the Straights of Magellan and Le-Mayr Relatie de Terra Australe Peter Fernandes de Quir relates That he and a Commander Lodowick Paes le Torres saw a part of the South Countrey and in it innumerable Inhabitants Whites The Description of the unknown South Blacks Sallows with long black curl'd Woolly and yellow Hair They know no Walls or Fortresses for Defence Laws or Kings but are divided into Tribes They use indeed Bows Arrows Clubs and a kind of Spears Their Houses are cover'd with Palm-Tree-Leaves their Housholdstuff consists onely of a few Earthen Pots and such Trinkets yet they have some little skill in Weaving and though they gonaked pride themselves in Neck-Laces and Bracelets made of Mother of Pearl But these for their Complexions and Constitution of Body Customs and manners are rather deriv'd from the Americans than they from them and therefore we must seek for their Original from the North from which are but two ways one from Ysland and Groenland which Grotius endeavors to prove but contradicted the other out of Tartary which certainly was the first Nursery from whence the Americans were Transplanted Description of Tartary Tartary or Tattary so call'd from the River Tatter which runs thorow the Countrey Mongul into the Northern Ocean covers a great part of the Terrestrial Globe the lesser Tartary makes out a considerable part of Europe the greater is Asia This great Tartary which is a thousand Leagues long and six hundred broad reckons five chief Provinces viz. the wild Tartary inhabited by Herdsmen Sagatai of which the Metropolis is Samarcand famous for the mighty Tamerlane next Turkestan then Kitai which the great Cham Commands and lastly Old Tartary according to Andreas Caesariensis the habitation of Gog and Magog Now we must enquire from what Tartars the Americans are Extracted Mornaeus Postellus Genebrardus Poterus and others are of opinion Thrian l. 67. That the Tartars which about the year 1228. under the Command of Zingis Cham overspread the Earth like a deluge were the Successors of the ten Tribes of Israel which were carry'd into captivity to Assyria by Salmanazar If the Israelites were Tartars The name Tartary or rather Tattaria seems to be some testimony thereof because it signifies in the Syrian or Hebrew Tongue Remnants or Remainders as seemingly because these Tartarians were remainders of the foremention'd Tribes nay the Northern Tartary Herdsmen preserve to this day the Names Dan Zabulon and Naphthali Wherefore we need not to admire why so many Jews are found in Russia Sarmatia and Liefland nay the nearer to Tartary the mote Jews there are Circumcision hath a long time been observ'd among them before Mahomet brought in his new Law it seems that Mahomet order'd the Circumcision and other Laws according to Moses to be observ'd by the Northern people because that in his time they began to Rebel that so they might the better be kept in awe by their new Religion Joannes Leonclavius relates That in Liefland near Riga Pand. Hist Turtica he heard the wilde Natives call'd Letti not without great admiration go crying along the High-Ways and Fields with a doleful voice Jeru Jeru Masco lou It is believ'd that they mourn for Jerusalem and Damascus but by their long continuance in the vast Wildernesses they have forgot their Religion and Laws and what else might enable to tell us who they were Several learned Authors question this removal of the Israelites out of Assyria to Tartary though to our Judgement their Arguments are too weak to take from them of the footing they have gotten there yet nevertheless the Israelites are not to be taken for the Planters of America for why else is not Judaisme as well found in America as in Tartary But it is already shewn that America was inhabited long before the dispersion of the Israelites Americans are not deriv'd from Africa nor Europe Now to shut up all it is evident that the first Planters of America were not Europeans from the dissimilitude of the People both in their Complexions Language and Persons nor Africans because that in all the far spreading Countrey of America not one Negro is to be found except a few near the River Martha in the little Territory Quarequa which must by Storm be drove thither from the Guinny Coast But Asia and chiesly out of Tartary So that Asia the Mother of all People onely remains to be Implanter of our America whose Western Coast opposite to Asia is more inhabited than to the East where it respects Europe Tartary is not parted from America by the Straights of Anian Moreover Armenia out of which by Noah's Progeny the whole Earth was re-peopled borders on Scythia now call'd Tartary and Tartary faces America separated onely by the Straights of Anian though some are of opinion that out of the South into the Frozen Sea there is no passage thorow these Straights else as we have already prov'd the contrary how came all those Voracious and Poysonous Beasts into America if it be clearly separated from Asia by Sea It deserves here to be related what happen'd to Henry Cornelison Schaep and William Byleveld Sailing from Batavia to discover the Tartarick River Polysange but were taken and carry'd Prisoners to the Japan Court at Jedo being Commanded there by Order of the Councel to give an account of a Japan Map or Card which was laid before them and contain'd the Provinces of Japan Amboina the Molucca Islands Manilha the South-Sea Borneo Celebes Malacca Tartary Formosa Corea and the vast and Mountainous Countrey or Desart of Jesso separated from Japan by the Straights of Sungar though toward the North it joyns to Japan in the Province of Ochio and beginning in forty seven degrees run North-East towards America but they could not possible find the Straights of Anian but on the contrary the Promontory of Tartary viz. the Province Kataya or Katui lay in the same parallel with the Northern America Hereto may be added that Asia hath no Territory any where which may more easily with numerous Colonies supply America than this part of Tartary as well for the vastness of the Countrey to which no other can compare as for the increasing of the Inhabitants Who doth not admire that according to Michalon Lithouwer Ennead 9. l. 6. Testimonies that the Americans are Tartars there is scarce a City in Tartary that boasted less than a thousand Temples and to see Canguista first King of Tartary about the Year 1200. in Arms and his Successor Hoccata following his Fathers bloody Footsteps whilst he prepar'd his Sons with three vast Armies The eldest Son Jachis March'd Westward with thirty thousand Horse Batho drew with as great an Army towards the North Tagladais being the youngest fell into the Moores Countrey above Egypt Hoccata himself March'd victoriously into the North America subdu'd great part of the Persian Kingdom and beat the Turks led by the General Goniata with a great Army Anno
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
compress'd between the cloven Barks of wild Vines some also they buried alive and leaving onely their Heads to appear above Ground bowl'd Iron Bullets at them and forc'd them to eat one another besides infinite other hellish Cruelties too horrid and dreadful to be recounted Commodities of the Countres This Countrey produces much Maiz Wheat Honey and great Calabashes from whence the first Discoverers call'd that Sea Golfo de las Ybueras because they met with abundance of Calabashes floating on the Water which at Santo Domingo bear the Name of Ybueras This Countrey is water'd by three Rivers the first Chamalucom which glides by the City San Pedro the second Ulva inhabited on both Shores the third Haguaro the Grounds adjacent to which would prove very fruitful were the Inhabitants not too lazy In stead of a Plough they use a long Pole with two crooked Staves at the end one bent downwards and the othes upwards with which they cut and turn the Earth The Natives feed on several Roots Flesh and Vermine At their Feast they make themselves Drunk with a Drink made of Honey Noble-men heretofore onely drinking the Liquor of Cacao but of late it is common and made by all People though never so mean They speak several Languages the chiefest whereof is that of the Chontales a salvage People They divide their Year call'd Joalar that is Passing into eighteen Moneths and each Moneth into twenty Days They formerly measur'd the Year by the Nights and began the Year forty days sooner than the Europeans New Valladolid The Towns in this Province are 1. New Vallodolid by the Indians nam'd Comayagua lying in a pleasant Valley under a temperate Climate The Cattel brought hither from Spain increase exceedingly The Silver-Mynes are also so well stor'd that they keep the Melting-house in the Town always employ'd The Governor of this Place hath his Residence next to the Treasury-Chamber Anno 1588. the Bishop's See was translated hither from Truxillo Nineteen years before which Francisco de Monteio sent his Lieutenant Alphonso de Cacenes thither to build a Village half way between the Southern and Northern Ocean who accordingly erected the Town Santa Maria de Camoyagua near a River Navigable for Canoos which disembogues in Puerto de Cavallos The remaining part of the Way to the Haven Fonseca being passable for Carrs which was a means to prevent many Inconveniences which us'd to happen to Travellers on the Way between Panama and Nombre de Dios the Spanish King was so much concern'd at the first proposal hereof that he sent the famous Surveyor Baptista Antonello thither and the rather because he received information that the new Way along which they carried the Merchandise from Peru Mexico and other Countreys along the South Sea lay very pleasantly by reason of the brave Vineyards Corn-Fields Fruit-Trees Pastures Streams abounding with Fish Herds of Deer and Cony-Warrens yet Antonello meeting with many troubles would not undertake the Business New Valladolid is adorn'd with a great Church a Cloyster belonging to the Monks De la Merced and handsom Streets Gratias a Dios. 2. Thirty Leagues West ward from this City lies another call'd Gratias a Dios begun by Captain Gabriel de Royas Anno 1530 that so he might be near the Gold-Mines But because the Natives kept the new Inhabitants in continual alarm and daily Storm'd the unfinish'd Fortifications Royas was necessitated to leave off building any farther the rather because none came to his assistance from the neighboring Garrison Six years after Gonzales de Alvarado undertook this Work and built the City on a Rocky Mountain which though otherwise barren produc'd lusty Horses and strong Mules 3. San Pedro St. Pedro. though lying under a hot and unwholsom Climate us'd formerly to be a brave City of Trade but it is gone much to decay since Golfo Dolce hath been discover'd because from that Bay the Commodities are carried in Barques up into the Countrey Juan de Puerto de Cavallos 4. The Village Juan de Puerto de Cavallos inhabited by Factors and Moors It receiv'd that Denomination because not far from it several Horses were forc'd to be thrown over-board in a Storm Though it be but ill fortifi'd yet it hath an exceeding large Haven Captain Christopher Newport arriving here Anno 1591. found two hundred Houses and in them a considerable Booty left notwithstanding four Ships richly laden had lately set Sail from thence Six years after Newport Capt. Ant. Sherly re-took the Place and leaving the Haven open for Pyrats Alphonsus Coriado judg'd it convenient to remove the Trading Place to Amatique he built the Village Thomas de Castilla and fortifi'd the same against all manner of Assaults TRUâ—â—LLO Behind Cavallos lies the Valley Naco which is exceeding fruitful being situate between high Mountains where formerly was found plenty of Silver 5. Eastward from Cavallos appears the famous City Truxillo near a large Bay Truxillo secur'd from all Storms by two Cliffs full of Trees the Mouth of the Haven call'd Joan Gil is above two Leagues broad and receives two Rivers one from each side of the City The Stream Quaimarotte flows Eastward and the River Antonio Westward both abounding in Fish The Countrey round about produces abundance of all sorts of Provisions and chiefly abounds in Grapes which are gather'd twice a year Eight days after August they cut their Vines which afford them ripe Grapes again in October they have two Harvests of Corn also Lemons and Oranges are very plentiful The Cattel brought hither from Spain are exceedingly increas'd to an incredible number Truxillo it self lying on a steep Mountain is defended on that side which respects the Sea with a thick Wall of six Foot high between which and the Haven are many brambly Bushes which prevent the access to the Wall onely a narrow and steep way leading up to the City which hath a strong Gate guarded with two Brass Guns and sufficiently Fortifi'd to oppose an Enemy The Eastern Cliff which bends before the Haven is call'd Punta la Rye on which stands a House with a high Beacon Beyond the Wall Eastward near the Haven is a Ship-yard before which stands a large Woodden Cross The Castle in which the City Store is kept joyns to the Wall near unto which within the Town appears St. Francis Church but the Cathedral call'd Eglesia Major is seen above all other Buildings The Houses cover'd with Palmito-Leaves have Walls of Pleited Bushes Plaister'd over within and without Behind the City where it lies open are exceeding high Mountains Attempts upon this place by the English and Dutch Anno 1576. the English falling on this strong Place carry'd a rich Booty from thence after which Capt. Anth. Sherly and Capt. Will. Parker ventur'd once more on the same but being discover'd by the Centinel were forc'd to Retreat not without a considerable loss When not long after Captain John Van Hoorn a Hollander attempting the same had
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
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
Ground The Men dying of their hard Labour in the Gold-Mines and those which endur'd stoutly the cruel Labour under Ground were never suffer'd to go to their Wives from whence proceeded a great decrease of People the Spaniards seeming purposely to design the destruction of the Natives of Hispaniola though they receiv'd great benefit by their Service for Gold in former times was found between the Cracks and split Stones of the Mountains whose Veins the Mine-workers digg'd for not without great and dangerous Labour First original of the People of Hispaniola The first Planters of Hispaniola are according to the common opinion deriv'd from Matinio a high and Mountainous Isle from whence the most eminent Inhabitants were driven by certain Rebels as formerly the Syrians under the Government of Dido were driven from Tyre to Lybia and the Batavians from Hessen to the Countrey between Rhyne and Wall at present inhabited by the Gelders and Hollanders These Matininoensians thus expell'd from their native Countrey setled themselves on Cahonao near the River Bahaboni The first House they call'd Camoteia and afterwards turn'd it into a Temple to which they shew'd Reverence and made great Presents In like manner the Tyema which stood on a high Rock belonging to one of the Canary Islands was by the antient Inhabitants of the Place had in great veneration insomuch that many leap'd down from the same being perswaded by the Priests That the Souls of those which threw themselves off this sacred Break-neck should immediately be translated into a place of everlasting happiness The antient Name of this Island This Island was as we said before first call'd Haity which signifies Wild because in many places it swells with wondrous high Mountains and in other places is over-grown with great Woods it was afterwards by the antient Inhabitants nam'd Xusqueia that is Unmeasurably great because they suppos'd it to be the whole World and that the Sun shin'd in no other place Indian Songs or Ballads call'd Areitos The Natives of this Island though wholly rude of acquir'd Knowledge or Literature like the generality of the Americans yet they took care to instruct their Children in the Original and Antiquities of their Countrey and the Wars and Exploits of their Predecessors both which they contain'd in Songs call'd Areitos which they us'd to Sing to the sound of Drums and Trumpets but especially their Persons of chiefest Quality study'd most these Areitos and exercis'd themselves in Dancing Strange Prediction of the Spaniards Arrival The most remarkable of these antient Areitos were such as pretended to prophesie of things to come which if of sad consequence were Sung very mournfully and with many Sighs nor were they always however inspir'd without effect as appear'd at last by woful event for long before the Spaniards Landed on Hispaniola it was foretold by one of them that Maguacochios signifying Clothed People should Land on Hispaniola who with sharp Weapons should cut off Heads and Arms and under whose insupportable Yoke their Successors must spend their days without hope of ever being releas'd It might be disputed whether these Predictions were dictated by good or evil Spirits but it is generally believ'd that all their Oracles whether hapning true or false were suggested by diabolical Spirits to the Priests who commonly convers'd with them and that these Spirits knew the Design of several People to discover new Countreys The Images of their Zemes. Their Images Zemes stuff'd full of Cotton were fashion'd into very frightful Shapes and might pass for those things which we call Terricula or Bugbears of which some were made very small and those they ty'd on their Foreheads when they went to the Wars Every Governor had a peculiar Zemes to whom he shew'd Reverence in return whereof he expected Rain fair Weather and to conquer his Enemies supposing him to be a Messenger of a perpetual and endless Being by them call'd Jocauna Guamaonocon whom nevertheless they suppos'd to have a Mother to whom they gave five Names viz. Attbeir Mamona Guacarapita Liella and Guimazoa The Islanders Opinion of the Creation Their opinion of Man's Creation was thus They say that out from a Mountain in the Province Cuanana out of certain small and great Caverns therein came little and great People The biggest Hole call'd Cazibaragua and the little one nam'd Amaiauna were said to be lock'd up every Night that none might pass the Sentinel Machchael who out of curiosity leaving the Mountain Cuata and going up into the Countrey was discover'd by the Sun whose Beams he not being able to endure was turn'd into a Rock The like Mischance hapned to many others who in the dark Night going to Fish in the Morning at their Return were chang'd into Oaken Trees onely one of the Fishermen Was sent away by the chief Commander Vaguoniana who moved at the Complaint of a Nightingale's Singing suffer'd all the Men to go into the Hole and the Women and Children he Transported to Matinino But to make short of these non-sensical Stories in conclusion the Men being let out of their Caves saw many strange Beasts amongst the Woods which being turn'd into Women Were entertain'd by them and brought forth a numerous Progeny which spread over all Hispaniola Their foolish Opinion of the Original of the Sea No less ridiculous an Account do the Priests give concerning the Original of the Sea Viz. That Jaia a mighty Man buried the Body of his deceased Son in a Pumpion which some Moneths after out of meer affection to the Deceased he cutting open abundance of Whales sprung out of it This Wonder being every where known amongst others entic'd four Brothers born at one Birth whose Mother died in Childbed to get the Pumpion into their possession which their Design prov'd successful but afterwards struck with a pannick fear of Jaia's coming thithither who oftentimes came to mourn over the Bones of his dead Son they fled and threw away the Pumpion which breaking with the fall the Sea gush'd out of all places thereof and cover'd the Plains in such a manner that nothing of them was seen onely the tops of the highest Mountains appear'd at which the four Brothers terribly afrighted rang'd through barren Desarts in which they had died of Hunger had they not come to a Baker's House which one of them entring ask'd for Cazabi but the Baker denying them Bread spit on them which caus'd a mortal Dropsie which the Brothers upon consultation found no way to cure but by cutting a hole in the Skin with a sharp Stone and to let out the Water but out of each running Wound sprung a Woman who bare them four Sons and four Daughters The Cave Jovana-beina There is a certain Cave call'd Jovana-beina which is adorn'd with a thousand Pictures in great esteem amongst them at the Entrance on each side whereof stands a Zemes that on the right side is call'd Binthaitelles the other Marobur to which they come from
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
