in the new Plantations for a contracted Sum of Money After this they receiv'd all sorts of Arms and Ammunition with several Brass Guns of the then King Lewis the XIII and other gifts Collected and gather'd out of their several Societies for two new Accadian Apostles Gilbert du Thet a subtile man of the same Order transported their Necessaries At this time all things going favorably with the Jesuits they made themselves Masters of Port Royal and began to raise a Fort on the River Pemtagovet but there their happy Proceedings were stop'd for Captain Argal before-mention'd Sailing thither in vindication of the English was encounter'd by du Thet who firing the first Gun on Argal was by him taken off with Chain-shot and taking Biard and Masse carry'd them Prisoners to Virginia and dismantled the Fort built at Port Royal after which it was by King James given by Patent to Sir William Alexander as hath been already related together with what of most remarkable hath happen'd since SECT VI. Norumbegua NOrumbegua Whence denominated lying between Nova Scotia Northward and New England Southward is so utterly not taken notice of by many as a distinct Province that it might seem to be swallow'd up and lost in the two Countreys between which it lies or at least to be thought a part of Virginia or New England for Virginia largely taken is said to contain New England Novum Belgium and Virginia especially so call'd and that so much the rather because the Bessabees accounted by Sanson d' Abbeville an ancient People of New England are written to have liv'd near the River Penobscot which is reckon'd to be the same with Pemtegovet or as some will have it Norumbegua from which or from a certain great City of that Name the Country for fancy's sake must needs be denominated but since most commonly we find it nam'd and treated of apart it will not be improper to follow that method carrying the Bounds of New England no farther Northward than the River Quinnebequi or Sagadahoc and so determining the main part of this Countrey to that space between the aforesaid River and Pemtegovet excepting a small Southerly portion upon the Banks of the River Chovacovet so that it appears chiefly situate under the forty third Degree of Northern Latitude Towns and Cities not certainly known As for the Towns or Cities of this Province there is but a very uncertain account to be given forasmuch as the pretended great City Norumbegua from whence the Province should take its Appellation is not acknowledg'd by any of the most authentick modern Writers nor in any late Voyage or Discovery any mention made either of that or any other considerable Town or City Dr. Heylin supposeth it to be no other than Agguncia a poor little Village that seems compos'd of a company of Hutts or Sheaves cover'd with the Skins of Beasts or the Barks of Trees But the most favourable conjecture is that it might haply be the Ruines of an ancient Town which the Natives call'd Arambeck and had probably deserted it long before the arrival of the Europeans in those parts however it is not very probable that the Name of the Countrey should be deriv'd from this City if ever there were any such or from the River which appears to have been term'd Norumbegua on purpose to make way for this derivation whereas Pomtegovet is the ancient Appellation that properly belongs to it nor hath any modern one been apply'd to it but that of Rio Grande by Buno in his Comment upon Philip Cluverius upon what ground is hard to tell since it is observ'd by Heylin and others to be neither large nor otherwise much to be commended being Navigable not above twenty or thirty Miles in respect of its many great Cataracts and Falls of Water an Inconvenience with which many other Rivers of America are prejudic'd and rendred impassable Before and about the Mouth of this River which is judg'd to be about eight or nine Miles broad lie many small Islands or rather Hills inviron'd with Water the chiefest of which is by the French call'd La Haute Isle from the high and Mountainous appearance of it to those that see it from afar off at Sea The aforemention'd Buno though he names as belonging to Norumbega these several places viz. Porto del Refugio Porto Reale Paradiso Flora and Angolema from some obscure French testimonies without particularising any Author yet he afterwards confesses that the Names given by the French and those apply'd by the Spaniards are so various and disagreeing and breed such a confusion that no Charts or Descriptions had concluded upon either As for those who will have Norumbega deriv'd from Norwegia in respect of a Colony brought thither from Norwey if the Etymologie be not a little too much forc'd the Invention may pass well enough till a better be found out The temperature and nature of its Soil In this Countrey the temperature of the Air is not bad nor the Soil unfruitful if it were well cultivated chiefly towards the Rivers and where it is not either overgrown with Woods or craggy with Hills and mountainous Rocks neither are the Woods unprofitable for they afford good Timber and all kind of necessary and useful Wood especially Beeches Fir-trees Wallnut-trees and other Nuts The Plains are very pleasant and yield good Pasturage onely the Maritime Coasts are so shallow and full of Sands that the Sailing near them is accounted somewhat dangerous and this may be imagin'd to be the reason that no Authors have yet met with any Ports or Havens belonging to this Countrey which they have thought worthy their notice CHAP. II. New England AS Canada is by some accounted a general Province containing New France L' Accadie Norumbega and other places so under Virginia largely taken are comprehended New England New Netherlands and Virginia properly so call'd however since that part which vulgarly goes under the Name of Virginia and New England were possess'd if not discover'd at several times and their Plantations promoted and propagated upon several occasions and by distinct Interests and since New England hath been look'd upon as a place considerable enough for Persons of very eminent quality to concern themselves in it we rather are induc'd to consider this Countrey as a principal part than as any way depending on or being any Branch or Portion of Virginia Situation of New England It lies between Norumbega which it hath Northward and New Netherlands Southward from forty one to forty five Degrees of Northern Latitude in the midst of the temperate Zone and paralell to France and some part of Italy in the Western Hemisphere so that one would think it should enjoy the same temperature of Air but the contrary is found for that part which borders upon the Sea is colder partly by reason that the Sea-waves break the reflexion of the Sun-beams partly by reason of the abundance of Vapors which mounting upward abate the ardor of them
Countrey against the Chichemecae which are a barbarous and unreduc'd People of the North-East parts of this Countrey who harbouring themselves in Caves under Ground in the thickest of huge Woods and Forrests do oftentimes issue out and make foul spoil in the Countrey where they come having first intoxicated themselves with a Liquor made of certain Roots and would do much more harm if it were not for this Garrison 3. Del Spiritu Santo built by the Founder of the other two viz. Nunnez de Gusman aforesaid in a part of the Countrey which they call Tepecque SECT III. Xalisco Bounds and Description of Xalisco Xalisco or Galesco as some call it is bounded on the North with Couliacan on the South with some parts of New Spain on the East with the Province of Guadalajara and on the West with the Gulf or Bay of California The Countrey is chiefly fertile in Maiz and Mines of Silver not altogether so apt for Herbage and Pasture as some other Countreys about it The People were Cannibals before the Spaniards came amongst them eating Man's-flesh were much given to quarrelling and Contentions amongst themselves but by this time 't is suppos'd they are reasonably well reclaim'd both from the one and the other Towns of chief note In this Countrey besides many other goodly Streams is the great and famous River Barania on the Banks whereof are seated most of their principal Towns as 1. Xalisco which gives Name to the whole Province and to a large Promontory or Foreland on the Western Coasts which shoots it self out into the Bay of California right over against certain Islands which the Spaniards call The Three Maries This was an ancient City or Town of the Natives but sack'd and taken by Nunnez de Gusman in the Year 1530. 