ABSTRACT
GREAT was the grief which the death of Huira Cocha caused all through his realms. They did him many honours, and wept for him more than six months. At the end of this period, the Lords of all the provinces gathered together at the coronation of Tupac Yupanqui, who reigned peacefully and finished conquering the Chimos by a notable stratagem. This was the way in which it was done : As in the time of his father, Huira Cocha [the Inga and his men] withdrew to the mountains, having formed an army (on the coast), and (the Chimos)
attacked those whom the Inga had left behind in their land, and they killed them, with the loss of many Chimos. When this was known by Tupac Yupanqui, as he was peace-loving by nature, he consulted [his councillors as to] the most gentle method of reducing the Chimos without battle, for he believed that a battle would be a very bloody one. After many consultations, he hit upon a plan. It took into consideration the fact that valleys [of the coast] were irrigated by water and rivers from the highlands, and that, without it, the Chimos could not get along. [He ordered that the] main channels should be cut and broken down at various places, so that the Chimos could not avail themselves of the smaller ditches, and so would surrender for ever. This was one of the best schemes which was proposed, and the Inga at once sent many labourers, accompanied by four thousand soldiers, and in a few days they diverted the river of the Chimos into some sandy wastes, which swallowed it entirely. The general in charge of the war, as soon as this was done, sent messengers to the Chimo, saying that the Inga, as son of the Sun, had dominion over the waters, and that he took them away, and would keep them away from the Chimos so long as they did not submit. The Chimo, seeing this, and perceiving that he could not go against the Inga, because his [the Inga's] soldiers had taken the passes, he resolved to be a tributary to him, and from that time he was a good vassal.
