1. While captains were sent to hunt up people for the expedition in the vicinity of Lima, early in 1559, so that they might not be detained for want of means to navigate the rivers, Ursua proposed to construct vessels. For this purpose he looked out for ship-builders, and found twentyfive, also ten negro carpenters; and, having manufactured tools and other requisites, he went to the country of the Motilones, whence, as we have already said, the Brazilians had come, who had given the information which had been the cause of the expedition.

In this province there was a Spanish town called Santa Cruz de Capacoba, lately founded by Captain Pedro Ramiro, who was governing there in the name of the king.

Pedro de Ursua arrived here with his people, and having ascertained on which part of the banks he could cut good timber, he went down the river some twenty leagues, and reached the desired spot; and having given orders to his officers, among whom was Juan Corzo, his principal shipwright, to build the number of vessels he required, and named Pedro Ramiro as his Lieutenant-General, Ursua returned to Lima, from which place he could dispatch the people and soldiers collected by his captains.