being of excellent Mettle and Service if they could be tam'd It affordeth likewise great store of wild Deer and Stags some Lyons Tygers c. nor is it without good Mines some both of Gold and Silver but chiefly as to what is yet discover'd of Brass and Iron and the People altogether salvage The River De la Plata The River De la Plata which as we said before divides this Countrey is one of the largest of the whole World rising as 't is suppos'd out of the Lake call'd De los Xarayes three hundred Leagues or more within Land and falling into the Atlantick Ocean or North Sea in thirty four Degrees of Southern Latitude with an Estuary or Mouth of thirty or two and thirty Leagues over The whole Countrey is usually subdivided into three inferior Provinces which 1. Rio de la Plata properly so call'd 2. Tucuman 3. La Crux de Sierra SECT II. Rio de la Plata properly so call'd Situation of Rio de la Plata properly so call'd RIo de la Plata properly so call'd is that part of the Countrey which extendeth it self on both sides the River in length many Leagues together but not answerable in breadth Towns and Places of note The chiefest Towns of note in this Province are 1. Buenos Ayres by some call'd La Trinidad on the Southern Banks of the River De la Plata sixty four Leagues as they say from the Mouth of it It is seated commodiously at the foot of a little Mountain and fortifi'd with a Mud-Wall a little Castle and some Pieces of Ordnance 2. San Fe in English St. Faiths fifty Leagues above Buenos Ayres upon the same River and a richer Place chiefly by reason of their Cloth of which there is here one of the greatest Manufactures of all these parts of Peru. 3. Nuestra Sennora de la Assumption commonly call'd Assumption onely lying yet higher up the River almost a hundred Leagues a well built and well frequented Town long since inhabited by two hundred Families at least of natural Spaniards besides Mestizos as they call them which are the Breed of Spaniards by the American People Men or Women and Mulattos which are likewise their Race but begotten upon Negro's of both which there are reckon'd to be here some thousands 4. La Cividad Real or more commonly call'd Ontiveros fourscore Leagues Northward from Assumption seated on the Banks of the River Parana in a fruitful Soil as the Countrey generally is about all these Places but the Air hereabouts is not so healthful 5. St. Anne upon the same River and 6. St. Salvador SECT III. Tucuman Situation of Tucuman VVEstward of La Plata lieth the Countrey of Tucuman extending it self as far as the Borders of Chile a Countrey not yet well discover'd either to the North or the South That part of it which lieth towards Chile is well Manur'd and Husbanded and likewise very fruitful but that towards Magellanica neither the one nor the other remaining altogether untill'd and barren The chief Towns and Places of note are 1. St. Jago de Esteco the principal Town of the Province and a Bishop's See seated upon the River Esteco a hundred and fourscore Leagues distant from Buenos Ayres Towns and Places of note 2. St. Michael de Tucuman seated at the foot of a huge rocky Mountain but otherwise in a Soil the fruitfullest and best both for Corn and Pasturage in all this Countrey twenty eight Leagues distant from St. Jago 3. Talavera or Neustra Sennora de Talavera as the Spaniards call it situate upon the Banks of Salado in a good Soil and inhabited by an industrious People grown exceeding rich and wealthy chiefly by their Manufactures of Cotton-Wooll whereof they have great plenty and by which they drive a Trade as far as the Mines at Potosi and other parts of Peru. BRASILIA 5. Chocinoca 6. Sococha 7. Calebinda 8. Morata and others but belonging for the most part to the reduced Natives SECT IV. La Crux de Sierra Situation of La Crux de Sierra LA Crux de Sierra is a little Territory at least in comparison to some others lying towards Peru and reckon'd by some for one of the Provinces of Peru It lieth betwixt the two great Rivers Paraguay and Guapay a hundred Leagues distant as 't is said from Charcas to which yet in some Causes it is subordinate The Soil of this Countrey is abundantly fertile in all sorts of American Fruits besides good plenty both of Wheat and Maiz and scarsity of nothing useful for Man's Life unless it be fresh Water in some places Chief Towns of this Province The chief Towns of this Province are 1. San Crux situate at the foot of a great Mountain or Hill but opeing upon a large Plain whose thirsty driness is well refresh'd by a certain Brook or Torrent which issueth out of a neighboring Mountain and a few Leagues distant from the Town maketh a pretty Lake which supplieth the Countrey thereabouts both with fresh Water and Fish in good plenty 2. Barranea a Town suppos'd to be not above threescore Leagues distant from Potosi 3. Nova Rioia once a Colony of Spaniards buâ—â—sack'd and spoil'd by the Salvages of these Parts about the Year 1548. and the first Discoveror of the Countrey namely Nunno de Chaves treacherously murder'd by a Native since which time 't is said to have been deserted CHAP. VII Brasile Anno 1549. King John the Third fitted out a great Fleet which set Sail from Lisbon under the Command of Thomas de Sosa Jesuits â—â—â—t to Brasiâ—â— by Pope Paulus the Third and Ignatius Also the Jesuits Aspilcueta Antonio Pireo Leonardo Nonno Didaco Jacobo Vincent Roderico and Emanuel Robrega were sent thither by Pope Paulus the Third and Ignatius Loyola whose Fleet came to an Anchor in the Bay afterwards call'd Bahia de Todos Sanctos where Sosa built the City Salvador since which the Portuguese have spread themselves farther and farther over Brasile The United Netherlands also sent Colonies thither with good success for they took several vast Countreys from the Portuguese by force of Arms and built new Forts and Towns in several places But we will first give you a general Description of it Temperature of Climate that so we may the better render a Relation in particular of every Province thereof it being a considerable part of the New World and both pleasant and fruitful and the Sea-Coasts refresh'd by Easterly Winds which begin before Day-break when the North Sea ebbs or flows for then the Wind rises with the Sun and continues till Mid-night Towards the West where the Mountains divide Brasile from Peru it is made temperate by Westerly Winds which though judg'd unwholsom because they seem to arise out of the Moorish Grounds yet they hurt not the Inhabitants along that Coast because they either break against the high Mountains or are driven by the strong Wind which blows from
spoil their lustre yet 't is not to be doubted but if rightly order'd there will be found many of value and the Fishing for them turn to some account Besides the easie Provisions which the Rivers and Sea afford their Woods are well stock'd with Deer Rabbets Hares Turtle-Doves Phesants Partridges and an infinite number of Wood-Pigeons and wild Turkies which are the ordinary Dishes of the Indians whose House-keeping depends on their Fishing and Hunting and who have found it no ill way of Living in so fertile a Countrey to trust themselves without any labor or forecast to the Supplies which are there provided to their hands without the continual trouble of Tillage and Husbandry Besides these Woods are fill'd with innumerable variety of smaller Birds as different in their Notes as Kinds Temperatine of the Clâ—mate The Temperature of this Province is agreeable to a Countrey whose Position is on the warmer side of the temperate Zone but yet the Heat is not so sultry nor offensive as in Places under the same Latitude in the Old World to which moderation of Heat as well as the healthiness of it the vast Atlantick Ocean lying to the East and South of it may perhaps not a little contribute an instance whereof some think China to be to which deservedly admir'd Countrey Carolina exactly answers in its Position and Latitude the trending from North-East to South-West of its Coast and the lowness of its Shore and wants nothing but Inhabitants to make it equal if not excell in all conveniences of Life as it doth in richness of Soil that flourishing Empire The healthiness of the Air is such that it is not onely benign and favorable to the home-bred Indians and Constitutions accustom'd to it but the English-men who first Planted on Ashley River though for some other Conveniences they Planted on the side or almost middle of a Morass and were encompass'd with a salt Marsh where the Air pent up with Woods that surrounded them had not that freedom it hath in open and cultivated Countreys yet lost not in a whole years time of a considerable number any one Person of any Disease to be imputed to the Countrey those few that dy'd in that time sinking under lingring Distempers which they brought with them and had almost worn them out before they came thither The Bermudians who being accustom'd to the pure Air of their own Island cannot without hazard of their Lives put themselves into any other Place assur'd of the healthiness of this Place which is the next Land to them and under the same Latitude venture hither And generally all the English Planting in the West-Indies are so taken with the Conveniences of this Countrey which as some of the most considerable of the English in those Parts say of it promises all that the Heart of Man can wish that they send the overplus of their People hither to which the Inhabitants of Barbados a skilful and wary sort of Planters well knowing in all the parts of the West-Indies have been found to remove the Hands they could spare As the Summer is not intolerably nor offensively hot so the Winter is not troublesom nor pinching but enough to correct the Humors of Mens Bodies the better to strengthen them and preserve their Healths and so far to check the growth of Plants that by this stop they may put out more regularly and the Corn and other Fruits the better ripen together and be ready seasonably at the Harvest the want whereof in some Countreys hinders the beneficial Growth of several valuable Commodities the continual Spring all the year long making that their Crops are never ready their Trees being laden with green and ripe Fruit at the same time which is to be seen in the Vines growing between the Tropicks where though they bear excellent Grapes yet they cannot make any Wine whilest the mixture of ripe and sowre Grapes upon the same Branch renders them unfit for the Press which from Grapes so blended though of a good kind would squeeze out a very crude and useless Liquor This also is the reason why many Parts where our Wheat will grow very well do yet lose the benefit of it whilest the several Ears ripening unequally never make the Crop fit for the Sickle But this Countrey hath Winter enough to remove that Inconvenience and to put such a stop to the Rise of the Sap and the Budding of Plants as to make the several kinds of Fruits Bud and Blossom in their distinct Seasons and keep even pace till they are fit to be gather'd Nature Constitutions and Manners of the Inhabitants To this happy Climate the native Inhabitants are very well suited a strong lusty and well shap'd People who to their well knit and active Bodies want not stout and vigorous Minds they are a People of a good Understanding well Humor'd and generally so just and Honest that they may seem to have no notice of as their Language hath no word for Dishonesty and Cheating and the worst Name they have for ill Men is that they are not good They are a stout and valiant People which appears in the constant Wars they are engag'd in not out of covetousness and a desire of usurping others Possessions or to enrich themselves by the Spoils of their Neighbors but upon a pitch of Honor and for the glory of Victory which is their greatest joy there being no parts of their Lives wherein they enjoy so much satisfaction and give themselves so wholly to Jollity as in their Triumphs after Victory Valor therefore is the Vertue they most esteem and reward and he which hath behav'd himself well in the Wars is suffer'd to wear the Badges of Honor and is advanc'd beyond others with some Marks of his Courage which amongst some is blacking the Skin below his Eyes with black Lead in fashion something of an Half-Moon which Mark of Courage is not suffer'd to be worn by any but those who by some brave Action as killing the Enemy's Leader c. hath signaliz'd himself in their Encounters They are faithful to their Promises fair and candid in their Dealings and so far from Dishonesty that they want even the Seeds of it viz. Forecast and Covetousness and he will be very little apt to deceive you to Day who troubles not himself much about to Morrow and trusts for the Provisions of the Day to the Day it self which proceeds not in them for want of Wit but desire of Content and Quiet or by the help of their natural Reason they enjoy that Happiness which the Philosophers could not by their Study and Reading attain to whilest these Men cut off those Desires which Learning could never help the other to Govern and which if once permitted to run out beyond the present are capable of no rest nor Bounds In their Conversation they are courteous and civil and in their Visits make Presents to one another when they meet their way of Salutation is stroaking on the
Masters forcing their Scholars to Fast and Watch carry great Burthens of Provisions to the Army and be in the midst of Engagements Others whose Fancy led them to a holy Life willingly embrac'd the Services of the Temple Their manner of Dancing Their manner of Dancing in New Spain was very strange and differing they us'd pretty Instruments and Songs which contain'd antique Passages according to the Times they in their Motions imitated Shepherds Fisher-men Plowmen Hunters and the like Sometimes they Danc'd in Mascarades with a Man on their Shoulders making the same Motion with his Hands in the Air as the other with his Feet on the Ground They had also Tumblers and Dancers on the Ropes which shew'd strange Tricks on an erected Pole But above all Dances the Mitotes was the chief which was generally Danc'd in the King's Palace or inner Court of the Temple in the middle of which they plac'd a great Drum and a hollow Tub on a large Image round about which the most eminent Persons made a Ring Sang sweetly and Danc'd leisurely when on a sudden two that are more nimble with divers Motions came into the midst of them and Danc'd exactly after the sound of the Drum and hollow Tub which was seconded with the noise of Flutes and Pipes CHAP. VI. New Gallicia Bounds and Extent of New Gallicia NEw Gallicia by some call'd Guadalajara from the chief City This whole Province is the most Northern Countrey of all America that is inhabited to any purpose by the Spaniards Here 't is true they are scatter'd up and down in all the parts of it but it is at a huge distance and for the most part onely where the Mines are It is bounded on the East and to the South with the Kingdom of Mexico or New Spain on the West with the Gulf or Bay of California Northward for so much as is yet discover'd with Quivira and Cibola lying between eighteen and twenty eight Degrees of Northern Latitude that is from La Natividad a Port so nam'd by the Spaniards in the Confines of New Spain to the most Northerly Borders of Cinoloa a part of this Province containing as is suppos'd not much less than three hundred Leagues in length and in breadth much more and whereof not a tenth part is either us'd or frequented by the Spaniards Temperature and Nature of the Countrey The Air is generally here very temperate inclining rather to Heat than Cold and subject now and then to sudden Storms of Rain and great Claps of Thunder which yet do not hinder but that the Countrey is held to be reasonably healthful and the People observ'd to live generally to a good old Age. The Soil by reason of the Climate would be a little inclining to Drought but that besides the frequent Rains which it hath it is constantly moistned with fresh Morning Dews which make it for the most part wonderfully fruitful almost beyond belief yielding for every Pushel of Wheat that is sown threescore and of Maiz two hundred for one besides great plenty of Sugar-Canes and Cochinele both which nevertheless the Spaniards are said to neglect in some sort employing themselves wholly about richer Commodities for the Countrey affords them good store of Mines of Silver and Brass but of Gold or Iron not many as yet have been found The Rivers abound plentifully with Fish and the Woods with Wenison and some other wild Beasts The Countrey is generally more mountainous than plain frequently shaded with Woods and whole Forrests of the stateliest Pine-Trees and Oaks that are to be seen amongst which breed abundance of Wolves which do great mischief to the People as also Scorpions and Mustiecho's The Hurts receiv'd from Scorpions are heal'd with the Juice of the Fruit call'd Queon those from the Mustiecho's by Vinegar and the Juice of Lemmon Here is likewise a green Stone accounted a soveraign Medicine against the Gravel Several sorts of Tunas-Trees The Trees peculiar to this Countrey are the tunas already spoken of in Guatimala and thought to be the same we vulgarly call Indian Fig-Trees and are distinguish'd into six sorts The first by the Portuguese call'd Cardon hath sharp Prickles thick Leaves full of slimy Juice an odoriferous Flower oval Fruit cover'd with an Orange-colour'd Rind and small Roots The Fruit within consists of a white juicy and well tasted Pulp full of black Seed The second hath a round Body full of Boughs with Star-like Prickles hanging downwards the Flower white and the Fruit very like that of the Cardon onely smaller The third is the Caxabra which shoots up to a great Tree full of prickly Cods at the utmost end grows a large white Flower the Fruit which is as big again as an Egg is pleasant and cooling The fourth sort hath a straight Body full of Prickles runs lesser and lesser to the top at the end of the small Boughs each thick Leaf produces another the Wood if kindled burns like a Candle The fifth nam'd Cumbeba grows out of small Roots with three or four corner'd thick Leaves full of Prickles the Flower somewhat less than the former the Fruit oval hard and red having a white and juicy Pulp The Prickles of this Cumbeba-Tree are so sharp and stick in so deep that they can scarce be pull'd out This is that sort of Tunas that produces Cochinele which is a Worm that grows under the Leaves and is cover'd with a Skin which being neatly taken off and dry'd in the Sun as formerly mention'd becomes a rich Commodity Joseph de Acosta tells us that the Spanish Fleet Anno 1578. carried so much Cochinele to Spain as amounted to two hundred eighty three thousand seven hundred and fifty Ryals But the last sort of the Tunas is the Unirumbeba which hath a straight Body full of Prickles on the top whereof grow divers prickly Leaves not unlike those of the Palm-Tree It is onely found in barren places remote from the Sea Moreover all kind of Fruits transplanted hither from Spain thrive very well as Apples Pears Granats Figs Peaches Apricocks Muskmelons c. The Root Castanuela The Root Castanuela affords a much better Feeding for Swine than Acorns But amongst many other Roots which are found here as the Xiquimas Yaca Cochuco Cari Totora and Mani The Batata the chief is the Batata which is fat sweet and windy it runs over the Ground with a tough green Sprig the new Fibres taking Root dispersedly up and down being yellow without and within full of milky Juice the Leaf resembling a Heart is of a pale yellow colour on the top and donuy underneath roasted in Ashes it eats better than a Turnip It is divided into three sorts The first call'd Omenapo-yeima when boyl'd shews like red Betel but Dyes of a Skye-colour the innermost Skin which is of a dark Red yields an Ink-like Juice The second sort call'd Parro differs little from the first onely the Body Root and Veins of the
part of California largely taken for besides that California properly so call'd hath formerly been taken rather for a Peninsula than an Island and still affords to some an Argument of question whether it be one or the other The whole extent of the Province generally so term'd hath been reputed to comprehend the suppos'd Peninsula it self Cibola Quivira and Nova Albion but since according to the best Maps and Discoveries there seems little doubt to be made that California strictly taken is a perfect Island and since upon that Consideration we have reserved it to be describ'd amongst the Islands of Northern America we also consequently judge it most requisite to consider those Countreys apart that were included in the extended California Situation Temperature and Productions of Cibola Cibola lieth Southward of Quivira betwixt it and New Gallicia to the North and East on the West it hath Mar Vermiglio or the Bay of California The Air of the Province is indifferently temperate especially if compar'd to the sharp Frosts and Colds of Quivira The Countrey is for the most part level and plain as Quivira is having but few Trees in it except here and there some Woods of Cedars which yet do abundantly supply the Natives both with Timber and Fewel The Ground affords plenty of Maiz and some small white Pease of both which they usually make Bread There is great store of Venison and a kind of Sheep as they say and as it should seem by their Fleece as big as some little Horses or Oxen some of their Horns weighing forty or fifty Pound But perhaps by some mistake of Authors this Beast may be no other than Taurus Mexicans elsewhere describ'd whose Hair is extreamly thick and shaggy and of which they make Cloth as of Wool as hath been said There are also Lyons Bears and Tygers in this Province in such numbers that the People of the Countrey are not a little troubled with them and would gladly destroy them if they knew how The People are generally well Limb'd tall of Stature and seem to be a little more Ingenious than their Neighbors of Quivira yet they go naked many of them onely cover'd with Mantles made of Skins which are many times painted and that with such Curiosity and Art as do sufficiently argue that neither themselves nor their Neighbors of Quivira from whom they have them in Traffick do make them but that they are the Merchandise and Commodity of some other Nations perhaps of Cathay or China who by the North-West Seas do Trade with the Maritime Parts and People of Quivira This part of the Countrey hath been reasonably well search'd by the Spaniards but as yet nothing discover'd so considerable as to perswade them to stay in it That which seems most observable is the great Lake Tonteac situate almost in the midst of the Province upon which or near unto it they found seven or eight old Towns of the Natives some whereof contain'd four or five hundred of their Cottages or little Houses and were fortifi'd also with Ramparts and other Works of Defence so as the Spaniards could not become Masters of them but by Force and Storming In the attempt whereof Vasquez Coronado their Commander in chief was twice beaten down with Stones by the Natives yet at last carrying the Place he found in it good plenty of Maiz indeed which was some refreshment to his Army but nothing else whereupon having nam'd the Place Granada in memory of the Vice-Roy of New Spain who sent him upon that Expedition he departed In his return homeward he fell upon a certain Countrey which he nam'd Tucayan of which his Companions report great matters as first of a certain River call'd Huex on the Banks whereof in the space of twenty Leagues or thereabouts there stand no less than fifteen good Burroughs well built and furnish'd likewise with Stoves or Hot-houses against the Cold as in other Countreys of Europe as also of a very fruitful and pleasant Valley which they therefore call'd Aroba de Corazones of another great Town and Territory call'd Chichilticala and lastly of the Valley of Nuestra Sennora or Our Ladies Dale in the South parts of the said Territory all of them describ'd for such rich and delicious Places that some take them for the Campi Elisii of America especially seeing the Spaniards were never known to visit them a second time the Discoveries that have been made since being onely of the North-West Parts of the Countrey along the Coasts of Mar Vermiglio and this no farther than onely to give Name to certain Capes or Promontories which they met with as namely 1. Porto de St. Clara near to the Mouth of the River which they call Rio del Nordt 2. Las Playas 3. St. Michael 4. Lago del Oro which bordereth on Quivira and lastly El Rey Coronado Eastward of that TOntonteac is mention'd by so few Tontonteac and by those few so obscurely that it cannot well be determin'd to be any other than that Countrey which lies about the great Lake Tonteac above spoken of in Cibola and which being made Habitable by six or seven Towns not inconsiderable for Habitations of native Indians might haply pass for a distinct Province And perhaps the reason why this Province hath been so obscure and little taken notice of might be from the ruine of these Towns by War or some other Accident and to this purpose are the words of a late Writer The Province of Tontonteac saith he hath five Houses onely left which stand on the Shore of a salt Lake Nova Granada a Province of Northern America NOva Granada besides that it is a generally known and describ'd Province of Southern America is also nam'd amongst the Provinces of Northern America particularly by Bertius Cluverius and Golnitzius and in some late Maps of America so conspicuously specifi'd that it might appear to be all that Tract of Land which contains both New Mexico and the several Provinces adjoyning to it but since we find it not describ'd by any at large it will with most verisimility pass for that part of New Mexico where stands the City of St. Foy and this is most plainly express'd by Monsieur Martini though there are who confound Cibola with New Granada Waving which Decision we shall onely insert a short Description of the Place according to Cornato who seems to have been one of the first Discoverers of these Parts and whose Credit is preferr'd before that of Marcus de Niza Nova Granada saith he consists of seven Villages It s Description built in the circumference of four Leagues the chiefest whereof boasts two hundred Houses which for the most part are four or five Stories high and built of Stone the Cellars thereto belonging being neatly Pav'd serve for Stoves against the Cold they ascend to their upper Rooms by Ladders The Inhabitants go naked onely some Covering about their Middle and over their Shoulders Cotton Cloaks painted with divers Colours They
This Bridge being eighty six Rods long of durable Timber was finish'd in seven Weeks His Pleasure-house Bonovista Moreover Grave Maurice built a pleasant Banquetting-house call'd Bonavista at his own Charge before the said Bridge from whence he could see the Palace Freyburgh Olinda the Fort Ernestus Maurice-stadt Reciffa the French Church the Ships in the Harbors and also the Castle Frederick Henrick This Banquetting-house hath at each corner a Turret and in the middle thereof a spacious Room crown'd with a fair Terrace BOAVISTA A. Fluvius Capibaribi B. Domus Boavista sivi boni visus C. Pons D. Palatium Friburgum E. Mauritiopolis F. Templum Gallicum G. Castrum Ernesti H. Castrum Fred. Henrici I. Reciffa K. Reciffa lapidosa L. Naves portu contentae M. Olinda eminus visa CHAP. VIII Guiana Situation and Description of Guiana NOrthward of Brasile over against Maragnan lieth the Countrey of Guiana not improbably suppos'd to be so call'd from the River Wia one of the principal Rivers of the Province which yet is said to have more and fairer than any other part of America besides It is by some call'd The Wild Coast for what reason is uncertain it being found to be a very fruitful and pleasant Countrey It is Bounded on the East with the Atlantick Ocean or Mare del Nordt on the West with some undiscover'd mountainous Countreys which lie on that side of the Andes on the North it hath the great River Orenoque and on the South that of the Amazons or Orellana which last Name as we have said before it derives from Francisco Orellana who is said to have first discover'd it in the Year 1543. It was anciently call'd Tobo Topoi and Tapera This Countrey lieth on both sides of the Aequator extended from the fourth Degree of Southern Latitude to the eighth Degree of Northern yet enjoyeth a temperate and good Air not oppressed with any excessive Heat which is chiefly attributed to the Breezes or Easterly Winds almost perpetually about Noon blowing upon it Towards the Sea-side it is for the most part a flat and level Countrey in the more Inland parts mountainous and swell'd with Hills but in all it is generally of such a rich and fertile Soil that for Fruits or any outward Commodities of the Earth it yields not to any other Province of the New World but rather far excelleth the most having as it were a continual Summer without Winter or Autumn the Trees never uncloth'd or made bare Fruits always ripe or growing to maturity the Meadows and Pastures always verdant and green and as we said so excellently well water'd with Rivers that no Countrey in the World seems comparable to it in this respect But since the several Occurrences of Orellana's Expedition will give much light to the more particular knowledge of these Parts we thought good to insert this following Relation thereof SECT II. A Relation of the Journey of Francisco Orellana ARX NASSOVII The Expedition of Orellana Orellana informing the Spanish Court of his Adventures desir'd the chief Command of the Province of the Amazones which after earnest Sollicitations he obtain'd and accordingly setting Sail from St. Lucar he went to the Island Teneriff with three Ships and five hundred Men where he stay'd three Moneths and two on Cape de Verd. On Teneriff several of his Men ran from him and on Cape de Verd he bury'd ninety eight and left fifty sick behind him yet he Steer'd to Brasile where meeting with contrary Winds he had undoubtedly perish'd for lack of Water if the great Showers of Rain had not supply'd his Wants one of his Ships carrying seventy Men and eleven Horses was never heard of with the other two he Sail'd by Baxos de San Roque and from thence a hundred Leagues Northwardly beyond Maragnan where a great way off at Sea they found fresh Water in which Orellano Steering got between the Isles into the River De las Amazones where he Barter'd for Provisions Sail'd two Leagues up the River and came to an Anchor before a few Huts but slenderly stor'd with Provisions where he spent three Moneths in breaking up one of his Ships and building a Ketch In the mean time fifty seven of his Seamen dy'd Sailing twenty Leagues farther he lost his best Ship whereupon he gave order to build a Barque of the Wreck Thus he spent thirty days in vain to find the fore mention'd Arm of the River Amazones the Barque being finish'd in ten Weeks and going beyond the Isles Maribique and Contan found the three great Rivers to disembogue into the River Amazones which there was twelve Leagues broad but wanting Provisions and the Men being too weak to go farther they came back to the fruitful Island Comao where a hundred Spaniards setled themselves the rest going down with the Barque to find out Orellana who as his Wife inform'd them dy'd with Grief He dies with Grief The English and Netherlanders who Sail'd hither after the Spaniards left off ascribe a Breadth of fifty or sixty Leagues to the Mouth of the Amazone River which discharges its Water with such force into the Northern Ocean that it keeps its colour and taste above thirty Leagues according to the ocular testimony of Captain Harcourt The Western Point by the Netherlanders call'd The North Cape runs with a long Slip of low Land into the Sea into which more North-Westerly fall the Streams Taponnowyny Arowary Arykary Cassepouri and Wiapoca some of them wash great Wildernesses full of Trees others glide between pleasant Meadows Eighty Leagues up the Amazone River the Vlussingers have built a Fort call'd Nassaw on the narrow Island Cogemines which is twenty Leagues long and separated from the Shore by a Creek and seven Leagues farther on another Isle the Fort Orange from which two Forts they Trade with the Natives Arowaccas and Apehous bartering European Trifles for Tobacco Cotton Sugar Gums and several Tinctures Sir Walter Raleigh sends Fisher to discover Cooshebery Province Sir Walter Raleigh Anno 1595. sending Captain Fisher from Wiapoco to Leonard Ragapo some years before Baptiz'd in England and then Governor of the Province Cooshebery lying between the Amazone River and Wapoco he receiv'd Fisher very civilly and conducted him fifty Leagues up into the Countrey to the Mountain Cowob on whose top is a deep Pool full of well tasted Fish and surrounded with the glittering Stones Topaz which Raleigh took the more notice of because the same Ground in the East-Indies where these Stones are found incloses also Diamonds Moreover the Province Cooshebery rises with pleasant Hills but consists most in delightful Fields and Woods The River Arocawo falling into the Inlet Wiapoco disembogues also with the same between the Capes Orange and Comariboo into the Northern Ocean Most of the Rivers in Guiana lie full of Isles and cannot be Navigated far by reason of the great Water-falls The Yayos The Yayos who inhabit on the Banks of the fore-mention'd River are People of
