Apu Ollantay Part 32

Spilsbury is more correct. He has 'partisan of the Inca.' The more authentic Justiniani text has Ccan Pana. The particle ri is one of emphasis or repet.i.tion. It does not mean a relation.]

[Footnote 57: The Zegarra and Spilsbury texts have hualpa, a game bird.

The Justiniani text has anca, an eagle, which is the correct reading.]

[Footnote 58: The Inca Pachacuti does not appear to advantage in the drama. But he was the greatest man of his dynasty, indeed the greatest that the red race has produced. He was a hero in his youth, a most able administrator in mature age. As a very old man some needless cruelties are reported of him which annoyed his son.]

[Footnote 59: The eldest son was Amaru Tupac. He was pa.s.sed over by his father with his own consent, and was ever faithful to his younger brother. He was an able general.]

[Footnote 60: This was exactly what Piqui Chaqui was sent to Cuzco to find out. The expression Apumusac pununayta, 'I go to fetch my bed,' is one of joy at any fortunate event, in Quichua.]

[Footnote 61: Intic Huamin Caccunan (Intic Huarminca Caycuna, correct), 'Ye women of the Sun.' Zegarra thought, on the authority of Garcila.s.so de la Vega, that these could not be select Virgins of the Sun, because the virgins were never allowed outside their convent, and not even women might enter. He is clearly wrong. Much higher authorities than Garcila.s.so, as regards this point, especially Valera, tell us that the virgins were treated with the greatest honour and respect. They took part in great receptions and festivals, and when they pa.s.sed along the streets they had a guard of honour.]

[Footnote 62: Rumi. He keeps playing upon his name.]

[Footnote 63: Again playing upon the name of Rumi-naui. The High Priest calls for haste, so he subst.i.tutes Tunqui for naui (eye), the tunqui (Rupicola Peruviana) being one of the most beautiful birds in the forests.]

[Footnote 64: Sunchu, a very large composita with a yellow flower, growing round Cuzco. It was one of those which were used on sacred festivals.]

[Footnote 65: Nucchu is a salvia, also considered sacred. A red flower. Perhaps these flowers were sent as a summons from the Inca, but I have not seen the custom mentioned elsewhere.]

[Footnote 66: Schineus Molle, a tree with pinnate leaves, and panicles of red berries, well known in the Mediterranean countries, into which it was introduced from Peru. Called by the English 'pepper tree.']

[Footnote 67: Several bushes are called chilca in Peru. Eupatorium chilca (R. P.), baccharis scandens, and molina latifolia. Stereoxylon pendulum is called puna chilca.]

[Footnote 68: A kind of cactus, of which they make needles, grows abundantly on the mountains round Ollantay-tampu. It is called ahuarancu. They set fire to the cacti as a war signal. Zegarra calls it a thistle. The word in the Justiniani text is ahuarancu.]

[Footnote 69: Tinqui Queru, between Urupampa and Tampu. The word means 'two vases coupled.' Here are two rounded hills connected by a saddle, three and a half miles from Tampu. (Taken from FN#45.)]

[Footnote 70: Yanahuara, a ravine near Urubamba, where some of the troops of Rumi-naui had been posted.]

[Footnote 71: Signal lights.]

[Footnote 72: Ccapac Raymi, the great festival of the Sun. December 22.]

[Footnote 73: Piqui Chaqui is literally 'flea foot.' He is punning on his name.]

[Footnote 74: Tocarpu, a pole or stake used at executions. Condemned prisoners were fastened to a tocarpu before being hurled over a precipice.]

[Footnote 75: Piqui Chaqui had an inkling that the Inca had expressed dislike at the shedding of blood. He ventured to say these words in the faint hope that they might remind the Inca of this dislike.]

[Footnote 76: Rumi-naui at it again: for ever ringing changes on his name rumi, a stone.]

[Footnote 77: The plume and the arrow were the insignia of a general.]

[Footnote 78: Rather a staggerer for Rumi-naui! Perhaps, too, the change is too sudden, and infringes the probabilities. Tupac Yupanqui may have thought that his father had been unjust and that there were excuses. It is known that the young Inca was indignant at some other cruelties of his father. As a magnanimous warrior he may have despised the treacherous methods of Rumi-naui. He may have valued Ollantay's known valour and ability, and have been loth to lose his services. All these considerations may have influenced him more or less. The rebels were the best men he had.]

[Footnote 79: Ranti, a deputy.]

[Footnote 80: Canari, a warlike tribe of Indians, in the south part of the kingdom of Quito. They were first conquered by Tupac Yupanqui, and they became devoted to him.]

[Footnote 81: Aclla, chosen; Huasi, house: palace of the Virgins of the sun.]

[Footnote 82: Ccacca means a rock.]

[Footnote 83: My former translation, and those of Barranca and Tschudi, treated puma and amaru (snake) as epithets applied to Mama Ccacca.

Zegarra considers that the puma and snake were intended to be actually in the dungeon, and I believe he is right. The puma would not have hurt his fellow-prisoner. Unpleasant animals were occasionally put into the prisons of criminals. The Incas kept pumas as pets.]

[Footnote 84: The early Incas never married their sisters or relations.

Pachacuti's mother was daughter of the chief of Anta. His wife, Anahuarqui, was no relation. But the wife of Tupac Yupanqui was his sister Mama Ocllo.]

[Footnote 85: A play upon the word yupanqui, which means literally, 'you will count.' The word was a t.i.tle of the Incas, meaning, 'you will count as virtuous, brave,' &c.]