Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/339

 because it was very dangerous for him. But he desirous to haue it knowne, that he had beene vpon those seas, went forwards, and came backe againe to land in safetie, and with great contentment, bringing with him good store of gold, siluer, and pearles, which there they tooke. For which good seruice of his Don Ferdinando the king greatly fauoured and honoured him.

This yeere 1513. in the moneth of Februarie Alfonsus de Albuquerque went from the citie of Goa towards the streight of Mecha with twenty ships.

They arriued at the citie of Aden and battered it, and passed forward and entred into the Streight. They say that they saw a crosse in the element and worshipped it.

They wintered in the Island of Camaran. This was the first Portugall captaine that gaue information of those seas, and that of Persia, being things in the world of great account.

In the yeere 1514. and in the moneth of May there went out of Saint Lucar one Pedro Arias de Auila at the commandment of Don Ferdinando. He was the fourth gouernour of Castillia del Gro or Golden Castile: for so they named the countreyes of Dariene, Carthagena, and Vraba, and that countrey which was newly conquered. He carried with him his wife the Lady Elizabeth and 1500 men in seuen ships; and the king appointed Vasco Nunnez de Valboa gouernour of the South Sea and of that coast.

In the beginning of the yeere 1515. the gouernour Pedro Arias de Auila sent one Gaspar Morales with 150 men vnto the Gulfe of S. Michael to discouer the Islands of Tararequi Chiapes, and Tumaccus.

There was a Casique Valboas friend which gaue him many Canoas or boates made of one tree to rowe in, wherein they passed vnto the Island of pearles: the Lord whereof resisted them at their comming on land. But Chiapes and Tumaccus did paciefie him in such order, that the captaine of the Isle had them borne vnto his house, and made much of them, and receiued baptism at their hands, naming him Pedro Arias after the gouernours name, and he gaue vnto them for this a basket full of pearles waying 110. pounds, whereof some were as big as hasell nuts of 20. 25-26. or 31. carats: and euery carat is fower graines. There was