FERNANDO ALARCHON a.d. 



1540. 

 could (although they alwayes said that I went away 

 for feare) I returned downe the river : and that way 

 which I had gone against the streame up the river in 

 15. dayes and an halfe, I made in my returne in 2. dayes ^^ retumeth 

 and an halfe, because the streame was great and very ^^ J* ^^V\r 

 swift. In this wise going downe the river, much people ^/^^-^ ^^^v,;; 

 came to the banks, saying, Sir, wherefore doe you leave 

 us ? what discourtesie hath bin done unto you ? did you 

 not say that you would remayne continually with us, 

 and be our Lord ? And turne back againe ? if any [in. 437.] 

 man above the river hath done you any wrong we will 

 goe with our weapons with you and kill him; and such 

 like words ful of love and kindnes. 



Chap. 8. 



When they came to their shippes the Captaine named 

 that coast La Campanna de la Cruz, and builded 

 a Chapel unto our Lady, and called the river El 

 Rio de Buena Guia, and returned up the same 

 againe : when he came to Quicona and Coama the 

 Lords of those places used him very courteously. 



UPon mine arrivall at my ships I found all my people 

 in health, although very heavie for my long stay, 

 and because the current had fretted fower of their cables, 

 and that they had lost two ankers which were recovered. 

 After we had brought our ships together, I caused them 

 to bring them into a good harbour, & to give the carena 

 to the shippe called Sanct Peter, & to mend all things 

 that were needfull. And here assembling all my com- 

 pany together, I opened unto them what knowledge I 

 had received of Francis Vasquez ; and how it might 

 be that in those sixteene dayes space which I was in 

 sayling up the river he might peradventure have some 

 knowledge of me, and that I was minded to returne 

 up the river once againe to try if I could finde any 

 meanes to joyne my selfe with him : and although some 

 spake against my determination, I caused al my boates 

 to bee made ready, because the ships had no need of 



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