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$Title{History Of The Conquest Of Peru
Chapter II: Part I}
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$Author{Prescott, William H.}
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$Date{1864}
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Title:       History Of The Conquest Of Peru
Book:        Book II: Discovery Of Peru
Author:      Prescott, William H.
Date:        1864

Chapter II: Part I

Francisco Pizarro. - His Early History. - First Expedition To The South. -
Distresses Of The Voyagers. - Sharp Encounters. - Return To Panama. -
Almagro's Expedition.

     1524-1525.

     Francisco Pizarro was born at Truxillo, a city of Estremadura, in Spain.
The period of his birth is uncertain; but probably it was not far from 1471.
^1 He was an illegitimate child, and that his parents should not have taken
pains to perpetuate the date of his birth is not surprising.  Few care to make
a particular record of their transgressions.  His father, Gonzalo Pizarro, was
a colonel of infantry, and served with some distinction in the Italian
campaigns under the Great Captain, and afterwards in the wars of Navarre.  His
mother, named Francisca Gonzales, was a person of humble condition in the town
of Truxillo. ^2

[Footnote 1: The few writers who venture to assign the date of Pizarro's birth
do it in so vague and contradictory a manner as to inspire us with but little
confidence in their accounts.  Herrera, it is true, says positively, that he
was sixty-three years old at the time of his death, in 1541.  (Hist. General,
dec. 6, lib. 10, cap. 6.) This would carry back the date of his birth only to
1478.  But Garcilasso de la Vega affirms that he was more than fifty years old
in 1525.  (Com. Real., Parte 2, lib. 1, cap. 1.) This would place his birth
before 1475.  Pizarro y Orellana, who, as a kinsman of the Conqueror, may be
supposed to have had better means of information, says he was fifty-four years
of age at the same date of 1525.  (Varones Ilustres del Nuevo Mundo, (Madrid,
1639,) p. 128.) But at the period of his death he calls him nearly eighty
years old!  (p. 185.) Taking this latter as a round exaggeration for effect in
the particular connection in which it is used, and admitting the accuracy of
the former statement, the epoch of his birth will conform to that given in the
text.  This makes him somewhat late in life to set about the conquest of an
empire.  But Columbus, when he entered on his career, was still older.]

[Footnote 2: Xerez, Conquista del Peru, ap. Barcia, tom. III. p. 179. -
Zarate, Conq. del Peru, lib. 1, cap. 1. - Pizarro y Orellana, Varones
Ilustres, p. 128.]

     But little is told of Francisco's early years, and that little not always
deserving of credit.  According to some, he was deserted by both his parents,
and left as a foundling at the door of one of the principal churches of the
city.  It is even said that he would have perished, had he not been nursed by
a sow. ^3 This is a more discreditable fountain of supply than that assigned
to the infant Romulus.  The early history of men who have made their names
famous by deeds in after-life, like the early history of nations, affords a
fruitful field for invention.

[Footnote 3: "Nacio en Truxillo, i echaronlo a la puerta de la Iglesia, mamo
una Puerca ciertos Dias, no se hallando quien le quisiese dar leche." Gomara,
Hist. de las Ind., cap. 144.]

     It seems certain that the young Pizarro received little care from either
of his parents, and was suffered to grow up as nature dictated.  He was
neither taught to read nor write, and his principal occupation was that of a
swineherd.  But this torpid way of life did not suit the stirring spirit of
Pizarro, as he grew older, and listened to the tales, widely circulated and so
captivating to a youthful fancy, of the New World.  He shared in the popular
enthusiasm, and availed himself of a favorable moment to abandon his ignoble
charge, and escape to Seville, the port where the Spanish adventurers embarked
to seek their fortunes in the West.  Few of them could have turned their backs
on their native land with less cause for regret than Pizarro. ^4

[Footnote 4: According to the Comendador Pizarro y Orellana, Francis Pizarro
served, while quite a stripling, with his father, in the Italian wars; and
afterwards, under Columbus and other illustrious discoverers, in the New
World, whose successes the author modestly attributes to his kinsman's valor,
as a principal cause!  Varones Ilustres, p. 187.]

