VI. 1526. to which they had been expofed were still fo BOOK recent in their memories, and the thoughts of revifiting their families and friends after a long absence, rushed with such joy into their minds, that when Pizarro drew a line upon the fand with his fword, permitting fuch as wished to return home to pass over it, only thirteen of all the daring veterans in his fervice had refolution to remain with their commander i THIS fmall, but determined band, whose names the Spanish hiftorians record with deferved praise, as the perfons to whofe perfevering fortitude their country is indebted for the most valuable of all its American poffeffions, fixed their refidence in the island of Gorgona. This, as it was farther removed from the coast than Gallo, and uninhabited, they confidered as a more secure retreat, where, unmolested, they might wait for fupplies from Panama, which they trusted that the activity of their affociates would be able to procure, Almagro and Luque were not inattentive or cold folicitors, and their inceffant importunity was feconded by the general voice of the colony, which exclaimed loudly against the infamy of expofing brave i Herrera, dec. 3. lib. x. c. 2, 3. Zarate, lib. i. c. 2. Xerez, 181. Gomara Hift. c. 109. VOL. III. I men, BOOK 1526. Hardships Le endured men, engaged in the public fervice, and chargeable with no error but what flowed from an excess of zeal and courage, to perifh like the moft odious criminals in a defert island. Overcome by thofe entreaties and expoftulations, the governor at laft confented to fend a small veffel to their relief. But that he might not seem to encourage Pizarro to any new enterprise, he would not permit one landman to embark on board of it. By this time, Pizarro and his companions had remained five months in an island, infamous for the most unhealthy climate in that region of America*. During all this period, their eyes were turned towards Panama, in hopes of fuccour from their countrymen; but worn out at length with fruitlefs expectations, and difpirited with fuffering hardfhips of which they faw no. end, they, in defpair, came to a refolution of committing themselves to the ocean on a float, rather than continue in that deteftable abode. But, on the arrival of the vessel from Panama, they were tranfported with fuch joy, that all their fufferings were forgotten. Their hopes revived, and, with a rapid tranfition, not unnatural among men accustomed by their mode * See NOTE XII. of Peru. VI. 1526. *of life to fudden viciffitudes of fortune, high BOOK confidence fucceeding to extreme dejection, Pizarro easily induced not only his own followers, but the crew of the veffel from Panama, to refume his former fcheme with fresh ardour. Instead of returning to Panama, they ftood towards the fouth-eaft, and more fortunate in this than in any of their past efforts, they, on the twentieth day after their departure from Gorgona, discovered the coaft of Peru. After Discovers touching at several villages near the fhore, which they found to be no wife inviting, they landed at Tumbez, a place of fome note, about three degrees fouth of the line, diftinguished for its ftately temple, and a palace of the Incas or fovereigns of the country'. There the Spaniards feafted their eyes with the first view of the opulence and civilization of the Peruvian empire. They beheld a country fully peopled, and cultivated with an appearance of regular induftry; the natives decently clothed, and poffeffed of ingenuity fo far furpaffing the other inhabitants of the New World, as to have the use of tame domestic animals. But what chiefly attracted their notice, was such a show of gold and silver, not only in the ornaments of their perfons and temples, but in feveral veffels and utenfils BOOK for common ufe, formed of thofe precious VI. 1526. Returns to 1527. metals, as left no room to doubt that they abounded with profufion in the country. Pizarro and his companions feemed now to have attained to the completion of their most fanguine hopes, and fancied that all their wifhes and dreams of rich domains, and inexhaustible treasures, would foon be realized. BUT with the flender force then under his command, Pizarro could only view the rich country of which he hoped hereafter to obtain poffeffion. He ranged, however, for fome time along the coaft, maintaining everywhere a peaceable intercourfe with the natives, no lefs aftonished at their new vifitants, than the Spaniards were with the uniform appearance of opulence and cultivation which they beheld. Having explored the country as far as was requifite to ascertain the importance of the difcovery, Pizarro procured from the inhabitants fome of their Llamas or tame cattle, to which the Spaniards gave the name of fheep, fome veffels of gold and filver, as well as fome specimens of their other works of ingenuity, and two young men, whom he proposed to instruct in the Caftilian language, that they might serve as interpreters in the expedition which he meditated. With these he arrived at Panama, towards the VI. 1527. the close of the third year from the time of BOOK his departure thence". No adventurer of the age suffered hardships or encountered dangers which equal thofe to which he was expofed during this long period. The patience with which he endured the one, and the fortitude with which he furmounted the other, exceed whatever is recorded in the hiftory of the New World, where so many romantic displays of those virtues occur. 1528. New of the affo NEITHER the fplendid relation that Pizarro gave of the incredible opulence of the country chemes which he had discovered, nor his bitter com- Giates. plaints on account of that unfeasonable recal of his forces, which had put it out of his power to attempt making any fettlement there, could move the governor of Panama to fwerve from his former plan of conduct. He still contended, that the colony was not in a condition to invade fuch a mighty empire, and refused to authorise an expedition which he forefaw would be fo alluring that it might ruin the province in which he prefided, by an effort beyond its ftrength. His coldness, however, did not in any degree m Herrera, dec. 3. lib. x. c. 3-6. dec. 4. lib. ii. c. 7, 8. Vega, 2. lib. i. c. 1-14. Zarate, lib. i. c. 2. Benzo Hift. Novi Orbis, lib. iii. c. 1. |