Oregon and Eldorado; or, Romance of the RiversBulfinch, Thomas
History
Oregon and Eldorado; or, Romance of the Rivers
Bulfinch, Thomas
Amazon River; Columbia River; El Dorado; Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806); Oregon -- Discovery and exploration
"It chanced, that while Ordaz, with his army, rested at the
port of Morequito, by some negligence the whole store of powder
provided for the service was set on fire; and Martinez, having
the chief charge thereof, was condemned by the general to be
executed forthwith. Martinez, being much favored by the
soldiers, had all means possible employed to save his life; but
it could not be obtained in other way but this,--that he should
be set into a canoe alone, without any food, and so turned
loose into the great river. But it pleased God that the canoe
was carried down the stream, and that certain of the Guianians
met it the same evening: and, not having at any time seen any
European, they carried Martinez into the land to be wondered
at; and so from town to town until he came to the great city of
Manoa, the seat and residence of Inga, the emperor. The
emperor, when he beheld him, knew him to be a Christian of
those who had conquered the neighboring country of Peru, and
caused him to be lodged in his palace, and well entertained. He
lived seven months in Manoa, but was not suffered to wander
into the country anywhere. He was also brought thither all the
way blindfolded by the Indians, until he came to the entrance
of Manoa itself. He avowed at his death that he entered the
city at noon, and then they uncovered his face; and that he
travelled all that day till night through the city, ere he came
to the palace of Inga.
"After Martinez had lived seven months in Manoa, and began to
understand the language of the country, Inga asked him whether
he desired to return to his own country, or would willingly
abide with him. Martinez, not desirous to stay, obtained
permission of Inga to depart, who sent with him some Guianians
to conduct him to the river of Orinoco, with as much gold as
they could carry, which he gave to Martinez at his departure.
But, when he arrived at the river's side, the natives, being at
that time at war with Inga, robbed him and his Guianians of all
his treasure, save only two bottles made of gourds, which were
filled with beads of gold, which those people thought to
contain his drink or food, with which he was at liberty to
depart. So, in a canoe, he passed down by the river to
Trinidad, and from thence to Porto Rico, where he died. In the
time of his extreme sickness, and when he was without hope of
life, receiving the sacrament at the hands of his confessor, he
delivered this relation of his travels, and also called for his
calabazas, or gourds of gold beads, which he gave to the church
and the friars, to be prayed for.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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