     In what year this important change in his destiny took place we are not
informed.  The first we hear of him in the New World is at the island of
Hispaniola, in 1510, where he took part in the expedition to Uraba in Terra
Firma, under Alonzo de Ojeda, a cavalier whose character and achievements
find no parallel but in the pages of Cervantes.  Hernando Cortes, whose
mother was a Pizarro, and related, it is said, to the father of Francis, was
then in St. Domingo, and prepared to accompany Ojeda's expedition, but was
prevented by a temporary lameness.  Had he gone, the fall of the Aztec empire
might have been postponed for some time longer, and the sceptre of Montezuma
have descended in peace to his posterity.  Pizarro shared in the disastrous
fortunes of Ojeda's colony, and, by his discretion, obtained so far the
confidence of his commander, as to be left in charge of the settlement, when
the latter returned for supplies to the islands.  The lieutenant continued
at his perilous post for nearly two months, waiting deliberately until death
should have thinned off the colony sufficiently to allow the miserable
remnant to be embarked in the single small vessel that remained to it. ^5

[Footnote 5: Pizarro y Orellana, Varones Ilustres, pp. 121, 128. - Herrera,
Hist. Gen., dec. 1, lib. 7, cap. 14. - Montesinos, Annales, Ms., ane 1510.]

     After this, we find him associated with Balboa, the discoverer of the
Pacific, and cooperating with him in establishing the settlement at Darien.
He had the glory of accompanying this gallant cavalier in his terrible march
across the mountains, and of being among the first Europeans, therefore,
whose eyes were greeted with the long-promised vision of the Southern Ocean.

     After the untimely death of his commander, Pizarro attached himself to
the fortunes of Pedrarias, and was employed by that governor in several
military expeditions, which, if they afforded nothing else, gave him the
requisite training for the perils and privations that lay in the path of the
future Conqueror of Peru.

     In 1515, he was selected, with another cavalier named Morales, to cross
the Isthmus and traffic with the natives on the shores of the Pacific.  And
there, while engaged in collecting his booty of gold and pearls from the
neighbouring islands, as his eye ranged along the shadowy line of coast till
it faded in the distance, his imagination may have been first fired with the
idea of, one day, attempting the conquest of the mysterious regions beyond
the mountains.  On the removal of the seat of government across the Isthmus
to Panama, Pizarro accompanied Pedrarias, and his name became conspicuous
among the cavaliers who extended the line of conquest to the north over the
martial tribes of Veragua.  But all these expeditions, whatever glory they
may have brought him, were productive of very little gold, and, at the age
of fifty, the captain Pizarro found himself in possession only of a tract of
unhealthy land in the neigbourhood of the capital, and of such repartimientos
of the natives as were deemed suited to his military services. ^6 The New
World was a lottery, where the great prizes were so few that the odds were
much against the player; yet in the game he was content to stake health,
fortune, and, too often, his fair fame.

[Footnote 6: "Teniendo su casa, i Hacienda, i Repartimiento de Indios como
uno de los Principales de la Tierra; porque siempre lo fue." Xerez, Conq. del
Peru, ap. Barcia, tom. III. p. 79.]

     Such was Pizarro's situation when, in 1522, Andagoya returned from his
unfinished enterprise to the south of Panama, bringing back with him more
copious accounts than any hitherto received of the opulence and grandeur of
the countries that lay beyond. ^7 It was at this time, too, that the splendid
achievements of Cortes made their impression on the public mind, and gave a
new impulse to the spirit of adventure.  The southern expeditions became a
common topic of speculation among the colonists of Panama.  But the region
of gold, as it lay behind the mighty curtain of the Cordilleras, was still
veiled in obscurity.  No idea could be formed of its actual distance; and the
hardships and difficulties encountered by the few navigators who had sailed
in that direction gave a gloomy character to the undertaking, which had
hitherto deterred the most daring from embarking in it.  There is no evidence
that Pizarro showed any particular alacrity in the cause.  Nor were his own
funds such as to warrant any expectation of success without great assistance
from others.  He found this in two individuals of the colony, who took too
important a part in the subsequent transactions not to be particularly
noticed.