such a bustle amongst the Learned that several tired themselves about the explanation of the suppos'd Sibylline Prediction CHAP. II. Of the Original of the Americans whence they came when how and from what People Planted The original of the Americans much disputed on ABout the Original of the Americans the Learned Dispute so much that they find nothing more difficult in Story than to clear that Point for whether inquiry be made after the time when the Americans first settled themselves where they now inhabit or after what manner they came thither either by Shipping or by Land on purpose or accidentally driven by Storm or else forc'd by a more powerful People to remove from their old Plantations and seek for new or if any one should be yet more curious asking the way that directed them out of another Countrey to this New World or else enquire for those People from whom the Americans deriv'd themselves He will find several Opinions and the Learned still Jangling The first Doubt is concerning the time Voyagel l. 1. c. 8. Mr. Purchas where-ever he had the Hint endeavors to prove that America hath been but lately Planted for which he thus argues That if Asia or Europe furnish'd America with People in Abraham's time or at least before the Birth of our Saviour then it must upon necessity by the Expiration of so many Ages have been much more Populous then the Spaniards found when first they discover'd it The time when America was first Peopled Besides the vast Territories yet unhabited says he are sufficient testimonies that this New World hath been Planted but scatteringly and not many Ages since else the Countrey would have more abounded with Inhabitants because the fertility of the Soyl was able plentifully to maintain Millions more then were there when first discover'd And what Marks are better to know a new People by in any Countrey than a rude Life and unsettled Government just like a Family removing to another House which takes no short time to settle their Goods and Houshold-stuff in a handsome and convenient Order The condition of the first World after the Floud When Noah went out of the Ark on Mount Ararat and not long after saw his Seed spread over Armenia and Assyria the new Generation of People consisted in Shepherds and Husbandmen that setled themselves near Lakes and Rivers Villages Cities and much less whole Kingdoms were scarce found on the Face of the Earth and as little of Trade or Commerce Riches Division of Lands costly Garments and Furniture for Houses were not then in use but the works of long settlements in happy Peace To curb growing-Wickedness and the Pride of Libertines who incroach'd upon their weaker Neighbors Laws were invented by which Bridle the unbroke or wild World grew tamer And first the Assyrians were brought to endure the Bit and answer the Reins of Government then Egypt next Greece and after that the Romans who spreading their Power by Arms and Martial Discipline first civiliz'd the Gauls Spain Brittain and lastly Germany But because a Countrey or Pastoral Life knowing no Commerce but mean Hovels and to dwell in Huts priding in poor and no Habits despising all greatness unlimited by Laws and all things else which the People observ'd presently after the Flood is now found among the Americans who will take them for ought else but new Comers to that Land as themselves acknowledge For the Mexicans boast that they are the eldest there and that from them Peru Chili Chika and other Countreys towards the South had their Colonies and yet the oldest Chronicles of Mexico reckon not above a thousand Years Thus far Mr. Purchas But certainly all this Muster of appearing Reasons is not able to vanquish single Truth For grant that America was not very Populous when the Spaniards first arrived there America was Peopled many Ages ago must this needs prove that it was never well inhabited before Perhaps the Civil Wars which have been always destructive to this Nation have much hindred the increase of People and the more because their Salvage Nature is such that in several places they account Man's Flesh Broil'd a very great Dainty Purchas contradicted And suppose such Prodigal Excess of their Humane Bankets were not us'd in America as indeed they are Is it wonder that such a great part of the World not onely exceeding Europe in bigness but Asia also should here and there have a Tract of Land uninhabited These might by reason of their Barrenness be useless as many such places are found in the midst of the most Populous and fertile Countreys But above all this it is certain that America to this day notwithstanding almost innumerable thousands of Indians formerly Slain arid Massacred by the Spaniards is so well inhabited that it may stand in Competition with either Asia or Europe And how could such vast multitudes Plant the far-spreading Countrey of America without the help of many Ages Moreover This truth is not without sufficient Testimonies when any one looks on the Islands with which America lies incompass'd he may suppose they did not willingly go from the Main Continent to the Isles but were driven thither by Wars among themselves or as most times it happens because of the vast increase of the Natives the Countrey must discharge its burden Hereto is added the several Languages us'd in America as in Europe or any other part of the known World whereby we may easily guess that America was Peopled presently after the Confusion of Tongues at Babel Furthermore If the Americans live a Rude Life go meanly Habited be without stately Houses such Customs are even among us observ'd by several People as the Tartars Numidians and others which made their Antiquity be call'd in question He also must needs have no knowledge of the Arts and Mechanick Sciences us'd by the Americans who concludes that they setled but lately in America One Argument at present will be sufficient to contradict them all and in the further Description the contrary will be more manifest American Gold-Smiths Hieronimus Benso relates That he stood amaz'd at the Gold and Silver Smiths in the Territory of Chito who without any Iron Tools made Images and all manner of Vessels Which work they performed thus First they made an Oval Crucible of a good Look round about Pasted with Earth embody'd with the Powder of Wood Coals which Crucible being Bak'd very hard in the Sun they fill with Pieces of Gold or Silver and put in the Fire about which standing with five six or more Pipes made of Canes they blow the Fire so long till the Mettal melts which others sitting on the ground run it into Moulds of black Stone and so with little trouble Cast into what shape they please Lastly Though Mexico can reckon but a thousand years must it therefore follow that the Inhabitants are no older How many famous places even among our selves have no longer Registers and
being tam'd presently after the death of King Francis whether negligently or on purpose let loose ran into the Woods and near Orleans devour'd a great number of People and Cattel Gesner saith That some Womens bodies were found who were untouch'd onely their Breasts eaten by the Leopards as if they took them for the daintiest part which is not unlike the antient Jeres who according to Saint Hierom Adv Jovin l. 2. entertain'd their Guests as a most delicious Dish with Womens Breasts and Mens Buttocks Roasted Besides the devouring nature of these Wilde Beasts what profit could Tygers Lions Wolves Bears and the like advantage the Transporter And how came Serpents Adders and other Reptiles thither over the Ocean that with no Art whatsoever can be made tame Were the small Vessels just laden with such terrible Creatures when against their wills they were by Storm driven on a new Coast By these impossibilities we may easily judge that the Americans came thither by Land and no other way but how and upon what occasion must be our next enquiry SECT II. Two reasons wherefore the people remove from their Countreys ¶ HIstories generally gives us onely two accounts Why People remov'd from one Countrey to another either not or thinly inhabited whether driven by force or of their own accord so to unburthen and give ease to their too Plethorick Countreys Thus the banish'd Japanners forsook their Native Countrey and setled themselves in a desolate Soyl since a flourishing Empire shining with Riches and Crown'd with stately Cities So the Batavians took possession of the uninhabited Isle lying between the Rhyne and the Wael being driven out of Hessen by Civil-Wars and preserv'd the memory of the place from whence they had their Original on the utmost Point of the Island in the Villages of Cattenwyck for the Hessens formerly went by the name of Catti others that remov'd did not onely fall upon their Neighbors but made a way by force of Arms chosing their Habitations under a temperate Climate and in a fruitful Soyl. After which manner the Franks enter'd Gaul and afterwards the Normans set upon France so that the Conquer'd Countreys have ever since from the Conquerors been call'd France and Normandy But although it cannot punctually be said how the Inhabitants of America remov'd yet it is without contradiction that they first found an empty Countrey The Flood acknowledg'd by the Americans and other Heathens but mysteriously The Opinions which they have themselves concerning it are full of idle Fancies First they question their Original from the Floud which is so well rooted in the memory of all Nations that the blindest and most ignorant know something of it though deformedly alter'd and vary'd tack'd up with additional fabulous Stories the truth it self known onely to us but to all others lost in Oblivion Who hath not heard of Deucalion's Flood how his Wife Pyrrha and he only escap'd in a little Boat and as 't is Fabl'd landing on a Mountain from thence Peopled the World again by throwing Stones backwards over their Heads Something of this seems to hint the true Story of Noah his Wife and Children from whom the desolated World was replenish'd The same they relate of Prometheus concerning whom thus Diodorus Siculus They say that the Nyle breaking through his Dams and over-flowing his Banks drown'd all Egypt especially that part where Prometheus Rul'd where all the Inhabitants were swallow'd by the Deluge None can imagine but that Diodorus by this makes mention of a particular Flood and not the general one in Noah's time for as the Greeks ascrib'd all things to their Heroes so the Egyptians in like manner did the same to theirs Therefore they have of the general Flood made a particular one in Egypt though perhaps it never was So that what is Fabled of Prometheus is nothing but a Part of the Universal Deluge which the Name Prometheus proves because it signifies Prometheus and Noah are the same Sprung from Heaven and is the same with Noah whom they hold to be the first Father of all Mankind since the Flood born of or regenerated from his Wife Asia and Asia signifies Earth or The Mother of all things and so espousing Noah being sprung from God to Ararat from whence descended the Generations of Mankind and by degrees spread over the whole surface of the Earth The Chineses East-Indians Japanners and other People of Asia and Africa have also some knowledge of a very ancient Flood but hood-wink't under many idle Fancies not unlike that which the Americans relate from whom several Learned Persons find no obscure Confessions of the Deluge Acosta l. 1. c. 25. which thus mystically they have wrapp'd up That one Viracocha came out of the great Lake Titicaca and setled his Residence upon Tiaguanaco where yet remain the Ruines of ancient Walls built after a wonderful manner At length removing from Tiaguanaco to Cusco he began to multiply the Generation of Mankind They shew in the foremention'd Lake a small Island under which the Americans say Strange Opinion of the Americans concerning the Flood the Sun sav'd himself from the Flood wherefore in ancient Times they superstitiously observ'd that place heightning their Bloody Sacrifices with Humane Slaughter Others relate That six Persons leap'd through a Hole out of a Window from whence all Men were since Extracted and from that new Increase the place after the Inhabitants of the Old World were all drown'd got the Denomination of Pacari Tampo and therefore they hold the Tampo's to be the most ancient Families From hence Mangocapam deriv'd Original of the American Kings and the Custom being the Primogenitor of the Ynca's or Kings from whom sprung two Generations Hanon Cuzco and Urim Cuzco They tell us also That their Ynca's when they make War upon any People say that the occasion as they pretend was because all Territories are Tributary to them justly from whom they were deriv'd and restor'd being the first Planters of the New World and withal That the true Religion was declar'd to them from Heaven This Relation though mix'd with Fables shews but very darkly that they have some knowledge of the Flood Americans Flood is taken out of the Scripture For who are those six else that leap'd out of a Window to replenish the Generations of Mankind but Shem Ham and Japhet with their Wives The Americans can give but a little better Account of their first Original and indeed it is no wonder because for want of Books they can relate nothing certain but only what they have Registred in their usual Quipocamagos which is not above four hundred years old Acosta asking what Original they judg'd they were of Peruvians Opinion and from what Countrey and People deriv'd receiv'd no other Answer but that America only was their native Countrey and that they were deriv'd from no other elsewhere But though the Peruvians are of this Opinion yet the Mexicans are of another mind
soon after breaking out into Factions amongst themselves Muchumet Subictigenes Imbrael's Son establish'd his Throne on their Ruines and incourag'd by such success Arm'd himself against the Indians Melchior Soiterus de Reb. Turc and made use of the Turks assistance with which he subdu'd the Babylonian Arabians After which the Turks not without great slaughter set the Persian Crown on their Head which immediately totter'd by bloudy Commotions for Tangrolipix being King of Persia clashing with his Brother Cutlumuses made Persia swim in the Blood of a Civil-War till at last Zengis Chan brought from Tartary so great an Army Anno 1200. that none durst stay to make opposition for the Turks forsook Persia after a Conquest of six Ages and made their own way for new Quarters into Carmania Phrygia and Bithynia whence they made such incursions on the Greek Empire that at last they became sole Masters thereof Who cannot but easily judge by this how little opportunity the ten Tribes had to be assembled together from remote Countreys and to go long Journeys through untrack'd ways and full of Enemies to travel to America Mora's opinion concerning the Americans Extract Immanuel de Moraes who had gotten peculiar knowledge of the Americans by his long Conversation with them judgeth that they are not deriv'd from one People but from the Carthaginians and Jews and that at several times and places they Landed in this New World for the Carthaginians Sailing thither found the Soyl so fertile that many forsook their Native Countrey to dwell there Whereupon it was forbidden upon pain of Death to send no more thither left if Carthage should be invaded by a foraign Enemy it should want People for a Home-defence From this occasion it happen'd that those that were already Transported became rude and of a Salvage Disposition and spreading their Families planted the desolate Countreys in a ranging manner without acknowledging any Supreme Head or Governor Thus being scatter'd up and down every one invented to himself a new Language which should neither agree with the Carthaginians or any other But this Opinion is before at large contradicted Customs and Constitutions of the Brasilians are several Moreover Moraes endeavors to shew that the Brasilians are of a Hebrew Extract because that according to the example or the Jews they might not Marry but in their own Tribes they also call their Unkles Fathers and their Aunts Mothers both mourn for the Dead a Moneth together and wear long Garments down to their Ankles But these Arguments seem to us of small consequence for indeed the Brasilians differ in their Marriages from the Jews for they not onely Marry in their own Tribes but frequently commix with their Sisters and Daughters or other their nearest Relations Moreover the Jews call'd them Fathers from whose Loyns they sprang many Ages before as well as their Unkles which the Americans do not The Mourning for the Dead hath been an old Custom and is not observ'd by many People but the time of a Moneth was not setled amongst them but was observ'd after a more unusual manner seventy days as in the Fields of Moab for Moses and elsewhere for the Patriarch Jacob. Lastly all people know that the Romans and Persians girt themselves about with long Clothes Besides the Jews were strictly bound to observe Circumcision without which they were not accounted Jews which the Brasilians use not as neither their Language or Letters How is it possible that in America they should at once have forgotten their Extract Laws Circumcision Language and other Ceremonies when the rest of them observ'd nothing more strictly in all parts of the Earth Grotius is of opinion that the Americans belongâ—d to Norway The Learned Hugo Grotius in his Enquiry after the original of the Americans brings them with many Circumstances to belong to Panama situate opposite to the Northern Parts of Norway because something of their Languages agrees and the Way thither easie and nearest to be found for first they travell'd from Norway to Ysland over which the Norwegians Rul'd above a thousand years since so from Ysland through Friezland to Groenland and from thence to Estotiland being a part of the Main Continent of America From Friezland some Fishers went thither as he says two Centuries before the Spaniards touch'd that Shore This Opinion is largely contradicted which John de Laet contradicts And indeed what Reasons can be given Why the Americans of the Straights between Panama and Nombre de Dios lying Northerly should have another original than those that live to the South seeing the same Straights are neither divided by Mountains nor Rivers and the Spaniards found no alteration in the Customs and Languages betwixt them that liv'd above or below these Straights And who will believe that Norway which was but indifferently peopled could afford such numerous Colonies as could plant the Northern America which far exceeds the South and chiefly when the great Islands that lie near the East and West are added to it Moreover it is certain if the Yslander Angrim Jonas is to be credited that some Families fled out of Norway from their enraged King to Ysland in the Year 874. which at that time was but meanly inhabited Isaac Pontanus de Reb. Danicis Forty years before Lewis the Just put the Yslanders under the protection of Pope Gregory the fourth who gave the Government of the Ysland Church to Ansgar Archbishop of Hamburgh But how comes it that there is not the least spark of Christianity found amongst the Northern Americans if they are deriv'd from the Ysland Christians and why did the Yslanders remove to colder Countreys than Groenland and Friezland or their own native Soil and for the most part not inhabited Concerning Groenland and Friezland it is known by our English Navigators that they are joyn'd together and both to the Northern America but not without vast Bays and Inlets which betwixt Groenland and America are obstructed with floating Castles of Ice so that the Passage is very dangerous And full as troublesom if not altogether impossible would the Journey be by Land because the Earth lies so thick cover'd with Ice and Snow especially the Valleys that no Traveller is able to get through The voyage of two Zeno's Moreover that which Grotius says farther of the Fishers which first discover'd Estotiland is grounded on the Relation of the Venetian Knights Nicholas and Marcus Zeno two Brothers Anno 1380. Nicholas Zeno suffer'd Shipwrack on the Friezland Coast Marcus inform'd thereof steer'd his Course thither fourteen years they spent before they came to Estotiland at last they return'd again to Friezland where Nicholas died But Marcus returning home publish'd his Journal Relatio Marc. Zenonis wherein he relates That Estotiland is above a thousand Leagues distant from Friezland and was discover'd by Friezland Fisher-men that were driven thither by Storm But he hath set down many things that have little resemblance of truth according to what is
horrid representations when they have stuck upon the Walls they make an artificial and dreadful noise as if Hell were broke loose and the House full of Devils sometimes also force the Evil-Spirits to enter into Images from whence they receive no impertinent answers to their questions Therefore who will compare this Superstition of the Peruvians worshipping of the Sun to the Chinese Religion which do no such things The Peruvians call'd their King A Lord of the Realm and not The Son of the Sun as in China Though the Mexicans otherwise worship the Sun and in their manner of adulation styl'd Hernando Cortez their Conqueror Son of the Sun As to what concerns the manner of writing it is very well known that the Chineses words are all Monosyllables so that they have as many Letters as Words which they joyn so together that they reckon eighty thousand but with ten thousand they are able to express themselves in most matters These Characters are contain'd in their Halpien or Dictionary Embassy to the Cham l. 2. c. 2. The antient Chineses us'd seventeen several sorts of Characters in their writing some consisting of Serpents that by several Wreathes and contortious Windings signify'd several things others of all sorts of agrestick Tools belonging to Husbandry some Characters of the Feathers of the Bird Fum-hoar others of Oysters and Worms or of Roots of Herbs or Birds Claws or of Turtles or of Herbs and Birds Feathers mingled or of Planets and such like but what manner of Writing or Hieroglyphick of theirs resembles those who by their own testimony know neither Pen Paper Ink nor any manner of Writing but reckon the antiquity of time by strung Beads which was observ'd many ages since among several Nations Original of the Americans very obscure Hitherto we have discover'd the several Opinions concerning the Original of the Americans or first Plantation of America from all which having receiv'd no clear or demonstrative satisfaction we must open our way to a further scrutiny But first we must needs confess that contradiction is not difficult but it is something of Work when we have beaten down a well-fortifi'd Opinion to set up somewhat in stead thereof to stand a permanent and undeniable truth which will be the harder in regard the Inhabitants of this new World have no old Chronologies concerning their Antiquities and first settling there yet if we cannot go so far absolutely to assert yet some probabilities grounded as we suppose upon better reasons may give more satisfaction What we may believe concerning them for none will deny but that the Generations of Mankind being strangely multiply'd after the Flood they then living five times our Ages and Wars not beginning till the known part of the Earth was over-stock'd justling for Territories and some thrust quite out at last found America which spreading it self to a vast extent and now found almost every where well inhabited may be guess'd that it was not onely Planted from the first but several times replenish'd since by various Nations Why may not several Planters and at several times make room for their Colonies incroaching one upon another either by force or compact The Americans are derived from several people as the French themselves upon the Gauls the Normans upon them the Goths among the Spaniards and the Saxons among the Brittains and the Normans again upon them Several people may easily Sail over thither the Azores or the Canary Isles lye so that they are ready as if design'd for Transportation to America from whence Acosta made a Voyage in fifteen days Also Pliny gives us an account that these Islands lay uninhabited in his time yet is it well known that after Pliny's time Ruins of Buildings were found there signifying they had been formerly Planted and why might not those ancient Inhabitants Sail thence to the neighboring America Tercera lying half way between Spain and America was frequented by Navigators before the Birth of our Savior and it seems as easie to Sail from thence to America as from the Main Land of Spain thither Add this that necessity forc'd the Spaniards to look about them from other Countreys Marian. de Reb. Hisp l. 1. c. 18. for since they lost their Victorious Champion Baucius Gapetus they were every where beaten being tired out by the Phenician Forces and that oppression over suffer'd as much under the Roman Yoke Wherefore it seems not strange if a considerable number remov'd from thence that they might live some where else in quiet for which purpose they wanted no conveniencies to Rig and set forth stout and sufficient Vessels able to live in those Seas having had long experience from the Phenician Voyagers whose Fleets Sail'd daily to and again in several Expeditions from Cadiz and Gibraltar towards these Western Countreys Nay Hanno himself their first Navigator that way who gives an account of the Gorgons or the Isles of Cape Verd a good part of the way to America English famous Sea-men And though Brittain Ireland and the Brittish Orcades lay further from America yet something may be said particularly to prove That many Ages since Expeditions had been made from thence to the New World and that the Inhabitants of these our Isles in former Ages were peculiarly famous for their skill in Navigation Barat-anne or Tiâ—land the Phenician name and Brittania the Greek name of Brittain insomuch that the Cretans and Phenicians emulous of their skill and jealous of their danger made several Attacques and Invasions upon these Isles which is the more probable many remarks of the Phenician and Greek Language remaining in the denominations of the Countrey Of which take first this account Old Voyage of Madok to America for which see Vet. Hist Brit. Anno 1170. When Owen Guyneth Prince of Wales having Raign'd long and happily in his setled Dominions dying left several Sons who quarrelling their elder Brother as not contented with their shares of the Principality nor to be under him having gotten no mean Interests and Claims to the whole by their struglings so weakned one another that they open'd a way to the loosing of all Amongst these Brothers Madok a Prince of a milder disposition weary of such unnatural Dissentions threw up his share better contented to seek new Fortunes abroad David Powel in Historia Cambria whereupon there were many soon perswaded to venture their lives with him where ever he would please to Transport So Rigging a small Fleet he Sail'd Westward far beyond Ireland where at last he discover'd an unknown and un-inhabited Countrey but wondrous pleasant the Air being temperate and the Soyl most fertile Glad of this good success as the Story says he returning spreading the Fame of this his New-Found-Land which they might exchange for a barren Soyl hatter'd and harass'd with an endless Civil-War No small number flock'd to these Summons as a most acceptable Undertaking so that soon after he was able to send forth ten good
Miantonemo and Uncas was too hot to be appeas'd though the English were not wanting to interpose unless by the Blood of one of them as will appear by the Consequence Uncas was a Prince of For whose Life Miantonemo though a much more potent Prince sought to take away by treachery hiring a young Man of the Pequod Nation to murther him as the following Story renders suspected for one dark Evening this Sachem passing from one Wigwam to another was Shot through the Arm with an Arrow but recovering the Palace had the Arrow pull'd out and his Arm cur'd the young Man that was suspected being examin'd how he came by that great store of Wampompeage which was found about him and being able to give no good account it increas'd the suspicion and induc'd Uncas to complain to the English at a General Court held at Boston Whereupon the young Man was Examin'd in the presence of Miantonemo who came thither with his Attendants but the young Man tutor'd as suppos'd by Miantonemo pretended that Uncas had enjoyn'd him to feign that he was hir'd by Miantonemo to kill him To which Tale of his little belief being given it was concluded upon farther Examination of him in private that he had done the Fact nevertheless they let him depart with Miantonemo advising him to send him home to Uncas but he in stead of returning him cut off his Head and forthwith gather'd an Army of a thousand Men to fight with Uncas who met him with half the Men the Battel being joyn'd the Narragansets though the far greater multitude were beaten by the Wawhiggins through the Valour of Uncas their Prince who perfected his Victory by possessing himself of the Person of Miantonemo whom having put his Life-guard to flight he carried away with him in triumph to the Town of Hartford desiring to have the advice of the United Colonies what to do with his Prisoner Whereupon the Commissioners having had sufficient proof of Miantonemo's treachery towards this Prince advis'd Uncas to put him to death but not to exercise that barbarous kind of cruelty which is usual amongst them in these Cases The Sachem upon this advice not long after pretended to remove him to a safer place but by the Way caus'd him to be Executed His Subjects and Kindred were troubled at his Death but the little Princes his Neighbors over whom he had tyranniz'd rather rejoyc'd In the Year 1645. the Sons of old Canonnicus their Father being dead began to fall into hot Contentions with their Neighbors and being forbidden by the United Colonies they did not stick to threaten Wars to the English also Whereupon the Commissioners rais'd an Army of Horse and Foot and made Major General Edward Gibbons Commander in Chief over them But the Indians hearing of this Preparation sent some of their chief Nobility to the Commissioners of the United Colonies who were assembled at Boston to Treat about Peace to which the Commissioners agreed upon condition they should pay a part of the Charges of the War and that they should send four of their Sons for Hostages till the Sum was paid and the Hostages being sent back before the Wapom was all paid the two Princes Pesicus and Mexanimo upon the sending a Company of Armed Men to demand it sent the remainder of the Money In the Year 1647. divers Persons of Quality ventur'd their Estates upon an Iron Mill which they began at Braintree but it profited the Owners little rather wasting their Stock the price of Labor in matters of that nature being double or treble to what it is in England These are the most material Transactions we find deliver'd by any one which hapned from the first discovery till the Year before mention'd what hath hapned from that time to this chiefly relates to the several Revolutions that have been in England and shall be therefore taken notice of when we come to speak of the Government of these Plantations The Commodities of this Countrey together with the Trees and other sorts of Plants Though there are who having remain'd some time and been concern'd in those Parts affirm the Soil of New England to be nothing so fruitful as it is believ'd and commonly deliver'd to be yet we think it not improper to give a brief account of the Trees and other Plants also the Beasts Birds Fishes and other Commodities which most Writers will have to be the production of this Countrey especially since we find them compactly summ'd up by an unknown Writer in the Language of the Muses The recital of the Plants and Trees which excepting the Cedar Sassafras and Dyers Sumach are all of the same kind with those that grow in Europe onely differing in nature according as the Epithets of many of them declare is as follows Trees both in Hills and Plains in plenty be The long-liv'd Oak and mournful Cypress Tree Skie-towring Pines and Chesnuts coated rough The lasting Cedar with the Walnut tough The Rozen-dropping Fir for Mast in use The Boat-men seek for Oars light neat grown Sprewse The brittle Ash the ever-trembling Asps The broad-spread Elm whose Concave harbors Wasps The Water-spungy Alder good for nought Small Eldern by the Indian Fletchers sought The knotty Maple pallid Birch Hawthorns The Horn-bound Tree that to be cloven scorns Which from the tender Vine oft takes his Spouse Who twines embracing Arms about his Boughs Within this Indian Orchard Fruits be some The ruddy Cherry and the jetty Plumb Snake-murthering Hazle with sweet Saxafrage Whose Leaves in Beer allay hot Feavers rage The Dyers Shumach with more Trees there be That are both good to use and rare to see The Beasts peculiar to this Countrey are the Moose Beasts the Rackoon and the Musquash the two first Land-Animals the last Amphibious which with others common to them with us are thus versifi'd by the abovesaid Author The Kingly Lyon and the strong-arm'd Bear The large limb'd Mooses with the tripping Deer Quill-darting Porcupines that Rackoons be Castled i th' hollow of an aged Tree The skipping Squirrel Rabbet purblind Hare Immured in the self-same Castle are Lest red-ey'd Ferrets wily Foxes should Them undermine if Ramper'd but with Mold The grim-fac'd Ounce and rav'nous howling Wolf Whose meagre Paunch sucks like a swallowing Gulph Black glittering Otters and rich Coated Beaver The Civet-scented Musquash smelling ever Of such of these as are altogether unknown to us take these brief Descriptions The Beast call'd a Moose The Moose is not much unlike red Deer and is as big as an Ox slow of Foot Headed like a Buck with a broad Beam some being two Yards wide in the Head their flesh is as good as Beef their Hides good for Clothing if these were kept tame and accustom'd to the Yoke they would be a great Commodity First because they are so fruitful bringing forth three at a time being likewise very uberous Secondly because they will live in Winter without any Fodder There are not many of these in
