

THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 11 



countries." The vessel on whiclvhe was secreted was 

 commanded by one Enciso, and was subsequently 

 wrecked off St. Sebastian, after having visited Car- 

 thagena. By the energy and perseverance of Balbao, 

 it was finally got off, and set sail, under his charge, 

 for the coast, of which he took formal possession in 

 the name of the Spanish monarch, and commenced 

 the town of Santa Maria. In the meantime, he had 

 gained a perfect ascendency over Enciso, the origi- 

 nal master of the ship. In the middle of September, 

 1513, he, in company with the afterwards celebrated 

 Francis Pizarro, started on an expedition inland, 

 which resulted in the discovery of the Pacific Ocean, 

 and the founding of the important city of Panama. 

 " On reaching the shore, he walked into the sea up 

 to his middle, with his armor on, and solemnly per- 

 formed the ceremony of taking possession, in the 

 name of the crown of Castile, of the ocean which he 

 had discovered." 



Balbao possessed, in a remarkable degree, the 

 faculty of controlling the passions of men, was 

 always kind and attentive to the sick, and conse- 

 quently popular with his subjects ; yet, notwith- 

 standing all this, and the large amounts of gold he 

 sent home, which. he fairly purchased of the natives, 

 he was finally beheaded on a charge of having cut 

 down trees to build a town, without the governor's 

 license. It is .scarcely necessary to say, that this 

 loyal murder was instigated by those who were jeal- 

 ous of his popularity, and envious of his honors. 





