Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-03

these outfits ojeda sailed in Los; but
lefore leaving he made r deal with
.he Rachiller Fernandez Enciseo, who
lad accumulated a fortune in the law
practice, u 1T out Il ship and follow
later
t.ncisco started in the spring Of 1910.
Balboa wished to accompany him. but
unhafpiN, the law prohibited debtors
from leaving the locality of their IN
dchtedncss For this reason Balboa
had himself carried on board the snip
in a sasll which was not opened till
the vessel WAS ut sea. Thenccforth he
Was known IL his companions as Eel
Hombre del easco. the man of the
ca.tk.
THE cXYcditan driftetl about aimleSs-
ly- fuI a year without finding trace OF
0ieda. Then Balboa told of having
been in that same locality with Basti-
das some years before and described
a favored region on the banks of riy
or called Darien by tie natives. The
surrounding country was fertile and
gold mines were said to be near by.
Best Of all. the Indians there did not
fight with poisoned arrows.
Following Balboas counsel the expe-
ditien made for Darien. where they
founded a town and c,aistencd it Sam
Ia 5iaFia dc Ia Antigua del Darien, or
Antigua for short. Fifty thousand dol
lars 8erth of booty WIS captured, be-
sides important stores of food. Put the
Spaniards quarreled among themselves.
the esuit was that Balboa was made
the chief and t,ncisco was banished.
Encis1o Immediately set out for Spain
to complain Of Balboas usurpation.
Balboa fCresaW that a lawyer like
tfnesoo would probably be able to
plead his cause efteetually at court;
but he also realized that if he could ac
cnrnplish some big feat and win u
handsome fortune to send back TO his
roval master his usurpation would be
Justified. So he started inland at the
head Of his forces. Piazarro. the flu
ta.e ecnnueror of Peru. was one of
Bafhoa-s ablest hcutenants In a man
rer net al ali to their credit the Span
ialds first raided chief named Garcia,
after he had befriendcd them, Fearing
the white men, Garcia agreed to reveal
the riches of the land To them, and
vixen they seemed inclined to doubt his
word the old man said To Malboa:
Behold my daughter. I give her to
thee as a pledge of friendship. Take
her for thy wife and he assured of the
fidelity of her family and her people.
Keeping his word to Garcia Balboa
overcame a neighboring cacique and
added materially to his growing treas
llre. Then he made a friendly visit to
At. =
chiefs of the lsthmian tribes Regard
ing the Spaniards as heaven sent Com
aEre received them warmly. To cap
the climax, 1000 ounces of gold and 60
slaves were presented To Balboa as Il
token of friendship. Setting aside one
hfth for the crown Balboa ordered the
remainder to be divided among his
men.
violent quarrel arose among thu
Spaniards over this division. Pamela
co, Comagre's eldest son, was disgust
ed by this sordid brawl and, Ieapine
forward knocked the pearls broadcast.
'Why do you quarrel about such
trash as this2" he demanded of the as
tonished Spaniards. IF this gold is so
precious in your eyes that for it you
abandon your homes, invade the peace
full lands of others and expose yourself
to perils and sufferings, | will tell you
of "A region where you may crafty
your wishes to the utmost" And as
the Spaniards strained forward Pan
ciaco continued:
| Realizing the Importance of the ALL
ance with the natives. Balboa accepted
the maiden. They were never married
European wise, but she became his
wife according to the customs of his
own people. Balboa grew To be very
fond of her, and she acquired great
influence over him. To his faithful
ness to this native Princess his ulti-
mate downfall is to be ascribed in
some measure.
Behold those lofty mountains