The base desertion Of Orellana which added so much to the sufferings Of Gonzalo s people, was the means of discovering the course Of the mightiest river in the world. I have translated the account Of Orel lana's voyage from Antonio de Herrera's Historia general de las Indias occidentales and it forms a sequel to the expedition Of Gonzalo Pizarro. Herrera held the post Of historiographer Of the Indies for many years, during the reigns of Philip II and Philip III, and died in 1625. He had the use Of all public documents, and his account Of the expedition Of Orellana is the best that has come to my knowledge.