NOTICES OF PERU. 



381 



seven miles off, though probably not more than a league in a 

 •direct line from the sea. 



The road is tolerably good, and passes by many huacas, and 

 the ruins of the ancient town of Chimu, named after the king, 

 who was called the Grand Chimu, the lord of the valleys, 

 Parmunca, Huallmi (now Guarmey), Santa, Huanapu, or Gu- 

 anape, and Chimu, or Chimo. He is represented to have been 

 a haughty prince, very successful in war, and much feared by 

 the neighboring nations. His subjects worshipped various 

 beasts, and birds, and fishes, for some peculiar virtue or trait 

 in their habits ; as the lion and tiger for their fierceness ; the 

 condor for its size ; the owl for its wonderful sight, being able 

 to see at night, and the dog for his loyalty. 



In the reign of Pachacutec, who died in 1423, the Incas 

 carried their arms, under the command of Inca Yupanqui, 

 his son, and his uncle, Capac Yupanqui (whom the king call- 

 ed his right arm), into the dominions of the Grand Chimu, 

 to force him and his vassals to renounce their idols, and wor- 

 ship the sun, the God of the Incas. 



Inca Yupanqui advanced as far as the valley of Rimac, and 

 while waiting there for some reinforcements from the south, 

 sent ambassadors to the Grand Chimu, to declare the will of 

 the Inca, and to offer clemency in case of submission. The 

 powerful and Grand Chimu replied that he was ready to die 

 with arms in his hands, in defence of his country, laws, and 

 ■customs, and desired no new gods ; and that the Inca must 

 jest satisfied with this answer, for he wQjald never give any 

 other. 



War was begun, and waged with great fury on both sides, 

 for some of the ancient enemies of Chimu joined the Incas for 

 the sake of revenge. The inhabitants of Santa and the valley 

 of Chimu, where this proud king held his court, were more 

 warlike than the rest, so that the contest was more fierce and 

 bloody than any that occurred during the long dynasty of the 

 xihildren of the sun. At last the haughty king was forced to 

 yield, and the Inca generously left him the government of his 

 -valleys, saying that he did not wish to despoil him of his do- 



