Note 87 — Chapter VI

Garcilaso Inca de la Vega, born at Cuzco about 1540, was the son of a member of an illustrious Spanish family and on his mother’s side was of the Peruvian blood royal. His history of Peru is the chief original ancient authority, and includes a narrative of De Soto’s explorations, based, it is said, on the account given him by a soldier who took part in the expedition. It is one of the three important sources of our information regarding De Soto’s wanderings. The others are, the narrative by the “Gentleman of Elvas,” who was a Portuguese adventurer in De Soto’s company, and that of Biedma, a Spanish factor on the expedition. For a critical discussion of the value of these sources, see Hakluyt Society Publications, ix, introduction; this volume contains Hakluyt’s translation of the account of the “Gentleman of Elvas” (London, 1851).—Ed.