[Footnote 7: Andagoya says that he obtained, while at Biru, very minute
accounts of the empire of the Incas, from certain itinerant traders who
frequented that country.  "En esta provincia supe y hube relacion, ansi de
los senores como de mercaderes e interpretes que ellos tenian, de toda la
costa de todo lo que despues se ha visto hasta el Cuzco, particularmente de
cada provincia la manera y gente della, porque estos alcanzaban por via de
mercaduria mucha tierra." Navarrete, Coleccion, tom. III. No 7.]

     One of them, Diego de Almagro, was a soldier of fortune, somewhat older,
it seems probable, than Pizarro; though little is known of his birth, and
even the place of it is disputed.  It is supposed to have been the town of
Almagro in New Castile, whence his own name, for want of a better source, was
derived; for, like Pizarro, he was a foundling. ^8 Few particulars are known
of him till the present period of our history; for he was one of those whom
the working of turbulent times first throws upon the surface, - less
fortunate, perhaps, than if left in their original obscurity.  In his
military career, Almagro had earned the reputation of a gallant soldier.  He
was frank and liberal in his disposition, somewhat hasty and ungovernable in
his passions, but, like men of a sanguine temperament, after the first
sallies had passed away, not difficult to be appeased.  He had, in short, the
good qualities and the defects incident to an honest nature, not improved by
the discipline of early education or self-control.

[Footnote 8: "Decia el que hera de Almagro," says Pedro Pizarro, who knew him
well.  Relacion del Descubrimiento y Conquista de los Reynos del Peru, Ms.
- See also Zarate. Conq. del Peru, lib. 1, cap. 1. - Gomara, Hist. de las
Ind., cap. 141. - Pizarro y Orellana, Varones Ilustres, p. 211.

     The last writer admits that Almagro's parentage is unknown; but adds
that the character of his early exploits infers an illustrious descent. -
This would scarcely pass for evidence with the College of Heralds.]

     The other member of the confederacy was Hernando de Luque, a Spanish
ecclesiastic, who exercised the functions of vicar at Panama, and had
formerly filled the office of schoolmaster in the Cathedral of Darien.  He
seems to have been a man of singular prudence and knowledge of the world; and
by his respectable qualities had acquired considerable influence in the
little community to which he belonged, as well as the control of funds, which
made his cooperation essential to the success of the present enterprise.

     It was arranged among the three associates, that the two cavaliers should
contribute their little stock towards defraying the expenses of the armament,
but by far the greater part of the funds was to be furnished by Luque.
Pizarro was to take command of the expedition, and the business of victualling
and equipping the vessels was assigned to Almagro.  The associates found no
difficulty in obtaining the consent of the governor to their undertaking.
After the return of Andagoya, he had projected another expedition, but the
officer to whom it was to be intrusted died.  Why he did not prosecute his
original purpose, and commit the affair to an experienced captain like
Pizarro, does not appear.  He was probably not displeased that the burden of
the enterprise should be borne by others, so long as a good share of the
profits went into his own coffers.  This he did not overlook in his
stipulations. ^9

