0VALLE*S HISTORICAL RELATION OF CHILE. ^ 151 



to make themfelves maflers of the fhips at their return, and to kill all that ihould 

 oppofe them ; and fo they executed it. But God Almighty punilhed them immedi- 

 ately ; for as they were going out of port, they loft their admiral ; and then having 

 but one Ihip, durfl not venture for Spain, but put in at Hifpaniola, where Do6tor Sa- 

 ravia, of the audience of St. Domingo, chaftized the moft guilty. And thus the dif- 

 covery of Chile, for that time, and that way, was difappointed : for God referved 

 that honour for another. 



CHAP. XI. — Of the Difcovery of other Parts of America before that of Chile. 



WHILE the fhips are making ready to go to the difcovery of Peru, it will not be amifs 

 to touch upon the difcovery of fome other parts of America by the by, that at leaft 

 the order of time, with which the difcoveries preceded each other, may be under- 

 ftood ; and what we are to fay afterwards about Chile will be made plainer, that 

 being our chief delign. 



It has been faid already, in its proper place, how the Admiral Columbus difcovered 

 the Terra Firma, or continent of America, in his fourth voyage from Spain to the 

 Indies, and found the port of Puerto Bello the fecond of November 1502. We have 

 alfo faid how Vafco Nunnes de Balboa having founded Sancfta Maria la Antigua of 

 Dairen, difcovered the South-Sea, and took poffeflion of it in the month of September 

 or Odober in the year 15 13, as alfo that in the year 1515, Juan Dias de Solis difco- 

 vered the river of Plata the firft of all difcoverers. 



Now we will add what is known about the difcovery of other lands ; amongft the 

 which, one of the firft was that of Yucatan, which was undertaken by Captain Fran- 

 cifco Hernandes de Cordoua, in the year 1 5 1 7, and the Adelantado of it is at this day 

 Don Chriftoval Soares de Solis, a gentleman of an antient and noble family in Sala- 

 manca. This fame year other Caftilians difcovered the land of Campeche, where, in 

 a chapel of the Indians, full of their idols, they found painted crofles, of which they 

 were not lefs aftonifhed than rejoiced, feeing light in darknefs, and the trophies of 

 Chrift by the fide of Belial ; which, at laft, by the Spaniards* arrival in thofe parts, 

 were better known to thofe barbarous people. In the year 15 18, the Licentiado Efpi- 

 nofa^ who was named deputy to the governor Pedrarias, founded the city of Panama, 

 which is the canal by which all the treafure of Peru palTes to Spain in the galleons. 

 This city has not increafed fo much as many others of the Indies, becaufe being fitu- 

 ated near the equinoftiai line, its temperature does not agree with thofe bom in 

 Europe ; but yet there are many conftitutions that do very well there, becaufe of the 

 great riches that are eafily acquired there : and thofe who feek them, think no air 

 bad. There are a great many people of quality : for there is a bifhopric, a royal Au- 

 diencia, or court of judicature ; a tribunal of royal officers, and a chapter of canons, 

 feculars and regulars. But that which in my judgement is moft commendable in it, is 

 the piety, mercy, and liberality of its inhabitants. I have this year received advice, 

 that by the negligence of a female flave, the greateft part of the city was burnt j for 

 the houfes being of wood, if one take fire, it is hard to ftop the flames : there was 

 loft in this a great mafs of riches, a great part of the lofs falling on the cathedral j and 

 a little after, there being a gathering made, though this misfortune had concerned 

 almoft every body, who for that reafon were lefs in a condition to contribute by way 

 of alms, which fome of them wanted, yet they gave above twenty thoufand pieces of 

 eight, and went on contributing. This was an extraordinary mark of their charity ; 



but 



