BALCAINES
THE CUEVA PRINCESS THAT CONQUERED
VASCO NUÑEZ de BALBOA
LUIS BLAS ARITIO
AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY
Luis Blas Aritio
He’s a doctor in the Biological Sciences and is also the author of many books about the care for nature and protection of the ecosystem. In 2012 he wrote his first novel, “Fuga en el Tropico”.
For about fifteen years, he worked with UNESCO on different themes that were about the spread of the Worldwide Cultural and Natural Properties, this way creating a magazin in different languages and an encyclopedia of twenty volumes.
In the last years, he has been centered on the investigation of indian chroniclers and in a more particular way he’s been investigating information about the famous person that “Vasco Nuñez de Balboa” was.
The literary work named “Vasco Nuñez de Balboa and the Indian Chroniclers, which was the official book of the Panamenian National Commitee for the celebration of the 5th centenary of the Pacific Ocean Discoverement; was fruit of this investigation.
Balcaines is the adaptation into a novel for the common reader, about the passionate life and wondrous personality of the South Sea Discoverer.
INDEX
PART 1 9 Jerez de los Caballeros 14
In name of Castilla’s Crown 22
The Comogre’s Chiefdom 46
The Rica Island 60
The Princess Balcaines 67
Pacra, The Chief 80
Diego de Bastidas Expedition 102
In the island “La Española” 119
The return to “Santa Maria de la Antigua” 136
The discovery of the Southern Sea 146
Ojeda and Nicuesa 165
Rodrigo Enriquez de Colmenares 212
Balboa’s Emmisaries 228
In search of Dabaibe’s Gold 236
Balcaines Deep Love 248
Arbolancha’s return to the metropolis 261
PART 2 269
Pedrarias Davila’s Great Army 271
Arrival into Darien 286
The Famine and Drowsiness 302
The first to reach The Southern Sea 318
The Pilgrim Pearl 329
From Prisoner into the Governer’s in-law son 348
The South of the South’s company 361
The Epic Death of the Universal Hero 389
EPILOGUE 404
PART 1
It was September 29, 1513, a thursday at five in the morning, when Vasco Nuñez de Balboa went out of the hut with his friend the Chief Chape accompanied by a young and handsome indian chief. With only the sight of the spanish Captain, his loyal dog Leoncico stood up, where he was lying and barking he approached to greet. This way Vasco Nuñez de Balboa greeted him with some heartful pats, which were answered by the horizontal wave of the animal’s tail.
“Hello, Leoncico”, he said while patting his dog’s ears. Today is a very important day for everybody and for the Castilla’s Crown. We will get into the deeps of the ocean we just discovered and will take possession of it in name of our King and Lord which we hope God allows him to live for many more years. Come with me.
Even though the light from the sun was still slightly going through, the activity within the indian community was still enormous. Voices could be heard, curses could also be heard, metalic sounds of swords and breastplates crushing to each other made a sound that disrupted any conversation, the laughs also added up to the feeling of joy that was extended through the sylvan, but safe indian huts, which were constructed with wood, straw and palm leaf.
The natives, observed curiously, with no absence of fear; this bearded men, which in two days inflicted a harsh corrective with the use of what they felt would be mother nature’s lightning and thunder. They were not used to fire weapons or to the penetrating odor of sulfur, that this weapons gave.
The euphoria between the spanish men was more than justified. Two days ago, tuesday, September 27, the Southern Sea was discovered, for the first time, from the priviledge sight of Atalaya from the top of the small hill that extended parallel to the Sea Coast.
The day before, wednesday 28, their Captain Balboa had sent half a dozen of spanish accompanied by a dozen of natives of the Chief Chape, in search of their mates. This stayed in the back, recovering from the fatigue and the illness of the tribe that was relatively close “Torecha”.
That very same wednesday, 26 of his strongest men were chosen to accompany him next day, in order to take posetion of the new sea that was discovered for the occidental side of the world for around 48 hours. They were 26 the fortunate ones that were waiting anxiously mixed on with laughts, shouts and curses without being able to keep the joy that they felt.
Bernardino, shouted at the citizen of Vizcaya “Ortuño”, who came from Baracaldo, and was going to an Asturian Thickset which was located many meters ahead. “What are you going to do in this Sea, if you don’t know how to swim?”
Everybody started laughing.
Damn It!, Answered Bernardino de Cienfuegos. If I fall into the water, i’m pretty sure that I will float like a Barrel, unlike you “skinny and yellow-ish fellow”, thing that you wouldn’t be able to do.
“What a feast the sharks will have with you”, said Pedro Martin, which was from “Palos de la Frontera”.
Come, enough with the jokes, get everything set, because the captain is approaching, interrupted the mighty voice of Francisco Pizarro
The one from Trujillo was with the cleric Andrés de Vera and the Court’s Clerk Andrés de Valderrábano, both intimate friends of Balboa. Who carried the Royal Banner, in which the image of Virgin Mary and Jesus on her arms, and below the religious representation, the royal weapons of Castilla and León were also painted.
“Good morning, everybody” said Vasco Núñez to the group of selected ones, while he was accompanied by his loyal friend Leoncico and the Chief Chape.
After greeting each and every single one of his men and checking if they had the right attire and properly worn, and their corresponding weapons, he said on a strong and firm voice which reassured his leadership: Our King and Lord, which God holds safe for many more years and us too. We will get into the Sea that we discovered, for the first time and take posetion of it, in name of the Crown of Castilla.
Looking each and every single one of his companions, he continued by saying:
God and his Saint mother “Nuestra Señora de la Antigua” have always been with us, they have been protecting us and have allowed, that today on archangel San Miguel festivity, we been chosen to expand the lands of our King and Lord “Don Fernando”, who god holds safe for many more years.
