142 ovalle's historical relation of chile. 



We have feen alfo m the laft chapter, that Columbus had difcovered the illand of Cuba, 

 though he could never fail round it, being hindered by the ftorms and ill weather ; fo 

 he died without knowing whether it was an illand or no, for he judged it to be rather 

 a point of fome continent ; but it is a very large ifland, with many fair ports, and 

 mountains full of precious odoriferous woods of cedar, ebony, and many others ; and 

 there are in it feveral cities of Spaniards, and among the reft the ftrong fortrefs of the 

 Havana, which is a Scala or rendezvous for the galleons and flotas, loaded with filver 

 from the Weft-Indies : this is one of the beft fortifications the King of Spain has in all 

 his dominions. But, in my opinion, that which makes this ifland moft valuable, is, 

 the good nature and docility of thofe who are born in it ; which was a product of that 

 foil before ever the Spaniards tiod it, as they Ihewed to Columbus, and thofe who came 

 after him, receiving them with all kindnefs and humanity. 



To further what the Admiral Columbus had begun, God raifed an inftrument in the 

 perfon of Vafco Nunnes de Balboa, one of the firft difcoverers of this new world ; a 

 man of good underftanding, as he (hewed upon the occafion which I fhall now relate. 

 He was, with others, upon the difcovery with General Encifco, the governor : they 

 came to a place called Uraba, and as they entered the port, by negligence of the 

 fteerfman, the governor's (hip ftruck upon a fand, and was loft, nothing being faved 

 out of her but the lives of the men, who got into the boats, but naked, and in danger 

 of perifhing for want of provifion. Vafco de Nunnes faid, that he remembered there 

 was not far off a river, the banks of which were inhabited by much people : he guided 

 them thither ; and the thing being found to be as he had faid, he gained great reputa- 

 tion among them all. They came thither, and found the Indians in arms againft the 

 Caftilians, whofe name was already become odious to thofe nations : they made a vow 

 ft our lady, to dedicate to her the firft fettlement and church to the honour of her 

 image, under the title of San£ta Maria la Antigua, or the Ancient St. Mary,, which to 

 this day is venerated in. Seville ; and to fend her many rich gifts of gold and filver, 

 which one of them, as a pilgrim, fhould carry in the name of the reft. Being encou- 

 raged by this vow, they fell upon the Indians, and obtained the vidory. 



Prefently they made a fettlement, and built a town, dedicated to the virgin, calling 

 it Sanfta Maria el Antigua of Dairen, becaufe that was the name of that river. After 

 this, to accomplifh their vow, they fent the promifed prefents to the devout image of 

 the virgin. 



The good opinion of Vafco de Nunnes increafmg thus daily, and having cunningly 

 ordered it fo, that Encifco refigned his government, they chofe Vafco Nunnes in his 

 room : at firft with an affociate ; but he found means in time to be alone, as it was necef- 

 fary he fhould, in point of command, being to overcome fuch difficulties as were to be 

 met with at every turn : and, indeed, he knew how to make himfelf be both feared 

 and beloved, having a very good fpirit of government. In the new difcoveries he 

 undertook, he came firft to the lands of the < acique Ponea, and not finding him at 

 home, he deftroyed them : he paflTed on to the lands of the Cacique Careta, who not 

 caring to enter into war, received him peacefully, and treated him as a friend. This 

 Caciqiie Careta had a kinfman, who was a lord, that lived further in the country, and 

 his name was Suran ; who perfuaded another neighbouring prince, called Comagre, to 

 make a friendfhip with the Caftilians : this prince had a very fine palace, which afto- 

 nifhed them ; and particularly when they faw, in a kind of chapel or oratory, fome 

 dead bodies lying, covered with rich mantles, and many jewels of gold and pearls ; 

 and being alked, whofe bodies thefe were, they anfwered, of their predecelfor ; and 

 that, to preferve them from corruption, they had dried them with fire. The king 



carefTeB 



