lutely
necessary to cope with the thickening population of the country. Almagro
therefore took the treasure and went back for reinforcements. Pizarro
landed to seek for a place of encampment, while Ruiz, with the second
ship, sailed southward.

Coasting along with fair winds he reached what is now called the Bay of
St. Matthew, having seen by the way many densely-populated villages in a
well-cultivated land. Here the people showed no signs of fear or
hostility, but stood gazing upon the ship of the white men as it floated
on the smooth waters of the bay, fancying it to be some mysterious being
descended from the skies. Without waiting to undeceive them, Ruiz once
more headed for the open sea, and was soon amazed to see what appeared
to be a caravel of considerable size, advancing slowly, with one large
sail hoisted. The old navigator was convinced that his was the first
European vessel that had ever penetrated into these latitudes, and no
Indian nation yet discovered was acquainted with the use of sails. But
as he drew near he saw it was one of the huge rafts, called 'balsas,'
made of logs and floored with reeds, with a clumsy rudder and movable
keel of planks. Coming alongside, Ruiz found several Indians, themselves
wearing rich ornaments, who were carrying articles of wrought gold and
silver for traffic along the coast. But what attracted his attention
even more was the woollen cloth of which their robes were made. It was
of fine texture, dyed in brilliant colours, and embroidered with figures
of birds and flowers. They also had a pair of balances for weighing the
gold and silver--a thing unknown even in Mexico. From these Indians he
learned that two of their number came from Tumbez, a Peruvian port
further to the south; that their fields were full of large flocks of the
animals from which the wool was obtained; and that in the palaces of
their king gold and silver were as common as wood. Ruiz only half
believed their report, but he took several of them on board to repeat
the tale to his commander, and also to learn Castilian, that they might
serve as interpreters. Without touching at any other port, Ruiz then
sailed southward as far as Punta de Pasado, being the first European
who, sailing in this direction, had crossed the equinoctial line, after
which he returned to the place where he had left Pizarro.

[Illustration: Many of the Spaniards were killed by the snakes and
alligators]

He did not reach it too soon.