New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-29
nv. This was the conclusion Of Irving; but we
elieye that it is not accepted by later nvestiga-

tors.
We might copy specimen pages almost at random
without danger of doing Mr. Bancroft injustice, Tor
he is never dull. gooJ example OF his skill VIII
bo found in the following vivacious extract from
the account OF the discovery of the Pacific ocean
The Spaniards began their march on me ot1 G o.,
Senrember The second day brought them 10 the
lands of Popca who having been warned Oh tne'r
onnronch had retired from the pain. Dut other
thoughts than those OF punIer anu Pett1 rfr
ring TO leave no enemy in his rear, while resting IN
the cacioues comfortable quarters lie made over
tures of friendship to the cher, VINO stIalghtWay
retnrncd from his hiding and gave gold, together
with valuable information concerning tne southern
sea and the route thlther in return LOT BEADS MIR
rors hawk bells, and axes. FOR none knew oclIer
tGan the courteous Governor how to klndle frend-
shin III the savage breast, and make u prontaDie.
The gold which Ponca gave consisted oi nnely
wrought ornaments from beyond the mountains
and ten rounds of the metal from ms own mines
He described a certain summit from Whlch thIs
southern sea might easily De seen eaIG
oil the nations to he encountered by the cpdhaIus,
and furnished them with guides Tor the secret
passes. ,.-.;.... horo
the sick and wayworn, the Spanlards were Oh thell
suuthward march again tue 10th of September
BET veen the Sc Vera provinces were no Deaten pas
across the rivers bridges; so great were the M
pedlmens to their progress, ana so much more tit
was consumed than had been anticipated lha'
food began TO fan. ,.o,.,,l.;oe +ho,
came TO the foot of the nigh mountains Where tcr-
minated their paclied territory. ana where they
mut ,renare TO iii spute the with native soNer-
ppns of the soil. Ascending tho MOUNTAINS ucy
encountered on the 9th Il cacluqc halneu OIyuo'
lord of the province of Quarequa the ruler OF 'nts9
PARTS whose arrogance. led by his successes nh',
knit full pacc with them. At the head OF thousand
warriors PoTque appeared hrlOlc hasco NuHt|'
demanded tie object OF hS Visit. ana lhIcaicHeu 10
Kill every man who should put loOJ WilHH M
dontnions Tie SpanlaTds nevertheless COlilnutd
alowlv To advance. keeping well together Amazed
at their temerty, and indignant at the seeming IN
lii. Pm Nc.
them with flourish OF veal OhS ana teIiluc 9cis'
confident of easy victory. But as well might ne
have spert his unleavenei force against the eternal
Waiting until the whole swarm was well within
reach NascO NuneZ gave orders To charge. Nu'ut
ing the inspiring waI-cry, S;htidgo eilos 'no
Suani,rds sprlu, uuon them. Iue firearms were
discharged, the bOOGhOunds let loose, anu SlIIIH7
the cruel steel into the NAKED bodies oil Tie thtF'
he was literally heWn IN pieces. Naln!Y, III VIA
confusion, the saVaeeS struggled 10 eSc"pSi l"o
dash of ire the laundering NOISE. the sulohuroGS
smoke Uerelt them of thtlr SeuSeS MAXINE easy WoIN
for the sharp iron which enteIed uhIca4NlcN 'IIciI
,itals until six hundred lay dead upon the ground
POl0ue among the number. Many pr Sohcfs were
taken: the survivors CscapeG 10 the mis-; IN the
VILLAGE OF OUaIequa was found much needed food,
and some gold. 80 tOlsOuc had been tut maith
flat eighteen days had passed. Since leaving ca
eta's town. Ana here NaScU NuucL tes,cd loi the
night, nursing his wounded, ana cheering the Sc4
and down lea ted. The guides Wnom Ionc3 Eau
furnished, and who had proved OF incaicui2"Ie
service to the explorers, were dismissed 10 'ntlr
home with presents, and with hearts made glad bI
The destruction OF Torque 20 Tolls round the udnet
inexorable nature, detestcd death giving hourly Joy
The 18th of september, 1913. day ever memor,
able in the annals Of the Pacific states, CaNncd
brightly over the sierra of QuarcGua. The village
in which the Spaniards had made their quarters
was situated on all elevated plateau, ana near ID
rose the reputed mountain whose Summit had LOT
AGES eaZed on the mysterious southern sea. Al an
carly hour Nasco NuncZ was astir, to prepare with
thrilling anticipation for The ascent, but sNty'
seven ont of the one hundred and ninety Spahlaids
h bad DfttlaIT ptt
enterprise at Antigua possessed suihcieht StltnR.h
for the present effort. Del artlng from the town,
their way at first lay through IL tangled forest,
which iruCed the mountain base, ana whose uelse
foliage hid from view the more Distant objects
As they mounted upward INTO Il cooler, drer atm0S-
phrre the vegetation became more stun .ed, yet the
uudcrrrowth was still so thick that the soldiers
mad TO cut passage with their sabres. Emerging
at length into an open space near the summit Il
bare eminenCe pointed out by the guides,
whence the view was said to be unrestricted, ana
the sea distinctly visible.
