CHAP. I.

NEWS OF THE CONQUEST OF PERU.

11

Francisco from Spain, his brother, Hernando Pizarro, returned with the astounding intelligence of the conquest of the empire of Peru, of the capture of the Inca, the unfortunate Atahuallpa, and of the prodigious quantity of gold and silver acquired by the Spaniards, the Royal fifth of which, besides a wonderful display of rare jewels and curious ornaments, Pizarro had sent home to the Emperor, a treasure such as had never before been seen in Europe, thus more than realising all the reports of a land teeming with gold and silver in the interior of the new continent, of which Cabot had obtained perhaps the first and most positive proofs through the Indians of the Paraná.

The effect produced in Spain by the wonderful accounts of Pizarro and of the Spaniards who returned with him laden with their share of the spoils of Peru, can be better imagined than described. All men were eager to rush there; it was it was no longer a question of enlisting a few desperate adventurers to go they knew not whither or for what. Nobles of the highest rank and hidalgos of every grade pressed forward to offer their services to the Crown, and to solicit as a favour to be permitted to embark at their own cost and expense for these newly-discovered regions.

Never had so many Cavaliers of noble and gentle lineage embarked for the New World as Hernando Pizarro took with him on his return, in 1534, to join his brother Francisco in Peru; but hardly had that brilliant armament been despatched, when another expedition was prepared, which in numbers and appointments completely eclipsed it, and, considering the uncertainty of the object in view, was a still more remarkable exemplification of the wild spirit of adventure which pervaded all classes at that time. This was the expedition fitted out by Don Pedro de Mendoza for the conquest and settlement of the Rio de la Plata.

CHAPTER II.

1534-1538.

Brilliant Armament fitted out by Mendoza for the Rio de la Plata - Sails in 1534-The Spaniards land at, Buenos Ayres - Are attacked by the Indians, and suffer great losses Famine also They abandon their Settlement at Buenos Ayres and proceed up the River- Mendoza returns to Spain, and dies on the way Ayolas is cut off in an attempt to reach Peru — Yrala settles in Paraguay, and is elected Governor.

INSTIGATED not only by the brilliant accounts of Peru sent home by Pizarro, but by the conviction, as we may infer, which was entertained by the Piloto Mayor* of the possibility of reaching that region of riches by the Rio de la Plata, Don Pedro de Mendoza, a gentleman of the Emperor's household, and who, like Pizarro, had been follower of the Great Captain in the Italian wars, obtained permission to equip an armament to take possession of the countries discovered by Cabot, and to found settlements there at his own cost; in return for which he was to be appointed Governor thereof, with the title of Adelantado, and various privileges of importance set forth in an Asiento, or formal contract, entered into with him by his Imperial master. According to the agreement in question, Mendoza bound himself to take out 1000 men fully armed and equipped, with sufficient supplies to last them for a year, with medical officers to take care of the sick, and a number of missionaries for the conversion of the Indians—an object which, as well as their good treatment, the Emperor wished it to be understood he had much at heart. He was to bear the entire cost of the expedition; and it was expressly stipulated that the Emperor was not to be called upon to

*"Llegado Sebastian Cabot á Castilla dió cuenta á Su Magestad de lo que habia descubierto y visto en aquellas provincias, la buena disposicion calidad y temple de la tierra, la gran suma de naturales, con la noticia, y muestras de oro y plata

que traia; y de tal manera supo ponderar este negocio, que algunos caballeros de caudal pretendieron esta conquista y gobernacion."--La Argentina de Guzman, cap. x.

CHAP. II.

MENDOZA'S EXPEDITION.

13

pay any part of the expenses; even the salary of the Adelantado, fixed at 2000 ducats, with as much more for his entertainment, was to be chargeable upon the lands he had yet to conquer.

To those who might volunteer to accompany him were conceded all the privileges usually granted to those going to the Indies; and to sharpen their zeal in the cause, and to remind them perhaps of the enormous booty in the shape of ransom recently obtained from the unfortunate Inca by the followers of Pizarro, it was specifically set forth in the Asiento, that if any Sovereign Prince should fall into their hands, the whole of his ransom, although by law belonging to the Emperor, was to be divided amongst the conquerors, deducting only the Royal fifths.

