VI. $540, Sails down non. BOOK guilt of having violated his duty to his commander, and with having abandoned his fellowfoldiers in a pathlefs defert, where they had hardly any hopes of fuccefs, or even of fafety, but what were founded on the fervice which they expected from the bark; his crime is, in fome measure, balanced by the glory of having ventured upon a navigation of near two thousand leagues, through unknown nations, in a vessel haftily constructed, with green timber, and by very unfkilful hands, without provifions, without a compass, or a pilot. But his courage and the Marag. alacrity supplied every defect. Committing himfelf fearlessly to the guidance of the stream, the Napo bore him along to the fouth, until he reached the great channel of the Maragnon. Turning with it towards the coaft, he held on his courfe in that direction. He made frequent defcents on both fides of the river, fometimes feizing by force of arms the provisions of the fierce favages feated on its banks; and fometimes procuring a fupply of food by a friendly intercourfe with more gentle tribes. After a long feries of dangers, which he encountered with amazing fortitude, and of diftreffes which he supported with no less magnanimity, he reached the ocean, where new perils awaited him, * See NOTE XXII, Thefe 1 VI. 1540. These he likewise furmounted, and got fafe BOOK to the Spanish settlement in the island Cubagua; from thence he failed to Spain. The vanity natural to travellers who vifit regions unknown to the reft of mankind, and the art of an adventurer, folicitous to magnify his own merit, concurred in prompting him to mingle an extraordinary proportion of the marvellous in the narrative of his voyage. He pretended to have discovered nations fo rich, that the roofs of their temples were covered with plates of gold, and defcribed a republic of women fo warlike and powerful, as to have extended their dominion over a confiderable tract of the fertile plains which he had vifited. Extravagant as thofe tales were, they gave rife to an opinion, that a region abounding with gold, diftinguished by the name of El Dorado, and a community of Amazons, were to be found in this part of the New World; and fuch is the propenfity of mankind to believe what is wonderful, that it has been flowly and with difficulty that reafon and observation have exploded those fables. The voyage, however, even when stripped of every romantic embellishment, deferves to be recorded not only as one of the most memorable occurrences in that adventurous age, but as the first event which led to any certain knowledge 04 1 of BOOK of the extenfive countries that ftretch eastward from the Andes to the ocean z VI. 1540. Distress of $541. No words can defcribe the confternation of Pizarro, when he did not find the bark at the confluence of the Napo and Maragnon, where he had ordered Orellana to wait for him. He would not allow himself to fufpect that a man, whom he had entrusted with fuch an important command, could be fo bafe and fo unfeeling, as to defert him at fuch a juncture. But imputing his abfence from the place of rendezvous to fome unknown accident, he advanced above fifty leagues along the banks of the Maragnon, expecting every moment to fee the bark appear with a fupply of provifions. At length he came up with an officer whom Orellana had left to perish in the desert, because he had the courage to remonftrate against his perfidy. From him he learned the extent of Orellana's crime, and his followers perceived at once their own defperate fituation, when deprived of their only resource. The fpirit of the ftouteft hearted veteran funk within him, and all demanded to be led back instantly. Pizarro, though he affumed an z Zarate, lib. iv, c. 4. Gomara Hift. c. 86. Vega, p. 11. Jib. iii. c. 4. Herrera, dec. 6. lib. xi. c. 2-5. Rodriguez El Maragnon y Amazonas, lib. i c. 3. 107 appear. VI. 1541. appearance of tranquillity, did not oppofe their o k inclination. But he was now twelve hundred miles from Quito; and in that long march the Spaniards encountered hardfhips greater than those which they had endured in their progress outward, without the alluring hopes which then foothed and animated them under their fufferings, Hunger compelled them to feed on roots and berries, to eat all their dogs and horfes, to devour the most loathsome reptiles, and even to gnaw the leather of their faddles and fwordbelts. Four thousand Indians, and two hundred and ten Spaniards, perished in this wild difaftrous expedition, which continued near two years; and as fifty men were aboard the bark with Orellana, only fourscore got back to Quito. These were naked like favages, and fo emaciated with famine, or worn out with fatigue, that they had more the appearance of spectres than of men . malcon Peru. BUT, instead of returning to enjoy the repofe Number of which his condition required, Pizarro, on enter- tents in ing Quito, received accounts of a fatal event that threatened calamities more dreadful to him than those through which he had passed. From the a Zarate, lib. iv. c. 2-5. Vega, p. 11. lib. iii. c. 3, 4, 514. Herrera, dec. 6. lib. viii. c. 7, 8. lib. ix. c. 2-5. dec. 7. lib. iii. & 14. Pizar. Varones, Illuftr. 349,-&c. VI. 1541. BOOK time that his brother made that partial divifion of his conquefts which has been mentioned, the adherents of Almagro, confidering themselves as profcribed by the party in power, no longer entertained any hope of bettering their condition. Great numbers in defpair reforted to Lima, where the houfe of young Almagro was always open to them, and the flender portion of his father's fortune, which the governor allowed him to enjoy, was fpent in affording them fub-fiftence. The warm attachment with which every person who had ferved under the elder Almagro devoted himfelf to his interefts, was quickly transferred to his fon, who was now grown up to the age of manhood, and poffeffed all the qualities which captivate the affections of foldiers. Of a graceful appearance, dexterous at all martial exercifes, bold, open, generous, he feemed to be formed for command; and as his father, conscious of his own inferiority, from the total want of education, had been extremely attentive to have him inftructed in every science becoming a gentleman; the accomplishments which he had acquired heightened the respect of his followers, as they gave him diftinction and eminence among illiterate adventurers. In this young man the Almagrians found a point of union which they wanted, and looking up to him as their head, were ready to undertake any thing Confider young Al magro as their leader. for |