_Of other things that were done by the Governor Vaca de Castro,
and how he appointed Diego de Rojas and Felipe Gutiérrez to be
his captains in the subjugation of the region of the Rio de la
Plata._
After Don Diego de Almagro had been executed, as related in the
last chapter, some of those who had sided with him in the battle
were judged and, in deference to their excuses, received moderate
sentences.[147] The Governor then sent off despatches to his Majesty
and his exalted Council relating all that had happened. He ordered
the royal officers to watch closely that nothing of the property
confiscated for the royal treasury should be lost, and in all things
great care was taken. The captain Monroy had come from Chile, where
Pedro de Valdivia was governing, to ask for assistance, as the force
there was insufficient either to overcome the natives or to complete
the exploration of the interior in that region. As Vaca de Castro saw
that it would be advantageous for the royal service he gave all the
help he could. A little less than a hundred Spaniards were raised,
with arms and horses, for Monroy to take back, and a ship laden with
necessaries was sent coastwise. As the Governor Vaca de Castro could
not satisfy all those who had joined him by giving them allotments of
Indians, he took great care to furnish those who undertook discoveries
and conquests, with horses and other equipment, so that they might set
out from the Realm well provided. We may well praise this policy as a
prudent one.
There were highly promising reports of the provinces extending to the
west [_sic!_], where the very large and powerful river of La Plata
flows, so broad that when it enters the Ocean it appears more like
some arm of the sea than a river. In former times, when its mouth was
discovered, certain Spaniards who ascended this river recounted great
things; but the fame of such stories always exceeds the reality. It
was said that there was so vast a quantity of gold and silver that the
Indians held it for nought, and that there were emeralds there as well.
I knew Francisco de César, who was a captain in the province of
Cartagena, which is situated on the coast of the Ocean, and one
Francisco Hogaçon, who was also one of the first conquerors of that
province, and I have often heard them talk, and affirm with an oath
that they saw much treasure and great flocks of the cattle we call
here Peruvian sheep, and that the Indians were well dressed and of
good mien. They said many other things that I need not write of.[148]
Afterwards Don Pedro de Mendoza went out as Governor to that country,
and events took place which I will relate in the account of the last
war and the coming of the President Pedro de la Gasca.
As the fame of that rich country spread far and wide many desired to
be in it. When the captain Pedro Anzures went to explore the Chunchos,
he got reports of that river. It was supposed that it had its source
in the lake of Bombon; and that the principal affluents of this river
of La Plata were the Apurimac and the Jauja. Felipe Gutiérrez and the
captain Diego de Rojas, desirous of making some conquest which would
be memorable and give satisfaction to his Majesty, asked the Governor
Vaca de Castro to entrust them with the leadership of an expedition;
and as he was anxious to see the soldiers dispersed, the back country
opened up and thoroughly explored, and the name of Christ made known
in all parts, he was glad of their proposal and very willingly
favoured all who wished to take part in the adventure, by furnishing
them with arms and horses and money. So he nominated Felipe Gutiérrez
as Captain-general, Diego de Rojas as Chief Judge, and Nicolás de
Heredia as Camp-master, with the necessary powers and commissions,
in the name of our lord the King. In default of Gutiérrez through
illness, or being killed by the Indians, Diego de Rojas was to succeed
to the chief command; and if, in his turn, Rojas should fail, Heredia
was to take over charge. When the soldiers learnt that Diego de Rojas
was going to be a leader in the expedition, many, holding him to be a
good captain, prepared to follow him.
FOOTNOTES:
[147] Diego Méndez and seven others took refuge with the Inca, who
showed them great kindness. In return they murdered their host and
tried to escape, but were promptly seized and put to death by the
Inca's servants. The murder took place in 1545. The design of these
villains was to obtain a pardon for having borne arms with Don Diego,
by disposing of the Inca.
[148] César was at the Rio de la Plata before he went to Cartagena.