return to the Sea till they have cast their Spawn Clamms or Clamps Clamms or Clamps are a Shell-fish not much unlike a Cockle they lie under the Sand and have every one of them a round hole to take Air and receive Water at When the Tide ebbs and flows a Man running over these Clamm banks will presently be made all wet by their spouting of Water out of those small holes These Fishes are in great plenty in most places of the Countrey which is a great Commodity for the feeding of Swine both in Winter and Summer for being once us'd to those places they will repair to them as duly every Ebb as if they were driven to them by Keepers In some places of the Countrey there be Clamms as big as a Peny white Loaf which are great Dainties amongst the Natives and would be in great esteem amongst the English were it not for better Fish Other Commodities which this Countrey is said to yield are in down-right Prose Furrs Flax Linnen Iron Pitch Masts Cables and some quantity of Amber so that if what many Authors have consented to assert concerning New England be not a meer Fiction what e're hath been affirm'd of the unfruitfulness of the Country will demonstrably be found invalid There are also to be found here some hurtful Creatures Noxious Creatures of which that which is most injurious to the Person and Life of a Man is the Rattle-Snake which is generally a yard and a half long as thick in the middle as the small of a Mans Leg she hath a yellow Belly her Back being spotted with black russet yellow and green colours plac'd like Scales at her Tail is a Rattle with which she makes a noise when she is molested or when she seeth any approach near her her Neck seems to be no thicker than a Mans Thumb yet she can swallow a Squirril having a great wide Mouth with Teeth as sharp as Needles wherewith she biteth such as tread upon her her Poyson lyeth in her Teeth for she hath no Sting When any Man is bitten by any of these Creatures the Poyson spreads so suddenly through the Veins and so runs to the Heart that in one hour it causeth Death unless he hath the Antidote to expel the Poyson which is a Root call'd Snake-weed which must be champ'd the Spittle swallow'd and the Root apply'd to the Sore this is present Cure against that which would be present death without it This Weed is rank Poyson if it be taken by any man that is not bitten whosoever is bitten by these Snakes his flesh becomes as spotted as a Leopard until he be perfectly cur'd It is reported that if the Party live that is bitten the Snake will die and if the Party die the Snake will live This is a most Poysonous and dangerous Animal yet nothing so bad as the report goes of it in England for whereas it is said to kill a Man with its breath and that it can flie there is no such matter for it is naturally the most sleepy and unnimble Creature that lives never offering to leap or bite any Man if it be not trodden on first and it is their desire in hot weather to lie in Paths where the Sun may shine on them where they will sleep so soundly that I have known four Men stride over one of them and never awake it five or six Men have been bitten by them which by using of Snake-weed were all cur'd never any yet losing his life by them Cows have been bitten but being cut in divers places and this Weed thrust into their flesh were cur'd A small Switch will easily kill one of these Snakes In many places of the Country there be none of them as at Plymouth New-town Igowamme Nahant c. In some places they will live on one side of the River and swimming but over the Water as soon as they are come into the Woods they turn up their yellow Bellies and die Up into the Countrey Westward from the Plantations is a high Hill which is call'd Rattle-Snake-Hill where there are great store of these Poysonous Creatures There are likewise troublesome Flies First there is a wild Bee or Wasp which commonly guards the Grape building by Cobweb habitation amongst the Leaves Secondly a great green Flie not much unlike our Horse-Flies in England they will nipp so sore that they will fetch Blood either of Man or Beast and are most troublesome where most Cattel are which brings them from out of the Woods to the Houses this Flie continues but for the Moneth of June The third is Gurnipper which is a small black Flie no bigger than a Flea her biting causeth an itching upon the Hands or Face which provoketh scratching which is troublesome to some this Flie is busie but in close Mornings or Evenings and continues not above three Weeks the least Wind or heat expels them The fourth is a Musketor which is not unlike to our Gnats in England in places where there is no thick Woods or Swamps there are none or very few In the new Plantations they are troublesome for the first year but the Wood decaying they vanish These Flies cannot endure Wind heat or cold so that these are only troublesome in close thick Weather and against Rain many that are bitten will fall a scratching whereupon their Faces and Hands swell The nature of the ancient Inhabitants As touching the Nature of the ancient Inhabitants they are to be consider'd according to their several Shires or Divisions those that inhabit to the East and North-East bore the name of Churchers and Tarrenteens these in the Southern parts were call'd Pequods and Narragansets those Westward Connectacuts and Mowhacks to the North-West of whom were the Aberginians The nature of the Mowhacks The Mowhacks were ever accounted a cruel bloudy People which were wont to come down upon their poor Neighbors with more than bruitish Savageness spoiling their Corn burning their Houses slaying Men ravishing Women yea very Canibals they were sometimes eating on a Man one part after another before his Face and while yet living insomuch that the very Name of a Mowhack would strike the Heart of a poor Aberginian dead till they had the English on their sides to succor them for these inhumane Homicides confess that they dare not meddle with a white Fac'd Man accompany'd with his hot-mouth'd Weapon These Indians are a People of tall Stature long grim Visages slender Wasted and having exceeding great Arms and Thighs wherein they say their strength lieth which is such that one of them hath been known to kill a Dog with a fillip of his Finger and afterwards to have flead and sod him and eat him to his Dinner They are so hardy that they can eat such things as would make other Indians sick to look upon being destitute of Fish and Flesh they suffice Hunger and maintain Nature with the use of Vegetatives but that which they most hunt after is the
his Majesties Commissioners IN the Year of our Lord 1665. his Majesties Commissioners for the Affairs of New England being in the Province of Mayne the People being much unsetled in Point of Government by reason the Mattachusets Colony or Boston Government did usurp compulsively a Power over them contrary to their wills and the right of Sir Ferdinando Gorges Heir who had his Commission then in the place did unanimously Petition to his Majesties Commissioners to settle the Government upon which the said Commissioners examin'd the Bounds and Right of Mr. Gorges Patent with all the Allegations and Pretensions on both sides and so according to their Instruction from his Majesty did settle a temporary Government under his Majesty's immediate Authority until such time as his Majesty should give his final determination thereof and for that end did Institute Justices of the Peace to Govern the Province according to the true Laws of England Also his Majesty was pleas'd by his Mandamus in April 1666 to the Governors of Boston to signifie that it was his will and pleasure That the Province of Main should stand good as his Commissioners had setled it until he had more leisure to determine it yet notwithstanding after three years quiet possession and exercising of Government by the Kings Justices according to their Commission granted by his Majesty's Commissioners the Bostoners without any Conference with the said Justices did in a hostile manner oppose the King's Power July 1668. which was as followeth The General Court of Boston sent their Warrants to keep Court at York under their Authority and for that purpose Commissionated Magistrates by their own Authority namely Major General John Leveret Mr. Edward Ting Captain Richard Walden and Captain Robert Pike Whereupon the King's Justices did oppose their Warrants and sent Post to New York with an Address to General Nicholas for Advice what to do therein who forthwith dispatch'd away to the Governors of Boston informing them of the danger of their Proceeding it being an open breach of Duty to subvert the Government establish'd by his Majesty's Power also sent the King 's Mandamus April 1666. that will'd to the contrary Notwithstanding the Boston Magistrates in July 1668. in order to their Boston Commission came to York Town in the said Province with several Armed Men Horse and Foot to keep Court under their Authority Opposition was made by the King's Justices and his Majesty's Power was urg'd but little regard thereunto shewn his Majesties Mandamus was likewise much insisted upon and produced by the Justices who ask'd the Bostoners what they thought of it and how they durst act so contrary to the King's Will and Pleasure Major General Leveret told them That he believ'd it might be the King's Hand but he had a Commission from the general Court at Boston which he would follow and observe by the help of God The same day in the Afternoon the said Major General Leveret with the rest of the Boston Magistrates seiz'd and imprison'd the Province Marshal in doing his Office and then forthwith went in warlike posture to the Court-house where the King's Justices sat in Judicature and putting them from their Seats sat down themselves in their Places and Executed their Boston Commission The King's Justices drew a Protest against their Proceedings and so left the Decision to God's Providence and his Majesty's good Pleasure Then they turn'd out all Officers both Military and Civil and Swore others in their Places under their Authority they forc'd the whole Record of the Province out of the Recorders House contrary to his Will by vertue of a Special Warrant from that Court They imprison'd the Mayor of the said Province about three weeks forcing him to give in five hundred Pound Bonds not to act according to his Commission which with some Reservations he was forc'd to deny for the security of his Estate These riotous Proceedings thus acted with such a precipitate fury so incens'd his Majesty that speedy care had been taken to reduce them to reason had they not upon mature consideration bethought themselves afterwards to yield Obedience to his Majesties Orders Having treated at large of all that concerns New England in general both in reference to the Natives and the English Planters we shall conclude with a brief view of the Provinces of Laconia and Main as they are truly Describ'd among other ingenuous Collections and Observations of the Affairs of America and especially these Parts by Ferdinando Gorges Esq Heir to the above-mention'd Sir Ferdinando and thereby sole Lord of the said Provinces onely contracting what hath been by him deliver'd more at large A brief Description of Laconia a Province in New England Among divers Plantations of the English happily Founded in New England is a Province to the Landward nam'd Laconia so call'd by reason of the great Lakes therein but by the ancient Inhabitants thereof it is call'd The Countrey of the Troquois It lies between the Latitude of forty four and forty five Degrees having the Rivers of Sagadehock and Merrimeck on the Sea-Coast of New England Southerly from it into each of which Rivers there is a short Passage frequented by the Salvages inhabiting near the Lakes Also it hath the great Lakes which tend towards California in the South Sea on the West thereof On the North thereof is the great River of Canada into which the said River disgorgeth it self by a fair large River well replenish'd with many fruitful Islands The Air thereof is pure and wholesom the Countrey pleasant having some high Hills full of goodly Forrests and fair Valleys and Plains fruitful in Corn Vines Chesnuts Wallnuts and infinite sorts of other Fruits large Rivers well stor'd with Fish and inviron'd with goodly Meadows full of Timber-trees One of the great Lakes is call'd The Lake of Troquois which together with a River of the same Name running into the River of Canada is sixty or seventy Leagues in length In the Lake are four fair Islands which are low and full of goodly Woods and Meadows having store of Game for Hunting as Stags Fallow-Deer Elks Roe-Bucks Beavers and other sorts of Beasts which come from the Main Land to the said Islands The Rivers which fall into the Lakes have in them good store of Beavers of which Beasts as also of the Elks the Salvages make their chiefest Traffick The said Islands have been inhabited heretofore by the Salvages but are now abandon'd by reason of their late Wars one with another They contain twelve or fifteen Leagues in length and are seated commodiously for Habitation in the midst of the Lake which abounds with divers kinds of wholesom Fish From this Lake run two Rivers Southward which fall into the Eastern and Southern Sea-Coast of New England Into this Lake there went many years since certain French of Quebeck who sided with the Algovinquins with the help of their Canoos which they carried the space of five Miles over the Impossible Falls to Fight a
live without the help of any other Countrey for their Clothing for Tradesmen there are none but live happily there as Carpenters Blacksmiths Masons Taylors Weavers Shoemakers Tanners Brickmakers and so any other Trade Them that have no Trade betake themselves to Husbandry get Land of their own and live exceeding well We shall conclude our Discourse of this Countrey with a notable Character given thereof by a late Writer as to the great advantage of happy living in all respects for whosoever shall be pleas'd to betake himself thither to live The Character of a happy Countrey IF there be any terrestrial happiness saith he to be had by any People especially of an inferior rank it must certainly be here Here any one may furnish himself with Land and live Rent-free yea with such a quantity of Land that he may weary himself with walking over his Fields of Corn and all sorts of Grain and let his Stock amount to some hundreds he needs not fear there want of Pasture in the Summer or Fodder in the Winter the Woods affording sufficient supply where you have Grass as high as a Man's Knees nay as high as his Waste interlac'd with Pea-Vines and other Weeds that Cattel much delight in as much as a Man can pass through And these Woods also every Mile or half-Mile are furnish'd with fresh Ponds Brooks or Rivers where all sorts of Cattel during the heat of the day do quench their thirst and cool themselves These Brooks and Rivers being inviron'd of each side with several sorts of Trees and Grape-Vines Arbor-like interchanging places and croding these Rivers do shade and shelter them from the scorching beams of the Sun Such as by their utmost Labors can scarcely get a Living may here procure Inheritances of Lands and Possessions stock themselves with all sorts of Cattel enjoy the benefit of them whilst they live and leave them to their Children when they die Here you need not trouble the Shambles for Meat nor Bakers and Brewers for Beer and Bread nor run to a Linnen-Draper for a supply every one making their own Linnen and a great part of their woollen Cloth for their ordinary wearing And how prodigal if I may so say hath Nature been to furnish this Countrey with all sorts of wild Beasts and Fowl which every one hath an interest in and may Hunt at his pleasure where besides the pleasure in Hunting he may furnish his House with excellent fat Venison Turkies Geese Heath-hens Cranes Swans Ducks Pigeons and the like and wearied with that he may go a Fishing where the Rivers are so furnish'd that he may supply himself with Fish before he can leave off the Recreation Here one may travel by Land upon the same Continent hundreds of Miles and pass through Towns and Villages and never hear the least complaint for want nor hear any ask him for a Farthing Here one may lodge in the Fields and Woods travel from one end of the Countrey to another with as much security as if he were lock'd within his own Chamber And if one chance to meet with an Indian Town they shall give him the best Entertainment they have and upon his desire direct him on his Way But that which adds happiness to all the rest is the healthfulness of the Place where many People in twenty years time never know what Sickness is where they look upon it as a great Mortality if two or three die out of a Town in a years time Besides the sweetness of the Air the Countrey it self sends forth such a fragrant smell that it may be perceiv'd at Sea before they can make the Land No evil Fog or Vapor doth any sooner appear but a North-West or Westerly Wind immediately dissolves it and drives it away Moreover you shall scarce see a House but the South-side is begirt with Hives of Bees which increase after an incredible manner So that if there be any terrestrial Canaan 't is surely here where the Land floweth with Milk and Honey Noua TERRA-MARIAE tabula This Northerne part of Virginia the limitts whereof extend farther Southwards is heere inserted for the better description of the entrance into the Bay of Chesapeack A NEW DESCRIPTION OF MARY-LAND SECT III. BEfore We proceed to the Description of this Countrey it will be first requisite to relate the true occasion and means whereby this part of America came to be erected into a Province and call'd Mary-land In the Year of our Lord 1631. George Lord Baltimore obtain'd of King Charles the First of Great Brittain c. a Grant of that part of America first discover'd by the English which lies between the Degrees of thirty seven and fifty Minutes or thereabouts and forty of Northerly Latitude which is bounded on the South by Virginia on the North by New England and New Jersey The situation part of New York lying on the East side of Delaware Bay on the East by the Ocean and on the West by that part of the Continent which lies in the Longitude of the first Fountains of the River call'd Patomeck In pursuance of this Grant to his said Lordship a Bill was prepar'd and brought to His Majesty to Sign who first ask'd his Lordship what he should call it there being a Blank in the Bill designedly left for the Name which his Lordship intended should have been Crescentia but his Lordship leaving it to His Majesty to give it a Name the King propos'd to have it call'd Terra-Mariae in English Mary-land in honor of his Queen whose Name was Mary which was concluded on and inserted into the Bill which the King then Sign'd and thereby the said Tract of Land was erected into a Province by that Name His Lordship somewhat delaying the speedy passing of it under the Great Seal of England dy'd in the interim before the said Patent was perfected whereupon a Patent of the said Province was shortly afterwards pass'd to his Son and Heir who was Christen'd by the Name of Coecil but afterwards confirm'd by the Name of Coecilius the now Lord Baltemore under the Great Seal of England bearing Date June 20. 1632. in the eighth Year of His said Majesties Reign with all Royal Jurisdictions and Prerogatives both Military and Civil in the said Province as Power to Enact Laws Power of pardoning all manner of Offences Power to confer Honors c. to be held of His said Majesty His Heirs and Successors Kings of England in common Soccage as of His Majesties Honor of Windsor in the County of Berks in England yielding and paying yearly for the same to His Majesty and to His Heirs and Successors for ever two Indian Arrows of those parts at the Castle of Windsor aforesaid on Tuesday in Easter Week and the fifth part of all Gold and Silver Oar which shall happen to be found in the said Province The Bounds By the said Patent is Granted to his Lorship his Heirs and Assigns all that part of a Peninsula lying
extent mention'd in the beginning The first Colony to be undertaken by certain Knights Gentlemen and Merchants in and about the City of London The second to be undertaken and advanc'd by certain Knights Gentlemen and Merchants and their Associates in or about the City of Bristol Exon Plymouth and other parts At the first Colonies Request in the seventh year of the same King a second Patent was Granted to several Noblemen and Gentlemen including Sir Thomas Gates and some of his former Fellow-Patentees bearing Date May 23. 1610. whereby they were made a Corporation and Body Politique and stil'd The Treasurer and Company of Adventurers and Planters of the City of London for the first Colony of Virginia And by this Patent there was Granted to them their Successors and Assigns two hundred Miles to the Southward from a Cape of Land in Virginia call'd Point Comfort and two hundred Miles to the Northward of the said Cape along the Sea-shore and into the Land from Sea to Sea And on March 12. 1612. the said King in the ninth year of his Reign Grants them a third Patent of all Islands lying in the Sea within two hundred Miles of the Shore of that Tract of Land on the Continent granted to them by the said former Patent Jac. 7. In the Year 1615. Captain Smith procur'd by his Interest at Court and the King's Favor a Recommendation from His Majesty and divers of the Nobility to all Cities and Corporations to Adventure in a standing Lottery which was erected for the benefit of this Plantation which was contriv'd in such a manner that of 100000. Pounds which was to be put in 50000. onely or one half was to return to the Adventurers according as the Prizes fell out and the other half to be dispos'd of for the Promotion of the Affairs of Virginia in which though it were three years before it was fully accomplish'd he had in the end no bad Success In the eighteenth Year of the said King's Reign at the Request of the second Colony a Patent was Granted to several Noblemen and Gentlemen of all that Tract of Land lying in the parts of America between the Degrees of forty and forty eight of Northerly Latitude and into the Land from Sea to Sea which was call'd by the Patent New England in America For the better Government whereof one Body-Politick and Corporate was thereby appointed and ordain'd in Plymouth consisting of the said Noblemen Gentlemen and others to the number of forty Persons by the Name of The Council establish'd at Plymouth in the County of Devon for the Planting Ruling Ordering and Governing of New England im America The Patent of Virginia made void The Miscarriages and Misdemeanors of the aforesaid Corporation for the first Colony of Virginia were so many and so great that His said Majesty was forc'd in or about October 1623. to direct a Quo Warranto for the calling in of that former Patent which in Trinity Term following was legally Evinc'd Condemn'd and made Void by Judgment in the Court of the then Kings-Bench as also all other Patents by which the said Corporation claim'd any Interest in Virginia Thus this Corporation of the first Colony of Virginia was dissolv'd and that Plantation hath been since Govern'd and Dispos'd of by Persons Constituted and Impower'd for that purpose from time to time by immediate Commissions from the Kings of England The Patent of Mary-land granted to the Lord Baltem re In the Year of our Lord 1631. the Right Honorable George Lord Baltemore obtain'd a Grant of King Charles the First of Great Britain c. of part of that Land to the Northward which is now call'd Mary-land but this Patent of Mary-land was not perfected till 1632. as you may understand more fully by the precedent Discourse of Mary-land which by express words in the said Patent is separated from and thereby declar'd not to be reputed for the future any part of Virginia The Patent Carolina granted to several Noble Persons And in the fifteenth Year of the Reign of King Charles the Second of Great Britain c. on March 24. 1663. Edward Earl of Clarendon then High-Chancellor of England George Duke of Albemarle William now Earl of Craven John Lord Berkley Anthony Lord Ashley Sir George Carterett Knight and Baronet Sir William Berkley Knight and Sir John Colleton Knight and Baronet obtain'd a Patent from His Majesty of the Province of Carolina which lies to the Southward of Virginia in which is included some part of that Land which formerly belong'd to the said dissolv'd Company of Virginia So that Virginia at present extendeth it self onely and is situated between thirty six and thirty seven Degrees and fifty Minutes or thereabouts of Northern Latitude and is bounded on the North by Mary-land on the South by Carolina on the East by the Ocean and on the West by the South-Seas The Entrance by Sea into this Countrey is the same with that of Mary-land between Cape Henry and Cape Charles plac'd on each side of the Mouth of the Bay of Chesapeak Rivers of Virginia on the West side whereof you first meet with a pleasant and commodious River call'd James-River about three Miles wide at its Entrance and Navigable a hundred and fifty Fourteen Miles from this River Northward lies York-River which is Navigable sixty or seventy Miles but with Ketches and small Barques thirty or forty Miles farther Passing hence to the North you discover a third stately River call'd Rappahanock which is Navigable about a hundred and thirty Miles from whence following the Shore to the North you enter into Patomeck-River which is already describ'd in the precedent Discourse of Mary-land to which Province this River belongs whose Southerly Bank gives Bounds to that part of Virginia and Mary-land To these Rivers many other Inland Branches and Rivulets are reduc'd the chief of which are hereafter specifi'd Nature of the Countrey The Countrey is generally even the Soil fruitful the Climate healthful and agreeable with English Constitutions especially since the increase of Inhabitants and accommodation of good Diet and Lodging which the first Planters found great want of heretofore For many years till of late most New-comerâ— had the first Year in July and August a Disease which is call'd A Seasoning whereof many died like to what is mention'd before in the Description of Mary-land though more mortal and common than in Mary-land because Virgina is a lower Countrey and somewhat hotter insomuch that formerly divers ill of that Distemper have come purposely from Virginia to Mary-land to recover their Health but now since the Countrey is more open and clear from Wood few die of it and many have no Seasonings at all This Countrey affordeth generally all such Roots Herbs Gums and Balsoms as are express'd before in the Relation of Mary-land All sorts of Trees for Building and Husbandry Trees Fruit-Trees Vines c. are found in both Countreys equal in goodness
but all their Eyes were Painted white and some red strokes like Mutchato's along their Cheeks round about him those Fiends Danc'd a pretty while and then came in three more as ugly as the rest with red Eyes and white strokes over their black Faces at last they all sate down right against him three of them on the one hand of the chief Priest and three on the other then all with their Rattles began a Song which ended the chief Priest laid down five Wheat Corns then stretching his Arms and Hands with such violence that he sweat and his Veins swell'd he began a short Oration at the conclusion they all gave a short groan and then laid down three Grains more after that began their Song again and then another Oration ever laying down so many Corns as before till they had twice incircled the Fire that done they took a bunch of little Sticks prepared for that purpose continuing still their Devotion and at the end of every Song and Oration they laid down a Stick between the Divisions of Corn rill night neither he nor they did either eat or drink and then they feasted merrily with the best Provisions they could make Three days they us'd this Ceremony the meaning whereof they told him was to know if he intended them well or no. The Circle of Meal signifi'd their Countrey the Circles of Corn the bounds of the Sea and the Sticks his Countrey They imagin'd the World to be flat and round like a Trencher and they in the midst After this they brought him a Bag of Gun-powder which they carefully preserv'd till the next Spring to Plant as they did their Corn because they would be acquainted with the nature of that Seed Opitchapam the King's Brother invited him to his House where with as many Platters of Bread Fowl and wild Beasts as did environ him he bid him wellcome but not any of them would eat a bit with him but put up all the remainder in Baskets At his return to Opechancanoughs all the Kings Women and their Children flock'd about him for their Parts as a due by Custom to be merry with such Fragments At last they brought him to Meronocomoco where was Powhatan their Emperor Here more than two hundred of those grim Courtiers stood wondering at him as he had been a Monster till Powhatan and his Train had put themselves in their greatest Braveries Before a Fire upon a seat like a Bedsted he sat cover'd with a great Robe made of Rarowcun-Skins and all the Tails hanging by On either hand did sit a young Maid of sixteen ox eighteen years of Age and along on each side the House two rows of Men and behind them as many Women with all their Heads and Shoulders Painted red many of their Heads bedeck'd with the white Doun of Birds but every one with something and a great Chain of white Beads about their Necks At his entrance before the Emperor all the People gave a great shout The Queen of Appamatuck was appointed to bring him Water to wash his Hands and another brought him a bunch of Feathers in stead of a Towel to dry them Having Feasted him after their barbarous manner as well as they could a long consultation was held but in conclusion two great Stones being brought before Powhatan as many as could laid Hands on him dragg'd him to them and thereon laid his Head when being ready with their Clubs to beat out his Brains Pocahontas the Emperors dearest Daughter seeing no intreaty could prevail got his Head in her Arms and laid her own upon his to save him from death whereat the Emperor was contented he should live to make him Hatchets and her Bells Beads and Copper for they thought him a Man of all Occupations like themselves for the King himself will make his own Robes Shoes Bowes Arrows Pots Plant Hunt or do any thing as well as the rest Two days after Powhatan having disguis'd himself in the most fearful minner he could caus'd Captain Smith to be brought forth to a great House in the Woods and there upon a Mat by the Fire to be left alone Not long after from behind a Mat that divided the House was made the most doleful noise he ever heard then Powhatan more like a Devil than a Man with about two hundred more as black as himself came unto him and told him That now they were Friends and presently he should go to James-Town to send him two great Guns and a Grindstone for which he would give him the Countrey of Capahowosick and for ever esteem him as his Son Nantaquoud So to James-Town with twelve Guides Powhatan sent him That Night they Quarter'd in the Woods he still expecting as he had done all this long time of his Imprisonment every hour to be put to one Death or other for all their Feasting but Almighty God by his Divine Providence had mollifi'd the Hearts of those stern Barbarians with compassion The next Morning betimes they came to the Fort where Smith having us'd the Salvages with what kindness he could he shew'd Rawhunt Powhatan's trusty Servant two Demi-Culverins and a Milstone to carry to Powhatan they found them somewhat too heavy but when they saw him Discharge them they being loaded with Stones amongst the Boughs of a great Tree loaded with Isickles the Ice and Branches came so tumbling down that the poor Salvages ran away half dead with Fear But at last we regain'd some Conference with them and gave them some Toys and sent to Powhatan's Women and Children such Presents as gave them in general full content SECT V. Carolina Situation and Description of Carolina CArolina is that part of Florida which lies between twenty nine and thirty six Degrees and thirty Minutes of Northern Latitude It is wash'd on the East and South with the Atlantick Ocean on the West with Mare Pacificum or the South Sea and on the North bounds on Virginia A Countrey wherein Nature shews how bountiful she can be without the assistance of Art the Inhabitants excepting a little Maiz which their old Men and Women Plant depending meerly on the natural and spontaneous Growth of the Soil for their Provisions the Woods furnishing them with store of Fruit and Venison and the Rivers with plenty of several sorts of wholsom and savory Fish This Maintenance which without forecast or toil they receive from the natural fruitfulness of the Countrey will if we consider either the largeness of their Growth or the duration of their Lives be thought neither scanty nor unhealthy their Stature being of a larger size than that of English-men their Make strong and well proportion'd a crooked or mis-shapen Person being not to be found in the whole Countrey and where the chance of War which they are almost continually engag'd in one against another in their little Governments spares any of them they live to an incredible old age so that when the English came there they found some of their Kings
who saw descend from them the sixth Generation Production of the Soil The Soil is very rich and fertile producing naturally Walnuts Grapes of which the English who are there Planted have made very good Wine Apricocks Bullys with a multitude of others besides the Woods also are full of very good Peaches and all the Season of the Year strew'd all over with Strawberries Mulberry-Trees are the common growth of the Woods and to assure you they are the natural Offspring of the Place and grow to an incredible bigness one whereof the English who are new Planted at Albemarle Point on Ashley River made use to fasten the Gate of their Pallisado to was so large that all who came from thence say they never saw any Oak in England bigger which is but the ordinary size of the Mulberry-Trees of this Countrey which is so sure an Argument of the richness of the Soil that the Inhabitants of Virginia enquiring of the Seamen who came from thence concerning the Quality and Product of the Countrey when they were inform'd of the large Mulberry-Trees it produc'd were so well satisfi'd with it that they made no farther Enquiry There are also other Trees as Ash Poplar and Bay with several sorts unknown to us of Europe but those which make it almost all one general Forrest of large Timber-Trees are Oak both red and white and Cedar There are also here and there large Groves of Pine-Trees some a hundred Foot high which afford a better sort of Mast than are to be had either in Mary-Land or Norway These larger Trees weaving their luxuriant Branches into a close Shade suffer no Under-wood to grow between them either by their Droppings or else the Heads of Deer which loosening all the tender Shoots quite destroy it so that a great part of the Countrey is as it were a vast Forrest of fine Walks free from the heat of the Sun or the incumbrance of Shrubs and Bushes and so clear and open that a Man may easily ride a Hunting amongst the Trees yielding a Prospect very pleasant and surpassing On the Skirts of these Woods grow lesser Trees and Shrubs of several sorts amongst them are sundry Dying Materials which how well the Inhabitants know how to make use of appears in the Deer-Skins that the chief of them wear which are Painted or rather Dy'd with several lively Colours But amongst their Shrubs one of most note and use is that whose Leaves make their Casini a Drink they frequently use and affirm to be very advantageous for the preservation of Health which by the description our English give of the size colour and shape of the Leaf the sort of Tree it grows on and the taste colour and effects of the Drink which is nothing but the Decoction of the Leaf seems to be the very same with the East-India TEE and by those who have seen and tasted both affirm'd to be no other and may very probably be a spontaneous and native Plant of this Place since those who give us an account of it tell us that this so much valu'd Leaf grows most plentifully in Nanking a Province in China under the very same Latitude and very much agreeing in Soil and Situation with this of Carolina What Herbs else the Countrey produces the English Enquirers who by minding their Plantations and Settlement there have been taken off from such unprofitable Actions give us but little account onely they say that those Plats of Ground which have been formerly clear'd off by the Indians for the Planting their Corn they found thick cover'd with three-leav'd Grass and Dazies which the fertility of the Soil thrusts forth whenever the Natives remove their Tillage to some other place and leave the Earth to its own production and in other parts they found plenty of Garden Herbs growing wild The low and Moorish Grounds are for the most part overgrown with Sedge and Reeds and such other Trash which usually incumbers rich and uncultivated Lands those they call Swamsas which with a little Husbandry would prove very good Meadows There are also some large and pleasant Savanas or grassy Plains These are a part of the Trees and Plants best known to us that Nature of her self produces in a Soil which contrives and nourishes any thing The English who are now Planted in the most Northern parts of it at Albemarle bordering on Virginia have Apples Pears Cherries Apricocks Plumbs and Water-Melons equalling and if you will believe the Inhabitants both in largeness of size and goodness of taste exceeding any in Europe And they who are Setled farther South on Ashley River have found that the Oranges Lemmons Pomegranates Limes Pome-citrons c. which they Planted there have thriven beyond expectation and there is nothing which they have put into the Earth that through any defect in the Soil hath fail'd to prosper Commodines of the Countrey Besides those things which do serve to satisfie Hunger or provoke it the Land doth with great return produce Indigo Ginger Tobacco Cotton and other Commodities fit to send abroad and furnish foreign Markets and when a little time shall have brought those kind of Plants to maturity and given the Inhabitants leisure to furnish themselves with Conveniences for ordering those things aright the Trials that they have already made of the Soil and its fitness for such Plantations assure you that besides Silk enough to store Europe and a great many other considerable Commodities they shall have as great plenty of good Wine and Oyl as any part of the World The Mould is generally black mellow and upon handling feels soft and to use their Expression who have been there soapy and is generally all over the Countrey just like the fine Mould of our well order'd Gardens Under this black Earth which is of a good thickness in most places that they have try'd there lies a Bed of Marle and in some parts Clay Fish and Water-Fowl The Rivers are stor'd with plenty of excellent Fish of several sorts which are taken with great ease in abundance and are one great part of the Natives Provision who are never like to want this Recruit in a Countrey so abounding in large Rivers there being in that one small Tract between Port Rasal and Cape Carteret which are not one Degree distant five or six great Navigable Rivers that empty themselves into the Sea These Rivers are also cover'd with Flocks of Ducks and Mallard whereof millions are seen together besides Cranes Herons Geese Curlews and other Water-Fowl who are so easie to be kill'd that onely rising at the discharge and noise of a Gun they instantly light again in the same place and presently offer a fresh Mark to the Fowler At the Mouths of the Rivers and along the Sea-Coast are Beds of Oysters which are of a longer Make than those in Europe but very well tasted wherein are often found good large Pearls which though the unskilful Indians by washing the Oysters do commonly discolour and
