Then, taking the name of his ancestor, Tupac-Amaru, he proclaimed himself
the chief of all those who were in rebellion against the Spaniards.
His error seems to have been in not fraternizing with the creoles, or
white natives of the country, who hated the Spaniards as bitterly as the
Indians themselves. On the contrary he treated these as enemies also, and
thus greatly augmented the number of his foes. The Indians, their memories
of their ancient freedom aroused by his call, joined his ranks in
enthusiastic numbers and won several victories over the whites, the whole
of Upper Peru breaking out in insurrection. Lacking fire-arms as they did,
they kept up the struggle for a year, the outbreak being brought to an end
at last by treachery instead of arms. Betrayed by a cacique to whom the
Spaniards promised a colonel's commission,--a promise they did not
keep,--the Inca was taken prisoner by his enemies, and conducted to Cuzco,
the ancient capital of his ancestors. Here he was tried and condemned to
death, and executed with a frightful excess of cruelty that filled with
horror all the civilized world, when the terrible tale became known.
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