The Spanish appropiately dressed for the time with their best cloathings, with their sight directed to their admired captain who took them up to their without losing a single man, in the other side of the Central-American Isthmus. The devotion of the soldiers for Nobleman from “Jerez de los Caballeros” was noticeable and his leadership over the troop was not questionable.
Let’s see reverend Andrés, it is alreadyd time to set sail, said Vasco Nuñez. Let’s commend ourselves and this expedition to our good God and his Saint Mother.
The cleric started praying with the “Our Father”, followed by three “Holy Mary” and 3 “Glorias”, which were choired by most of the 27 men that were reunited. After that, they all knelt before the Reverend Andrés de Vero, in order to receive the blessing from him.
Even though Chief Chape wanted to accompany them, Balboa told him that only Spanish men could be on this important act. He also didn’t allow any other native to serve them as guide, because the road to the Sea was clear and was not difficult, it was only 20 minutes of distance from the Indian Tribe location.
The group that was in the front was Vasco Nuñez, followed by Francisco Pizarro’s company who carried on the right hand the banner, and on the back was Revered Andrés de Vera and Andrés de Valderrábano who were the only ones that were holding a cheerful conversation.
At the beggining, the road was easy to follow and pass by, due to the region being affected by deforestation in which many corn crops could be found and also yucca crops of the indians from the Chape Tribe. The expedition became more hard and harsh due to them entering the woods, where they had to use during different ocassions the swords and machetes in order to clear the road from the overgrowth vegetation.
Suddenly, they came out from the density of the forest and emerged in front of the great blue that was the Sea. In front of it, was waiting a big dark amount of mud, in which pieces of stones were mixed together and they were covered totally by algae.
Hundreds of small crabs walked fast through the mud, looking for food. The tide was on it’s lowest point and the water could be seen for close to a kilometer of distance from the place where they were.
For the first time the spanish acknowledged that they were standing in front of a different sea, that was not the one that they knew very well.
They also proved that on that side of mainland, the level of the tide could reach a difference in levels of up to 6 meters, between the low and high tide, while the difference of the tides in the Atlantic barely reached a meter.
Nuñez, who has enough spare time, decided to delay the conquest, in order to wait for the high tide and for the waters to fill up to the strong aerial roots from the swamp.
He went to the reduced group of persons that were familiar with the area that were with him and said:
“Fellows, we going to wait till the level of the water goes up to where we are, and then we will take possession of this lands and seas with their corresponding islands. Meanwhile get comfortable, but do not go too far from here.
The Spanish took their breastplates off and left their weapons in the ground. Some of them. Some of them went united into groups and looked for the shadow of the branches and leafs from the swamps, and others leaned over the branches of the tall trees. Most of them, watched in silence the wonderful sight they had of the landscape, this way contemplating how small and an endless amount of white top waves came slowly, but without pause, the wave were closely approaching the place where they were located.
Only a few, spent their time by spending their savings by gambling. They used the thick leaves of the tree named by the natives “Copey”, to manufacture some playing cards. In this strong leaves, that were strong enough to not break while shuffling, they drew the jacks, horses, kings and the other different values of the cards.
Balboa went away for a few meters from his companions and together with his inseparable friend Leoncico, they sat in the ground and watched the endless sea that they just discovered. They were fully aware of the historical moment they were living at his 38 years. Closing his eyes, he began thinking about the most important moments of his childhood and youth years while being in his hometown.
JEREZ DE LOS CABALLEROS
In San Bartolome’s church, which is located on the highest part of the walled city of Jerez de los Caballeros, which is close to the limit with Portugal, around 10:30 in the morning, with glory and strength they started ringing the bells on the day of Easter, day that the lord resurrected, this year was 1487.
The residence of the Balboa, house that saw how Vasco was born, was close to the temple. When the bells were heard, all the family members in their best attire were ready to attend to the solemn Easter mass.
The dad, Nuño Arias de Balboa, a tall and thin man had a sharp face with a beard that was becoming white. Just by looking at him, you could notice that he was a nobleman. From his mother, Vasco could only remember the voice of the melodic songs that were whispered to his ear, while sleeping in his cradle, which was passed down from previous generations.
The oldest brother, Gonzalo, five years older than Vasco, looked physically the same as his dad, but in personality he was different. His two younger brothers Alvar and Juan, eight and five years old respectively, were both spoiled children and the only person that they would obey was Juana, the old housekeeper that saw the birth of Nuño Arias de Balboa. She really did a mom’s job for these two spoiled children who barely had met the beautiful woman had given birth to them.
Vasco was the tallest of his brothers and was the one that physically resembled the most to their beautiful mother, due to his features and long blond hair, among Nuño’s children he was the leader. If he had received the look of his mother, he had also received the personality and guts of his father and the tall size of this nobleman.
When the bells rang for a second time, the widowed man and his 4 children, crossed the narrow street from the gates of their house, that had the Ancient Shield of arms of the Balboa Family, and they went directly to the entrance of the San Bartolome’s Church. In that temple, Vasco and his brothers had been baptized on a thick baptismal font of granite.
During this short, but sloped road, they met with the Solis family who, like the Balboa, were also joining the church for their Religious Duties.
“Hello, Vasco”, said Diego who also was 12 years old. When the mass is over, let’s go to the racetrack to compete in a horse race. But this time we will do it without saddle. I count on you, and My sister Isabel is also coming.
