OREL, a thriving t. of Great Russia, capital of the government of the same name, stands on the Oka, as its confluence with the Orlik, 226 m. s.s.w. of Moscow, and 678 m. s.s.e. of St. Petersburg. It was founded in 1566, as a stronghold in defense of what was then the Russian frontier, against the inroads of the Tartar tribes of the Crimea. Its importance as a fortress ceased after the annexation of Little Russia, and it then became a commercial town. The town owes much to its advantageous position on a navigable river in the midst of the most fertile provinces of Russia. The railway from Moscow to Odessa, on the Black 'sea, passes through Orel, and the Vitebsk line affords it direct railway communication with the port of Riga, and thus its export trade has been greatly promoted. It is the seat of a bishop, and contains numerous churches; its houses are for the most part constructed of wood. There is an important ferry here over the Oka. The chief manufacturing establishments in the town, are yarn and rope factories. The principal articles of export are cereals and hemp. On June 7, 1848, Orel suffered severely from a great fire, which destroyed 1237 houses, four bridges, and a number of granaries. Pop. '67, 43,575.
ORELLkNA, FRANCISCO, d. about 1550; h. Spain, went to Peru in 1531, in the expedition commanded by Francisco Pizarro, participated in the contest which conquered the country, and was the first European who crossed the continent of South America. He was of respectable family and went to America to better his fortunes. In 1540, with Gonzalez Pizarro (brother to Francisco). Orellana, as second in command of 350 Spaniards, 4,000 Indians, and 1000 dogs (for hunting natives), penetrated the forests and climbed the snow-clad Andes mts. between Quito and the country beyond, which was reported to abound in gold, silver, cinnamon, etc. Many hardships and misfortunes were met, and•the explorers were shaken by earthquakes, overtaken by tempests, and drenched by floods, which cut off their means of communication, and reduced them to the greatest straits. After many trials of endurance they reached the province of Zumaco, and were
cheered by the sight of the cinnamon tree growing in great abundance. They had been subsisting ou roots and berries, while following the course of a river supposed to be the Napo,a branch of the Maranon for 200 leagues, and had nearly exhausted their supply, when Oreliana was ordered down the liver with the bark which they had built—large enough to hold their with 50 soldiers. They were warned to keep near the army which would by land, and after procuring provisions the orders were to return immediately, leaving the baggage where they loaded the provisions. He pro ceeded down the river till he came to the place where it joined the Amazon, made no discoveries of the means of subsistence, but was the first European to navigate that stream. He parted with his commander at this point and proceeded down the river, the voyage lasting 7 months, and his party were reduced to the extremity of hunger, eating their shoes and devouring their saddles. Many deaths occurred from skirmishes with the natives, and mutinies broke out among the crew, which only his firmness quelled. Ile reached the coast in August, 1541, having passed over 1000 leagues of the river. From its mouth he sailed to the island of Cubagua and thence to Spain carrying glowing accounts of the El Dorado, and embellishing his story with descriptions of the marvelous race called the Amazons, who were female warriors, and dwelt by the banks of the river which had no male population, and where gold was so plenty that the roofs of the temples were made of gold. He readily induced a company to join him, and the king of Spain granted him extensive possessions and a commission to colonize El Dorada. He set out with 4 ships and 400 men in 1549, but he lost one ship and 150 men before reach ing Teneriffe. He arrived at the mouth of the Amazon near Montealegre, but every vessel in his fleet was wrecked, and he d. shortly after of malarial fever.