ily embarked, and under the guidance of Ruiz sailed to the
south for twenty days, and reached at length the Gulf of Guayaquil.
Here the voyagers were abreast of some of the grandest heights of the
Cordilleras. Far above them in the still air rose the snowy crests of
Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, while only a narrow strip of green and fertile
land lay between the mountains and the sea. Tumbez proved to be a large
town, and the inhabitants received the Spaniards well, supplying them
plentifully with fruit and vegetables, game and fish, and sending on
board their ship a number of llamas, which Pizarro then saw for the
first time. The 'little camel,' as the Spaniards called it, was an
object of much interest to them, and they greatly admired its mixture of
wool and hair, from which the beautiful native fabrics were woven. The
Indians were much astonished to find two of their own countrymen on
board the strange vessel, but through their favourable report of the
harmless intentions of the Spaniards, and by their help as interpreters,
Pizarro was able to collect much valuable information. At that time
there happened to be an Inca noble in Tumbez, distinguished by his rich
dress, the huge gold ornaments in his ears, and the deference paid him
by the citizens. Pizarro received him on board his ship, showing him
everything, and answering his numerous questions as well as he could. He
also took the opportunity of asserting the lawful supremacy of the King
of Spain over the empire of Peru, and of expounding some of the
doctrines of his own religion, to all of which the chief listened in
silence. Several parties of the Spaniards landed at different times, and
came back with wondrous tales of all they had seen: the temples blazing
with silver and gold, and the convent of the Virgins of the Sun, the
gardens of which glowed with imitations of fruits and flowers in the
same metals. The natives greatly admired one of the Spaniards, a man
named Alonso de Molina, who was of fair complexion and wore a long
beard. They even invited him to settle among them, promising him a
beautiful wife; and on his homeward voyage Pizarro actually left him
there, with one or two others, thinking that at some future time it
might be useful to him that some of his own men should understand the
Indian language. In return he took on board his ship several of the
Peruvians, and one of them, named by the Spaniards Felipillo, played an
important part in after-events.