Vasco blushed and turned his eyes away from Diego’s sister, who was 11 years old, but looked a little older.. Since more than a year, Vasco has been deeply in love with this girl, who was ready to become a woman, with that first juvenile love. Raising his voice a little bit more than usual for the young lady to hear, Vasco answered:
Count me in Diego, but you already know that I will always defeat you and your friends.
And increasing the pace of his step, he caught up with his father and siblings, who were walking close by. They got into the church that was already full of members from the noble families of the city, in which the scent of incense was spread everywhere in order to cover the human odors.
The Vargas, the Figueroa, the Pacheco, the Portocarrero, the Porres, the Vegas, all of them were there….. basically all of the noble families that owned important mansions in the upper part of the city.
The bishop with his miter and staff, dressed with his gold embroidered chasuble with pearls, surrounded with 10 priests, was leading the solemn mass in Latin. The solemn act was getting long and tiresome for the young Vasco who had already started with his studies, he did not really understood what for him was just latin. He felt bored and tried to find Isabel in the crowd, but he couldn’t.
During the long homily, while watching absent-mindedly the beautiful tomb of Vasco de Xerez and his wife Beatriz Bravo, he started remembering about the good times he had during the last spring. He accompanied his father to the Balboa’s castle in the north part of the Peninsula, in an exceptional valley, with hillsides upholstered by firm and strong oak trees. This long trip, the first one for him, helped him regain his native optimism, part of his personality, which had been lost since the death of his mother.
Vasco had been very close to his mother, and her death during the crude last year’s winter, had been a harsh blow to the whole family. During many months, he couldn’t forget those long nights in which most of the members of the house couldn’t sleep, due to the snoring coming from the young lady.
His father, watching him so sad, decided that Vasco should go with him to the Family’s castle. For Nuño, it was also hard to lose his beloved wife and even more when the family was passing through economic hardships.
There was no choice, as head of the Balboa linage, of Galician hierarchy, for many years in the valley of the same name. He had to pick up personal objects, because a recent judgment was ordering him to hand over the castle’s property as consequence of not paying some debts, from his predecessors.
In a morning during lunch, with all his brothers present, his father announced that he had to go to the family’s castle and had decided that Vasco would accompany him. The young boy had his eyes almost crying from an emotion that was lost since his mother’s death. He had never gone far away from the grasslands that were around the promontory in which the templars and later the knights of the Santiago’s Order had built and reinforced the city of Jerez de los Caballeros.
During more than two weeks of traveling by horse, the relationship between father and son grew tighter. Vasco wanted to know in detail about the history of his family and couldn’t stop asking his father things about his predecessors.
“Dad, since when, do we Balboas have this castle?”, he asked while leaving the city through the Burgos gate.
“It has been property of our family, for about 200 years” –Answered his father-. When we get there I will show you the deck in which the deck that was expanded and rebuilt by your grandfather Gonzalo and his brother Vicente, who was the Bishop of Plasencia. You will see, when you get to the top of the Tribute Tower, the wonderfull landscape that you will be able to see.
Every night, before going to sleep, his father, whom was the head of the family in that moment, told him about his predecessors and their most outstanding achivements. Tired by the long journey, he ended up sleeping by the many stories of the Balboa, that he in his mind finished magnifying.
Vasco learned that his family came from the linage of the Goth kings, that between his predecessors, there were people famous of Galician history such as: Gutierrez Fernandez de Balboa, one of the first three of Alcantara Military Order Masters, Garci Rodriguez de Balboa, and Fernan Rodriguez de Balboa who was from the San Juan de Jerusalen hospitalary order, he became the most powerful minister of King Alfonso XI.
He also learned that in the eclesiastic heriarchy, they had a tremendous eclesiastic representant in Friar Gonzalo de Balboa who reached the position of General in the Franciscan orden, and that his Grand Uncle Vicente Arias de Balboa, Bishop of Plasencia, who ended up participating in politics. This last one layed on a magnificent tomb in the cathedral of Toledo, just beside of Bishop Tenorio the grand artifice of the Cathedral Temple.
The noise made by the followers woke up Vasco after the long homily given by the Bishop. From that point, he tried to follow the Liturgical ceremony, but his memory could only think about his glorious predecessors which made him as proud as his father.
Before finishing the mass, he comfirmed to his father that he would return for the meal. After exiting the temple, he went running down the street to leave the city through the Villa door. Behind him,
IMAGE
A group of teens, boys and girls were trying to not lose track of him.
The grasslands of “El Alcornocal” were in sight from the battlements and towers of the fortress. It was a big property from the Solis Family, in which they raised pigs which were fattened during the “Montanera”. Beside the farming house, in a small fence of stones, a dozen of male and female horses rested.
The first to reach the fence was Vasco, which gave him the privilege to select his horse, after him Diego was next, closely followed by his sister Isabel, whose long legs allowed her to compete in race with the other boys. Later the group of friends arrived.
“You are a cheater”, said Diego, breathing harshly after the effort made. “You went out of the church first, and that is why you arrived first”.
“That is not right”, said Balboa. I didn’t move from my sit until the Bishop and priest left the altar, what happens, is that you don’t want to admit that i’m faster than all of you.
“Cut it out, you two”, said Isabel. Each person choose your horse. We have to go to the farmstead of Uncle Pedro which is about a league from here. From the horse, you have to grab a green apple from the tree that is close to the gate, without getting off from the horse and then return to the gate of this corral. The one that wins, will give the apple to a girl of his choice and her will answered back with a kiss.
Vasco choose a beautiful black horse, which he knew from before and the previous times he had mounted her. The six participants went up to the horses and went to the starting line. Isabel raised a handkerchief, and after some short seconds she lowered it. The six riders started galloping. Diego, who was the one that knew better the property of his family, was the first one to reach the old farmstead and grabbed the apple without going off from the horse, which was of brownish color. The second one was Alfonso Figueroa and the third was Balboa.
