VOYAGES
190
A N D DISCOVERIES OF
mountains have I reverenced thy valor.
Spare my life, and thou
shalt have all the gold I can procure." Vasco Nuiiez, whose anger was assumed, was readily paci fied.
A s soon as the day dawned, the cacique gave him armlets
and other jewels of gold to the value of three thousand crowns, and sent messengers throughout his dominions ordering his sub jects to aid in paying his ransom.
The poor Indians, with their
accustomed loyalty, hastened in crowds, bringing their golden ornaments, until in the course of three days they had produced an amount equal to six thousand crowns.
This done, Vasco Nuiiez
set the cacique at liberty, bestowing on him several European trinkets, with which he considered himself richer than he had been with all his gold.
Nothing would draw from him, however,
the disclosure of the mines whence this treasure was procured. He declared that it came from the territories of his neighbors, where gold and pearls were to be found in abundance ; but that his lands produced nothing of the kind.
Vasco Nunez doubted
his sincerity, and secretly caused the brooks and rivers in his dominions to be searched, where gold was found in such quanti ties, that he determined, at a future time, to found two settlements in the neighborhood. On parting with Tubanamà, the cacique sent his son with the Spaniards to learn their language and religion.
It is said, also,
that the Spaniards carried off his eighty women ; but of this par ticular fact Oviedo, who writes with the papers of Vasco Nunez before him, says nothing.
H e affirms, generally, however, that
the Spaniards, throughout this expedition, were not scrupulous in their dealings with the wives and daughters of the Indians ; and adds, that in this their commander set them the example.* * Oviedo, Hist. Gen., Part. II. cap. 4, M S .