The wretched victim bore the
execution of the sentence with surprising fortitude. She did not
beg for mercy, where none was to be found. Not a complaint,
scarcely a groan, escaped her under the infliction of these
terrible torments. The iron Conquerors were amazed at this power
of endurance in a delicate woman, and they expressed their
admiration, while they condemned the cruelty of their commander,
- in their hearts. *26 Yet constancy under the most excruciating
tortures that human cruelty can inflict is almost the universal
characteristic of the American Indian.
[Footnote 26: At least, we may presume they did so, since they
openly condemn him in their accounts of the transaction. I quote
Pedro Pizarro, not disposed to criticise the conduct of his
general too severely. "Se tomo una muger de mango ynga que le
queria mucho y se guardo, creyendo que por ella saldria de paz.
Esta muger mando matar al marquez despues en Yncay, haziendola
varear con varas y flechar con flechas por una burla que mango
ynga le hizo que aqui contare, y entiendo yo que por esta
crueldad y otra hermana del ynga que mando matar en Lima quando
los yndios pusieron cerco sobrella que se llamava Acarpay. me
paresce a mi que nuestro senor le castigo en el fin que tuvo."
Descub. y Conq., Ms.]
Pizarro now prepared, as the most effectual means of checking
these disorders among the natives, to establish settlements in
the heart of the disaffected country. These settlements, which
received the dignified name of cities, might be regarded in the
light of military colonies.
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