The Conquest of Peru and Mexico. 13 



Before the discovery of Peru by Pizarro, Sebastian Cabot, with 

 a small Spanish fleet, in 1527, sailed up the Rio de la Plata to 

 the great falls of the Parana. He found some silver and gold 

 mines in Brazil and heard of the civilization and riches of the 

 Incas of Peru, but was unable to cross the mountains to their 

 country. 



Thus within fifty years after the discovery of America, South 

 America had been circumnavigated, its great rivers navigated, 

 and the general features of the interior and its treasures of gold 

 and silver made known to the Spaniards and Portuguese. 



Some time before the conquest of Peru, the Spaniards heard 

 rumors of the great city of the Montezumas. In March. 1519, 

 Hernando Cortez, one of the most daring and able of the adventur- 

 ous Spaniards, landed on the coast of Mexico with ten vessels, 

 600 to 700 soldiers, 18 horsemen and some cannon. He burnt 

 his ships, thus cutting off all retreat, and then marched toward 

 the city of Mexico. By his courage, address and strategy he 

 conquered or made friends of several tribes of Indians hostile to 

 Montezuma. He pushed onward to the city of Mexico, where he 

 was received with great pomp by Montezuma and escorted into 

 the city as his friend and guest. Soon after Cortez, learning that 

 Montezuma was preparing to attack the inavders, visited him 

 in his palace, and by persuasion and force took him to the Span- 

 ish quarters and kept him a prisoner. Some time later the In- 

 dians chose another king and attacked the Spaniards, but after 

 a slight success were defeated with great loss. Then Cortez, hav-* 

 ing captured and fortified the city of Mexico, defeated the other 

 tribes and subdued the whole country. He subsequently ex- 

 plored it to the gulf of California and Lower California, on the 

 other side of the gulf. He then returned to Spain, but was not 

 received by Charles V as he expected. Forcing his way to the 

 royal presence, Cortez replied to Charles, who wished to know 

 Avho the intruder was, '' I am the man who has given you more 

 provinces than your father left you cities." There is no tale in 

 the history of the Avorld more marvelous than the conquest of Peru 

 and Mexico, when we consider the high culture and strength of 

 the natives, the small number of Europeans engaged, the extent 

 of the conquests, and the value of the treasures obtained. 



The Spanish discoverers of America were men of marked 

 ability, capable of enduring privations of every kind, prompt in 

 action, prepared for every emergency, proud, brave and self- 