and from thence to the River Omapalchas inhabited on both sides by the Cheriabones and Marquires who oppos'd him in his crossing over the River but meeting with nothing but barren Commons he travell'd up along the River and view'd the Countreys Moios Cochabamba and Chuguiabo from whence he return'd to Collao having lost most of his People by Hunger and Hardship But not long after others went over the Andes to the Countreys which extend themselves East and West some whereof travell'd through Camata and others through Cochabamba Towns and Places of note The principal Towns and Places of Trade in it are 1. Bombon situate upon the Lake Chinchacocha said to be ten Leagues in compass begirt round about almost with Hills and having neighborhood with many other lesser but pleasant Villages 2. Parcos once a Palace Royal of the Ingas seated on the top of a little Hill encompass'd with other Rocky and higher Mountains on all sides 3. San Juan de Vittoria which the Marquess Pizarro built Anno 1539. to secure the Way between Lima and Cusco from the Assaults of the Peruvians before he absolutely conquer'd this Kingdom the Walls are wash'd by a sweet Stream to the great convenience of the Citizens 4. Guamanga a City lying in a pleasant Plain under a healthful Climate built with Stone-houses cover'd with Tyles the Owners whereof have great store of Land which they Sowe with Wheat and also breed plenty of Cattel To this City which is adorn'd with three Churches five Cloysters and a large Alms-house above thirty thousand Peruvians bring annual Tribute The Mines produce Gold Silver Copper Iron Lead Sulphur and Load-stones near which grows the poysonous Herb Mio which kills the Cattel that chance to eat thereof In the Woods also hereabouts feeds a Beast whose Piss stinks at a Miles distance This City is by some deliver'd to be the same with San Juan de la Vittoria above mention'd 5. Bilcas another Palace of the Ingas now a good Town of the Natives and situate as is suppos'd in the very midst of the Countrey of Peru. 6. Guancavelica a new Town rais'd from the condition of a very poor Village to a Place of very great Importance and Traffick onely by the Mines of Quicksilver which were first discover'd there in the Year 1566. by Amador Cabrera through the assistance of a Peruvian nam'd Mavincopa This Cabrera selling his Interest for a hundred and fifty thousand Ducats Su'd the Buyer upon pretence that he had sold it above one half under the value whilest this was depending Peter Ferdinando de Valasco came from Mexico to Guamanga to make trial of the cleansing of Silver by Quicksilver and finding it to succeed according to his expectation he sent great quantities of it to Arica and from thence by Land to Potosi The King of Spain is said to receive from this Mine of Guancavelica all his Charges defray'd above a thousand Pound per Annum for his usual fifth part But the antient Natives regarded not these Mines so much for the Quicksilver as for the Vermilion which is found mix'd with it wherewith they delighted very much to paint their Bodies There is great Art now us'd in the separating of the Quicksilver from the Vermilion This Town was long since inhabited by two thousand Spaniards at least and twice as many Natives 7. Cusco which is the Metropolis of the Kingdom of Peru built on a hard Ground surrounded with Mountains under a cold yet wholsom Climate and wash'd by two Rivers which on the East side of Cusco parting one runs direct West and the other Southward The original of the City Cusco One part of the City antiently bore the Denomination of Haran-Cusco and the second Oren-Cusco where the chief Nobility and most antient Families dwelt Concerning the original of this Place the Peruvians say That several Ages past there appear'd three Men call'd Ayrache Aranca and Ajarmango and with them three Women nam'd Mamacola Mamacona and Mamaragua all of them very richly Cloth'd that Ayrache had a Precious Stone at the end of a Truncheon which by holding up he rais'd the Mountains to the Skies and when he let it fall levell'd them with the lowest Valleys Aranca and Ajarmango concluded to build a stately City and sent for People from remote Countries to inhabit it with which Design the Natives thereabouts seem'd to be well pleas'd but before they went to work they judg'd it convenient to destroy Ayrache whose great Power they envy'd This being resolv'd upon they invited him to a deep narrow-mouth'd Cave that there they might worship the Sun his Father for so Descended he took upon him to be he was no sooner entred but the rest shut the Mouth of the Cave with great Stones hoping so to starve him to death which Ayrache observing stood amaz'd a while till at last he threw off all the Stones and flew with great and divers colour'd Wings up into the Air crying aloud Fear not Aranca and Ajarmango though you have design'nd to take away my Life but build a City in this place and call it Cusco for in it shall stand the Seat of the Ingas under whose Jurisdiction on extending far and near many great Nations shall bow The Temple which the Gods have there design'd shall not onely exceed all other Structures in the World in Art and Costliness but be famous for strange Offerings to the Sun If the Citizens build Altars for me burn Myrrh and make Offerings to me they may certainly expect to vanquish all their Enemies and increase their Power According to my Example bore Holes through your Ears as a sign of Obedience All which Aranca Ajarmango and the fore-mention'd Women promis'd to perform Whereupon Ayrache gave them a rich Diadem with a Tassel which was to be the Head-Ornament of the succeeding Ingas which they had no sooner receiv'd but Ayrache and Aranca were turn'd into Stones yet retaining their former shape which Ajarmango observing fell straight together with the three Women upon building the City Cusco After the Deluge breaking out of the Hole Tambo he chang'd his Name of Ajarmango for Mangocapa that is Mighty Lord and made himself as they say the first Peruvian King The City Cusco was divided into four Wards the East call'd Andosayo the South Callasayo the North Chinchasuyo and the West Condesayo every one one so call'd from the Countreys to which the Gates of the four Wards are oppos'd If any one coming out of another Countrey setled himself in Cusco as it hapned daily he was permitted to dwell no where but in that Ward which fronted his native Countrey The four high Streets which through these Wards one way fall into the Market-place being in the middle of the City are the other way answerable to the four principal High-ways viz. that which leads to Quito and Pasto through Chinchasuyo to Arehuipa through Condesuyo to the Mountains Andes through Andesuyo and to Chili through Collasuyo The two Rivers before
nothing they met with for they murther and destroy all things where e're they come Brasile by whom possess'd at present The several Nations that now possess Brasile besides its native Inhabitants are Portuguese English Hollanders Germans and French which the Brasilians by a general Name call Ajuru-juba otherwise they call all Strangers Caraiba or Pero But from the commixing of several Nations proceeds a fifth sort for one that is born of European Parents in Brasile is call'd Mozombo of an European Father and Brasilian Mother Mameluc of an European Father and a Moor Mulatto of a Brasilian and Moor Curiboca or Cabocles of two Negro's Criolo But above all others the Portuguese are the strongest along the Sea-Coast who when first they began to settle on Brasile found great resistance and had not the Natives been at Wars amongst themselves they could never have got so much footing but now they are sufficiently Masters for they have either slain all the old Inhabitants or driven them up into the Inland however the Brasilians are so valiant that they will Encounter a great Army being brought up in the Wars from their Cradle When they Engage one with another they shoot their Arrows exceeding thick Hooting Hollowing and Leaping from one side to the other to shun the Arrows with a wonderful dexterity The Conquerors spare none but kill all and Feast on the slain Bodies but some they hale away Prisoners with a Rope about their Necks to each of whom they allot a young Maid who cherishes and fattens them up for five Moneths at the end of which they make a great Feast and drink to a pitch beyond Sense or Reason having first fill'd their Bellies with the Flesh of the slain Prisoners roasted If the Woman be got with Child by the Slain they imagine that they can take no greater revenge of their Enemy than to devour the Child as soon as it comes into the World but it often happens that the Woman really loving her Husband the Prisoner runs away with him and so bereaves her Friends of a Banquet SECT II. St. Vincent THe continual Wars which the Portuguese have maintain'd against the Brasilians have hindred them from Setling any where but along the Sea-side where their Residences are divided into thirteen Praefectures or Lordships by them call'd Capitanias the Southermost whereof being 1. St. Vincent Places of note in the Praefecture of St. Vincent hath a City of the same Denomination which lies near a River that coming out of the Ocean runs round in the Countrey and so returns into the Sea 2. Sanctos los Leyes which reckons four hundred Houses and three Sugar-Mills Here great Ships take in their Lading in the middle of the City 3. Hitauhacin the most Southern is inhabited by the Portuguese Twelve Leagues from thence up into the Countrey the Jesuits have built the Village St. Paulo near the Gold-Mines that lie in the Mountains extending from East to West thirty Leagues This Village long since containing eighty Houses is inhabited by Brasilians and a mix'd People the Way thither is troublesom over rough Mountains and Ways overgrown with Brambles On the Island Britioga at a sandy Inlet which makes a good Harbor lies a Fort for defence of the Haven St. Vincent and since the English Anno 1582. sunk a Ship there a second Fort hath been built to prevent the coming in up the River yet notwithstanding Captain Thomas Candish ran by both the Forts and burnt St. Vincent but spar'd Sanctos Before the River which washes St. Vincent appears the Island Sebastian pretty large wooddy and well stor'd with Venison It hath wholsom Water good Herbage and a secure Road for Ships against all Winds Farther into the Sea appears the high and rocky Isles Alcatraces as also Victorio des Busires Porto des Castellanos Monte de Frigo Muella and Queimadas The Nature of the Tupinikinsi Natives of St. Vincent The Natives of St. Vincent which are in League with the Portuguese are call'd Tupinikinsi inhabiting the Mountains which extend above twenty eight Leagues up into the Countrey They maintain continual Wars against the Carioes a civiliz'd People and white of Complexion as also against the Cupin-Imbas on the North and a nameless People bordering on Peru. Moreover the Miramumins a very wild People range all the Countrey over but are much lessen'd since the Portugueses Arrival SECT III. Rio de Janeiro First Discovery and Possesion of Rio de Janeiro THe second Lordship Rio de Janeiro formerly by the French call'd Ganabara was discover'd Anno 1515. by Juan Dias de Solis but the French first Setled themselves here forty years after Dias de Solis for setting Sail from Havre de Grace with three well Mann'd Ships Commanded by Nicholas Durandus Villegagnon they arriv'd at Rio Janeiro in November and at the Entrance into the River which is about half a League broad built a woodden Fort of a hundred Foot long and sixty broad and giving it the Name of the French Admiral Coligni put several Guns into the same to secure the Entrance inclos'd on each side by two steep Mountains In the River which is very broad lie several wooddy Isles on one of which near the Fort Coligni Villegagnon Setling himself suffer'd great Inconveniences for want of Water because he durst not Land on the Main for fear of being surpris'd by the Natives Here he stay'd a year and a half in a deplorable Condition when Philip Corguileray and Du Pont set Sail with three Ships from the Haven Honfleurs but they also though they had many Men yet were ill stor'd with Provisions insomuch that Hunger increas'd amongst them daily wherefore Villegagnon return'd home without any farther Exploits Jean Leri who went with Corguileray describes Rio Janeiro after this manner Jean Leri his Description thereof The River saith he lies twenty three Degrees Southward of the Equinoctial Line the Inlet of the Sea twenty fourthousand Paces broad and in some places broader is hemm'd in by hills the Mouth of the Inlet is somewhat dangerous by reason of three rocky Isles beyond the large Bay is a narrow Channel on the left-hand whereof there rises a high Mountain which the French call'd Le Pot de Beure because it resembles a Butter-pot Somewhat farther lies the Rock Ratier where Villegagnon thought to build a Fort but the Water in stormy Weather washing over the Rock he was forc'd to give over his Design Half a League farther is an Island a thousand Paces in length and a hundred and fifty in breadth surrounded with Rocks on which the French resided at each end of the Isle rises a Hill and from the middle a Rock sixty Foot high on the Hill Villegagnon pitcht his Tent till he had built him a handsom House on a Rock the other Houses were built in the Valley Three Leagues and a half farther lies a fruitful Isle nine Miles in circumference inhabited by a salvage People call'd Touoebinambauti there
are several other Isles on which breed good Oysters with little Pearls which stick so fast to great Stones that they can scarce be pluckt off The River Janeiro abounds with Fish Towns and Places of chief note The French once possess'd this Island but were dispossess'd by Emanuel de Sa Governor of Brasile for the Portuguese The City Sebastian which contains three hundred Houses is built on the Southern Point of Janeiro opposite to which on the Northern Point lies the Fort a large Church the Jesuits Cloyster and two Sugar-Mills give no small lustre to the City where the chief Trade consists in Brasile Wood and Cotton The French Storm'd this Town Anno 1581. but march'd off without any success Dirk Ruiters an Eye-witness gives us this Description of Sebastian The Town says he lies two Leagues up the River Janeiro in a Bay about which it is built like a Semi-Circle in a sandy Soil along the Water and is about a Mile long at each end rise steep Mountains besides which it hath neither Walls nor Gates but its strength consists of four Forts the chiefest whereof stands towards the East on a Rock in the Mouth of the River the second towards the West an Isle which on the South-East rises with a Mountain resembling a Sugar-Loaf the third crowns a Rock South-East from the Town and the fourth in the North-West a high Mountain The Natives call'd Tououpinambauti are very serviceable to the Portuguese Besides the fore-mention'd Towns Coligni and St. Sebastian some make mention of another in this Praefecture call'd Angra de los Reyes twelve Leagues distant from St. Sebastian Westward The Burroughs of the Natives are populous but neither strong by Nature nor fortifi'd and so not by any one thought worthy the naming SECT IV. De Spirito Sancto Description of the Lordship De Spirito Santo NExt to Rio Janeiro lies the Lordship or County De Spirito Sancto exceeding fruitful having divers Woods abounding with Venison The Rivers Parayva Manangea Itapemeri Iritibi and Guarapari Several strange sorts of Fish are stor'd with all sorts of Fish and amongst others the Fish Piratiapua which in the Winter Moneths lives in the Rivers and against the Summer returns to the Rocks wash'd by the Ocean This Fish hath a wide Mouth full of Teeth a reddish Tongue little Fins except those on their Backs divers colour'd Scales yet most of a dark Red and generally weighs fifty Pound Here is also the Fish Paru full of yellow Scales like Half-Moons over a black Skin it hath long Fins near the Tail and a little Head No less remarkable is the Guebucu which hath a long Body a sharp bonie Snout the upper Jaw reaching over the other no Teeth a Tail divided in the middle sharp Fins on the Back and a Skin full of Silver-colour'd Prickles This Monster not onely devours great Fishes but also Men when it is hungry it often runs its Snout through the side of a Ship But there is no Fish more deform'd than the Abacatuaja which being oval and flat hath two long Fins underneath and one on the top a divided Tail green Fins a smooth Skin and fiery Eyes as soon as it is taken it cries like a Hog In this County stands a Town of the same Denomination which contains two hundred Houses a Sugar-Mill and a Cloyster of Jesuits and drives a great Trade in Cotton and Brasile Wood. Before the City lies an Inlet full of Isles the Mouth of which is guarded by a Castle The Natives call'd Maigaias are in League with the Portuguese but the Tapuyans and Apiapetangas do them all the mischief they can possibly so that the Portuguese travel in great danger of their lives when any Business calls them through the Countrey of these salvage People But besides these People the Way is pester'd with strange wild Beasts especially on the Mountain Mestre Alvaro which is seen at a great distance off at Sea on which amongst other Creatures breeds the terrible Serpent Boiguacu The Serpent Boiguacu whose length is generally twenty four Foot it is of an Ash colour with great and small black Spots with a little white Speck in the middle when hungry it leaps out of the Hedges or from the tops of Trees raises it self upright on its Tail and winding about either Man Beast or whate're it be squeezes it to death or puts its Tail which ends in a sharp Point or Sting in at the Fundament in such a manner that it kills the Creature on which it seizeth in a moment and then swallows it up This Serpent hath strong Ribs inwardly and more than seventy bonie Joynts wherefore it turns it self with great ease the Joynt-bones near the Head are the biggest and grow smaller and smaller towards the Tail It also feeds on Pismires The Bird Jabicu-guacu This County also breeds the Bird Jabicu-guacu which exceeds the Crane in bigness and hath a long thick Bill but no Tongue on his Head appears a white grifly Crest or Mitre the Wings and Tail are short and the Feathers most of them white except the Pinions which shine like Rubies their Flesh is of a good rellish but somewhat dry Near the River which washes the City Spirito Sancto the Paraibes dwell in Huts not unlike Ovens SECT V. Porto Seguro Description of Porto Seguro NExt to the fore-mention'd County borders Porto Seguro discover'd by Pedro Alvares Capralis who gave this Countrey the Name of Terra de Santa Cruiz but afterwards chang'd it to Porto Seguro because he found a secure Harbor there The Town built on the top of a white Rock gives its Denomination to the whole Countrey and harbor'd long since two hundred and twenty Families and hath five Sugar-Mills The Land on the North side of the Rock rises high but South wardly a smooth Coast runs along the Ocean from which two Leagues off at Sea lie several Cliffs against which the Waves break with a great force The Towns Santa Cruiz and Amaro are left desolate because the Portuguese were continually Invaded by the salvage Aymures whom they were not able by any means to repress Southward from Porto Seguro appear the Shoals Abrolhos twenty six Leagues from the Coast they are of one breadth but one is longer than the other Opposite to the Abrolhos on the Main Coast a plain Countrey extends it self thirty Leagues in length inhabited by the Ouetacates a cruel People who continually either destroy one another or else make sad slaughters amongst their Neighbors The County Porto Seguro belongs to the Spanish Duke of Avero but is very much decay'd The Beast Capybara The Rivers Moucuripe Caruvelas and Lucura breed abundance of Water-Hogs call'd Capybara which have short Feet Bristles and Ears a thick Body and Head with a bearded Snout besides two Tusks and twenty four lesser Teeth in each Jaw but no Tail they feed on Grass and Bushes in whole Herds on the Shore and make a terrible