for Venison Amongst other Beasts is also the Teuthlacokauhqui or Fortress of the Serpents it hath a Head like an Adder thick Belly glittering Scales a black Back sprinkled with white Crosses at its Tail there grows yearly a Bone with which it makes a noise when it stirs its poysonous Teeth destroy those which are bit therewith in twenty four Hours unless the part which is wounded be held in the Earth so long till the pain be over Notwithstanding the noise terrible aspect and gestures of this Animal the Indian Hunters make nothing to take the same by the Tail and wrap it up in Linnen and carrying it home make it tame It is able to live a whole Year without either Meat or Drink its Head when cut off grows to the bigness of a Man's Thigh in ten days time No less resolute are the Indians in taking the Ibitobaca which is an Ell long of a crimson Colour full of black and white Specks the Bones whereof they wear about their Necks in stead of Chains The Serpent Iquanna The Iquanna is a Serpent which doth no manner of hurt though terrible to look upon to those which know it not having a Bag under its Chin a glittering Comb on its Head and on its Back sharp Bones which stand like a Saw and a long Tail It lays fifty Eggs at a time as big as Acorns of a very good taste and fit to eat when boyl'd It also lives both in the Water and on the Land Here are also many Baboons Baboons which are big and heavy with ugly Heads short Legs like a Man and Tails standing upwards they eat all sorts of Fruit but chiefly covet after Wine and Bread and are so lascivious that they often set upon Women The Females generally bring forth two one Male and the other Female There is also another sort whose Skins being red are full of little Spots The ancient Inhabitants of Chiapa divided into the Chiapaneca's the Zeques the Zeltates and the Quelenes are very Civil and Witty also skilful in Painting Singing Breaking of Horses and many other Trades Towns and Villages of Note The Places of more principal note in this Countrey inhabited by the Spaniards are 1. Ciudad Real pleasantly seated in the midst of a round Vale or Plain and almost encompass'd with Hills representing the form of an Amphitheatre also at the Foot of one which stands in the midst of the rest the City is built It is a City specially Priviledg'd by the King of Spain having a Court of Justice Cathedral and Dominican Cloyster of a pure and temperate Air and the Countrey round about plentifully abounding both in Corn and Fruit onely somewhat too cold to produce Lemmons and Oranges but for Pears Apples Peaches Quinces Cherries and the like they grow here in great abundance 2. Chiapa which giveth Name to the Valley aforesaid It is a Bishop's See and famous if but for one of its Prelates viz. Bartholomeo de las Casas of the Order of Predicants who was Bishop of this City and his Memory justly precious amongst the poor Americans at this day for his Charity towards them and for the stout and zealous opposition which he made against the Spaniards cruel and inhumane dealings with the Natives at the beginning of their Conquests by which at last notwithstanding much difficulty and resistance made by interested Persons of the other Side he procur'd them liberty and an Edict from the Emperor in favor of them whereby they were declar'd to be a Free People and not Slaves and the Spaniards forbidden to use them any longer as such or to force them to any kind of Labour against their wills or otherwise than by agreement with them which Liberty they enjoy to this day and though the Spaniards are said to give them very small Wages in some places and for their Work in their Sugar-Mills which is no small Labor not above five Reyals or Two shillings six pence a Week for the Maintenance of themselves their Wives and Children yet by reason it is with Consent and in a Countrey where all things are plentiful and cheap their Condition is much better than it was and the favor which that good Bishop did them never to be forgotten It is at present a great and populous City and lieth almost in the mid-way betwixt the Cities of Mexico and Guatimala 3. St. Bartholomews in the Countrey of the Quelenes 4. Tecpatlan the chief of twenty five Villages said to belong to the Zoques Here the Dominicans have another Cloyster The Zeltates possess a fruitful Countrey have thirteen Villages planted with Trees that yield Cochenile being under a Common-wealth Government The chief Place of the Quelenes is Copanavatzla where there is good Cheese and store of brave Cattel The River Chiepa gliding through the midst thereof loseth it self in the Northern Ocean In this part of the Country are Beasts not unlike Apes with long Tails which they wind about the Legs of those whom they find swimming and so pull them under Water wherefore they that go to Swim take Axes along with them to cut off their Tails The Water of the River Blanco is clear and wholsom running for the most part through Rocky Grounds which nevertheless are overspread with Trees In the highest Ground of Chiapa a League and a half from the City Reall spring clear Fountains whose Water ebbs and flows every six hours Near the Village call'd Afixa is one which runs three years together though in the driest Season and is dry three years though it Rain never so much Not far from the Village Cinacatan is another Spring whose Water cures several Sicknesses but kills all Birds and Beasts which drink of the same Here are likewise divers Baths The Rivers which run out of the Valley Chiapa fall into two great Pits Near the Village Bartholomew in the Province Quelenes is a strange Cavern out of which by the throwing of a stone into the same are heard mighty noises like claps of Thunder Not far from the Village Chicomucolo appears a Cavern in which is a great Plain on one side and a standing Lake whose Water is like Sand on the other The Spaniards if they wanted not Slaves might dig good store of Gold Silver Copper Lead Tin and Quicksilver out of the Mynes on the Mountain Ecatepeck which is in nine Leagues compass The Wind blows so strong after Sun-rising that no Man is able to travel for it but in the Night SECT II. Vera Paz. VEra Paz or The Countrey of True Peace was so nam'd by the Spaniards Situation and Bounds as they say because it was never conquer'd by the Sword but reduc'd to Obedience onely by the Preaching of the Dominican Fryers It is bounded on the West and South-West with Chiapa on the East with some part of Guatimala and Honduras and on the North with Jucatan It contains about thirty Leagues in length and almost as much in breadth being a woody and mountainous
said likewise to have a convenient Port or Haven for Shipping The Spaniards when first they Landed here call'd this Countrey Mahomets Paradise because of its exceeding Fruitfulness The Cacao which they use here in stead of Money is not unlike the Stone of an Almond The Inhabitants in stead of using a Steel and Flint to strike Fire withal rub two pieces of Wood together so long till one of them is kindled and burn the Boughs of Pine-Trees in stead of Candles Amongst the several Languages which they speak the Mexican is the chiefest Amongst their Recreations Dancing is principal Strange manner of Dancing which is perform'd after a very strange manner for they meet sometimes two or three thousand together according to the bigness of the Province in a spacious Field which is made clean before for that purpose He that leads the Dance goes backward and with many strange Gestures turns himself about which the rest following four and four together in a row imitate whilst their Tambores beat on hollow Instruments and sing Songs which are first answer'd by the Ring-leader of the Dance and then seconded by the whole Company each of them waving a Fan or a Callabash and being all adorn'd with Plumes of Feathers on their Heads and Strings with Shells about their Arms and Legs they also act several antick Tricks the one the blind Man the other the Cripple one feigns himself to be deaf the other makes a wry Mouth one cries and another laughs whilest others drink healths in Chocolate which continues till-Midnight The Fish Manati A King of this Countrey in former times us'd to feed the Fish Manati with Bread in the Lake Guainabo where it would appear at its being call'd Matto Matto which signifies Noble-minded and oftentimes carry eight or ten Boys on its Back from one side of the Lake to the other but being shot by a Spaniard with an Arrow never appear'd again There is likewise a black Beast in this Countrey call'd Cascu resembling in some things a Hog it hath a hard Skin little Eyes open Ears cloven Feet short Nose and makes such a terrible noise that it affrights those which hear it No less strange and wonderful is the Fox-Ape which hath two Bellies one under another in the lowermost of which it carries its Young which are never brought into the World till they are able to shift for their own Food It hath the Body of a Fox Feet like a Man's Hands and Ears like a Batt It will not be amiss before we conclude with this Province to give you a Relation of the Discourse which hapned Anno 1527. between the Spanish Commander Francisco de Monteio and the Nicaraguan Casique Alquinotex who being a hundred and ten years old told him That before the Spaniards arrival there great numbers of his Soldiers perish'd after a strange manner for after having vomited abundance of Worms they fell down dead on a sudden those that escap'd the Contagion differing amongst themselves made two Parties which twice Engaging with one another each of them lost above a hundred and fifty thousand Men. Yet both these Plagues were no ways to be compar'd to the Slaughter which the Spaniards had made amongst them About the same time an Italian call'd Hieronymo Bonzo Lodging with a Nicaraguan Noble-man that understood the Spanish Tongue was thus set upon by him What do not Oh Christ the Christians do they no sooner get their Foot into an Indian 's Hut but they commandingly call for Maiz Honey Winter-Clothes Gold Silver and a Woman to cool their lustful desires Certainly there is nothing more vicious on Earth To which Bonzo gave him this Answer The wicked Spaniards commit oftentimes unseemly things The Indian again suddenly retorted saying Where are any such Men to be found as good Spaniards I have never known any but wicked Villains To which Bonzo said Why have you made place for them on Nicaragua Which was thus reply'd to by the Nobleman All People round about took Oath on the first News of the Christians arrival to hazard all and fight to the last Man before they would be under the insupportable Yoke with which they had heard other Countreys were oppress'd with by them To which purpose they made ready Bowes Arrows Lances Stones Clubs and other Weapons of War But when it came to the trial the Spanish Horse of which they had never seen the like struck such a terror into the Indians that they fled and sent two Agents to Monteio to desire Peace but their Design was onely to gain time that they might gather new Forces to venture a second Encounter which prov'd as fatal to them as the first Then desiring Peace once more they gather'd all that were able to bear Arms and swore one to another not to stir a Foot and withal made a Law That whosoever did shrink should be kill'd immediately But the Women being inform'd hereof begg'd that they might rather suffer under the Spanish Yoke than be torn in pieces by their Dogs or kill'd by their Bullets and Swords alledging that they were not able to resist the Spaniards and entreated them that if they were resolv'd to go on with their first Design they would first send their Wives and Children to the other World that so they might not fall into the hands of the merciless and bloody Christians Whereupon most Voices judg'd it convenient to make use of the Opportunity and to submit to Monteio But his cruel dealings made some to contradict that Determination for which they paid dearly for not onely they but their little Infants were put to the most cruel Deaths imaginable which made many of them also to lay violent hands on themselves SECT V. Costarica Bounds and Nature of the Countrey COstarica borders on the East with Veragua on the South and East with the Sea and on the North with Nicaragua The Countrey it self is barren and mountainous whose Inhabitants were valiant enough to Encounter with the Spanish Forces being unwilling to lose their former Priviledges This Coast was discover'd first by Christopher Columbus who Anno 1502. Sailing up the Rivers Belen and Veragua with Barques took much Gold out of the Mynes Urira but chiefly from between the Roots of Trees which were grown together SECT VI. Veragua Bounds and Nature of the Country VEragua is bounded on the West with Costarica on the East it hath the District or Countrey of Panama being otherwise wash'd on all sides by the Sea It hath its Name from a River of great note in this Tract by which it was first discover'd The Countrey is for the most part mountainous and the Soil outwardly barren but recompencing all defects with the abundance of its more inward Wealth that is to say in the richness of its Mynes of which it is said to afford many and so inexhaustibly rich and good that the Spaniards here know no end of their Wealth although by the stoutness and untameableness of the
had in a few years of his Reign before the Spaniards came thither subdu'd the better part of a hundred Cities and great Towns to his Dominion and held in actual submission to his Government and Tributary to him no less than thirty several Casiques or petty Princes every one of which paid him Tribute and were able upon occasion to bring into the Field an hundred thousand Men He is said to have been for his Person a wise and good Prince just affable and tender of his Subjects good but by reason of some heavy exactions which his own power and the Practise of his Ancestors before him gave him the confidence to Impose upon the Conquer'd People a great part of his Subjects liv'd but unwillingly under his Obedience and rather by constraint than otherwise being also further exasperated against him by one barbarous Custom which the Mexicans frequently us'd viz. the Sacrificing of Men. Their manner was whensoever they had any solemn occasion of doing Honor to their Devil-god Vitzilopuchtli as they call him to send out an Army of Men from Mexico into some of the subdu'd Provinces in case they had no Enemies nearer Hand and to fetch in as many Men as they thought good to be Sacrific'd whose flesh likewise afterwards they did eat in a solemn Banquet This being a business of their Satanical Religion and Motezuma a Prince extremely Superstitious and Devoted to the Service of his gods it is said that he Sacrific'd commonly one year with another twenty thousand Men and some years upon extraordinary occasions not less than fifty thousand So great and grievous a Tyranny by the just Judgement and Permission of Almighty God for their great and unnatural sins did the Enemy of Mankind exercise upon them He was likewise much given to Women but it was onely to such as were counted his Wives of which he is said to have had no less than a hundred and fifty with Child by him at one time The bounds of the Mexican Kingdom The Bounds of this Kingdom at present are thus on the East it hath a large Arm of the Sea which they call The Bay of New-Spain or The Gulf of Mexico On the West it hath some parts of New-Gallicia and Mare del Zur on the North the rest of New-Gallicia and part of Florida and on the South Mare del Zur again and part of Guatimala It extendeth it self in length from Jucatan South-East to the Borders of New Gallicia Northward above eight hundred Italian Miles and in breadth from Panuco to the South Sea about half so much It lieth wholly under the Torrid Zone nor is it a Countrey generally so mountainous or high seated as some others of America are but for the most part level or low yet is it so fann'd for three parts at least of four by the cooling Blasts of the Sea and the Heats otherwise so moderated with frequent Rains which it hath constantly three Moneths in the Year viz. June July and August that the Air is rendred thereby exceeding temperate and the Climate not unhealthful especially to temperate Bodies and such as are never so little us'd to it Riches of Mexico A goodly Countrey it is of inexhaustible Wealth and Riches whether we regard the Mynes of Gold Silver Brass Iron c. of all which it hath many and very good or the Fruits of the Earth abundance of Cattel plenty of Corn and Grain of which they have two Harvests or any other Commodities and Endowments of Nature which serve for the enriching of the World Amongst other things it affords Cassia the Fruit whereof is a thing well known and much commended by the Apothecaries for its use in Physick especially in Purgations and removing of all Obstructions of Phlegm Choler c. Such store of Balm Amber all sorts of Gums and precious Liquors as no Countrey in the World is better furnish'd with excellent Perfumes and Physick than the Kingdom of New Spain Among the many other sorts of Trees which this Countrey produces the most remarkable is their Tunas Tunas Treâ— of which there being five kinds one is call'd Cumbeba from whence proceeds that admirable Tincture commonly known by the Name of Cochinele which is thus made On the top of this Tree is found a Worm which hath the bigness and shape of a great Louse which so increases that in one years time a hundred Trees shall be stock'd from the seed of one of these Animals The Worm it self being white after the Skin is carefully pull'd off put in cold Water or Ashes and so dry'd becomes Cochinele The best sort of it is to be had in Tlascala and that in so great a quantity that no less than five or six hundred Arrobes of Spanish Measure each Arrobe is as much as five English Bushels is yearly Transported thence The other sort which grows on the Mountains and that which is not so carefully gather'd call'd Chichimecas Dyes not so well as the right Cochinele The Tunas also bears a Fruit long and whitish with a smooth Shell and full of little Seeds like Figs The red which are inferior in taste to the white colours the Urine red Pine-Apples The Pine-Apples which grow here differ from the Spanish for the Pulp is not inclos'd in a Shell They have a pleasant smell and a Pulp which if eaten much of causes an Appetite it being of a tartish taste they keep good a long time when Salted The Spaniards to make Chocolate mix Maiz by the Mexicans call'd Tlaolli either whole or Ground or boyl'd before with Chalk Moreover they put the red Kernels also in the Drink which grow in the Fruit of the Achiote-Tree Of the Kernels which are dry and cooling boyl'd in Water and stirr'd till it comes to a Pap they make Cakes which mix'd with the Chocolate gives it a cleansing power and takes away all tastes that cause vomiting The Pepper Mecaxochite which grows creeping along the Earth with long and fragrant Leaves round Stalks hairy Roots and three long Cods which shoot upwards This Pepper tempers the over-cooling property of the Chocolate Lastly it consists also of Xochinacatlis Tlilxochitle and the Rozenish Gum Holli The Xocinacatli is a Tree with small Leaves and great Flowers hanging on long Stalks that bend downwards within of a purple and without of a dark-green colour of a sweet smell and resembling an Ear and this Flower also gives a pleasant taste and wholsom operation to the Chocolate The Tlilxochitle runs up to the tops of Trees like Ivy the Flowers of a darkish brown colour cleanse the Nerves strengthen the Brain and take away the rawness of the Stomach The Holli drops out of the Holquabuytle a smooth barky Tree full of Moisture which at first appearance is white then yellowish and lastly black which kneaded into round Balls and Roasted is a remedy against a Loosness and soreness of the Bowels Nature of the People The Natives of the Countrey are very
Spilbergen's Expedition A Dutch Admiral one Joris Spilbergen after he had done the Spaniards all the mischief he could along the South Sea ran with five Sail under the Fort Acapulco which fir'd ten Guns at him whereupon the Dutch Admiral Manning a Boat with a white Flag they agreed upon a Cessation and the Spaniards went aboard of the Admiral to whom Pedro Alvares and Francisco Menendus having been a considerable time in Holland and speaking the Language of that Countrey very perfect promis'd that all his Demands should be satisfi'd yet Spilbergen was suspicious that the Spaniards had a design upon him wherefore he came and lay close under the Castle with his five Sail and made ready his Guns But this suspicion was soon clear'd when Alvares and Menendus proffer'd to stay as Hostages till the Governor of the Town sent the Admiral thirty Oxen fifty Sheep some hundreds of Poultry Coals Oranges Cittrons and the like fresh Provisions as also Wood and Water during which time the Prisoners being set at liberty several Persons of Quality came to visit the Admiral amongst whom was Captain Castilio one that had serv'd twenty years in the Low-Countrey Wars and Melchior Hernando Nephew to the Vice-Roy of New-Spain who desirous to see the Ships that durst set twice upon Rodrigo de Mendose Admiral of the King of Spain's mighty Fleet stood amaz'd that such little Frigats durst Ingage with so many great Spanish Ships and carry'd the Admiral 's Son to the Governor of the City call'd Georgius Perro who civilly entertain'd him Eight days Spilbergen spent here at Acapulco admiring the courteous Entertainment of the Spaniards and the more because that having News but eight Moneths before of the Dutch Fleet setting out they had in that short time made all things ready for resistance the Fort having seventeen Brass Guns and four hundred Soldiers besides many Noblemen and Reformades whereas at other times there us'd not to be above forty Men and four Guns in the same SECT II. Mechoacan Bounds and Description of Mechoacan THe next Province of New Spain is the Bishoprick of Mechoacan which hath on the North-East Panuco on the East Mexicana properly so call'd on the South part Tlascalla on the West the Main Ocean or Mare del Zur and last of all more directly Northward Xalisco which is a Province of New Gallicia The Name signifieth in the American Language as much as A Fish Countrey and so it is having many fair Lakes and Rivers in it abundantly well stor'd with Fish The Countrey so exceedingly pleasant and healthful that 't is usual for sick Persons of other Provinces to come hither to recover their health only by the benefit of a good Air. The Soil so abundantly fertile of all sorts of Grain that of four measures of Seed it hath been often observ'd they have reap'd the next Harvest more than so many hundred measures of the same Grain Very well Wooded and by reason of its many Rivers and fresh Springs equally rich in good Pasture and besides great plenty of Medicinal Herbs and Plants it affordeth good store of Amber nigh the Sea Coasts Mulberry-trees and consequently Silks much Honey Wax and divers other Commodities both for necessity and pleasure The People of the Countrey are generally tall of a strong active Body and a good Wit especially in comparison of other Natives not unskilful in divers curious Manufactures the most excellent Feather-Pictures afore-mention'd being said to be found in this Province They seem more generally inclin'd to the Humors and Customs of the Spaniards than any other Americans and receiv'd the Preaching of Christian Religion when time was with much willingness so that the Countrey is now entirely Christian and divided into several Parishes Languages belonging to the Mechoacans The Languages which are spoken in Mechoacan are several as the Otomian Chihcimian and the Mexicans which is common through all New Spain and the Tarascan a neat and brief Language which properly belongs to this Countrey The Lions and Wilde Dogs of this Countrey devour great numbers of Cattel yearly Tygers yet the greatest mischiefs happen from the Tygers which often fetch People out of their Houses notwithstanding the Doors are lock'd for they break in thorow the Walls and Roofs with much eagerness and strength Of the greatness whereof Jacob Bontius tells us this story That the Governor Peter Carpentier set a Trap without the Walls of Batavia of great Timber Pleited with Iron Baiting it with a Goat which taking effect the Tyger that was caught therein impatient of such close Imprisonment rent the Timber and getting out left the Goat untouch'd Hugo Linschot relates That the Tygers in the West-Indies hurt no Spaniards exercising their cruelty onely on Indians and that finding a Black and a White Man sleeping together they devour the Black and not the White How far these assertions deserve to be credited may appear by an evident contradiction of the first for it is well known many Spaniards in the West-Indies have been eaten by the Tygers General Fedreman marching in this Countrey at the Head of his Army was assaulted by a Tyger which in despight of them all killing a Spaniard and three Indians escap'd from them no Trees serve for a refuge against their fury for they climb up to the top thereof and fetch down their Prey their Claws are so exceeding Venomous that whoever is scratch'd with the same is never to be cur'd there is no Beast but they will venture upon wherefore they lie in the Bushes from whence they rush out upon them but this disadvantage they have that most other Beasts are too nimble Footed for them for they are a very heavy Creature whatever hath been deliver'd by the Ancients concerning the Tygers swiftness As to the difference which they make in Humane Flesh it is thus far true That they find more sweetness in Womens Breasts than other parts and chose a Black Man before a White Concerning the first France gives a sufficient testimony when two Tygers in the time of King Lewis the Twelfth breaking loose left a great number of Women lying Breastless in the Road. The second is confirm'd by John Johnston's Relation of a strange accident that happen'd in Bengale viz. A Moor dreaming that a Tyger fetch'd him out of the Ship hid himself the next Night between Decks of which the Master asking the reason was inform'd concerning his Dream which prov'd prophetick for about Mid-night a Tyger leapt into the Ship and devouring the Moor went away without touching any one of the Hollanders of which there were thirty But a Sea-man walking on the shore escap'd more wonderfully for a Tyger setting upon him behind and a Crocrodile before he leaping from betwixt them discover'd to the Tyger the Crocodile to whom the Tyger directly running and ingaging with the Crocodile spar'd the Sea-mans life Notwithstanding the cruelty and mischief of these Tygers the Indians are led by their sottish Superstition to
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
Crocodiles on their Backs rend open their Bellies They are more desirous of Mans flesh here than in any other place because the River of Tlascala hath but small store of Fish in the day time they lie cover'd in the Mud from whence they rush forth and set upon those that happen to pass by them they pursue the Canoos in the Water and strike down the Rowers with their Tails Burning Mountain Popatepeck Eight Leagues beyond Tlascala appears the Mountain Popatepeck which for ten years ceas'd smoaking till Anno 1540. it broke forth in such a manner that the Countrey all about was terrifi'd therewith for it vomited not onely a black Smoak but also horrible Flames which sometimes being blow'd downward burnt the Corn in the Fields and the Ashes thereof flying as far as Guaxocingo and Chulula burnt a great deal of the Town to the Ground every one endeavor'd by flight to secure themselves with intention never to return thither again but the Flame and Smoak abating Captain Diego de Ordas went up to view the place whence the Fire was cast forth which curiosity and presumption of his had like to have cost him his Life for the sulphury Smoak breaking forth on a sudden had almost stifled him Rivers of Mexicana Moreover the Bishoprick of Tlascala is on the North Coast wash'd by the River Papoloava since call'd Alvarado from a Spanish Commander who first Steer'd his Course thither The next Stream nam'd Banderas is so call'd because the Natives held white Clothes on Poles to invite the Spaniards ashore The third is Almeria on which Cortesius a year after the taking of Mexico built the Town Medellin as aforemention'd Along the Tlascallan shore wash'd by the Northern Ocean lie the Isles Blanca Verde and Sacrificios The first receiv'd its denomination from White Land the other from Green Trees and the third because Joan de Greyalve who first Discover'd New Spain Landing on this Island found a Bloody Altar there with Sacrific'd People with open'd Brests chopt off Arms and Legs The River Almeria falling into the Ocean opposite to the Sacrificios the Spanish Ships came often to an Anchor there but in these latter times they have forsaken the same because the Northern Winds us'd to blow very hard against the shore and spoil'd many Vessels But Henry Hawks gives this reason That a dreadful apparition of Spirits frighted the Spaniards from thence The Province Tepeaca In the Bishoprick Tlascala is also compriz'd the Province Tepeaca whose Metropolis was built by Cortez when with great Loss he was sent from Almeria The Soil thereabouts is barren and stony the Water which they have in the City is brought in Pipes from a River which flows out of the Mountains into the Market place The plain Countrey hath many good Pastures The Inhabitants thereof speak four sorts of Languages of which the commonest is the Mexican others use the Popolucan or Otoman Tongues The Village Alyoxucan appears afar off on a high Mountain Alyonan on whose top is a Lake of a hundred and fifty Fathom in circumference the Water whereof is very cold and of a bluish Colour and neither Ebbs nor Flows to which the Villagers climb along a narrow Path. Not far from thence in the Plain are two other very deep Lakes The first call'd Tlacae is a League in circumference and breeds delicate white Fish not above a Fingers length The second nam'd Alchichican about the same bigness which in stormy Weather is very turbulent Strange sort of Bird. Amongst the Fowls of this Countrey the most noted is a little Summer Bird with a long crooked Tail speckled Feathers feeds on nothing but Flowers and the Dew about Harvest time when the Rain ceases it hangs fast with its Bill on a Tree and as soon as the first Rain falls it revives again In this Countrey Tepeaca are five Villages in each of which is a Franciscan Cloyster and convenient Hospital In this Countrey they gather the Water in the time of the Rainy Moneths in a digg'd Pool which every Morning produces little Toads with long Tails which in few days fall off but these little ones growing to be great make a most dreadful noise in the Night From October till March not one drop of Rain falls in this Countrey during which time the Northern Winds make a dry and wholsome Air yet oftentimes a tempestuous Sea to the loss of many Ships Farther up into the Countrey between Vera Crux and Los Angelos lies the Village Rinconanda and also Xalapa and Perota built of Straw Houses in the middle of a Wood of Cedar and Pirte-Trees inhabited by the Spaniards for the accommodating of Travellers To which purpose there are likewise Inns built near the Spring Fuente de Otzumba which gushes out of a high Rock Not far from hence is the Populous Village Chetula where a small number of Spaniards dwell amongst thousands of Indians who chiefly make use of Mules to carry their Loads SECT IV. Guaxata Situation and Description of Guaxata BEtween Los Angelos and Guatemala lies the Bishoprick of Antiquera or Guaxata largely taken it hath on the North the Bay of Mexico on the South Mare del Zur on the East Jucatan and Chiapa which is one of the Provinces of Guatimala on the West Tlascalla The Countrey extendeth it self upon the South Sea about an hundred Leagues in length but from the Sea to the Borders of Tlascalla one hundred and twenty Eastward not above half so much having a good Air and a Soil no less fruitful especially in Mulberry-Trees and abundance of Silks which the Countrey affordeth more than any other Province of America besides nor is it less rich in Mines of Gold and Silver there being scarce a River in the whole Countrey but the Sands of it are said to be Tinctur'd more or less with that yellow Metal also Crystal and Copperess It yieldeth likewise great plenty of Cassia and Cochinele two rich Commodities and the People generally if they would take pains might be the wealthiest 't is thought of any other in America But whether it be through any voluntary contempt of Riches or through any natural sloathfulness as yet they seem to Pine in the midst of plenty living for the most part of them little better than from Hand to Mouth nevertheless exceeding liberal of what they have especially to such as bear the Habit of Religion and attend the service of their Souls maintaining in a plentiful and good manner as 't is said no less than one hundred and twenty Convents of Religious Men of several Orders in this onely Province besides Hospitals Schools for the training up of Youth and other places of publick Charity it is said also to have three hundred and fifty Villages and near as many brave Countrey Houses Division It is sub-divided into many particular Provinces which because they are many and but small in comparison of some other we may call Wapentakes or Hundreds
