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could cost them none to take his life. Pizarro, indeed, never designed to set him at liberty; the Peruvians would have flocked to the standard of their sovereign, and the whole country would have risen against the cruel invaders. The release of Atahualpa was therefore delayed, on various pretexts, from day to day, till a mutual distrust arose between the prince and the Spanish chief. It was not long before the custody of the illustrious captive began to' prove irksome to Pizarro, who had not the talents and address to acquire any strong influence over the Peruvians by holding their sovereign in imprisonment, as had been done, in the case of Montezuma and the Mexicans, by Cor

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Almagro had now arrived in Peru with a reinforcement. His soldiers, on account of a dispute as to the distribution of Atahualpa's ransom, began to clamor for the Inca's death, that all the adventurers in Peru might be placed on an equal footing. Rumors were in circulation that forces had assembled in different parts of the empire with hostile purposes. It was suspected that orders from Atahualpa had caused these movements, and the Spaniards grew uneasy in the apprehension of an attack. These fears were augmented by an artful Indian, Philippillo, of Tumbez, whom the Spaniards employed as an interpreter. This person had been smitten with the charms of one of the wives of Atahualpa, and did not scruple to intrigue for the death of the Inca, that no obstacle might exist in the way of his passion.

The catastrophe was hastened by a singular incident. Atahualpa, during his imprisonment, held frequent intercourse with the Spanish officers, many of

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whom were men of education and intelligence. His natural sagacity led him to converse upon the European arts, particularly that of reading and writing, which strongly excited his admiration. He was unable at first to understand whether this was an inherent or an acquired faculty in the Spaniards; and, to satisfy himself, procured one of his guards to write the name of God on his thumb nail. This he desired several of the soldiers, in succession, to read, which they all did correctly, to his great amazement. at length Pizarro entered his room, and was requested by the Inca to read his thumb. The illiterate soldier blushed with confusion, and was obliged to confess his ignorance of the art. Atahualpa, whose discernment had before remarked the contrast between the rude manners of the Spanish commander and the more polished demeanor of his officers, instantly set him down for a mean and ill-bred person. His natural frankness of behavior displaying his, thoughts too openly, Pizarro could not fail to see that he had become the object of a barbarian's scorn. He was stung with mortification at this circumstance, and resolved on the destruction of his victim. Strange contradiction in the human character! The man, who could betray, oppress, rob, and butcher his fellowcreatures without a sentiment of shame or a pang of remorse, was stimulated to the most vindictive passion by losing the respect of a barbarian!

The mockery of a trial was projected, in order to cover the intended murder with the forms of justice. Pizarro, Almagro, and two others, then appointed themselves judges with full powers, and the Inca of Peru was formally indicted before this strange court.

He was charged with usurpation, idolatry, polygamy, embezzlement of the royal treasures, which now belonged to the Spaniards, and seditious designs against the conquerors. It is hardly necessary to say that the Inca was found guilty, and condemned to be burnt alive. Though he was prepared for almost any degree of injustice, treachery and cruelty, at the hands of his enemies, yet a proceeding so monstrous as this, excited his astonishment. After depriving him of his treasures, his throne and his liberty, he could not imagine what profit the conqueror could find in taking his life. He burst into tears when his cruel fate was announced to him, begged for his life, and entreated that he might be sent to Spain and allowed to plead his cause before the king. But pity never touched the stern heart of Pizarro. He was deaf to all the supplications of the unfortunate monarch, and ordered him to be led instantly to execution. An attempt was made by the priest Valverde to convert him to Christianity, during the brief space that elapsed between his condemnation and his death, by offering to mitigate his punishment; and the wretched Atahualpa, to escape the torture of being burnt alive, consented to receive baptism, and was then strangled at the stake!

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Such was the calamitous end of the last reigning Inca of Peru, the victim of a series of treacheries and cruelties that disgrace the Spanish name. There is no need," says a Peruvian author, "to utter invectives against his murderers; they all speedily got their deserts." The robbers quarrelled over their booty, and fell, one after another, by massacre and assassination!

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CAUPOLICAN.

CAUPOLICAN, a chief of the Araucanians, the aboriginal inhabitants of Chili, is no less distinguished for his martial deeds than for the renown which the Castilian muse has conferred upon his name. The genius of Ercilla, as well as that of Lope de Vega, has been exercised in celebrating his patriotism, and the military exploits by which the Spanish invaders were taught to respect and fear the prowess of the native Americans.

The Araucanians were and are still, the most brave, resolute and warlike of all the South American Indian tribes. The Spanish invaders, who served in the wars in the Netherlands, and afterwards fought with the natives of Chili, named this country the "Araucanian Flanders," or the Invincible State. It well deserved the name: the intrepid and persevering natives have maintained their independence to the present day, and the wars which they have successively carried on against the Spaniards, have been signalized by deeds of valor and skill, which would have conferred honor upon the most martial nation in the old world. It is in the year 1553, when the territory of the Araucanians was invaded by Valdivia, that we find the first mention of Caupolican.

The Spaniards had penetrated far into Chili, and although several times defeated by the natives, they

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