e for the success of his descendant, Tupac Amaru, with his host of
undisciplined levies; though doubtlessly their opponents had greatly
degenerated from the hardy warriors who fought under Pizarro.

As it was necessary to supply food for the army, and we were passing
through a part of the country where the vicunas abounded, the party
halted to engage in a grand hunt, which is termed a _chacu_. About two
hundred men were told off for this purpose; some remaining encamped, and
others being sent as scouts, to the rear, to ascertain that no Spaniards
were following us. Pedro, Ned, and I were invited by the cacique to
accompany him. Half the party were supplied with weapons called
_bolas_. These _bolas_ were composed of three balls of lead or stone,
at one end of as many long lines, formed of the twisted sinews of the
vicuna, the opposite ends being fastened together. One ball is rather
lighter than the others, and when used, this is held in the hand, while
the heavier ones are swung in a circle round the head. When the Indian
is about twenty paces from the object he wishes to strike, he lets go
the lighter ball, and the weapon flies off, and the strings encircle in
many folds the neck or legs of the animal.

Besides the _bolas_, the party had procured from the neighbouring
villages a quantity of rope and a number of stakes, and with them we
repaired to an extensive, elevated plain, where many herds of vicunas
were observed feeding. Having selected a spacious level spot, the
stakes were planted in the ground, at a distance of fifteen feet apart,
and were connected together by the ropes about two feet and a half from
the ground. A circular space was thus formed, of perhaps a mile and a
half in circumference, an opening of about two hundred paces being left
to serve as an entrance. Along the rope were fastened bits of coloured
rags, which blew about in the breeze, and were intended to frighten the
animals, and prevent them from leaping over the barrier. This enclosure
is properly called a _chacu_. It being arranged, we withdrew, and
breaking into a number of small parties, we formed a circle at a little
distance apart from each other, and several miles across. We then began
to close, driving before us, with loud shouts, all the herds of vicunas
we met with. The men opposite the entrance advanced more slowly than
the rest; and the timid animals, seeing the fluttering bits of cloth,
ran before us with affright, till