rather than Provinces The principal whereof are these that follow viz. Misteca 2. Tutepecque 3. Zapoteca 4. Guazacoalco 5. Gueztaxatla and 6. the Valley of Guaxata from whence Cortez after the Conquest of Mexico had his Title given him by the Emperor Marquess of the Valley It is the richest and most pleasant part of the whole Province extended in a continu'd Tract together full sixteen Leagues or more lying about fourscore Southward of Mexico and wanting neither Mines of Gold and Silver nor any other of the prime and best Commodities of the New-World In this Countrey they speak thirteen sorts of Languages Languages of which the Mexican is most us'd Poisonous Herb. Amongst the Plants which grow here is an exceeding Poysonous Herb which kills those whosoe're pluck it though a long time after that is to say if it be of a Years growth it kills not before the Years end if a Moneth old at the Moneths end if a Day on the same This Countrey formerly suffer'd also many inconveniencies by Earthquakes but of late they are somewhat abated which the Spaniards ascribe to Martialis Protector of the Cathedral at Antequera Misteca is divided into Alta and Baxa both of which have Rivers and Brooks that afford Gold whither the Indian Women taking Provisions go for several days and gather Gold in Troughs which they exchange at the Spanish Markets for Provisions Strange Cave Not far from the Village Cuertlavaca lies a high Mountain remarkable for a strange Cave whose Entrance is very narrow at the end whereof appears a square Place of fifty Foot upon one side whereof stand Pits with Steps near which begins a crooked Way of a League long at the end of which is a spacious Place with a Fountain of good Water from the Foot of which flows a small Brook But because none have made any farther discovery of this Cave the other parts of it remain yet unknown On the top of St. Antonio the Indians live with their Families in Caves between the Rocks Not far from hence appear two Mountains whose tops though they lie at a great distance from one another at the bottom they are so near that a Man may step from one to the other The six Rocks Pennoles formerly Garrison'd by the Kings of Mexico have Gold Lead-Mynes and a Root which is us'd in stead of Soap In the Village Totomachiapo is a Cave of half a Mile long at the end whereof the Water prevents a farther discovery The Rocky Countrey Zapotecas formerly bred very salvage Inhabitants Mantled in Furrs but now Civiliz'd clad after the common manner Americans whether Extracted from the ten Tribes of Israel The People spread over Guaxacualco Yluta and Cueztxatla observe Circumcision according to an ancient Custom from whence some have in vain sought for a testimony that these Americans should be originally extracted from the scatter'd Tribes of Israel but the Tartars more immediately who at last crossing the Straits of Anian furnish'd the desolate Countrey of America with Inhabitants But this Opinion is without any probability of truth for it will never follow from their Circumcision that the Tartars the greatest People on Earth must owe their original to a few Israelites Prisoners since that Ceremony was never thought on by them till they embrac'd the Mahumetan Religion And though they had been Circumcis'd before Mahomet's time this would be no testimony that they were extracted from the Israelites for how many People embrac'd Circumcision which were never extracted from Abraham's Seed It is affirm'd by Diodorus Siculus that the Cholchians by Philo Judaeus the Egyptians by Herodotus the Moors by Strabo the Troglodytes by Cyprian the Phoenicians and Arabians Circumcis'd themselves from all Antiquity which is to this day observ'd by some of them It also plainly appears by the Prophet Jeremiah that the Egyptians Edomites Ammonites Moabites and Ishmaelites had the same Custom anciently amongst them Towns and chief Villages of Guaxaca The Towns of principal note inhabited by the Spaniards in this Province are 1. Antequera in the Valley aforesaid a stately City and beautifi'd with a fair Cathedral Church built with Pillars of the finest Marble of great heighth and bigness The River which glides by the Walls springing out of the Ground runs to the Mountain Coatlan Not far from thence lies the Village Herrera which boasts four hundred Spanish Families though some say that the greatest part of them are Indians who pay the Spaniards Cotton Cloaks and Nuts for Tribute 2. Illephonso de los Zapotecas lies on a Mountain belonging to the Mixes anciently a salvage strong and long-bearded People who speak a gross Language and in former times went naked onely a white Deer-skin Tann'd in Man's Brains about their Middle They maintain'd continual War against the Zapoteca's and could never have been subdu'd by the Spaniards had it not been for their Dogs which kept them in such awe that thirty Spanish Soldiers ventur'd to live in Illephonso amongst thirty thousand Mixes who now drive a Trade in Cotton Maize and Gold 3. San Jago de Nexapa appears at a great distance on a high Mountain where also twenty Soldiers with their Dogs were wont to awe the cruel Natives 4. The last Place built by Gonzales de Sandovall Anno 1522. is Villa del Espiritu Santo Commands fifty Indian Villages which with great difficulty were brought to submit to the Spaniards The River Aquivicolco affords a convenient Harbor the Mouth thereof being a hundred and ninety Paces broad Upon the Southern Ocean is the Haven Guatulco where the Ships that Sail to Honduras and Peru take in their Lading The Custom-house belonging to this Place was first plunder'd by Sir Francis Drake and nine years after burnt by Candish The River Ometipu which springing out of the Mountain Cacatepec falls into Tepoanteque abounds with divers sorts of good Fish especially Cra-Fish There are also reckon'd of the Natives of this Province no less than fifteen thousand Persons that pay Tribute to the Spaniards besides Women and Children and also a great number of Spaniards Sect. V. Panuco Bounds and Description of Panuco PAnuco is the most Northerly Province of Hew Spain by some call'd Guasteca bounded on the East with the Gulf of Mexico on the West with Uxitipa a Countrey of New Gallicia on the North with some undiscover'd Countreys of Florida from which it is divided by the River of Palms on the South with Mechoacan and Mexicana It is call'd Panuco from a River of that Name which turning from the Mountains Tepecsuan in New Gallicia and dividing New Biscay from the Province of Zacatecas passeth through the midst of this Countrey also and at last empties it self into the Gulf. This Countrey is reckon'd to be about fifty Leagues in length and not much less in breadth of a fruitful Soil having some Mynes of Gold in it and once very populous till the Spaniards about the Year 1522. dispeopled it by their
Seas to Sail to it there being not any Islands Rocks or Sands between the Lands-End in England and New-found Land and for the most part it is not above three or four Weeks Sail thither and less coming back and is the most commodiously situated for the discovering of the North-West Passage and other Inlets into the South Sea whereby the ordinary Voyages to China Japan and the East-Indies are much eas'd in the expence of Time and Charge and the most open to Trade to all Parts of any Island of the West-Indies On the East side of the Land are the Bays of Trinity and Conception which stretch themselves towards the South-West Tor-Bay and Capelin-Bay lying also on the East stretch themselves towards the West The Bays of Trespassey St. Mary Borrel and Plaisance on the South part of the Land extend their Arms towards the North. The great Bay of St. Peters lying on the South-West side of the Land and Southerly from the great River of Canada being about twenty Leagues distant the same stretcheth toward the East Trinity Harbour lies in near forty nine Degrees of North Latitude being very commodiously seated to receive Shipping in seasonable Weather both to Anchor in and from thence to Sail towards either the East West or South It hath three Arms or Rivers long and large enough for many hundred Sail of Ships to moare fast at Anchor near a Mile from the Harbours Mouth Close adjoyning to the Rivers side and within the Harbour is much open Land well stor'd with Grass sufficient Winter and Summer to maintain great store of ordinary Cattel besides Hogs and Goats if such Beasts were carried thither and it standeth North most of any Harbor in the Land where our Nation practiseth Fishing It is near unto a great Bay lying on the North side of it call'd The Bay of Flowers to which Place no Ships repair to Fish in regard of sundry Rocks and Ledges lying even with the Water and full of danger The bottom of the Bay of Trinity lieth within four Leagues through the Land South-West Southerly from Trinity as by experience is found and it comes near unto the Bay of Trespassey and the bottom of some other Bays Trespassey in like manner is as commodious a Harbour lying in a more temperate Climate almost in forty six Degrees of North Latitude and is both fair and pleasant and a wholsom Coast free from Rocks and Shelves so that of all other Harbours it lies the most South of any in the Land and most conveniently to receive our Shipping passing to and from Virginia and the Bermuda Islands and also any other Shipping that shall pass to and from the River of Canada and the Coast thereof because they usually pass and so return in the sight of the Land of Trespassey and also for some other purposes as shall be partly declar'd in the following Discourse The Soil of this Countrey in the Valleys and sides of the Mountains is so fruitful Fruitful Soil as that in divers places the Summer naturally produceth without Tillage great plenty of green Pease and Fitches fair round full and as wholsom as ours in England Berries and Fruits Of Berries and Fruits there grows Strawberries red and white and as fair Raspice-berries and Goose-berries as there be in England as also Bilberries which are call'd by some Whortes and many other delicate Berries peculiar to the Countrey in great abundance Likewise small Pears Cherries Filberds c. Herbs and Flowers There are also Herbs for Sallets and Broth as Parsly Alexander Sorrel c. and also Flowers as the red and white Damask Rose with other kinds which are most beautiful and delightful both to the sight and smell And questionless the Countrey is stor'd with many Physical Herbs though their Vertues are not known When Corn was first Sow'n here it was observ'd to grow very fair the increase was great and the Grain very good and several sorts of Kitchin Plants that have been Set here have prov'd very well In divers parts of the Countrey there is great store of Deer Beasts and some Hares many Foxes Squerrils Beavers Martins and Otters yielding excellent Furrs Wolves and Bears with other sorts of Beasts serving as well for Necessity as for Profit and Delight Variety both of Land and Water-Fowl is in this Countrey infinite Birds The chief Land-Fowl besides a great number of small Birds that live by scraping their Food from the Earth in the hardest Winter are Hawks great and small Partridges Thrush and Thrussels abundance very fat as also Filladies Nightingales and such like which sing most pleasantly There are also Birds that live by prey as Ravens Gripes Crows c. For Water-Fowl there is certainly so good and as much variety as in any part of the World as Geese Ducks Pigeons Gulls Penguins and many other sorts These Penguins are as big as Geese but do not flye for they have but a little short Wing and they multiply so infinitely upon a certain flat Island that men drive them from thence upon a Board into their Boats by hundreds at a time as if God had made the innocency of so poor a Creature to become such an admirable Instrument for the sustentation of Man And also Godwits Curlews and such like which Fowl do not onely serve those that Trade thither for Food but also they are a great furthering to divers Ships Voyages because the abundance of them is such that the Fisher-men do bait their Hooks with the quarters of Sea-Fowl on them and therewith some Ships do yearly take a great part of their Fishing Voyages with such Bait before they can get others The fresh Waters and Springs of that Countrey are many in number Springs and withall so very pleasant delightful and wholsom that no Countrey in the World hath better And Fewel for Fireing no where more plentiful In like manner there is great abundance of Trees fit to be employ'd in other serviceable uses Trees There are Fir and Spruce-Trees sound good and fit to Mast Ships with and as commodious for Boards and Buildings as those of Norway and out of these come abundance of Turpentine Moreover the Pine and Birch-Trees here are scarce to be compar'd for heighth and greatness The Rivers also and Harbours are generally stor'd with delicate Fish as Salmons Peals Eels Herrings Mackrel Flounders Launce Capelin Cod and Trouts the fairest fattest and sweetest that ever were seen in these Parts The like for Lobsters Cra-fish Mussles and other variety of Shell-fish The Seas likewise all along the Coast do plentifully abound in other sorts of Fish as Whales Spanish Mackrel Dorrel Pales Herrings Hogs Porposes Seals and such like Royal Fish c. But the chief Commodity of New found Land yet known and which is grown to be a setled Trade and that it may be much better'd by an ordinary Plantation there if the Traders thither will take some better course than formerly they have
fifteen hundred in number inhabited twenty Leagues of Land in length Forts built upon the Bermudas On the longest Island call'd St. George for the Bermudas consists of several Islands great and small they built Warwick and Dover Forts with other Fortifications and Towers which had their Denominations from those Noble-men and Gentlemen that were Undertakers in this Plantation as Cavendish Paget Herbert c. from the Earl of Devonshire the Lord Paget the Earl of Pembroke and others â—orts and Havens Amongst the Havens the eminentest are Southampton the Inlet Harrington and the Great Sound All these Islands lying together resemble a Half-Moon and are surrounded with Rocks which appear at Low-water and at High lie but shallow for it seldom Ebbs or Flows above five Foot The Shore for the most part Rocky and hardned by the Sun and Wind receives no damage by the Waves which continually beat against the same Nature of the Soil The Ground it self differs for in some places it is sandy or clayie and in others partly black and partly white or Ash-colour'd Earth which last is accounted the worst and the black the best Three Foot deep under the Ash-colour'd Earth lie great Slates and under the black a white spungie Stone like the Pumice in whose moist Crevises Trees take root The Pits or Wells though they Ebb and Flow with the Sea yet produce a wholsom and sweet Water Temperature of the Air. The Skie is generally serene but when over-cast with Clouds is subject to Lightning and Thunder yet the Air is of a good temper being neither exceeding cold nor excessive hot for which reason the European Fruits grow better there than in their natural Soil Their Harvest is twice a year for that which they Sowe in March is ripe and gather'd in June then what they Sowe again in August they gather in January Productions of the Countrey These Islands breed no hurtful Creatures nay the yellow Spider which spins silken Cobwebs is free from Poyson The Plant Nuchtly which bears speckled Pears grows betwixt the Rocks which are drench'd with Sea-water The Hogs which above a hundred and fifty years since swam ashore out of the Spanish Wrack are exceedingly increas'd there but because of their poorness are scarce eatable they feeding onely on the sweet Berries which fall from the Palmito-Trees About the white and red Mulberries which grow plentifully there breed thousands of Silk-worms which spin Silk according to the colour of the Mulberries The Sea produces some quantity of Pearls and Ambergreece From the beginning of the year till May the Whales are seen to swim not far from the Shore A strange sort of Sea-Fowl breed in Holes like Rabbets and amongst other Birds here are also store of Cranes The Tobacco which the English have planted here grows very well Tortoises Laying of Eggs. Here are likewise great Tortoises which Lay their Eggs in the Sand on the Shore where they are Hatch'd by the Beams of the Sun and are taken after this manner In the Night some are set to watch where they Land and whilest they are digging a deep Hole in the Ground are thrown on their Backs and not being able to get upon their Legs again they lie and groan very pitifully some of them having above two Basons full of Eggs in their Bellies which being about the bigness of a Tennis-Ball have a thin Shell which incloseth a Yolk and White If these Eggs lie buried six years then the young Tortoises breaking the Shell come out of the Sand and instantly creep into the Sea Their Flesh is not onely wholsom but toothsom The Oyl made of them is not inferior to Butter Cedars of an excellent kind Moreover the Bermudas produce Cedars the like of which are not to be found in the whole World The Leaves are douny and prickly at the ends almost like those of the Juniper Tree The Wood hath a sweet smell and the Berries which are like the Myrtle of a pale Red inclose four white Kernels the outermost Skin whereof is sweet the innermost which covers the Kernel sharp and the Pulp tartish The Trees are always flourishing being at the same time full of Blossoms green and ripe Fruit The Berries when grown ripe begin to gape and fall off in rainy Weather leaving a round Stalk on the Boughs which loses not its Rind till two years after half which time the Berry requires before it attains to its perfect ripeness which generally happens in the Winter The Boughs shoot straight upwards and become in time so heavy that they cause the Body of the Tree to bend This most excellent Wood grows in divers places of the Bermudas We shall conclude with the resolute Exploit of five Sea-men Anno 1616. who to the great admiration of all People set Sail from thence in an open Vessel of three Tun through the main Ocean and after having suffer'd terrible Tempests arriv'd in the space of seven Weeks safe in Ireland These Islands are remarkable for divers sorts of Plants unknown in other Parts as the Prickle Pear Poyson Weed Red Weed Purging Bean Costive Tree Red Pepper and the Sea Feather Also several strange Birds as the Egg Bird Cahow Tropick Bird and the Pemlico which presageth Storms CHAP. XIII Hispaniola THe Islands call'd De Barlovento by which are understood Hispaniola Cuba Jamaica and Boriquen as also the Lucaies with the Caribes and lastly the Isles call'd De Sotavento viz. Margareta Cabagua and Tabago are by some comprehended all under the general Name of The Isles Antilles though others reckon the Antilles to be the same with the Caribes onely But leaving this Controversie undecided we shall begin with the Isles De Barlovento the chief whereof is Hispaniola Bounds and Description of Hispaniola Hispaniola or Little Spain as Columbus nam'd it is though not the largest yet the fairest and goodliest of all the American Islands call'd by the Natives anciently Hayti and Quisqueia It lieth about fifteen Leagues Westward of Porto Rico and distant from the main Land of America about one hundred and twenty 't is of a triangular form the sharpest Point whereof is that towards Porto Rico which they call Cabo de Enganno that towards the West inclines to a Semi-circle containing a good and convenient Bay betwixt the two Points viz. St. Nicholas to the North and Cabo de Donna Maria towards the South It is not thought to be less than a hundred and fifty Leagues in length and in breadth from threescore to thirty and to contain in the compass of the whole four hundred Leagues at least lying betwixt eighteen and twenty Degrees of Northern Latitude having an Air somewhat infested with the Morning Heats but well cool'd again in the Afternoon by a constant Wind from the Sea which they call there Virason It is for the fertility of the Soil one of the richest and most flourishing Countreys in the World the Trees and all things else there continually
clad as it were in their Summer Livery the Meadows and Pastures always green and of such an excellent Herbage that Cattel both breed and thrive there beyond belief both great Cattel and small as Kine Sheep Hogs c. brought thither out of Spain having multiply'd to such numbers that they live wild now in Herds in several places and are both hunted and kill'd like Stags or other Venison onely for their Hides which they send yearly into Spain and other parts of Europe as a great Merchandize and Commodity of huge profit to them Wild Hogs also have been formerly seen to feed in the Woods in great multitudes but the Dogs since they were brought over hither have made great havock amongst them Beasts peculiar to Hispaniola The Animals peculiar to this Island are 1. A little Beast call'd Hutias not much unlike our Coneys 2. Chemi almost of the same form but a little bigger 3. Mohui A Beast somewhat less than the Hutias 4. A Beast call'd Coxi The Fly Cuyero Likewise amongst other strange sorts of Creatures here the Cuyero is very observable being about an Inch big and having four Wings of which two are larger than the other when they flie they shine after such a manner that in the Night they make a Room as light as day insomuch that some have made use of them in stead of Candles to Read by The Fish Manate No less wonderful is the Fish Manate whose shape hath been describ'd elsewhere It breeds for the most part in the Sea yet sometimes swimming up the Rivers comes ashore and eats Grass The Casique Caramatexi kept one in the Lake Guaynato which was so tame that when call'd by the Name Maton it us'd to come out of the Water and go directly to the Casique's House where being fed it return'd to the Lake accompanied with Men and Boys who with their Singing seem'd to delight the Fish which sometimes carried ten Children on its Back over the Water but at last a Spaniard striking at it with a Pike it would never come forth again when it espy'd a Cloth'd Man It liv'd twenty six years in the fore-mention'd Lake till by accident the River Hayboaic over-flowing into the said Lake the Fish return'd to the Sea The Fish Abacatuia Besides this great Fish here is also a sort of small Fish call'd Abacatuaia with a little Mouth black Eyes encompass'd with Silver-colour'd Circles four black Fins two long ones under its Belly one on the Back and one on each side of the Head the Tail slit and cover'd with a glittering Skin It is as big as a Flounder and not ill Meat but thick and round The Insect Nigua When the Spaniards first setled on Hispaniola they were exceedingly tormented with a sort of leaping Insects call'd Nigua which us'd to eat through their Skin into the Flesh in such a nature that many of them lost their Arms and Legs but at last they found out a Remedy against this Evil viz. the searing the Wounds with hot Irons Besides the aforesaid plenty of Flesh they have many excellent Fruits all the year long as Banana's Fruits Pine-Apples Custud-Apples Plantens Papans Musk-melons Water-melons and many other peculiar Plants as 1. the Auzuba a fair large Tree the Fruit whereof is call'd Pinnas resembling a Malecotoon Of this Tree there are three sorts Jaima Boniama and Jaiqua 2. Quauconex 3. Axi of which there are also several sorts as Carive Huarahuac Axiblanco Acafran-Axi and Axi-Coral 4. Yuca the Root of which serves in stead of Corn 5. Certain Trees call'd Guaibes besides plenty of Mint and Potato's The Provinces of this Island The Island of Hispaniola was formerly divided into several Provinces amongst which the Mountainous Countrey Hyguey lies towards the Isle of Porto Rico. On the Mountains which are flat on the top are great variety of sharp-pointed Stones The Soil is a sort of colour'd Earth which produces all sorts of Fruit especially the Root Casabi and Melons Hyguey also conterminates with Ycayagua Northward lies Samana Southward Yaquimo where there is store of Brasile Wood And between the City Domingo and Yaquimo is the Countrey Baoruco which with its Mountains extends sixty Leagues in length and above twenty in breadth without any Water Pasture or Food for Cattel or Mankind Next follows the Countrey Xaragua lying at the great Inlet which divides Hispaniola for one side extends to the Promontory of St. Nicholas and the other to the Point Tiburon This Countrey produces abundance of Cotton Lastly the Provinâ—â—s Guahaba Haniguagya and Cahay are very eminent as also Cibao which is full of Gold-Mines and Lavega Real with Magnana which lie between the two great Rivers Neyba and Yagui the stony Countrey Ciguayos and the low Coast Darica where Christopher Columbus built the City Navidad which he afterwards deserted Ginger was formerly brought hither from the East-Indies but now grows here in such great abundance that above two and twenty thousand Kintalls are yearly Transported from thence to Spain With as good success grow here also the Sugar-Canes and Maiz. Peter Martyr a Councellor to the Emperor Charles the Fifth relates That Hispaniola produc'd in his time besides Silver Copper and Iron five hundred thousand Ducats in Gold Nevertheless the rich Mines lay undisturb'd because they wanted People to work in them insomuch that had they not planted their Royal Seat in Domingo the Island had long since been deserted notwithstanding the exceeding fruitfulness of the Soil because the Spaniards exercis'd their Cruelty in such a nature that of sixty thousand Inhabitants from the Year 1508. to Anno 1514. scarce fourteen thousand of them were left alive all which is affirm'd by the Bishop De las Casas Nay the fore-mention'd Peter Martyr relates That the Men wearied with working in the Mines kill'd themselves despairing of ever being releas'd from their Slavery and Women with Child destroy'd the Infants in their Wombs that they might not bear Slaves for the Spaniards He adds hereunto That of a hundred and twenty thousand Persons few were left in a short time Ports and Havens On the Coast are first the Point of Nisao ten Leagues to the West of Santo Domingo Eighteen Leagues farther is the Port Ocoa which is a Bay where the Fleets of Nova Hispania take refreshing when they do not Anchor in the Nook of Sepesepin which is near unto it or in another call'd The Fair Haven two Leagues before you come to Ocoa Twenty Leagues beyond Ocoa is the Port of Asua Thirty Leagues more Westwardly is a large Point right against the Island of Bola which lieth five Leagues from the Coast The most Westerly Point is call'd Cape Tiburon It hath an Island three Leagues from it Westward call'd Caprio and Sailing along the Coast you will see an Island call'd Camito and farther in the Nook of Yaguana another call'd Guanabo of eight Leagues long On the North side of the Island the most Westerly
a Pyramid revers'd the Basis whereof that is to say the more Southerly parts of it towards Magellanica and the Straights extend themselves largely both East and West becoming more sharp and streight towards the North and those parts by which it is joyn'd to Mexicana in the whole it is suppos'd to contain a Circuit of seventeen thousand Miles at least and is water'd with four of the greatest Rivers of the World besides abundance of lesser Streams which issuing from the Andes and other Mountains of the Countrey do run from all Parts both into the North and South Sea much fertilizing the Countreys through which they pass the four principal are these following The chief Rivers thereof 1. Orellana so call'd from the first Discovery thereof by Franciscus de Orellana otherwise the River of Amazons from a Generation of warlike Women who as the Tradition goes inhabited certain Countreys lying upon the Banks thereof This riseth in the Province of Peru and runneth a Course of little less than five thousand Miles discharging it self at last into the North Sea through a Channel as some say of threescore Leagues broad and yet with such a violent Current or Stream that it is said to keep its natural colour and taste almost thirty Miles in the Sea 2. Orenoque by some call'd Raliana from Sir Walter Raleigh who endeavor'd to discover it a River of the Province of Guiana whose Head or Spring is not yet discover'd It is said to be Navigable a thousand Miles together by the tallest Ships and no less than two thousand by Pinnaces and smaller Vessels and dischargeth it self likewise into the North Sea by sixteen several Channels or Mouths making thereby several Islands some whereof are said to be of good bigness and to lie at a distance of a hundred Miles or more one from the other 3. Maragnon a River of a yet larger Course than any of the former being as 't is said no less than six thousand Miles from its Head which is out of the Andes in Peru to its Fall which is likewise into the North Sea about Cape Blanco by a Channel of seventy Leagues in breadth 4. Rio de la Plata otherwise call'd Paraguay a River of two thousand Miles Course and falling as the rest into the North Sea by a Channel of threescore Miles over and about thirty Degrees Southward of the Line towards the Straights of Magellane The Mountains Andes The Andes or Mountains before mention'd being the most noted and biggest of all America and indeed of the whole World and thought by Cortesius to be the same with Sephar spoken of in the tenth Chapter of Genesis run above a thousand Leagues in length from Timama a Town of New Granada in the Province of Popayan and are in the narrowest place about twenty Leagues broad and also of equal heighth with if not higher than Caucasus it self the Ascent to them is unpassable except in very few places by reason of craggy Precipices and wild overgrown pathless Woods serving onely for a shelter to Serpents and other poysonous Animals which are there so numerous that a whole Army of one of the Kings of Peru is reported to have been destroy'd by them and what-ever People there are inhabiting in any of these Woods and Fastnesses must needs be in the very utmost degree of rude and brutish salvageness Some divide Southern America into Peruviana and Brasiliana Peruviana they subdivide into Terra Firma and Peru Brasiliana into Brasile and Paraguay But the most receiv'd and commodious Division is into these particular Provinces following all of them wealthy and large viz. 1. Castella Aurea or Golden Castile 2. Nova Granada or The New Kingdom as they call it 3. Peru specially so call'd 4. Chile 5. Paraguay 6. Brasile 7. Guiana 8. Lastly Paria with some lesser Islands adjoyning to all or most of these Provinces and commonly reckon'd as part of them CHAP. II. Castella Aurea otherwise call'd Terra Firma Description of Castella Aurea CAstella del Oro as the Spaniards call it or Golden Castile taketh up all the rest of the Isthmus or Straight of Darien which hath not been yet spoken of being bounded Eastward and to the North-East with the Atlantick Ocean and on the West with Mare del Zur and some part of Veragua Southward it hath the new Kingdom of Granada It is call'd sometimes Terra Firma because it was one of the first parts of firm Land which the Spaniards touch'd upon after they had pass'd so many Islands as seem'd for some time to block up and bar them from the Continent of America It is subdivided into these inferior Provinces or Countreys viz. 1. Panama 2. Darien 3. Nova Andaluzia 4. St. Martha 5. Lastly the little Province De la Hacha The chief Rivers of the Province of Panama are 1. Chagre as it was antiently call'd Rivers but afterwards from the great number of Crocodiles that harbor in it Rio de Lagartos falling into the North Sea between Nombre de Dios and Porto Bellano 2. Sardinilla 3. Sardina 4. Rio de Colubros so call'd from the abundance of Snakes breeding thereabouts 5. Rio de Comagre which falls into the same Sea 6. Chepo famous in times past for its Gold-Sands 7. Rio de Balsas whose Banks are shaded with good Timber-Trees 8. Rio de Congo which falls into St. Michaels Bay SECT II. Panama Description of Panama PAnama commonly call'd The District or Circle of Panama is bounded Eastward with the Gulf or Bay of Urraba by which it is separated from the rest of the Continent of this Southern part of America on the West it hath Veragua one of the Provinces of Guatimala being on both the other sides wash'd with the Sea It is suppos'd to contain in length from Carthagena and Popayan to the Confines of Veragua about eighty or ninety Leagues in breadth not above threescore in any part and where it is narrowest viz. betwixt the City of Panama and Nombre de Dios if measur'd by a right Line not above six or seven over from Sea to Sea It lieth almost under the Equinoctial Line but a few Degrees Northward of it and therefore somewhat hot and by the neighborhood of both Seas subject to a foggy and gross Air in comparison of some other parts so that it is not counted generally so healthful a Countrey especially for Strangers and in Summer-time The antient Division of Panama The antient Division of Panama according to the Lordships of the Casiques that then Govern'd were these following Careta Aila Comagre Chiam Coyba Chame Chiru Nata Tobre Trota Haylia Burica and Escotia where the South Sea with the Spring-Tides flowing over the Plains at its return being hardned by the Sea is turn'd into Salt but as it hath always hapned in all other Countreys of the World that with the alteration of Government the Division of the Countrey and the Names of Places have totally chang'd so also here the antient
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