Viewed prosacally, there was nothing astound-
ing In ascending hill and taking look at rlc
ocean 1t had been often done elsewhere IL hau
been often done here. Nor was there any peculiar
difference betW ecu sea and land here and sea and
land elsewhere But there that to the minds OF
the impetuOus and impressbe Spanards, there IL
mat tu Uur own minds in first things and first
views of things, our hTst Wow. our counttys first
awakening that strS the soul aud sets faster beat
Ing the heart. Reduced to words, the sentiment Is
the pleasure the mind derives from Improving sur
prses it is the Joy OF development the ecstasy oil
evolution.
II such be commonly the case, now much more
reason had NascO NuneZ de Balh0a 10 DC lnlas
stoned on this occasion Behind him was
igrominy perhaps chains aud death; before hlm
was glory. immortal fame. And 1t was meet III him
tnat this ordinarily trivial act should be con
suumated with 1t ceremony becoming to one oil CIV
illzatOn's great achievements
Ordering a halt, NaNcO Nuncz advanced alone.
His should be the first European eye to behold what
there was to behold and that without pcradyenture.
With thTobbing heart he mounted the topmost emil
nence which crowned these sea-divldlug hills:
Then DIS IN the lifting of veil. scene OF prhueval
gplendor burst his enraptured gaze, such as
might ill with Joy an archangel sent To explore
new creation. There 1t Law, that b0undlcSs I'M
known sea. spread out before him. far as the eye
could reach, in calm, majestic beauty, shtierlng
like liquid crystal in the morning sun Beneath his
feet in fuTrOwed prospect were terraces OF llNlng
green. spOrtive with rldescent light and shade;
waving plains and feathered sterps White-ined
with flowing waters here dashnS bolsterOuSiy
down the hillside. yondcr winding silent through
the signing foliage TO the allIccelvlng sea- In that
first Illimitabie glance time stood back the mists
lifted ana eternity was there hat wonder II t.
this Spanish cavalier. in that moment OF triumph
aut jOy visions of the mighty future appeared pc.
tnred on the ceIuican heights visions OF populQns
cities OF fleets and armies, OF lands teen'rg With
wealth and industry. And to spain should ali
these blessings aud advantages accrue; to Spaiu
Dropping on his knees, he poured forth praise
and thanksgiving to the author OF that glorious
creation for the honor of It's discovery. The sol
dIers then pressed forward. gazed enchanted like
wise, and likewise assumed tie attitude OF prayer;
for howe dcvOtcdly these cavaliers served their
devil, they never ceased praying to their god
Descending the mountain on its scaward side
they were met by cacique, called like Lls prov
nce, Chiapes, who ordered them back If they
sought not death. The policy of NascO NuneZ here
was peace Hostile entanglements at this iuncturc
he knew would SOONER Oh later result in the destruc
ton Of his party. Ii must be peace. however,
based on fear AMI respect, seldom to he achieved
among savages except by slaughter. Overures Of
friendship were accordingly instituted by sudden
and vigorous onslaught with firearms. cGoss-bOws
and bloodhounds, during which Chapes took to bis
heels midst thunder. smoke and CONSERVATION; in
consequence of which he was all The more happy
when the men of Quarelua sought him out, and
ted him that these supernatural visitors who held
the elements at their command were easily prOp
tiated with gold. TremblinglV he appeared and laid