Page:Narrative of the Proceedings of Pedrarias Davila (Haklyut, 34).djvu/78

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NARRATIVE OF

onwards for three leagues we reached the territory of a chief, a vassal of Paris, named Ubsagano, where we found a very great quantity of maize crops ripe for harvest, which we reaped. Here we formed our camp, intending to make war upon Paris from this place, until he should give us the gold that he had taken from Gonzalo de Badajoz. We pressed him so hard that, not wishing to come out to fight again, he consulted with one and the other of his vassals, and determined to give us the gold in order that we might desist. But, not wishing us to believe that he did so because he was afraid, he arranged that two Indians should let themselves be captured by us, and tell us where the gold was from fear. The gold was on a hill apart from the village that had been burnt, in a little hut which had been built for it. These Indians showed us the way, and thus the gold was recovered, without anything being lost.

This Cutatura, the chief of Paris, was a brave man, and conquered the provinces of Suema, Chicacotra, Sangana, and Guarage in war. He was always at war with the people of Escoria; and those of Escoria came to this same land of Paris and made war during eight days, and no day passed without a battle being fought. In Escoria there was a race of Indians, much larger and more polished than the others, among whom there were knights who were held to be very valiant. Their breasts and arms were worked over with certain chains in links and curves. Very few of these survived the battles in Paris; but I saw some, by the side of whom the other Indians looked like dwarfs. They were very handsome and well made. As they were waging war in the land of another, and as the vassal chiefs of Paris could retire each day to refresh themselves, the latter maintained the war with more ease. Finally, they threw away their arms, and closed in an embrace, biting each other. As those of Escoria were bigger and stronger than those of Paris, they worsted them; so that, for want of