[Footnote 9: "Asi que estos tres companeros ya dichos Acordaron de yr a
conquistar esta provincia ya dicha.  Pues consultandolo con Pedro Arias de
Avila que a la sazon hera governador en tierra firme.  Vino en ello haziendo
compania con los dichos companeros con condicion que Pedro Arias no havia de
contribuir entonces con ningun dinero ni otra cosa sino de lo que se hallase
en la tierra de lo que a el le cupiese por virtud de la compania de alli se
pagasen los gastos que a el le cupiesen.  Los tres companeros vinieron en
ello por aver esta licencia porque de otra manera no la alcanzaran." (Pedro
Pizarro, Descub. y Conq., Ms.) Andagoya, however, affirms that the governor
was interested equally with the other associates in the adventure, each
taking a fourth part on himself.  (Navarrete, Coleccion, tom. III. No. 7.)
But whatever was the original interest of Pedrarias, it mattered little, as
it was surrendered before any profits were realized from the expedition.]

     Thus fortified with the funds of Luque, and the consent of the governor,
Almagro was not slow to make preparations for the voyage.  Two small vessels
were purchased, the larger of which had been originally built by Balboa, for
himself, with a view to this same expedition.  Since his death, it had lain
dismantled in the harbour of Panama.  It was now refitted as well as
circumstances would permit, and put in order for sea, while the stores and
provisions were got on board with an alacrity which did more credit, as the
event proved, to Almagro's zeal than to his forecast.

     There was more difficulty in obtaining the necessary complement of
hands; for a general feeling of distrust had gathered round expeditions in
this direction, which could not readily be overcome.  But there were many
idle hangers-on in the colony, who had come out to mend their fortunes, and
were willing to take their chance of doing so, however desperate.  From such
materials as these, Almagro assembled a body of somewhat more than a hundred
men; ^10 and every thing being ready, Pizarro assumed the command, and,
weighing anchor, took his departure from the little port of Panama, about the
middle of November, 1524.  Almagro was to follow in a second vessel of
inferior size, as soon as it could be fitted out. ^11

[Footnote 10: Herrera, the most popular historian of these transactions,
estimates the number of Pizarro's followers only at eighty.  But every other
authority which I have consulted raises them to over a hundred.  Father
Naharro, a contemporary, and resident at Lima even allows a hundred and
twenty-nine.  Relacion sumaria de la entrada de los Espanoles en el Peru, Ms.]

[Footnote 11: There is the usual discrepancy among authors about the date of
this expedition.  Most fix it at 1525.  I have conformed to Xerez, Pizarro's
secretary, whose narrative was published ten years after the voyage, and who
could hardly have forgotten the date of so memorable an event, in so short an
interval of time.  (See his Conquista del Peru, ap. Barcia, tom. III. p. 179.)

     The year seems to be settled by Pizarro's Capitulacion with the Crown,
which I had not examined till after the above was written.  This instrument,
dated July, 1529, speaks of his first expedition as having taken place about
five years previous.  (See Appendix, No. VII.)]

     The time of year was the most unsuitable that could have been selected
for the voyage; for it was the rainy season, when the navigation to the south,
impeded by contrary winds, is made doubly dangerous by the tempests that sweep
over the coast.  But this was not understood by the adventurers. After
touching at the Isle of Pearls, the frequent resort of navigators, at a few
leagues' distance from Panama, Pizarro held his way across the Gulf of St.
Michael, and steered almost due south for the Puerto de Pinas, a headland in
the province of Biruquete, which marked the limit of Andagoya's voyage. Before
his departure, Pizarro had obtained all the information which he could derive
from that officer in respect to the country, and the route he was to follow.
But the cavalier's own experience had been too limited to enable him to be of
much assistance.