2. Compostella built by the aforesaid Gusman and so nam'd from the City in Spain so famous for the Grave of James the Apostle who according to the Roman Writers was buried there lies near the South Sea on a barren Soil within the Torrid Zone yet the Ground breeds many sorts of Vermine besides other noxious Creatures amongst which the Capybara roots up whole Trees and other Plants in the Night This Beast resembling an indifferent large Hog hath short Legs and Claws thick Head with a Beard wide Ears and on each Jaw-bone twenty four Teeth besides two Tusks but no Tail it goes slow but swims exceeding fast and dives under Water for aconsiderable time together they often feed together in great Herds and make a terrible noise 3. La Purification a small Town on the Sea side towards the Confines of New Spain SECT IV. Chiametla Situation of Chiametla AGainst Xalisco juts Chiametla along the South Sea where the Inhabitants wear short Cloaks and Deer-skin Shoes and in the Wars use Shields made of strong Twigs twisted together The Women which are indifferent handsom are clad down to their Feet Towns of principal note The chief Town of this Province is Sant Sebastian so call'd from the River upon which it stands it was built by Captain Franciscus de Yvarra Anno 1554. who discovering many Silver Mines hath made several Melting-houses in which the Silver being melted swims upon the Lead SECT V. Couliacan Bounds of Couliacan NExt to Chiametla Westward and Southward of Cinoloa lies Couliacan Coasting all along the Bay of California which it hath on the West on the East it hath New Biscay and on the South Xalisco The Countrey is not defective in any kind of necessary Provision but more especially it aboundeth with Fruits of all sorts But the Spaniards look onely at the Mines of which they have some few in this Countrey The People were generally Cloth'd with Cotton-Wooll when the Spaniards came first amongst them but yet never a whit the more modest being exceedingly given to Venery and that in a more shameless and beastly manner than many other Americans who went naked The Spanish Towns are these Towns 1. Hiustula seated on the Banks of a fair River distant about a days Journey from the Sea 2. Quinola 3. Quatrobarrios an old Town of the Natives but new nam'd by the Spaniards 4. El Leon an old Burrough 5. Couliacan the chief Town of the Province 6. St. Michael in the Valley of Arroba two Leagues distant from the Sea in a rich and plentiful Countrey both for Corn and Fruit whither it was remov'd from the Banks of the River Orala where it first stood it was built by Nunnez de Gusman in the Year 1531. after he had burnt the Towns and destroy'd a great number of the Natives Inhabitants of the Countrey Nunnez de Gusman first Discoverer 〈◊〉 of this Countrey This Countrey was first discover'd by the aforesaid Nunnez de Gusman after he had built Guadalajara after this manner Marching from Chiametla to Piatzala he ruin'd this Province with Fire and Sword he likewise conquer'd the Countreys of Zapuatun and Piaztla the first being a Plain lay inclos'd within high Mountains where the Spaniards met none but Women till they came to a great River call'd De la Sall whose Banks on each side were well inhabited the second juts against the Ocean and is water'd by a River of the same Denomination Here within the Houses which are built after a strange manner lay thousands of Serpents mingled together with their Heads sticking out on the top and at the sides and hissing with open Mouth at those which approached them The Inhabitants shew'd great Revence to these Serpents because as they said the Devil often appear'd to them in that form And this seems to be a Custome amongst them from the Tradition of Eves being tempted by the Devil in the shape of a Serpent Serpents worshipp'd by the Natives Nor was this Superstition peculiar onely to these Indians forasmuch as divers Nations of the ancient Heathens of other parts of the World worshipp'd the Likeness of a Serpent And even amongst the Greeks according to Plutarch Hesychius Clemens Alexandrinus and others it was no unusual thing in their religious Worship to call on Eva and at the same time to shew a Serpent Plutarchus and Aelianus say That the Egyptians honour'd a Serpent for their God The same saith Erasmus Stella of the old Prussians Sigismund Baro of the Liflanders and Alexander Guaginus of the Sarmatians and Samogethes Moreover some write that in the Province of Calecut are Serpents with exceeding great Heads and weighing as much as a great Hog to which the King shews great Reverence so that it seems the Devil takes delight to be worship'd in that shape wherein he work'd the Fall of Man-kind The Fish Guarapucu The Flood which comes out of the Sea up to the City St. Michael through the River Cignatlan abounds with Fish and especially the Guarapucu which is seven Foot long when it comes to its full growth it hath no Scales but a smooth Skin of a Silver colour mix'd with Green from the
Panama whereupon very many were taken who were all miserably slain except a few Youths SECT III. Darien Description of Darien DArien which by some Authors not being thought considerable enough to make a distinct Province is reckon'd one and the same with or at least part of Panama hath on the North the District or Circle of Panama on the South the new Kingdom of Granada Eastward it is bounded with the Gulf of Urraba abovesaid and some part of the River Darien which giveth Name to the Province and to the West with the South Sea of a more temperate Air by far than that of Panama and a Soil so admirably fruitful and lusty that they say Melons Cucumbers and generally all other Fruits of the Garden are ripe and fit to gather within twenty days or less after their first sowing but very much infested by noxious Creatures as Lyons Leopards wild Cats Crocodiles Serpents and Bats after whose Bitings a Man bleeds to death unless he washes the Wound well with Sea-water or stop it with hot Ashes and no less by the unwholsomness of the Air which is infested by the many stinking Damps that arise from the muddy Pools The Inhabitants are sickly and seeming generally to be troubled with the Yellow Jaundice never attain to a great Age they go naked the Men onely covering their Privities with a Shell or Cotton-Cloth The Women wear a Cloth which reaches from the Middle down to their Knees but if Women of Quality to their Feet Sebastian and Antiqua by whom built The Spaniards have many years ago made themselves Masters of this Province of Darien in which Alphonsus Fogeda built the City Sebastian which was inhabited till a Spanish Knight call'd Ancisius Anno 1510. built Antiqua and made it a Bishop's See which by reason of the unwholsomness of the Place was remov'd to Panama when Vasquez Nunnez discover'd the Southern Ocean Anno 1590. because Antiqua lay on a low Ground between high Mountains where the Sun burnt exceedingly and the Way to the South Sea being three Leagues from thence it was very troublesom to convey Merchandise thither But a worse Accident befell the Town St. Cruiz which being built by the Spanish Captain Peter de Arias was ruin'd by the Indians The chief Rivers are 1. Darien Rivers which gives Name both to the Province and the Provincial Town and falls into the Gulf of Urraba being a large Arm of the Sea eight Leagues over at the Mouth thereof 2. Rio de las Redas which runs in like manner through the Province of Nova Andaluzia and falls also into the same Gulf. So likewise doth 3. Rio de la Trepadera 4. Corobaci 5. Beru chiefly remarkable upon this Consideration that some curious Etymologists have endeavor'd to derive the Name of Peru from this River by the alteration onely of the initial Letter Places of chief note The chief and indeed the onely Town of this Tract is Darien built as aforesaid by Encisus a Spanish Adventurer and by him call'd St. Maria Antiqua and by others The Antique of Darien being one of the first Towns that were built by the Spaniards on the firm Land though there are who make mention of two other small Towns or Villages the one nam'd at least if not built by the Spaniards viz. Los Angelos scarce inhabited at present by any but the Salvages the other an antient Town of the Natives call'd Bizu SECT IV. New Andaluzia Description of New Andaluzia EAstward of Darien and the Gulf of Urraba lieth the Countrey of New Andaluzia otherwise call'd Carthagena from the Name of its principal City On the East it hath the Countrey call'd St. Martha on the North the Main Ocean and New Granada towards the South It is for the most part a Mountainous Countrey and full of Woods which they say yield abundance of Rozen Gums and some very good Balsams also a sort of Long-pepper much sharper than that of East-India But the Plains by reason of much Rain to which the Countrey is subject especially for some times of the year of but a spewy and cold Soil The Spaniards at their first coming found it a rich Countrey not so much from the Nature and Profits of the Soil though it be said to have some Mines in it and those of Gold but by reason of a certain Opinion and Respect which the Americans of these Parts are generally said to have born towards this Countrey insomuch that they would be brought and buried there from other Places very remote and accordding to the Custom of the Countrey not without good store of Gold and other Jewels according to the Quality and Condition of the Person that was buried of which the Spaniards soon gain'd Intelligence and in ransacking the Graves and Monuments of the Dead are suppos'd to have found an infinite Mass of Treasure but those Mines are long since exhausted Nature and Customs of the antient Inhabitians The Inhabitants of old suffer'd great prejudice by Tygers and Serpents yet nevertheless this Countrey was very populous before the Spaniards arrival here the Natives wore Cotton Aprons before and Golden Rings about their Arms and Legs as also Strings of Pearl and the like The Women here as in the rest of these Parts went with their Husbands into the Wars and behav'd themselves valiantly shooting poyson'd Arrows insomuch that Martin