114 NICARAGUA. 



It is a fact that when Gonzalez de Avila embarked from 

 Panama to the Gulf of Nicaya about the year 1522, the 

 Pacific Ocean had been known to Nunez for ten years at least. 



In one of his expeditions in 15 14, he came upon some 

 high mountains which he ascended, and from its summit, he 

 was the first who saw the two Oceans. Soon after he 

 reached a large bay, which he called San Miguel. This bay 

 was sprinkled with islands and treacherous rocks. 



It lays south of Panama. From there, he made several 

 expeditions of discovery, and found great treasures of gold 

 and pearls, the last being very abundant. In the province of 

 B no nia 7na, perha.ps Psinamsi? the ^Spaniards enriched them- 

 selves with chains and breastplates of gold, which in great 

 plenty hung on the walls of the houses. 



About that time Pedrarias Davila, a knight, accom- 

 panied by his wife, Elizabeth Boadilla, sailed from Spain to 

 New Andalusia. He had fifteen ships and fifteen hundred men 

 under his command. He first landed at River Daria, or Darien, 

 where he built three forts to secure the passage to the Pacific. 

 He was cheerfully received by Nunez. Not being satisfied 

 with the place called Maria Antigua, the town built by the 

 Spaniards in a deep valley, too hot and unhealthy, he sent 

 several expeditions to survey the neighbouring countries. 

 Amongst others, Caspar Morales was sent to explore the 

 Pacific Coasts ; it was he, who found such a treasure in pearls 

 that Pope Leo X. gave forty-four thousand ducats to a 

 Venetian merchant for one of them. Gonzalez Badajoz, also 

 went to the Pacific later on, and explored the coasts for a 

 distance of about 180 miles. Soon after, he was joined by 

 Commander Luis Mercado. At first they were very successful, 

 and raised a large qauntity of gold from the different Kings 

 and Cazics or Governors of the countries where they passed ; 

 but the end of their expedition was disastrous. Excepting a 

 few of them, amongst whom was one named Francisco de la 

 Puente, who escaped and returned to Darian, the others were 

 killed by King Panza, who, with his troops surrounded and 

 massacred them. This disaster was partly due to their 

 avarice, each soldier at the time, carrying a full load of gold, 

 which prevented them defending themselves as they could 

 have done, had they not been so burdened with treasure. 



About the same time there was a clash betw^een Nunez 

 and Pedrarias, who had the former imprisoned and beheaded. 

 Not long after, Lobo Sosa, Governor of the Canary Islands, 

 was sent as Governor of New Andalusia, to replace Pedrarias 