The son of Nuño, knowing that the race was long, did not force the horse much, and preferred to stay close to the competitors that were before him. But during the track back, he started cheering his horse to run faster, and in about half a league from the ending point he reached the spot of first, with a green apple in his hand. Nobody was able to outrun him anymore, and he became the first to go through the stone fence gate. After petting and giving some warmth pats to his horse, he approached Isabel …
***
“Vasco, it is about time, wake up”, said Andres de Valderrabano through his ear, while giving him some kind pokes in the back. The water from the sea is getting your foot wet.
IN NAME OF THE CROWN OF CASTILLA
Vasco Nuñez then woke up and came back to the reality. The waves could reach the first aereal roots from the swamp. He saw that most of the men tried some of the water to taste it, in order to identify if it was salty water, like the other seas in the world. He smiled while watching the scene, and ordered all of his men to form a straight line.
Then he put his helmet and armor on, and with strength he raised his left hand with the banner given to him by Francisco Pizarro, while with his right hand he held his sword. Then they got into the cold seawaters and kept moving till the water could reach their knees.
Then shouting out loud, he proclaimed, moving from one side to another:
--Long live King Fernando and Queen Juana, King and Queen of Castilla, of León, of Aragón and many other places, in the name of the Royal Crown of Castilla, I take possession of this sea, lands, coasts, shores and islands, with all their kingdoms and provinces that belong or might belong to it, by any means or title, old or new, with no contradiction at all.
Even though it was hot, the twenty-six Spaniards stood still without losing sight of their captain and living the moment with great emotion. Some even felt their eyes wet, veterans of thousand fights like: Francisco de Valdenebro, Bernardino de Cienfuegos and Pascual Rubio de Malpartida, the other could barely hold their tears.
The voice of their captain, once again roared, overshadowing the sound of the waves:
“And if somebody else, no matter nobleship or religion or from any other group attempted to take over this lands, I will be ready to prove them wrong and defend this land in the name of my king and queen, who are lords of the Indias, their Islands and lands.”
Moving around the nobleman from Jerez de los Caballeros completed his claim of the lands with the following words:
“From the Artic to the Antarctic, in both lines of the equinoxial line, in and out of the Cancer and Capricorn tropics, all of this belongs to our Majesty and their heirs. From today until the day of the Final Judgement and the end of times.
Then he turned his back to his men who were proud and happy about what just happened, and then he asked them:
“Does any of the ones here present, opposes to the claim of the Southern Sea and their lands, kingdoms and islands in name of the Crown of Castilla?
“No, my captain”, answered all of them in one voice, as strong as their lungs allowed them to, releasing the emotion and joy that they felt at that moment.
Then Balboa asked them, raising his voice:
“Will you defend this sea and lands, which already belongs to the Crown of Castilla, by risking your life to protect them?”
“Yes, we will”, all answered.
In that moment, realizing the importance of the event that was taking place, Vasco Nuñez de Balboa ordered the royal scribe Andrés de Valderrábano who came from Villa de San Martín de Valdeiglesias, so he could write as witness of the oath that just took place and put the name of all the men who were present at the event.
At the top of the list was Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, who was followed by the priest Andrés de Vera and Francisco Pizarro and it ended with Juan de Beas, and the scribe himself Andrés de Valderrábano.
While watching around, he took a knife and started choosing certain roots from the already drowned woods and with them he shaped a big cross on the trunk, as sign that those lands were claimed by them. He repeated the process three times and said to his men:
“I’m making this three signs as reverence to the holy trinity Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three different persons of the same true God, in whose name for Castilla and for the present King and Queen and their future heirs, will remain as proof of posession.
His men followed the example and started making crosses with their swords all over the floor.
They also built a piramid with stones and a dozen seven feet height rods.
It was getting late and the night was coming close, with the tide going low again, the men returned happy and satisfied to the community of Chief Chape, who was waiting for them with dinner.
After two days of claiming the Southern Sea, the spaniards who had stayed behind together with the ones that went looking for the Torecha community returned. Balboa managed to get all of his men to the other side of the country, without any casualty.
Chief Chape treated them very well and they felt comfortable in the Indian community, as much that the Spaniards decided to stay there “IMAGE”, and this way becoming the exploration center of the recently discovered Pacific Region.
Through the Indian language, he sent a message to all the other leaders of the neighboring tribes, offering them friendship and peace. He spent many hours talking with his men and with the young Chief who had become his friend.
During one of these important conversations, the Chape chief brought some important information.
The white tiba told Chape “I can feel a growing admiration for the spaniard coming from you”. Not far from here there is an island where you can fish pearls of great size and beauty. We call them Terarequi. If you want, I can show it you with my men and canoes, after some moon have passed.
Why should we wait? Answered Balboa. Tomorrow we will set sail and go to that island.
“That is impossible” answered the Chief. This should only be done when the sea is calm, because during this time of the year it is dangerous to sail with our fragile ships.
Watching Balboa’s disgusted expression, Chape made a smart decision and made another plan:
“If what mostly interests you is the gold, I personally will take you to the next town which is Cuquera. There you will be able to find much more wealth than here with us.
Vasco and his men already felt recovered after a week of rest, following their failed sailing attempt. On October 7, guided by the chief himself and accompanied by a group of Indians, they set sail with 70 men on 8 canoes and went into the river that ended in the San Miguel Gulf.
Advancing against the current, without difficulties. They reached the entrance of a deep valley in the afternoon.
