“I have to ask you again my white Tiba brother” said the fearful indian trying to make the spaniard 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 the following two, with such fragile ships.
“I am telling you again, don’t worry.”, said the spaniard “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.