SPANISH CONQUEST. 51 



on reaching the Maraiion, the aspect of the stream rolling 

 majestically to the east proved a temptation too strong for his 

 ambition ; and, forgetting his duty to his fellow-soldiers, he re- 

 solved to follow the course of the river, which seemed to 

 beckon him onwards to riches and renown. But one among 

 his followers, Sanchez de Vargas, whose name well deserves a 

 record, had the courage to remonstrate against this breach of 

 faith, for which he was landed as a criminal, without food or 

 help of any kind. After a dangerous and romantic navigation 

 of seven months, whose real adventures he afterwards embel- 

 lished with fabulous tales of El Dorados and warlike Amazons, 

 Orellana at length reached the mouth of the stream. Drifted 

 by the current, he thence safely steered for the Spanish settle- 

 ment in the island of Cubagua, and soon after embarked for 

 Spain. The magnificence of his discovery threw a veil over 

 his guilt ; and having been appointed governor of the territory 

 whose grandeur he had been the first to reveal, he once more 

 crossed the ocean. But he was not destined to reach the scene 

 where his ambition dreamt of exploits worthy to eclipse the 

 fame of Cortes or Pizarro ; a mortal disease befel him on the 

 passage, and in the sea he found a nameless grave. 



But what had meanwhile become of the leader whom he had 

 so basely abandoned in the wilderness ? The consternation of 

 Pizarro on not finding the bark at the confluence of the Napo 

 and the Maraiion, where he had ordered Orellana to wait for 

 him, may well be imagined. But, imputing his absence to 

 some unknown accident, he advanced above fifty leagues along 

 the banks of the river, expecting every moment to see the bark 

 appear with abundant provisions and joyful tidings. At length 

 he met with the faithful Vargas, and now no doubt remained 

 about the treachery of his lieutenant and his own desperate 

 situation. The spirit of his stoutest-hearted veterans sank 

 within them ; all demanded to be led back instantly, and Pi- 

 zarro, though he assumed an appearance of tranquillity, did not 

 oppose their inclination. But they were now 1,200 miles from 

 Quito, and a march of many months had to be made without 

 the hopes which had soothed their previous sufferings. Hunger 

 compelled them to sacrifice all their dogs and horses, to devour 

 the most loathsome reptiles, to gnaw the leather of their saddles 

 and sword-belts. All the Indians and 210 Spaniards perished 



B 2 



