CHAP. XVII. IN AMERICA. 45 



ornaments of gold to the value of ten thousand 

 castillianos, or about eleven or twelve thousand 

 pounds 1 . Vasco Nunez de Balboa, who followed 

 Ojeda and Nicuesa on the continent of America, 

 and who first discovered the south sea, had, in 

 1513, collected such a quantity of effects of 

 various kinds that the fifth part, which belonged 

 to the crown, and was remitted to Diego Golumbus 

 in Hispaniola, amounted to fifteen thousand crowns 

 of gold 2 . After his discovery of the South Sea, 

 Vasco Nunez is said, but on authority doubtful 

 as to the exact weight, to have received in the 

 isthmus of Darien, from one cacique, five hundred 

 pounds of gold, in exchange for beads, hawks' 

 bells, and looking-glasses. On his return over 

 the mountains, he is related to have collected from 

 two caciques seven thousand crowns more in 

 pearls and gold 3 . In another subsequent ex- 

 pedition in the isthmus, against a chief named 

 Tubanama, he obtained " amulets and other effects 

 of gold" to the value of two thousand crowns 

 from the cacique himself, and from his subjects to 

 the amount of six thousand 4 . 



The scenes of these exploits on the coast of 

 Carthagena and in the isthmus of Darien were 



Page 124. 



2 Irving, p. 150. The crowns of gold in that day weighed 

 seventy grains, of which two were alloys, and consequently were 

 worth in our present money about ten shillings and sixpence. 

 See Diccionario de Hacienda por Argiielles, tomo ii. p. 211. 



s Page 188 and 192. 4 Page 196. 



