386 A VOYAGE TO Book VI. 



whither thfy went, and gave him anaccoiuit of what 

 they had observed in this navigation. 



At that time the crown of Portugal was annexed 

 to Spain ; and the governor of the captainship, or 

 Maranon, for the sovereign of both kingdoms, was 

 Jacome lieymundo de Norona, who, zealous for the 

 improvement of this discovery, as of the highest im- 

 portance to his prince, fitted out a fleet of canoes, un- 

 der the command of captain Texera, to go up the 

 river, and survey the country with greater form and 

 accuracy. This flotiha departed from the neiglibour- 

 hood of Para, on the (iSth of October, 1637, with 

 the two religious on board ; and after an incessant fa- 

 tigue in making way against the stream, they arrived 

 at Pahamino on the 24th of June, 1638. This place 

 belongs to the .Jurisdiction of the government of 

 Quixos ; whence Texera, with the soldiers and the 

 two religious, went to Quito, where he gave an ac- 

 count of the expedition to the audiencia, which trans- 

 mitted the particulars to the countdeChinchon, vice- 

 roy of Peru ; and he, agreeably to the zeal he had 

 always manifested for enlarging his majesty's domi- 

 nions, lield a council about making more particular 

 discoveries along the shores of that river. 



Among other things, the count de Chinchón gave 

 orders, that the Portuguese flotilla should return to 

 Para; and with it sent some intelligent persons, whose 

 zeal might be depended on, with orders to take an 

 accurate survey of the river and its banks ; and after 

 discharging this commission, to proceed to Spain, and 

 make a report of their expedition to the council of the 

 Indies, in order to be laid before his majesty, that 

 measures might inconsequence betaken for securing 

 the conquest of these nations. The persons chosen 

 were, the Reverend Fathers Christopher de Accuna 

 and Andrezde Artieda, .lesuits, and persons every way 

 equal to the service. They left Quito on the 16th of 

 February, 1639; and having embarked with tiie ar- 

 mad ilia, 