All men came down and then, Chape told Balboa:
“Three leagues from here, on the mountains in the horizon, you will see the town of Cuquera. The road is complicated, but my men know it well and by midnight, we might reach the huts.
Then Balboa said to his men “Gentlemen, from now on we will go by foot and during the night. We will try to make silence and not making noise, because I intend to reach the indian town, without them knowing. I want to get into their huts by surprise, to not cause any casualty. Make as many prisoners as you can, but if they attack us, we will reply with all our might. May Santiago and the Virgen de la Antigua protect us.
Then they started advancing, trying not to make any noise, but even with the warnings, their arrival was announced to the indians. When they reached the town of Cuqueda, they found no one in it. The abandonment of the huts was something that already happened before, so Vasco Nuñez didn’t worried as much.
Then, he ordered to one of his captains:
“Pizarro, organize rounds of guards and make sure that the men rest well enough. That each men sleep with their weapons ready. At dawn, all of them should be ready.
The night was hot, and Balboa went to rest with his loyal dog Leoncico by his side, and a few meters away, was his unconditional friend Chief Chape. By 5 in the morning, the guards announced that a group of indians with weapons were approaching.
The Spaniards got ready for the attack. The natives thought that the invaders were naked Indians like them, but when they saw these men dressed up and with their long beards and pointing their unknown weapons at them, they ran away scared. Balboa’s men ran after them, taking some prisoners in the process.
Since Balboa had good results, by releasing their prisoners before, he did the same again with the Cuquera indians which together with some men from Chief Chape, went to look for Chief Cuquera who had remained hidden in the deepest part of the mountains, with most of his people.
The message sent to them was the same as always. If they went inmediately to the town in peace, they would be treated well and rewarded as friends. But if they rejected this offer, they would be considered as enemies, their huts would be destroyed and their people would be enslaved.
Chape’s Indians acted as ambassadors in the name of Balboa. When they came into the presence of Chief Cuquera, they explained that these men from far away, were invencible. That they controlled the thunder and lightning at will and that they behaved well with their friends, but were severe and cruel with those who resisted them.
They also confirmed that their Chief Chape was together with the outsider’s Tiba and was considered by them as a brother, since this could comfort them. They warned once again, that those who rejected them, the only thing left for them would be the ruins of their towns and even their own death and the death of their followers.
Cuquera was amazed by what was told to him by Chape’s indians, so he decided to return peacefully, accompanied by his followers, with their women and children behind, they approached cautiously the hut that was in the center of the town; there, Vasco Nuñez de Balboa and Chape’s men were waiting.
After greeting them in the Indian language, Cuquera gave the Spaniards 650 pounds of gold, and carved jewels. While Balboa answered with some mirrors and beads, but mainly with some little axes, which the Indians considered much more valuable than the pearls and gold.
While they were eating , the Chief did not stop talking, and during the banquet, and along with the pieces of gold, he gave the Spaniards a generous amount of mid-size pearls.
“Great Tiba”, said Cuquera. “On this coast and on the surrounding islands, there are many places to fish pearls. Some are of great size as the ones that are found in the Big Island, that we call “Terarequi” or “Toe”.
“Yes, Chief Chape already told me about this island and the marvelous pearls that can be found there”, interrupted Vasco Nuñez.
Then, Chief Cuquera said “We never like to be interrupted in our explanations, same as all the other chiefs of the towns that are spread along the coast. And they also know the different oyster hatcheries, the deeper they are, the more chances to collect more pearls and of bigger size.
“And how do you get them, if they are in deep waters?”, asked Balboa.
With pride, the Chief answered: “Our young men, they are expert swimmers and divers. They can hold their breath for a long time, due to their continous training as children. Sometimes they could get as deep as 10 meters down, in order to catch the bigger fishes.
“Isn’t that exercise dangerous?” asked the cleric Andres de Vera.
“At times, some of these fisherman drown every year, some others have lost their arm or leg, by being bitten by the sharks, but that doesn’t happen often”, answered Chape.
Cuquera, who wanted to remain as the center of attention in the conversation said: “The pearls fishing is a tiresome excercise in which the young fishers can only dive a maximun of 4 to 5 times continuously. When one diver finds a big pearl, the other divers celebrate it with him.
Balboa had heard enough and decided to return to Chape’s Town. He left Cuquera very happy, and from that moment he was considered a friend of the bearded men whom he did not have to fear anymore.
By mid-day, the Spaniards and chape’s fellows had already set sail in their canoes and had returned to their town by the time the sun was hiding in the horizon, while their other mates waited.
On the next day, after resting, Balboa called for his friend Chape and told him:
“I have decided to set sail and go through the whole gulf that I have named “San Miguel”. Later I will attempt to go to the island that you call Terarequi to meet and make peace with their Chief.
“My brother, do not think about doing the things you do.”, answered Chief Chape with a very serious expression. “You know that you can count with the collaboration of me, my canoes and my men. But during this moon and the next two no canoe should go into this waters, because they are full of whirlpools and with roaring waves that crash the canoes against the cliffs.
“Don’t worry, our God and “Nuestra Señora de la Antigua” will help us.” Answered Vasco Nuñez.
“I have to ask you again my white Tiba brother” said the fearful indian trying to make the spanishman reconsider his decision. “I have seen many canoes being dragged by the sea, during this time of the year”.
During any other moon I would go with you with all my men, but I’m asking you to think again, about going to the open sea during this moon or on the following two, with such fragile ships.
“I am telling you again, don’t worry.”, said the spanishman “God and his Holy Mother will be with us”.
