the plaza fled. The Spanish pursued them and massacred or wounded many.
Meanwhile, despite his bearers’ valiant efforts to keep his litter aloft, Atahualpa
was captured and placed under house arrest. At that point, Atahualpa’s forces
temporarily ceased their resistance, fearing that any onslaught would result in
Atahualpa’s immediate execution.
In this imaginary encounter between the ruler
Huayna Capac and a Spaniard, an incredulous
Inca wonders if the Spaniard eats gold. Guaman
Poma de Ayala, Felipe. El primer nueva corónica
y buen gobierno. Edited by John V. Murra and
Rolena Adorno, 343/369. Mexico City: Siglo
Veintiuno, 1980 [1615].
In the following months, Atahualpa negotiated with the Spaniards for his
release, eventually promising to fill rooms with gold and silver in return for his