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1532 - An audience with the Inca Quitas pumarangra As the Spanish began their march south from San Miguel, Atahualpa was camped at Cajamarca awaiting the news from his leading general, Quisquis, on a decisive battle with his brother Huascar's opposing forces at Cuzco. The Spanish forces ascended from the coastal planes into the high Andes, troubled by the many Inca forts and watchtowers they encountered. In Cajamarca, Atahualpa's council discussed destroying the invaders immediately but decided it was "folly to be concerned over 170 men" and agreed to have them seized upon their arrival in Cajamarca. Opinion was divided over whether the Spaniards were viracochas ("gods") or quitas pumarangra ("leaderless people wandering about and thieving"). Arrival in Cajamarca  On 15 November 1532, the Spanish expedition emerged
from the mountains to find the lush, green valley of Cajamarca
spread before them. Atahualpa was by now aware that his forces
had been victorious at Cuzco and that the entire Inca Empire
was firmly in his grasp. His army was camped in full splendour
across the fields beyond the town of Cajamarca. "The Indians' camp looked like a very beautiful city... Nothing like this had been seen in the Indies up to then. It filled all us Spaniards with fear and confusion."The Spaniards descended into the valley and entered the main square of Cajamarca, a huge open area bordered on three sides by long, low buildings, each approximately 200 metres in length. Pizarro sent some 15 horsemen to visit the Inca's camp and to converse with him. Shortly afterwards, fearing that this small force could be destroyed, he sent another 20 horsemen with his brother, Hernando Pizarro. The Inca's camp was stationed several miles outside of the city and the Spanish contingents were required to march through silent ranks of Indian warriors and chiefs. Arriving finally at the Inca's pleasure house they found Atahualpa sitting on a small stool, surrounded by his women and chief officers. An audience with the Inca Hernando Pizarro talked briefly with the Inca, using one of the interpreters captured by Francisco Pizarro's second expedition. Atahualpa accused the Spanish of mistreating the Indians near Tumbez but invited them to dine with him and stay at his residence overnight. Hernando refused to stay but received assurances from the Inca that he would go to Cajamarca the following day to meet Francisco Pizarro. Before leaving the Inca's residence, Hernando de Soto brought forward a small, spirited horse that had been trained to rear up and wheel around. The Inca was much impressed with the demonstration that followed but "one squadron of troops drew back when they saw the horse coming towards them. Those who did this paid for it that night with their lives, for Atahualpa ordered them to be killed because they had shown fear." Back in Cajamarca, the frightened and desperate Spanish considered their position: they were isolated from reinforcements by many days of difficult marching and were situated in the midst of a victorious royal army with an estimated 80,000 warriors. As the Spanish sheltered in the buildings around the main square and kept sentry duty, the campfires of the Indian army surrounded them "like a brilliantly star-studded sky". |
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