Ambesus took a Maid Anno 1509. who had kill'd twenty eight Spaniards The Countrey Vrraba To the Province Carthagena belongs also the Countrey Urraba which is so fruitful that all kind of Spanish Trees and Seeds grow better here than in Spain Besides which it hath its own Fruit as also abundance of Pine and Palm-Trees whose Leaves serve for Brooms The Guaiana-Tree bears a sharp kind of Fruit like a Lemmon the Guaravana a kind of Cittrons the Mameisa a Fruit not unlike an Orange but tasting like a Melon and the Hovos a great Plum CARTAGENA A strange Beast Moreover Urraba abounds in Venison Fish and all sorts of ravenous Creatures as Tygers Lyons and a particular strange Beast as big as an Ox having an Elephants Nose Horses Feet and hanging Ears The Trees likewise swarm with Birds and especially near Lakes or Pools breed Pheasants and Parrots of which some are bigger than Capons others no bigger than Chickens The Mountain Abibe Against Urraba juts the Mountain Abibe whose length Westward remains unknown the breadth thereof in some places is about twenty Leagues it hath many Ways which cannot be travell'd with Horses The top of this Mountain is uninhabited but along the Valleys which are many and large dwelt formerly a People that possess'd great Riches in Gold which they gather'd out of Rivulets that fell Westward from the tops of the Mountains It Rains here almost all the year long which makes the Ways very bad for Travellers to pass At the Foot of this Mountain towards the South lie two small antient Casiquedoms if we may
in hot and moist Ground one Bushel Sow'n generally produces three hundred But the Maiz is distinguish'd into a courser or finer sort which last is call'd Moroche the Leaves and Canes whereof afford a wholsom Provender for Horses and the Corn Bread for the Inhabitants who make it several ways for sometimes they boyl it in Water and at other times parch it in Ashes or grind it to Meal which kneading into Dough they make into Cakes Biskets and the like Moreover Maiz steep'd in Water and after being boyl'd and set a working makes a very strong Liquor They also use Cassada which they make of the Root Yuca which being large and thick is cut in pieces grated and all its Juice which is deadly poyson being press'd out is Bak'd in thin Cakes There is likewise another sort of Yuca which hath not so poysonous a Juice keeping good a long time and is both wholsom and of a good taste The Natives of old liv'd much upon the Roots Yomus and Cubias all sorts of Venison Fowls and Fish which the Rivers and Lakes afford in great abundance Those that are left of the Natives are a deceitful crafty and ingenious sort of People very apt to learn Art and to Trade with Salt to Rio Grande and the Mountain Opou Besides Copper and Steel-Mines this Countrey hath also several of Gold and the Fields produce all manner of Plants The Nature of the Panchas The Panchas which remain are yet a salvage People but their Countrey is an indifferent fertile Soil though not in all places alike for those which border upon Tunia fed much heretofore on Pismires of which some being long have double Wings others lesser and without Wings which last sort being roasted are accounted a great Dainty and a speedy Remedy against the Distemper of the Gravel There are also a sort of venomous Pismires which stinging a Man cause a swelling and great itching and these are call'd Tayoques whose Stings are cur'd by a Plaister of bruis'd Pismires The Bounds and Dimensions of Nova Granada The Countrey is bounded on the North with Castella Aurea aforesaid on the West with Mare del Zur on the East with Venezuela the Southern parts of it being not well discover'd by reason of certain huge and unpassable Mountains which block it up wholly on that side save onely where a Passage is kept open into the Province of Peru specially so call'd It containeth in length about a hundred and thirty Leagues and not much less in breadth being for the most part a very healthful Countrey and abounding in Mines of the best sort of Metal besides others of Brass and Iron It is subdivided into these two Provinces viz. Granada and Popayana SECT II. Granada Description of Granada GRanada specially so call'd is a Countrey of a very temperate and good Air as hath been before observ'd neither subject to over-much Cold nor to extremity of Heat which is the more to be admir'd by reason of its nearness to the Line from which it is distant Northward but a very few Degrees Towns of chief note The Towns and Places of chief importance are 1. St. Foy commonly call'd St. Foy de Bogota which was the old Name of this Province and to distinguish it from another St. Foy in the Countrey of New Mexico above mention'd It is the Metropolis and Capital City of this Province an Arch-bishop's See and the ordinary Residence of the Governor built by the above-mention'd Gonsalvo Ximenes upon the Lake call'd Guatavita and hath been long since inhabited by above six hundred Families of Spaniards 2. St. Michael twelve Leagues Northward of St. Foy and a well Traded Town The Indians that dwell about this Place being above five thousand pay great Tribute yearly Not far from hence lies the Lake Guatavita where the Inhabitants in former times Offer'd much Gold to their Idols TERRA FIRMA et NOVUM REGNUM GRANATENSE et POPâ—AYAN 4. La Palma built Anno 1572. in a certain Territory the People whereof were antiently call'd Musi and Colymae 5. Trinidad which is indeed the antient Tudela renew'd or a City sprung out of the Ruines thereof This Tudela stood on the Shore of the River Zarbi which running between high Mountains makes the Rivulet Turatena and in the same Territory as La Palma above mention'd viz. of the Musi Colymae by whom the Spaniards who had here a Colony were so exceedingly molested that they deserted the same together with their Governor Peter de Orsua yet not long after the forsaken Place was again re-built by the Name of Trinidad but that Place proving incommodious was again abandon'd and a new Trinidad built where now it is to be seen on a convenient place Eastward from the high and cold Mountain Paramo From several rich Gemmaries thereabouts are digg'd store of Emeraulds Crystal like Diamonds white Marble and the Beryl especially on the Mountains Ytoco and Abipi 6. Tunia having a Territory about it to which it gives Denomination It lies on a high Hill from whence the Church and two Cloysters of the Dominican Fryers are seen at a great distance Here also is kept the greatest Market in New Granada 7. Pampelona sixty Leagues distant from St. Foy to the North-East abounding with Cattel and Gold 8. Merida surrounded with Corn-Fields the farthest Town of this Province North-Eastward towards Venezuela 9. Belez which though it suffers great prejudice by a burning a Mountain that vomits Fire and Stones and also Thunder and Lightning is the greatest Residence of several Orders of Fryers 10. Marequita otherwise call'd St. Sebastian del Oro which lies under a hot Climate and hath much Pasture 11. Ybague the Habitation chiefly of Dominicans 12. La Vittoria de los Remedios and 13. Juan de los Lanos or St. John of the Plains seated in a rich Nook of the Countrey where there are good Silver and Gold-Mines The Merchandise that come to these Towns are brought up the River Magdalena in Canoos of sixty Foot long SECT III. Popayana Situation and Description of Popayana POpayana the other part of this new Kingdom is border'd on the West with part of Granada last spoken of from which the River St. Martha divides it for the most part On the North it hath Nova Andaluzia or Carthagena on the West Mare del Zur and on the South Quito or rather some unreduc'd Countreys lying betwixt them both It extends in length above a hundred Leagues from North to South but in breadth betwixt the River and the South Sea not much above forty or fifty The Countrey is said to be a little too much subject to Rain yet not so but that the fertility of the Soil answers the industry of the Inhabitants in most places very well Sebastian de Bevalcazar Governor of Quito marching Anno 1536. with a Company of Spaniards to Otabalo where the Countrey Papayan begins was often set upon by the Natives from their Ambuscades and the many
