AGUIRRE, it-ger'rti, Lore DE (c. 1507-61). A Spanish explorer in Peru, known as the "traitor" and "tyrant." He was born in Ofiate in the province of Biscay, and came to America at an early age. He was in Peru during the period of the insurrections which followed the subju gation of the inns, and took an active part in most of them. The turbulent spirits who su• vived these repeated uprisings were finally influ enced to join an expedition to search for El Dorado under Pedro de I_Trsua. They crossed the Andes and started down the headwaters of the Amazon in the early summer of 1560. Aguirre brought about the death of Ursua, and gained great influence over Fernando de Guzman, Itrsua's successor. Ile then forced his compan ions to renounce their allegiance to Spain and to recognize Guzman as King of Tierra Filmic and Peru. He determined to abandon the search for El Dorado a-nd return to Peru, conquer that country, and establish an independent kingdom there. Shortly afterward the newly made king opposed sonic of his plans. and Aguirre there upon murdered him, together with his closest friends. Continuing down the Amazon, Aguirre made his way by one of that river's tribu taries to the Orinoco. where he built large ves sels, in which he sailed to the island of Mar garita. She was forced, however, to abanddn the
plan of fighting his way across Panama and to Peru. Instead, he landed on the coast of Vene zuela, marched inland. and was brought 'to hay and killed at Ilarquisimeto, early in November, 1561. llis last act was to kill his own daughter with a poniard. In a letter addressed to 'King Philip 1 L, he declared that he had killed twenty persons during the voyage down the .Amazon, and the recorded list of those he ordered mur dered is more than sixty, including women and priests.
PinuounarnY. Simon, The Cruise of 'the Traitor Aguirre, translated by 'Markham and Bollaert, Chapter XL, Ilakluyt Society Publica tion No. 28 (London, 1861). This account of the expedition was derived from Meinhers e f the party. Consult also Bandelier, The (Wiled Man (New York. 1S9ni.
AGUJA, Wuhan. probably corrupted from Poring. ogulha, agulhao, spear-11.h). A large. voraeious garfish ( 'TyloRttrus fodirtiort of the eoa-t of western Mexico. held in rreal dread fishermen. The name spelled (toujon i- extended to various related species of the Indies and neighboring coasts. See NErntrinsli.