CHAPTER XI.
PARLEY RELATES HOW PIZARRO DISCOVERED AND CONQUERED PERU.
Peru, when first discovered by the Spaniards, was a large and flourishing empire, including two kingdoms, Peru, and Quito, and extended over nearly half of the widest part of the South American Continent, as you will see if you look into the map, Brazil occupying the other half of the wide part.
It had been governed by a long succession of Emperors, who were called the Incas of Peru.
On the 14th of Nov. 1524, three Spanish adventurers whose names were Francisco Pizarro, in early life a feeder of swine, Diego de Almagro, and Hernando Luque, set sail from Panama for the discovery of Peru.
Panama was a new settlement which the Spaniards had formed on the western side of the Isthmus of Darien, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
Pizarro had only a single ship and one hundred and twenty men, to undertake this discovery, and so little was he acquainted with the climate of America, that the most improper season of the whole year was chosen for his departure; the periodical winds which were then set in, being directly opposite to the course he proposed to steer.
He spent two years in sailing from Panama to the northern extremity of Peru, a voyage which is now frequently performed in a fortnight.
At Tumbez, a place about three degrees south of the line, Pizarro and his companions feasted their eyes with the first view of the opulence and civilization of the Peruvian empire.
This place was distinguished for its stately temple, and for one of the palaces of the Incas, or sovereigns of the country.