a good Disposition and go naked they catch Fish after a strange manner for they onely throw the strong smelling Wood Ayaw in the Water which works so upon the Fish that they suffer themselves to be caught with the Hand The well-known American Root Cassavi serves them for Bread being bak'd in round Cakes on hot Stones of the Cakes they also make the Liquor Perrinoe which tastes almost like stale Beer and is prepar'd by old Women and little Children which chew the Cassavi and spit the same into a Pot full of Water which having stood a while they strain the same through a Cloth and set it a working with Potato-Roots They are troubled with no Vermine not so much as the little Fleas Niquas by the Spaniards call'd Chigos which creep in between the Nails On the Sea-Coast are many Tortoises whose Flesh is of a delicious taste but heavy to digest Sheep and Oxen will not thrive here but Swine would thrive exceedingly if their Dugs were not bit off in the Night by the Bats The River Wiapoco hath many dangerous Water-falls the one much higher than the other a little way beyond the first of them the Stream Army falls into Wiapoco The Marashewaccas Three days Journey Westerly dwell the Marashewaccas whose Ears hang down on their Shoulders they worship for their Deity an Image representing a Man who sitting flat on the Ground with his Legs stretch'd out leans with his Elbows on his Knees and holding up his Hands gapes and stares up towards Heaven North-West from Wiapoco rises the Mountain Gomeribo which produces Maiz Tobacco Cotton-Trees and Vines In the same place the Creek Wainary runs Westwardly with fresh Water a days Journey into the Countrey and from the said Creek a high Mountain fit for the production of Sugar and Tobacco extends it self to the River Apurwaca where the Wiopocaries inhabit a great Tract of Land The Harrithiahans North-West from Wiapoco flows the River Aperwacque whose mountainous Shores bear Brasile Wood and wild Cinamon The Stream it self takes its original out of a large Lake in the middle whereof lies a three-corner'd Isle South-East from the Lake dwell the Harrithiahans beyond whose Countrey are the Rivers Cauwo Wia and Cajani On the Banks of the first dwelt Anno 1596. according to the Relation of Laurence Keymis a People call'd Jaos driven by the Spaniards from Moruga and who formerly possess'd the greatest part of Guiana they distinguish themselves from other People by pricking their Faces full of Holes with the Tooth of a Beast not unlike a Rat But at present the Jaos being departed from hence the Countrey lies desolate The Wia which springs a great way up in the Countrey hath a wide Mouth and near several Islands convenient Harbors The biggest of the Isles inhabited by the Shebaios is full of Provisions viz. Fowl Fish excellent Fruit wild Hogs and other Beasts The triangular Isles lying more Westerly are also very fruitful but not comparable to Gowatery So far as the Coast extends it self with high Mountains it is overgrown with Brasile Wood but the lower Grounds produce Cotton Pepper Silk Balsam and the Root Wiapassa tasting like Ginger and exceeding good against a Lask or the Head-ache Before the Mouth of Cajani appears the high Island Mattoory surrounded by the lesser Isles Sannawony Epenesari and Eponeregemerae Between the Rivers Cajani and Maccaria lies the low Island Muccumbro out of whose Center rise two Mountains and which is inhabited as the Main Coast by Caribbeeans whose General Arrawicary shew'd great friendship to the Netherlanders They observe no certain Laws for Government Adultery and Murder they punish with Death they are very tyrannical towards their Wives who for the least act of incivility have their Brains beat out they esteem one another according to the number of their Wives the eldest of which performs all Houshold-Offices Caribbeeans the Inhabitants of Guiana The Caribbeeans are accounted to have been the first Inhabitants of this Countrey for the Jaos Sappaios Arowaccas and Paragotos were driven hither by the Spaniards from Trinidad or Oronoque The wild Caribbeeans live farther up into the Countrey and often fall with great rage upon the other but since the Netherlanders have furnish'd them with Arms they have not been so much molested by them Beyond Macavia lies the River Caurora which is very narrow and deep Rivers and next in order the Rivers Manamonary Sinamary Cunanama Juraca Mawary Amana and Marawyny full of Isles and four Leagues broad at the Mouth along the Shore grow little Trees whose Leaves wither as soon as touch'd by Mankind but revives again within half an hour Next follow the Rivers Sorrenam Sorrenamme Copanama Marateca and Curetiny where the Netherlanders by virtue of a Patent granted by the States General drove a Trade for several years Somewhat farther the Berbice Apari Maycawini Mabeyca Mirara and Essekebe discharge their Waters into the Ocean twenty days Journey from their Spring-Head where a great Lake by the Jaos call'd The Roponowini and by the Caribbeeans Parime spreads it self a great way and on its Northern Shore hath the Town Manoa Along the River Essebeke is an excellent sort of Wood the Dye call'd Orellano and abundance of Cassavi In the Mouth of the River also lies the Isle Ottoma Lastly between Essebeke and the great River Orinoque glide the lesser Streams Iwapoi Pauroma Gayni Moruga Ammacoura and Parima before which lie several nameless Isles The Discovery of these Parts begun by Columbus Christopher Columbus in his third Voyage to the West-Indies discover'd the great Island Trinidad where before the Mouth of the Bay Vallena he was in great danger as also the Ship Commanded by Alonso de Ojeda by reason of the Waves with which the great River Yuyapar otherwise call'd Orinoque coming out of the High-lands of Paria falls into the Sea which made him call the said Mouth Bocca del Drago so that Columbus Anno 1599. discover'd the Main Coast of America to the Northward of Guiana as far as the Promontory De la Vela before Americus Vesputius whither Diego de Ordas Steer'd with three Ships Mann'd with four hundred Castilians Diego de Ordas his Expedition in the Year 1231. and before Guiana took four Caribbeeans Prisoners in a Canoo and finding an Emerauld about them as big as a Man's Hand they inform'd him that up the River was a Rock all of such Stones and a Mountain on which grew high Trees yielding store of Myrrh but the strong contrary Tides and Water-falls prevented Ordas from going thither and being troubled at the loss of one of his Ships he ran along the Shore to Paria and took the Fort which Antonio Sedenno Governor of Trinidad had cast up there and left the Command thereof to Juan Gonsalvez Ordas pretending that Sedenno had built it contrary to the Emperor's Order and that he had made Slaves of the Natives Martin Jannez Tafur stay'd in the
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
Description of the Countrey Extracted from the Iseland Chronicle is look'd upon by a late French Writer of note as the most particular and faithful however the Danish Chronicle differs in many things and amongst others in this that not the hundredth part of Groenland is possess'd by the Norwegians but that there inhabit several different sorts of People of different Fashions and Governments altogether unknown to the Norwegians Temperature of Groenland Groenland notwithstanding its Northerly Situation is reported to be a Countrey not unfertile of Corn and other Productions of the Earth and in respect of its verdant Aspect at some Seasons of the Year above the rest of those Septentrional Regions it is concluded to have merited the Name of Groenland i. e. Greenland nay so great is the Heat that is said to be there during the Moneths of June July and August by reason of the reverberation of the Sun-beams from the Rocks that many times there is but six Weeks space betwixt Seed-time and Harvest What sort of Animals breed there The Beasts which are said to breed here in great numbers are Horses Deer Foxes Hares Bears both black and white common Wolves and a sort of Beast between a Deer and a Wolf besides great store of Beavers and Martins as the Iseland Chronicle testifies whose Furr in fineness may compare with the Sables of Russia There are also Gerfalcons in abundance both white and grey of so delicate a kind that they were in ancient times sent to the Kings of Denmark as Presents of great rarity The Seas about Greenland abound in very many sorts of Fish as Sea-Wolves Sea-Dogs Sea-Calves and above all incredible numbers of Whales of a vast bigness Strange kind of Horn found there But the most remarkable Commodity of this Countrey is a kind of Horn commonly call'd the Licornes or Unicorns-Horn which is found there in great quantities and great store of it is to be seen in Denmark some whole some in great pieces sometimes onely the Ends or Stumps but since it appears very different from all other kind of Horn there is great Question made amongst Naturalists whether it be Horn or Tooth and if Horn whether the Horn of a Beast or Fish but it is discover'd of late to be the Horn or rather Tusk of a certain Fish which the Islanders call Narhual being indeed a kind of Whale as the Name seems to imply signifying a Whale which feeds upon Carcases The chief Voyagers thither This Countrey is call'd by the Natives Secanunga who was the first Discoverer thereof is not certainly known but the first chief Voyagers thither were of the Dutch William Barents or Barentson of Amsterdam who set forth towards those Parts in the Year 1594. and before him Dithmar Blefkens in the Year 1563. of the English Mr. James Hall who set out from Copenhagen in Denmark Anno 1605. and in a second Voyage was slain by a Salvage of the Countrey The Coastings Havens and Creeks of Groenland The Coastings Courses Havens and Creeks of Groenland according as Barentson receiv'd an Account of them from Iver Boty a Groenlander written in the Norsh Language as it is call'd are as followeth From Stad in Norway to Hornness the East part of Groenland it is seven days Sailing Between Iseland and Groenland lieth a Riff call'd Gombornse-skare the Ice lying upon which hindreth the Passage Those that Sail from Bergen in Norway South of Rokeness in Iseland come under Swafster a Promontory or high Land in the East part of Groenland and within sight of the high Mount Whitsark between which and Groenland lieth a Headland call'd Hernoldus Hook not far from Sound-Haven formerly much frequented by the Norway Merchants Those that Sail from Iseland to Groenland Steer to Snoffness West of Rokeness and after South-West East of Hernoldus Hook lieth the Village of Skagenford the most Easterly Village of the Island East of Skagenford the Haven Bearford inaccessible by Ships by reason of a great Riff lying at the Mouth thereof This Place is chiefly remarkable for the Whale-fishing the Whales upon the going back of the Tide running into a great Swalth as they call it which is in the Haven East of Bearford is the Haven call'd Allabong-Sound full of little Isles East from the Icy Mountain the aforemention'd Haven Fendobothes Farther East is the Highland Corse Hought where they Hunt white Bears West from Hernoldus Hook is the Village Codosford and hard by the Sea-Coast a fair Church which we conceive to be the same with Korsekirk above spoken of as Codosford may also probably be the same with Kindelfiord A little farther West lieth the Boy or Town of Wartsdale for in the Norsh Language Boy signifies a Town belonging to Petresuik or Peterswike Church Near this Boy or Town standeth a Cloyster or Abbey of Canons Regular dedicated to St. Olafe and St. Augustine Next to Codosford is Rompnesford the same questionless with the above-mention'd Rumpesinfiord where there is a Cloyster of Nuns of the Order of St. Benedict In this Ford lie many small Isles Between Rompness and the next Sound lieth a great Garden call'd Vose belonging to the King of the Countrey as also St. Nicholas Church before mention'd At the entrance into Emnestnesford is the Inlet Southwoderswike and somewhat higher on the same side the little Cape Bloming beyond the Inlet Granwike above that the Garden call'd Daleth belonging to the Cathedral Church and on the right-hand to those that Sail out of the said Sound a great Wood belonging to the same Church where they feed their Oxen Kine and Horses The Highland lying by Emestnesford is call'd The Ramas Hayth from the Rain-Deer which use to be there Hunted And hereabouts is that sort of Stone of which they make large Fat 's or Cisterns as hath been before intimated it is by some call'd the Zevell-Stone being a sort of Marble or as some will have it Load-stone of all colours West from this lieth another Highland call'd Long-Highland The next Sound is call'd Swalterford having a Church belongining to it of the same Name and where there is also a Garden belonging to the King call'd St. Hentelstad Next to that lieth Erricksford and at the entrance thereof the Highland Erricks Hought belonging to Deverskirk the first Parochial Church in Groenland North-West from Erricksford is Megdenford Farther out is a Church call'd Scogelkirk and farther in the Sound Leadenkirk Beyond Erricksford is another Ford or Sound by the Name of Fossa belonging to the Cathedral Church and to the North of it two Villages Ever-boy and Forther-boy From thence farther North lieth Bredaford and after that Lormontford and from thence Westward Icedeep To the North of the Westland lieth a spacious Wilderness call'd Hemel Hatsfelt and Edg'd with massie Rocks and Cliffs towards the Sea side beyond which the Sea is innavigable by reason of the many Swalgen or Whirlpools thereabouts In Groenland there are divers Hills wherein are Silver-Mines multitudes of
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
And also the Mexicans of their Original giving the Spaniards a far better Account when first they came thither wherein we must a little deviate viz. How they were remov'd from some other place as Robert Comtaeus relates who with many Learned and seemingly true Arguments affirms That the Original of the Americans must be sought for either among the Phenicians Sydonians Tyrians or Carthaginians Lib. 1. cap. 7. being indeed all one People Herodotus saith thus of the Phenicians They liv'd formerly according to their own Relation along the Shore of the Red-Sea from whence removing they planted the Sea-Coast of the Syrians Festus Avienus the Latin Poet agrees with this Opinion where he saith On the Phenicians Coasts the Ocean beats Who through the Red-Sea Sailing chang'd their Seats They were the first that ventur'd through the Seas And freighted Ships with richer Merchandise Fair or foul Weather They without controule Sought Foreign Trade directed by the Pole Original and Habitations of the Phenicians of whom according to serval Learned the Americans are extracted Aristotle from a Greek Word calls them Phenicians from their being red or bloody with the Slaughter of all Strangers that Landed on their Coast but rather and so indeed they are call'd Phenicians or Erythreans from Esau or Edom from whom they are deriv'd for these two Words or Denominations signifie in Greek Red the two last the like in Hebrew Phenix himself first planted all the Countrey lying between the River Eleutherus and the Egyptian City Pelusium and afterwards Damiata wash'd by the Mediterrane But since these Boundaries are alter'd on the North by Judea Westward by the Mediterrane Southerly by Egypt and towards the East by the Desart Arabia The chiefest Cities are Ptolemais otherwise call'd Acon Sidon Arad Great Cana Sarepta Biblis Bothrit Berithus and their Princess Tyre formerly scituate in an Isle but since joyn'd to the Main-Land by Alexander the Great None can disown but that the Phenicians have every where been Admirals of the Sea so that they were formidable to the greatest Princes When the Persian King Cambyses came with a vast Army against the Carthaginians Heredot lib. 1. he was forc'd to give over his Design because the Phenicians refus'd to help him with their Fleet being allied to and the City founded by them But they not only built Carthage Salust in Igurtha which strove with Rome to be the Empress of the World but also the famous Cities Leptis Utica Hippo and Adrumetum in Africa with Cadâ—z and Tartessus in Spain nay they sent Plantations of People into the Heart of Iberia and Lybia It will not be amiss to add Q. Curtius his Relation who tells us Where-ever the Phenicians came with their Fleets Wonderful Power of the Phenicians Landing their Men they subdu'd whole Countreys and by that means spread their Colonies over the known World Carthage in Africa Thebes in Boetia and Cadiz near the Western Ocean Aristotle relates That they made such rich Returns of their Merchandize and chiefly of their Oyl in Spain that their Anchors Pins and all Iron Materials belonging to a Ship in stead of that Metal were Silver But to return to our Discourse and disprove the former Testimony That the Phenicians found America The formention'd Comtaeus saith thus None can justly doubt Testimonies that the Americans are deriv'd from the Phenicians but that since the Phenicians took the Command of the Sea from the Rhodians they more and more increas'd their Fleets and growing experter in Navigation passing the Gibraltar Northward became Masters of Cadiz and still prepar'd new Fleets which searching beyond Atlas Southward discover'd the Coasts of Africa and the adjacent Isles driving a great Trade to the Canaries and to those which lay scatter'd along Cape de Verd formerly call'd the Gorgades This way of Trade also was not unknown to the Greeks Iberians and other People but after the Phenicians assum'd it wholly to themselves without any respect or difference of Countreys they sunk all whomsoever they could catch Curtius further adds saying First Testimony I believe that the Phenicians sailing into the Main Ocean have discover'd unknown Countreys And which are those Not the Gorgades or Canary Isles for those were sufficiently known before but a Main Land far beyond Is contradicted But though the Phenicians were most expert yet not skilful enough to make out such Discoveries They indeed were the first that before any other sail'd out of the Mid-land Sea nay they ventur'd a good way into the main Ocean beyond the Straights of Gibraltar or the Herculean Pillars But how far Not to the Gorgades above half way betwixt Spain and America but to the Cassiterides or Flemish Islands which to the number of nine lie in sight of Spain Strabo affirms this Truth Lib. 3. Geogr. saying The Cassiterides are ten lying in order close by one another Flemmish Islands One remains uninhabited on the rest live a swarthy People This way the Phenicians sail'd first when they were in quest for Trade from Cadiz And though he reckons ten there are indeed but nine viz. St. Michael St. Mary St. George Tercera de Pico or Tenariff so call'd from the Mountain which vomits Fire Fayal Las Flores Del Cuervo and Gratiosa Moreover the same Strabo relates Lib. 17. That the Carthaginians did not throw over-board the Traders on the remote Gorgades but those especially that came from Sardinia or Cadiz Salt-Islands how long known Joan. Mariana de Reb. Hispan lib. 1. cap. 20. Mean while we cannot deny but that the Gorgades that lye before Cape de Verd were frequented by the Carthaginians long before the Birth of our Savior but with so much admiration that Hanno their Captain in that Expedition was listed amongst the number of their Heroes hapning thus The Carthaginians sailing for Cadiz to assist the Phenicians against the Spaniards made that the Seat of War which soon drew on a greater Design for Hamilco and Hanno being impowr'd by the Senate at Carthage manag'd the War in Spain Both of them were ambitious to discover new Countreys Hamilco sail'd along the Coast of Spain and Gaule reaching to Batavia Hanno steer'd Southerly Very remarkable Voyage of Hanno the Carthaginian along the Coast of Africa to the Salt-Islands carrying thirty thousand Men of all Trades in his Fleet purposing to build a new City in some place or other and got beyond the Promontory Ampelusium now call'd Cabo Spatil the River Ziloa which washeth the City Arzilla and the Stream Lix now Lusso where the Poets place the Gardens of the Hesperides in the custody of a waking Dragon From thence proceeding on his Voyage he came to an Anchor in the Mouth of the River Subur at this day call'd Subu and afterwards before the City Sala now call'd Salle at that time made very dangerous by the voracious Beasts in the neighboring Woods At last the Fleet reach'd the Foot of the
