O'RELL' M.vx. A name assumed by Paul Blonet (1S48-1903). A French satirist. He served in the Franco-German War 11870). went to England as a newspaper correspondent in 1872, and taught French at Saint Paul's School (1876 84), using experiences gathered then, and (luring a visit to the United States, for John Bali and His Island ( 158:31: John Daughters (1584) ; Friend. MacDonald (1587): Jonathan, and His Cohthicnt •11S891; A Frenchman in. America (1891) ; English Pharisees and roach Crocodiles (1592) ; John Bull and Co. ( 1S941 ; and similar books that have had a wider cir culation among English peoples than in France. His writings, first published in French and trans lated into English by his wife. are humorous and often truthful, but as studies of nations they are marked by no very careful investigation or depth of thought.
ORELLANA,n'rti-ly:Pna .FRANCISCO ?- 1543 ? The discoverer of the course of the Amazon River. He was born in Trujillo. Spain. and came to in 153.5. In 1537 he had a share in the founding of Guayaquil. In 1540 he accompanied Gonzalez Pizarro as second in command on an expedition across the Andes into the country beyond, which was reported to abound in gold, silver. and cinnamon. After many hardships and misfor tunes the expedition reached the junction of the Coca and the Napo rivers. Their supplies being exhausted, Orellana with 50 men was ordered to sail down the Napo in search of provisions and signs of treasure. He descended the stream to its
junction with the Amazon. but instead of re turning_ proceeded down the great river in a vessel which lie constructed for the purpose. The voyage to the mouth of the Amazon lasted nearly eight months and (Indiana's party under Went Severe privations. Many deaths occurred from skirmishes with the natives, and mutinies broke out among the crew, which only the com mander's firmness quelled. Oreliana reached the coast in August, 1541. From the mouth of the river he sailed to the island of Cnbagua, in Ven ezuela, and thence to Spain, carrying glowing accounts of El Dorado. and embellishing his story with descriptions of a marvelous race of female warriors, of whom the natives. as he understood them, had told him. and who were named from the classical analogy, Amazons. Gold there was in such plenty that the roofs of the temples were made of that natal. The King of Spain granted Orellana extensive possessions and a commission to colonize El Dorado. Ile set out with four ships and 400 men in Slay, 1544, but lost one ship and 150 Men before reaching Teneriffe. Ile arrived at the mouth of the Ama zon, but his fleet was wrecked, and he died short ly after of ma hirial fever. An account of Orel lana's first voyage was written by Gaspar de Ca