quired or improved the talents which fitted him for the extraordinary actions which he afterwards performed. Herman de Cortes had likewise engaged early in this enterprise, which roused all the active youth of Hispaniola to arms; but the good fortune that accompanied him in his subsequent adventures interposed, and saved him from the disasters to which his companions were exposed. He was taken ill at St. Domingo before the departure of the fleet, and detained there by a tedious indisposition.

A. D. 1511.

Notwithstanding the unfortunate issue of this expedition, the Spaniards were not deterred from engaging in new schemes of a similar nature. Don Diego Columbus proposed to conquer the island of Cuba, and to establish a colony there, and many persons of chief distinction in Hispaniola engaged with alacrity in the measure. He gave the command of the troops destined for that service to Diego Velasquez, one of his father's companions in his second voyage, and who, having been long settled in Hispaniola, seemed to be well qualified for conducting an expedition of importance. Three hundred men were deemed sufficient for the conquest of an island above seven hundred miles in length, and filled with inhabitants. But they were of the same unwarlike character with the people of Hispaniola, and had made no preparations towards a defence. The only obstruction the Spaniards met with was from Hatuey, a cazique, who had fled from Hispaniola, and had taken possession of the eastern extremity of Cuba. He stood upon the defensive at their first landing, and endeavoured to drive them back to their ships. His feeble troops, however, were soon dispersed, and he himself taken prisoner, Velasquez, according to the

barbarous maxim of the Spaniards, considered him as a slave who had taken arms against his master, and condemned him to the flames. When Hatuey was fastened to the stake, a Franciscan friar laboured to convert him, and promised him admittance into the joys of heaven, if he would embrace the Christian faith. "Are there any "Spaniards," says he, "in that region of bliss "which you describe?" "Yes," replied the monk, "but only such as are worthy and good." "The best of them," returned the indignant cazique, "have neither worth nor goodness; I will "not go to a place where I may meet with one "of that accursed race." This dreadful example of vengeance struck the people of Cuba with such terror, that they scarcely gave any opposition to the progress of the invaders; and Velasquez, without the loss of a man, annexed this extensive and fertile island to the Spanish monarchy.

The facility with which this important conquest was completed, served as an incitement to other undertakings. Juan Ponce de Leon having acquired both fame and wealth by the reduction of Puerto Rico, fitted out, at his own expense, three ships for a voyage of discovery. He stood to the southwest, and reached a country hitherto unknown to the Spaniards, which he called Florida. He attempted to land in different places, but met with such vigorous opposition from the natives, who were fierce and warlike, as convinced him that an increase of force was requisite to effect a settlement.

It was not merely a passion for searching new countries that prompted Leon to undertake this voyage he was influenced by one of those visionary ideas, which at that time often mingled

with the spirit of discovery, and rendered it more active. A tradition prevailed among the natives of Puerto Rico, that in one of the Lucayo islands there was a fountain of such wonderful virtue, as to renew the youth and recal the vigour of every person who bathed in its salutary waters. In hopes of finding this grand restorative, Leon and his followers ranged through the islands, searching, with fruitless solicitude and labour, for the fountain which was the chief object of their expedition.

Soon after the expedition to Florida, a discovery of much greater importance was made in another part of America. Balboa, having been raised to the government of a small colony at Santo Maria, in Darien, by the voluntary suffrages of his associates, was extremely desirous of obtaining from the crown a confirmation of their election. Having, however, no interest at court, he endeavoured to merit the dignity to which he aspired, and aimed at performing some signal service, that would secure him preference to every competitor. Full of this idea, he made frequent inroads into the adjacent country, subdued several caziques, and collected a considerable quantity of gold. In one of these excursions the Spaniards contended with such eagerness about the division of some gold, that they were proceeding to acts of violence against one another. A young cazique who was present, astonished at the high value which they set upon a thing of which he did not discern the use, tumbled the gold out of the balance with indignation; and turning to the Spaniards, "Why do you quarrel," says he," about such a trifle? If you are so passionately fond of gold as to abandon your own country, and disturb the tranquillity of distant na

tions for its sake, I will conduct you to a region where the metal is so common that the meanest utensils are formed of it." Transported with what they heard, Balboa eagerly inquired where this happy country lay. He informed him, that at the distance of six suns, that is six days journey towards the south, they should discover another ocean, near to which this wealthy kingdom was situated; but if they intended to attack that powerful state, they must assemble forces far superior in number and strength to those which now ap. peared.

This was the first information that the Spaniards received concerning the opulent country of Peru. Balboa had now before him objects suited to his ambition and enterprising genius. He immediately concluded that he should find, what Columbus had sought for in vain, a direct communication with the East-Indies. Elated with the idea of performing what so great a man had fruitlessly attempted, he was impatient until he could set out upon this enterprise, in comparison of which all his former exploits appeared inconsiderable. Previous arrangement was, however, necessary; he sent officers to Hispaniola, from which place he allured a great number of volunteers, and he thought himself in a condition to attempt the discovery. He set out upon this important expedition on the 1st of September, about the time when the periodical rains began to 1513. abate. Without any difficulty they reached the territories of a cazique whose friendship he had gained. Though their guides had represented the breadth of the isthmus to be only a journey of six days, they spent twenty-five in forcing their way through the woods and mountains. Many of

A. D.

them were ready to sink with fatigue and disease. At length the Indians assured them, that from the top of the next mountain they should discover the ocean which was the object of their wishes. When, with infinite toil, they had climbed up the greater part of that steep ascent, Balboa commanded his · men to halt, and advanced alone to the summit, that he might be the first who should enjoy a spectacle which he had so long desired. As soon as he beheld the South Sea stretching in endless prospect below him, he fell on his knees, and lifting up his hands to heaven, returned thanks to God, who had conducted him to a discovery so beneficial to his country and so honourable to himself. His followers, observing his transports of joy, rushed forward to join in his wonder, exultation, and gratitude. They held on their course to the shore with great alacrity; when Balboa, advancing up to the middle in the waves, with his buckler and sword, took possession of the ocean in the name of the king his master, and vowed to defend it, with those arms, against all his enemies.

That part of the great Pacific Ocean which Balboa first discovered still retains the name of the Gulf of St. Michael, which he gave it, and is situated on the east of Panama. From several of the petty princes who governed in the districts adjacent to that gulf, he extorted provisions and gold; others sent them to him voluntarily. To these presents some of the caziques added a considerable quantity of pearls, and he learned from them, with much satisfaction, that pearl oysters abounded in the sea which he had newly discovered. Together with the acquisition of this wealth, which served to sooth and encourage his followers, he received accounts which confirmed