As we are about to treat of Peru, it will be well if we say here from what the name is derived, the Indians having no such word in their language. It must be known then that Vasco Nunez de Balboa, a native of Xeres de Badajoz, discovered the South Sea in the year 1513, and he was the first Spaniard who ever saw it. The Catholic Kings granted him the title of Adelantado of that sea, with the conquest and government of the kingdoms that might be discovered on its shores. During the few years that he lived after receiving this favour (until his own father-in-law, the Governor Pedro Arias de Avila, in place of many favours which he had deserved, and which his deeds merited, cut off his head) this knight was careful to discover what manner of land it was, and by what name it was known, that runs from Panama onwards towards the South. With this object he built three or four ships, which, while he made the necessary preparations for his discovery and conquest, he sent at different times of the year, each one singly, to explore the coast. The ships, having made such progress as they were able, returned with an account of many lands that there are along that shore. One ship went beyond the others and passed the equinoctial line to the south; and near it, while sailing along the coast, according to the method of navigating which was in use at that time, an Indian was seen fishing, at the mouth of one of the numerous rivers which fall into that sea.