also Inlay'd with Emeraulds Both the Palace and Temple adorn'd with Gold and costly Images of great Touch-stone and Jasper contain'd within their Walls an unvaluable Treasure These magnificent Structures are at this day fall'n quite to decay The People of this Countrey who wear long Hair pleited on the top of their Heads like a Coronet go Cloth'd in Cotton Coats and Buskins of Hair-cloth The Women indifferent fair and great admirers of the Spaniards Plough Sowe and gather in the Harvest whilest the Men stay at home Spinning Weaving and doing of other Female-Offices Anno 1544. they discover'd Mines here which produc'd as much Gold as Earth 5. Tacunga where was formerly another stately Palace about fifteen Leagues from Cusco not far from the Mountain which some years since vomited Ashes and Stones into the adjacent Fields Hereabouts was formerly a Cloyster inhabited by the Nuns call'd Namaconas the Ruines whereof are yet to be seen with several Houses of Stone but cover'd with Thatch The Natives in this Place are of a brown Complexion and of a very affable Nature 5. Mulambato 7. Mocha 8. Rhiobamba three small Villages but each of them credited with a stately Palace Opposite to Rhiobamba lies the Province Chumbo from which a troublesom Way leads to Guaynacapa over the River Chongo 9. St. Jago de Puerto Viejo giving Denomination to the Territory about it which produces abundance of Potatoe Roots Maiz Juca three sorts of Guayavas Cerezillas and the Tree Tunas which bears wild Figs. The Spanish Fruits grow here likewise in great plenty The fore-mention'd Beasts like Hogs whose Navels grow on their Backs are also very common here The Woods abound with Deer and all sorts of Fowls amongst which one resembling a Goose and call'd Xuta and another nam'd Maca somewhat lesser than a Cock and which feeding about the House may be reckon'd amongst the Poultrey of this Countrey The Sea along the Coast affords them abundance of Bonito's which eaten in some Seasons cause Agues The People along the Sea-Coast are generally troubled with Pimples and Sores in their Faces especially on their Foreheads and Noses few of them living long by reason of the unhealthfulness of the Place through excessive Moisture for the Rain continues eight Moneths together 10. Manta lying upon the Southern Ocean the chief of the Villages formerly possess'd by the Caranes betwixt the Promontory Passao and the River Dable These People are said to this day to carve and cut their Faces from their Ears to their Chins about their Necks and Arms they wear Chains of Gold and little red Corals call'd Chaquina highly esteem'd by the Peruvians This Town was formerly famous for a great Emerauld which was religiously worshipp'd there 11. Guayaquil otherwise call'd Culata built at a deep Inlet of the Sea near the River Anebato which with great swiftness falls down from the Mountains Quito is surrounded with a fertile Soyl and in the hollow Trees is found plenty of Honey The Water of the fore-mention'd River being of great virtue in curing the Morbus Gallicus hath great resort of People from all places who likewise gather the Sarsaparilla that grows along the Banks The Bridge which the Inga Guaynacava began to lay cross this River is also very remarkable but he dying it was left unfinish'd The Guancabilcas were heretofore under the Jurisdiction of this City Guayaquil 12. Castro so call'd from a strong Fort built there by a Spanish Captain and situate in the Valley Vili not far from Guayaquil 13. The City Loxa built in the Countrey of the Paltas a People that went naked between two Arms of the River Catamayo under a wholsom Climate â—ar the High-way that leads to Cusco in the Valley Curibamba where no poysonous Beast was ever found The Soil bears abundance of Oaks Hazles Ash Willow and Cedar-Trees Maiz Barley and Wheat Not far from the City springs a hot and sulphurous Fountain which cures all sorts of Sores and Wounds The Countrey hereabouts is likewise stor'd with Fowls Venison Cattel and Fish Moreover the City receives no small lustre from two Dominican and one Franciscan Cloyster Eastward from which lie desolate Mountains whose tops are continually cover'd with Snow Not far from hence were formerly two noble Palaces Piedras and Tamboblanco besides several Villages 14. Cuenca wherein are also large Structures for the Monks and Priests The Countrey about the same hath rich Mines of Gold Silver Quicksilver Copper Iron and Sulphur 16. The City Yaen situate in the Countrey Chuiquimayo it is so call'd from a swift River cross which the Peruvian Women and Children swim to the great amazement of the Spaniards They paint their Bodies black with the Juice of the Root Yaguas and feed for the most part on the stamp'd Plant Yaca On the other side of the Mountain which rises on the Banks of Chuquimayo lies the Countrey Perico fruitful and well inhabited against which juts the Golden Countrey Cherinos Peru hath also several delightful Valleys amongst which on the North the chiefest are the Tumbez Solana Poechos and Piura all of them very fertile full of stately Buildings and water'd by several Rivers 17. San Miguel the first City that was built by the Spaniards in Peru situate in a sandy and dry Soyl being extraordinary dusty in Summer and very slabby in the Winter because the hard Ground cannot soak up the Rain The Ingas made a Way through this Valley fifteen Foot broad between two Walls and Planted Trees on each side 18. Westward from Miguel appears Payta near a convenient Haven in the South-Sea which Anno 1547. was burnt by Thomas Candish since which it had been rebuilt twenty eight years when Joris Spilbergen Spilbergen's Attempt upon Payta after a hard Engagement with the Spanish Admiral Rodrigo Mendoza arriving in the large Haven before Payta sent eight Sail with three hundred Armed Men up to the City where finding the Enemy Encamp'd along the Shore he return'd without any effect but two of his Frigats the Eolus and the Morning-Star running close to Payta fir'd whole Broad-sides at the same whilest Captain De Wit took a Peruvian Fisher-man who had been two Moneths out at Sea and taken abundance of Fish The Guns which the Ships fir'd upon the Town struck such a terror into the Citizens that they fled with Bag and Baggage into the Mountains and left the City for a Prize to Spilbergen who setting fire on the same in few hours burnt down two Churches a Dominican Cloyster and several Alms-houses But had not the Citizens been cowardly they might easily have kept off the Hollander for the Vice-Roy Ludovico Velasco inform'd of Spilbergen's Arrival had stor'd the Place with Ammunition and Men whose Courage failing prov'd successful for the Hollanders who whilest they Rid here at an Anchor took a very strange Bird on the Island Lobos lying before Payta being two Yards high and three thick in its Bill Wings and Claws resembling an Eagle and having a large Crest on
inform'd that the Galley Jesu Maria Commanded by the Admiral Rodrigo Mendoza and the Santa Anna by the Vice-Admiral Peter Alvares Piger were both lost not one Man being sav'd Not far from hence lie the Valleys Gaura and Lima which last exceeds all others in bigness and was formerly exceeding populous but since the Marquess Pizarro built the City Los Reyos here the Citizens have taken the Lands from the Peruvians The Mines hereabouts produce Gold and Silver Amongst other things time Inhabitants highly esteem an Herb bearing yellow Flowers which in a short time cures a putrifi'd Wound whereas if laid on sound Flesh it eats the same to the Bone The Natives heretofore us'd to spend their time in Hunting Strange manner of Hunting and caught their Game after this manner viz. three or four thousand of them would meet together and by taking Hands make a Ring of three or four Miles in circumference and at a certain Note or Tune Sung or loudly Exclaim'd they drew nearer and nearer till at last they were within Shot of the inclosed Game whatsoever it were The Countrey of Collao hath a low Point from which a long Cliff runs into the Sea towards the small Island call'd Isla de Collao On each side of the Point the Coast runs sloaping in the one side extending North-West from Collao to the Cliffs Piscadores the other South-East to the second Promontory behind which is a large Bay where the Valley Pachacama appears famous for its exceeding fruitfulness and a stately Temple built by the Ingas A vast Treasure found by Ferdinando Pizarro where Ferdinando Pizarro found above nine hundred thousand Ducats besides what the Soldiers and Commanders took and what the Priests had hid which none though miserably tortur'd would confess Opposite to Pachacama lies the Valley Chilca where it never Rains nor any Brook or Spring moistens the dry Soil which nevertheless produces Maiz and Fruit-Trees The Natives us'd to dig large and deep Pits in which they Sow'd and Planted and at every Root laid the Head of a Fish call'd a Sardin which they caught in Nets on the Sea-shore wherein nevertheless nothing would have grown but for the Morning Dews which fell The Ingas also had curious Banquetting-houses here In these Parts there grows a sort Tree call'd Mala of which Acosta relates a strange Wonder of Nature very remarkable viz. That it flourishes and bears Fruit on that side which beholds the South in that Season when it is Summer on the Mountains the other which views the Sea Blossoming and bearing Fruit when it is Summer on the Plains The Valley Guarco spacious and full of Trees produces especially the pleasant Fruit Guayaves and Guavas as also the best Wheat in Peru wherefore it is vended all over the Countrey Here are also the Ruines of another stately Castle built by the Ingas the former lustre whereof is testifi'd by its remaining Walls which consist of exceeding great Stones so neatly joyn'd together without Mortar that it appears like one entire Stone and by the decay'd Structures of several Halls much of the curious Painting whereof is yet to be soch from the Castle a large pair of Stairs led down to the Sea-shore Two Leagues farther the River Lunagun runs through the fertile Valley of the same Denomination The fatness of this Soil is chiefly ascrib'd to the Dung of a Fowl call'd Guana which the Natives fetch in great abundance from the Isles near the Main Next follows the Valley Chinca one of the biggest in all Peru and before the Spaniards Arrival very populous In the time of the Ingas it also shew'd a magnificent Temple Dedicated to the Sun built by Tepaja Jupangue yet the Inhabitants still remain'd constant in the worshipping of their old Idol Cinciapema Hither the Ingas sent their conquer'd Princes who on a certain time were to appear in Cusco The Dominicans at present possess here a neat Cloyster from whence leads a plain Road to the Dale Ica water'd by the River Pisco which is dry in Summer wherefore the Natives brought a Ditch from the Mountains which since the Spaniards destroying the Inhabitants is choak'd up with Sand. Next the Valley Nasca comes in view famous for the Castle Caxamalca where the Ingas kept all manner of Ammunition for War besides several Tombs out of which the Spaniards took great Riches This Valley is divided into several others which for the most part produce Sugar-Canes and through them all runs the Royal High-way which is Wall'd in on both sides Beyond Nasca lie one behind another the Valleys Hacari Oconna Camana and Quilca all of them affording good Pasture for Cattel and Fruit yet are most of them desolate The County Los Motilonos thinly inhabited for want of Provisions and divided by two Rivers separates Moyobamba from the Countrey Charasmal Southward beyond Caxamalca appear the Countreys Guamachuco and a little farther Conchucos and Piscobamba all fruitful and pleasant and adorn'd with several Structures built by the Ingas On the side of Piscobamba the County Guaraz extends it self over barren Mountains through which the Ingas cut a Royal High-way and built a strong Castle at the Entrance into the Countrey the Inhabitants whereof being very laborious work very diligently in the Gold-Mines The Territory Pincos water'd by a River and famous for one of the stateliest of the Peruvian Structures is surrounded by the Countreys Guayalcas Turama Bomba and Conchucos The Mountains though dangerous to Travellers by Lyons great Bears and other ravenous Beasts afford abundance of Silver and the fruitful Soil produces Wheat Maiz Grapes Figs Oranges Quinces Cittrons Cedars and likewise feeds Goats Horses and other Cattel The Countrey Viticos being within the Jurisdiction of Guanuco lies amongst the Mountains Andes whether Inga Mango fled when the Spaniards made themselves Masters of Peru. Chief Towns and Places of note Towns and Places most observable and important in it belonging to the Spaniards are 1. Miraflores as the Spaniards call it a well seated and wealthy Town in the Valley of Zanu as above mention'd five Leagues distant from the Sea where it hath likewise a good Haven or Port. 2. Truxillo two or three Leagues distant from the Sea the Haven whereof is said to be large but not safe The Town it self is seated in the Valley Chinco upon the Banks of a pleasant River whose Water doth not onely run through several Channels to moisten the Fields but also to accommodate every House in the City It hath broad Streets a great Market-place four Cloysters two for the Dominicans one for the Augustines and the other for the Franciscans one great Church five hundred Houses and a Palace inhabited by the King's Collectors and many Banquetting-houses about it The good situation and fruitfulness of the Soil mov'd the Marquess Francisco Pizarro to build this City here Anno 1533. but the Haven belonging to the same lies open to all manner of Winds so that the Ships Ride here in great danger
Villages the Inhabitants whereof heretofore worshipp'd the Sun By the Way from Arequipa to Collao lie two great Lakes but of one of which the River Aparima takes its original 12. Caxamalca rather a Fort than a Town in a Territory of the same Denomination built at the Foot of a Mountain wash'd with two Rivulets over which lead several Bridges near which also were formerly a stately Temple Consecrated to the Sun wonderful Palaces and Baths for the Ingas besides other magnificent Structures of Noble-men which were the more famous for Attabaliba's Imprisonment and Death The Soil round about may compare with any part of the World for fertility The Inhabitants are a peaceable ingenious People and make curious woollen Hangings 13. St. Juan de la Frontera built by the Spaniards North-East and by East from Caxamalca in the County Chiachinpoyas full of Gold-Mines and Cattel to which belongs not onely Chiachinpoyas but also the Countreys Guiancas and Cascainga out of which above twenty thousand Peruvians pay Tribute to the Spanish King These People especially the Women are very comely and beautiful for which reason the Ingas fetch'd their Wives and Concubines from thence Eastward from Frontera rise the high Mountains Andes behind which flows the great River Mayobamba by several poor Villages inhabited by a sottish kind of People 14. San Jago de las Valles built in an ill place amongst the Shrubs and overflowing Rivers In this Countrey grows a Tree which bears a juicy Fruit not unlike an Almond in prickly Rinds but resembling those which cover a Chesnut concerning which Physicians have deliver'd their Opinions That there is not a wholsomer Fruit in the whole World 15. Leon de Guanuco which receiv'd that Denomination from its Builder Vacca de Castro who call'd it Leon because he was born in the Spanish City Leon and Guanuco from the stately Palace of the Ingas which was built here The Houses are built of Free-stone and cover'd with Thatch The Citizens of Los Reyos were much against the building of this Town because several Lands belonging to them were taken away and given to Guanuco where the temperate Air grants long Life and Health to the Inhabitants The High-way in which stand several Store-houses formerly full of Ammunition runs through the middle of this Countrey where in the time of the Ingas dwelt Astronomers who by looking on the Stars pretended to tell future Events Here the Women also us'd to be burnt alive with their Husbands SECT V. Cusco CUSCO The several Valleys and other Territories belonging to Collao In this Province also there are some lesser Divisions of Countreys necessary to be describ'd viz. the cold and barren Countrey Bambon jutting against Guanuco inhabited antiently by a valiant People especially near the Lake Chincacocha which is ten Leagues in circumference in the middle of it are several Cliffs and little Isles And out of this Lake also the famous River De la Plata hath its original and runs through the Valley Xauxa receiving by the way the Streams Parcos Bilcas Abancay Apurima Yucay and others The next Countreys in order towards the South are Tarana abounding with Wheat and the eminent Valley Xauxa surrounded with snowy Mountains The Inhabitants by a general Name call'd Guancas were antiently divided into three sorts viz. the Maracabilca Laxapalanga and Xauxa Here were also several stately Houses built by the Ingas Upon this Valley borders the Village Acos near a Moorish place full of Canes but before you approach the Village you come near a high Plain where the Ruines of an antient Structure appear and somewhat farther the Palace Pico from whence the High-way directs to the Bridge Angoyaca which leads cross the River Xauxa near which the Ingas had several magnificent Structures and Baths of warm Springs Not far from hence is the Village Picoy between which and Angoyaca the Arm of the River Xauxa is cut with a Bridge because in the Winter it glides so swift that they cannot Ferry over it From Picoy you go to the Wild in whole Center stands the antient Castle Pucara which in the Peruvian Tongue signifies Invincible Fort where the Ingas receiv'd their Tribute from the neighboring People that live amongst the snowy Mountains The Banks of the great River Vinaque are crown'd with the Ruines of antient Structures which as the Natives relate were built by foreign People which Assertion of theirs seems to be confirm'd by the form and manner of Building differing from the Ingas Structures which us'd to be long and narrow Moreover several sweet Streams abounding with Fish especially Crabs glide through the Plain-Countrey out of the Mountains Andes Not far from hence appears the Plain Chapas and the Palaces Pilcas of which now nothing remains but a heap of Rubbish which lies in the Center of Peru. A fresh-water River which gives the fore-mention'd Palaces their Denomination glides out of Soras and washes the High-way and stately Temple of the Sun The Countrey Soras exceeding fertile and stock'd with Gold and Silver Mines is inhabited by a People which go Cloth'd in woollen Cloth and for their Valor formerly much esteem'd by the Ingas Those that inhabit the Countrey Uramar are call'd Chancas whose Neighbors possess a long Tract of Land abounding with Cattel and Fruit but of late are most of them destroy'd by the Spaniards The River Abanca which takes its original in the Mountainous County Parinacocha washes several Royal Buildings and at last discharges its Waters into the River Xauxa On each side of the great River Apurima are erected two wonderful Stone Pillars over which lies a most artificial Bridge built by the Ingas from whence the High-way being cut through hard Rocks leads up into the Countrey where the stately Buildings of Limatambo shew themselves and beyond the Mountain Bilcaconga the Valley Xaquixaguana inclos'd between high Rocks comes in view where the Ingas us'd to recreate themselves in their Banquetting-houses from whence the High-way which is Wall'd in on both sides runs directly through deep Moorish Grounds to Cusco Eastward from Cusco behind the Andes are many large Countreys which to discover the Spaniards spar'd neither trouble danger nor charge between both they found vast Wildernesses inaccessible Mountains and overgrown Countreys yet at last they opened four ways thither the first whereof runs through the Valley Paquil to Tono a Village in the middle of the Mountains from thence to the River Opotazi along which it is very troublesom travelling because of the thick Woods and steep Rocks lastly to the hot and fruitful Valley Abisca and so to vast Wildernesses overgrown with Brambles and Bushes which prevented any farther Discovery The second Way runs thirty Leagues farther to the Southward through the Countreys Sandia Camata and Caravaya to Zama Through this Way Anno 1538. Peter Anzurez travell'd Peter Anzurez his Journey setting out from Zama he found many desolate Mountains barren Wilds and close Woods through which he entred into the County Tacana
now make their Apparel of the same and upon the account of Barter drive a great Trade in it They Dye their Cotton with the boyl'd Roots and Leaves of a little Tree Eastward beyond Santa Cruiz lies the Countrey Paicanos eminent for the great Calabashes which grow there exceeding good to keep both wet and dry Meats in The Countrey receives a vicissitude of excessive Cold and intolerable Heat the hard Winters taking beginning in May and continuing till the beginning of August In the middle of our Summer a South-wind blows seven Weeks together here to the great prejudice of all Plants which are during that time often wash'd away by continual Rains About Christmas they Sowe and gather in their Harvest in March. During the rainy Season the Ways cannot be travell'd being all overflow'd by the Rivers neither doth the Palm-Wood which is four days Journey in length permit any access to the said City Santa Cruiz because the conflux of Waters makes it a Moor all over besides which the Tygers Bears and Serpents make the Ways dangerous especially at that time Through this Countrey the Spanish Captain Nusco de Chavas travell'd when he discover'd the Taguamacis a numerous People which dwell along the great River De la Plata The Countrey about Santa Cruiz produces all manner of Fruit but few Trees because of the want of Rain but Corn Maiz Wine Granadillas Luiumas and Tucumay as also the Plant Hachalindi in the Latine Tongue call'd Mirabile Peruanum grow here in great abundance which 〈◊〉 shoots up to the bigness of a pretty large Body full of Juice and of a yellowish colour out of which shoot knotty Boughs and about each Knot two Leaves resembling the Herb Nightshade the Flowers which hang at the ends of the Boughs are long and pleasant to the Eye by reason of their mixture of Purple White and Yellow and also of a sweet smell It is a strange Secret in Nature that this Flower opens at Midnight if any Light come near the same The Root also is accounted an effectual Medicine against the Dropsie SECT VII Collao Situation and Description of Collao COllao lieth Southward of those Countries which go under the general Name of the Province of Cusco having on the West Lima on the South Charcas but Eastward and to the North-East it is shut up by a Ridge of Mountains running in one Body or continu'd Tract from the Confines of Collao as far as the City of Cusco where they divide The Countrey is generally plain commodiously water'd in all Parts with fresh Rivers and consequently affording rich Pasturage and good Herds of Cattel Chief Towns and Places of note The Chief Towns and Places of note are 1. Chuquinga a great Town and held to be naturally almost impregnable as being environ'd round about either with deep unfordable Waters or with Mountains unpassable and having one onely Cawsey leading to it reported to be for two or three Leagues together no broader than to permit one single Person to march conveniently upon it 2. The City Pucara which was formerly well inhabited but at present nothing remains of it except the ruin'd Walls of great Houses and large Images of Stone 3. Ayavire by the Spaniards call'd Las Sepulturas being a Place especially enobled by the stately Monuments of the Peruvian Nobility which were found there 4. Hatuncolla the Metropolis or chief Town of this Province seated upon the Banks of the River Caravaya whose Streams are very much fam'd for Gold CALLAO de LIMA The River Caravaya which glides from the Andes Eastward to the City Juan del Oro produces much fine Gold but not without the loss of many People which are kill'd by the unwholsom Air and Damps that arise here The Lake Titicaca The Lake Titicaca which washes the Countrey Collao on the North the Province of Omasuy on the East Chaquito on the West and Chuquiabo on the South is one of the greatest Lakes of America being eighty Leagues in circumference and in several places as many Fathom deep wherefore it is exceeding rough in windy Weather Into this Lake ten great Rivers discharge their Waters which run away again through a narrow but very deep Channel in which the Stream runs so strong that no Boats are able to abide in it 5. Chinquita a Colony of Spaniards upon the Banks of Titiaca having many small Islands in it of a good and fruitful Soil abounding in Fish and variety of Sea-Fowl it is suppos'd to be fourscore Leagues distant likewise from the South Sea haying onely one Estuary or Mouth which is something strait but of such a deep Water and violent Stream that as Acosta testifieth of it it is not possible to build a Bridge of Stone or Timber over it but the Natives in stead thereof have laid a Bridge of Straw upon it which serves as well viz. so many great Bundles of Straw Sedge or such like matter well and surely made up and fastned together as will reach from one side or Bank of the Estuary to another at which likewise having made them sure they cast some good quantity of more Straw and Sedge upon them and have a Bridge very convenient upon which they both securely pass themselves and also drive Cattel and do other necessary Business The Water is neither bitter nor brackish yet is not drinkable because of its muddiness Several Islands that lie in the Lake serv'd formerly for Store-houses of the chiefest Goods which the People thereabouts living near the High-way would not trust in their Villages The Plant Totara Here grows a certain Broom-Plant call'd Totara good for many uses and is also wholsom Food both for Man and Beast moreover they cover their Houses with the same burn it on their Hearths and make Boats The Uros a salvage People made Floats of Totara which they ty'd together and built Villages on the same which drove to and again according as the Wind blew The Lake also breeds abundance of Fish and especially two sorts viz. Suches which are very pleasing to the Palate but unwholsom and the Bogas which though less and full of Bones are a much better Food There likewise breed plenty of Fowls about the same especially wild Geese and Ducks When the Peruvians intend to Entertain any Person they go to catching of Fowls by them call'd Chaco after this manner They make a Circle with the Floats nam'd Balsas and Rowing close to one another take up the inclos'd Fowl with their Hands Moreover the fore-mention'd Channel through which the Lake Titicaca discharges its Water ends in a little Lake call'd Aulagas likewise full of desolate Isles but hath no visible place into which to empty its Water therefore it must needs according to the course of Nature fall under Ground where it commixes with a Stream whose original is unknown though it be seen to fall into the South Sea The Town is a Place of extraordinary Wealth and Trading and so considerable that
four large Hospitals the chiefest whereof call'd Andrias hath seldom less than four hundred Sick which are kept and cur'd on Charity The second is for Peruvians onely call'd The Hospital of St. Anna. The third built in honor of the Apostle St. Peter is for poor old Clergy-men The fourth nam'd The House of Love is for sick Women Besides these there stands another Structure near the Walls of the City Consecrated to Lazarus where those that have the Leprosie are cur'd The House call'd The Holy-Ghost receives all sick and wounded Sea-men The King maintains twenty four Students at his own Charge in the Royal Colledge and the Arch-bishop as many in the Colledge call'd St. Toronius but in the Colledge of St. Martin reside above six hundred which are brought up in all manner of Arts and Sciences Two hundred Students are also taught in the high School where they chuse a new Governor every year Here also is kept the King's Treasure and the Court of Inquisition The River which washes the City Walls runs so exceeding swift that not long since it carried away a new Stone Bridge with nine great Arches The Dominican Monks were the first that Landed on Peru the first which came thither with Francisco Pizarro being Vincent de Valle Verde who was follow'd by Sancio Martino Martino de Esquivele Dominico de Sancto Thoma Pedro Ulloa Alphonso de Montenegro Reynaldo Pedraza and many others who were stirr'd up by the report of the Peruvian Riches amongst whom were four Franciscans viz. Pedro Portuguese Jodoco de los Angelos De la Cruiz and De Sant Anna who were soon after follow'd by twelve Monks of the Augustine Order Anno 1552. Landed also at Los Reyos Colonel Andreas Salazar accompanied with Antonio Lozano Juan de Sancto Petro Hieronymo Melendez Didaco Palamino Pedro de Espeda Andreas Ortega Juan Canto Juan Chamorro Miracles reported to have been done by Ramirez Francisco de Treyas Juan Ramirez and Balthazar Melgarego Salazar soon after his Arrival sent the Priest Juan Ramirez and Balthazar Melganego to Guamachuco where he Baptiz'd and Instructed the Inhabitants in great numbers Afterwards travelling to Moyabamba he got a great esteem amongst those Idolaters and as it goes for currant amongst them wrought many Miracles amongst which this is reported for one He being inform'd by an old Peruvian that his Daughter nam'd Curi had hid several Idols enquiring after it he tax'd her with what her Father had told him which she denying and being rebuk'd by Ramirez is said to have become immediately dumb to have foam'd at the Mouth at last falling down dead like a second Saphira in the presence of many which caus'd many to forsake their Idolatry But the Necromancers endeavor'd by all means possible to raise a disesteem on Ramirez and with the assistance of their Master the Devil so wrought their Inchantments that the Tygers came in great Herds out of the Wildernesses to Moyabamba and devour'd not onely Men Women and Children in the High-ways but also tore them out of their Houses yet did not the least hurt to any Spaniard whereupon Ramirez valiantly went with a Company of his Proselytes to a Herd of Tygers which when he approached held the Cross to them which it seems so affrighted the Devil-Tygers that they climb'd up the Trees They farther relate if you will believe them to make the Miracle the greater That Ramirez call'd to the Multitude saying Go and revenge the Deaths of your devour'd Parents Children and Relations whereupon he throwing a Stone and all the rest following his Example the Tygers leap'd out of the Trees stood still and suffer'd themselves to be kill'd like Lambs Six years after the fore-mention'd twelve Augustine Monks follow'd eleven others who set Sail out of the Spanish Haven St. Lucar and arriving at Peru went to the Village Tauca where they broke the Image of the Goddess Huarella being as it were the Peruvian Venus or Patroness of amorous Delights reported to have given Responses from the Wood in which she was worshipp'd They also destroy'd the Idol Chanca in the Countrey Conchucos which being worshipp'd by the Indians in the shape of a Man had yearly a fair Maid aged fourteen years given to him in Marriage a solemn Wedding being kept and several Sheep kill'd The Miracle of an Augustine Monk The Augustine Monks are believ'd to have wrought also another Miracle in the Province Conchucos upon this occasion A Conjurer call'd Chaumango boasted himself to be God deny'd our Saviour in testimony whereof he gave out that he would kick a Mountain to pieces with his Foot which Report spreading all over the Countrey all the adjacent People flock'd to see this strange Wonder on an appointed Day on which Charimango being it seems as good as his word and kicking the Mountain caus'd it to rent from the top to the bottom and the pieces to flie all about the People who were exceedingly amaz'd but the Sorcerer upon the Augustine Monk's rebuking him was as they affirm immediately eaten up with Worms CHILI 1. P. â— de Talcaguana 2. I. Quiriquina 3. R. Biobio 4. R. Ilandalien 5. R. de la Laxa To conclude our Description of this famous Kingdom of Peru the People thereof at the Spaniards first Arrival viewing their Shipping their Guns and other Accoutrements unknown to them before had them in great admiration as Men descended from Heaven but when they began to be oppress'd by their Tyranny and to be tortur'd by them they look'd upon them as the Spawn of Hell and curs'd the Sea that had brought so wicked a People to them CHAP. V. Chile Situation and Description of Chile FOllowing the Coast of Mare del Zur or the South Sea the next great Province pertaining formerly to the Kingdom of Peru is that of Chile This is the most Southerly Province of the whole Countrey of America reaching up as far as the Magellane Straights with which to the Southward it is bounded Northward it hath a Desart and an undiscover'd Countrey lying betwixt it and the Confines of Peru call'd Atacama on the West it hath Mare del Zur and on the East up to Rio de la Plata the Atlantick or North Sea with some Countreys undiscover'd which interpose betwixt it and Paraguay to the North-East It lieth all of it beyond the Tropick of Capricorn in a temperate Zone and extendeth it self in length from the Borders of Peru to the Mouth of the Straights five hundred Leagues or more but the breadth of it neither equal nor certain They say 't is call'd Chile from the word I hil which signifies Cold it seems in their Language as well as ours it being generally a cold and bleak Countrey the Air in many parts of it so extreamly sharp and piercing that both Horse and Rider sometimes in travelling are frozen to death as the Spaniards found by experience in their first Search and Discovery of the Countrey under the Conduct of Diego Almagro who
