He Was Carried In His Litter In
The Usual State, On The Shoulders Of Some Of The Principal Lords Of His
Court, Having Three Hundred Indians Marching Before Him In Rich Uniforms,
Who Removed Every Stone Or Other Substance Which Might Obstruct The Way,
Even Carefully Picking Up The Smallest Straws.
He was followed by a
numerous train of curacas or caciques, and principal officers of his court,
all carried in litters.
The Peruvians held the Spaniards in small
estimation, they were so few in number, and imagined they could easily
make them all prisoners without presuming to make the smallest resistance.
One of the caciques had sent to inform Atahualpa not to stand in any awe
of the Spaniards, as they were not only few in number, but so effeminate
and lazy that they were unable to march on foot without being tired by a
very short distance, for which reason they travelled on the backs of
_large sheep_, by which name they distinguished our horses.
In the order already described, Atahualpa entered with all his army and
attendants into a large square or enclosure in front of the _tambos_ or
palace of Caxamarca; and seeing the Spaniards so few in number and all on
foot, as the cavalry remained in concealment, he conceived that they would
not certainly dare to stand before him or to resist his commands. Rising
up therefore in his litter, be said to his attendants, "These people are
all in our power, and will assuredly surrender." To which they all
answered that this was certainly the case.
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