_How the General Lorenzo de Aldana determined to send an
expedition to settle in Anzerma, a place discovered by the
captain Belalcazar, and how he chose Jorge Robledo to be captain
of this new settlement._
There was such order in the government of the cities that,
although Aldana had been but a short time in charge,[15] it seemed
quite a different state of affairs from what had preceded it.
Being in the city of _Cali_, Pedro de Añasco went as captain and
lieutenant-governor at Timaná. Aldana charged him to treat the Indians
fairly, and not to allow the Spaniards shamelessly to rob, or seize
their lands, and to punish any one so offending with the utmost
rigour. He wrote to Juan de Ampudia at Popayán to the same effect.
After he had attended to these affairs, seeing that there were still
many men left in Cali, including veterans well versed in the service
of conquest, he resolved to form a settlement in the provinces of
_Anzerma_, which lie further west than the city of Cali, and border
on the very rich and forceful river of Santa Marta. They had been
discovered by the captain Sebastian de Belalcázar. And although Aldana
understood that much profit might result from such an expedition to
any captain who should undertake it, he cast avarice aside; for he
cared more about the good government of the territory entrusted to
him, and considered very carefully what captain he should send on
this enterprise. Though, among those who came from Cartagena, were
Melchor Suer de Nava, Alonso de Montemayor, the _Comendador_ Hernán
Rodríguez de Sosa, and other men of ability who might have performed
the service, Aldana did not see fit to give it to any of these who had
recently come from another government, and had not fought under any
banner in Peru. Among those present in the city of Cali there were few
who complied with that condition. He finally selected Jorge Robledo.
Certainly he did not err, for Robledo was such a man as would serve
the King well, and might well be employed on such a service.
I have seen the power which Aldana received from the Marquis for
making this appointment, and though some asserted that it was
frivolous and without proper authority, they deceive themselves. It
was approved in Spain; and in Panamá Dr. Villalobos, a Judge who was
there at the time, told me that Aldana had a full right to appoint
Robledo. The document of the Marquis states: "That as he had been
informed that there were some provinces discovered but yet to be
settled, if Aldana were occupied in the government and reformation
of the cities, he might nominate such a person as should seem good
to him, to go in his place to make a settlement, and that he himself
gave requisite powers to the person so appointed." As Aldana held
this commission he determined to send Jorge Robledo. First he made
a _repartimiento_ of the Indians subject to the city of Cali, among
fewer citizens than were then at Cali. The rest, and those of us among
the men who had come from Cartagena with Vadillo who most desired to
go, enlisted with Robledo: all being well contented. Lorenzo de Aldana
ordered that the new city that was to be founded, should be called the
city of "St. Anne of the Knights."[16] He appointed Melchor Suer de
Nava and Martin de Amoroto as _Alcaldes_, and Ruy Vanegas as _Alguacil
Mayor_. Having made these appointments, and given the captain Robledo
his orders, he instructed them to leave Cali, taking as few native
servants as possible, and he dismissed many of those they had engaged.
He himself went with them as far as a village called _Meacanoa_,
seven leagues from Cali, and then returned. The captain Jorge Robledo
continued his journey, having started on the 8th of July 1549.[17] In
this expedition I served. After he had arranged these matters, Aldana
departed for the city of Popayán, leaving Miguel Muñoz as Governor's
lieutenant at Cali, and having given the citizens lists of the Indians
they held in _repartimiento_. When he arrived at Popayán he did the
same as at Cali, where, having left Juan de Ampudia as Governor's
lieutenant, he set out for Quito.
At this time Gonzalo Díaz de Pineda obtained a commission from the
Marquis Pizarro to found a town in _Pasto_, but it was not to derogate
from the powers of Aldana; only that if the latter were absent Pineda
might act. When at Quito Pineda heard that Aldana was coming, he set
out with some Spaniards to found the town; but Aldana had already
arrived at the valley of _Guapuanquer_ where he then founded _Villa
Viciosa de Pasto_, afterwards moved to the valley of _Atris_, where it
now is. At the time of the founding an act was ordered to be recorded,
which said that "Lorenzo de Aldana desired to consider Gonzalo Díaz de
Pineda as his colleague in that foundation." Although this is so, in
my first book I did not mention any founder but Lorenzo de Aldana, for
it is clear that he alone had the necessary power for the affair of
those cities. As for saying so of Gonzalo Díaz enough has been written.
When Aldana had founded Villa Viciosa de Pasto he left as Governor's
lieutenant one Rodrigo de Ocampo, a man who well understood a war with
Indians, and he divided the Chiefs and villages among the settlers
who were to remain there. We have written all that relates to the
foundation and site of that town and customs of the natives, in the
_Book of Foundations_. After he had seen to the good order of this
town, Aldana proceeded to the city of Quito, where he remained until
Gonzalo Pizarro arrived; and at present we have nothing more to say
about Aldana.
FOOTNOTES:
[15] Aldana had been sent by Pizarro as governor of Quito, Popayan,
and Cali, in the absence of Belalcazar, who had gone to Spain.
[16] Santa Ana de los Caballeros.
[17] 1539?