The third voyage of Francisco Pizarro and his arrival at Tumbes
On the third voyage, Pizarro found the town of Tumbes burned and destroyed by the attack of the curaca of the island of Puna. The Hispanics took a long time on the coast, busy founding the town of San Miguel de Tangarara and in making inquiries about that land. It was there that they found out about the fratricidal war, a situation which could be useful to them for the invasion.
According to the chronicler Mena, Atahualpa sent one of his captains dressed as a humble man to spy on the Christians. This personage then proposed to attack the Spanish army in a narrow pass but the Inca prevented it because he wanted them to climb up to Cajamarca.
Slowly and prudently the Spaniards advanced and on a field, Hernando de Soto arrived with forty men at the place in Caxas where they found a town destroyed by the war but with the warehouses full and an Aclla Huasi or House of Chosen Women. The soldiers wanted to divide up the women but Pizarro had prohibited any excess or looting which might irritate the natives.
Being in Caxas a messenger arrived from Atahualpa which worried the curaca of that place, but de Soto calmed him. The envoy brought some ducks with their necks cut and filled with straw with the message that the same would happen to the Christians. The emissary of Atahualpa met with Atahualpa and the governor, like a good diplomat, showed himself to be very pleased with the notice of the Inca and he sent him two glass goblets and a rich shirt. In addition, he offered his aid to combat any enemy of the sovereign.
For several days, Pizarro continued his walk toward the mountains until they arrived in view of the army camp of Atahualpa, who sent them gifts of roasted meat, maize and chicha. A curaca friend recommended to them that they not try even a bite for fear the food was poisoned.
At dusk they silently entered Cajamarca fearful of some armed encounter. Hernando de Soto and Hernando Pizarro asked the governor for permission to go to the army camp of Atahualpa and see him close up. The Inca was seated on a tiana or seat under the entrance of a house surrounded by his chiefs and his women. Soto approached caracoling his horse so close to the sovereign that his tassel was moved by the horse's heavy breathing without the Inca making the slightest gesture of surprise or fear. Hernando Pizarro, who had been delayed, appeared with an interpreter on the rump of his horse. The Inca offered them something to drink and promised them to go personally to the city the following day.
The Spaniards spent the night constantly on guard, fearing a surprise attack but nothing bothered them. The next day the messengers came and went without the Inca hurrying at all. Just at dusk and at the repeated insistence of Pizarro, Atahualpa decided to come into town.
