SPANISH OPPRESSION. 



155 



to Lima^ and were seen afterwards at work in 

 the quarries at the island of San Lorenzo^ 

 expiating a crime of which they were totally 

 unconscious. Overawed by this violence^ and 

 having lost their natural protectors, the Indians 

 submitted to the repartimiento. 



The system became at last so intolerable^ 

 that in the year 1780 the Indians, ground down 

 to the utmost limit of sufferings had at last the 

 courage to rebel. Tupac Amaru was their 

 leader^ and they began by murdering the cor- 

 regidors^ and other Spaniards^ wherever they 

 could do so. In order to quell the revolt^ the 

 Peruvian troops united with those of Buenos 

 Ayres. The whole country became a theatre 

 of bloodshed and civil war^ vengeance and 

 cruelty; until^ after three years of warfare^ 

 Tupac was taken and condemned to death « 

 This unhappy chief was dragged to the place 

 of execution, and there, before his eyes, Iiis 



