396 Montenegro's Return from the Pearl Islands.

ed of his men, went forth to reconnoitre in the direction where the brightness was visible. They arrived at a part of the shore where they found many cacao trees, and where they also saw several of the natives. Two of them they captured, and, what was better still, they found a hundred weight of maize. The Indians rather pointedly inquired (how their sayings were interpreted does not appear) "why the strangers did not sow and reap, instead of coming to take other people's provisions, and suffering such hardships to do so." It is to be noticed that these Indians had poison for their arrows. The Spaniards saw a man die of a wound in four hours. Had the herb from which this poison is distilled been found lower down the coast, upon the broad plains beyond Tumbez, the conquest would hardly have been made in that generation.

As Pizarro and his men were returning from this expedition, which did not bear much fruit, they met with one of their companions, who brought news that Montenegro had returned from the Pearl Islands with some provisions. This Spaniard had with him three loaves of bread and four oranges, which Pizarro divided equally among the whole company, who had not had such a meal for many a day. The number of Spaniards who died of hunger at the Puerto de la Hambre was twenty-seven.

The whole body now recommenced their voyage, and brought up in a port which they called the "Puerto de la Candaleria," because it was "the day of Our Lady"* when they arrived there. They had not, however, changed their position for the better. The climate was so humid that their wide-flapped hats fell in pieces, and the linen vests which they wore over their * Feast of the Purification. Candlemas Day, Feb. 2.

Arrive at a deserted Indian Town.

armor soon grew rotten.

397

The forests were for the

most part too dense to be penetrated. The annoyance from musquitoes was insupportable.*

Pizarro persevered. The Spaniards found ways

through the wood, and at two leagues from the shore

* 66 La pesadumbre de los mosquitos era incomportable."-HERRERA, Hist. Gen. de las Indias, dec. iii., lib. vi., cap. 13.

398

Arrival at "Pueblo Quemado."

;

came upon a small Indian town. It had just been deserted. They found, however, some golden ornaments; also some maize, roots, and the flesh of swine and in the vessels at the fire there were the feet and hands of men, by which the Spaniards knew that they were in the country of the Caribs. They did not stay at this uninviting spot, but went down the coast to another place, which they called the "Pueblo Quemado." At a league from the shore they came upon a deserted Indian town, situated on an eminence, and having the appearance of a fortress. They found also plenty of provisions here. The town being near the sea, well placed for defense, and well provisioned, it seemed to Pizarro and his men that they might prudently make a station here. Their only vessel leaked, and they resolved to send it back to Panamá to get it repaired. Meanwhile, Pizarro ordered Gil de Montenegro to make an incursion, in order to secure the persons of some of the Indians. The natives, however, had been watchful of the movements of the Spaniards. They attacked Montenegro and his party, intending afterward to fall upon the body of men who had remained with Pizarro in the town, whom the Indians conjectured to be the sick. These Indians were naked, but their bodies were painted, some red, some yellow. With loud shouts, a large body of them attacked Montenegro's party. They did not venture to come to close quarters, but succeeded in killing with their darts two of the Spaniards, and wounding others. On the other hand, Montenegro's men committed great slaughter on the naked bodies of their adversaries. The Indian army changed its tactics, retired or fled before Montenegro, and, knowing the country better than he did, came down upon Pizarro and his few followers in

The Indians attack Pizarro.

399

the town. Pizarro, an able man-at-arms, withstood the attack bravely, and made himself a general mark for the Indians. They pressed upon him, wounded him, and he fell down a steep descent. They followed, but before they could kill Pizarro he was upon his legs again, and able to defend himself. Some of his men rushed to his assistance. The Indians, astonished at

the valor of the Spaniards, and awed, it is said, by the silence with which they fought, began themselves to fight less fiercely, when the arrival of Montenegro and his men assured the fortunes of the day, and compelled the enemy to take to flight.

Pizarro and his men dressed their wounds in the strange manner that was commonly adopted by soldiers in that day, applying hot oil to the wounded part. They then resolved to quit the Pueblo Quemado, finding that the Indians were too many for them. Throughout this extraordinary voyage the Spaniards were not fortunate enough to come upon any Indian settlement that was suitable for them. Sometimes there were too many Indians in the vicinity; more often there were too few.

Pizarro and his men embarked, and, going back toward Panamá, arrived at Chicamá. This was in the government of the Terra-firma. From thence they sent the treasurer of the expedition, Nicolas de Rivera, in their vessel, with the gold they had found, to give an account to the Governor Pedrarias of what they had done and suffered, and of the hopes they still had of making some great discovery. Meanwhile they remained at Chicamá, a humid, melancholy, sickly spot, where it rained continually.

Almagro, always active, had not forgotten his part

400

Proceedings of Almagro.

of the undertaking; and, starting three months after Pizarro had set out, came in search of him with the other vessel belonging to the associates. When Nicolas de Rivera brought up at the Island of Pearls, he learned that Almagro had passed, and he sent to Pizarro to inform him of this joyful intelligence. Proceeding to Panamá, Rivera informed Pedrarias of what had happened. The governor was angry when he heard of the death of the many Spaniards who had already perished in the expedition. He blamed Pizarro for his pertinacity; and the schoolmaster, De Luque, had much difficulty in preventing the governor from joining another person in command with Pizarro.

Meanwhile, Almagro pursued his way down the coast, making diligent search for Pizarro. The only traces he could find of him were the marks of the Spanish hatchets, where the men had landed to cut wood. At last he made an entrance into that part of the country which had already been so unfortunate for the Spaniards-in the neighborhood of the Pueblo Quemado. He found this town inhabited and fortified with palisades. He resolved to take it, and accordingly commenced the attack with great vigor. The Indians defended themselves obstinately. Almagro was wounded in the right eye by a dart, and was so pressed upon by the Indians that he would have been left for dead if he had not been rescued by a negro slave of his. Notwithstanding his sufferings, he renewed the contest, and at last succeeded in gaining the place. His men were greatly distressed at the accident which had befallen their leader. They placed him on a litter made of branches of trees, and when the pain was assuaged they bore him back to his vessel.

Again they proceeded on their voyage, and arrived