to conclude a truce; and he employed the interval in laying the foundation of the famous city of Lima, and providing for the permanent establishment of the Spaniards in this country.

Embracing the first favourable opportunity of renewing the war, the Spaniards again took the field; and after surmounting many difficulties and dangers, Pizarro at last made himself master of Cuzco, the capital of the empire. This happened in October, 1532. On entering the city, from which the inhabitants had fled, and carried what was most valuable with them, he still found treasures immense. As it was the custom of the country to bury with their grandees the best part of their riches, the conquerors rifled the sepulchres; and found them as rich as the habitations of the living. The plunder of Cuzco has been computed to equal the sum formerly advanced for the ransom of Atabalipa. Pizarro now invited the inhabitants to return to their dwellings, fearful lest by driving them to desperation, the whole empire might unite against him. The Indians accepted the proposal, and even the Inca made some overtures of accommodation.

While success had so far attended the Spaniards, new grants and levies arrived from the mother country. Pizarro obtained 200 leagues along the sea-coast to the southward of what had been originally granted him; and Almagro 200 leagues to the southward of Pizarro's government. This division occasioned a warm dispute between the two chiefs, each reckoning Cuzco within the limits of his district. But the dexterity of Pizarro effected a reconciliation. He persuaded his rival, that the country which really belonged to him lay to the southward of Cuzco; that it was no way inferior in riches and fertility, and might be as easily conquered as Peru. To enforce this argument, he offered him his assistance in the expedition, the success of which he deemed indisputable.

Almagro, that he might have the honour of subduing a kingdom for himself, listened to the advice; and having united as many of Pizarro's soldiers to his own, as he judged necessary, penetrated with great danger and difficulty into Chili. But danger and difficulty vanish at the prospect of gold. He passed mountains of immense height, and covered with eternal

snow, with the loss of many of his men, and the greatest part of his baggage. These mountains were the Cordilleras. At length he arrived in Copayapu, subject to the Inca of Peru; and in a short time reduced a considerable part of the circumjacent country.

The Peruvians had now gained policy from their intercourse with the Spaniards, and some knowledge of the art of war. This division of the troops of the enemy did not escape their notice. They made an effort to regain their capital, in which, while Pizarro was indisposed and Almagro at a distance, they were well nigh successful. The latter, however, having received intelligence of the siege of Cuzco, immediately abandoned his views of distant conquest, and returned to secure the grand object of their former labours. He soon raised the siege of Cuzco, with an infinite slaughter of the assailants; but having now the merit of obtaining possession of the city, he was unwilling to relinquish it to Pizarro, who was approaching with an army, and knew of no other enemy but the Peruvians.

This bone of contention occasioned a long and bloody struggle between the chiefs and their respective parties, in which the turns of fortune were various, and the resentment fierce on both sides; because the fate of the vanquished was certain destruction. Such at last was the fate of Almagro, who in an advanced age, fell a victim to the security of a rival, in whose dangers and triumphs he had long participated; and with whom, from the beginning of the enterprise, he had been closely connected. During the course of this civil war, many Peruvians served in the Spanish armies, and learned from the practice of Christians to butcher one another with success.

That passive and blinded nation, however, at last opened their eyes, and took a very remarkable resolution. They saw the ferocity of the Europeans, their implacable resentment, their insatiable avarice; and they conjectured, that the exercise of those passions would never suffer the contests to subside. 'Let us retire,' said they, from among them, let us fly to our mountains; they will speedily destroy one another, and then we may return in peace to our former habitations.' This

resolution was instantly put in practice. The Peruvians dispersed, and left the Spaniards in their capital. Had the force of the combatants been exactly equal, this singular policy of the natives might have been attended with the expected sucBut the victory of Pizarro put an end to Almagro's life and to the hopes of the Peruvians.

cess.

Pizarro now freed from a rival, and master of the richest empire in the world, was still spurred on by ambition to undertake new enterprizes. The southern countries into which he had sometime before dispatched Almagro, presented the richest field for discovery and conquest. He therefore proceeded in the track of Almagro into Chili, and reduced another part of that country. Orellana one of his captains passed the Andes, and sailed down to the mouth of the river of Amazons. On the banks of this immense navigation, some of the women, having attended their husbands into battle, as was not unusual in America, were found among the slain in armour. This gave rise to the fiction of a warlike race of females, resembling the ancient Amazons. The country through which Orellana passed was rich and delightful in the fruits of the earth; but as it was chiefly champaign, and therefore not plentiful in minerals, the Spaniards disregarded it; and have never yet made any settlements there.

