In January 1550 the President embarked for _Panamá_, being followed to the shore by crowds of persons of all ranks and ages, who were alike anxious to render him this last mark of their esteem. In March he was enabled to convey his treasure across the Isthmus, and arrived in safety at _Nombre de Dios_. There he equipped a fleet of nineteen vessels to transport himself and the royal treasure to Spain. Four years had elapsed since his departure from Seville. So delighted was every one, from the highest to the lowest, at the complete success of his mission, that Gasca was summoned to attend the Emperor at Flanders, where, after profuse acknowledgments of sincere imperial gratitude, he received the only material worldly reward agreeable to him, in the shape of the bishopric of Palencia, at which place he passed the remainder of his life. NOTE.--Chapters VI., VII., X., and XI. of vol. I. are founded on “The History of the Conquest of Peru;” by William H. Prescott. Bentley. 1850. On “The Spanish Conquest in America;” by Arthur Helps. John W. Parker & Son. 1855. On “History of America;” by William Robertson. On “_Histoire des Etablissemens des Européens dans les deux Indes_;” par Raynal (Abbé G. F.) On “Life of Pizarro;” by Sir Arthur Helps. 1869. On “_Historia general del Peru_;” Garcilasso de la Vega. On “_Relacion de los descabrimientos de F. Pizarro y D. de Almagro_;” Navarrete, vol. V. And on “_History of the New World_;” by Girolamo Benzoni. CHAPTER XII. _THE ARAUCANIAN WAR._ 1550-1556. The Araucanians inhabit the delightful region between the _Andes_ and the sea, and between the rivers _Bío-bío_ and _Valdivia_. They derive the appellation of Araucanians from the province of _Arauco_. They pride themselves on being called by a native word which signifies “the free.” As a race they are rather tall, muscular, and well proportioned. Their complexions are of a reddish brown, but clearer than that of other native Americans. Their round faces are animated by small eyes full of expression. They have scarcely any beard, and the little hair which grows on their faces is carefully removed. Their women are delicately formed, and many of them are very handsome. Such are their good constitutions, and so healthy is their mode of life, that they live to advanced age, and seldom begin to feel its infirmities before sixty or seventy. They are intrepid, animated, and patient in the endurance of fatigue. Enthusiastic lovers of liberty, they are jealous of their honour, courteous, hospitable, and faithful to their engagements; they are likewise grateful for services, and generous and humane towards their vanquished. These fine qualities are, however, shared by them with others of an opposite nature, namely, ignorance, and a proneness towards debauchery.