16 



INTRODUCTORY. 



found a large town inhabited by an incredible number of savages, all 

 soldiers, guarding this great port of the river, and entrance into the 

 empire of the Musus. No women were to be seen ; they lived in 

 another town, a league off, and only came in by day to bring food 

 and drink to the warriors, and returned at night. 



" He observed that the river at this place divided into many arms, 

 all appearing navigable, and formed large islands, on which were great 

 towns. He travelled hence twenty-seven days, when he arrived at 

 court. The King came out to meet him, dressed in the finest and 

 most delicate feathers, of different colors. He treated his guest with 

 great courtesy, had a sumptuous feast prepared for him, and told him 

 that, hearing of his wonderful powers as a physician, he had sent for 

 him to cure the Queen of a disease which had baffled the skill of all 

 his doctors. The good father remarked that he was no physician, 

 and had not been bred to that art ; but observing that the Queen was 

 beset with devils, ("obsesa,") he exorcised her according to the formulary, 

 whereby she was thankfully made a Christian. He was eleven months 

 in the court of the Paititi ; at the end of which time, seeing that the 

 wine and flour for the sacred elements were giving out, and having 

 baptized an infinite number of infants in "Articulo Mortis," he took 

 leave of their majesties, recommending to the Queen that she hold 

 fast the faith she had received, abstaining from all offence towards 

 God. He refused from the King a great present of gold, silver, pearls, 

 and rich feathers ; whereat (says Father Tomas) the King and cour- 

 tiers wondered greatly." 



These are of the number of stories which, inflaming the cupidity 

 of the Spaniards, led them to brave the perils of the wilderness in 

 search of El Dorado. They serve to show at this day the little con- 

 fidence which is to be placed in the relations of the friars concerning 

 this country; I do not imagine, however, that they are broad lies. 

 The soldiers of Maldonado evidently mistook monkeys for pigmies, 

 and some beast of the forest, probably the tapir, for a giant ; and there 

 is doubtless some truth in the account of Padre Tomas, though one 

 cannot credit the six hundred ambassadors; the river that could 

 scarcely be seen across; the garrisoned port; and the gold, silver, and 

 pearls of an alluvial country. 



But the defeated followers of Almagro, flying from before the face 

 of the still victorious Pizarros, did find to the eastward of Cuzco a 

 country answering, in some degree, to the description of the fabulous El 

 Dorado. They penetrated into the valleys of Carabaya. and found 

 there washings of gold of great value. They subjugated the Indians ; 



