"We found these kingdoms in such good order, and the said Incas governed
them in such wise [manner] that throughout them there was not a thief,
nor a vicious man, nor an adulteress, nor was a bad woman admitted among
them, nor were there immoral people. The men had honest and useful
occupations. The lands, forests, mines, pastures, houses and all kinds
of products were regulated and distributed in such sort that each one
knew his property without any other person seizing it or occupying it,
nor were there law suits respecting it… the motive which obliges me to
make this statement is the discharge of my conscience, as I find myself
guilty. For we have destroyed by our evil example, the people who had
such a government as was enjoyed by these natives. They were so free
from the committal of crimes or excesses, as well men as women, that the
Indian who had 100,000 pesos worth of gold or silver in his house, left
it open merely placing a small stick against the door, as a sign that
its master was out. With that, according to their custom, no one could
enter or take anything that was there. When they saw that we put locks
and keys on our doors, they supposed that it was from fear of them, that
they might not kill us, but not because they believed that anyone would
steal the property of another. So that when they found that we had
thieves among us, and men who sought to make their daughters commit sin,
they despised us."
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