Cañari

Estos aposentos famosos de Tumebamba, que (como tengo dicho) están situados en la provincia de los Cañares, eran de los soberbios y ricos que hubo en todo el Perú, y adonde habia los mayores y mas primos edificios. Y cierto ninguna cosa dicen destos aposentos los indios, que no vemos que fuese mas, por las reliquias que dellos han quedado. Los aposentos de Tumebamba están asentados á las juntas de dos pequeños rios en un llano de campaña que terná mas de doce leguas de contorno. Es tierra fria y bastecida de mucha caza de venados, conejos, perdices, tórtolas y otras aves.

These famous lodgings of Tumebamba are in the province of the Cañares, as I have said. They were among the most magnificent and richest in all Peru, with the largest and finest buildings. Indeed, the Indians say nothing about them that the remains do not show to have been true, and more. The lodgings of Tumebamba stand where two small rivers meet, on an open plain more than twelve leagues around. It is cold country, with plenty of game: deer, rabbits, partridges, turtledoves, and other birds.

Las mujeres vírgines que estaban dedicadas al servicio del templo eran mas de docientas y muy hermosas, naturales de los Cañares y de la comarca que hay en el distrito que gobernaba el mayordomo mayor del Inga, que residia en estos aposentos. Y ellas y los sacerdotes eran bien proveidos por los que tenian cargo del servicio del templo, á las puertas del cual habia porteros, de los cuales se afirma que algunos eran castrados, que tenian cargo de mirar por las mamaconas, que así habian por nombre las que residian en los templos. Junto al templo y á las casas de los reyes ingas habia gran número de aposentos, adonde se alojaba la gente de guerra, y mayores depósitos llenos de las cosas ya dichas; todo lo cual estaba siempre bastantemente proveido, aunque mucho se gastase; porque los contadores tenian á su usanza grande cuenta con lo que entraba y salia, y todo se hacia siempre la voluntad del señor.

The virgin women dedicated to the service of the temple numbered more than two hundred, and they were very beautiful. They came from the Cañares and the surrounding district governed by the Inca's chief steward, who lived in these lodgings. They and the priests were well supplied by those in charge of the temple's service. At the temple doors there were doorkeepers. Some of them, it is said, were eunuchs, whose duty was to watch over the mamaconas, as the women who lived in the temples were called. Next to the temple and the houses of the Inca kings there were a great many lodgings where the warriors were quartered, and larger storehouses full of the things I have mentioned. All of it was always well stocked, however much was used, because the accountants, in their own way, kept close count of what came in and went out. And the lord's will was always done in everything.