But, instead of returning to enjoy the repose which his condition required, Pizarro, on entering Quito, received accounts of a fatal event that threatened calamities more dreadful to him than those through which he had passed. The adherents of Almagro, considering themselves as proscribed by the party in power, no longer entertained any hope of bettering their condition. Great numbers in despair resorted to Lima, where the house of young Almagro was always open to them, and the slender portion of his father's fortune, which the governor allowed him to enjoy, was spent in affording them subsistence. The warm attachment with which every person who had served under the elder Almagro devoted himself to his interest, was quickly transferred to his son, who was now grown up to the age of manhood, and possessed all the qualities which captivate the affections of soldiers. Of a

graceful appearance, dexterous at all martial exercises, bold, open, generous, he seemed to be formed for command; and as his father, conscious of his own inferiority, from the total want of education, had been extremely attentive to have him instructed in every science becoming a gentleman; the accomplishments which he had acquired heightened the respect of his followers, as they gave him distinction and eminence. among illiterate adventurers. In this young man the Almagrians found a point of union which they wanted, and looking up to him as their head, were ready to undertake any thing for his advancement. Many of them, destitute of common necessaries, and weary of loitering away life, a burden to their chief, or to such of their associates as had saved some remnant of their fortune from pillage and confiscation, longed impatiently for an occasion to exert their activity and courage, and began to deliberate how they might be avenged on the author of all their misery. Their frequent cabals did not pass unobserved; and the governor was warned to be on his guard against men who meditated some desperate deed, and had resolution to execute it. But either from the native intrepidity of his mind, or from contempt of persons whose poverty seemed to render their machinations of little consequence, he disregarded the admonitions of his friends. 'Be in no pain,' said he carelessly, about my life; it is perfectly safe, as long as every man in Peru knows that I can in a moment cut off any head which dares to harbour a thought against it.' This security gave the Almagrians full leisure to digest and ripen every part of their scheme; and Juan de Herrada, an officer of great abilities, who had the charge of Almagro's education, took the direction of their consultations, with all the zeal which this connection inspired, and with all the authority which the ascendant that he was known to have over the mind of his pupil gave him.

On Sunday, June 26th, 1541, at mid-day, the season of tranquillity and repose in all sultry climates, Herrada, at the head of 18 of the most determined conspirators, sallied out of Almagro's house in complete armour; and drawing their swords as they advanced hastily towards the governor's palace,

cried out, Long live the king, but let the tyrant die!' Their associates, warned of their motions by a signal, were in arms at different stations ready to support them. Though Pizarro was usually surrounded by such a numerous train of attendants as suited the magnificence of the most opulent subject of the age in which he lived, yet as he was just risen from table, and most of his domestics had retired to their own apartments, the conspirators passed through the two outer courts of the palace unobserved. They were at the bottom of a stair-case, before a page in waiting could give the alarm to his master, who was conversing with a few friends in a large hall. The governor, whose steady mind no form of danger could appal, starting up, called for arms, and commanded Francisco de Chaves to make fast the door. But that officer, who did not retain so much presence of mind as to obey this prudent order, running to the top of the stair-case, wildly asked the conspirators what they meant, and whither they were going? Instead of answering, they stabbed him to the heart, and burst into the hall. Some of the persons who were there threw themselves from the windows; others attempted to fly; and a few drawing their swords, followed their leader into an inner apart ment. The conspirators animated with having the object of their vengeance now in view, rushed forward after them. Pizarro, with no other arms than his sword and buckler, defended the entry, and supported by his half brother Alcantara, and his little knot of friends, he maintained the unequal contest with intrepidity worthy of his past exploits, and with the vigour of a youthful combatant, Courage!' cried he, compa nions, we are yet enow to make those traitors repent of their audacity! But the armour of the conspirators protected them, while every thrust they made took effect. Alcantara fell dead at his brother's feet; his other defenders were mor tally wounded. The governor, so weary that he could hardly wield his sword, and no longer able to parry the many wea-. pons furiously aimed at him, received a deadly thrust full in his throat, sunk to the ground, and expired.

As soon as he was slain, the assassins ran out into the streets, and waving their bloody swords, proclaimed the death of the