is said to have left the greatest part of his Men dead behind him But this is chiefly towards the Andes and on the Sea-Coast the more Inland parts of it though mountainous also in some parts yet are more temperate and being also well water'd with Rivers are much more fruitfull than the other affording both Wheat and Maiz and likewise other Grain excellent Pasturage in many places and great store of Cattel Wine Honey and not without many and rich Mines both of Gold and Silver The Natives of this Countrey were found to be the most stout and warlike of all the Americans that the Spaniards had hitherto met withal fighting with them and oftentimes defeating them in the open Field surprizing and sacking their Towns and last of all taking their Captain and Commander in Chief Prisoner This was Pedro Baldivia one of those good Men that consented to the death of Attabaliba the last King of Peru after a greater Ransom accepted and paid then perhaps the King of Spain could well raise on a sudden if he had occasion to use it for himself Pedro Baldivia taken Prisoner and put to death by the Arucans The Arucans for so are the People call'd that had him Prisoner are said to have Entertain'd him for a while with great Jollity and Feasting but for his last Draught gave him a Cup of melted Gold which the poor Man was forc'd to take down and so died a cruel though costly Death The whole Province generally is divided first into Chile specially so call'd and secondly Magellanica or that part which lieth more Southward down to the Straights of Magellan SECT II. Chile properly so call'd The Bounds of Chile specially so call'd CHile specially so call'd is border'd Northward with the Desart and barren Countrey of Acatama above mention'd on the South with Magellanica on the West with Mare del Zur Eastward and to the North-East with some parts of Paraguay or rather with some undiscover'd Countreys lying betwixt them both The length of it from North to South is reckon'd to be little less than three hundred Leagues and generally of a fruitful Soil affording besides abundance of Gold and Silver both Corn Cattel Vineyards and divers sorts of Fruits equal both for kind and plenty to Spain it self and sundry other parts of Europe The Air likewise temperate and the People in their Manners and Conditions come much nearer to the Civility and likewise subtilty of the Europeans than other Americans did which doubtless may be attributed to the conformity of the Climates under which they lie agreeable to those of Europe though otherwise in respect of the Sphere and Seasons of the Year there be a diametrical difference betwixt us As for Example their Spring beginning in September which is our Autumn and their Autumn in March which is our Spring their longest Day being that of St. Lucy on the eleventh of December which is our shortest and their shortest being St. Barnabas viz. the eleventh of June which is our longest c. Towns and Places of Importance The Towns of chiefest note and importance in this Province are 1. Gopiapo an old Town in the most Northerly parts of this Province towards the Sea where it hath a very commodious Haven belonging to it 2. La Serena a Town situate on the Banks of Coquimbo a pleasant River a little above its Influx into the Sea built by Baldivia in the Year 1544. the Countrey about very rich in Mines of Gold and the Town it self so well Garrison'd for fear of the Natives that when the English under Sir Francis Drake about fourscore years since attempted the gaining of the Place they found hot Service of it being stoutly resisted and beaten back again to their Ships by a Sally of no less than three hundred good Horse and two hundred Foot 3. St. Jago the principal Town of the Province a Bishop's See and the ordinary Residence of the Governor lying on the Banks of the River Tapocalma in the thirty fourth Degree of Southern Latitude fifteen Leagues distant from the South Sea at which it hath a very commodious and much frequented Haven which they call Valparayso and where the English met with better fortune as hath been said already in the report of Sir Francis Drake's Voyage TABULE MEGELLANICA QUA TIERRAE DEL FUEGO 〈…〉 5. Los Confines a Fronteer Town built by the aforesaid Baldivia for defence of the rich Mines of Gold at Angol a Place near adjoyning 6. La Imperiale another strong Garrison of this Place on the Banks of the River Cauten near to which that great Battel was fought where Baldivia with divers other Soldiers were taken Prisoners who were no otherwise overcome but by being over-wearied with killing of their Enemies and by that means not able to make their Retreat 7. Villarica another Colony of the Spaniards in these Parts sixteen Leagues distant from Imperiale and twenty five from the Sea 8. Baldivia so nam'd from the Commander Pedro Baldivia who built it in the Valley of Guadallanquen two or three Leagues distant from the Sea where it hath a good and capacious Port but nearer to it the best Mines of Peru so rich that 't is said they yielded Baldivia every day so long as he could enjoy them twenty five thousand Crowns 9. Osorno a Town lying in the Bay of Chilue in a barren Soil but otherwise neither less rich nor less populous than Baldivia it self These three last mention'd Towns viz. Baldivia Imperiale and Osorno were in the Years 1596 1699 and 1604 surpriz'd by the Araucanes and other Salvages confederate with them sack'd and burnt and though the Spaniards be said to have recover'd and Garrison'd some of them with fresh Soldiers yet how long they were able to hold them or whether they be Masters of them at this day we cannot say 10. Castro the most Southerly Town of the whole Province built on a certain Island within the Bay of Chilue 11. Mondoza and 12. St. Juan de la Frontera both which lie towards Paraguay and Rio de la Plata but on the other side of the Andes forty Leagues distant from any of those we have spoken of and perhaps more not above a hundred from Buenos Ayres and the Atlantick Ocean SECT III. Magellanica Situation and Description of Magellanica MAgellanica the other part of this Province is bounded Northward with Chile abovesaid and some parts of the Countrey De la Plata on the South with the narrow Sea call'd Magellans Straights having Mare del Zur on the West and on the East the Atlantick Ocean It contains in length from the Borders of Chile to the Mouth of the Straights a hundred Leagues and in breadth from the North to the South Sea somewhat more viz. towards Chile and the North-West parts of it for towards the South and South-West it straitens still more and more insomuch that they who resemble the Southern part of America to the form of a
Pyramid revers'd make this part of the Countrey to be the Spire or top thereof It beareth the Name from Ferdinand Magellan a Portuguese who first discover'd that narrow Sea so famously known by the Name of Magellans Straights It is a large Countrey and suppos'd not to be altogether barren of Metals but as yet no great Discovery hath been made of it partly by reason of the excessive Cold to which 't is thought to be subject and partly perhaps by reason of the difficulty of the Enterprize it being so far remote and very hardly passable in many places by reason of the huge Mountains the Andes which bar it as it were against all Adventurers but chiefly by reason of the stoutness and untameableness of the Araucanes and other Natives of Chile through whose Countrey the March lieth and who must first be conquer'd so that very little can be said more of this Countrey than onely to name the Ports and Places upon the Sea-Coasts 〈…〉 and â—â—â—â—ghts at which the Spaniards and likewise some other Nations at several times have touched the chief whereof upon the South Sea are 1. Cabo de las Islas a Promontory or Foreland twenty six Leagues distant from that of St. Felix on the Confines of Chile 2. Puerto de San Stephano fifty Leagues from that towards the South 3. La Villa de Nuestra Sennora or Our Ladies Dale a large and secure Bay eighteen Leagues Southward of St. Stephens 4. La Punta Deglada 5. Puerto de los Reyos and 6. Ancona Sin Salida all of them opening towards the Straights There is also at the opening of the Straights Cabo de la Vittoria Cabo Desseado and some others Upon the North Sea and up towards Rio de la Plata the chief Places observable are 1. Rio de la Crux and the Cape which they call De las Rameras about thirty Leagues distant from the Straights Mouth 2. The Bay of St. Julian forty Leagues Northward of the former 3. El Puerto Desseado 4. Puerto de los Leones 5. The Bay of Anegada all of them good and capacious Havens for the security of Shipping upon these Coasts and lying at a distance of thirty or forty Leagues one from another up towards Rio de la Plata and the Countrey of Paraguay of which we are next to speak Description or the Magellan Straights As for the Straights themselves so much spoken of and likewise so necessary to be known by those who frequent these parts of the World they are a narrow Sea or Frith by which the Atlantick Ocean or rather some parts of it doth fall into Mare del Zur or the South Sea the Passage is long running as 't is commonly suppos'd well nigh a hundred Leagues together almost in a paralel Line or in the same Degree of Latitude from one end to the other and likewise extreamly difficult by reason of the many windings and turnings of the Sea which force them to be ever and anon altering of their Course and a mountainous high Countrey on both sides of it from whence it is almost continually beaten with Storms both dangerous and terrible They were first discover'd by Ferdinand Magellan by Nation a Portuguese but in the Service of the King of Spain and by him nam'd Magellan's Straights who although himself liv'd not to return into Spain being slain in the Conquest of the Molucca Islands yet his Companions did in the Ship call'd Vittoria from whence the Cape De la Vittoria abovesaid took its Name The Mouth or Entrance of them by the Atlantick Ocean lies in fifty two Degrees of Southern Latitude and hath not above fifty three and some Minutes at the Exit or opening into the South Sea The Straights of Le Maire There is likewise since this and but of late times viz. about the Year 1615. another Straight discover'd by the Dutch and call'd from the Discoverer Fretum Mairi or The Straights of le Maire four or five Degrees more to the Southward than those of Magellan and suppos'd to be a much easier and safer Passage The Intention by the discovery of these Straights was to have found a shorter Way to the East-Indies and the Kingdoms of Cathay and China than that which was then onely us'd viz. by the Cape de Buena Speranza and the Coast of Africk but by reason of the great difficulty as 't is to be suppos'd and uncertainty of the Passage neither the one nor the other is much frequented the Spaniards for the most part serving themselves of their American Ports upon the South Sea from whence they make their Voyages and Returns to and from the other Indies and from thence home to Spain and the English with other Nations of Europe Trading still by the Coast of Africk and Cape of Good Hope or else by the way of Alexandria and the Persian Gulf as heretofore PARAQVARIA Vulgo PARAGVAY Cum adjacentibus CHAP. VI. Paraguay or Rio de la Plata VVE have seen in Magellanica the farthest that is the most Southerly part of the New World and before it in order all the Western Coasts of America that lie either upon or towards Mare del Zur viz. from Panama the first Province of this Southern part down as far as the Straights We are now to return and take a view of the Eastern Coasts and those Countreys which lie upon the Atlantick Ocean steering our Course henceforth Northward not directly but as the Coast leads us for a while Eastward and by North forasmuch as the Land of America from the Straights of Magellan up as far as Brasile and almost to the AEquator runneth out with a long Point little less than three thousand Leagues together Situation and Description of Paraguay or Rio de la Plata The first Province we meet with on this side next to Magellanica is the Countrey of Paraguay oftentimes call'd Rio de la Plata from the Name of an huge River which runneth for the most part through the midst of it It is border'd as we said to the South and towards the Straights with Magellanica on the East with the Atlantick Ocean more Northward or to the North-East it hath Brasile and on the West those undiscover'd Countreys of the Province of Chile of which we have spoken The Countrey on both sides the River is reported to be a very lusty and fruitful Soil bearing besides those which are proper and native all sorts of European Fruits and Grain in great abundance with Sugar-Canes both large and good as any other Province of the New World Nor is it excell'd by any other for good Pasturage and great Herds of Cattel Sheep and Swine in particular Horses are said to have multiply'd so here that of thirty Mares and about six or seven Stallions which the Spaniards left there in forty years the whole Countrey thereabouts was fill'd with the Breed of them running wild in great Companies together through all the Woods and Forrests of the Countrey and
the Sea The difference between Summer and Winter shorter and longer Days in the main part of Brasile is scarce discernable warm Weather lasting all the year round and for the length of the Day and Night the Sun being hid under the Horizon twelve hours shines for the most part just as long the greatest difference never being above an hour Three hours before Day-break the Dew makes it exceeding cold till Sun-rising wherefore the Brasilians make Fires in the Night near their Hammocks not onely to keep wild Beasts from them but also against the Cold. After the coldest Nights follow the fairest Days and the contrary after sultry Nights nevertheless except in the rainy Season which begins with March and ends about August the Skye is generally clear yet it Lightens much towards the Evening Rainbowes often appear in the Skye and bout the Mooon Halos The Rain generally falls in great Drops and with a mighty noise before which it is generally very sultry hot or else soon after The Dew which is fruitfuller than in Europe is saltish which makes it oft to rot things that lie in the open Air. During the rainy Moneths a South-East Winds blows from a cloudy Skye much stronger than the Northern in Summer The South-East Wind drives the Stream to the North as the North Wind drives it to the South And more than this there is little to be discern'd of the Seas ebbing and flowing hereabouts At the highest Tides the Brasilians go several Leagues from the Shore to Fish upon Planks made of the spungy Wood call'd Jangada fastned together The Sea which seems to burn in the Night is so clear in the Day that the Fish may be seen to swim above twenty Fathom deep A calm Ocean when the Days and Nights are of an exact length and especially when dark Clouds appear is a certain sign of a dreadful Storm At Full or New-Moon the Sea rises twelve Foot and continues either a longer or shorter time according as it is more or less turbulent and the Rivers fall stronger or more gently into the same Before most part of the Coast of Brasile lies a Stone Cliff of above twenty or thirty Paces broad which is never cover'd with Water though in the time of Spring-floods In this Cliff Nature in several places hath made a Gap through which the Ships sail near the Shore and ride safe at an Anchor The whole Countrey of Brasile is divided into thirteen Praefectures or Lordships and hath about as many Rivers which more or less empty themselves into every one of these Countreys The Eastern part hath several Brooks and Fountains which afford good Water both for Man and Beast In some parts the Water is so strong that the wild Beasts making themselves Drunk therewith are easily taken During the Winter Season the Rivers glide with great force and swell on a sudden overflowing all the neighboring Countrey onely the River San Francisco runs strongest and rises highest in the Summer Season whenas in the Winter it flows low and poures but little Water into the Ocean The original of this River is as yet unknown yet is by most believ'd to come out of a great Lake lying near the Peruvian Mountains The Hollanders who sail'd forty Leagues up the same found it every where broad and deep and scatter'd full of Isles and Rocks The Portuguese sailing ten Leagues farther discover'd the great Rocks Cocoeras from which the said River falls down with great violence and extends it self North-West In the other Brasilian Streams though wide at the Mouthes which generally are not above two or three hours walking from their Fountains or Springs no Barque is able to Row up they being exceeding shallow although much Rain falls into them the reason whereof is because the barren Mountains lying between Brasile and Peru discharge abundance of Water through the Rivers of Amazones Maranon Francisco La Plata and the Juaeiro with such force into the Ocean that they keep their sweetness for thirty Leagues Near the Sea side are several Lakes and Pits which are drinkable and others up in the Countrey that are brackish The Nature of the Soil The Countrey differs exceedingly for where it extends in Plains the Soil is fat and clayie and produces all sorts of Fruit but especially Sugar-Canes During the rainy Seasons the Trees flourish most after which the heat of the Sun and fertility of the Soil speedily ripen the Fruit wherefore they Dung not their Land but on the contrary endeavor to make it lean with Sand that the Plants might not have too many Leaves and wither before the Fruit can be ripened They Sowe in the beginning of the rainy Moneths and especially take care that the Seed lie not too deep in the Ground because then the Sun-beams being not able to come at it suffer it to perish in the cold Ground The high Cocoa and Palmito-Trees are transplanted all the year round the Roots being onely cover'd with a little Earth because they can endure no cold Several Trees here bear a cooling Fruit as if kind Nature took care to provide against excessive heat All manner of Plants and Herbs brought hither from Angola Portugal the Netherlands and the East-Indies grow here very plentifully But the Countrey generally would be much better if some way could be found out to destroy the innumerable company of Pismires which though three times bigger than the European resemble them very much and cover the Paths in Woods and Fields for three or four Miles together and raising Hillocks make them hollow and fill them with Corn in the Full of the Moon they gather an incredible quantity of Grain which they bite at each end because it should not sprout against the rainy Moneths they stop up their Holes Description of the Tamanda that the Water may not damnifie their Store But these Animals have a mortal Enemy of the Tamanda of which there are two sorts the bigger call'd Guaca the lesser Miri the Guaca notwithstanding it is no bigger than an ordinary Dog yet it destroys Tygers and other wild Beasts with such a raging fury that it never le ts go what once it hath got hold of but holds it fast so long till sometimes it dies of Hunger The Guaca differing from the Miri onely in bigness hath a broad Tail full of grey and black Bristles which sticks up when he is vex'd but when he goes to sleep covers himself with the same The Miri winds his long smooth Tail about the Boughs by which hanging he searches the Holes in the Trees with his Tongue which being thin and round hath a Gutter in the middle in which when it feels any Pismires it suddenly swallows them down If he perceives them to have their Nests under Ground then he scratches up the Earth and puts his Tongue in at the Holes Both the Guacu and Miri have a thick Skin and a broad black Streak from their Breasts on each side up half way their
noise and though they cannot run fast yet they dive and swim extraordinary quick The Tapiirete The Tapiirete also resembles a Hog especially in its Head and Feet but is as big as a Heifer of six Moneths old hath a Snout hanging over its under Lip a Mouth full of Teeth and on its Skin short and dark colour'd Hair This Beast is very libidinous and in the Nights spoils the Fruit-Trees especially the Sugar-Canes but in the Day-time it sleeps in Thickets The Flesh of a young Tapiierete tastes like Beef Lastly the Inhabitants of Porto Seguro are plentifully supply'd with Rabbets and the more because there being divers sorts of them some say five they are taken in great abundance either in Traps Snairs or Gins or by discovering their Holes for the Hunters stopping the entrance of them dig a Hole directly over the place where the Coneys lodge and so kill them with long Pike-staves in the Ground Five sorts of Rabbets in Brasile Of these five sorts of Rabbets in Brasile the chiefest call'd Paca hath a thick Head little Ears their fore-Feet bigger than their hind-Feet short hard and brown Hair speckled grey on the Sides but no Tail The Flesh of this sort of Rabbets is very delicate The second sort is the Tupesi which being like a Hare amongst us may as well be accounted of that kind The Aguti resembles our Rabbets onely it hath harsh brown Hair round Ears bald Feet gruntles like a Hog hath two Toes more on their hind-Legs than on the foremost The Cavia Cobaya though less than the European Rabbets excell them in soft and divers-colour'd Hair distinguish'd by white red and black Spots their Head and Teeth resemble those of a Rat but it hath no Tail No Rabbets can be made tamer than these and if carry'd to any remote Countrey breed as well there as in Brasile The last of all is the Aparea which differs little in running from a Hare as also in respect of the Head and Beard harbors more in rent Cliffs than in sandy Ground The Tree Tucum The Soil of Porto Seguro bears two sorts of Palm-Trees viz. the Tucum and Airi the Tucum hath small Boughs full of prickly Leaves and a fruit not unlike the Damask Prune hanging in Clusters of three or four hundred together and being excellent Food to fatten Hogs and Apes also when press'd yielding a clear Oyl which is highly esteem'd the Fruit when ripe grows black without and within hath a white Kernel of the Leaves the Brasilians spin fine and strong Thred The Airi grows much higher than the Tucum and hath also longer Leaves a Body full of sharp Thorns and a round Fruit full of white and oylie Pulp but not eatable the Wood hard heavy and black sinks in the Water and the Brafilians make their Clubs of the same The Bird Cocoi Along the Rivers flie the Birds Cocoi resembling Herons though in beauty they far exceed them they have but little Flesh long sharp Bills of a yellowish green colour and curious Crests of Feathers on their Heads which fall back over their Necks their Flesh when young is delicate SECT VI. Los Isleos Situation and Description of Los Isleos NExt Porto Seguro borders the Countrey Los Isleos so call'd from its chief Town which consists of a hundred and fifty Houses or perhaps by this time many more eight Sugar-Mills a Cloyster for the Jesuits and a Church The Inhabitants live by Tillage and Transporting of Provisions in little Barks to Pernambuco Seven Leagues farther in the Countrey beyond the Town of Isleos lies a nameless Lake three Leagues long as many broad and above ten Fathom deep and full of the Fish Manati which are very large and well tasted besides abundance of Crocodiles and in windy Weather the Water is as rough as if it were in the Ocean Out of this Lake flows a River by a Passage so narrow that a Boat can scarce pass through the same Round about this River live the Guaymures the most salvage People of all America they are of a Gigantick size have white Skins carry exceeding great Bowes and Arrows live without Houses like Beasts devour Mans-flesh like Tygers never Fight in Companies or Armies but watch to surprize a single Man or Beast they also eat their own Children and possess'd formerly all the Land from the River St. Francisco to the Promontory Frio but beaten from thence by the Tupinambas and Tupinachias they went to the County Los Isleos which they Invaded in such a manner that the Portuguese were not onely forc'd to leave several Sugar-Mills but also the whole Countrey SECT VII Bahia de Todos los Sanctos When Sosa Landed on the fore-mention'd Shore the Portuguese had but little footing on America for their Plantations at Isleos St. Vincent Pernambuco Villa Veja Itamaraca and Porto Seguro discover'd by Pedro Alvares Capralis Anno 1500. were run all to ruine Beside the City St. Salvador and the decay'd Town Villa Veja the City Paripe lies three Leagues farther into the Countrey consisting of three thousand Families and eighteen Sugar-Mills The Countrey about the same produces plenty of Cotton The Island Taperica which is pretty large hath a fertile Soil for the production of Tobacco and Grass to fatten Cattel The Inhabitants boyl much Train-Oyl of the Whales which come ashore there in considerable numbers Twelve Leagues Southward from St. Salvador appears the Village Cacocheira formerly belonging to a rich Portuguese who took great pains in reforming the salvage People Guaymures to a civil Life but seeing he profited but little he caus'd great Companies of them to be remov'd to Taperica that they might do less mischief where the unusual and unwholsom Air kill'd them all in a short time The Lordship Bahia hath abundance of Sugar-Mills which are either turn'd by the Water or drawn by Oxen. OLINDA DE PHERNAMBUCO A. Narale B. Nonasterium in Insula Antonic vace C. Hospitium domini Presiotuâ— H. C. Lonck D. Ecclesia Pagi Povo E. Promptuaria Sacâ—aro Aâ— Hispanen ique delecâ—â— F. Vallum ferrestre cum nonnuâ—â—is fortulitus G. Monasterium Sancti Benedicti dictum Bento H. Sancti Antoni I. S â—i Francisci K. Ecclesia Magaâ— L. Ecclesia Jesuitarum N. Promontorium ex virgultis â—â—â—stium SECT VIII Pernambuco Description of Pernambuco NOrthward from Bahia de Todos los Sanctos lies Pernambuco which extends along the Coast above seventy Leagues between the River St. Francisco and the Countrey of Hamaraca Pernambuco which signifies Hells-Mouth is on the East wash'd by the Northern Ocean in which grows a Weed much like an Oaken Leaf and so thick that unless it be cut to make their Way impedes the Sailing of Ships Several sorts of Fish The Sea is also very full of Fish which in calm Weather are visible sixty Fathom deep and are taken in greater abundance than they are able to spend for they no sooner let down a Bait cover'd with Feathers
black and blue by them The Peeaios also profess themselves to be Chirurgeons and Doctors but if they cure not their Patients they go in danger of their Lives unless they speedily get away They burn their dead Bodies together with those things the Deceased affected most in his Life-time A Prince or Governor also hath his Slaves put to to death at the time when he is burn'd that they may serve him in the other World Their Bread-Corn The Cassavi-Root press'd boyl'd with Pepper dry'd and bak'd on hot Stones serves the Natives for Bread Each Grain that is Sow'n here produces in Harvest above fifteen hundred Their Corn makes wholsom and well tasted Beer call'd Passiaw and of their stamp'd Cassavi they make the Liquor Parranow In hollow Trees and Caves under Ground they find abundance of Honey and their Vines afford them excellent Grapes twice a year No Plant is ever seen here without either Leaf Blossom or Fruit except the European Apple-Tree which never changes its nature but blossoms and bears Fruit at the same time of the year as in Europe The wild Hogs Pokkiero whose Navels grow on their Backs and the Pangio not unlike our Swine afford the Inhabitants excellent Food Here are also Water-hogs of a very delicious taste but because they are very apprehensive and dive at the least noise they are seldom taken The Woods are full of Baboons and Apes as also the sloththful Beast Ai. The Hares here being of a brown Colour with white Specks and the red Rabbets are accounted great Delicacies There is no Countrey in America which breeds greater Armadillo's than Guiana some of them weighing eighty Pound Here are also Bears which live on nothing but Pismires they have long hairy Tails with which they cover their Bodies in rainy Weather they put their Tongues a Foot deep into the Pismires Nests and so pulls them out The Tygers here are either black spotted or red but the black exceed the other in cruelty yet are seldom seen near inhabited places the spotted and red devour abundance of Cattel but will seldom set upon a Man especially in the day-time The Woods are also full of Land-Turtles which the Inhabitants take and keep till they have occasion to make use of their Flesh The Eagles that are here with their Claws Engage with those that go about to take them The Catamountains make such an exceeding noise at a certain hour both in the Night and in the Day that it is heard two Leagues off The Marmozets a little Beast biting the Catamountains and Apes in the Ears forces them to leap from one Tree to another The black Beast Quotto hath a Face like an old Woman and hanging by the Tail swings from one Tree to another The Cuscary is a brown four-footed Creature about the bigness of a little Dog but hath the shape of a Lyon Moreover Birds Guiana produces Teal Geese Crains Phesants Partridges Pigeons Marlins Snipes Falcons Plovers and Parrots of all sorts besides many other strange Fowls amongst which the chiefest are a sort whose Feathers glitter like Scarlet and walk along in Rank and Fyle like Soldiers The Sea produces abundance of Turbots Fise Soals Thornback yellow Salmon Sturgeon Black-fish Gurnets Crabs and Oysters Amongst other Fishes the Cassoorwa which is somewhat bigger than an Eel is very strange having two Sights in each Eye of which it always holds one above and the other underneath the Water when it swims Here are also the great Fishes call'd Manati and Num-eel by which if any part of a Man be touch'd it immediately becomes stiff There are likewise divers Vermine Vermin which trouble the Countrey Guiana among which are Serpents of thirty Foot long that come out of the Water and feed on the Land they do little hurt as not being poysonous but there are many of a lesser size whose biting is so venomous that it causes the Flesh of a Man to rot in twenty four hours time others there are which have forked Tails and Tusks in the Roof of their Mouthes The Crocodiles here also devour abundance of Cattel Strange kind of Scorpions The Scorpions which are black and resemble a Lobster breed under dry Wood or Corn their Stings are hid in their Tails with which if any one be touch'd he is sure to endure an intolerable pain but without danger of losing his Life for the present yet nothing can perfectly cure the same except the Scorpion kill'd and laid on the Wound The Bats here are as big as Pigeons and they suck the Blood of Men and Beasts so gently that they seldom perceive the same The Pismires also do great mischief especially in sandy Grounds and likewise the Musketo's whose Stings cause painful Swellings but these most of all trouble them that inhabit near the Sea side on low Lands insomuch that the Fisher-men bury themselves in the Night in Sand leaving onely Holes to breathe at Frogs and Toads also make a terrible noise here and especially after Rain Commodities of the Countrey The Soil is inferior to none in the World for the production of Sugar but the general Commodities of the Countrey are Flax Cotton Hemp the Berry Annoto which Dyes an excellent Orange colour another Berry which Dyes a deep Blue a Tree whose Leaves Dye a Red and the Wood of another Tree whose Juice Dyes a Purple and Crimson Moreover Guiana produces the Gums Lemnia Barattu and Carriman which being black and prickly smells very pleasantly and cures the Head-ache Bruises Pains in the Limbs Gouts and green Wounds The same operation hath the Gum Baratta Here are also good Sena Bolus Armenius Cassia-Fistula Terra-Lemnia the Berry Kelette very effectual against the Bloody-flux the Juice of the Leaf Upee which cures the Wounds of poyson'd Arrows and a sort of somniferous Apples whereof the least bite occasions a deadly Sleep There is also a Tree generally growing about the Houses of the Natives the Boughs whereof bruis'd between two Stones and thrown into the Creeks of deep Water full of Fish cause them to swim above Water upon their Backs The Letter-Wood call'd Pira timinere turns also to a good account much more the excellent Stones Jasper and Porphyr Nor are there wanting Gold and Silver-Mines which doubtless would yield great profit were they open'd The Grain of the Countrey grows on Stalks seven Foot long on the tops whereof hang two Ears full of Kernels as big as Pease which ripens in four Moneths The Sugar-Canes being of the bigness of a Man's Arm and about six Foot long are at the years end cut off broken and press'd in a Mill after which the Juice boyl'd in Copper Kettles to a certain Substance is put into woodden Tunnels square at the top and narrow at bottom with a small Hole which is open'd as soon as the Sugar is sufficiently hardned to let out the Syrrup after which it is put into Hogsheads and so Transported The Negro's which are brought from Angola
and Guinee are so cruelly us'd that they oftentimes through despair destroy themselves The whole Countrey of Guiana is by several modern Writers methodically divided into these inferior or lesser Provinces 1. Rio de las Amazones 2. Wiapoco or Guiana properly so call'd 3. Orenoque and 4. The Islands of Guiana Rio de las Amazones Rio de las Amazones or the Countrey of the Amazones contains all that part of Guiana which lieth on both sides of the River Orellano of a rich and good Soil generally abounding with all sorts of Fruits and especially with those which the Americans call Totok and love it extreamly out of an opinion they say that it excites them to Venery whereunto they are of themselves but too much inclin'd and another which they call Pita of a taste far more delicious and pleasing and not so hurtful as the other The Countrey was first discover'd by the fore-mention'd Francisco Orellana a Spaniard from Quito but it was onely by the River Orellana and though he be credibly reported to have Sail'd no less than eighteen hundred Leagues down the Stream and to have discover'd a rich and fair Countrey on both sides the River well peopled with Natives and giving in divers places no small Arguments of greater Wealth and Riches more within Land yet such was the bad success of his second Endeavors and likewise of those that follow'd him as is evident from what hath been before related that as yet there seems no farther Report to be given at least not of any thing special concerning that part of the Countrey Wiapoco or Guiana properly so call'd Wiapoco or Guiana properly so call'd taketh up the middle part of this Province being divided as the other almost into two equal parts by the River Wiapoco which runs through the midst of it The Countrey on both sides of the River is very rich and fertile and so naturally apt both for Sugar-Canes Cotton-Wooll and Tobacco that they are said to grow here all of them very good without Planting or any art of Husbandry In this Countrey likewise should be the famous Dorada as the Spaniards call it or City of Gold if it could be found with the reports and hopes whereof some of our own Nation seem to have been not a little possess'd as well as the Spaniards nor can we much blame them for if the Stories of it had prov'd true it must have been one of the goodliest and fairest Cities in the World not to speak of the Wealth Diego de Ordas the Spaniard of whom we have lately had occasion to make frequent mention of being reported by some to have travell'd one whole day and half another in it before he could arrive at the King's Palace which yet must be suppos'd to have stood but in the midst of the City Places of less Magnificence but more Certainty are 1. Caripo which was once a Colony of English setled there by Captain Robert Harcourt Anno 1608. upon the Banks of Wiapoco and not far from the Mouth of it being a place by the advantage of a Rock which it hath on the one side of it of great strength and very difficult access the Air about it sound and said to be very agreeable to English Bodies 2. Gomaribo Colony formerly of the Dutch on the North-West side of the Bay of Wiapoco but since deserted by them 3. Woyemon 4. Crewinay both of them Towns of the Natives not far distant from the other Orinoque Orinoque or the third Division of this Province comprehendeth the most Northerly parts of Guiana lying upon or towards the Banks of this famous River a Countrey likewise reported to be very rich and comparable to Peru it self for hidden Treasure which they say is not yet discover'd onely for want of diligent and industrious searching The Places in it already known are onely 1. Coniolaba as they call it which seems to be some Town of the Natives lying a few Leagues distant from the Orinoque towards the South 2. Morequito a known Port or Haven-Town upon a Branch of the Orinoque much frequented and of great use to the English when they discover'd these Coasts 3. Wenicapora and 4. St. Thomas the onely Town which the Spaniards hold upon this part of the Continent situate upon the principal Channel of the Orinoque and consisting of two hundred Families or thereabouts It is now a fortifi'd Place and was taken by Sir Walter Raleigh in that unfortunate Action of 1617. above related more at large Islands belonging to Guiana The Islands that belong to and are commonly reckon'd as parts of Guiana are either such as lie scatter'd about the Shore of the Province or such as are found at the Mouth and sometime far within the Channel of those great Rivers which empty themselves at several parts of this Countrey into the Sea viz. Orinoque Wiapoco Rio de las Amazones c. There are many of them but of any great name or esteem onely two viz. Trinidado and Tabago the Description whereof we shall here omit as having already taken notice of them amongst the Sotaventi and Caribbee Islands CHAP. IX Paria or New Andalusia Situation and Description of Nova Andalusia VVEstward of Guiana lieth the Countrey of Paria so call'd from its chief River It hath also the Denomination of New Andalusia but for what resemblance with Andalusia of Old Spain they do not tell us This Countrey lying as it doth brings us back again by the Eastern Coast to the Isthmus or Strait which as we have often said joyns the two parts of the Continent of America together at least to those Countreys that lie next upon it to the South viz. the Kingdom of Granada c. It hath on the East Guiana and those Islands which lie about the Mouth of Orinoque on the West the Gulf or Bay of Venezuela with some part of the new Kingdom abovesaid on the North it is wash'd with the Atlantick Ocean and on the South hath some Countreys yet undiscover'd toward the Andes The whole consisteth partly of Continent and partly of Islands near adjoyning to it and is commonly divided into five several Precincts or Parts which are 1. Cumana 2 Venezuela being upon the Continent 3. Margareta 4. Cubagua two Islands above-mention'd famous for Pearl-fishing and lastly some lesser Islands SECT II. Cumana Bounds and Description of Cumana CUmana is bounded Eastward with the Gulf of Paria and the River Orinoque on the West with Venezuela Northward it hath the Atlantick and on the South those undiscover'd Countreys above mention'd extending along the Northern Ocean over against Margareta two hundred Leagues or more as some say in length and not much less than a hundred in breadth The Coast of this Countrey as well as of the Islands Margareta and Cabagua hath formerly been much fam'd for the rich Trade of Pearls and Pearl-fishing which failing its principal esteem now is for an excellent Vein of Salt which they dig