Death but not satisfi'd with that Revenge he over-run all the Countrey of Aromaia took Morequito's Uncle call'd Topiawari Prisoner who bought his Life for a hundred Plates of Gold and some Precious Stones That Listing many Men in Spain for the Gold which he sent thither he Row'd with Barques up the Rivers Barema Pattroma and Dessequebe where he barter'd Trifles for Men Women and Children of whom he made great Sums of Money on the Island Margareta This Information which Sir Walter Raleigh got from his Prisoner Berreo made him desirous to make an Expedition to Guiana to which purpose he sent Captain George Gifford with a Ketch and a Barque to the River Capuri where the Water fell before the Vessels could get beyond the Sands in the Mouth of the River John Douglas had better success being likewise sent out by Sir Walter Raleigh for he with his Boats found that Orinoque had nine Arms to the North Sea and seven to the South which embrace divers Isles of which those on the right side are call'd Pallamos and those on the left Horotomaca The Mouth of the River gapes a hundred Leagues On the fore-mention'd-Isles dwell the Titiriras a modest People who speak a bald Language in the Summer they live under the open Skie upon the bare Earth and in the Winter being there between May and September on the tops of the Trees because during that time the River Orinoque rising thirty Foot higher overflows all the Isles thereabouts which are very high and mountainous But Raleigh himself Rowing up the River Amana endur'd great hardship his Men being most of them sweltred with the Heat and great want of Provisions and had not their Indian Pilot shew'd them another Stream much easier to Navigate he would have been forc'd to return successless but being stor'd with Provision out of a Village built along the Shore he chased four Canoos of which he took one and also an Arwaccas which in fifteen days time brought him into the River Orinoque where he saw the high Mountains of Guiana afterwards Anchoring before a fair sandy Bank which lay near the Mouth of three Rivers he took abundance of Tortoises and was furnish'd with plenty of all sorts of Provisions sent him from the Governor Toparimaca who inhabited the pleasant Village Arowocay built on a little Hill surrounded with delightful Gardens and Fields till'd by the Negro's who accommodating Raleigh with an experienc'd Pilot he set Sail with a fresh Easterly Wind and Westward saw the Isles Assapana twenty five Leagues long and six broad and Iwana of the same bigness The River Orinoque hath here thirty Leagues in breadth and receives the Rivers Arrawopana and Europa He Sail'd next by the Isles Ocaywita and Putayma opposite to which on the Main Land appears the Mountain Oecope whose top reacheth the Clouds on the right side a Plain Countrey discover'd it self a vast way which the Pilot said was call'd The Plain of Sayma extending Northerly a hundred and twenty Leagues to Cumana and Caracas inhabited by four sorts of People viz. the Saymas Assaways Wikeries and Aroras which last being a Coal-black People us'd poyson'd Arrows Raleigh passing between the two Mountains Aroami and Aio came to an Anchor near the Island Murscolima and from thence into the Haven Morequito where the King Topiawari a hundred and ten years of age brought all sorts of Fruit Poultrey Fish and Flesh and gave him an Account of the Condition of Guiana viz. That the whole Countrey from the Mountains Waccarima to Emeria bore the Name of Guiana the Inhabitants calling themselves Orinoque Poni on the other side of the said Mountains lies the spacious Valley Amariocapana where the Guianiatas reside Southerly the Oreiones and Epuremei who coming out of a strange Countrey have destroy'd the ancient Inhabitants leaving onely the Awaaawaqueri and Cassipagoios The Epuremei built the stately City Macurewarai there But Raleigh going on his Journey saw the Island Caiama and came to the Mouth of the River Caroli whose strong Current he was not able to stem wherefore he desir'd Aid from Wanuretona Governor of Canuria who furnish'd him with Provisions and Men to Toe him up the fore-mention'd Stream and inform'd him that the River Caroli which sprung out of the Lake Cassipa was inhabited on one side by the Iwarawakeri and the Lake Cassipa by three powerful People viz. the Cassiapagotos Eparagotos and Arawogotos all mortal Enemies to the Spaniards whereupon Raleigh sent some of his Men thither who return'd with great hopes of finding rich Gold-Mines The fore-mention'd Lake also produces the Rivers Aroi Atoica and Caora near which dwell the Ewaipanoma who have neither Necks nor Chins but their Mouthes just upon their Shoulders Towards the North the River Cari falls into the Orinoque and on the West the Stream Limo between both which the Cannibals reside whose Metropolis call'd Acamacari is very famous for their strange way of Trading for there the Women are brought to Market and bought by the Arwaccas But because great Showers of Rain fell daily and the Stream Caroli glided down wards with extraordinary force Raleigh return'd to Morequito from whence Putima King of Warapana conducted him to a rich Golden Mountain in his Countrey and along the Rivers Mana Oiana and Cumaca to the place where the Orinoque divides it self into three excellent Streams the chiefest whereof call'd Cararoopana washes the Province Emeria out of whose Mountains the Rivers Waracayari Coirama Akaniri and Iparoma glide to the Northern Ocean as also the Araturi Amacura Barima Wana Morooca Paroma and Wyni all Branches of the River Orinoque from whence Raleigh return'd home to England Not long after he sent Laurence Keymes and Thomas Masham back to Guiana Keymes found out all the Rivers between the Amazones and the Orinoque and Masham the Stream Wiapoco from whence both return'd without any farther success Sir Walter Raleigh condemu'd for Treason After this the Business lay still for a while in regard Sir Walter Raleigh being together with Grey Cobham and the Romish Priests Watson and Clark found guilty of High Treason was Condemn'd to die but being Repriev'd by the King was kept a Prisoner in the Tower for the space of fourteen years during which time he wrote a Description of Guiana which the King perusing was so well pleas'd with it especially since he undertook to make out by several Reasons that England might make it self Master of divers Gold-Mines there to which Spain could lay no manner of Claim that he discharg'd him out of Prison He is Repriev'd and sent again to Guiana and permitted him to make a second Expedition Whereupon with ten Ships Anno 1617. he set Sail for Guiana again being toss'd with divers Storms he at last came with five Sail to the River Calliana where he fell dangerously sick and therefore sent Captain Keymes with five Sail to the River Orinoque to conduct the Men to the Gold-Mines each Ship carrying fifty
know not where another Here also is added by St. Jerom Hieron in c. 2. Ephes what an antient Writer saith Great care hath been taken in Computing the Age of this World and if there be another which Commenc'd not with ours as Clemens mentions in his Epistles where are scituate those Seas and Lands that make that second World Or is it a part of that in which Adam was Created Or may it not rather Metaphorically be taken for Worldly Affairs govern'd by the Prince of the Air ruling in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience The Antients opinion of an unknown world But Pliny Cicero and Virgil the best in their kind of Latin Writers concur That there may be a habitable World under our Horizon in the temperate Southern Zone beyond the extream heat and on this side of the Antartick colds But what signifies all this to the Discovery of America which lies not onely under the scorching Heats of the Equinox but under the Frosts and Snows of the Artick and Antartick-Poles In Comment super Obad. v. 19 20 21. And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau and they of the plain the Philistines and they shall possess the fields of Epharim and the fields of Samaria and Benjamin shall possess Gilead And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites even unto Zarepath and the captivity of Jerusalem which is in Sepharad shall possess the Cities of the south And saviors shall come upon mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau and the kingdom shall be the LORDS If America is known in the Scripture Yet less probable is that which Lodowick Leo an Augustine Frier takes out of Obadiah as if that Prophet in the three last Verses of his Prophecy should speak of the Spaniards which should not onely discover and Conquer America but also Convert the Inhabitants to the Christian Faith because those that are in Sepharad should Inherit and Possess the Cities of the South And Saviours shall arise from the Mountains of Zion to judge the Mount and Wealth of Esau But certainly Obadiah meant no other than the Restauration of the Jews from the Captivity of Babylon who after their return should grow more powerful than ever and they led by their Messias obtain the height of all felicity who would send his Evangelists and Apostles to declare Salvation to the utmost Borders of the Earth It is true that the Rabins Expound Sepharad to be Spain and therefore he concludes that Obadiah Prophesi'd of the Spaniard and their Conquests in America so they would prove that America was long known before Christ And lastly It signifies as little what Pineda and Levinus Lemnius drive at That Solomon first finding the use of the Compass Solomon's Fleet sail'd not to Peru. Rigg'd a Navy at Ezion-Geber which from the Red-Sea had no indirect Course to the Straights of Magellan from whence he might Lade his Vessels with the Gold of Peru. In whose Description it shall be manifested that Peru is not Ophir as some without any shew of Reason or Truth would make us believe Solomon did not find the Compass But as concerning King Solomon's finding out the use of the Magnet it is soon said but not easily prov'd for though that Prince exceeded all Man-kind in Wisdom and Learning and was perfect in the Operations and knew the Occultest Secrets of Nature understanding what e're belong'd to Plants from the Cedar of Libanus to Hysop and the meanest Shrub that grows upon the Wall yet it nothing makes out that he knew the Mystery of the Navigable use of the Load-Stone But suppose he did know there is no where any mention of it and if this excellent