VI. 1524. BOOK by that strange union both acquired an increase of force, this confederacy, formed by ambition and avarice, was confirmed by the most folemn act of religion. Luque celebrated mafs, divided a confecrated hoft into three, and referving one part to himself, gave the other two to his affociates, of which they partook; and thus, in the name of the Prince of Peace, ratified a contract of which plunder and bloodshed were the objects d. Their first attempt, Nov. 14. But THE attempt was begun with a force more fuited to the humble condition of the three affociates, than to the greatnefs of the enterprise in which they were engaged. Pizarro fet fail from Panama with a fingle veffel, of small burden, and a hundred and twelve men. in that age, fo little were the Spaniards acquainted with the peculiarities of climate in America, that the time which Pizarro chofe for his departure was the most improper in the whole year; the periodical winds, which were then fet in, being directly adverfe to the courfe which he purposed to fteer. After beating about for feventy days, with much danger and inceffant fatigue, Pizarro's progrefs towards the south-east a Herrera, dec. 3. lib. vi. c. 13. Zarate, lib. i. c. I. Xerez, p. 179. He touched at VI. 1525 was not greater than what a skilful navigator will BOOK now make in as many hours. feveral places on the coast of Tierra Firmè, but found everywhere the fame uninviting country which former adventurers had defcribed; the low grounds converted into fwamps by an overflowing of rivers; the higher, covered with impervious woods; few inhabitants, and those fierce and hoftile. Famine, fatigue, frequent rencounters with the natives, and above all, the diftempers of a moist, sultry climate, combined in wafting his flender band of followers. The Attended undaunted refolution of their leader continued, fuccets. however, for fome time, to fuftain their fpirits, although no fign had yet appeared of discovering thofe golden regions to which he had promised to conduct them. At length he was obliged to abandon that inhofpitable coaft, and retire to Chuchama, oppofite to the pearl iflands, where he hoped to receive a fupply of provisions and troops from Panama. BUT Almagro having failed from that port with feventy men, ftood directly towards that part of the continent where he hoped to meet with his affociate. Not finding him there he landed his foldiers, who, in fearching for their companions, underwent the fame diftreffes, and were expofed to the fame dangers, which had with little BOOK had driven them out of the country. Repulfed VI. 1525. June 24. 1526. They refume the undertak ing. at length by the Indians in a sharp conflict, in ALMAGRO repaired to Panama, in hopes of recruiting their fhattered troops. But what he and Pizarro had fuffered, gave his countrymen fuch an unfavourable idea of the service, that it was with difficulty he could levy fourscore men. Feeble as this reinforcement was, Almagro took the command of it, and having joined Pizarro, they did not hesitate about refuming their operations. After a long feries of difafters and disappointments, not inferior to those which they f Herrera, dec. 3. lib. viii. c. 11, 12. See NOTE XI. Zarate, lib. i. c. 1. had VI. 1526. had already experienced, part of the armament BOOK reached the Bay of St. Matthew, on the coast of Quito, and landing at Tacamez, to the fouth of the river of Emeraulds, they beheld a country more champaign and fertile than any they had yet difcovered in the Southern Ocean, the natives clad in garments of woollen or cotton stuff, and adorned with several trinkets of gold and filver. BUT, notwithstanding those favourable appearances, magnified beyond the truth, both by the vanity of the perfons who brought the report from Tacamez, and by the fond imagination of those who listened to them, Pizarro and Almagro durft not venture to invade a country fo populous with a handful of men enfeebled by fatigue and diseases. They retired to the fmall island of Gallo, where Pizarro remained with part of the troops, and his affociate returned to Panama, in hopes of bringing fuch a reinforcement as might enable them to take poffeffion of the opulent territories, whofe existence feemed to be no longer doubtful ". BUT fome of the adventurers, lefs enterprifing, Pizarro re or lefs hardy than their leaders, having fecretly governor ef h Xerez, 181. 2 Herrera, dec. 3. lib. viii. c. 13. conveyed called bythe Panama. 1526. BOOK conveyed lamentable accounts of their fufferings VI. and loffes to their friends at Panama, Almagro met with an unfavourable reception from Pedro de los Rios, who had fucceeded Pedrarias in the government of that fettlement. After weighing the matter with that cold œconomical prudence which appears the first of all virtues to perfons whofe limited faculties are incapable of conceiving or executing great defigns, he concluded an expedition, attended with fuch certain wafte of men, to be fo detrimental to an infant and feeble colony, that he not only prohibited the raifing of new levies, but dispatched a veffel to bring home Pizarro and his companions from the island of Gallo. Almagro and Luque, though deeply affected with thofe measures, which they could not prevent, and durft not oppose, found means of communicating their fentiments privately to Pizarro, and exhorted him not to relinquifh an enterprise that was the foundation of all their hopes, and the only means of re-establishing their reputation and fortune, which were both on the decline. Pizarro's mind, bent with inflexible obftinacy on all its purposes, needed no incentive to perfift in the scheme. peremptorily refufed to obey the governor of Panama's orders, and employed all his address and eloquence in perfuading his men not to abandon him. But the incredible calamities Perfifts in his defigns. He to |