Notes on the earliest discoveries in America. 323 
Meanwhile the Spaniards were timidly tempting their new 
ocean. ‘The South Sea shores of Darien, Panama, and Veragua 
were explored in 1515 to 1517, as they had been a few years be- 
fore on the north side, with a view of finding a water communi- 
cation from ocean to ocean. Estevan Gomez, another decoyed 
Portuguese pilot in the service of Spain, who went with Magel- 
lan in 1519 as far as the Straits and there discreditably deserted 
The same year Cortes, after having subjected the mighty bar- 
baric empire o Montezuma, extending from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific, with characteristic energy set himself to work exploring 
to find a natural water passage, or to make an artificial one. 
He ordered four ships to be built at Zacatula, two for direct 
trade to the Moluccas, and two to search for the strait. The 
voyage to the Moluccas was postponed, but the search for the 
pe 
tions of Avila and his own, every inlet was ge i: between 
San Miguel, a 
two oceans, His plan was to sénd another fleet the western 
of the German 
aroused to the importance of maintaining th hey 
no, asserted them, and pronounced this trade with the Mo- 
uceas - . . ee 
ay 
