There needed no vindication on his part. The intemperance of his enemies had been his best advocate. He stood in presence of his sovereigns a deeply-injured man, and it remained for them to vindicate themselves to the world from the charge of ingratitude towards their most deserving subject. They expressed their indignation at the proceedings of Bobadilla, which they disavowed, as contrary to their instructions, and declared that he should be immediately dismissed from his command.

In fact, no public notice was taken of the charges sent home by Bobadilla, nor of the letters written in support of them. The sovereigns took every occasion to treat Columbus with favor and distinction, assuring him that his grievances should be redressed, his property restored, and he reinstated in all his privileges and dignities.—W. IRVING.

COLUMBUS' SIGNATURE.

The mysterious cipher which Columbus used as a signature on important occasions can only be conjecturally explained. The S at the top is an abbreviation of a word of adoration or prayer; perhaps Sanctus, Holy, or Servate, Save (me). The smaller letters in the second line are finals of the words whose initials form the third line-Christus, Maria, Yosephus. The last line changes his name into a participial form, Christ-bearing. The interpretation, therefore, may be: Save me, Christ, Mary, Joseph, (prays) the Christ-bearer."

·S.

·S. A .S.

хму
RENS

Xpo FERENS

FRANCISCO PIZARRO, renowned as the Spanish conqueror of Peru, was the illegitimate son of Gonzalo Pizarro, a colonel of infantry who had served with some distinction in the Spanish-Italian wars of the fif teenth century. Francisco was born at Truxillo, in the Province of Estremadura, Spain, about the year 1480. He is romantically said to have been suckled by swine; but this probably meant only that his mother was Gonzalo's swineherd's daughter, and that the boy grew up among the porcine herd. Education he had none; he was never able to read or write. While still a boy, he, with others, ran away from home. Reaching Seville, young Pizarro enlisted as a soldier, and not long afterwards sailed for the New World.

In 1510 Pizarro distinguished himself during the expedi tion of Alonzo de Ojeda to Terra Firma or the Spanish Main, and was left by that cavalier, as his lieutenant, in charge of the settlement. Later we find Pizarro associated with Vasco Nunez de Balboa, whom he accompanied in his Mexican expedition. On both these occasions he was conspicuous for his daring and bravery. After fourteen years' hard service, he joined Hernando de Luque and Diego de Almagro, in a project for extending the Spanish conquests along the southern coast. Hernando de Luque was a Spanish ecclesiastic, schoolmaster in the cathedral at Darien. Diego de Almagro was, like Pizarro, a soldier of fortune. The ecclesiastic

advanced 20,000 ounces of gold towards defraying the expenses of the expedition. In November, 1524, Pizarro sailed with one small ship, and a force of but eighty men. Doubling the Puerto de Piñas, he arrived at the mouth of the river

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Birú. Here he disembarked his force. The country was very unhealthy, the low grounds being covered with swamps. Disease having wasted Pizarro's little band, he could do nothing but wait the arrival of Almagro. The Governor of Panama very reluctantly furnished them with fresh troops. In 1526 Pizarro advanced and explored the coast of Quito. Entering the Bay of St. Matthew, he found a very fertile country, whose inhabitants wore rich ornaments of gold and silver. Seeing that they were too numerous to attack with such a small force, Almagro returned to Panama for reinforcements. Pizarro retired to the Island of Chicamá. The Governor of Panama refused any further aid to the expedition, but sent a ship to bring back Pizarro and his followers. Pizarro refused to return, and all forsook him with the exception of thirteen hardy men.

This forlorn hope fixed their residence in the Island of Gorgona. Through the solicitations of Almagro and Luque, the Governor at last consented to send a small vessel to the relief of Pizarro and his companions. They had now remained five months on the island. Joyfully, indeed, did they witness the arrival of the ship. Pizarro prosecuted his examination of the coast of Peru. Landing at Tumbez, where there was a palace of the Incas, he remained for some time peaceably on the coast. Here he saw the precious metals employed, even in the manufacture of common utensils, leaving no room for doubt that gold and silver abounded in the country. He returned to Panama in 1528; but the Governor was not moved by his account of the richness of the newly-discovered country, and Pizarro decided to proceed to Europe and seek aid from the Emperor, Charles V. The Emperor and his ministers were roused to some interest in the success of Pizarro. He was, on July 26, 1528, appointed Governor and Captain-general of all the country which he had discovered, and hoped to conquer; to him was granted supreme authority, civil as well as military. Pizarro stipulated to raise two hundred and fifty men, and to provide the ships, arms and warlike stores necessary for the expedition, and to remit one fifth of all the treasure he should acquire to the Crown.

