Even in the event of being named by the
king to to its government; and they add, that in addressing himself on
this occasion to the holy body of Christ, he used these words, "If I
should violate the oath which I now make, I pray, O Lord! that thou mayest
punish and confound me in body and soul."
After this solemn agreement; Almagro prepared everything for his departure,
and accordingly set out with above five hundred men, as shall be related
in the next section. Pizarro returned to Lima, whence he sent Alfonso de
Alvarado to conquer the country of the Chachapoyas, which is in the
mountainous region of Peru about sixty leagues from Truxillo. This officer
and his followers encountered much difficulty and labour in this
enterprize, in which they at length succeeded, by forming establishments
and reducing the inhabitants to submission; after which, the government of
the province was conferred upon Alvarado, by whom the conquest had been
effected.
[1] With regard to this person, the original French translator makes the
following observation: "Perhaps this is the person named Hernando de
Luque at the beginning of the first section, who is said to have been
one of the original adventurers in the enterprize. If so, the name of
de Luque on the former occasion may be an error of the press." - It
must be observed however, that Garcilasso de la Vega names the third
person of the original fraternity Hernando de Luque, and makes no
mention whatever of Ponce de Leon. - E.
[2] Neither Zarate nor Garcilasso mention the number of troops embarked on
this expedition, but we learn from Robertson, II. 206, that the whole
armament consisted of 180 soldiers, 36 of whom were horsemen. - E.
[3] According to Robertson, II. 293, Pizarro landed in the bay of St
Matthew. The distance of 100 Spanish leagues from Tumbez, mentioned by
Garcilasso as the intended place of landing, would lead us to the Rio
de Santjago in lat. 1 deg. S. on the coast of Tacames or Esmeraldas.
Garcilasso says that Pizarro had two vessels, which he immediately
sent back to Panama. But these seem to have accompanied the march of
Pizarro to Coaque. - E.
[4] From the sequel, this place appears to have been in the province of
Tacames. - E.
[5] A species of gold coin worth 14 reals 18 maravedies. Garcilasso says
that Pizarro sent 24000 or 25000 ducats of gold to Almagro, part of
which was plunder, and part received in ransom for prisoners. - E.
[6] In making this small progress the whole of the year 1531 had been
employed, and the year 1532 was already begun before Pizarro left
Coaque. - Roberts. H. of Amer. II. 288.
[7] Perhaps that now called Mancora, intermediate between the river of
Tumbez and that of Piura.
