LOPEZ VAZ AD. 



1572-87. 

 The first towne on the coast of Peru called Atacama is ^ description 

 inhabited by Indians which are slaves unto the Spaniards. ^Z^^''^- 

 But before I passe any farther I will here also declare unto 

 you the first discoverie of Peru with other matters thereto 

 belonging, and then will I returne to the seacoast againe : 

 and to the ende you may understand mee the better, 

 I will begin with Panama. After that the Spaniards had 

 inhabited the North side of this maine land, passing over 

 the mountaines they discovered the South sea : where 

 because they found Indian people with gold and pearles, 

 they built a towne eighteene leagues to the West of 

 Nombre de Dios hard upon the sea-side, and called it 

 Panama. From hence they discovered along the coast of 

 Nueva Espanna : and for that Nueva Espanna was at the 

 same time inhabited by Spaniards, there beganne a trade 

 from thence to Panama : but from Panama by sea to the 

 coast of Peru they could not trade in a long time, because 

 of the Southerly winds blowing on this coast almost all the 

 yeere long, which are a hinderance to shippes sayling that 

 way : and by land the passage was impossible, in regard 

 of mountaines and rivers : yea it was fifteene yeeres before 

 they passed the Island of Pearles, which is but twentie 

 leagues from Panama. There were at this time in Panama 

 two men, the one called Francisco Pizarro borne in the 

 citie of Truxillo in Spaine, a valiant man, but withall 

 poore : the other called Diego de Almagro was very rich. 

 These men got a company' unto them, and provided two 

 Caravels to discover the coast of Peru : and having ob- 

 tained licence of the governour of that place, Francisco 

 Pizarro set foorth wdth the two foresayd caravels and 100 

 men, and Diego de Almagro stayed in Panama to send 

 him victuals and other necessaries. Now Francisco Pizarro 

 sayling along the coast met with much contrary winds 

 and raine, which put him to great trouble ; and he began 

 also after a while to lacke victuals, for hee was sailing of 

 that in eight moneths which they now passe in fifteene 

 dayes, and not knowing the right course hee ranne into 

 every river and bay that hee saw along the coast : which 



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