No sooner were the terms of this Asiento made public than men of all degrees came forward to join Mendoza, attracted partly by his rank and position about the Court, and not less perhaps by the alluring appellation of the Rio de la Plata. More than fifty individuals of distinction are named as taking part in this enterprise. First upon the list was the Cavalier Don Juan de Osorio, an officer who had gained great repute in Italy, and who was made commander of the troops; Don Diego de Mendoza, a brother of the Adelantado, was appointed admiral of the fleet, and Juan de Ayolas, Alguazil Mayor; whilst Don Domingo Martinez de Yrala, better known from his subsequent exploits, Francisco de Mendoza, major duomo of the King of the Romans, and Don Carlos Dubrin, the Emperor's foster-brother, went out as volunteers, besides many others, some with appointments to special offices on the part of the Crown, connected with the projected settlements, and others animated only by the love of adventure and the hope of future wealth.

Besides these gentlemen, such was the press of people anxious to embark, that it became necessary to hasten the sailing of the ships before the appointed time. As it was, instead of the 1000 men for which Mendoza had stipulated, upon the first muster of the people on the passage out, there were found to be 2500 Spaniards and 150 Germans on board, besides the crews of the fourteen ships

which composed the fleet, altogether the largest armament that had ever sailed from Spain for the Indies.

The fleet left San Lucar in August, 1534, and at that favourable season of the year had a good voyage out, touching at the Canaries, the Cape de Verds, and Rio de Janeiro for refreshments; but it was not unchequered with incidents which did but little honour to the Conquistadores. At the Canaries, some of the vessels which had put into Palma became involved in a serious dispute with the inhabitants, from the misconduct of Don Jorge de Mendoza, a relation of the Adelantado, who, having taken a liking for the daughter of a gentleman of that place, landed during the night with some of his worthless companions, and carried her off by force from her father's house, with a quantity of money and jewels. As soon as it was discovered, the ships were fired into, and would probably have been detained by the exasperated natives, but for the interposition of the captain of one of the King's ships, who had accidentally put in there on his way to Mexico, and who insisted upon Don Jorge's being put on shore with the damsel, to make the only reparation in his power by marrying her, the ceremony being performed with great pomp in presence of the Governor of the place, and of the principal officers of the fleet.

A more tragical scene occurred at Rio de Janeiro. The popularity amongst the people of the gallant Osorio seems to have excited the jealousy of the Adelantado, who on some frivolous pretext went so far as to order him to be placed under arrest. Being brought into his presence at his own request to justify himself from the unfounded charges which he understood had been made against him, the Adelantado gave way to great violence, and on Osorio's leaving him, made use of some hasty expression, which Ayolas, the Alguazil Mayor, unfortunately interpreting into an order to despatch him, drew a dagger and stabbed him to the heart. An attempt afterwards made to bring forward an accusation of traitorous intentions against him met with no credit; and such was the general disgust at this atrocious assassination, that many gentlemen refused to proceed further with the expe

CHAP. II. THE SPANIARDS LAND AT BUENOS AYRES.

15

dition; whilst the excitement was so great amongst the soldiers, by whom Osorio was greatly beloved for his kindness and gallant bearing on all occasions, that Mendoza, to prevent worse consequences, was obliged to order the ships to put to sea again without delay.

They entered the Rio de la Plata in the month of January, 1535, where they found the Admiral Don Diego, who had preceded them, and who, struck with dismay on being informed of Osorio's death, is said, with an instinctive presentiment of its results, arising perhaps in part from a conviction of his own incapacity for the command, which in consequence devolved upon him, to have predicted the disastrous issue of the expedition,* and to have blamed his brother's conduct in no unmeasured terms.

The ships came to anchor off the Island of San Gabriel, and upon the little stream opposite, on the south side of the river, still called the Riachuelo, Mendoza at once commenced laying out his first settlement, named by him the port of Santa Maria de Buenos Ayres, in honour of the day, being the 2nd of February, and from the delightful climate, which at that season made a great impression upon his followers after their long voyage. But these agreeable sensations were soon dissipated. Upon disembarking the stores from the vessels, it was found that instead of the supplies of provisions for twelve months, which had been stipulated for, so great had been the consumption of them, by the unforeseen numbers on board, and so scanty the stock which remained, that it became necessary to reduce the daily rations to six ounces of biscuit to each individual; short allowance for men obliged, in addition to their ordinary duties, to labour at the erection of mud walls as a protection against the savages, of whose warlike character they were not long left in ignorance.

At first, partly from curiosity, and partly from awe of the numbers and warlike appearance of the Spaniards, the natives brought them supplies of flesh and fish; but so many hungry strangers were not easily satisfied, and after a time they gradually drew off to a distance. In some

* "Dios quiera que la ruina de todos, no sea un justo pago de la muerte de Osorio !" -Funes Hist.