thing the Compass had been found in Solomon's time how came it afterwards so utterly to be lost Albertus Magnus mistakes when he ascribes the knowledge of the Compass to Aristotle of which he himself makes not the least mention neither Galen Alexander Aphrodisiensis Pliny Lucretius nor any of the Roman Greek Arabian or other Countrey Writers whatsoever Load-stone by whom found Some give the honor thereof to an Indian others to a Shepherd in Mount Ida whose Clouted Shooes being full of Hob-Nails the Iron sticking fast to the Stones on which he stood stopt his motion And although the Antients found but many Secrets of Nature amongst which this of the Load-Stone Attracing Iron as being its proper Food and the three sorts of the Magnet of which some will not draw Steel found by Theamedes a Greek Author and other since well known Properties Yet they never attain'd that knowledge that the Load-Stone would ease Pain Strange operations of the Loadstone and stop the effusion of Blood though the edge piercing the Skin open'd the Vein as Hieronimus Cardanus experienc'd on himself and others De subtilitate l. 7. which he had from Laurentius Guascus a great Chyrurgeon Much less that the Needle of the Compass being touch'd by the Load-Stone on the Northside of the Equinox respects the North but depressing the Artick and raising the Antartick Pole it looks as stedfastly towards the South But far less dreamt they of its several variations Variance of the Compass according to the Coasts that are nearest as when you come from the Island del Cuervo the Point varies more West but Sailing towards the Equinox it varies Eastward by which we may absolutely conclude that without this use of the Load-Stone first found by Flavius Melvius a Neapolitan Genebrad Chron. in the Year 1303. it was altogether impossible to reach America So that Joseph de Acosta mistakes When and by whom the Compass was found who gives the honor of the finding so great a benefit to Navigation to some Mahumetan Sea-men which Vasques de Gama met with near Mosambique who had Sail'd those Seas by the use thereof whereas Gama's Expedition was above a hundred years after Melfius who liv'd in such a juncture of time for Mathematical Learning that few Ages boasted the like For then flourish'd in England and were Contemporaries besides others abroad Richard Wallingford Nicolas de Lynna John Halifax Walter Britte John Duns and John de Lignarijs all eminent in Astronomical Arts belonging to Navigation and doubtless no small helps to Melfius in this his happy Invention Lastly We will relate what hath been held as a seeming Testimony that America was known to the Europeans before the Birth of our Saviour by an antique Meddal of the Emperor Augustus digg'd out of the Ground in Peru and sent to his Holiness at Rome which may well be reckon'd with the like Cheat contriv'd by Hermicus Cajadus Anno 1505. near Syntra a Town in Portugal where three Marbles Ingraven with antient Characters concerning a Prophecy of discovering the East-Indies by the Portuguese in the Reign of King Emanuel were privately bury'd under Ground and not long after by a pretended accident digg'd out which made
Enemy by Water whilst himself falling upon them by Land put the Lord of Tlatellulco with his whole Army to flight which was so closely pursu'd that they forc'd their way into the City with them put the Governor to Death and laid the Town in Ashes those which went by Water having had no less success Autzol succeeds him Axayaca after eleven years Reign Deceasing bequeath'd his Crown to Autzol who sought to promote his Election by ingaging with the mighty Province Quaxutatlan whose Inhabitants though but a little before they had been so bold as to demand Tribute of the Mexicans yet terrifi'd at the approach of Autzol's Army fled over an Arm of the Sea where they had been secure had not Autzol invented a floating Isle of Planks by which he got over his whole Army upon which the amaz'd Quaxututlans immediately submitted themselves to the Mexicans who pursuing their Victory extended their Dominions to Guatimala over a Tract of three hundred Leagues Autzol's Generosity and Mrgnificence The new King having now subdu'd all his Enemies and made himself glorious by his Victories was also ambitious to be as much extoll'd for his Generosity and Magnificence to which purpose he distributed all the Wealth which was brought unto him from the neighboring Countreys amongst the Poor and the Nobility to the first he gave Clothes and Provisions to the last Plumes of Feathers and Arms. Moreover he caus'd all mean Houses to be pull'd down and new ones to be built in their places Lastly he consulted how to bring fresh Water into Mexico which was plac'd in a brackish Soil Upon this Design he was so bent that when one of his Sages disswaded him from it alledging That the Water would drown the City he in stead of following his Advice banish'd him his Presence and upon his flying to Cuyaocun caus'd him to be fetch'd from thence and Executed Then prosecuting his Design he cut the Ditch before Cuyaocun by which means great store of fresh Water came flowing into the Lake Laguna which the Priests welcom'd with strange Ceremonies for some perfum'd the Water others Offer'd Quails Blood whilst others play'd on several Musical Instruments with many other Ceremonies which are at large describ'd in the ancient Mexican Chronicles kept in the Vatican Library at Rome But the Prophecy of the Executed Sorcerer was in a manner fulfill'd for the Water overwhelm'd a great part of Mexico and divided the City into Isles But to prevent farther Mischief Autzoll caus'd Banks to be rais'd and Channels digg'd and not long after in the eleventh Year of his Reign he deceas'd After which the Mexican Kingdom tended towards its period as the ensuing Story will declare Amongst the Mexican Nobility Mutexuma a melancholy Man yet very prudent who resided in a stately Apartment near the great Temple Cu that there he might the better converse with Viztlipuztli was elected King which he no sooner heard but fled from hence but being found out he was against his will led to the Grand Assembly and from thence to the holy Hearth where for an Offering he drew Blood out of his Cheeks Ears and Legs and according to an ancient Custom the Council of State boring a Hole in his Nose hung an Emerauld in the same after which the Lord of Tescuco saluted him with a Speech which since it is mention'd by Joseph d' Acosta together with several other Speeches of Congratulation to their Kings which were taught to Schollars to make them expert in their Language it will not be amiss to be annexed here that of many this one may serve for a pattern of the Mexicans Eloquence which is as followeth The Lord of Tescuco his Speech to Muteczuma THe great happiness most noble Muteczuma which is befall'n this Realm by your Election may easily be conjectur'd from the general joy none besides your self being able to undergo an Office in the management whereof so much Prudence is requir'd It is a most certain testimony that God loves Mexico that he hath given its Inhabitants understanding to make such a Choice Who can doubt but that you who have expatiated through the Heavens and convers'd with Viztlipuztli may easily Govern us Mortals on Earth Who can despair but that the Vertue inclos'd within your Breast will extend to the Widows and Orphans Therefore rejoyce O Mexico the Heavens have granted us a Prince without Vice Merciful and not a Violator of the Laws Affable not despising common Conversation And you O King let not this great Preferment occasion any alteration in your so long known Vertues The Crown breeds care for the publick good the troubles thereof must extend over the whole Realm and every one in the Realm Preparationâ— for the Coronation of Muteczuma Muteczuma having heard out the Speech would willingly have answer'd the same but could not utter a word for Tears which gush'd from his Eyes Before he went out to fetch Prisoners for Offerings at his Coronation he first setled his Houshold Affairs And whereas till this time the Kings had been serv'd in their Palaces by ordinary Citizens he took Knights and the chiefest of the Nobility intending thereby to make a distinction between the Nobility and the common People and add more Majesty to the Royal Dignity This done Muteczuma marching against a certain rebellious Province fetch'd a considerable number of People to be Offer'd to Viztupuztli At his Return the Coronation Day was appointed against which thousands of People came to Mexico even their very Enemies of Tlascala Mechoacan and Tepeaca which were never conquer'd by the Mexicans flock'd thither in great numbers All those Countreys which were under Tribute bringing unvaluable Treasures came in vast Multitudes which so throng'd the City that the very tops of the Houses were fill'd with Spectators no King in Mexico ever going to the Throne in such splendor His Grandeur nor was ever any King so much fear'd by his Subjects none of the common People daring to look in his Face neither did he ever set Foot on the Ground but was always carried in a Chair on the Shoulders of his prime Nobility he never wore a Suit of Clothes but once nor ever us'd a Cup or Dish after it was once foul'd he strictly maintain'd the Laws which he had made and often went himself in a Disguise to make a strict enquiry after all Affairs whatsoever by which means the Mexican Power was now arriv'd to the highest top but as other Realms grown top-heavy with good Fortune turn at last topsie-turvy just such a Misfortune befell Mexico but not without several fore-running signs of its destruction The ruine of the Mexican Empire prognosticated for in the City Cholola their God Quezalcoalt inform'd them that a strange People were coming to take possession of the Mexican Dominions and their Soothsayers prognosticated the same for which Muteczuma committed them all to Prison and doubtless had put them all to death had not they escap'd with
