SEVENTH BOOK OF THE ROYAL COMMENTARIES OF THE YNCAS

Summary

CHAPTER I

THE YNCAS FORMED COLONIES. THEY USED TWO LANGUAGES

The Yncas transplanted Indians from one province to another for special reasons, some for the good of their vassals, and others for their own purposes and to secure their dominions from insurrections. In the course of their conquests the Yncas found some provinces to be naturally fertile, but thinly populated. To these districts they sent Indians who were natives of other provinces to be naturally fertile, but thinly populated. To these districts they sent Indians who were natives of other provinces with a similar climate. This precaution was taken that no injury might befall the settlers. On other occasions, when the inhabitants of a locality multiplied rapidly, so that their province was not large enough to hold them, they removed a certain proportion of the people to some other district. They also removed Indians from barren and sterile tracts to such as were fertile and prolific, with a view to the benefit both of those that remained and of those that went; because, being relations, they would help each other with their harvests. Thus it is throughout the Collao, a province which is more than one hundred and twenty leagues long, and contains many provinces within itself, peopled by different tribes. Owing to the extreme cold neither maize nor uchu (which the Spaniards call pepper) will ripen; but many other crops are raised which do not grow in hot countries, such as the papa and quinua, and vast flocks are bred.