CHAPTER IX.

Search of Columbus for the South Sea.-Expedition of Ojeda and Nicuessa.Nunez de Balboa penetrates into the country of Darien.-Discovers the Pacific Ocean.-Expedition of Pedrarias.-Foundation of Panama.-The invasion of Peru projected by Pizarro and Almagro.-Arrival of the Spaniards at Tumbez. -State of the empire of Peru on the arrival of the invaders.-Interview of the Inca Atahualpa with the Spaniards.-Massacre of the Peruvians.-Enormous ransom paid by the Inca.-Amount of spoil shared by the soldiers.-Atahualpa put to death.-Capture of Cuzco.-Conquest and devastation of the whole empire of Peru.

COLUMBUS rightly conjectured that, beyond the continent he had discovered, was another ocean, which terminated at the East Indies, and that these two seas might have a communication with each other. In order to discover this, he sailed, in 1502, as close along the coast of America as possible. He touched at all places that were accessible, and, contrary to the custom of other navigators, who behaved, in the countries they visited, as if they were never to return to them, he treated the inhabitants with a degree of kindness that gained their good will. The Gulf of Darien particularly engaged his attention. He thought that the rivers which ran into it might afford the communication he had sought through so many dangers and fatigues. Disappointed in these expectations, he wished to leave a small colony upon the river Belem, in the

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country of Veragua. The avidity, the pride, and the barbarism of his countrymen prevented him from having the satisfaction of forming the first European establishment upon the continent of the new hemisphere. Some years elapsed after this, and still the Spaniards had not fixed themselves upon the spot.

As the Spanish adventurers only received from government the permission of making discoveries, it seldom entered their minds to employ themselves in agriculture or commerce. The prospect of distant fortunes, that might have been made by these prudent means, was far beyond the prejudices of these barbarous times. Nothing but the allurement of immediate gain could stimulate men to enterprises so bold as those for which this century was distinguished. Gold, alone, attracted them to the continent of America, and made them brave dangers, diseases and death. By a terrible vengeance, the cruelty of the Europeans, instigated by their lust of mineral treasures, exhausted at once the two hemispheres of their inhabitants, and destruction fell equally upon the plunderers and the plundered.

It was not till the year 1509, that Ojeda and Nicuessa formed, though separately, the design of making solid and lasting conquests. To encourage them in their resolution, Ferdinand gave to the first the government of the countries that begin at Cape de la Vela and terminate at the Gulf of Darien; and to the second, that of all the space extending from this gulf to Cape Gracias a Dios. Both these adventurers were instructed to announce to the natives at their landing, the tenets of the Christian religion, and to inform them of the gift which the Roman pontiff had made of their country to the king of Spain. If the savages were unwilling to submit quietly to a double yoke, the Spaniards were authorized to pursue them with fire and sword, and to reduce the nations to bondage.

But it was more easy to grant by commission these absurd and atrocious privileges, than to put the barbarous and superstitious adventurers who solicited such rights in actual possession of them. The Indians rejected every kind of intercourse with a set of rapacious intruders, who threatened equally their life and liberty. Arms were not more favorable to the Spaniards than their perfidious caresses. The people of the continent, accustomed to carry on war with each other, received them with a boldness unexperienced in the islands that had been so easily subdued. Poisoned arrows were showered upon them from all quarters, and not one of those who were wounded escaped death. To the arrows of the enemy, other causes of destruction were soon joined; shipwrecks, unavoidable in these unknown latitudes; an almost continual

want of subsistence, in countries wholly uncultivated, and diseases peculiar to the climate, which in many parts was found to be peculiarly unwholesome. The few Spaniards who had escaped so many calamities, and who could not return to San Domingo, collected themselves at St. Mary's, in the province of Darien.

Here they lived in a state of anarchy, when Vasco Nunez de Balboa appeared among them. This man, who was honored by the companions of his crimes with the surname of Hercules, had a robust constitution, intrepid courage and popular eloquence. These qualities induced the soldiers to choose him for their chief, and all his actions proved that he was worthy to command the remorseless crew whose suffrages he had obtained. Judging that more gold would be found in the inland parts than upon the coast, he marched with his band into the mountainous country of the isthmus. He found at first, it is said, a race of Albinoes, which are described as being covered with a down of glistening white; having no hair, and with red eyes. They could see well only in the night. They were feeble in body, and their faculties appeared to be more circumscribed than those of other natives. These savages, if it be true they existed, were few in number; but others were presently found, of a different race, brave and hardy enough to defend their rights. These were distinguished by a very extraordinary custom, which was, that the husbands on the death of their wives, and the wives on the death of their husbands, cut off the end of a finger; so that merely by looking at their hands, one might see whether they were widowers or widows, and how often they had been so.

Notwithstanding the ferocity of these people, Balboa, supported by the obstinacy of his disposition, and spurred on by the insatiable cupidity of his soldiers; assisted too by packs of those bloodhounds, which had been of such service to the Spaniards in all their conquests; at length succeeded in destroying most of the inhabitants of Darien, and in dispersing or subduing the remainder.

