the people to war against the Spaniards.  From Puna, Pizarro sent three Spaniards to Tumbez, in Peru, to treat of amity; but the Peruvians seized them, and put them to death.  On hearing of this cruel action, Pizarro crossed over to the main, and made a sudden attack, during the night, on the city of Tumbez, killing great numbers of the inhabitants.  The remainder submitted and made peace, presenting him large gifts of gold and silver, and other riches.  Pizarro then built a town on the river Cira, which he named St Michael of Tangarara, which was the first habitation of the Christians in these parts; and he appointed Sebastian de Benalcazar to the command.  After this, he made search for a secure haven on the coast, and found one every way to his wish at Payta.

In the same year, 1531, Diego de Ordas went, with 600 soldiers and 35 horses, to settle the country on the Maranon, or river of the Amazons; but, dying on the voyage, this expedition proved fruitless.  Afterwards, in the year 1534, Hierom Artal was sent thither with 130 soldiers, yet he came not to the river, but formed settlements at St Michael de Neveri, and other places in Paria.  Aries d’Acugna, a Portuguese gentleman, went likewise to the Maranon, with ten ships, 900 men, and 130 horses, where he spent much, and did little to purpose; but the greatest loser in this expedition was John de Barros.  This great river Maranon is in lat. 3 deg.  S.[67], its mouth being 15 leagues, or 60 miles across, with many inhabited islands, on which there are many trees producing incense, much larger than those of Arabia.  It produces gold and precious stones, and an emerald was found there as large as the palm of the hand.  The people of that country make a kind of drink of a species of oats that are as large as quinces.

Nunnez de Gusman was sent from Mexico, in 1531, with 500 soldiers, half of whom were cavalry, and 6000 Indians to carry his baggage and provisions, to discover and subdue the countries to the northwest of the kingdom of Mexico.  In this expedition he reduced the countries of Xalisco, Ceintiliquipac, Ciametlan, Tovalla, Cnixo, Ciamolla, Culhuacan, and other places.  On this expedition he marched through Mechuacan, where he acquired much gold, and 10,000 marks of silver.  To the country of Xalisco he gave the name of New Galicia, because it was rugged and mountainous, and the people robust and hardy.  He built many towns in the conquered countries; particularly Compostella, Guadalajara, after the place of his own birth in Spain, Santo Espirito de la Conception, and St Michael, which last is in lat. 24 deg.  N. In 1532, Cortes sent Diego Hurtado de Mendoca in two ships from Acapulco, which is 70 leagues from Mexico, on purpose to explore the coast of the South Sea, as he had been ordered to do by the emperor.  Mendoca sailed from Acapulco to the harbour of Xalisco, or Xalis, on the river Barania, in lat. 22 deg.  N. where he wished to take in wood and water.  But he was resisted there,