comptroller. Alarcon possessed the qualities of a successful
explorer. He was bold yet cautious, determined but not reckless, with
safe judgment and quick adaptability. His first command was that, no
matter what happened in case of meeting with natives, all his company
were to remain silent and inactive. With this wise provision, which
kept the control in his own hands, the party left the ships behind on
Thursday, August 26th* (1540), apparently the same day as the
arrival. The current was so strong that the men were obliged to tow
the boats from the bank, rendering progress slow and difficult, but
nevertheless they were able, before night and fatigue compelled a
halt, to advance about six leagues. Though constantly on the lookout
for natives in the wide barren stretches of lowland on each side of
the river, none were seen till early next
morning, when, soon after starting, a number of huts were discovered
near the river bank. The occupants rushed forth in great excitement
at the sudden appearance of these singular-looking people in their
equally singular boats, and no wonder! Years and the ages had slipped
away and never yet had any people but their own kind appeared on
their horizon. Opposition was the natural impulse, and they signed
for the Spaniards to go back, threatening attack. The effect of this
on Alarcon was a command to anchor the boats out of reach in the
middle of the river, though the rapidly augmenting numbers of the
people on the shore soon inspired the others of the expedition with a
desire to beat a retreat towards the ships. Alarcon, however, was not
of this mind. The natives were, of course, armed only with the
bow-and-arrow and similar primitive weapons, while the Spaniards,
though few in number, possessed the advantage of firearms, of which
the natives had no comprehension whatever. The interpreter, being a
native from down the coast, understood not a word of this language,
but the presence among the strangers of one of their own kind