The Spaniards halted during thirty days at the village of the ill-fated Poncra, during which time they were rejoined by their companions who had been left behind. And here it may be observed that it appears somewhat strange that the energetic Vasco Nuñez, over whose head a grave accusation at this time hung, and who had undertaken his expedition to the Pacific in order to anticipate its evil results, should have apparently wasted so much time at this spot, since it was everything to him that not an hour should be lost in making his magnificent discovery known in Spain. On departing from the village of Poncra, the Spaniards were accompanied by one of the _caciques_ of the mountain, who not only lodged and fed them, but further presented them with the value of two thousand crowns. The Spaniards, on leaving the district, bent their course for some time along the river _Comagre_. When they abandoned it, owing to the precipitous nature of its banks, they had to trust entirely to their Indian guides. Had these deserted them, they would have been lost in the thick forests and unseen morasses. In their journey they were the victims of their own avarice; for they had loaded most of the Indians with gold alone, and now found themselves destitute of provisions. Many of their Indian bearers, oppressed by their burdens, sank down to perish by the way. The Spaniards had still to pass through the territories of the most warlike _cacique_ of the mountains. His reputation was so considerable that Nuñez dreaded to attack him with his worn-out followers; he therefore had recourse to stratagem. Taking with him seventy of the strongest of his party, he made a forced march to the neighbourhood of the _cacique’s_ residence, which at midnight he suddenly assaulted, capturing Tubanamá and all his family. The _cacique_, being threatened with death, agreed to purchase his life with jewels of gold to the value of three thousand crowns, and further to levy double that sum from his subjects; which having done, he was set at liberty. [Sidenote: 1514.] Nuñez, returning to the village where he had left his men, now resumed his march to _Darien_. He and his party being much affected by the climate, could proceed but slowly; but they at length arrived on the sea coast in the territories of their ally Comagre. That _cacique_ was now dead, and had been succeeded by his son, the youth who had first given information to Nuñez of the existence of the Southern Sea. Nuñez next proceeded to _Ponca_, where he heard of the arrival of a ship and _caravel_ from _Hispaniola_. Hastening onwards to _Coyba_, the residence of his ally Careta, he embarked in the brigantine on January 28th, 1514, and arrived at _Darien_ on the following day. He had been absent for five months, and was met with the most joyful welcome on the part of the entire colony. CHAPTER III. _THE COLONY OF DARIEN; FATE OF VASCO NUÑEZ._ 1514-1517.