set ashore on Hispaniola and divided into Companies each Company consisting of twenty Parents separated from their Children and Husbands from their Wives and Lots cast for them those that had either sick decrepid or old People fall to their share us'd to cry as Casas testifies he hath often heard What do I do with this sick decrepid old Dog give him to the Devil I will not put my self to the trouble to kill and bury him But Soto's Death was not left unreveng'd for not long after Jacob Castellon setting Sail from St. Domingo left several Companies on Cubagua to re-build the Town Cadiz and rais'd a Fort at the Mouth of Cumana which hath ever since been kept by the Spaniards who made great slaughter amongst the Natives Hieronymo Ortall deserted by his Men Hieronymo Ortall Sailing up the Stream Negeri sent his Lieutenant Augustine Delgado through the populous Provinces Guacharuco and Parimatuotu to the River Unare where not without a sharp Conflict he took abundance of Provisions in a Village In the mean time Ortall travell'd to Meta acting inhumane Cruelties all the way but approaching Guiana where Delgado was kill'd he was deserted by his mutinous Men who ran over to Nicholas Federman so that he was forc'd to return back to the new Fort Miguel de Neveri and from thence to St. Domingo with ten Soldiers fearing that Antonio Sedenno who judg'd himself wrong'd by Ortall because Cumana belong'd to his Lordship would fall upon him Sedenno being five hundred Men strong discover'd the Sea-Coast all along to Patigutaro where Setling himself he regarded no Discipline which the Natives observing kill'd many a Spaniard and others the Tygers also devour'd especially in the Night they being forc'd to keep lighted Fires about them against the wild Beasts About the beginning of the Year 1537. Sedenno travell'd to the Countrey Anapuya and Orocomay to the Province Goioguaney where the Inhabitants defended themselves very valiantly in a woodden Fort before which many Spaniards were kill'd with poyson'd Arrows and those who were not mortally wounded had no way to escape but by burning the Poyson out with hot Irons yet at last the Defendants were forc'd to flie with their Wives and Children up to the Mountains overgrown with Brambles Sedenno marching through barren Fields and over troublesom Rivers The Death of Sedenno and Juan Fernandez came to the mountainous Countrey Catapararo where he found abundance of Maiz and some little pieces of Gold and was advanc'd about a League and a half in Cumana when dying he made room for his Successor Juan Fernandez who surviv'd him not long yet the Expedition was not left unprosecuted for Sedenno's Men after the Decease of him and Fernandez went farther and discover'd a low Land which in the Winter being overflow'd forc'd the Inhabitants to remove to the Mountains But at last the Spaniards being weary with travelling fell out amongst themselves and dividing into several Parties went several ways some to Venezuela others to Maracapana and the rest to Cubagua SECT III. Venezuela Situation and Description of Venezuela THe principal part of the Province of Venezuela is border'd on the East with Cumana on the West with a great Gulf or Bay call'd The Bay of Venezuela with the Lake Maracabo and some part of New Granada Northward it hath the Ocean or Atlantick Sea Southward some undiscover'd Countreys which as we said lie betwixt the Andes and it It stretches out in length from East to West a hundred and thirty Leagues or thereabouts but in breadth little more than half so much it was nam'd Venezuela or Little Venice by Alonso de Ojeda a Spaniard who at his first discovery of the Countrey fell upon a Town of the Natives which stood like another Venice all upon the Water and having no passage to it but by Boats It is a Countrey extraordinary rich in all sorts of Commodities affords good Pasture for Cattel and abundance of fair Herds of them Oxen Sheep Swine c. plenty of Corn and other Grain great store of Venison in the Woods of Fish in the Rivers Gold in the Mines and therefore not likely but to be well peopled and inhabited especially by the Spaniards whose Towns and Places of chief importance are these Towns and principal Places of Venezuela 1. Venezuela at the most Westerly Confines of the Countrey built upon the Sea with the advantage of a double Haven in a temperate and good Air and the Soil round about it the best in the whole Province It is now a Bishop's See who is Suffragan to the Arch-bishop in Hispaniola and the ordinary Residence of the Governor 2. Caravalleda call'd by the Spaniards Nuestra Sennora de Caravalleda fourscore Leagues distant from Venezuela towards the East upon the Sea 3. St. Jago de Leon in the Countrey of Caracas four or five Leagues Southward of Caravalleda and six or seven distant from the Sea 4. New Valentia twenty five Leagues distant from St. Jago 5. New Xeres a Town but lately built fifteen Leagues Southward of New Valentia 6. New Segovia but one League distant from Xeres 7. Tucuyo a Place well known and frequented for the abundance of Sugar that is made there and in the Countrey round about it 8. Truxillo or Our Lady de la Paz eighteen Leagues Southward of the Lake Maracabo a Place of great resort and much frequented for Trade both by Spaniards and Natives 9. Laguna a Town lying more towards the bottom of the Lake said to be much haunted with Tygers and more than this not much is said of it VENEZUELA cum parte Australi NOVAE ANDALUSIAE When the Emperor Charles the Fifth Marry'd with Isabella Daughter to the King of Portugal Anno 1526. the Welsares being Dutch Gentlemen in Augsburgh made an Agreement with him for a Sum of Money to Conquer Venezuela whither they sent Ambrosius Alfinger and Bartholomeus Sayltar with four hundred Foot and eighty Horse These Forces Landing at Venezuela drove away Juan de Ampues who Sailing from St. Domingo thither had discover'd the Coast along Coriano and already made an Agreement with a mighty Prince of that Countrey call'd Manaure But Alfinger marching to the Lake Maracabo Alfinger's horrid Cruelties upon the Natives destroy'd all the Inhabitants of the Countrey Axaguas though they came to meet him Dancing with rich Presents of Gold which he not regarding kill'd them drove some into a House and there cut them in pieces and burnt those that were got upon the Roof From hence going towards the Pocabuyes who dwelt on the West side of Maracabo amongst high Mountains he was Entertain'd by them a considerable time very courteously and Presented with rich Gifts for which at his departure he shut up both Men Women and Children into a high Wall'd Park where they were all to perish if they did not every one pay a certain quantity of Gold to be releas'd which not being able to raise they all dy'd for want of Food After
the same manner he dealt with the neighboring People Alcoholados of whom he got much Gold but not without unheard of Cruelties for he burnt all their Villages and Houses ruin'd the Countrey with Fire and Sword from Thamaleque to the River Lebrixa carry'd away many of the Natives coupled together with Chains about their Necks and each of them loaded with at least a hundred pound weight of pillag'd Goods and as soon as any of them began to faint under their Burthens for want of refreshment their Heads were immediately cut off But Alfinger coming to certain cold Mountains was resisted by a valiant People in which Conflict he receiv'd a Wound of which he dy'd at his return to Coro Anno 1532. Upon which the Welsares sent John Aleman to succeed him but he also dying made place for George de Espoira and Nicholas Federman of which two Espoira being the chief spent three years in ranging up and down the Countrey without any remarkable Transactions being continually at variance with his Lieutenant Federman The afore-mention'd City Venezuela otherwise call'd Caro and by the Natives Corana was Anno 1539. taken and burnt by the English The Provinces Paragoana and Bariquicimeto Northward from the City the Promontory St. Roman in the Province of Paragoana runs into the Sea opposite to the Islands Aruba and Quuracao The Countrey Paragoana is low and full of Venison out of the middle of it rises a high Mountain the Inhabitants whereof are very hospitable and courteous The Lyons that breed in this Countrey run away from Men but on the contrary the Tygers are exceeding cruel From Coro there leads a Way up into the Countrey over the Mountain Xizaezaras to the Province Bariquicemeto Between both these Provinces very fruitful Valleys which produce Maiz in great abundance are surrounded by wooddy Mountains inhabited by Man-eaters call'd Axaguas Anno 1552. Juan de Villegas discovering the Province Tucuyo he found several rich Gold-Mines near the Mountain Pedro out of which springs the River Burio Near this place he built the Town Segovia which by reason of the unwholsom Air Segovia built by Juan de Villegas was soon after transplanted and built on the Shore of the River Bariquicimeto so call'd because the Water when touch'd turns to an Ash-colour The Plain Countrey round about would be intolerable hot did not the cool Winds that blow from the Mountains temper the same The Natives of the Province Bariquicemeto their manner of Living The Natives divided into Tribes that understand not one another live on Callibashes Deers flesh Rabbets and the Juice of the Cocuy In the Rivers Hacarigua and Boraute they throw the stamp'd Root Barbasco which causes the Fish to appear above the Water and suffer themselves to be caught with the Hand In the Summer they all store themselves with Venison which they catch after this manner They set the dry Bushes and Brambles on fire which makes the wild Hogs Goats Deer Armadillo's Tygers the great Serpents Bobas and other wild Creatures to leap forth from their Holes and Receptacles to shun the same whilest the Hunters standing ready with their Bowes and Arrows seldom miss one of them In the hollow Trees near the Rivers the Bees make abundance of Honey for them Most of the Rivers here fall into the Stream Huriapari which glides from the Peruvian Mountains to the Northern Ocean The Province Chioas produces plenty of Gold Also of the Natives about Segovia The Natives about Segovia go naked are very ignorant and much addicted to Drunkenness in which humor they kill one another They live without care feeding on Roots till their Maiz is ripe which in some places comes to its full maturity in forty days time and in others in three Moneths Close by Segovia glides the Rivulet Claro whosse clear Water goes but a small Course from its Fountain Head before it sinks into the Ground in the Summer it is very high and in the Winter almost destitute of Water The Commodities of the Countrey hereabouts This Countrey breeds all sorts of Fowls but especially Quails and Turtle-Doves Cattel Sheep Goats and Hogs increase wonderfully here insomuch that many of them are driven to be sold at New Granada The Cotton-Clothes that are woven here also turn to a good account From Segovia runs a Way through a Valley twelve Leagues long to the Town Tucuyo which stands low but in a healthful Climate and surrounded with Mountains The Countrey hereabouts produces plenty of Corn Pot-herbs Sugar and Cotton and feeds Oxen Cowes Horses Sheep Deer and Goats to which the Tygers and Lyons do great mischief Here are Gold-Mines but they are not open'd by reason of the great want of Men. There is likewise plenty of the Bezoar-Stones to be had here The Cuycas in whose Countrey stands the Town Truxillo are a valiant but very cruel People The Lake Maracabo running forty Leagues up into the Countrey is ten Leagues broad Ebbs and Flows and feeds the great Fish Manati Westward dwell the Pocabuyes and Alcoholados both quiet and rich People The Province Xuruara The Province Xuruara lies towards the South behind high Mountains inhabited by the valiant Coromochos and towards the North from Xuruara the Bobures hard by the City Merida the Countrey about which is unhealthful and Morassy and the Inhabitants exceedingly plagu'd by the Muschito's Havens of Venezuela The Haven Maracapana is the best in Venezuela and lies in the Eastern part of the Province where the Mountains are inhabited by the wild Chiugotos who kill and eat all the Spaniards they can get The other Havens Westward not comparable to Maracapana are Flechado Sardinas and Burburute where some Spanish Families have a Salt-pit Islands and Promontories Six Leagues up in the Countrey you come to the fresh Lake Tocarigua full of little inhabited Isles the People whereof live quietly and barter Gold Towards the North-West the Ocean makes the great Inlet Triste before which lies the Island Bonaire very full of Cattel and on each side appear the Aves and Quaraco which abound with Fowl The Promontory St. Roman runs twenty Leagues into the Sea and the Cape Coquibocoa extends farther Between both these runs the Channel of Venezuela which touches the Lake Maracapabo Before Coquibocoa are seen the four low Islands Monjes with white sandy Creeks and full of Trees out of the middlemost rises a high Mountain On the Main Continent also the Mountains De Azieyto appear with scraggy tops beyond the Point And the Bay Honda affords a safe Road. The Cape De la Vela hath on one side the Inlet Portete and on the other the Villages Rancheria and Nostra Sennora de los Remedios between both which runs the Stream La Hacha The German Commander Nicholas Federman intended to have built a City on Cape Vela Anno 1535. but finding the Ground too low and unfruitful the Pearls hereabouts very small and the Natives living onely on Fish and wild Herbs
brought the fore-mention'd Vocabulary along with them Chili is look'd upon as no way inferior to any Countrey in America enjoying a wholsom Air fruitful Soil and abundance of Inhabitants who often furnish Peru with Provisions which are the speedier convey'd thither because the South-Winds always blow along the Coast The Peruvian Vice-Roy keeps a Deputy to Govern here It hath two Bishopricks viz. St. Jago and L' Imperial The Nature Customs and Manners of the Chileses Some of the Chileses are under the Spaniards Jurisdiction and live in Huts others being wilder defend their Freedom with the Sword They have great Heads and flat Noses The Men continually pull out the Hair on their Faces and Privities with Shells which they carry about their Necks for that purpose having beforehand rubb'd the Hair with warm Ashes the Hair of their Heads hanging downwards is cut close as far as their Ears the rest growing long is ty'd with the Ribbon Tariwelonco to which Persons of Quality fix Silver Plates and Turkoises Some also cover their Heads with the Skins of Weazels or the like Beasts putting the Head over their Foreheads and the Tail down their Neck which kind of Covering they call Maniewelonco Others wear Caps made after some strange manner or other The Chileses are not the tallest but strong and well set betwixt a white and sallow colour Those that are in the Spaniards Service wear long Hair by which they are distinguish'd from the shorn Ucais who do the Spaniards all the mischief imaginable The Women are for the most part low of stature but of a strong Constitution they go bare-headed letting their Hair hang loose over their Shoulders except when they are indispos'd and then they tie it up But those that dwell about Castro wear Locks like our English Ladies In Coquimbo and Loquimbo they go after the same manner as the Peruvian Women All of them have thick black Hair Their Apparel though mean is neat The Men wear wide Breeches girt about their Wastes and a piece of woollen Cloth three Yards long and two broad which having a Hole in the middle they put over their Heads and so let it hang on their Shoulders leaving their Arms and Legs bare but on Festival Days they wear curious embroider'd Stockings The Women likewise cover themselves with the same piece of Cloth but after another manner tying it first about their Middle then let it down to the Ground pinn'd before with Silver or Golden Pins their Heads Breasts and Legs are uncover'd the Cloth it self is strip'd with red white blue and yellow and fring'd at the edges For an Example of their quick and easie Labor Hendrick Brewer relates That a Woman being Deliver'd in his Ship within an hour after walk'd up and down the Deck and gave the Child suck Some of them have such great Breasts that throwing them over their Shoulders they suckle their Children being ty'd at their Backs Their Huts being low are made of Straw Canes and Boughs and not built for one single Family for often thirty fifty a hundred or a hundred and twenty dwell under one Roof and have a Governor by them call'd Caruca Their Housholdstuff is little and mean viz. two or three Cans to keep their Liquor Chica in Horn Cups a Stone whereon they grind their Corn and one or two woodden Stools The chiefest of them also use Sheep-skins which they spread on the Ground before their Guests They live without care for they neither Sowe nor Plant any more than will serve them a Year Their Riches consist in Cattel of which they have no great plenty About the beginning of October a whole Town meets together to Plough and to Sowe which the Men perform in two days time the rest of the Work being left to the care of the Women for the Men never meddle with Reaping or Harvest They eat and drink from Morning to Evening when they do not travel for then they eat at set-times Their Liquor is made of Barley-Meal or Wheat boyl'd in Water On Festival Days they drink Chica Brew'd of Maiz chew'd by the Teeth of old Women They likewise make a Liquor of the Fruit Unni which tastes like Madera Wine Every Man Marries as many Wives as he can buy and maintain Their Marriages for Maids and Widows must be sold by the Parents who set not a Price upon them according to their Beauty or Quality but their skill in managing Houshold Affairs Their Marriages are perform'd after a strange manner A Son having no Inheritance lives on the Charity of his nearest Relations who Present him one with a Hog another with a Cow a third with a Sheep and a fourth with somewhat else thus enrich'd he goes to his Mistresses Father and hangs some Turkoises and Plates of Silver about his Neck and acquainting him with what Estate he can make his Wife he agrees as well as he can with his intended Father-in-law to whom he gives ten fifty or a hundred Sheep Oxen Cows Hogs Horses Poultrey a Coat and some Vessels full of Chica which done the Father leads his Daughter to the Bridegroom's House where he is Entertain'd with Meat but finds the Drink at his own Cost Some days after the Celebration of the Wedding the nearest Relations come to congratulate the young Marry'd Woman and at Dinner sing an Epithalamium to their Nuptial Deity Maruapeante all of them sitting on the Ground on Sheep-skins The Allies often take away a Woman from her Husband especially when he misuses her and if a Man kill his Wife her Death is reveng'd by her Relations Persons of Quality build a Hut for every one of their Wives sending word to her whom they have a mind to enjoy They respect one above the rest who are in a manner but Slavesses being forc'd to do all the Drudgery The Men are exceeding jealous and chollerick cruelly beating their Wives if they chance but to look on another Man and if they take them in the Act of Adultery they immediately kill them yet for all this they are not Chaste but very Libidinous As soon as a Woman is Deliver'd of a Child she washes her self and the Child in cold Water then kills a Lamb call'd Chiluraque and makes a Feast at which she her self eats and drinks freely amongst the rest and the next day goes about her usual Employment The Spaniards tell us that their Women if they continue long in this Countrey are more and more hardned by the Air and are as little concern'd at the Birth of a Child as the Natives A Widow hath free leave to Marry again provided she hath given to her Children part of what she hath but if she Marry not but return to her Parents then she is highly esteem'd of Both Men and Women wash themselves in the Rivers in the coldest Weather They adore chiefly their Deity Pillan and the Devil who doth them much hurt They acknowledge no Resurrection Their Religion and manner of burying their Dead accounting
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
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
but the more Inland parts of the Countrey are indifferently warm Moreover it hath been found by certain experience that those Countreys which look to wards the East or Sun-rising are colder than those which lie towards the West or Sun-setting and those that have the Evening Winds on them warmer than those which have the Morning Winds which being so it should follow that the temperature of the Air in those Regions is peculiar to the Bodies of those of our Nation who being accustom'd to a Climate somewhat temperate are neither able to endure extremity of Cold nor immoderate Heat Yet there are who affirm that New England though situate in the midst of the temperate Zone nevertheless feels both extremities of the two opposite Zones in the Summer the heat of the Torrid and in the Winter the cold of the Frigid As for the first discovery of this Countrey First discovery it is not to be expected otherwise than that of the discovery of those other Countreys hitherto discours'd of that is to say very uncertain but because the French boast of Joannes Verrazanus who though an Italian was employ'd by the French King Francis the First as the first Discoverer not onely of Nova Francia as hath been already intimated but also of this Countrey and the adjoyning Coast and Regions we shall not think it impertinent to give from their own Relations a brief view of his Voyage and afterwards a particular Description of the English Plantations there and of their Transactions both one with another and between them and the Nations The Narration of Verrazanus's Voyage is as followeth Remarkable Voyage of Verrazanus ON command of the French King Francis the First John Verrazanus Anno 1524. setting Sail Westward from the Canary Isles discover'd a low American Coast in thirty four Degrees North Latitude inhabited by naked People which behind the sandy Hills facing the Sea Manur'd many fruitful Plains Then Sailing a hundred Leagues along the Shore Northerly he view'd a Countrey full of Vines which grew up amongst the Boughs of high Trees and Sailing up a pleasant River Landed on the Island Clandia full of woody Mountains thence he stood for the main Continent where after having visited a King Clad in wrought Deer-skin he Sail'd by a Bay at whose Mouth appear'd a Rock in an Inlet twenty Leagues where appear'd five small Isles all of them exceeding fruitful After this being got a hundred and fifty Leagues to the Northward he found very salvage People whose Heads appear'd through Bear-skins and Sea-Calves By this time having Terreneuf on his Starboard he return'd back to Diepe Thus far Verrazanus made some discovery of the Coast which hath since not onely been farther inspected by the English but also by them Planted and call'd New England The setling of Plantations This Countrey whether first discover'd by the said Verrazanus or together with the rest of largely-taken Virginia by Sir Walter Raleigh or as some say by Captain Gosnald in the Year 1602. was so well known to the English in the beginning of King James's Reign here that the setling and carrying on of Plantations id this part of America was vigorously promoted by many of the most eminent Persons in England whereupon it was about the Year 1606. being the fourth Year of the said King granted by Patent to several Lords Knights Gentlemen and Merchants under the denomination of The Plymouth Company both in favour of those generous Spirits who studied and endeavor'd the good of the Publick by foreign Plantations and indulgence to those who not well satisfi'd with the Government of Church and State and willingly transporting themselves and Families thither as to their Asylum could more conveniently be spar'd than the better affected part of the People And although the Colonies at first sent over succeeded not according to expectation yet in a short time there Plantations were brought to very great perfection Captain Weimouth who had been employ'd there by the Lord Arundel of Warder for the discovery of the North-West Passage falling short of his Course hapned into a River on the Coast of America call'd Pemmaquid from whence he brought five of the Natives for England three of whose Names were Mannida Skettwarroes and Tasquantum and Landing at Plymouth presented them to Sir Ferdinando Gorges whom he made use of as Instruments for the farther advancement of these Plantations they were all of one Nation but of several parts and several Families he kept them with him three years and observing in them an inclination to vertuous Designs and Spirits above the Vulgar he gain'd information from them what great Rivers ran up into the Land what Men of note were seated on them what Power they were of how Ally'd what Enemies they had and the like and taking some light from thence sent away a Ship furnish'd with Men and all kind of Necessaries convenient for the Service intended under the Command of Captain Henry Chaloung a Gentleman of a good Family and very capable for Undertakings of this nature and giving him sufficient Instructions what to do sent along with him two of the said Natives for his better Conduct and Direction ordering him by all means to keep the Northerly Gage as high as Cape Briton till they had discover'd the Main and then to beat it up to the Southward as the Coast tended till they found by the Natives they were near the place to which they were assign'd By that time they were about a hundred Leagues off the Island of Canara the Captain fell sick of a Feaver and the Winds being Westerly his Company shap'd their Course for the Indies and coming to St. John de Porto Rico the Captain went ashore for the recovery of his Health whilst the Company took in Water and such other Provisions as they had present need of and spent some time in Hunting and other Recreations after which steering their intended Course they were met with by the Spanish Fleet that came from the Havana taken Prisoners and carried into Spain the Ship and Goods being confiscated the Voyage overthrown and the Natives lost Not long after the setting out of Chaloung Thomas Haman was sent by Sir John Popham Lord Chief Justice of England towards the River of Sagadehoc to the succour of Chaloung if need were but not finding him after he had scowr'd the Coast all about he return'd back into England Captain Prinne was likewise sent from Bristol who arriving happily in those Parts brought back with him at his return the most exact Discovery of that Coast that ever had been gain'd till then A while after at the Charge of the said Sir John Popham a hundred Men were sent to settle a Colony at Sagadehoc under the Command of George Popham Raleigh Gilbert Master of the Ship who seated themselves in a Peninsula at the Mouth of this River which attempting to discover they met with a Wood near to an Island distant from the Line about forty five
Leaves are of a Purple colour The third sort Jetiope being white hath a very good rellish and cures the Ague The Pepper which is here call'd Axi grows in the warmest Valleys and the more by being often water'd there are of it divers kinds differing in colour smell and taste one from the other for one sort is green yellow or red another sort yields a strong musky scent and one sort is sharper another milder the Veins and Kernels thereof are eaten with Salt The Herb Cevadilla cures all manner of Sores This Countrey also breeds an innumerable company of Deer Hogs Goats Beasts Sheep Oxen and Horses and of hurtful Creatures Pismires which do great mischief to the Plants and Locusts which fall in huge swarms on the Corn and cannot be frighted from the same by any means whatsoever The want of Water is also no small prejudice to the Fields The biggest River call'd Guadalajara with many windings runs North-westward into the Southern Ocean and four Leagues from the City of the same falling down from a steep Rock it makes such a horrible noise that it deafens those which approach the same The Lake Mechoacan opens here also with a wide Mouth Two sorts of Hedge-hogs The River before mention'd produces all manner of Fish in great abundance and also a sort of Hedge-hogs call'd Iguana which live both in the Water and on the Land and are of two sorts The first call'd Senembi is four Foot long of a deep green colour with black and white Spots hath a scaly Skin white Spots on each side of the Head a row of sharp Prickles from the Head to the Tail wide Nostrils great black Eyes and little Teeth The second sort call'd Tejaguacu differs from the first in having white Spots on a brown Skin a longer Tail and a red Tongue which is slit Both sorts are reported to fast eight Moneths together and though often terribly wounded and dead to all imagination yet live a great while after and though they swim up and down in Rivers yet they Lay their Eggs in the Sand their Flesh boyl'd is both wholsom and of a good relish The manner of the Spaniards living The Spaniards which inhabit New Gallicia drive a considerable Trade in Merchandizing Husbandry breeding of Cattel and working in the Mines They use Wayns and Carrs drawn by Oxen Mules and Horses to carry their Loads as also Spanish Weights and Measures They are little troubled with any other Mischiefs but what may happen from the treacherous Natives who take all opportunities to run into the Woods that there they may exercise their Pagan Religion in freedom in which having spent some time they gather a considerable number together and oftentimes fall unawares on the Spaniards who use Leather Shields and Helmets and furr'd Cotton Clothes to secure them from the Arrows which the Indians lying in Ambuscades shoot at them out of the Bushes The Nature Habits and Customs of the Natives The Natives though subtile are lazy and will not work unless for great Rewards They wear Cotton Shirts square Cloaks of the same Stuff made fast with two Buttons on their Breasts Drawers and soal'd Shoes Flag-Matts serve them for Beds on which they lie under Cotton Clothes About their Necks Arms and Legs they wear green Stones and Snale Shells for an Ornament Their greatest Recreation is Dancing their Musick being nothing else but the noise or sound of a piece of hollow Wood. Horse-flesh and Bread made of Maiz is by them accounted a great Dainty The Drink Cacao is also highly esteem'd amongst them but much more the Wine that they make of Maquey which is the wonderful Tree that affords many necessary things viz. Syrrup Honey Oyl Vinegar Yarn Needles Water and Wine every Man making it his Business to plant and preserve the same with great care near his House notwithstanding they grow in several places of the Fields they have broad thick Leaves with sharp ends out of which is drawn a Thorn which serves them for a Needle or Pin. These Leaves have a hairy Filament about them which serves in stead of Thred the young Sprout being cut produces a sweet Juice which boyl'd makes good Wine when grown sowre serves for Vinegar but being twice boyl'd becomes a Syrrup and being hung over the Fire a third time a perfect Honey Also the Wood being spungie keeps Fire as well as Match Moreover the Inhabitants when they travel carry Leather Bags with them full of Cacao Maiz and Pepper mix'd together Over each Village in this Countrey the Spaniards have plac'd an Indian Casique Alcalde and Alguazil where all sorts of Provisions are sold at a Set-price The Casiques are succeeded by their Heirs who resent nothing worse than Affronts and take pride in nothing more than their Valour The Moors or Negro's which are brought hither from Guinee do all manner of hard Labour The Guachichiles and Guamares are a valiant People and have each their peculiar Language utterly different from the Mexican Division of Nova Gallicia This Countrey comprehends these inferior Provinces 1. Guadalajara 2. Xalisco 3. Chiametta 4. Couliacan 5. Cino-loa all of them on the Western Shore 6. Zacatecas to which some add Nova Biscaia and Nova Mexico though others treat of them as distinct Countreys apart from the rest SECT II. Guadalajara Bounds of Guadalajara GUadalajara is bounded on the West with Xalisco on the South and South-West with New Spain and on the North with Zacatecas It is a Countrey exceeding pleasant and rich in all kind of Commodities but especially in its Mines of Silver It is well water'd with the River Barania which runneth through the midst of it and with divers other Streams yielding abundantly both Wheat Maiz and some other Grain In a word there is nothing said of the properties of New Gallicia in general either for Soil Climate or People but is peculiarly verifi'd of this Province Towns and Cities The chief Towns are 1. Guadalajara which gives Name to the whole Province It is seated on the Banks of the River Barania in a most delectable and sweet Air and a rich Soil by advantage whereof it is become the Metropolis of New Gallicia honour'd with an Episcopal See which was translated thither from Compostella in the Year 1570. with the Courts of Judicature and the Residence of the King's Treasurers for that Province This City was built on the Plain Molino by Nunnez de Guzman in the Year 1531. The neighboring Mountains afford store of Timber All manner of Spanish Plants grow here likewise in great plenty In the City is a Cathedral several Cloysters inhabited by Augustine and Franciscan Monks The Bishop of this City belongs to the Arch-bishop of Mexico The Air very temperate neither molesting the Inhabitants with too great Cold nor excess of Heat 2. St. Maria de los Lagos a Town thirty Leagues Eastward of Guadalajara being a Fronteer Place and built on purpose to secure the
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