Page:A history of Chile.djvu/80

68 A HISTORY OF CHILE fully believing that they had come to a second Ata- cama desert. Tunconobal assigned one of his compan- ions for a guide at the request of the Spaniards. The army was conducted along a desolate and diffi- cult coast road and left on the fourth day by their treacherous guide in a barren and mountainous region, from which they extricated themselves with much difficulty. This journey was not altogether fruitless. Press- ing forward, the Spaniards observed, from their high position on the mountains, the beautiful island of Chilo6. Not more pleased was Balboa, when from the top of a high mountain he discovered the mighty Pacific spread out before him. The channels were thronged with boats ; one of these was manned b)' fifteen Indians who pulled from the shore upon seeing the Spaniards. The chief inquired who the newcom- ers were and what they wanted. The half-starved Spanish troops asked for food ; this was given them. The natives brought fruit, maize and meat in their balsas, in the same manner as the unsuspecting people of Tumbez loaded canoes with provisions and hospit- ably entertained Pizarro when he landed upon their shores. Provisioned, and accompanied by the natives, Don Garcia and his followers explored the archipelago. Some of the islands they found well cultivated, the women plying distaffs and needles, the people indus- trious and happy. The poet Alonzo de Ercilla went further south than any others of the party and inscribed his name with the date on the bark of a tree. This was on Januar}' 31st, 1559. This young soldier and poet who served through the Araucanian wars, from 1554 to 1562, has celebrated in stirring poetry the scenes of these bat-