Then, he gathered his men to show them his plans. “I want to get to the island that the indians call Terarequi, where the biggest pearls can be found”, he said,
“Our friend Chief Chape is trying to convince me of not going during this time of the year, because the sea is too dangeous and their canoes are too fragile. I have told them not to worry, because God and “Our Lady of Antigua” will always be with us.” Said the Spanishman.
Vasco Nuñez continued his speech, knowing the mood of his men, after discovering and claiming the Southern Sea. They were so happy that they would do anything for him.
“This is also something that will help the christian religion to keep growing, and also we will find gold and pearls with which the Crown of Castilla will be able to use against the enemies of our faith. Now, I want to know who I can count with.
All of them stood up and said that they would go with him, even those who were injured, he felt admiration for his men's devotion and loyalty.
Then, Vasco Nuñez selected eighty men, some of whom had already accompanied him to the Town of Cuquera.
From the native that was always with Vasco, chief Chape knew that his words had fallen into deaf ears, and that the following day, the captain and his men would go into the open sea.
Knowing the dangers that the Spaniards were exposed to, Chape wanted to make them know that they would remain loyal, approached with a show of friendship and admiration, and said to Balboa:
“Great Tiba, I insist on how dangerous this journey will be and I would recommend you, as my best advice, that you shouldn’t procede any further.
But if you have decided to keep going, I will go with you, because i’m your loyal friend. All of my Canoes and fellow natives will go at your will, sailing wherever you want.
In the next morning, October 17, the 80 men boarded the canoes and went forward, following the coastlines, on their way to San Lorenzo.
When they were near the reefs, they realized that the he navigation was difficult, the sea was growing thick and large volumes of water was breaking into the canoes.
To avoid sinking, the spaniards started to take water off from the boats, and the indians had to do a great effort to keep the canoes up. The waves were hitting the canoes with rage and fury . On more than one ocasion, the canoes were almost sinking.
While they were all wet, the spaniards, full of terror looked at each other with their wet beards, they couldn’t even hide their fear . But what most worried them were the faces of the indians, who could swim like fishes and were experts in the water, but this time, their faces were also worried and fearful.
In a moment of great difficulty, Chape ordered his men, that with their ropes on each canoe, they should stick together in order to not get lost. Then he told them to keep rowing up to the small island that could be seen ahead.
After a great effort, in which the men of Balboa replaced the already tired indian men from the rowing labor, exhausted, they arrived to the small island in which some strange vegetation and sea animals could be seen. All of them fell on the sand, in a state of extreme exhaustion.
The Priest Andres de Vera said in a loud voice:
Let’s say thanks to God and his Holy Mother “Maria de la Antigua”. Let’s pray all together an “Our Father” and 3 “Hail Mary”. But they were so tired that no word would come out from them.
Only Juan de Beas and Francisco de Valdenebro, together with Vasco Nuñez answered to the thanksgiving action initiated by the priest who had a look of fear in his face.
Chape could see the face of fear in the spaniard, but he was wise enough to not say something. It was already getting late when Balboa ordered Francisco Pizarro:
“Order someone and go to tie the canoes to the trees and small stones that are in the south of the island.
Between all of them they tied the canoes, but when the night arrived they realized that the tide was going up fast, when it was midnight, the small island was already flooded and the level of the water could reach their knees, terrorized, the spaniards and natives decided to tie themselves while holding tight to the trees, whose lower parts were already inside the cold waters of the pacific.
Balboa held Leoncico tightly in his arms, and the other dogs of the pack that were accompanying them were held by the other spaniards, they wouldn’t have been able to stay on float for so many hours.
The curses and swearings were getting mix up with their prayers. The indians started to mumble a sad and rhythmic song as if they were already saying good bye to this world. Chape remained in silence, with his friend Vasco.
Three hours passed, it looked like an eternity for the small group of spaniards and indians, with the water up to their tight, who were confronting the death, which no so many times was seen this close.
In a determined moment, when their strength was about to fade, the thunderous voice of Vasco Nuñez said:
“Don’t worry my friends, the water won’t go up anymore in a couple hours, and the small island will come back up again. “Nuestra Señora de la Antigua” has protected us once and believe me, that she will again. Fortunately, the canoes were well tied and soon the sun will rise and we will go to firm ground where we will be safe.
And so it happened, the waters started to go down in the same speed that they were going up, and by morning after going through night without sleeping, in which all were sure that they would die, they realized the seriousness of the situation. This was not a attractive option.
The sea around the island, continued roaring with strong winds, and affortunately that they didn’t lose the canoes, because they were tied very well, they could be found with severe damage with no exception at all.
Most of the Canoes were buried and covered by sand. The helm of this ships constructed with a single tree trunk had cracks and were wet. Everything that was in the canoes, were missing, except for the oars that were tied tightly to the canoes.
Vasco Nuñez’s men, were hungry and haven’t recovered yet, from the fearsome night that was full of dangers, they looked at each other with disbelief of what just happened.
It was Chape who reacted first, by telling his men to recollect seaweeds from the shores and surface of the marine trees.
“Don’t worry Tiba, we will repair the canoes and with them we will reach firm ground, as you can see it is not far away from here”, said Chape to Balboa with the intention to calm him down.
Then Balboa said to his men “Gentlemen, help the indians and do whatever they say” ordering them to cheer them up. We will repair the canoes and leave this place soon.
Everybody started to work and by mid-day, the canoes were ready to be used in the water and to pick up passengers. They used a strange technique that consisted in using vegetals in order to close the holes. Just to beware, they stick the canoes together in order to prevent them to be damaged more than what they already were.
The tired spaniards set sail again. Fortunately for them, this time they were close to the coast, after a few hours, they could lay down tired in the white sands of the beach of the island.
