re them.

In 1780 there began a memorable insurrection of the persecuted natives. It
was especially notable as being led by a direct descendant of the Inca
Tupac-Amaru, who had been beheaded by the Spaniards in 1562. This noble
Indian, the last of the Incas, had been well educated by the Jesuits in
Cuzco, and became the cacique of Tungasac. His virtues were such as to
gain him the respect and esteem of all the Peruvian Indians, who venerated
him also as the lineal descendant of their ancient emperors.

One day this cacique, exasperated by the rapacity of the _corregidor_ of
Tuita, who had laid three _repartimientos_ on the Indians in a single
year, seized the tyrannical wretch and strangled him with his own hands.
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.

Conducted to the place of execution, his wife and children, and his
brother-in-law, Bastidas, were brought before him, their tongues cut out,
and then put to death by the Spanish method of strangling before his eyes.
His little son was left alive to witness his death. This was one in which
the most brutal tortures of mediaeval times seemed revived. His tongue
being torn out, his limbs were tied to four horses, which were driven in
different directions with the purpose of tearing him limb from limb. The
horses proved unable to do this, and he remained suspended in agony, until