statesman was one of the very few really good men whom the home government selected. As a rule their choice fell on the most unfit man they could find in Spain. It would be difficult to choose a worse governor than Pedrarias. But the home government persisted; and Blasco Núñez Vela was even more unfit. This first viceroy of Peru was sent out to enforce the New Laws, and did his best to enforce them. But he was an incapable martinet without judgment, without tact, passionate, suspicious, listening to no representation; and he was at last guilty of a foul murder which gave rise to a formidable insurrection in which he lost his life. Cieza de León gives an account of the appointment of Blasco Núñez Vela, and describes him in most flattering terms. He also relates how the New Laws were received in the Indies, and fully admits the cruelties perpetrated by the Spaniards on the natives. Indeed, he does not hesitate to notice and denounce those cruelties. But it must not be supposed that all the Spaniards who received grants of Indians and their land tax were equally cruel. There were many noble and chivalrous knights among them, who deplored the existing state of things and treated their own dependents well. Lorenzo de Aldana, Garcilaso de la Vega, Mancio Serra de Sequidano did not stand alone in that respect; and, as a persistent advocate of the Indians, and a denouncer of the cruelties perpetrated on them, we must include our worthy author, Pedro de Cieza de León. C. R. M. NOTE. There are certain terms which constantly recur in the text and require explanation, namely, _encomienda_ and _encomendero_, _repartimiento_, and _Juez de Residencia_. An _encomienda_ was the grant of a district, with fixed boundaries, to a Spaniard, with power to appropriate the land tax (called _tribute_) of the Indians, or to exact personal services from them, or both. Pizarro made such grants when he formed the first settlement at San Miguel de Piura, soon after landing, in 1532. An _encomendero_ was the recipient of an _encomienda_. _Encomenderos_ were expected to reside in the district granted to them. _Repartimiento_ was the apportionment of a conquered region or people among the conquerors as _encomenderos_. The word is often used as equivalent to _encomienda_. A _Juez de Residencia_ was a Judge or Commissioner sent by the Home Government to examine into the administration or conduct of a colonial Viceroy, Governor, Adelantado, or any other official, and submit a report. _Alcalde_, Justice of the peace. _Regidor_, Municipal councillor. _Alguacil_, a Constable. _Cabildo_, a Municipality, Municipal body, or even a Municipal building.