[Footnote 7: Andagoya says that he obtained, while at Biru, very minute accounts of the empire of the Incas, from certain itinerant traders who frequented that country. "En esta provincia supe y hube relacion, ansi de los senores como de mercaderes e interpretes que ellos tenian, de toda la costa de todo lo que despues se ha visto hasta el Cuzco, particularmente de cada provincia la manera y gente della, porque estos alcanzaban por via de mercaduria mucha tierra." Navarrete, Coleccion, tom. III. No 7.] One of them, Diego de Almagro, was a soldier of fortune, somewhat older, it seems probable, than Pizarro; though little is known of his birth, and even the place of it is disputed. It is supposed to have been the town of Almagro in New Castile, whence his own name, for want of a better source, was derived; for, like Pizarro, he was a foundling. *8 Few particulars are known of him till the present period of our history; for he was one of those whom the working of turbulent times first throws upon the surface, - less fortunate, perhaps, than if left in their original obscurity. In his military career, Almagro had earned the reputation of a gallant soldier. He was frank and liberal in his disposition, somewhat hasty and ungovernable in his passions, but, like men of a sanguine temperament, after the first sallies had passed away, not difficult to be appeased. He had, in short, the good qualities and the defects incident to an honest nature, not improved by the discipline of early education or self-control. [Footnote 8: "Decia el que hera de Almagro," says Pedro Pizarro, who knew him well. Relacion del Descubrimiento y Conquista de los Reynos del Peru, Ms. - See also Zarate. Conq. del Peru, lib. 1, cap. 1. - Gomara, Hist. de las Ind., cap. 141. - Pizarro y Orellana, Varones Ilustres, p. 211. The last writer admits that Almagro's parentage is unknown; but adds that the character of his early exploits infers an illustrious descent. - This would scarcely pass for evidence with the College of Heralds.]