worship them because as they say the Devil often appears to them in that shape Besides the Tygers Squerrils the Inhabitants of Mechaocan are exceedingly molested with Squerrils which not only carry much Fruit into their Holes but also under-mine the Houses so that they often sink or fall on one side the mischief being the worse because they increase daily Most of them bear four young at a time which on the third day run about for Prey and can scarce be taken because of their exceeding swiftness leaping a great distance from one Tree to another their Tails serve them on divers occasions for leaping they use it like a Wing and at their crossing over a River for a Sail in tempestuous Weather they stop their holes therewith to keep out the Wind. Several kinds of them There are six several sorts of these Squerrils the first call'd Tlilic cover themselves with their Tails the second Quapatchli is as big again and can never be made tame the third Techallotl with a bald Tail and great Eyes the fourth Talmototly hath a thick Head and a Tail full of black and white streaks the fifth Quimitchpatlan hath a little Head and long Legs and leaping from one Tree to another seems to flie the last sort call'd Yztactechalotl is whitish The Foxes do also great mischief here their Urine smells so horribly Foxes that forty days after none are able to abide near the place where they have urin'd and on whatsoever Stuff or Cloth a drop thereof chanceth to light the stink can never be wash'd away The Bird Auras Here breeds also a sort of Birds call'd Auras which are not unlike Moore-Hens they flie exceeding high in the Air feed on nought but stinking Carrion which they scent at a great distance they have a hairy Head and Neck and ugly Face Some of the Fowls of this Countrey stay here all the year long others go away and return at certain times Ingenuity of the Natives The Natives since the Spaniards coming thither have gotten their Habits and Language learn'd all sorts of Trades their Tables Chests and Cupboards made of Brasile-Wood are no way inferior to the best that are made in Europe Painting is also in great esteem amongst them They make handsom Clothes Shooes and strange Copper Locks They have a peculiar Art in Tilling their Ground They teach the Spanish Dogs several tricks but not feeding them well they cause them to run from them and turn wilde whence they are call'd Cimarrones because they do much hurt to the Cattel The Inhabitants when a Feaver or Ague is upon them at the highest leap into cold Water against other Sicknesses they use Herbs whose soveraign Power Experience hath long since taught them Since the Spaniards made Mechoacan a Bishoprick they have built ninety four Schools fifty Churches several Hospitals and Cloysters inhabited by Franciscan and Augustin Monks There are said to be in this Bishoprick a hundred and fifty Towns or Burroughs besides many scatter'd Villages most of which have Free-Schools erected in them for the Training up of Youth in the Christian Religion good Literature and Arts and few of them without an Hospital for the Sick of which Towns the principal are as followeth Principal Towns 1. Zinzoutza the Seat of the ancient Kings of Mechoacan 2. Pascuar a City forty seven Leagues distant from Mexico once a Bishop's See 3. Valladolid the Metropolis or chief City of the Province since the Episcopal Chair was remov'd from Pascuar thither It lieth upon a great Lake equal amost for bigness to that of Mexico and is about seven Leagues distant from Pascuar towards the East 4. St. Michaels a good Town forty Leagues Westward of Mexico and in the Way to the Zacatecas but lying in a Road that is somewhat dangerous being not a little infested with Salvages on both sides of it 5. St. Philips 6. La Conception de Salaya seventeen Leagues distant from Valladolid and a convenient Stage for Travellers being indeed with the two last mention'd built chiefly for the defence and securing of the Countrey against the Salvages 7. Guaxanata a Town on the Borders of Panuco where there are very rich Mynes of Silver 8. Leon another Town likewise of very rich Mynes twenty four Leagues distant from Valladolid and threescore from Mexico 9. Zamorra 10. Villa de los Lagos and others Towards the Sea there is 1. Acatlan but two Miles distant from the Sea-Coast and a small Town yet by reason of a safe and very good Harbor which it hath for Shipping a Place of no little Trading 2. Natividad another well known and convenient Haven upon Mare del Zur pertaining to this Province and from whence they usually set Sail for the Philippine Islands 3. St. Jago de buena Speranza so call'd by the Spaniards perhaps from the abundance of good Pearls they found upon this Coast 4. Colyma 5. Zacatula and some others This Province as we said was at first a distinct Kingdom of it self yet subordinate and Tributary to that of Mexico the King whereof nam'd Tamgaiva or Bimbicha as Laet reporteth at the first coming of the Spaniards thither after the Conquest of Mexico voluntarily submitted himself to them and was Baptiz'd Nevertheless afterwards upon a pretence of I know not what Treason intended by him against them and which the Spanish Writers themselves professedly think to have been feigned by command of Nunnez de Gusman President of the Chancery of Mexico he was most inhumanely burnt alive and his Kingdom seiz'd upon by the Spaniards SECT III. Tlascalla Situation and Descriptian of Tlascalla THe Bishoprick of Tlascalla formerly call'd Tlascalteca Tlaxcala and Tlascalan is a Province of New Spain which extendeth it self entirely from one Sea to another from the Atlantick to Mare del Zur with which it is bounded on the East and West Parts lying otherwise and for the most part betwixt the Provinces of Mexicana last spoken of and that of Guaxata which followeth containing in length from one Sea to the other not much less than an hundred Leagues and in some places fourscore in breadth but towards the South Sea growing much narrower It is a Countrey exceedingly plentiful both in Corn and Cattel full of rich Pasturage and so plentifully stor'd with Maiz Wheat and other Grain that it is accounted as it were the Granary of America besides Deer all manner of Venison and great store of Fowl There is likewise Copperess Allom Silver-Mynes Manna Anime and Liquid Amber with a sweet smelling Gum which drops out of a Tree The Rivers feed no Fish because they fall with exceeding force from the Mountains onely near Topoyanco is a deep Lake of fresh Water inhabited round about by Indians enjoying the pleasure and profit of the many Cumbeba-Trees which yield Cochinele producing yearly above two hundred thousand Dupkets worth of that Commodity In this Lake swim black Hedge-hogs whose Flesh is good and wholsom to eat The
flight up into the Mountain Vilcabamba where he Setling his Successors Reign to this day secur'd from any Invasion by the natural strength of the Place But the Inga Saritopa coming from the fore-mention'd Mountain submitted himself to the Spaniards who allow'd him the Valley Yucay to dwell peaceably in but the rest of the Family of the Inga's that fell into the Hands of the Spaniards were all of them kill'd in Cusco not without great grief of the old Inhabitants to see so antient and noble a Family by which they had been Govern'd in great State for three hundred years together put to death by common Executioners Cusco the Residence of the Peruvian Kings The City Cusco which was the Royal Seat of all the Peruvian Kings was made more splendid than ever before by Guayanacava of whom Augustine de Tarrate describing his Magnificence relates That when his Queen was Deliver'd of a Son who was to succeed in the Throne Guayanacava kept a great Feast for twenty days together and on that day when the Child was to be Nam'd a Golden Chain each Link of which was as big as a Hand and contain'd in all seven hundred Foot in length was carried by twenty Peruvians to the Temple The Manner of the Succession of their Kings The Succession of the Inga's was after this manner The Inga's keeping many Concubines had many Children by them none of which could lay claim to the Peruvian Crown but onely the Son begotten on the Coya or Queen being generally the Kings own Sister whom they accounted lawful for them to Marry as in antient times did the Egyptian Kings Inherited the Realm unless the Inga had a lawful Brother who Inherited before the Son though born of a Coya or if the said Brother had a Son he obtain'd the deceased Uncles Crown before him who in apparence was the elder Heir The same Succession was also observ'd by other Governors which the Peruvians call Curaca's Their Burials and disposal of their Treasure The Burials