408 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 102 



leagues away ; and for the country's good and the strengthening of all 

 [these provinces], it would be [very just and] suitable to have a new 

 Bishop established in the city of Chachapoyas. His presence there will 

 lead to the conversion of many heathen provinces to the E., which will 

 be enumerated in the following chapter, dealing with the expedition of 

 Gen. Pedro de Ursua in the year 1559 via the city of Moyobamba 

 from the district of this city, described [Marg. : by Capt, Altamirano, 

 a resident of Chachapoyas, just as he gave it to me written in his 

 own hand] by one of the soldiers who went in his company, as 

 follows: [They raise much cotton here.] 



Chapter IX 



Of the Expedition Conducted by Gov. Pedro de Ursua down the 

 Rio de Los Motilones, at the Instance of Viceroy Marques de Caiiete. 



1198. It was in the year 1559 that Gen. Pedro de Ursua left the 

 city of Lima, capital of the Kingdoms of Peru. This officer had had 

 wide experience in much exploration, subjugation, and settlement 

 of regions in the New Kingdom of Granada and the Panama district 

 of the Spanish Main ; his great experience, very noble birth, high 

 station and afifability made him beloved and idolized by his soldiers. 

 The Marques de Cahete, who was Viceroy of Peru at that time, 

 having full information about his great ability and high reputation, 

 named him as General for the exploration and conquest of the 

 Provinces of Omagua and El Dorado along the Rio Marahon. This 

 account was written by Captain Altamirano, former resident of the 

 city of Chachapoyas ; he went down the Rio Maraiion to the Atlantic, 

 suffered great hardships under the tyranny of the traitor Lope de 

 Aguirre, and got back to Peru to the city of Chachapoyas where 

 he had his home ; he gave it to me, and gave me information and 

 explanation of everything by word of inouth. 



1199. Gen. Pedro de Ursua left the city of Lima in May 1559 

 with 370 soldiers and a service contingent of over 500 Indians and 

 Negroes, and carpenters and ironworkers, to build his fleet in the 

 Provinces of the Tabalosos and Motilones over 300 leagues from 

 Lima and 100 from Chachapoyas. It is at 9° S. that the river rises 

 down which we proceeded to come into the Rio Maranon. It took 

 till September 14 of that same year 1559 to build our navy, con- 

 sisting of 2 brigantines, 7 flatboats, 20 rafts, and some dugouts ; then 

 Gen. Pedro de Ursua and all of us in his suite took to the river in 

 search of food for the soldiers and camp followers and the horses 

 we had with us. 



