Rockman
Interfector Viris Spurii
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Slinging Rocks!
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Lima, Peru
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From the book Second part of the Chronicle of Peru by Pedro Cieza de León. Itīs written in archaic Spanish, Iīll try my best to translate.
CHAPTER XXXIX.- How Viracocha Inca hurled a fire stone with his sling to Caitomarca and how he was revered.
After he sent the messenger, Viracocha Inca ordered his people to raise the royal banner and approach Caitomarca. Walking down the road, he arrived to a river where the troops stopped to rest; at that moment the messenger arrived, who told how the people of Caitamarca had mocked them and that they didnīt fear the Inca. As this was understood, Viracocha Inca, with great determination, climbed to his royal litter and ordered to march hastily, and so they did, until they reached the bank of a mighty river of powerful current, which I belive must be the river Yucay. And the Inca made camp and wanted to fight his enemies on the opposite bank of the river; but the river was so powerful, the plans couldnīt be carried out. The people from Caitomarca arrived at the the river bank and began throwing sling stones to the royal troops, and they started shouting and taunting, as it is the strange custom of these people in their fights, how little time they allow their mouths to rest.
For two days, the Inca was at the river, unable to cross it. And they say that Viracocha Inca placed a small rock on a large pyre and when it was very hot, wrapped it in some material, so it may torch wherever it landed, he placed it in a sling with gold threads which he used to throw rocks when he felt like it, and with great strength, he hurled it to the town of Caitomarca; the projectile landed on the roof of a house covered in dry straw and it burned in such a manner in the night, that the Indians asked one another what had happened and who had torched the house. An old woman said: "This I tell you, I donīt belive someone here torched the house, I believe it came from the sky, for I saw a burning stone, which came from above and it hit the house, leaving it the way you see now.
And when the chiefs and nobles with the elders of the town heard this, being great diviners and sorceress, believed that the stone had been send by the hand of god to punish them for not obeying the Inca. And without waiting for the oracle or making any sacrifices, they crossed the the rivers in their rafts, carrying gifts for the Inca; and when they were in their presence, asked for peace, offering their people and lands, as did their allies.
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