Court that were brought over thither by Columbus Moreover Hoieda was inform'd here That this Gold-River took its Original in the Province belonging to Cacicus Caunaboa signifying The King of the Golden Palace Columbus builds a City Mean time Columbus selected a piece of Ground on a rising Hill on the North part of the Isle where he intended to build a City because close by the Hill on one side rises a Mountain pregnant with Stone and Chalk on the other a Plain so exceeding fruitful and pleasant that the Sun scarce shines upon a more delightful and fertile Soil which they found afterwards by experience Here Melons are set and ripe in thirty six days Corn in two Months Strange fruitfulness there twice a Year the Trees and Plants bring forth their several Products the Vines come to maturity and are loaden with Clusters of Grapes in two Years and Sugar-Canes grow as thick as a Mans Arm in fifteen days On this pleasant Soil accommodated with a convenient Haven Columbus afterwards built the City Isabella fortified with Walls and Trenches against all Invasions over which he made his Brother Bartholomew Columbus first Governor Mean while the Admiral Columbus himself march'd up into the Countrey with three hundred Men in quest of the Gold Mines Seventy two Leagues the Valley Cibava lies distant from Isabella to which Columbus pass'd over swift Currents and high Mountains where he built a Fort which he call'd St. Thomas and exchang'd with the Inhabitants Toys and Trifles for Pieces and Ingots of Gold which the Inhabitants as before-mention'd found in the Sand of their Rivers And besides they inform'd him That about half a days Journey further greater Quantities of Gold were to be found in a browner colour'd Soil Whereupon Luxanus one of his Officers was sent with a sufficient Party thither who march'd through a delightful way cool with shady Boughs and pleasant with the prospect of spacious Meadows where they mow'd Grass for their Horses which in four days time grew up again higher than our tallest Wheat Goes to Sea to discover new Countreys Mean time Columbus being return'd with great Riches to his new City Isabella went soon after by Sea with three Vessels to discover new Countreys more remote which his Design fell out also successfully for he fell first upon Jamaica where he found more stout Opposition than elsewhere by the Natives at his Landing but finding themselves over-power'd they came to Agreement and accepting an amicable Composure presently struck up a Peace From thence putting to Sea he next discover'd Cuba which sailing round about he found also to be an Island where Landing in a convenient Harbor on each fenc'd with a high and jutting Rock he espied two little Hovels wherein was abundance of Fish besides two great Snakes or Serpents each having eight Feet spitted and ready to be laid to the Fire to be roasted but neither Man Woman nor Child to be seen they being gone with part of the Fish they had dress'd into the adjacent Woods whither the Spaniards following saw hanging by small Strings on the Branches of Trees abundance of Snakes some of which had their Mouths tied together others their Tongue and Teeth pull'd out Hence marching on a little beyond they saw a Company of the Natives which they judg'd to be about seventy Men covering the top or summit of a Hill to whom the Spaniards made Signs and to entice them near shew'd several of their gawdy Trifles but in vain till at last one adventur'd descending from the Hill to whom one of the Natives who in the first Voyage that the Admiral made was taken from the Island Guanahaini near Cuba carried to Spain and there Christned call'd aloud telling him they need not fear they should have no harm done them which said they came down all together and inform'd them That they were sent by their King to catch Fish for another King which was with him at Dinner and if they had not eaten the Serpents they gave them many thanks for they were provided for the second Course and very scarce to be got being a greater Dainty than any Fish Discovers not without great Accidents several New Countreys Columbus From hence proceeding on further Westward discover'd a fruitful Coast verging the Mouth of a River whose Water runs boyling hot into the Sea Somewhat further he saw very strange Fishes especially the Guaican not unlike an Eel but with an extraordinary great Head over which hangs a Skin like a Bag. This Fish is the Natives Fisher for having a Line or handsom Cord fastned about him so soon as a Turtel or any other of his Prey comes above Water they give him Line whereupon the Guaican like an Arrow out of a Bowe shoots towards the other Fish and then gathering the Mouth of the Bag on his Head like a Purse-net holds them so fast that he lets not loose till hal'd up out of the Water Here the Spaniards having Din'd on delicate Fish went on still Westward and came to an uninhabited Isle but well stor'd with Geese Pelicans and ugly Dogs that could not bark Here they came amongst so many Shoals that the Keels of their Ships raked upon the Ground almost forty Leagues together the Water thick and white like Milk Lastly they came again into deep Water and Landed at the Foot of a high Mountain on the Island Cuba where they found two Springs of very sweet Water A Musqueteer going into the Woods whilst the rest fill'd their Vessels with Water and cut Wood he spied a tall Man in a Coat like a white Fryer's Frock behind whom came two more and soon after thirty more follow'd all alike Habited the Musqueteer running away they beckned him to stay but he march'd off arid informing Columbus of his Adventure he sent a Party well Arm'd to see farther into the Countrey but they neither saw nor heard any Men onely found on the other side of the Wood a great Plain but so overgrown with deep Grass that it was impossible to get through The next day he sent out twenty five more which found nothing else than the Prints of the Steps of great Beasts and Lyons and also abundance of large Grapes which hung on the Branches of Vines clasping about the Bodies of the great Trees Hence Columbus again putting to Sea and Sailing Westerly found a Shore overflow'd with Water and abounding with Pearl-Mussles and after that the whole Countrey full of Mountains whose tops smoaked By this time the Fleet was much damnified by the Shole-water where as we mention'd before they often struck and their Keels rak'd upon the Ground so that having sprung several Leaks and their Provisions growing mouldy with the Damp they were forc'd to return and Tacking about they ran against Turtles which lay as thick in the Sea as if they had been sow'n Columbus now on his return home and Landing once more on Cuba found an antient Man stark naked who speaking to him
ground being meer Stone and their Anchors coming home Schouten in great danger the great Ship drove against a Rock and at Ebbing Water broke off the outermost Planks and Iron-Work and the Ketch also striking on a high Shelf was at low Ebb two Fathom with her Keel above the Water and had without peradventure been overset and bilg'd but a fresh North-West Wind kept her upright yet at last the Weather growing calm she lean'd but the Tide coming in very fast set her afloat so that she was miraculously sav'd then setting Sail again to King's-Island they found so many Eggs of black Mews Incredible many Eggs. that one without stiring from his place might reach above fifty Nests and in each of them at least three Eggs which they carry'd aboard by thousands Their Boat Rowing Southerly down the River found some Ostriches and Beasts not unlike Stags but with exceeding long Necks On the Hills lay Stones heap'd one upon another which removing they found Dead Bodies of eleven Foot long here Great Corps here they spent their time in cleansing their Ships and new Sheathing the Ketch but as they were Tallowing Kotch burnt the Flame accidentally got between the Crevisses which immediately taking Fire in a short time consum'd it to Ashes The great Ship had gotten a Horn in her Bow seven Foot under Water Strange Horn. this Horn being firm without any hollowness and not unlike a great Elephants Tooth struck thorow two Ashen and one Oaken Plank sticking in a Rib of the like Wood and yet above half a Foot remain'd out to be seen At length Schouten Weighing Anchor from Porto Desire Great Mews and Sailing to four and fifty Degrees Southern Latitude met whole Shoals of Whales insomuch that he was fain to Tacque to and again to shun them Sea-Pies bigger than Swans came flying in great numbers aboard suffering themselves to be taken with the hand On the North-side they spy'd a high and scraggy Coast spreading it self to the East South-East which they call'd The States Countrey that which lay to the Westward of it Mourice of Nassau the Islands in fifty seven Degrees Barnevield's-Isles and the sharp Point in which lay the Snowy Mountains Southward of the Magellan Straights end the Cape of Hoorn Schouten had now gotten the height of fifty nine Degrees when he enter'd the South-Sea through the new passage between Mauritius and the States-Countrey which was call'd from his Partner Straights Le Maire The Straights of Le Maire Isles in the South-Sea Near the two Isles Juan Fernando they found great store of Fish after that they view'd these Islands that lay scatter'd up and down the South-Sea each of them they nam'd according to their several occasions calling the first The Isle of Dogs because they have abundance of Dogs there that could not bark Another The Bottomless Island because the Sea was so deep about it that they could not come to an Anchor The Inhabitants who go naked with their Skins pounced full of strange shapes of blue Snakes Dragons and such like Creatures Salli'd out of the Woods upon the Hollanders with great Clubs to which was fasten'd the Sword or Snout of a Sword-Fish and also with Slings Somewhat further they came to Water-Land and Flyes-Island the first so nam'd because the Shore round about was planted with Trees but in the middle all lay cover'd with Salt-Water the other from the Flyes which with incredible numbers troubled the Sea-men four days together Strange entertainment at the Horn Islands Moreover the Reception or Entertainment which Schouten was welcom'd withal at the Hoorn-Islands being very remarkable we will in brief relate Anchoring in nine Fathom Water Shelly ground before a fresh Rivulet three Hollanders sent to the King were by him courteously entertain'd who with strange humility not bow'd but kissing their Feet fell flat on the ground and put the Hollanders Feet upon his Neck and after this manner of Salutation waited upon them aboard Yet although this King fawn'd so much and seem'd so humble yet he was very severe over his Subjects for finding one that had filch'd a Sword he not onely brought and restor'd it but immediately Executed the Thief before their Faces Le Maire and Arias Claeszoon were much honor'd here for the old and young King put their Crowns on their Heads curiously Wrought of fine White Feathers and the end adorn'd with small Red and Green Feathers they gave also to each of them a Pigeon White to their Wings the hinder part Black and under their Bellies Red. In the interim the King of Water-Island visited the other by whom Le Maire was treated When they met they made strange shews of Honor to each other but at last shew'd their Salvageness by eating raw Fish and rudely Dancing before the Hollanders Le Maire going into the Countrey and climbing up a high Mountain saw nothing but Morass Wilds and Vallies lying under Water The King and his Retinue here kept him company during his stay there when weary with walking they sate down together under Coco-Nut-Trees the young King tying a String about his Leg climb'd with exceeding dexterity up a high Tree bringing several Coco-Nuts down with him which he open'd very expeditiously But the two Kings meeting again the next day Complemented one another with more antick and ridiculous Postures sitting side by side under the Roof imploring their God with their Hands folded and their Heads bow'd to the ground At this interview four Holland Trumpeters and Drummers stood playing before the King to the great admiration and amazement of the Islanders which were near ten thousand gather'd together upon the News of the strangers to attend the two Kings Soon after a great company of Rusticks came running thither which had a green Herb call'd Cava Cava a strange Liquor ty'd about their middle on a sudden they began all to chaw this Cava throwing that which they had chaw'd into a large Woodden Trough then putting Water to it they Kneaded it together which done brought the Liquor on their Heads to the two Kings before whom they kneel'd when they gave them any Yet notwithstanding they receiv'd such honor from their Subjects they shew'd servile respects to the Hollanders for every King presented them with a Pig which they first laid on their Heads then kneeling put it down at Le Maires Feet and bowing their Heads to the ground rose again They wear their Hair long which Brayded hung on the left side of their Heads down to their Hips ty'd at the end with two Knots but the Nobility had two such Locks All of them went naked their Privities onely cover'd The smallest of the Men exceeded the biggest of the Hollanders in tallness Impudent Women The Women had long Breasts hanging like Satchels down to their Bellies and so unshamefac'd that they prostituted themselves to any in sight of all Men and still at low Water their business was to catch
generally computed to be from the utmost South of Terra Magellanica to the farthest North of Estotiland about six thousand English Miles reaching from about sixty Degrees of Northern to fifty three of Southern Latitude the breadth from St. Michael or Piura Westward to Parabaya a Town on the Coast of Brasile Eastward three thousand nine hundred Miles and the whole compass thirty thousand SECT II. Estotiland THat the English have been very great Undertakers of Voyages and Discoveries towards the North-West appears by the Denomination of divers Places both from the Persons which have Sail'd thitherward and also from such of our own Countrey Names as were thought fit to be there fix'd as beyond the Arctick Circle are Sir James Lancaster's Sound Sir Dudley Diggs's Cape Queen Annes Foreland Cumberland Isles Davis 's Straight c. on this side toward the Arctick Circle Button's and Brigg's Bay Hudson's Sea otherwise term'd Mare Christianum out of which more Westerly runs a narrow Sea call'd Hudson's Straight beyond Hudson's Sea towards the Arctick Circle is a place call'd New North-Wales and on this side answerable to it between Button's Bay and the Christian Sea lies New South-Wales all which places we find generally set down in the American Hemisphere but in the Geographical Discourses thereof little is said of them if so much as nam'd The farthest part of Land Northward between Hudson's Gulph and Hudson's Straight betwixt fifty seven and sixty Degrees of Northern Latitude goes generally by the Name of Estotiland I mean that properly so call'd for Estotiland is by some as largely taken as Canada by Cluverius Golnitzius Peter du Val and others namely for all that Tract of Land extending from that supposed Straight of Ansan which divides America from Asiatick Tartary as far as the utmost point of Land that shoots toward the Atlantick Ocean which Southerly towards Terra Laboratoris is bounded with a River vulgarly call'd Rio Nevado or The Snowy River Estotiland seems to have deriv'd its Name from its lying more Easterly than the rest of the Provinces and according as Nova Britannia is plac'd in some Charts might very well be taken for the same though it hath not been so term'd by any Author but rather Terra Laboratoris Cortereatis and Nova Britannia are generally receiv'd to be all one First discovery of Estotiland This Province is affirm'd by Matthias Quadus and J. Antonius Maginus to have been the first discover'd Countrey of the new World and that by Antonius Zeno a Patrician of Venice in the Year of our Lord 1390. which was long before the Expedition of Columbus through the encouragement of Zichmus King of the Isle of Friezland but by whomsoever found out or at whatsoever time it is commonly affirm'd to be not ill furnish'd with Provisions of all sorts as Beasts Birds Fish Fowl and Fruits having a Soil indifferent fertile in respect of the coldness of the Climate The Nature of the People The People in general for some there are that live wild and salvage up and down the Woods and go naked whereas the Clothing of the Countrey is the Skins of Beasts and of Sea-Calves call'd Morses are reported not onely tolerably civil but also ingenious and expert both in mechanick Arts and other necessary Faculties insomuch that the first Voyagers to this place are said to have observ'd of them upon this first Discovery That they sow'd Corn brew'd Beer and Ale and Traded by Sea to Greenland Friezland and other places to the distance of fifteen hundred Miles and that they were not altogether void of the use of Letters but that their Character was onely proper to themselves and not intelligible by any other Nation Moreover there is a certain Tradition that there was here and there some little knowledge of the Latine Tongue amongst them and that there were found divers Latine Books in a Library of one of their Kings the reason of which if true is conjectur'd to be from certain Europeans who understood that Language having in Ages past suffer'd shipwrack upon those Coasts where chancing to abide either through constraint or choice they might haply at their Decease leave behind them some Books and other Monuments of the Latine Tongue They were observ'd to use such a kind of Javelin or short Dart as was known to be us'd by the People of Java and some other Islands of the East-Indies whereupon it seems not wholly improbable that they might for a long time have entertain'd Traffick and Correspondence with them Description of the Morses The Morses or Sea-Calves before mention'd are about the bigness of a young Heifer the Hunting of which by the Natives who take them in great numbers is to them in the stead of Whale-fishing which is not there so good for they draw a great quantity of Train-Oyl out of them On each side of the Jaw of this amphibious Creature for it is said to live very much on the Land as well as in the Water there sticks out a crooked Tusk winding downward like an Elephants Proboscis above a Cubit in length and as white and hard as Ivory It is esteem'd of great venue at least it passes for such among those who take it for other than what it is for it is frequently vended for Unicorns-horn of which imposture Dr. Brown takes notice and gives a Caution against in his Vulgar Errors This Countrey is suppos'd and that probably enough to have store of Brass and Iron Mines but for the Mines of Gold and Silver which some have imagin'd there the Northerly Situation of the Countrey and by consequence the coldness of the Climate give sufficient cause to question the truth of any such assertion What chief Towns Cities Rivers and Mountains there are in this Province is not yet deliver'd by any onely Maginus and Quadus make mention of four principal Rivers which disperse themselves through the Countrey and take their source out of a great Mountain in the midst thereof SECT III. Terra Laboratoris TErra Laboratoris Situation by some call'd Nova Britannia by others Corterealis though there are some who make Laboratoris and Corterealis two distinct Countreys comprehended according to Peter du Val under Nova Britannia as the more general Province or according to Cluverius under Canada lies from about fifty four to fifty seven Degrees of Northern Latitude between Estotiland and the River Canada which Maginus and some others though for what reason is not express'd name Fretum trium Fratrum The Bay of the three Brethren others The River of St. Laurence and is according to the said Author of so vast a bigness that the Mouth of it extends it self thirty five Italian Miles wide likewise of such a length as to have been navigated a continu'd Voyage of eight hundred Miles The denomination of Terra de Laborador or Laboratoris seems probably enough conjectur'd to be from the cultivability if one may so term it of the Soil or its
