166 TIE PROGRESS OF MARITIME DISCOVERY. 
savages, and without any other guides than some Indians of 
doubtful fidelity, was an enterprise worthy of all the energies of 
a Balboa. 
On the Ist of September, 1513, after the end of the rainy sea- 
son, he set out with a small but well chosen band of 190 Spaniards, 
accompanied by 1000 Indian carriers. As long as he remained 
on the territories of the friendly Caciques his progress was 
comparatively easy, but scarce had he penetrated into the 
interior, when, besides the almost invincible obstacles of nature 
—forests, swamps, and swollen torrents,—he had to encounter 
the deadly enmity of the Indians. As he approached, some of 
the Caciques fled to the mountains, after having destroyed or 
carried along with them all that might have been of use to the 
hated strangers; while others, of more determined hostility, 
opposed his progress by force of arms. Although the Spaniards 
had been led to expect that a six days’ march would bring them 
to their journey’s end, they had already spent no less than twenty- 
tive days in forcing their way through the wilderness, amidst 
incessant attacks and hardships. The greater part of them were 
rapidly giving way under fatigues almost surpassing the limits 
ef mortal endurance, and even the strongest felt that they could 
not hold out much longer. But Balboa, ever the foremost to 
face danger or difficulty, whose spirits no reverse could damp, 
and whose fiery eloquence painted in glowing colours the 
glorious reward of their present privations, knew how to inspire 
his men with his own unconquerable spirit, so that without a 
murmur they kept toiling on through swamp and forest. At 
iength the Indian guides pointed out to them a mountain-crest 
from which they promised them the view of the longed-for ocean. 
Filled with new ardour they climbed up the steep ascent, but 
before they reached the summit Balboa ordered them to halt, 
that he might be the first to enjoy the glorious prospect. As 
soon as he saw the Pacific stretch out in endless majesty along 
the verge of the distant horizon, he fell on his knees and poured 
forth his rapturous thanks to heaven for having awarded him so 
grand a discovery. And now also his impatient companions 
hurried on, and soon the primeval forest—accustomed only to 
the howlings of the brute or the eagle’s scream — resounded 
with the loud exclamations of their astonishment, gratitude, 
and joy. 