of their Kings were perform'd with great solemnity and the Treasures which they left behind were bestow'd in building of magnificent Guaha's which were Temples or religious Houses where a kind of solemn Worship was to be perform'd to celebrate the Memory of the Deceased Some part of the Treasure was also distributed amongst the Inga's Servants but the Successor inherited not the least Mite of what his Predecessor had gotten but was forc'd according to an antient Law to build himself a new Palace and purchas'd anew every thing else belonging to it Their Crown Their Crown or Diadem was onely a fine red woollen Coif with a Tassel that hung down over their Foreheads which other meaner Princes wore hanging on their right Ear. Their Coronations Their Coronations were also kept in great Pomp and State the Nobility and Priests coming from all parts of the Countrey to Cusco besides an innumerable multitude of common People The Noblemens Presents to the Inga's consisted chiefly of Gold and Silver Vessels fine Cloth call'd Cumbi all sorts of Sea-shells and stately Plumes of Feathers of inestimable value Thousands of Sheep differing in colour serv'd for Offerings moreover the Chief Priest sacrific'd a Child before the Image of Viracocha on whom with great Reverence he cry'd O great God Viracocha we Offer you this Child that you may keep our Realm in Peace aid us in time of War prosper our Inga in all his Undertakings make him more powerful and greater than any of his Predecessors and grant him wisdom to Govern this vast Countrey Their exact Form of Government No People in the World can be more respective and shew greater Reverence to their Kings than the Peruvians for there were never any heard of in this Countrey that ever Rebell'd against their Prince the reason of which was chiefly because they always Govern'd with great Justice and Mildness placing Governors over the respective Countreys and Provinces according to their several Divisions greater or lesser with subordinate Power one under another so that they Rul'd with great strictness punishing with Death both Drunkenness and Theft Moreover the Ingas observ'd a prudent way in Government viz. They kept their Subjects continually employ'd The ordinary sort of Persons of subdu'd Provinces were sent to remote Countreys and the Governors thereof kept at the Court in Cusco and Princes Descended of the Royal Blood sent in their Places to Govern the new gotten Dominions they divided the Inhabitants into Companies plac'd one to Command over ten another over a hundred and a greater Officer over a thousand and at last a Prefect or Major-General over ten thousand every one of which Officers were to bring in an Account every Week to the supream Governor who was always of the Inga's Family what Men dy'd of their number or how many were born a present Estimate of every ones Stock in Cattel or otherwise and all remarkable Transactions that hapned On the high Feast-day they were all to appear at Court and to bring in the Revenues gather'd out of their Substitute Countreys The main Division of the Countrey was into four grand Provinces call'd Tahucantinsuyos according to the four Ways that went from Cusco through the whole Realm viz. Chinchasuyo towards the North Coclasuyo towards the South Andesuyo towards the East and Condesuyo towards the West The Collectors were divided into Hanansayos Upper-Collectors and Urinsayos or Under-Collectors The Quipocomayos or Accomptants could â—ast up exactly with Buttons not onely what every Province but also what each Man was to pay and that according to the ability of the Countrey and Person Their stately Structures Many were the stately Temples invincible Castles magnificent Palaces and other wonderful Structures built by the Ingas the chiefest whereof stood in Cusco Tiaguanaco and Tambo the Builders whereof were sent for by turns out of the adjacent Countreys from which they brought exceeding great Stones most of them thirty eight Foot long eighteen broad and six thick which were so neatly joyn'd together with Mortar or Iron-work that a whole Edifice seem'd to be one entire Stone Their Bridges that led cross the Rivers were made of Flags and Rushes fastned to each Shore with great Ropes The like Bridge lay cross the deep Mouth of the Lake Chicuito on which great Bundles of the Rushes Toto being ty'd together and cover'd with Straw so strengthen'd the Bridge that great Loads were safely carried over the same The great Riches of the Ingas No Prince ever possess'd so much Riches and Splendor as an Inga of Peru each Countrey presenting him with what was most esteem'd amongst them the Chiches bringing Sweet-woods the Lucanas strong Sedan-Carriers the Chumbibilcas brave Dancers and so accordingly every Countrey provided him with what they best esteem'd besides the usual Tributes which they paid Those which digg'd the Gold and Silver out of the Mines had Meat Drink and Clothing from the Inga though at other times he enjoy'd
mention'd which part at the East end of the City are pass'd over with divers Bridges The narrow Streets are full of Stone Houses built in good Order In several places are Vaulted Cellars under Ground in some of which are buried great Treasures they had been formerly the Habitations for Necromancers and Soothsayers for this sort of People were once in great esteem amongst the Inhabitants who coming from Chili Pasto Bocamores Topona Bombon Charcas Collao Chiachiapoias Conchucos and other Peruvian Countreys receive great benefit from the fresh Water and from the Corn-Mills built on the Streets through the City The ancient Places and other stately Structures in Cusco The stately Palaces which the Peruvian Nobility have at several times built in Oren-Cusco being one part of the City are very wonderful the Owners whereof were forc'd by the Ingas to appear at Court at Set-times that so he might prevent all Insurrections Also he caus'd the Children of the prime Lords to be brought up in Cusco under pretence that they might learn the Cuscoan Tongue perfectly in which the Ingas would always be spoken to whenas their Design was to keep them as Hostages in their own Jurisdictions that their Fathers might not rebel by which means it hapned that in most places of Peru which amongst the several Tribes and Principalities had several Languages the Cuscoan Tongue was understood and spoken But the Spaniards who are the present Possessors thereof have alter'd and repair'd most of the ordinary Houses which are now neatly built of Stone Above all the old Structures the Palace of the Ingas and the Temple of the Sun are the most magnificent the Palace lies inclos'd within a square quadruple Wall each corner whereof is adorn'd and strengthned with a Tower The Palace it self is built round and with Arches but that which chiefly amazes the Beholder is to see how the Stones which are so big that forty Horses are notable to stir one of them out of its place were brought thither by the Labor of the Builders from the neighboring Mountains for the Peruvians never made use of any laboring Beast except their Sheep Pacos not knowing the use of Horses Camels Oxen Elephants or the like before the Spaniards coming thither The Halls within the Palace were Wainscoted with Golden Plates yet the Inga's Apparel was not answerable to the rest of his Pomp for in stead of a Crown they bound their Heads about with a red woollen Sash with which they almost cover'd their Eyes at the end of the Sash hung certain Ribbands which they gave the Governor as occasion offer'd that by this Sign as by a Commission they might exercise their Offices the sight of which String caus'd such Obedience that if the Inga had commanded the Inhabitants of a Town or Countrey to murder themselves none durst deny The Inga was generally carried by a hundred of his Noble-men of whom if any one had accidentally chanc'd to stumble he was immediately put to death No man durst presume to look him in the Face or speak to him without a Present The Temple Curicanche The Temple Curicanche Dedicated to the Sun was certainly the most rich and sumptuous that ever the World boasted it being Govern'd by the Chief Priest Villanoa The Inga Guainacava spent an invaluable Treasure in the building of this Structure for he cover'd the Roof and Walls with thick Plates of massie Gold and Silver At his return home from the Conquest of the Province of Quito from whence the Inhabitants according to an antient Custom of the Ingas were carried to one of the remotest Countreys in Peru. But Guainacava enamor'd of a Quitoan Maid staid a considerable time in the City Quito and kept a splendid Wedding at the Marriage of his Bride who bare unto him the famous Attabaliba whom he lov'd beyond all his other Children and a little before his death made him King of Quito But Huascar after Guainacava's Decease would not suffer his Brother to live in the late conquer'd Kingdom of Quito A cruel Battel between two Brothers but gave him Battel in the Plain of Tomebamba which lasted three days and three Nights and after much Blood-shed Attabaliba being defeated was taken Prisoner and not long after making his Escape by the help of an antient Woman whilest Huascar's Commanders and Soldiers rejoyc'd with Cups full of Chica for their gotten Victory he made his Subjects in Quito believe that he being transform'd into a Serpent