largest In this Province is the Rio de lo Spirito Santo The Soyl though it produces Indian Wheat twice a year yet it is never Dung'd but when the Corn which is planted in March and June is in they burn the Weeds the Ashes of which serves them in stead of Soil The King divides the Corn according to every Mans Family In the Winter they dwell four Moneths in the Woods where they build small Huts of Palm-boughs feed on Venison smoak'd Fish and Crocodiles which have pure white Flesh and are caught after this manner Their manner of taking Crocodiles On the Shore of the Rivers they build little Houses full of round Holes in which they place a Watch who is to give notice to ten or twelve Associates cover'd all over with Boughs full of little sharp Prickles which they thrust into the Crocodiles Throat who with open Mouth comes running at them and so throwing him on his Back stick his Belly full of Arrows and kill him with Clubs But with more subtilty and art they take their Deer As also their Deer viz. They hide themselves unde a Stags Skin so cunningly that it seems as if living which they place near the Rivers where the Deer generally come to drink when on a sudden they shoot them Floridans though libidinous yet live long Their Priests serve in stead of Chirurgeons wherefore they always carry a Bag full of Herbs about with them which are chiefly good against venereal Distempers for these People are exceeding libidinous nay Sodomy and defiling of young Children is accounted no sin Yet though they are much inclin'd to Women they attain to a great Age. Rene Laudoniere Landing not far from the City Augustine situate on the Banks of the River May met with the Floridan Governor Saturiona who conducted him to the French King's Court of Arms erected two years before which Saturiona as a testimony of his zeal to the French had Crown'd with Laurel and Flowers Saturiona had with him also his Son Atoreus who had begotten divers Children on his Mother whom his Father after that time no more acknowledging resign'd her up wholly to him At which time also his great Grandfather being then living was above a hundred and fifty years old and saw his Childrens Children to the fifth Generation The Religion in Florida is abominable wicked and cruel Their horrid Religion When they return Conquerors from a Battel the old Women take off the dry'd Hair from the fore-mention'd Poles hold it aloft and thank the Sun for their Victory But the Offerings of their first-born Sons are terrible for they knock out their Brains with a Club in the presence of the King Their annual worshipping of the Sun is also very ridiculous for filling the Skin of a Stag full of sweet-smelling Herbs they hang the Horns and Neck with Garlands and carry it with the noise of their kind of Vocal and Instrumental Musick to a high Trunk or hollow Body of a Tree on which they place the stuff'd Stag with his Head towards the Sun which done they falling down desire that he would please to afford them plenty of all such Fruit as they Offer to him after which taking their leave they let the fore-mention'd Skin remain there till the following Year The Spaniards since their Defeat in the Fort Carolina and their Engagement with Sir Francis Drake Anno 1585. have had little disturbance on Florida Drake's Exploit on Florida Drake having burnt and plunder'd Domingo and Carthagena steer'd along the Coast of Florida and discover'd a Beacon on the same whereupon he sent out Spies who sail'd a League up a River on whose Banks they saw a Fort and somewhat higher the Town Augustine built full of woodden Houses all which being related to him he steer'd thither fir'd his Guns twice against the Fort St. John which the Spaniards answering onely with one Volley fled with their Commander Peter Menendez when the English prepar'd to Storm a Prisoner being a French-man came in a Boat from them to Drake and inform'd him that the Spaniards had left the City Augustine and Fort St. John to which Drake going found there Pallisado's of pleited Boughs cover'd with Earth and a Chest with two thousand Pound for the payment of the Soldiers and fourteen Brass Guns with which he set Sail from thence The Mountains of this Countrey are onely the Apalatei suppos'd by the Natives to have rich Mines of Gold in them and which the Spaniards saw but had not time nor other accommodation to stay and search them by reason they were so much wearied and wasted with a long March before they gat thither and found the People so stout and obstinate thereabouts that in stead of entertaining them with their Hens and Fowl as other places had done they were welcom'd with Blows and made to return leaving not a few of their best Soldiers behind Rivers there are many and those very large and commodious as 1â— Rio Secco or The Dry River so call'd by the Spaniards as some think because they could find no Gold in it 2. Rio Grande or The Great River 3. Ligeris 4. Garunna 5. Sequana c. These last so nam'd by the French who after the Spaniards for some time had but never held any long possession of the Countrey There are also Rio de Flores Rio de Nieves and Rio de Spirito Santo lesser Streams yet all of them with the rest falling at several places into the great Lake of Mexico and some of them not a little haunted by the Caymans or West-Indian Crocodiles a Creature as hath been said before dangerous both at Sea and Land The Natives who as yet hold Possession and Command of it for the most part are themselves generally sorted into certain Tribes or great Families all which are Govern'd severally by Chiefs of their own whom they call Paracoussi and by reason thereof are almost continually in Feud and War one with another The Towns and Places most known in this Province are 1. St. Helens seated on or near unto a Promontory of the same Name where this Countrey bordereth on Virginia 2. Fort Charles or Arx Carolina built and so nam'd by the French King but afterwards ruin'd by the Spaniards 3. Port Royal a well frequented Haven at the Mouth of a River which beareth the same Name More within Land there is 1. Apalache an old Town of the Natives formerly a Place of great resort but now a poor thing of about forty or fifty Cottages and yet as poor as it is Pamphilius Narvaez as before related when he search'd the Countrey found the Natives not willing to part with it for though he took it from them it was not without some resistance and they quickly recover'd it again and at the 2. nam'd Aute another old Town of theirs nine days March from the other they overtook him and fell so resolutely upon him that he left not a few of his best Soldiers dead
Damp and against bad Weather a thundering noise On the Mountains grow exceeding large Trees especially Oak Here Pismires which are of an extraordinary bigness are brought to Market amongst other Provisions 2. St. Salvador forty Leagues distant from Guatimala Eastward and seated upon the River Guacapa and having about it a small Territory which by some is accounted a distinct Countrey or Province 3. Acaputla a Town of the Natives situated at the Mouth of the River and being as it were the Port-Town to St. Salvador 4. Trinidad a Town of great resort being the greatest Empory and Place of Traffick for all sorts of Commodities betwixt the People of New Spain and those of Peru. 5. St. Michaels two or three Leagues distant from the Bay Fonseca upon the South Sea 6. Xeres de la Frontera on the Confines of this Province towards the Borders of Nicaragua besides several Villages which we shall have occasion to mention In the middle of a Lake within this Territory is an Island on which the Indians had a Tradition That a Man no sooner set his Foot but he died immediately which Opinion of theirs was chang'd when the Spaniards went thither in Boat-fulls and return'd safe again with Relation that they had seen a large Stone Image resembling a Woman before which lay the Ashes and Bones of slain People Round about the Village Guaymoco grow great Balsom-Trees which afford Timber of fifty five Foot long From this Village leads a Way to the City Salvador near which the fore-mention'd River Guachapa runs with so many windings that the Traveller is forc'd to cross the same several times before he can come to the Foot of a Mountain which formerly cast out terrible Flames but now the combustible Matter being consum'd there appears onely a great Hole on the top with Ashes in a large compass round about it At the Foot of the same are two Pits one of which smoaks continually in such a manner that it stifles all those that approach it yet the Mountain is well overspread with Cedars and Pine-Trees Three Leagues farther lies the Village Nixapa and not far from thence the Hill Elmal Pais which consists of great Stones and Ashes wonderfully mixt together No less wonderful is a Brook which flows in the Night till Morning and then sinks into the Ground And in the Countrey Choluteca is another which hides it self at Noon and appears again towards Night The Cavern which formerly produc'd Fire and Smoke now affords good Water to the Village Curcatan and City Salvador Near the Village Yztepegve are five Springs which cast up Allom and Sulphur The Natives Chontales which speak several Languages flock to the Village Mimilla to make Offerings not far from hence are two Pits one of which is full of boyling Water and the other as cold as Ice Moreover Cocori lies near a high Mountain on the top of which is a very turbulent Lake The chiefest Haven of this Countrey Havens which lies along the South-Sea is Bahia de Fonseca Discover'd by Gonsalves Davila Anno 1522. and so nam'd from Joan Rodrigas de Fonseca Bishop of Burgos In the middle thereof appears the Island Petronella with nine others of which four are inhabited by Indians The good conveniency of the Haven Fonseca induc'd some of the Spaniards to make a new Passage from the side of the Southern Ocean to the Northern viz. from Panama to Nombre de Dios designing it to reach from the said Haven Fonseca unto Puerto de Carellos which are distant one from the other forty five Leagues most of it good way except some over-grown Mountains which might be made passable with little trouble to which purpose they built the Town Buena Esperanca yet nevertheless the Work remain'd unprosecuted There are moreover reckon'd as appertaining to Guatimala the small Provinces Soconusco Suchitepec and Chilulteca the chief of them being Soconusco to which belongs the Town of Gevetlan where the Spanish Governor hath his Residence the rest seem to be onely small Territories about Towns of the same Name in like manner as St. Salvador and St. Miguel before-mention'd CHAP. V. The Kingdom of Mexico or New-Spain Bounds of New-Spain NEw Spain the chiefest part of the Northern America reckons in length from the East-Point of Yucatan to the place where Mechoacon juts against Guadalajara three hundred and sixty Leagues and in breadth from the Northern parts of Panucos to the Southern Ocean a hundred and eighty Leagues besides a great part which lies to the Northward behind inaccessable Mountains and Wildernesses inhabited by the Tepecuaenes Guachucules Cacatequas Tecaxquines and others and was before the Spaniards Conquer'd and Dismember'd it much larger than now it is for as much as it comprehended the whole Province of New-Gallicia and reach'd from the furthest Point of the Peninsula of Jucatan Southward as far as New-Biscay and the Confines of California Northward containing in length seven hundred Leagues and more and about half as much in breadth But since the Conquest by Hernando Cortez and his Followers the whole Countrey of New-Gallicia is taken from it and made a distinct Government or Audiencia as the Spaniards call it of it self â—VA HISPANI â—OVA GALICIA GVATIMALA The Original The Natives of the Countrey are of the Race of the Chichimecae a Salvage and Wilde sort of People of the Province of New-Gallicia especially in the Parts of New-Biscay living in Forests and in deep Caves under Ground whose Posterity do still at this day much trouble and annoy the Countrey thereabouts notwithstanding all the endeavors of the Spaniards and the Garrisons which they keep in those parts on purpose to destroy them About five hundred years ago or more according to the account of the Mexican Annals divers Hoards as they are call'd of these Chichimecae weary it seems of their Woods and subterraneous dwellings issu'd out into the more open Air and fell down in huge multitudes into these Southerly parts of America which are now call'd Mexico and New-Spain not all at once but at several times and under several names viz. of the Suchimilci Chalcae Tepanecae Tlascaltecae and others who subduing or driving out the People they found in those parts Seated themselves in their room And though at first every Nation or Company of them as they came seiz'd upon some Province apart by themselves and held it as it were in Soveraignty to themselves without acknowledgement of any dependance or subjection to their Neighbors or those that were there before them yet in Tract of time and by fortune of the Wars which they made one upon another they fell under the Government of one King viz. the King of Mexico which was the chief City of the Province The state of the Mexican Kingdom before the Spaniards arrival This Kingdom at the time that the Spaniards first Discover'd the Countrey was Govern'd by a Prince nam'd Motezuma one who by his Valor and good success in the Wars
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
Head to the Tail runs a crooked Line of thin Scales on each side it swims exceeding swift feeds on lesser Fishes and spawns in the Sea the Flesh being wholsom and good to eat is salted up against Winter At the same Place is also the Piracarba which shines exceedingly The Piracarba having Silver-colour'd Scales a broad slit Tail a long white Beard four great Fins and a little Head Farther into the Sea are a sort of flying Fish call'd Pirabebes which rise by thousands up out of the Water Flying Fisher so escaping the Dolphins and other Fish which prey on them yet sometimes they are snatch'd up by the Birds or else by the Fishes when they dive down into the Water to wet their own Wings which consist of a thin Skin distinguish'd in length by tough Fins These flying Fish also differ much one from another for most of them are like Herrings others have a thick Head roud before like the Dolphins Moreover the Countrey about St. Michael was always well inhabited The Houses being artificially built were adorn'd on the top with many obscene Images and venereal Representations But since the Spaniards have conquer'd this Countrey they have destroy'd them and built other Houses in their stead and also bestow'd much cost and labour on the Silver Mines De las Virgines SECT VI. Cinoloa Bounds of Cineloa CInoloa is the most Northern part of New Gallicia bounded on the West with some part of the Gulf or Bay of California on the East with a long Ridge of Mountains which they call Tepecsuan on the North with Cibola and with Couliacan on the South This Country besides the general fertility of the whole Province of New Gallicia yields great store of Cotton-Wool by reason whereof both Men and Women here are better Apparell'd for the most part than elsewhere the Americans are is exceedingly well water'd with Rivers which descend from those Mountains Tepecsuan not above thirty or forty Leagues distant from the Sea and which with the variety of their Streams and Meandrous glidings do divide the Countrey into many and good Pastures which are likewise stor'd with abundance of Kine Oxen and other Cattel The chief Towns possess'd by the Spaniards are 1. St. Philip and Jacob Towns seated towards the Sea side on the Banks of a fair River about thirty or forty Leagues distant from the Town of Couliacan 2. St. John de Cinoloa an ancient Colony of Spaniards setled there by Francisco de Yvarra in the Year 1554 which is all they have in this Countrey except some few old Forts of the Natives which they found after their manner poorly furnish'd but have since repair'd them for Defence against the Natives of those Parts which as yet remain unreduc'd Nunnez de Gusman 's Travels This Province was also discover'd by Nunnez de Gusman who having rested some Weeks in St. Michael proceeding on his Way he Ferried over the River Petatlan which receiv'd that Denomination because the Houses were cover'd with Mats by the Indians call'd Petat The People hereabouts were generally Man-eaters Eighteen Leagues farther runs the River Tamochala which hath many Villages on both sides thereof Between Petatlan and Tamochala lie several desolate Wildernesses and Woods of the Brasile-Tree But Gusman travelling up twenty seven Leagues along the fore-mention'd River Tamochala came to Province Cinoloa where they stay'd six Weeks by reason of the abundance of Rains during which time the Villagers provided them Turtle-Doves Hares Rabbets and all sorts of Fowls but at last deserted their Habitations in the Night after which the Spaniards crossing Tamochala went along a barren Desart where had they not found Water in certain Wells and likewise store of Juice out of the Tunas-Trees they had without doubt perish'd at last getting over the River Yaguinu they found a deserted Village out of which a broad Path led along the Stream whither Gusman marching he came into a Plain where he spy'd several Indians which after some resistance were routed by the Spanish Horse The Villages built on the Banks of the River Yaguinu as also the Language of the Inhabitants differ little from the former Not far from hence a Ridge of Hills runs into the Sea and also extend themselves a hundred Leagues towards Xalisco SECT VII Zacatecas Bounds and Description of Zacatecas THe Zacatecas as they call them are bounded on the South with Guadalalajara on the North with New Biscay on the West which Couliacan and some part of Xalisco and on the East with New Spain The Countrey especially the more Western part of it is very rich in Silver Mines no Province of this part of America richer but not so apt either for Wheat or Maiz. But the Eastern parts of it are abundantly stor'd with all sorts of Fruits the Woods every where replenish'd with Deer the Fields no less with Corn and every Tree almost giving Entertainment to some Bird or other Towns and Villages The Towns are 1. Las Zacatecas forty Leagues distant from Guadalajara and fourscore from Mexico but neighbor'd with most rich Mines and therefore both Garrison'd and well peopled by the Spaniards for 't is suppos'd there are no less than five hundred Families of them in the Town and about the Mines 2. St. Martins twenty seven Leagues distant from Zacatecas and as rich a Place having a Colony of four hundred Spaniards at least 3. St. Lucas de Avinno 4. Erena lesser Towns but both of them rich and seated in the midst of excellent Mines 5. Nombre de Dios in the most Northerly part of this Countrey sixty eight Leagues distant from Guadalajara and founded by the aforesaid Francisco de Yvarra who having subdu'd and quieted the Natives and thereby gain'd to himself the Government of these Countreys granted the propriety of some Silver Mines both to the Spaniards and to the Natives and by that means drew so many of them thither that in a short time it became the chiefest and best peopled town of the whole Province 6. Durango in the Valley of Guadiana eight Leagues distant from Nombre de Dios and built by Yvarra 7. Xeres de Frontera a Place built on purpose for the repressing of the Chichemecae aforesaid and other Salvages that infested the Borders of Guadalajara in the Regency of the Marquess of Villa Manrique 8. Last St. Lewis built by Alonso Pacheco in that part of the Countrey which is call'd Uxitipa and people by him with a Colony of Spaniards being distant about twenty Leagues from Panuco in New Spain to which the whole Countrey of Uxitipa once belong'd Several Mines discover'd by the Spaniards The aforesaid Franciscus de Yvarra Anno 1554. discover'd the Mine call'd Sant Martin and since also Lucas Avinno the Mine Del Sombrereto lying near the City Del Erena but the Mines De los Ranchos Chalchuites De las Nieves and Del Frisuillo would produce much more Silver if the Mine-works were stor'd with Quick-silver The
above two hundred Leagues already discorver'd but doubtless taking up no small part of those Countreys which are sometimes assign'd to Florida if not of the Confines of Virginia also Travels of Ruyz Espejus and others This Countrey was first Anno 1581. discover'd by a Franciscan Monk nam'd Augustine Ruyz who with two other Monks of his Order got eight Soldiers of Conde de Coruna Vice-Roy of New Spain for his Companions with whom he travell'd from the Valley Sant Bartholomew to the Province De los Tiguas where one of the two Monks was kill'd by the Natives which occasion'd such a fear amongst the Souldiers who judg'd themselves too weak to make any resistance that they resolv'd to return notwithstanding all the arguments which Ruyz us'd to disswade them from it yet nevertheless he and his Brother Franciscus Lopez and four Indians went onward of their Journey which news the Souldiers carried back to the Franciscans in Sant Bartholomew who fearing their Brethren would be destroy'd sent several Souldiers and a Monk call'd Bernardyn Beltran after them who were also accompanied by Antony Espejus who spent a great part of his Estate in raising of Men providing Arms and Provisions loading therewith a hundred and fifty Horses and Mules with which he travell'd direct North from the fore-mention'd Valley and after two days Journey found a People call'd Conchi who went naked and liv'd in Huts built together like a Village They were Govern'd by Casiques fed on Hares Deer Rabbets Maiz Calabashes and Melons Several adjacent Rivers afford them plenty of Fish They were amaz'd at the Crosses which the Spaniards there erected till they were inform'd of a Crucifi'd Saviour Espejus being every where kindly Entertain'd amongst them and conducted twenty two Leagues father came amongst the Indians call'd Passaguates of the like Constitution with the Conchi's who had skill in Minerals and judg'd that there were many Silver Mines in that Countrey From whence the Passaguates travell'd with the Spaniards to the Borders of the Los Tobosos who no sooner saw them but they fled because a few years before they had been miserably dealt with by the Spaniards but being inform'd by the Interpreters that they needed not be afraid of any thing they all appear'd and conducted Espejus to the Borders of the Patarabueyes which People possess a large Countrey Stone Houses and Villages built in good order Great Rivers with come out of the North and others that disembogu'd into the North Sea afforded them all sorts of Fish as also the Woods plenty of Venison Fowls and wholsom Plants In some Pools also the salt Water afforded Salt The Valour of the Inhabitants may sufficiently appear by the rough Entertainment which the Spaniards met withall the first Night for the Patarabueyes fell so fiercely upon them that had not the Watch given notice thereof in time none had escap'd with Life nevertheless five Horses were kill'd and a considerable number of Men wounded after which retreating they went upon a neighboring Hill whither Espejus sent his Interpreter and an Indian the same Countrey to inform them That the Spaniards came not to molest them and if they pleas'd to come to them they should meet with none but Friends which was the more easily credited because the Casiques