HISTORY OF AMERICA.

59

the happy period was at length come for vindicat-ing his own rights , for avenging the wrongs of hiscountry, and extirpating its oppreffors. Thoughftridly watched by the Spaniards , who allowedhim to refide in the palace of his anceftors atCuzco , he found means of communicating hisfcbeme to the perfons who were to be intruftedwith the execution of it. Among people ac-cuftomed to revere their fovereign as a divinity,every hint of his will carries the authority of acommand ; and they themfelves were now con-vinced , by the daily increafe in the number oftheir invaders , that the fond hopes which theyhad long entertained of their voluntary departurewere altogether vain. All perceived that a vi-gorous effort of the whole nation was requifite toexpel them , and the preparations for it were car-ried on with the fecrecy and filence peculiar toAmericans .

After fome unfuccefsful attempts of the Incato make his efcape, Ferdinand Pizarro happeningto arrive at that time in Cuzco , he obtained per-miffion from him to attend a great feftival whichwas to be celebrated a few leagues from the capi-tal. Under pretext of that folemnity , the greatmen of the empire were aflembled. As foon asthe Inca joined them , the ftandard of war waseredted; and in a fihort time all the fighting men,from the confines of Quito to the frontier of Chili,were in arms. Many Spaniards , living fecurelyon the fettlements allotted them , were maffacred.Several detachments, as they marched carelefsly

BOOK

VI.

1S35.

and progreit.

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