Reports on the Discovery of Peru. Edited by - Clements R.
Markham, C.B. (The Haklnyt Society.)—The materials here supplied have to a certain extent been made use of by Prescott and others; this does not, however, prevent the originals from being valuable and interesting. These originals are the account of the early days of the conquest of Peru, written on the spot by Xeres, who was Secretary to Pizarro; the narrative of the expedition of Hernando Pizarro to the temple of Paella- cameo, a letter from Hernando Pizarro to the Royal Audience of Santo Domingo, and an account of the division of the ransom of Atalmallpa, drawn up by one Pedro Sancho, giving the amount which each of the conquerors received. The sums are amazing. Pizarro himself received nearly £30,000 in gold and about £5,000 in silver. Hernando received about half as much. The other shares varied from eight to one thou- sand, the private trooper receiving somewhat more than three thousand pounds, and the foot-soldier half as much. Gold. was then probably more plentiful in Peru than it has ever been there or anywhere. An ordinary horse fetched more than £800 ; a pair of jack-boots £10 or £12, and— moat wonderful of all—a sheet of paper £3 65. 8d.
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