receiv'd some Presents after which being reconcild they conducted the Spaniards twelve days Journey up a long River whose Banks were inhabited in several places from thence they reach'd to a Place inhabited by a People richly Cloth'd who also seem'd to have some knowledge of God for in their Discourse they pointed up to Heaven call'd the Creator and Preserver of all things Apalito and signifi'd that they had receiv'd that Knowledge formerly from those that were left of Pamphilius Narvaez's Army who having rang'd through Florida were driven hither These People also Presented Espejus many tann'd Skins with which he went to a great Village the Inhabitants whereof were very courteous and barter'd them for brave Plumes of Feathers and Cotton Cloaks streak'd with blue and white but Espejus having no Interpreters whom they could understand could not learn by what Name they were known yet by signs they express'd what time of the year they had Precious Stones brought to them and also what their Countrey produced and also that abundance of those Riches was to be found in a Province about five days Journey Westward from thence whither they freely offer'd to conduct the Spaniards which accordingly they did bearing them company one and twenty Leagues to the next Province inhabited by a People whose Name also they could not be inform'd of yet staying three days amongst them they were Entertain'd with Presents and Dances both Night and Day The Countrey afforded them also store of Venison and Fruits Those that understood Minerals judg'd that there were likewise several Gold Mines Leaving this Province they entred into a great Wilderness of Pine-Trees in which they travell'd twelve Leagues in fifteen days without seeing either Man or House but at the end of the Wood they spy'd a Village of Straw Huts where there were great quantities of white Salt and Deer Skins neatly dress'd The People of the Place courteously Entertain'd the Spaniards and conducted them along the River Del Norte to New Mexico The Banks of the River on each side was planted with Nut-Trees and Vines which spread themselves out above three Leagues through which they had scarce pass'd three days together when they saw ten Populous Villages pleasantly seated on the the said River from whence came many thousands of the Natives to meet Espejus who was not so much amaz'd at the great number of People as at their extraordinary Civility and decent Habits for they Entertain'd him with well dress'd Meat roasted Poultrey and pleasant Fruits Their Garments were Cotton Cloaks Deer-skin Breeches Shoes and Boots of good Leather The Women wore their Hair neatly Comb'd and Pleited Their Houses were almost four Stories high handsomely built and divided into fair Chambers had Stoves or Cells under Ground against the Cold in the Winter Every Village was Govern'd by a Casique whose Commands were publish'd by the Alguaziles Each House had a peculiar place in which their Idol stood before whom they set Meat twice a day Near the High-ways stood Temples very curiously painted wherein their Deity as they say diverted himself in his Progress from one Village to another At certain Distances near their Plough'd Lands stood Portico's supported on four Columns under which the Husband-man us'd to eat and take his Noon-sleep Besides their Swords which were strong enough to cut a Man through the Middle they us'd Bowes and Arrows Their Shields were made of Deer Skins Espejus having stay'd here four days went to the Province De las Tiguas which had sixteen Villages in the chiefest whereof call'd Poala Augustine Ruyz and his Brother Monk Franciscus de Lopez had been slain besides four others wherefore the People being conscious of this Crime and fearing that Revenge would
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
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
himself to Avalon to inspect his Concerns there in Person from whence returning the same year he Embarqu'd himself again together with his Lady and all his Family except his eldest Son for Avalon the year following at which time there being then War between England and France he redeem'd above twenty Sail of English Ships which had been taken there that year by French Men of War whereof one Monsieur De la Rade had the chief Command and shortly after took six French Fishing Ships upon that Coast and sent them the same year with a great many French-men Prisoners into England Coming thence he left a Deputy there and continu'd the Plantation till his Death which was in April 1632. After whose Decease it descended of right to his Son and Heir Cecil now Lord Baltemore who thereupon sent one Captain William Hill as his Deputy thither to take possession thereof and to manage his Interest there for him Captain Hill according to his Commission shortly after repair'd thither and liv'd some years at the Lord Baltemore's House at Ferryland above mention'd In the thirteenth Year of King Charles the First of England c. about the Year of our Lord 1638. Marquess Hamilton Earl of Pembroke Sir David Kirk and others under pretence that the Lord Baltemore had deserted that Plantation obtain'd a Patent of all New-found Land wherein Avalon was included and shortly after dispossess'd the Lord Baltemore of his Mansion House in Ferryland and other Rights there and during the late Rebellion in England kept possession but His now Majesty King Charles the Second immediately after his most happy Restauration in the Year 1660 upon the now Lord Baltemore's Petition thought fit to refer the whole Matter to be Examin'd by Sir Orlando Bridgeman then Lord-Chief Justice now Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal of England and others to report the true state thereof to His Majesty together with their Opinions thereupon The Referrees accordingly upon full hearing of Council on both sides certifi'd That they conceiv'd the said Patent to Sir George Calvert to be a good Patent in force and not avoided by the later to Sir David Kirk and others and that the Title and Interest to the said Province did therefore belong to the Lord Baltemore Whereupon His Majesty on the twentieth of March in the same Year Order'd the Possession thereof to be re-deliver'd to his Lordship which was accordingly executed Since which time his Lordship has peaceably enjoy'd the possession thereof and continues the Plantation to this day by deputing Lieutenants there from time to time for the better Government of that Province the rest of New found Land remaining still to the aforesaid Proprietors claiming by the Patent of 13 Car. 1. The Commodities that are either by Art or Nature produc'd there are the same with those of the remainder of New-found Land The Winter there is extream cold the Summer very hot but withal pleasant and during that Season there is great plenty of Pasture for Cattel The Coast of this Province is very safe and as well furnish'd with variety of bold and pleasant Harbors as any other part of New-found Land where the English likewise Fish for Cod the lesser sort whereof is call'd Poor-John which is there caught in great abundance especially at Ferryland and in the Bay of Bulls Besides these two there are divers other excellent Harbors on the Eastern Shore of Avalon as Capling Bay Cape Broyle Brittus Isle of Spears Barrom Cove Whitburns Bay and Petit Harbour above mention'd On the West are the Bay of Placentia and several other good Harbors There are no Indians in Avalon and but few English by reason of the excessive Cold in Winter though Sir David Kirk and his Lady and also his Family liv'd in the Lord Baltemore's House at Ferryland for the space of ten years and upwards The Soil seems to promise great store of Mines which probably may in time be disover'd The late Lord Baltemore took accidentally a piece of Oar up that lay there upon the surface of the Earth and brought it with him into England which was found upon trial to yield a greater proportion of Silver than the Oar of Potosi in the West-Indies but hitherto no Mine of it hath been discover'd there The Trade of Fishing being of so great concernment to the Nation of England the same if it be well manag'd in this Island of Terra Nova will employ every year above two hundred Sail of English Ships and ten thousand Mariners besides the great benefit which may accrue unto the Nation by Imposition upon Strangers there which would amount to several thousands of Pounds per Annum with which those Coasts may be Guarded and Ships Trading thither secur'd besides the great Customs by the Ships call'd The Sacks being commonly in great numbers every year who carry Fish from New-found Land into the Straights France Portugal and Spain and who bring their Returns into England as Bullion and all other native Commodities of those Countreys If the Island were well fortifi'd we might Command all those of other Nations that come to Fish in New-found Land to pay Contribution in Fish or otherwise for their Priviledge to Fish there the said Island being first Planted by English and pertaining to the Kingdom of England or if occasion should require they might be utterly debarr'd of Fishing there The Trade of Fishing is of so great concernment to France Spain Portugal the Straights and other Parts that they cannot well be without that yearly Supply in Fish which comes from that Island Neither can the Hollanders Spaniards or Portuguese well set any Ships to the West-Indies without New-found Land Fish there being none that will endure to pass the Line sound and untainted but the Fish of that Countrey salted and dry'd there And so long as the Act continues still in force That no Fish be Transported from the said Island but in English Bottoms it will contribute very much to our encrease of Shipping there and by consequence of the employment of Mariners and the Fishing of that part of the Island will be solely appropriated to the English Nation to whom of right it belongs which will prove the greatest Ballance of Trade in that part of the World and that whereas above two hundred Sail do Trade thither yearly to Fish if a thousand Sail come if there be but Fisher-men enow they may all have Fraughtage there The French if once the Island be fortifi'd will be depriv'd of their Nursery of Mariners this being the onely place besides Canada and one or two adjacent Coasts where they come for supply of Fish with which that Nation cannot be furnish'd so well from other Parts By well Planting and Fortifying New-found Land the Trading to Virginia New England and those Parts would be much encourag'd New England having had of late great Traffick with New-found Land where they vend the Growth of their Plantation Besides New-found Land is a Key to the Gulf of
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
whose Water causes the Bloody-flux and Loosness which again is cur'd by the same Water drunk with beaten Cinamon Guatupori reckons many Rivulets amongst which the Cesar and Budillo are both large deep and abounding with Fish Near the City Los Reyes are three great Water-pits triangular between stony Cliffs nigh which a Tradition goes That of old there lurk'd a terrible Serpent which at times devour'd a thousand People insomuch that none durst dwell thereabouts till certain Spaniards having the hardiness and curiosity to go seek out this Serpent heard a great noise in the Pits but saw nothing like the fore-mention'd Animal Here are likewise several Fountains of Pitch and Tar. SECT VI. Rio de la Hacha Rio de la Hacha Rio de la Hacha is the Name of a little Province lying on the North-East of St. Martha wash'd on all other parts with the Waters of the Main Ocean or with the Gulf or Bay of Venezuela Chief Towns of this Province The chief Towns of this Province are 1. A small Town call'd De la Hacha which gives Denomination to the said Province having no convenient Haven but otherwise seated in a Soil very rich and fertile not onely of all sorts of Fruits and Plants especially such as are brought from Spain but likewise in many Mines of Gold Gems of a large size and great value and many excellent Salt-Wiches as they call them it is eight Leagues distant from Salamanca aforesaid and eighteen frome Cape Villa the most Westerly Point or Foreland of the Bay of Venezuela and with the rest had the hap to be surpris'd and pillag'd by the English with Sir Francis Drake in the Year 1595. who refus'd twenty four thousand Ducats which the Governor proffer'd him for the Pearls he had taken 2. Rancheria six Leagues Eastward of La Hacha inhabited chiefly by Pearl-Fishers or such as get their Living for the most part by Fishing for Pearl which was wont to be good on these Coasts 3. Tapia five Leagues from La Hacha and considerable for that the adjacent Parts were laid waste by the English to revenge the perfidiousness of the Governor of Salamanca refusing to pay the four thousand Ducats he had promis'd upon Condition of their sparing the Town Abibeca the last King of this Province The last King of those that Govern'd in any of these Provinces of Terra Firma was Abibeca who could not be won to come down from his Palace which he had on the top of a Tree till a Spanish Officer one Francisco de Vanquez began to lay an Ax to the Root thereof After Didaco Niquesa Alphonso Oreda and Anciso had made very large Discoveries in these Provinces Valboa was the first that discover'd the Way to the South-Sea CHAP. III. New Granada First Discovery of New Granada THe new Kingdom of Granada as 't is commonly call'd was for the most part both discover'd and conquer'd by Gonsalvo Ximenes about the Year 1536. and with so good success that in less than a years space the whole Countrey was quietly setled under the Spaniards Government and the Captain with his small Company had made shift to gather together such a Mass of Treasure as may seem almost incredible viz. from the Reguli or petty Princes of those Countreys whom he had either destroy'd or made Tributary But a more particular Relation of Ximenes his Journey take as followeth Gonsalvo Ximenes his Expedition Being sent out by Peter Ferdinando de Lugo to discover the Countreys that lay along River Magdalena he travell'd upon the right side or it with great trouble for not onely the brambly Woods Moors and deep Brooks made the Way exceeding bad to be travell'd but also the Inhabitants who fell upon him from their Ambuscades yet at last he reach'd Tora which Name he chang'd into Pueblo de los Bracos because four Rivers unite their Waters there Here ordering his Brigantines which were come up the River to cast their Anchors he judg'd it convenient to stay all the Winter because the swoln Rivers had drown'd the adjacent Countrey Ximenes observing that the Indians fetch'd Salt from the Sea-side judg'd that the Countrey was inhabited and therefore in fair Weather march'd up to the Mountain Opou behind which he found a Countrey full of Salt-pools which produc'd Cakes of Salt And somewhat farther the Province Govern'd by the Casique Bogata who at first resisting the Spaniards was soon put to flight when he heard the noise of the Guns The Panches divided from Bogata's Countrey by a small Mountain also maintaining continual Wars with him suffer'd the Spaniards unmolested to travel through their Countrey and the Valley La Trompetta to a high barren Mountain on the top of which Ximenes found several Emeraulds and going from thence fell upon the Casique Tunia and three days Journey farther upon the Governors Sagamosa and Diutama from which three Countreys he carried above a hundred and ninety thousand pieces of fine Gold fifty five thousand pieces of indifferent Gold and eighteen hundred Emeraulds all which the Spaniards left behind with Guards whilest they went back to Bogata whom they found lying dead of his Wounds on a high Hill But Sagipa Bogata's Successor receiv'd Ximenes with great Civility to engage his Assistance against his Neighbors the Panches which he did not refuse him but afterwards he fell most perfidiously upon the said Sagipa whom he caus'd to be Executed because he either could not or would not discover where those Riches were which Bogata had left behind him After he had pillag'd the little Region Neyba and brought into subjection the whole Countrey he gave it the Name of New Granada from Granada the place of his Nativity being the chief City of the Kingdom of Granada in Spain and built the City Santa Fe which done he quitted the Place upon information that Sebastian de Bevalcazar coming from Popayan was seeking a Way Northward and not long after him Nicholas Federman follow'd each claiming New Granada as their Right whereas Ximenes alledg'd That the first Discovery thereof was to be ascribed to him onely at last Agreeing they resolv'd that it should be at the King of Spain's disposal The Nature and Custom of the Moxas The antient Inhabitants nam'd Moxas divided their Countrey into two chief Principalities viz. Bogota and Tunica which before the Spaniards Arrival were each under their particular Casique or Prince The Men were of a good proportion the Women also handsomer and of a fairer Complexion than their Neighbors Their Habit also consisted of black white and divers colour'd Cotton Cloaks and some also had Bonnets of the same The temperateness of the Climate makes little difference between Winter and Summer Their Houses were of Planks and cover'd with long Rushes Their chiefest Food was Maiz and Cassave which first grows on Stalks as large as Canes containing very large and weighty Spikes or Ears each Ear generally yielding seven hundred Grains which are Planted
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
its Head Not long after Donna Paula being Governess of Payta a Lady famous in Peru for her Beauty and obliging Nature sent Cabbages Oranges Cittrons and other Provisions to the Hollanders and requested the Releasement of some of the Spaniards taken in the Engagement against Mendoza but could not obtain her Request from the uncourtly Dutchmen SECT III. Los Quixos Description of Los Quixos THe Province of Los Quixos lieth South and to the South-East of Quito being border'd more directly Eastward with a part of the Province of Guiana call'd by some El Dorada or The Golden Countrey on the South it hath Lima and Cusco The Canela-â—ruit This Province is subdivided into several lesser Territories viz. Canela Pacomores and St. Juan de Salinas Canela is so call'd because it hath many great Woods which produce the Fruit Canela in great abundance the Owners whereof were most inhumanely dealt with by the Spaniards for Gonsalvo Pizarro supposing to get store of Gold there found nothing but Trees bearing a Fruit like Olives by the Natives call'd Canela with which they us'd to drive a great Trade being otherwise poor and simple People living in Huts which Pizarro pulling down caus'd the Inhabitants to be torn in pieces by his Dogs because they could not furnish him with Gold nor direct him where it was to be had The Granadilla-Apple Besides the Canela-Tree this Countrey also produceth in great plenty the Tree which beareth the Apples Granadilla exceeding good against burning Feavers the Leaves are like Ivy the Blossom resembling the Sun and the long Leaves speckled with Red and White open three hours after Sun-rising and close again before the Evening just as if Nature took care to preserve the beauty of the Flower Towns and Places of chief note In this part of the Province the chief are 1. Baeza otherwise call'd Quixos built in the Year 1559. by Ramires de Avila eighteen Leagues from Cusco 2. Archidona twenty Leagues to the South-East of Baeza 3. Avila 4. Sevilla del Oro all of them Spanish Colonies The Territories Pacomores and Yguansongo otherwise call'd The Countrey of Juan de Salinas are said both to extend above a hundred Leagues in length and little less in breadth The Fields afford store of Pasture for Cattel the Plough'd Lands produce Wheat and all sorts of wholsom Herbs and in some places are also rich Gold-Mines The Governor Layola built four Towns here viz. 1. Valladolid 2. Loyola 3. San Jago de los Montanas and 4. Caruma The Jesuit Acosta relates That not far from Caruma he found great Stones some of which were full of Golden Veins but were hard to be cut from the Rock Most of the Gold is found in the Sand of several Rivers the chiefest whereof flow through Quito New Granada Valdivita in Chili and Caravaya in Peru. On the Point of Quito the River San Jago falls into the Southern Ocean the Ground in the Mouth of the River being very uneven for oftentimes the Ships are fast aground at the Stern and on Head they have above eighty Fathom Water yet nevertheless the Shoals are no ways dangerous South-West from St. Jago lies the spacious Inlet Mattheo and the Promontory Francisco known by its Banks and high Grounds which shew red and white at a great distance Not far from hence exactly under the Equinox appears Cape Passao flat and low between which and Mattheo the great Rivers Los Quiximes fall into the Sea Behind Passao rises the high Mountain Quaque and more Westerly the Bay Caraques affords a secure Harbor for all manner of Vessels Next you come to the Town