Atahualpa Being Thus Made Prisoner, And His Whole Army Having Taken To
Flight, The Spaniards Went Next Morning To Pillage His Camp, Where They
Found A Prodigious Quantity Of Gold And Silver Vessels, Excessively Rich
Tents, Stuffs, Vestments, And Many Other Articles Of Immense Value.
The
gold plate alone which was carried along with the army for the use of
Atahualpa exceeded the value of 60,000 pistoles[15].
Above 5000 women who
were found in the camp of the enemy voluntarily surrendered themselves to
the Spaniards.
The captive Atahualpa now made submissive application to Pizarro,
earnestly intreating to be well used, and made offer for his ransom to
deliver a quantity of gold that should fill a large chamber, besides so
large a mass of silver that the Spaniards would be unable to carry the
whole away. Pizarro was astonished at this magnificent offer, which he
could hardly credit, yet promised the fallen monarch that he should be
well used, and even engaged to restore his freedom if he made good his
offer. Atahualpa was so much pleased with this promise, that he
immediately sent numerous messengers through the whole empire,
particularly to Cuzco, ordering all the gold and silver that could be
procured to be brought to Caxamarca to pay his ransom. He had promised an
immense quantity, as he had engaged to fill a long hall in the _tambos_ or
palace of Cazamarca as high as he could reach with his hand[16], for which
purpose the height was marked by a coloured line drawn round the whole
room.
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