_Of the things that happened to Gonzalo Pizarro until he came
safely out of the Canela expedition and arrived at the city of
Cuzco._
The reader will remember that in previous chapters we mentioned the
great labours and dire want of Gonzalo Pizarro and those who survived
in the valley of the Canela, and the great desire they felt that God,
our Lord, would show them some way by which they might return to a
Christian land. Having heard the account of the two Spaniards who
had gone up the river in a canoe, and how they had seen that great
mountain range or cordillera, Gonzalo Pizarro resolved to ascend the
river with the remnant of his men as speedily as possible. So all
the people got ready, some Spaniards going ahead to clear the way
with axes and bush knives. Passing not a few swamps, they arrived
after ten days' travel at the mark left by the men who had gone up
the river before. Here Gonzalo Pizarro ordered Juan de Acosta to go
with a small party, as quickly as possible, to where the Indians said
there was a village. Juan de Acosta thereupon set out with eighteen
Spaniards, armed with their swords and bucklers, and after walking
for a good long time, they came to the village they were in quest
of, on a high hill and very strong. But the Indians had no mind to
admit them if they could help it, and with their usual dash they came
out armed to oppose them. Juan de Acosta and his companions, though
exhausted by hunger, entered like true Spaniards upon the encounter.
After Juan de Acosta and two others had been wounded, the Indians
fled, as usual. The Spaniards then ascended the hill and rushed the
village, where they found plenty of food, to the no small delight
of those sorry starvelings. They saw that the country they were in
was a vast uninhabited wilderness, which must be traversed to reach
Quito. Gonzalo Pizarro followed Juan de Acosta with the rest of the
party, and in passing those swamps eight Spaniards died. When the
worn-out survivors knew that they must cross that great wilderness,
they were much afflicted, having all passed through so many hardships
and sufferings. They cursed their luck which had been so adverse to
them. But in the end, making the best of their misfortunes, those who
remained alive prepared to face that infernal journey, taking the sick
along on the few horses left to them as best they could.
So they toiled over the uninhabited waste, eating of all sorts,
without leaving a dog, nor saddle leather, nor anything else that they
could tear with their teeth. After having passed through infinite
labour and fatigue they arrived at the village of _Coca_ (where they
had originally entered the Canela country) on foot, shoeless, and
so transfigured that they could scarcely recognize each other. The
natives received them as friends, and gave them what supplies they
had; and, to get themselves into some sort of order, it was settled
that they should stay there for ten days. In talking to the Indians
it was found that there was a shorter way to Quito by another track,
not the one they had followed, so they determined to take it. But on
this track they met with several broad and very deep rivers, so that
they were obliged to make bridges over some of them. Journeying in
this way they came to a river which was so rapid that it took them
four days to make a bridge; and whilst keeping watch at night, lest
the Indians should come and attack them by surprise, they saw a great
comet traversing the heavens. In the morning Gonzalo Pizarro said
that, in his dreams, a dragon came and plucked out his heart, and tore
it to pieces with his cruel teeth. He then sent for one Jerónimo de
Villegas, who was held to be something of an astrologer, to ask him
what he thought of it. He is said to have answered that Pizarro would
find that the object he most prized was dead. After other things had
occurred, which may be counted as trifles rather than as history,
Gonzalo Pizarro and the remnant of his followers finally reached the
confines of Quito. Those who survived from that expedition say that
240 Spaniards started on it, and that most of them died of hunger,
though they took with them from Quito 6,000 pigs, 300 horses and pack
animals, 900 dogs, and many sheep, all of which were eaten or lost.
We cannot lightly describe the deep sorrow Gonzalo Pizarro showed
when he heard of the disastrous death of his brother. Although
Sarmiento, his Lieutenant, sent horses for him and some of his
companions, they would not mount them, but preferred to enter Quito
on foot, in such sort that it was grievous to see them. When Gonzalo
Pizarro heard that Vaca de Castro had been accepted as Governor by the
whole Realm, he felt it keenly. He said that _he_ ought to govern, and
that the King had been very ungrateful in not ordering that he was to
succeed, on the death of the Marquis. He began to prepare to go in
search of Vaca de Castro, wherever he might be; for it was not then
known that the war was ended, nor that the victory had fallen to him
in the battle.