Puerto Viejo before mention'd lying behind the Island Laurenso Five Leagues off at Sea before Laurenoz lies the Island Plata formerly famous for a Peruvian Temple in which the Natives Sacrifis'd Sheep and sometimes Children and painted the Figures of divers Persons with the Blood to which they also Offer'd Jewels Gold Silver Wooll Cotton Shirts and Cloaks Francisco Pizarro arriving here got an invaluable Mass of Treasure but at present it lying desolate affords nothing but Brambles and wild Trees The next which come in view are the Havens Callo and Zalango where there are safe Harbors good Wood and Water The Cape of St. Helena makes also a secure Road on the North and on its Shore hath a Spring on the top of whose Waters swims a certain Gum by the Natives call'd Copey exceeding good to make Ships tight The River Tumbez falls into a large Bay which on its North-East Point near the Main Land hath the Island Puna ten Leagues in circumference The Soyl whereof produces abundance of Maiz Juca and other good Roots besides great Woods full of fruitful Trees and Sarsaparilla The Inhabitants of a brown Complexion and middle Stature wear Cotton Cloaks and Chains of Chaquira and Precious Stones They drive a great Trade and formerly maintain'd Wars with the People inhabiting upon the River Tumbez their great want is fresh Water in the Summer Thomas Candish Landing here Anno 1587. found a Ship hal'd ashore and three Villages in one of which stood a Palace belonging to a Casique surrounded with Stone Galleries and near it a large Store-house full of Tar-pots and Hemp to make Cables of The Village consisted of two hundred Houses and a fair Church with a Steeple in which hung several Bells The Casique Married to a Spanish Woman being fled with the Villagers Candish took many Oxen fat Sheep Pigeons and Ducks the Bells and what else was not convey'd aboard with him and afterwards burnt the whole Town but whilest he was busie in making havock a thousand Spaniards and a considerable number of Peruvians fell upon the English on such a sudden that they kill'd some and took others Prisoners Somewhat farther off at Sea appears the Isle Clara where those of Puna formerly buried their Dead The Inlet into which falls the River Tumbez whose Shores are well inhabited ends Westward at the Promontory Blanco Southward from which lies the Isle Lobos where there are several Springs full of the same Gum or Bitumen a little above mention'd Beyond the Point Agua lie the two Isles Lobos Marinos opposite to a low Coast they are desolate and barren of Grass Trees and all kind of Herbs and destitute of fresh Water but many Pelicans Penguins and other strange Birds The discovering of these Coasts belonging to the Jurisdiction of Quito deserves a short Relation Bevalcazar overcoming Ruminagua takes Quito Whilest Pizarro kept the Inga Attabaliba Prisoner he sent Captain Bevalcazar to the new Fort St. Miguel where eighty Horse and a hundred Foot being arriv'd from Panama and Nicaragua and he being inform'd that there lay a great Treasure in Quito and that the Canares the Spaniards Friends were exceedingly oppress'd by Ruminagua Attabaliba's General immediately march'd thither with the new arriv'd Forces before mention'd to fetch the Booty and to assist the Canares but several things oppos'd him in his Design
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
The Pories The Mountains along the Ocean which inclose much Gold are inhabited by the Pories a peaceable People molesting none of their Neighbors they sleep in Nets of Flags and have no other Houses than three Poles plac'd triangular and cover'd with Palm-Leaves they feed on Pine-Nuts and Eyrires Apples that have Shells like a Walnut and have also the precious Balsam-Oyl in great abundance The Molopaques Along the River Paradiva inhabit the Molopaques the Men strong and well timber'd have Beards long enough to cover their Privities The Women also fair modest prudent and never laughing tie their Hair painted with several colours round about their Middle with a Cord so that it serves in stead of an Apron They observe a set-hour for Dinner and Supper which is not us'd by any other Brasilians The Mountains in these Parts consisting of a black Mold have plenty of Gold but it is of no esteem or regard amongst them onely that which is wash'd down by the Rain they gather up but put to no other use than to make Hooks to hang their Nets on The Motayas The Motayas being of a low Stature and brown Complexion shave off the Hair of their Heads or else pluck it up by the Roots they are eaters of Man's-flesh Not far from whose Dominions appear the Mountains Pinos up in the Countrey which abounding with Gold and Precious Stones are inhabited by the Biheros otherwise call'd Lopos which live under the Trees like Beasts The Waianawasons The Waianawasons have little Villages built along a nameless River they are a Gigantick People but very ignorant Thirteen Portuguese undertaking some years ago to travel through this Countrey to the South Sea found on some Mountains abundance of Gold and Precious Stones and amongst many strange things they saw a Crystal Mountain ten days before they came near it over which they could not travel because of its steepness at the foot thereof sprung a broad Stream making a great noise From thence travelling forward The Tamoyes they came to the Tamoyes Countrey the Men whereof being well proportion'd wore great Bunches of Feathers on their Heads The Women exceeding fair had carv'd Breasts The said Portuguese being taken here were put into Prison and all slain and eaten excepting one who escap'd after this manner Thirty thousand Tamoyes falling into the Countrey of the Amazons by the Americans call'd Mandiocuysyams made a great Feast with three hundred of them whilest the rest fled to the River La Plata where they got help from the Portuguese who kill'd ten thousand of the Tamoyes made the rest Slaves and releas'd their imprison'd Countreyman The Tocomans Caryogs and Maraquites The Tocomans a little People dwell between La Plata and St. Vincent The Caryogs possess much Gold and Precious Stones The Maraquites by the Western Indians sur-named Tapuiyers that is Wild People are divided into seventy six sorts all differing in their Languages amongst which the chiefest are the Arodera Cajau Maquaru and Poyme which all live without Law Religion setled Abodes or Friendship with any Neighbors and the Women Fight as well as the Men. Jacob Rabbi who dwelt a considerable time and convers'd amongst these People describes their Customs thus Their Customs describ'd Their King Jandui sir-named Otshicayayna from the River which flows through the Countrey of the Tapuyans causes if he thinks fit to be publish'd through the the whole Camp of the Enemy whither he will go the next Morning and what he will do ill the Day following having first consulted with his Council of Sorcerers Before they march they wash their Bodies in the River rub themselves all over with Sand and afterwards wash it off again then stretch themselves till all their Joynts crack run to the Fire and when throughly warm scratch their Bodies with certain Fish-Teeth insomuch that the Blood gushes out of several places all which they judge to be good against wearisomness About a Stones-cast from the King's Tent lie two thick Logs a large Stride one from the other against which the whole Multitude stand divided into two Parties each of whom chuse the strongest Man accounted amongst them to carry the Log for a Wager and when these two are tir'd they are releas'd by others and he that comes last to the appointed place with the Log is laugh'd at by the Party to which he belong'd that was there first where they all stay for the Youths that bring their Arms which when they have deliver'd they all fall to work cutting down Trees breaking off the Boughs sticking them in the Ground and tying them together on the top for Tents which are built in rows one against another leaving a broad Path between Mean while the Women and Children coming with their Baggage the Men run to Fish and Hunt or to seek Honey The old Women dig up Roots which stamp'd serve them for Bread whilest the young Women help one another to prepare the Meat in the Huts Moreover the Men spend their time in several Exercises as Wrestling and Running of which two Women appointed for that purpose are the Judges When the Evening draws on upon them then the Youths dividing themselves into Companies go Singing from one Tent to another and are follow'd by the Maids Dancing and Leaping every one standing behind him whom she loves best and this is look'd upon as a singular sign of affection When a young Man is inclin'd to Marry he carries Honey and Venison to his Mistresses Father who if he hath more than one Daughter acquaints the Soothsayers with it who inform the King concerning it he then causes all the young Men and Maids to be call'd together out of the Camp sends them into the Woods to Hunt out a wild Beast which they no sooner see but they return and acquaint the Multitude therewith who immediately surrounding the Place soon catch the Beast whose Entrails they pull out and throw to the Dogs and give the Flesh to the Women to roast which when ready they make merry with Singing and Dancing after they have eaten then if the Youth hath behav'd himself well in pursuing of the wild Beast the King grants him the Maid which he desires for his Wife Four days before the Wedding they bore a Hole through each of the Bridegrooms Cheeks with a sharp piece of Wood which done they solemnize the Marriage at which the King himself distributes the Meat to every Guest as he thinks fit after Dinner they extol the Mothers Care in preserving her Daughters Virginity for the Bridegroom in strange Songs If a Maid be Marriageable and no Suitor comes to her then the Mother draws red Strokes under her Eyes and conducts her to the King who sets the Maid down by him on a Mat warms his Hands against the Fire then stroaks himself and the Maid and also blows Tobacco-Smoak on her and himself which done he performs the part of a Husband with her But their making Holes
are exceeding dainty and tender yet so stubborn and sullen that they take pet at the least affront and often pine themselves away and die with hunger The Boyete and other sorts of Serpents The Serpent Boy-ete two Fathoms long without Legs having a bright speckled Skin and four sharp Teeth wounds also mortally with its Tail but is the less dangerous because at the end of the Tail grows a Bladder which moving rattles as if there were Pease in it which gives notice to the Traveller though unwary by which means he makes his escape The other Serpents call'd Jouboy Tara-gouyboy and Tarehuboy serve the Natives for a great Delicacy as also the great Toads or Frogs call'd Tourourou They have also a sort of Flies call'd Ton which exceedingly molest them against which their chiefest Medicine is Palm-tree Oyl and the Roucou with which they colour their Skins The Natives of this Island of Maragnan driven out of the pleasant Countrey Cayete by the Portuguese are a sort of the Toupinambas who Setled here about a hundred and fifty years ago The time of their first coming hither us'd formerly to be solemniz'd with the great Feast call'd Caoven but because a Woman boldly set upon a Commander in his Cups there arose a great Tumult amongst them and ever since the Island hath been divided one Party calling the other Tobaiares that is We are Enemies They are so inveterate against one another that who e're they take Prisoners they unmercifully devour Both are of a middle Stature have flat Noses which the Midwive make at the Birth of the Child they are generally a strong People and many of them living a hundred years without being grey bald or sick they live temperate and under a wholsom Climate Some of their Women bear Children as they say till they are eighty years of age which being born white turn to be of a Tawny colour by being anointed with Suet call'd Roucou and Oyl otherwise they are well proportion'd The Men pluck out all the Hair of their Foreheads but suffer it to hang pretty long over their Ears and behind The Women let their Hair hang down to their Middle and wear woodden Ear-rings but the Men hang green Beads in their Lips and thrust little Bones through their Noses They go all stark naked their Legs are colour'd black with the Juice of the Herb Junipap and upon the other parts of their Body appear Figures of several Representations Those that will manifest their Valor and be accounted hardy gash their Bodies all over with Wounds which they heal in such a manner that the Scars may more plainly appear They never come to their usual Feasts but dress'd up in various colour'd Feathers upon the Crown of their Heads they wear Caps stuck with Plumes which they call Acangoap or Coronets call'd Acangerar about their Necks the Necklaces Aiouacava over their Shoulders the Mantles Assoyave their Garters they call Tabacoura at which they hang hollow Nut-shells full of little Stones which gingle and rattle as they go and about their Arms Armlets call'd Mapouyh-couaychovare all which are curiously checker'd with various colour'd Feathers The Maragnans live not much up in the Countrey but rather on the Sea-Coast because of their Fishing removing every sixth year calling the Village where they Settle by the former Name They take every Man as many Wives as he pleaseth but the Women must stick each to one Man unless she be Divorc'd from him which often happens upon small occasions Their Cotton Hammocks call'd Yu on which they sleep hang between two Stakes in which they lie Singular Friends and Relations Feast one another daily but they are cruel and revengeful against their neighboring Enemies whom when they take any of them they fatten kill and eat The least affront done them or injurious word spoken to them or against their Predecessorss makes them take up Arms which consist of Bowes and Arrows which they call Ouyrapar and Oune Here the French have built the Fort St. Lovis on an Island from whence Westward may be seen the Cape Tapouytapere which at High-water seems like an Island and lies four Leagues from thence at Low-water they can walk over the Sands from the same to the Main Land This fruitful Countrey hath twenty populous Villages Westward lies Comma which gives Denomination to the chief Village the River and the rest of that Countrey wherein are sixteen more handsom Villages better built and more populous than Maragnan or Tapouytapere Concerning the building of the fore-mention'd Fort on Maragnan it hapned as followeth I. TAMAâ—CA A. Castrum Auriaci B. Ostium fluminis ad AustruÌ„ C. Castrum in monte D. Oppidum Scoppiâ— E. Sacâ—llum F. Via quibus ascenditur G. Fluvius qui versus Garasu abit UVIUS GRANDIS A. 〈…〉 B. 〈…〉 C. 〈…〉 D. 〈◊〉 SIARA A. Castrum B. Fluvius C. Via litâ—us versus D. Sylva E. Campestria SECT XI The Lordships Tamarica Rio Grande Siara and Para. Description of the Lordship of Tamarica THe Praefecture of Tamarica not above three Leagues in length and two in breadth so call'd from a little Island lying before it and part of its Precinct is counted the first that is the most ancient Lordship of Brasile having otherwise nothing in it that is very considerable save onely a good Haven or Port with a Castle for the Security or Command of it held to be impregnable and so found by the Dutch who under Peter Heyn and Stein Callenfels in vain attempted the taking of it as shall be mention'd hereafter more particularly but made it useless to the Portuguese by making a Bulwark at the Mouth of the Haven and so blocking it up This Capatania yielded formerly a Rent of thirty thousand Ducats to the Earls of Montesanto whose Right it was Description of the Lordship of Rio Grande THe Praefecture of Rio Grande a small Precinct so denominated as lying on the South-side of that great River which the Portuguese call Rio Grande and the Natives Potingi where it falls into the Sea was once possess'd by the French about the Year 1597. who were outed by the Portuguese and the Place fortifi'd both against them and the Salvages of whom they slew and took Prisoners very great numbers with a Castle which the Dutch in the Year 1631. found an impregnable piece and too hard for them to take Description of the Lordship of Siara THe Praefecture of Siara so denominated from the Haven it hath long been in the possession of the Portuguese but they have therein no Towns of note onely a Castle and some few Houses for those that attend the gathering of Cotton-Wool and Manuring of the Sugar-Canes which are here in great abundance also the Countrey is said to afford some Crystal and other Precious Stones Description of the Lordship of Para. LAstly the Praefecture of Para is the most Northerly part of Brasile bordering upon Guiana so call'd from the River Para which runneth through the
seven Companies before the Castle Nostra Sennora de Conception which though well provided and fortifi'd the Governor Pignioro surrendred on Condition that he might depart with all his Men and the Church Ornaments Matthias van Ceulen and Schuppe Rowing up the Stream Goiana with Sloops and Boats put to flight Laurence Cavalcanti burnt divers Sugar-Mills and took abundance of rich Merchandize Ten days they made havock in the middle of their Enemies Countreys without any resistance for all of them fled to the Aldas so they call the Brasilian Villages At last they return'd home with great Booty especially of Sugar and Brasile Wood whilest those at Reciffa were not idle doing the Portuguese great mischief by their continual Sallies Tourlong burning a Fishers Village and Bongarson a stately Banquetting-house belonging to Cavalcant near Arryal as also Pedro Acunha de Andada's Sugar-Mill from whence he took great Booty The Portuguese begin to fall off to the Hollanders About the same time the Portuguese of several Parts terrifi'd by continual Alarms and Losses began to incline to the West-India Company believing that they should utterly be ruin'd if they continu'd to joyn with Albuquerque's Party who claim'd Pernambuco wholly to himself and therefore car'd not whether he or the Hollanders were Masters so they might live peaceably Mean while the Hollanders march'd from the Afogados to Arryal Schuppe marching before with two hundred and fifty Seamen was follow'd by the Lieutenant-Colonel De Vries and he by a Company of Negro's that carry'd Provisions next Byma march'd with the Reserve The Treasurer John Gyseling also accompanied the Army which Encamp'd near Francisco Brito Machado's Wind-Mill and Garrison'd the half-finish'd Fort near the Sugar-Mill belonging to Marcus Andre whilest three Companies Commanded by Captain De Vries march'd to Monteroos-Mills to take the same but the Portuguese lying in an Ambuscade had given them a shrewd Rebuke had not Schuppe hearing the Guns sent away the Captains Picard and Garstman who coming out from amongst the Sugar-Canes put the Enemy to flight yet the Portuguese began to increase daily insomuch that they got above two thousand Men together at Arryal whilest the Dutch Army began to want Provisions wherefore Jacob Huigen was order'd to fetch a Supply from Reciffa but as he was coming up the River with the Exeter Ketch and a Boat hung about with Hides to secure his Men from the Bullets and being within Musquet-shot from the Works where Captain Schuppe lay the Enemy's whole Power shot so vehemently upon him from the top of a Hill that both the Ketch and Boat were sunk Jacob Huigen slain Huigen himself receiv'd two mortal Wounds and most of his Men were kill'd a few wounded onely escaping with Life Schuppe therefore was forc'd to return for want of Provisions and the rather because he was inform'd that Bagnola was coming with a Supply of seven hundred Men. Mean while the two Captains Smient and Dunkirken perform'd a valiant Exploit viz. they went with a few Men in a Boat and took a great Portuguese Vessel richly laden having no more than four Blunderbusses and their Swords in the Boat with them A notable Victory of Byma over Francisco Almeda Byma also fell upon the Village Moriwere where he found most of the People at Church Albuquerque inform'd thereof sent two hundred Men immediately Commanded by Francisco Almeda to intercept him in his Return but he marching on to Tamarica they pursu'd him he marching but slowly because the narrow Way was stopt up with fell'd Trees they overtook him half a League beyond Garasu near Peter Rocha's Sugar-Mill where after a sharp Encounter between them a great slaughter was made amongst the Spaniards Almeda and many other Persons being slain and the rest put to flight Byma having obtain'd this Victory march'd to Garasu and burnt the same sparing onely the Churches and Cloysters according to the Articles made between Albuquerque and Rembach Schuppe prevented from crossing the River Jangada by the many muddy Creeks return'd back to Reciffa with great Booty which he had taken out of a Store-house The Dutch Cruisers also brought in many Prizes Van Hoorn 's Exploits The Exploits perform'd by John Johnszoon van Hoorn with four Ships three Ketches and a Sloop are likewise very remarkable for with this Fleet in the first place he took the City Truxillo and from thence Sailing towards the City Campeche and Storming the same valiantly soon became Master of it the Booty of which two Places being brought aboard increas'd considerably the West-India Companies Stock In regard Albuquerque understood the Situation of Pernambuco better than the Hollanders and had all the Natives to assist him and by conserence was the better able to defend himself against their continual Alarms the Council at Reciffa therefore judg'd it convenient to make a farther Voyage to the South that the Portuguese who were highly discontented about the Losses which they had sustain'd might be the sooner induc'd to submit to their Government To which purpose ten Ketches Mann'd with seven hundred Soldiers besides Seamen set Sail on the tenth of October under the Command of John Gyseling Schuppe and Servaes Carpentier who first ran into the River Porto de Piedras where they took a considerable number of Chests of Sugar out of Mills Barques and Store-houses waded through the little Stream Tatona Mansa burnt a Village of the same Denomination and Sail'd to the River Camarigibi which they Rowing up in the Night were got not above four Leagues by Day-break the contrary Tide and the Plants call'd Mangues having hindred them from getting farther but being inform'd by certain Portuguese Prisoners that abundance of Sugar lay in Porto Francisco they marching thither found under a Straw Roof in a Wood seventy four Chests of Sugar and a great deal more in several Store-houses They also pillag'd the whole Countrey towards Alagoa del Noort St. Miguel and Alagoa del Zur Not far from which Schuppe falling upon the Village Sennora de Conception burnt the same as also a Ship upon the Stocks the Houses at the Mouth of the Stream Alagoa and the Tackling belonging to the two Ships and carry'd away with them a very great Booty Tourlon also march'd with four Companies from Tamarica to Mangianguape where the Garrison from Garasu and some Jesuits lay to disswade the People from submitting themselves to the West-India Company to which they were much inclin'd But Tourlon march'd not so privately but that the Enemy had notice thereof and fled wherefore he finding Mangianguape empty offer'd the same to the Flames as also several Sugar-Mills but spar'd the Lives of all those who begg'd Quarter Byma about the same time with a hundred and forty Musquetteers besides two Companies of Seamen leaving the Afogados in the Night march'd to Amaro by Day-break which he set on fire with a Sugar-Mill and a Store-house full of Sugar after every Soldier had taken as much as he could carry upon which
