein- 

 forcements from Buenos Ayres, while the slaughter of the 

 Indians had been prodigious. In August, 1781, Diego issued 

 a decree, ordering that all women, children, and priests, 

 should be respected dm'ing the war;^ and on the 18th of 

 October he promulgated a manifesto setting forth the nume- 

 rous violations of law habitually committed by the corregidors. 



' Information fi-om Don Lnis Qiiinones of Azangaro. ** Angelis. 