The tireless indians, went up to the palms and started dropping a great amount of coconuts. With their swords, the spaniards started cutting, through the hard surface, and started to drink the sugared liquid from the fruit, to calm down their thirst.
Then to calm their hunger, using a machete, they started to break the fruit open and start eating the white fruit of unmistakable flavor. Once they finished they started to sleep.
The next day, October 18, after sleeping for some hours, they noticed that the sea was calm. Without getting far from the coast, they got to the other side, to the lands of Chief Tumaco.
“Tiba, this Chief is rich and very powerful, he has been a long time enemy of me and my people. We should attack them by night, and by surprise, so we don’t give him a chance to prepare for battle. My men know this lands fairly well and will take us silently and protected through the darkness of the night to the huts of Tumaco.” Said Chape.
The plan of his friend seemed good to Vasco Nuñez, who knew the situation of his men, that some were weakened. That’s why he only choose forty men, who looked stronger and ready, leaving the others by the shores to protect the canoes.
Inmediately, they went with their dogs who were used to walk during the night in complete silence.
The spaniards learned to walk silently in the darkness in the middle of the wild, thanks to the indians. They could see the white splinters coming out from the trees, because they shined in the dark.
The christian that followed the indian guide used one of this splinters in his hat, which was on his back, this way the others who were in the back could follow the light made by the small piece of wood. This way, none of them got lost, and the light was so small (tenue) that their enemies could not find them.
With all the precautions made, Tumaco’s spies warned their lord about the incoming strangers, thus making the indian chief to await for them with men heavily armed at the entrance of the town. The fight was short.
The Fire weapons and dogs were more than enough. Many indians died and the chief fled with some of his men. Many indians were taken by prisoners. Only Cristobal Daza and Francisco of Lucena suffered slight injuries.
Let’s see Pizarro and Albitez, reunite the indian prisoners in the center of the town and put some guards around them, in case the other indians come back with bad intention. The others, go and scavenge from the huts gold, pearls and food.
In less than an hour, Vasco Nuñez had everything that the indians left behind and the women who didn’t left their houses. The amount of gold collected by them was small, but the amount of pearls that they found was numerous and of different sizes which were added to the “aljofar”, which is a word used in spanish refering to small pearls of irregular size.
From the Chief’s hut, they brought a great amount of oysters, who are the animals that had pearls inside them.
As for the food that they found, they could find Oysters, which were closed and protected by their hard shell. Tumaco’s men fished them one day ago, in a coast not far away from the sight of Tumaco’s hut.
In some of the indian towns, the meat that was provided by this animals could be considered as one of the most delicious food, but it was also one of the main sources of proteins for them.
“My captain, did you notice that all this pearls do not have the white color as the ones found in Spain? Asked Diego de Albitez to his captain Vasco, who also came from Jerez de los Caballeros.
Balboa did not know what to answer, and through the translator indian, he asked Chape who was always by his side ready to help his friend.
“The answer is easy, we cook them. Their meat is much more tasty when it has been cooked than when it is raw, and it also opens with rather ease. For us, this meat is a blessing of the Gods, we prefer it more than the pearls, that’s why when the oysters are in the fire, the pearls inside get a black color and start losing their natural color” said the Indian Chief.
“Look chief, how do I open this oysters, without putting them into the fire” said Diego de Albitez, while he was holding one of this oysters who remained close in his hands.
Then he inserted a knife in the thickest part where the shell of the clam joined, then with a little pressure he split the ends with rather ease. Chape and Tumaco’s men saw the action, and learned that they had to take the pearls before cooking and eating the tender meat from the clam.
While being in the town, Vasco Nuñez, asked his friend Chape to send some of his men to look for Tumaco, who managed to run away. Then half dozen of Chape’s men went out to look for Chief Tumaco.
On the next day, the six men told their chief about what happened. Then Chape inmediately went to where Vasco was reunited with Pizarro, Albitez and Andres de Vera, and then told them:
“Tiba, my men have found Tumaco, who is badly hurt, it is not severe. They attempted to tell him that you came peacefully and with good will, and that if he befriended you, not only nothing will happen to him and his people, but with your strenght he would be protected from all of his enemies.
“How difficult is for a native to understand that, and on top of that if he is hurt” answered Albitez, who couldn’t remain silent.
Turning a blind eye on the comment made by Captain Albitez, Chief Chape said:
“And in that same way, if he didn’t show himself in front of you, all would end dead, and his linage would be exterminated and all his domains would be devastated. But none convinced Tumaco, who was hiding the in the deepest part of the mountains.
Vasco, telling his three friends who were angry, due to the report they just heard, recommended them to have a little patience, because a Chief that is hurt and with many of his men dead is not easy to convince at first.
Then knowing that suggestions are commands, Vasco told Chape: “Make 9 of your men go into the mountains and find Tumaco, but this time take 2 or 3 of the men we just made prisoners, so they can tell him that we have treated them well and with dignity.
Chape’s men returned to the mountains, and when they found Tumaco again, who was constantly changing hiding places, he was told to show up if he wanted to keep his domain. The prisoners confirmed that they were well treated and informed about the big friendship between Chief Chape and The Tiba. It was such the “persistencia”, that he decided to send his elder son to represent them.
When they arrived the town, Tumaco’s son was well recieved by Balboa who gave him a linen shirt and some other stuff. Through an indian that translated, Vasco told the young boy, that they were waiting for his father to sign the peace with his people, but if he remained hidden, he would be pursued everywhere and gonna be thrown to the dogs.
Then he told the boy to return to the place where his father was hiding and with him half a dozen of prisoners to go with him.
