146 ovalle's historical relation of chile. 



CHAP. IX. — The Difcovery of the South-Sea, its Ports and IJlands, is continued. 



IT is a common paffion in thofe who govern, either to oppofe the defigns of their 

 predecefibrs, or at leaft not to execute them by their means, nor by their creatures, 

 that their afTiftance may not leflen the glory, which they pretend by making themfelves 

 the authors of the enterprizes. As we have already faid, Pedrarias fucceeded Vafco 

 Nunnes de Balboa in the government, juft as he had made the difcovery of the South- 

 Sea ; and, though the King had recommended the perfon of Nunnes to him, yet he 

 could not be brought to grant him leave to follow his difcovery, though the Bifliop of 

 Dairen advifed it very earneftly ; but he had refolved to give this good morfel to a 

 creature of his, called Captain Gafpar Morales ; to whom he added, as companion, 

 Captain Francifco Pizarro, becaufe of the experience he had, having been already em- 

 ployed in the difcovery. 



They fet out from Dairen, and got to the South-Sea, and embarking there in canoes, 

 they came to the Ifle of Pearls, which the Indians called Tarargui. Thefe by this time 

 began to endeavour to hinder the Spaniards from fetting in their lands, but they were 

 not able to do it, their forces being fo much inferior to thofe of the Caftilians, who, 

 paffing from one illand to another, came at laft to the largeft, where was the king of 

 almoft all thofe nations, who took arms againft the Spaniards, having a brave number 

 of men, and well chofen ; but tfiey not being ufed to fire-arms, they foon yielded and 

 came to compofition : to which they were brought alfo by the fear of a famous dog 

 that was in the Chriftian camp, who ufed to fall upon them like a lion ; and they hav- 

 ing never feen an animal of that fort, did flee him as a devil, becaufe of the mifchief 

 he did amongjfl them ; for they being naked, he could faften any where without danger. 

 The Chiapefes, our friends, prefently interpofed ; and telling the King what dangerous 

 enemies the Spaniards were, and of what importance their friendfhip was, they being 

 invincible, he at laft was prevailed upon to grant them peace. They came to his palace, 

 which was very fumptuous, and, as they judged, better than any they had feen yet. 

 The King received them with marks of friendfhip ; and, as a token of it, caufed a 

 bafket of rulhes full of pearls, which weighed five marks, to be given them ; amongft 

 which, there was one which had but few fellows in the world, (for it weighed fix and 

 twenty carats, and was as big as a fmall walnut,) and another as big as a mufcat-pear, 

 perfeft and oriental, and of a fine colour, weighing ten half fcruples. The firft came 

 from hand to hand, till it was in the emprefs's, who valued it as it deferved, as is told 

 by Antonio de Herrera and others. They prefented the King, in return, with the ufual 

 prefents of pins and needles, bells, knives, and other baubles of Europe, which the 

 Indians valued much. The Spaniards not being able to forbear laughing, to fee the 

 value they put upon them, the King faid to them, " What do you laugh at ?'* " And 

 having heard what it was, he faid, " We might more juftly laugh at you, for valuing 

 things fo much which are of no ufe in life, and for which you pafs fo many feas. As 

 for thefe knives and hatchets you give us, they are very ufeful inftruments to men." 

 This was not the only return the King had for his pearls 5 for he had the precious pearl 

 of faith by their means : for growing very fond of them, and being by them inftruded, 

 he and all his family received the Chriftian religion, which was the principal end t6 

 which the Caftilians directed all their enterprizes. They made a folemn chrift«ung j 

 and the King, to treat his fpiritual fathers, who had engendered him in the Gofpel, 

 carried them to fee the pearl-fifhing, which wias in this manner : The Indians dived to 



the 



