Note 135 — Chapter XXII

Francisco Lopez de Gomara was the author in question. In the chapter referred to, entitled “The Rule made by Gasca respecting the Tribute”, he confuses the mitimaes with the yanaconas. The latter were not exactly slaves, but hereditary domestic servants. The words of Gomara are—“Also he left many whom they call mitimaes, and who are in the position of slaves in the manner they were held to service by Guainacapa, and he ordered the others to return to their homes. But many of them wished for nothing but to remain with their masters, saying that they were well with them, and could learn Christianity by hearing mass and sermons, and could earn money by selling, buying, and by service.” Clearly he is referring to the yanaconas, not to the mitimaes.

This criticism of our author proves that this Second Part was written after 1552, in which year the first edition of the work of Gomara was published.