3B6 A VOYAGE TO Book VL 



whither they went, and gave him an account of what 

 they had oblerved in this navigation. 



At that time the crown of Portugal was annexed 

 to Spain ^ and the governor of the captainfhip, or 

 Maranon, for the fovereign of both kingdoms, was 

 Jacome ReyQ:iundo de Norona, who, zealous for the 

 improvement of this difcovery, as of the higheft im- 

 portance to his prince, fitted out a fleet of canoes, un- 

 der the command of captain Texera, to go up the 

 river, and furvey the country with greater form and 

 accuracy. This flotilla departed from the neighbour- 

 hood of Para, on the 28th of Odlober 1637, with 

 the two religious on board ; and after an inceflant fa- 



. tigue in making way againft the ftream, they arrived 

 at Payamino on the 24th of June 1638. This place 

 belongs to the jurifdiclion of the government of 

 Quixos ; whence Texera, with the foldiers and the 



. two religious, went to Qtiito, where he gave an ac- 

 count of the expedition to the audiencia, which tranf- 

 mitted the particulars to the count de Chinchon, vice- 

 roy of Peru and he, agreeably to the zeal he had 

 always manifeftcd for enlarging his majefty's domi- 

 nions, held a council about making more particular 

 difcoveries along the fliores of that river. 



Among other things, the count de Chinchon gave 

 orders, that the Portuguefe flotilla fhould return to 

 Para and with it fent fome intelligent perfons, whofe 

 zeal might be depended on, with orders to take an 



- accurate furvey of the river and its banks *, and after 

 difcharging this commiffion, to proceed to Spain, and 

 make a report of their expedition to the council of the 

 Indies, in order to be laid before his majefty, that 

 meafures might in confequence be taken for fecuring 

 the conquefl: of thefe nations. The perfons chofen 

 were, the Reverend Fathers Chriftopher de Accuna 

 and Aiidrez de Artieda, Jefuits, a.?d perfons every way 

 equal to the fervice. They left Qiiito on the 16th of 

 February 16395 and having embarked with the ar- 



