, 1913-07-16

miral, the son Of Columbus, responded
to both requests. Two vessels were des-
patched laden with provisions, and VascO
Nunez received from the .AWdidncj0 of san
Domingo the appointment of -4lc1iIe Mayor
or Chief Magistrate Of the colony he hnd
created.
VaSco Nuhn2 then gave his Alteration .
the discovery of the isthmian region, to
collecting Information respecting the sources
CT gold supply, and respecting the other
resources Of the country. He became init
mate with the nntive rulers. the chiefs of
Coiba, of Comogre, AMI of pocotosa, and
established most friendly relations with
them. \ long and detailed despatch from
Vas"o Nufe1 lie Blbor to the Emperor
Charles v, describing all his proceedings,
has been preserved, nud is in the collection
of Navarrete.
1t was in those days, while visiting and
collecting inform ttion form the frien lv
chiefs of Darien, that Vasco Nln q receive |
the startling news from Il sou of one Of the
chiefs that, on the other side of the m0nn-
tain1, there was u vast iIlimitahle ocean.
Then, with q few followers. ard guided by
his native friends, the great discpverer
forced his way through the dense forest,
and climbed the heights until the wide
eXpause OF ocean burst upon his nstonished
S'~N' ~ hO'p NNhto 4ONOlNbS u hIl1NlItN
feeling to That
'Of stout Nufez, when with eagle eyes.
He stared at The Pacific, and all his men
Looked at each other with II wild surmise
Silent upon a peak in Darien
There are moments, moments when words
fail utterly to express the thoughts. Such
IA moment was this. They were silent upon
a peak in Durien"
The story tells how Vasco Nunez de Bal
boa descended the western slopes, and rusI4-
ed into the sea waving th. flag, OF G stille
aud AIagon over his head. 1t may have
been SO. 1t is certain that he devoted bis
few remaining Years of life to the construc-
tion of ships, that he might sail on the oceuQ
OF bis discovery. The name of Pac fc ocean
Is due to the young sou of the Cuief of Co
mogre who gave Vasco Nuhez information
of ats existence. He said that the other
great ocean was always smooth, and never
rough like the Caribbean sea.
/ look upon the discovery of the Pacific
ocean as the greatest achievement, at least
Ill its consequences, that was made aud
done III that age of derring-do for it was
due as much to the discoveries humane
policy as to his courage aud resolution, rs
much to his craftsmanship rs to his gifts az
II leader of men.
From that time until his death, the aim
OF The discoverer's life was to navigate tins
Pacific ocean. He had entreat I'd the En-
Peror to allow him to complete the grrnt
enterprise h. had begun 50 well. The nm
swer was the despatch Of n incompetent,
yl~olent-tempered, unprincipled gold seeker,
with influence at court, to su rrsede him
with a large force. Pedra ias brought with
him II bishop, who was a good man, able
to appreciate the work of Vlsco Nun, z, but
he also brought a gang of adveu. urers Of
The worst type 1t was towards the emil Of
July, 1914 that Pelrarias, viii his forces,
arrived at Santa NJ ria d. Urlba, and it is
characteristic Of Vasco NuE q, that he was
found in his shirt-sleeves helping The c To-
nlsts to thntch his house.
1t was due TO the intervention Of the 9, Cd
Bishop Queyedo that Vasco Nun Z was ut
last allowed to undertake the launch of
ships on the Pacific. He had seen MI his
wise policy reversed, The friendly natives
turned into enemies, ami he h1d written
despalrlng letter to the Emperor. There
remained for him the building of ships ON
the Pacific shore IN wnicl to sail away and
Nuke new discoveries.
Vlsco Nuhez took the first step bv send.
ing one francisco GaIavila to Cuba IN
bring back the materials for builIlnp IN.