Peruvian antiquities / by Mariano Edward Rivero and John James von Tschudi ; translated by Francis L. Hawks.

  • Mariano Eduardo de Rivero y Ustariz
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Peruvian antiquities / by Mariano Edward Rivero and John James von Tschudi ; translated by Francis L. Hawks. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    nenccs composed of small stones in the form of a truncated cone; these are known under the name of JFIuctccts’ and from these have been frequently obtained curiosities illustra- tive of the ancient inhabitants; and there is not the least doubt that the subterranean explorers have also sometimes found riches. It is well known that in 1563, Don Diego Pineda being then chief magistrate, there were discovered in the sepul- chres of the principal Indians considerable quantities of gold, in pieces of various forms. It appears from the books of the royal coffers of Truxillo, of 1566, that Garcia Gutierrez of Toledo, grandson of Antonio Gutierrez, gave to the king, as bis fifths, on the first occasion, 85,547 Castellanos of gold* from the Huaca which was known by the name of Tole- do, reserving for the benefit of the Indians of the villages of Mansiche and Huaman, 39,062 dollars and four reals. ‘In the year 1592, the work was resumed, anci there was paid as the king’s proportion, 47,020 Castellanos, so that the monarch received in all 135,547 casl^llanos.f In the year 1550, the cacique of the village of Mansiche, Don Antonio Chayque, a legitimate descendant of the ruler Chimu Canchu, showed to the Spaniards a Huaca called Llomayoahuan, near to the ruined palace of Chimu Canchu, upon condition that they should give a part of the treasure obtained for the relief of his Indians; and after having robbed it of great wealth, the agreement was violated by the Spaniards; the cacique then pretended that he knew of a still greater treasure which he, could discover, to obtain which, they gave him 42,187 dollars, which they raised by a tax charged on the inhabitants in favor of the Indians before named; of this very little of the principal now remains, * A Castellano is about 5s. td. sterling.—[Translator.] t Nearly $170,000.
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