friend, Diego Almagro, who was also a swineherd, with whom, and one Father Luque, a priest and schoolmaster, Pizarro planned "the discovery, gain, conquest, and population, of the kingdom and province of Peru;" for so runs the original contract between them, which is still preserved.

The name of Father Luque was punningly transformed into Father Loco,-or Father Mad,

for the scheme of the three friends was looked upon by most rational people as decidedly a mad one, Peru being a vast and magnificent empire extending over forty degrees of latitude, whose Incas, or sovereign, had under his control legions of savage warriors.

However, Father Loco, mad as he was thought to be, managed to obtain 20,000 gold dollars from a licentiate, or professor of science, Gaspar de Espinosa, to fit out a company for the project.

The two ambitious swineherds, heading a band of resolute men, thrice vainly endeavoured to reach the land of their hopes. Their discoveries were numerous, but the conquest of Peru long appeared a hopeless vision, whilst

they had to endure every imaginable suffering, -tempest, hunger, thirst, heat, cold, wounds, disease. And they were about to perish on an island, when relief arrived from the governor of their native place, who had sent to bring them back.

But Pizarro's mighty will could not yield to obstacles. Whoever can exercise such a will must achieve great things, good or bad. A determined resolution carries all things before it. He drew his sword, cut a line with it on the earth, representing the geographical line separating the two hemispheres, and exclaimed, "Comrades and friends, the choice is between Panama with its poverty, and Peru with its riches. Let each good Castilian choose what best becomes him." He then stepped south of the line, and was followed by thirteen of his company. The rest returned to Panama.

Pizarro and the thirteen Spaniards discovered Peru, and the premeditated "gain and conquest were actually accomplished.

It was in vain that the "celestial" Inca,for the superstitious Peruvians regarded their

king as a semi-deity,—filled the plains with his 30,000 or 50,000 savage warriors; Pizarro, by a singular stratagem, contrived to kill several thousands of them, and took the "celestial " himself prisoner.

Pizarro cared not for the shedding of blood,— he was master of Peru, its mines of wealth opened at his feet,-every costly splendour was at his command,-and he was famous! Never in his wildest imaginations had he dreamed of the swineherd's attaining to such a pinnacle of grandeur.

The result is instructive.

Pizarro, though so ignorant that he could not write his name, became a very superior ruler and legislator, and his name might have descended to posterity with immortal honours, if the passions which had borne him on so far could have been kept in check. How often do we see the conqueror of others incapable of conquering himself.

Pizarro's cruelties were frightful, his covetousness insatiable, his tyrannies not to be endured. He accepted a prodigious sum for

the ransom of the Inca, and then put him to death. One of the Inca's wives, a young and lovely woman, he had tied to a tree, scourged with rods, and then shot to death with arrows.

Such atrocities naturally work out their own retribution, Pizarro was murdered in his own palace.

MAGELLAN, THE PORTUGUESE DISCOVERER. MAGELLAN was a native of Portugal, born near the close of the fifteenth century. He received the education of a gentleman-as education was then understood. His adventurous spirit was first displayed in the service of the celebrated Portuguese Admiral Albuquerque, whose service he left, discontented with the recompense he received. Magellan, burning to distinguish himself in maritime enterprise, sought and obtained the patronage of the Emperor, Charles V. An expedition was proposed ostensibly for discovering a new route to India, but it was chiefly designed for conquest, and, as usual with the Spanish and the Portuguese, the government of unknown lands was assigned to the

discoverers before they were discovered, and Magellan was authorized to preside over his fellows abroad, with the title of Adelantado.

Magellan had five vessels, carrying 234 men, including thirty Portuguese of great naval experience.

Twenty-two years before, the Pope had decreed that the Spaniards should have the undisputed possession of all lands discovered at the distance of 100 leagues westward of the Azores, and Spain anticipated possessing both the East and West Indies if Magellan succeeded. Hence nothing was omitted likely to promote or cheer him on in his undertaking.

MAGELLAN'S TREACHERY TO THE NATIVES OF SAN JULIAN.

THE native people of uncivilized places have been hardly treated by invaders from the civilized. The Spanish and Portuguese enterprises are stained with treachery and cruelty on every page of their history. Pizarro was far from being the only Spanish tyrant in the south.

Magellan had at length got south of the line,