     Doubling the Puerto de Pinas, the little vessel entered the river Biru,
the misapplication of which name is supposed by some to have given rise to
that of the empire of the Incas. ^12 After sailing up this stream for a couple
of leagues, Pizarro came to anchor, and disembarking his whole force except
the sailors, proceeded at the head of it to explore the country.  The land
spread out into a vast swamp, where the heavy rains had settled in pools of
stagnant water, and the muddy soil afforded no footing to the traveller. This
dismal morass was fringed with woods, through whose thick and tangled
undergrowth they found it difficult to penetrate; and emerging from them, they
came out on a hilly country, so rough and rocky in its character, that their
feet were cut to the bone, and the weary soldier, encumbered with his heavy
mail or thick-padded doublet of cotton, found it difficult to drag one foot
after the other.  The heat at times was oppressive; and, fainting with toil
and famished for want of food, they sank down on the earth from mere
exhaustion.  Such was the ominous commencement of the expedition to Peru.

[Footnote 12: Zarate, Conq. del Peru, lib. 1. cap. 1. - Herrera, Hist.
General, dec. 3, lib. 6, cap. 13.]

     Pizarro, however, did not lose heart.  He endeavoured to revive the
spirits of his men, and besought them not to be discouraged by difficulties
which a brave heart would be sure to overcome, reminding them of the golden
prize which awaited those who persevered.  Yet it was obvious that nothing was
to be gained by remaining longer in this desolate region.  Returning to their
vessel, therefore, it was suffered to drop down the river and proceed along
its southern course on the great ocean.

     After coasting a few leagues, Pizarro anchored off a place not very
inviting in its appearance, where he took in a supply of wood and water. Then,
stretching more towards the open sea, he held on in the same direction towards
the south.  But in this he was baffled by a succession of heavy tempests,
accompanied with such tremendous peals of thunder and floods of rain as are
found only in the terrible storms of the tropics.  The sea was lashed into
fury, and, swelling into mountain billows, threatened every moment to
overwhelm the crazy little bark, which opened at every seam.  For ten days the
unfortunate voyagers were tossed about by the pitiless elements, and it was
only by incessant exertions - the exertions of despair - that they preserved
the ship from foundering.  To add to their calamities, their provisions began
to fail, and they were short of water, of which they had been furnished only
with a small number of casks; for Almagro had counted on their recruiting
their scanty supplies, from time to time, from the shore. Their meat was
wholly consumed, and they were reduced to the wretched allowance of two ears
of Indian corn a day for each man.

     Thus harassed by hunger and the elements, the battered voyagers were too
happy to retrace their course and regain the port where they had last taken in
supplies of wood and water.  Yet nothing could be more unpromising than the
aspect of the country.  It had the same character of low, swampy soil, that
distinguished the former landing-place; while thick-matted forests, of a depth
which the eye could not penetrate, stretched along the coast to an
interminable length.  It was in vain that the wearied Spaniards endeavoured to
thread the mazes of this tangled thicket, where the creepers and flowering
vines, that shoot up luxuriant in a hot and humid atmosphere, had twined
themselves round the huge trunks of the forest-trees, and made a network that
could be opened only with the axe.  The rain, in the mean time, rarely
slackened, and the ground, strewed with leaves and saturated with moisture,
seemed to slip away beneath their feet.

     Nothing could be more dreary and disheartening than the aspect of these
funereal forests; where the exhalations from the overcharged surface of the
ground poisoned the air, and seemed to allow no life, except that, indeed, of
myriads of insects, whose enamelled wings glanced to and fro, like sparks of
fire, in every opening of the woods.  Even the brute creation appeared
instinctively to have shunned the fatal spot, and neither beast nor bird of
any description was seen by the wanderers.  Silence reigned unbroken in the
heart of these dismal solitudes; at least, the only sounds that could be heard
were the plashing of the rain-drops on the leaves, and the tread of the
forlorn adventurers. ^13

[Footnote 13: Xerez, Conq del Peru, ap. Barcia, tom. III. p. 180. - Relacion
del Primer.  Descub., Ms. - Montesinos, Annales, Ms., ano 1515. - Zarate,
Conq. del Peru, lib. 1, cap. 1. - Garcilasso, Com. Real., Parte 2, lib. 1,
cap. 7. - Herrera, Hist. General, dec. 3, lib. 6, cap. 13.]