After three days with no news, which the spanish took to rest peacefully, the guards then said that a trooop of indians was coming from the north. Then Balboa ordered his men to prepare for battle and to have their weapons and dogs ready.
The weapons were not used. Tumaco, accompanied by his son, who was wearing the shirt given to him by Balboa, and also accompanied by many soldiers, arrived the town peacefully. The chief didn’t bring any gift with him.
Vasco Nuñez greeted him and took him to eat with him, his son, Chape and the other Spanish Captains. The lunch which had fish and clams which were covered by some wine that they found on one of the huts of the town, was very joyful. Chape talked with Tumaco moving his arms and head, making gestures that made some of the spanish to laugh.
“Are you sure, that they are not praying?” said father Andres de Vera who joined the group. “Vasco, you are lucky to have a friend like Chape, because without his help and of his people, we would have had a bad time. I’m still trembling from that night on the island in which the water could reach our waist. I think I have never prayed with so much devotion in my life.”
“What is sure is that the reverend, defecated on his pants”, said Diego de Albitez.
Then all of the spanish laughed together. Then the two natives, interrupted the conversation.
Chape was good narrating the good will and advantages of being friends with the spanish, that Chief Tumaco whispered some words to his son, and inmediately, he stood up and left the table.
Not even half an hour had passed, when the young native came back accompanied by a group of relatives of the Chief, which brought 614 pounds in Gold Jewelry of good quality in which the one that took the spotlight was a pearl of 240, due to it’s size and perfection. Even if they were darkened, due to them being put into the fire for them to open, the size of the pearls impressed the spanish.
By watching the indians holding such a great treasure, all of Balboa’s men went around the group of chiefs. Some of them celebrated joyfully, mainly due to the incredible size of the pearls which came on some baskets. In that moment, everybody forgot the things that the group has suffered since they left “Santa Maria de la Antigua del Darien”, two months ago.
Such was the noise made by the two Malpartida, Francisco Rubio and Francisco Pesado who together with Cristobal Daza and Alvaro de Bolaños couldn’t stop cheering and celebrating.
Then Juan de Portillo, screamed outloud:
“Blessed be the mom, who gave birth to Ponquiaco”, this way remembering the elder son of Chief Comogre who was the first to tell them about the existance of the Southern Sea and the great wealth that was in it’s territory, due to it’s cold waters.
The indians that were with them, laughed while watching that the gold and pearls were the only things that these men were interested in. They were trying to figure out, how something of such little value for them, and was used just as a currency money, was so valuable for the bearded men.
Watching how happy the pearls made the spaniards, Tumaco ordered his men to go and fish for more. Within 4 days, they came back with 12 pounds of pearls with 8 ounces on each pound. Then, they all celebrated the return of the fishers with such bounty.
Chief Tumaco was happy to give this offerings to the outsiders that came from far, but overall he was happy for being allowed to become friend with the white Tiba.
The christians, hugged and congratulated each other, thinking that this was just the start of the wealth that they would get from the recently discovered coasts.
The one who was more than happy, but did not showed any emotion was Chief Chape. Not only because of the wealth gained by the white Tiba and his friends, but for how the strength in the authority of his village increased. They made them think that Tumaco was an ancient enemy of them and more powerful than them, a fearful enemy that they had.
Then Tumaco provided Vasco Nuñez with information of the lands of Chitarraga. Balboa decided to call it the province of San Lucas, because of the day in which they arrived which was the day of that saint, and along with it they also found a Gulf, which they also named after the Saint.
During afternoon, on october 20, a strong tropical storm that lasted a couple hours, looked like the sky was falling into them in the form of water, and the strong winds made the trees look like they were planted on glue, this conditions made the habitants of the town to look for refugee.
After the hurricane passed, in the door of Tumaco’s hut were sitting calmly Vasco Nuñez, Francisco Pizarro, Diego de Albitez, Andres de Vera and Bernardino de Morales who were watching the beautiful sunset, in which it was literarilly falling, into the waters. Everything in the town smelled wet. Then Chape, Tumaco, Tumaco’s son and a Indian translator, approached them.
“Listen, my friend Tiba, what Chief Tumaco is telling me” said Chape while sitting besides Balboa, who by his other side had his friend Leoncico. This is something I have heard from my father and ancestors, but I was never sure of it.
And then saying to the other Chief, who he had to reconcile with, asked through the indian translator that accompanied them to tell the spanishmen what he had just been informed.
Hear me, great and powerful Tiba. If you continue through this coast, you will find a very powerful town with uncountable wealth. They move through the sea on great ships and carry gold over some weird animals that are very strong and can walk with great confidence on high mountains.
“What an story, is the one that the indian is telling us”, said clearly Bernardino de Morales.
“Be quiet, we have already heard this story before in the town of Comogre”, said Pizarro.
“Which type of animals are those?”, said Vasco Nuñez to the Chief.
“Something is like something I will soon show you”, answered the Chief. And picking up some wet ground that was in front of the hut, because even though the storm passed and the sun rose, the ground was still wet, then with that sand, he started to mold a figure of an animal, with a body like the sheeps, but with a neck like the camels.
Then proud with his piece of art, he showed it to the spanishmen.
“I still think they are making this up”, said Morales.
“Well I think it is a camel, like the ones we see in Sevilla, property of the (MOROS)”, said Diego de Albitez who couldn’t remain in silence.
“For me the sculpture looks like a deer without horns that are around Santa Maria”, said the cleric Vera.
While his men had a mess in the discussion which would not take them anywhere. Vasco remembered the story of the town of Comogre.
Then Vasco went away from the conversation and laid back on a trunk accompanied by Leoncico, his mind warped him back to certain events of great intensity that he lived through some years ago.