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From: markrose@spss.com (Mark Rosenfelder)
Subject: Re: Quechua phrases in BBC Explorers program: Pizarro
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References: <vincent-101194102059@blv-pm3-ip21.halcyon.com> <Cz4446.606@spss.com> <1707010337S86.GRFG128@twnmoe10.edu.tw> <CzFDoq.CuG@spss.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 1994 17:56:49 GMT
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In article <CzFDoq.CuG@spss.com>, I <markrose@spss.com> wrote:
>Robert Matthews <GRFG128@TWNMOE10.Edu.TW> wrote:
>>"Valverde {the priest} urged {Atahualpa} to abjure the errors of his
>>faith and embrace Christianity." Atahualpa is proferred a Bible, which
>>he examines and drops to the ground disdainfully. He then shouts:
>kayka manan imata rimariwanchu [...]
>
>the first sentence can be interpreted "This thing isn't speaking to me",
>which seems to work in the context well enough.  [...]
>
>Perhaps someone else can help more... or you could check out the
>chronicles or other accounts of the conquest based on them; Atahuallpa's 
>_mots_ may be well known and translated there.  

I checked the chronicle of Waman Puma (written 1600-1615) last night, 
and it tells the story this way:

[the priest urges Atahualpa to believe the gospel]
"And the said Inca asked brother Vicente who had told it to him.  Vicente
responded that the book had spoken the gospel to him.  And Atahualpa said:
"Give me the book, so that it may speak to me also."  And it was given to
him and he took it in his hands.  He began to leaf through the pages of
said book and said the Inca, "What, how is it that it tells me nothing?
This book isn't speaking to me!"  Speaking with great majesty, seated on
his throne, the Inca Atahualpa threw the said book from his hands.

"Then brother Vicente gave voice and said: "Here, gentlemen, you see how
these Indians are against our faith."  And don Francisco Pizarro and don
Diego de Almagro gave voice and said: "Go, gentlemen, against these infidels,
who are against our Christianity, that of our emperor and king..."

"And then the gentlement began to shoot their arquebuses, and the said soldiers
began to kill Indians like ants..."

Moral of the story: when you reject someone's religion, make sure you have
your own arquebus handy.
