BALBOA. THE PACIFIC. 465 



and collected a great quantity of gold, which abounded more in 

 that part of the continent than in the islands. 



It happened during one of his frequent excursions that a 

 young Cacique, witnessing a very angry dispute among the 

 Spaniards about a few grains of gold, asked them in a con- 

 temptuous tone why they quarrelled about such a trifle; and 

 added, that, if they set such an exorbitant value upon a metal 

 comparatively worthless in his eyes, he could gratify their 

 utmost wishes by pointing out to them a land where gold was so 

 plentiful that even common utensils were made of it. And when 

 Balboa eagerly asked where that happy country was situated, 

 "Six days' journey to the south," was the answer, "will bring 

 you to another ocean along whose coast it lies ! " 



This was the first time the Spaniards ever heard of the Pacific 

 and of gold-teeming Peru, and the intelligence was well calcu- 

 lated to inflame the enterprising spirit of their leader. Balboa 

 immediately concluded that this sea must be that which Colum- 

 bus and ,so many other navigators had vainly sought for, and 

 that its discovery would beyond all doubt open the way to 

 India, which, according to the geographical error of the times, 

 was supposed to be far less distant from America than it 

 really is. 



The most brilliant prospects rose before his fancy, and he 

 would immediately have gone forth to realise them, if prudence 

 had not warned him first to provide all the means necessary to 

 insure success. He therefore endeavoured before all to gain the 

 good-will of the neighbouring Indian chiefs, and sent some trust- 

 worthy agents to Hispaniola with a considerable quantity of 

 o^old, whereby many adventurers were induced to flock to his 

 standard. Having thus reinforced himself, he thought he might 

 now safely undertake his important expedition. 



The Isthmus of Darien, over which he had to force his way, 

 is not above sixty miles broad, but this short distance was ren- 

 dered difficult, or rather impervious, by the innumerable obstacles 

 of a tropical wilderness. The high mountains running along the 

 neck of land were covered with dense forests, and the low grounds 

 beneath filled with deep swamps, from which arose exhalations 

 deadly to a European constitution. Wild torrents rushed 

 down the ravines, and often forced them to retrace their steps. 

 A march through a country like this, thinly peopled by a few 