One day, as the conquerors were disputing together about gold, with a degree of warmth that seemed to threaten some act of violence, a young cacique overturned the scales in which they were weighing it. "Why," said he to them, with an air of disdain, "why do you quarrel for such a trifle? If it be for this useless metal that you quit your country, and massacre so many people, I will conduct you into a region where it is so common that it is employed for the meanest purposes." Being urged to explain himself more clearly, he assured them, that at a little distance from the ocean which washed the country of Darien, there was another ocean which led to this rich country. The Spaniards

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immediately conjectured that this was the sea which Columbus had so earnestly sought after. An expedition thither was immediately planned, and on the first of September, 1513, one hundred and ninety Spaniards, attended by a thousand Indians, who were to serve them as guides, and to carry their provisions and baggage, set out with Balboa at their head.

From the place whence this troop began their march, to the point they aimed at, the distance was only sixty miles; but it was necessary to climb steep mountains, to pass wide rivers, to traverse deep morasses, to penetrate thick forests, and to disperse, persuade or destroy so many tribes of fierce natives, that it was not till after a march of twenty-five days, that this band, accustomed to dangers, fatigues and privations, arrived in sight of the South Sea, which now for the first time lay disclosed to the view of the Europeans. Without a moment's delay, Balboa, armed at all points, in the manner of the ancient chivalry, rushed into the ocean. "Spectators of both hemispheres," exclaimed this haughty leader, "I call you to witness that I take possession of this part of the universe for the crown of Castile. My sword shall defend what my arm hath given to it." The cross was planted upon the shore of the continent, and the name of Ferdinand was inscribed on the bark of some of the trees.

Ceremonies like these were understood by the Europeans in those days to confer a lawful claim of dominion; and accordingly the Spaniards believed they had a right to exact from the neighboring people a tribute in pearls, metals and provisions. Every testimony united in confirming what had been at first said of the riches of the empire thus discovered, which was called Peru; and the adventurers who now meditated the conquest of it, returned to Darien, where they were to collect the forces necessary for so difficult an enterprise.

Balboa expected that he should be employed to conduct this great design. His companions had placed their confidence in him, and he had thrown into the public treasury more wealth than any other of these adventurers. In the opinion of the Spaniards the discovery he had just made had put him on a level with Columbus. But, by an instance of that injustice and ingratitude so common in courts, where merit cannot prevail against favor; where a great commander is superseded in the midst of his triumphs by some upstart or pretender; Balboa was overlooked, and Pedrarias was chosen in his stead. The new commander, as jealous as he was cruel, imprisoned his predecessor, brought him to trial, and caused him to be beheaded. His subalterns, by his orders, or with his consent, pillaged, burnt and massacred on

all sides, without any distinction between allies or enemies; and it was not till after they had destroyed to the extent of three hundred leagues of the country, that, in 1518, he transferred the colony of St. Mary, on the borders of the Pacific Ocean, to a place that received the name of Panama. Some years passed away, and this establishment had not been able to fulfil the important purposes for which it was designed. At length, three men, of obscure birth, undertook at their own expense to subvert the empire of Peru,—an empire that had subsisted, with barbarian splendor, for ages.

Francisco Pizarro, who is the most celebrated of this triumvirate, was the natural son of a gentleman of Estramadura. His education had been so neglected that he could not read. The tending of flocks, which was his first employment, not being suitable to his character, he embarked for the New World. His avarice and ambition inspired him with inconceivable activity. He joined in every expedition, and signalized himself in most of them. Thus he acquired, in the several situations in which he was employed, that knowledge of men and business which was then necessary to advancement, especially to those who, by their obscure birth, had great difficulties to contend with. The use he had hitherto made of his natural and acquired abilities, persuaded him that nothing was above his talents; and he therefore formed the gigantic plan of invading Peru. He took for an associate, Diego de Almagro, whose birth was equivocal, but whose courage was notorious. He had ever been found temperate, patient and indefatigable in those wars and expeditions in which he had grown old. In this school he had acquired a frankness, which is more frequently learnt amid scenes of danger and daring, than in other situations; as well as that obduracy and cruelty which were but too common in those days.

The fortune of the two soldiers, though considerable, being found insufficient for the conquest they meditated, they admitted into their partnership Fernando de Luques, a mercenary priest, who had amassed prodigious wealth. As the basis of their association, the confederates agreed that each should engage the whole of his property in this enterprise; that the wealth accruing from it should be equally shared, and that they should reciprocally observe an inviolable fidelity. The parts that each of them were to take in this great enterprise, were distributed as they deemed the good of the common cause to require. Pizarro was to command the troops, Almagro to conduct the supplies of provisions and stores, and Luques provided the funds. This plan of ambition, avarice and ferocity, was coupled with fanaticism. Luques