Cortez assisted Pizarro in raising his forces and obtaining

supplies; yet he had then to sail from Spain with only half the number of men required, among whom were his three brothers. He landed at Nombre de Dios, and marched across the Isthmus of Panama. Almagro was indignant that Pizarro had neglected his interests in the negotiations. However, a reconciliation was effected, and Pizarro set sail in February, 1531, with 186 soldiers, thirty-six of whom were mounted. Almagro was to follow with reinforcements. Pizarro first surprised the principal town of the Province of Coaque, where he secured rich spoils. He instantly dispatched two ships to Panama and Nicaragua with the treasure. The result was that recruits were easily obtained. He now attacked the Island of Puna in the Bay of Guayaquil. So fierce was the resistance of the inhabitants, that five months were required to reduce them to subjection. From thence he proceeded to Tumbez, where a violent distemper, breaking out among his men, compelled him to remain for three months. He then sailed to the River Pinra, and established, May 16, 1532, near its mouth, the first Spanish colony in Peru, which he named St. Michael.

A civil war was now raging in Peru between the brothers Atahualpa and Huascar, and each sought the assistance of Pizarro. The Spaniards at once marched to Caxamalca, where Atahualpa was encamped. Pizarro pretended that he was coming to aid the Inca, and visited him in his camp. Then the Spaniards feasted their eyes upon a profusion of the precious metals, which greatly inflamed their cupidity. Pizarro resolved upon the treacherous and cowardly act which forever tarnishes his name. On November 16, 1532, Atahualpa returned the visit. At a given signal, the Spaniards opened fire upon the followers of the Inca, the suddenness and surprise of which completely stupefied them. Little resistance was offered. Pizarro himself seized Atahualpa by the arm, and dragging him to the ground, carried him as a prisoner to his quarters. The Inca was confined in a room twenty feet long by sixteen feet broad. Atahualpa offered as his ransom to fill this apartment with gold as high as he could reach. Pizarro accepted the offer. Indians daily arrived at Caxamalca from different parts of the kingdom loaded with treasure.

Such vast piles of gold presented continually to the view of the soldiers made it impossible to restrain their impatience. After setting aside a fifth part for the Crown, and a share for Almagro's party, there remained 1,528,500 pesos to be divided. Pizarro's share was 2,350 marks of silver, and 57,220 ounces of gold.

The Inca now insisted to be set at liberty; but nothing was further from Pizarro's thoughts. The Spanish leader, having obtained all that he could from his captive, conceived for him a great feeling of hatred. He perceived that he was an object of scorn and contempt to Atahualpa, who had discovered that Pizarro was ignorant of the arts that he most admired in the Spaniards, reading and writing. To be the object of a barbarian's scorn wounded his pride and prompted Pizarro to put the Inca to death. A mock tribunal was called, having Pizarro and Almagro as judges. They condemned Atahualpa to be burned alive. In vain did the poor Inca plead that he might be sent to the Spanish Emperor. No feeling of pity touched the inhuman heart of Pizarro. A monk, Valverde, promised a mitigation of the punishment if the Inca would embrace the Christian faith. He, in dread of a cruel death, consented, and was baptized; instead of being burned alive, the miserable victim was strangled, 1533.

The government of Peru was now so far overthrown that no effectual opposition was offered to Pizarro. He captured Cuzco, the Imperial city of the Incas, and the plunder which was secured was even greater than the value of the ransom of Atahualpa. In 1534 Ferdinand Pizarro landed in Spain with the royal share of the unfortunate Inca's ransom. Francisco's authority was confirmed, with new powers and privileges. Almagro was appointed adelantado of a country to be conquered south of Pizarro's government. The ill-feeling between Pizarro and Almagro had never been altogether extinguished. Almagro marched to the conquest of Chili; while Pizarro busied himself concerning the internal government of Peru. He now founded a city which he destined to be the capital of his government, and gave it the name of Ciudad de los Reyes. Its first stone was laid January 18, 1535. This is now the city of Lima.