166 THE PROGRESS OF MARITIME DISCOVERY. 



savages, and without any other guides than some Indians of 

 doubtful fidelity, was an enterprise worthy of all the energies of 

 a Balboa. 



On the 1st of September, 1513, after the end of the rainy sea- 

 son, he set out with a small but well chosen band of 1 90 Spaniards, 

 accompanied by 1000 Indian carriers. As long as he remained 

 on the territories of the friendly Caciques his progress was 

 comparatively easy, but scarce had he penetrated into the 

 interior, when, besides the almost invincible obstacles of nature 

 — forests, swamps, and swollen torrents, — he had to encounter 

 the deadly enmity of the Indians. As he approached, some of 

 the Caciques fled to the mountains, after having destroyed or 

 carried along with them all that might have been of use to the 

 hated strangers; while others, of more determined hostility, 

 opposed his progress by force of arms. Although the Spaniards 

 had been led to expect that a six days' march would bring them 

 to their journey's end, they had already spent no less than twenty- 

 five days in forcing their way through the wilderness, amidst 

 incessant attacks and hardships. The greater part of them were 

 rapidly giving way under fatigues almost surpassing the limits 

 of mortal endurance, and even the strongest felt that they could 

 not hold out much longer. But Balboa, ever the foremost to 

 face danger or difficulty, whose spirits no reverse could damp, 

 and whose fiery eloquence painted in glowing colours the 

 glorious reward of their present privations, knew how to inspire 

 his men with his own unconquerable spirit, so that without a 

 murmur they kept toiling on through swamp and forest. At 

 length the Indian guides pointed out to them a mountain-crest 

 from which they promised them the view of the longed-for ocean. 

 Filled with new ardour they climbed up the steep ascent, but 

 before they reached the summit Balboa ordered them to halt, 

 that he might be the first to enjoy the glorious prospect. As 

 soon as he saw the Pacific stretch out in endless majesty along 

 the verge of the distant horizon, he fell on his knees and poured 

 forth his rapturous thanks to heaven for having awarded him so 

 grand a discovery. And now also his impatient companions 

 hurried on, and soon the primeval forest — accustomed only to 

 the howlings of . the brute or the eagle's scream — resounded 

 with the loud exclamations of their astonishment, gratitude, 

 and joy. 



