Page:The Incas of Peru.djvu/276

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238
INCA COAST FORTRESSES

before that of the Chimu. Garcilasso de la Vega tells us that there was desperate resistance in the different valleys, the Chinchas forming a confederacy, and that they were not subdued until after several well-fought campaigns. The name of their principal leader was Cuis-mancu, the chief of the Rimac valley. After they were at length subdued, they joined the Incas as allies in the war against the Chimu.

The Incas erected two important palace-fortresses on the coast. One was on the frontier between the Chinchas and Mochicas, called Paramanca. It was an extension of a more ancient work built by the Chimu, and is described, by both ancient and modern writers, as an edifice of imposing appearance, with painted walls.[1] The other Inca stronghold was on an eminence with precipitous sides, at the mouth of the river now called Cañete. It consisted of two blocks of buildings in the Inca style of architecture, one with a vast hall and passages opening upon one side, leading to small chambers. Between the two blocks of buildings there was an open space, or place d'armes, overlooking the plain, with the rapid river washing the base of the height. The place is now called Hervay.[2] It was designed to overawe the great valleys of Huarcu (Cañete) and Chincha.

The coast valleys continued to flourish under

  1. Described by Cieza de Leon, p. 247. Proctor's Travels, p. 175. Squier.
  2. Described by Markham, Cuzco and Lima.