crept through a little Hole out of the Prison and that he had a Promise from Heaven to obtain Conquest over Huascar which being believ'd stirr'd up all his Subjects to take up Arms and valiantly to go and meet the Enemy whom they not onely defeated but took Huascar Prisoner Huscar being destroy'd by Attabaliba and Attabaliba by Pizarro Mango Inga their youngest Brother took the Government upon him made continual Sallies upon the Spaniards from inaccessible Mountains and at his Decease left the remaining part of Peru to his Son Zaires Topa Zaires the Son of Mango Inga submitâ— to the Spaniards who seeing no good to be done by force of Arms submitted himself freely to the King of Spain's Jurisdiction in the Year 1557. since which the Spaniards have been sole Masters There are at this day four great Churches in Cusco Also the Dominicans Franciscans Augustines and the Monks De la Merced have each of them stately Cloysters here but the Jesuits Structure exceeds all the other Above forty thousand Peruvians pay annual Tribute to this City In the Valley about the City feed abundance of Cattel also Wheat and all manner of Herbs grow here in great plenty The Gold and Silver-Mines have not that resort which they had formerly most of the Workmen being remov'd to Potosi Concerning the Service which they perform'd in the fore-mention'd Temple of the Sun and their superstitious Opinions about their Idol Con they are much of the same ridiculous nature with what hath been already Discours'd of in other places Five Leagues Southwardly from Cusco lies the Valley Yucay between high snowy Mountains under a temperate Climate and pleasant Soil Not far from hence the Ingas built a most invincible Castle on a Rock which was surrounded with many cliffy Walls one above another these Walls were also Carv'd with Images of Lyons Tygers and other wild Beasts which held Lances in their Paws the â—op of the Rock was crown'd with a Royal Structure built of Stone through which ran Golden Veins joyn'd together with a certain Gum by some call'd Jews-Lime To the Province of Condesuyo belong the valiant People Chumbibalcas and Ubinas In the County Pomatambo they make Carpets of fine Wooll curiously Painted 8. The City Francisco de Vittoria which lies in the rough Valley Vilcabamba and is inclos'd by the Mountains Andes belonging to the Jurisdiction of the Province Andesuyo 9. The Village Juan del Oro which is the chief Place of the Countrey Caravaya and so call'd by the Spaniards
though sunk never so deep in the Wound Moreover the Juice of Culen is also very healing if us'd for an Ointment or pour'd on any Wound This Herb by the Spaniards call'd Albaciga hath sweet-smelling Leaves and a tall Body In some places also grows an Herb not unlike Grass which boyl'd in Water immediately cures the Feaver and Spleen and cleanses the Blood There are likewise Medicines here which dissolving the Stone in the Bladder or Kidneys cause it to be urin'd forth The Plant Luce which grows out of rented Rocks which are often overflow'd by the Sea makes a sort of well tasted Bread The Wilderness Atacama which makes a Boundary betwixt Peru and Chili extends Northward ninety Leagues is dry and barren in Summer and in the Winter exceeding cold and cover'd with Snow No Provision is to be found upon it except a few wild Sheep call'd Guanacos About the middle thereof the Brook La Sal rising in the Eastern Mountains flows Westward through a deep Valley to the Southern Ocean Troublesom Passage from Peru to Chili The Water of the fore-mention'd Brook put into any Vessel immediately turns to Salt and all along the Shore lie greater or lesser pieces of Salt so that the Way from Peru to Chili through Atacama is very troublesom but that which leads thither over the snowy Mountains Andes is much worse because it is farther about and threatens the Traveller with Destruction if he observe not the right Season of the Year for in the Winter there blows such a cold Wind on these Mountains that a Man being suddenly benumm'd falls down dead on the Ground and grows stiff against all putrefaction Joseph de Acosta tells us that Bodies have been found there as firm and sound as if they had been living which had some years before breath'd their last on the said Mountains But Diego Almagro who first discover'd Chili Anno 1536. went thither with two Companies of Horse and five hundred Foot through the Countreys Charcas Chicas Xuxayes and Chaquana and having pass'd over a craggy Soil and the snowy Mountains Andes he entred into the first Chilean Valley Capayapo having lost no small number of Men and Horses with Hardship and Cold the inconvenience therefore of both the fore-mention'd Ways between Peru and Chili forc'd Travellers to go along the Shore wash'd by the Southern Ocean The Valley Copayapo Copayapo bears that Denomination from the Turkoises which a Mountain produces there in great abundance The Valley it self is the fruitfullest of all Chili for in no place the Maiz grows better and in greater abundance than here the Ears being half a Yard long and the Stalks the length of a Lance each Grain that is Sow'n yields at least three hundred in Harvest All Spanish Fruits grow better here than in Spain Through the midst of Copayapo runs a River of the same Denomination and twenty Leagues in length from the Andes and at its Mouth hath a convenient Harbor before the South Sea The South part of Copayapa borders the Valley Guasco which is less fruitful than the first but hath a convenient Haven into which falls a fresh River penn'd in by Sluces for the watering of the Cane-Fields Moreover there are plenty of Partridges also wild Sheep and grey Squirrel-skins are of a great value To the Southward flow also the Rivers Maypo Chacha Pool Loro and Moule Beyond these Streams Eastward the Promonca's dwell near the Mountains Andes In the Valley Chili which gives Denomination to the whole Countrey were formerly the famous Gold-Mines Quillatas from whence Valdivia Anno 1544 carry'd an invaluable Treasure The South Sea makes here a large and convenient Harbor for all manner of Vessels built two Leagues below the City Serena at a little River which so moistens the low Countrey that it produces all manner of Plants It rains here not above three times ayear From the Entertainment which Sir Francis Drake met withal here may sufficiently be conjectur'd the Power of Serena for when the English Landed here for Water they were driven away not without great loss by three hundred Castilian Horse and two hundred Foot that Sally'd out of the City The Mines though they inclose much Gold yet they produce but little because the Spaniards according to the testimony of a Chilean Pilot whom Oliver van Noort took Prisoner destroy'd all the ancient Inhabitants that should have help'd them to dig the Gold The City St. Jago lying near the Stream Topocalma receives great benefit by the Haven Valparayso which makes the fore-mention'd River because in that Haven all Goods that come from Lima are unladen and the Goods shipp'd aboard The Countrey about the same produces plenty of Wines Apples Corn and all sorts of Cattel and especially Horses in such abundance that thousands of them run wild In Valparayso Sir Francis Drake took a Ship from Valdivia laden with two thousand five hundred Bars of fine Gold But the Netherland Admiral Joris Spilbergen had not such good success who Sailing thither with five Ships Anno 1615. discover'd a Spanish Ship in the Harbor where sending his Boats well Mann'd to fetch off a Vessel that lay hal'd on the Shore they found it burning and thereupon Steer'd their Course into a little Inlet full of Rocks which serv'd the Spaniards in stead of Breast-works for lying behind them they fir'd continually on the Hollanders yet Spilbergen Landing with two hundred Men met a considerable number of Spanish Soldiers and Horses drawn out on the Shore from whom they soon fled Before the City La Conception lies the Island Quiriquyna whose Straw Huts Spilbergen laid in Ashes At the time when Oliver van Noort came to an Anchor here the Governor Franciscus de Quinones Commanded seven hundred Spanish Soldiers to reduce the revolted Chileses Four Leagues from Conception lie the rich Gold-Mines Quilacoya which formerly produc'd great Riches Over against the Valley Arauco which rises out of the Sea lies the Island Maria in a large Inlet made by the force of the Waves Here grows abundance of Wheat and Barley The Rivers also afford plenty of Fish amongst which there is one call'd The Lake-Spider in whose Eyes are to be seen little Specks which would exceed Pearl if they were but hard enough Two Spaniards Command forty Natives on Maria and keep them in such slavery that they may neither eat Apples Pears Grapes Poultrey or Sheep though they are there in great abundance Elias Herkmans was once in probability to have taken possession of this Island for the Netherland State had he not been prevented by an extraordinary occasion Between the Towns Conception and Imperial lie the Provinces Arauco Tucapel and Puren inhabited by a valiant People that often alarm the Spaniards In each Province Valdivia built a Fort in the Year 1551. eight Leagues distant from one another He also discover'd the rich Gold-Mines De Ongol and built the Fort Confines there The Natives hereabouts being exceedingly opprest by the Spaniards fell