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
Death but not satisfi'd with that Revenge he over-run all the Countrey of Aromaia took Morequito's Uncle call'd Topiawari Prisoner who bought his Life for a hundred Plates of Gold and some Precious Stones That Listing many Men in Spain for the Gold which he sent thither he Row'd with Barques up the Rivers Barema Pattroma and Dessequebe where he barter'd Trifles for Men Women and Children of whom he made great Sums of Money on the Island Margareta This Information which Sir Walter Raleigh got from his Prisoner Berreo made him desirous to make an Expedition to Guiana to which purpose he sent Captain George Gifford with a Ketch and a Barque to the River Capuri where the Water fell before the Vessels could get beyond the Sands in the Mouth of the River John Douglas had better success being likewise sent out by Sir Walter Raleigh for he with his Boats found that Orinoque had nine Arms to the North Sea and seven to the South which embrace divers Isles of which those on the right side are call'd Pallamos and those on the left Horotomaca The Mouth of the River gapes a hundred Leagues On the fore-mention'd-Isles dwell the Titiriras a modest People who speak a bald Language in the Summer they live under the open Skie upon the bare Earth and in the Winter being there between May and September on the tops of the Trees because during that time the River Orinoque rising thirty Foot higher overflows all the Isles thereabouts which are very high and mountainous But Raleigh himself Rowing up the River Amana endur'd great hardship his Men being most of them sweltred with the Heat and great want of Provisions and had not their Indian Pilot shew'd them another Stream much easier to Navigate he would have been forc'd to return successless but being stor'd with Provision out of a Village built along the Shore he chased four Canoos of which he took one and also an Arwaccas which in fifteen days time brought him into the River Orinoque where he saw the high Mountains of Guiana afterwards Anchoring before a fair sandy Bank which lay near the Mouth of three Rivers he took abundance of Tortoises and was furnish'd with plenty of all sorts of Provisions sent him from the Governor Toparimaca who inhabited the pleasant Village Arowocay built on a little Hill surrounded with delightful Gardens and Fields till'd by the Negro's who accommodating Raleigh with an experienc'd Pilot he set Sail with a fresh Easterly Wind and Westward saw the Isles Assapana twenty five Leagues long and six broad and Iwana of the same bigness The River Orinoque hath here thirty Leagues in breadth and receives the Rivers Arrawopana and Europa He Sail'd next by the Isles Ocaywita and Putayma opposite to which on the Main Land appears the Mountain Oecope whose top reacheth the Clouds on the right side a Plain Countrey discover'd it self a vast way which the Pilot said was call'd The Plain of Sayma extending Northerly a hundred and twenty Leagues to Cumana and Caracas inhabited by four sorts of People viz. the Saymas Assaways Wikeries and Aroras which last being a Coal-black People us'd poyson'd Arrows Raleigh passing between the two Mountains Aroami and Aio came to an Anchor near the Island Murscolima and from thence into the Haven Morequito where the King Topiawari a hundred and ten years of age brought all sorts of Fruit Poultrey Fish and Flesh and gave him an Account of the Condition of Guiana viz. That the whole Countrey from the Mountains Waccarima to Emeria bore the Name of Guiana the Inhabitants calling themselves Orinoque Poni on the other side of the said Mountains lies the spacious Valley Amariocapana where the Guianiatas reside Southerly the Oreiones and Epuremei who coming out of a strange Countrey have destroy'd the ancient Inhabitants leaving onely the Awaaawaqueri and Cassipagoios The Epuremei built the stately City Macurewarai there But Raleigh going on his Journey saw the Island Caiama and came to the Mouth of the River Caroli whose strong Current he was not able to stem wherefore he desir'd Aid from Wanuretona Governor of Canuria who furnish'd him with Provisions and Men to Toe him up the fore-mention'd Stream and inform'd him that the River Caroli which sprung out of the Lake Cassipa was inhabited on one side by the Iwarawakeri and the Lake Cassipa by three powerful People viz. the Cassiapagotos Eparagotos and Arawogotos all mortal Enemies to the Spaniards whereupon Raleigh sent some of his Men thither who return'd with great hopes of finding rich Gold-Mines The fore-mention'd Lake also produces the Rivers Aroi Atoica and Caora near which dwell the Ewaipanoma who have neither Necks nor Chins but their Mouthes just upon their Shoulders Towards the North the River Cari falls into the Orinoque and on the West the Stream Limo between both which the Cannibals reside whose Metropolis call'd Acamacari is very famous for their strange way of Trading for there the Women are brought to Market and bought by the Arwaccas But because great Showers of Rain fell daily and the Stream Caroli glided down wards with extraordinary force Raleigh return'd to Morequito from whence Putima King of Warapana conducted him to a rich Golden Mountain in his Countrey and along the Rivers Mana Oiana and Cumaca to the place where the Orinoque divides it self into three excellent Streams the chiefest whereof call'd Cararoopana washes the Province Emeria out of whose Mountains the Rivers Waracayari Coirama Akaniri and Iparoma glide to the Northern Ocean as also the Araturi Amacura Barima Wana Morooca Paroma and Wyni all Branches of the River Orinoque from whence Raleigh return'd home to England Not long after he sent Laurence Keymes and Thomas Masham back to Guiana Keymes found out all the Rivers between the Amazones and the Orinoque and Masham the Stream Wiapoco from whence both return'd without any farther success Sir Walter Raleigh condemu'd for Treason After this the Business lay still for a while in regard Sir Walter Raleigh being together with Grey Cobham and the Romish Priests Watson and Clark found guilty of High Treason was Condemn'd to die but being Repriev'd by the King was kept a Prisoner in the Tower for the space of fourteen years during which time he wrote a Description of Guiana which the King perusing was so well pleas'd with it especially since he undertook to make out by several Reasons that England might make it self Master of divers Gold-Mines there to which Spain could lay no manner of Claim that he discharg'd him out of Prison He is Repriev'd and sent again to Guiana and permitted him to make a second Expedition Whereupon with ten Ships Anno 1617. he set Sail for Guiana again being toss'd with divers Storms he at last came with five Sail to the River Calliana where he fell dangerously sick and therefore sent Captain Keymes with five Sail to the River Orinoque to conduct the Men to the Gold-Mines each Ship carrying fifty
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
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
divers Rivers as far as the Lake Xarays lying three hundred Leagues up in the Countrey from the Mouth of La Plata Also into the foremention'd Lake fall several Streams which spring out of the Peruvian Mountains Andes The first that Sail'd into this great River Anno 1515. to an Island lying in the middle of it was John Dias de Solis who rashly going ashore was kill'd and eaten together with several Portugueses Sebastian Gabottus his Expedition Eleven years after this Accident Sebastian Gabottus set Sail from Spain to go to the Spicy Islands through the Straights of Magellan but was forc'd for want of Provisions and the unwillingness of his Seamen to put into the River La Plata in which being advanc'd thirty Leagues he Anchor'd near an Island which he call'd St. Gabriel from whence going seven farther he discover'd a Stream which fell into La Plata This River he call'd St. Salvador and cast up a Fort at the Mouth of it where an Inlet afforded a convenient Harbor for Shipping he found the River La Plata to be generally ten Leagues broad and full of Isles and to the Westward of it the River Zaracaranna inhabited on the South side by a subtil People call'd Diagnitas At the place where Zaracaranna disembogues into La Plata he built a Castle and calling the same Castello di Santo Spirito went up farther leaving on the West side the People Tenbues Mequaretas Mepenes and Aigais to the Eastward the Quiloacas and Santana and struck up out of the River La Plata North-East into the Stream Parana in which he had gone two hundred Leagues and pass'd by many Isles when he went out of the same into the Stream Paraguay where being set upon by the Countrey People who were busie in Tilling the Ground he lost so many of his Men that he was forc'd without any farther Exploit to return with the Portuguese Pilot Diego Garcia who Sailing up the same River had met with Gabottus in Paria and because both had gotten some Silver they call'd the River from that Metal De la Plata The farther Discovery whereof lay neglected nine years after when Peter Mendoza Sailing with eleven Ships carrying eight hundred Men to the Island Gabriel built the Fort Buenos Ayres on the South side of it where many People dying of Hunger little was done Alvares Cabeca not long after following Mendoza's footsteps discover'd and peopled the Province Rio de la Plata The Mouth of the River La Plata Laurence Bikker describes thus Laurence Bikker 's Description of Rio de la Plata Beyond the Cape Santa Maria saith he lies the flat Island Castilhos having scarce a Tree upon it but on the North side a Rock not unlike a decay'd Castle to the Southward of which appear two other Cliffs directly before the Mouth lies the stonie Island De Lobos on which nothing is to be found but Sea-Wolves towards the East a stonie Bank runs a good way into the River known by the breaking of the Water upon the same The Promontory Maria is low and barren but within the same the Land rises high before the Isles Flores and Maldonado which last hath a good sandy Shore Harbor and fresh Water between the Rocks but Flores rising with two Hills produces nothing but Brambles The Stream Soliâ— also discharges its Waters in La Plata near the Place where the Mountain Seredo lies The left Shore of La Plata begins at the Promontory Antonio and is cut through by the Rivers Ortis and Los Sanctos where the Town Buenos Ayres is built on a smooth Shore Martin del Barco's Description of the same Martin del Barco proceeding in the Description of La Plata saith that it is dangerous by reason of the many Shelves that are in the same The Isles in the River are as followeth those that bear the Name of St. Gabriel are five in number Garcia Isle is full of Trees and for its fertility was peopled by Peter de Mendoza and afterwards by Juan Ortiz Carate But less fruitful are the Isles De Lazaro where the River Vrayg unites with La Plata being before fill'd with the Waters of Salvador which receives the black Stream Negro which gliding slowly from Morasses is very full of Fish Moreover La Plata hath eleven Arms each very deep and full of Isles inhabited by the Guaranins About a hundred Leagues farther the Cherandies have setled themselves on pleasant Isles lying not far from the City St. Fe built on the Point which makes the River Bermeio where it falls into La Plata Farther up lies the Province Ana partly well inhabited for its fertility and partly overflow'd Next appears the Rock Pennapobre and not far from the Town Guayra La Plata falls very high from the Rocks The several People of this Countrey But as concerning the Natives of this Countrey it is inhabited by divers sorts of People differing from one another both in Customs and Language On the South side of the fore-mention'd River from the Promontory Antonio to Buenos Ayres dwell the Quirandies a stout but cruel People who with the Flesh of many a Spaniard oftentimes keep a merry Feast Farther into the Countrey run the Juries and Diagnitas Along La Plata lie also scatter'd the Tenbues a civil People who live by Fishing Near the River Paraguay the Ameguaes observe the same manner of Life But the Carioes keep Cattel and Till their Lands A hundred Leagues farther dwell the Payaguaes and yet farther into the Countrey the Chames and Carcares possess much Gold and Silver with which Juan d' Ayola having enrich'd himself here was destroy'd with all his Men by the Chames Anno 1541. Nunnez Cabeca his Journey Alvarez Nunnez Cabeca came from Spain to be Governor here but was not able by reason or contrary Winds and Tydes to reach La Plata wherefore Landing at the River Itabucu and spending nine days in cutting a Way through thick Brambles he came to the Jurisdiction of Armiriri and a days Journey farther to Cipoyay and not long after to Tocanguazu where the Guaranies who are the Natives have two Harvests every year of Maiz and Cassavi and breed and keep Geese Hens and Parrots in their Houses They are Man-eaters and very revengeful Cabeca having given this Countrey the Name of Vera he proceeded on his Journey over the Rivers Ignazu Tibagi and Taquari on whose Shore appears the Village Abangobi and somewhat farther Tocanguzir The Countrey hereabouts is very fruitful and hath many delightful Plains pleasant Rivers and Woods but beyond appear Hills Mountains deep Morasses dangerous Cane-Fields Receptacles for wild Beasts and great Wildernesses Cabeca having pass'd through them all came into the fruitful Countrey of the Guaranies who are a wild People and possess many large Fields of Maiz and Potato's also several Silver Mines From hence travelling Westwardly over the River Piqueri he spent eighteen days before he came to the Stream
Ignazu which falls into the Parana and at last came to the River Paraguay along whose Shore he found a People of a gigantick Stature call'd The Agazes who regarded no manner of Husbandry but went out continually a robbing in their Canoos These People as Martin del Barco relates were not long after all destroy'd by the Spaniards Not far from the Agazes dwell the Guaycurues a valiant People and somewhat farther the Cacoves whose Countrey produces Gold and Silver and yet farther in the Countrey reside the Guaxarapos who remove yearly to the Paraguay to Fish there when the Water is low for in the beginning of January the River swells so exceedingly that the Countrey about it being overflow'd is cover'd with above six Fathom Water The Paraguay discharges its Waters into the great Lake Xarayes full of Islands Amongst other Rivers that spring out of the Mountains Andes the Ignazu along whose Shore the People Xacoaes Xaquesses and Chanesses dwell falls also into the foremention'd Lake Somewhat farther lies a great piece of drown'd Land beyond which the Xarayes have convenient Habitations plant Maiz and spin Cotton Their Countrey borders a great Wilderness which ends about the Province Tapuaguazu the Inhabitants whereof call'd Tarapecocies are furnish'd with plenty of all sorts of Provisions The Payzunoes dwelling on one side of them are not well known as yet Beyond the Town Assumption dwell the Mayaes in the Way to Peru and border at he Tamacoaes both which possess Silver-Mines Between Buenos Ayres and Corduba lies the Plain-Countrey Despoplado ninety Leagues long without Trees or Houses but is most Pasture-Ground which feed many thousands of wild Horses From hence glide the Streams Luchan Los Arrechivos Arreca Zaracaranna and others into La Plata It is very dangerous for a small Company to travel through this Countrey because the ranging Juries spare none alive they meet with Moreover the River Grande flows with a wide Mouth into the Sea and spreads it self within against the Countrey Patos Also the Rivers Tamandabug Ararungo and the Lake Alagoa disembogue into the Ocean North-East beyond Alagoa lie the Islands Catharina and Gale and in the Bay Tojuqua appear several Isles The Streams Tajahu and Ytabuca spring out of high Mountains inhabited by the People Anniriri and Cipopoy Lastly the Countrey wash'd by the Stream Ararapira produces all sorts of Provisions CHAP. II. Chili THere are in this Countrey both tame and wild Sheep The Cammel-Sheep the tame ones are call'd Cammel-Sheep being cover'd with long fine Wool having Necks four Foot long their fore Feet cloven into four parts their hindermost into two their Mouths very wide which they open at those that vex them and make such a stink that no body is able to abide near them when tir'd they fall under their Burdens and will not rise though beaten never so much Their Flesh is tough like that of Horses The wild Mountain-Sheep are red and have soft glossy Wool which makes a Stuff like that of a Chamlet These Sheep run swifter than a Horse the Chileses lead them by a Rope put through their Ears The Grain Teca This Countrey of Chili not onely produces Wheat Barley Maiz and all manner of Fruit but also the Teca which growing half a Yard high is not unlike Barley the Grain thereof being dry'd in the Sun is thresh'd and parch'd in hot Sand then ground on a square flat Stone with a round Rowler This Meal which is both exceeding wholsom and very nourishing for a small Measure thereof sufficeth a Man a whole Week serves also both for Meat and Drink for being infus'd in a greater quantity of Water it becomes a pleasant Drink and kneaded with a lesser proportion it is made into Cakes or Loaves The Fruit Vnni The Fruit Unni by the Spaniards call'd Murtilla is like a little red Grape and hath a tart taste The Wine press'd out of this Fruit is clear to the Eye pleasing to the Palate and good for the Stomach never causing any Head-ache It also makes good Vinegar But the chiefest Benefit of Chili is the rich Gold-Mines The Countrey for the most part lies desolate occasion'd by the continual Wars which the valiant People Arauco maintain'd against the Spaniards after such a manner that in no place of America they met with such resistance or sustain'd such Losses They speak an elegant Language according to the testimony of Elias Herkmans who having committed to Wirting all the most significant Words thereof which were taught him by the Chileses it will not be altogether amiss to set down some of them which are these following A View of the Chilesian Language TEpanto A Year Tien A Moneth or the Moon Toninco A Week Ante The Day or Sun Paun The Night Tabuyo The Evening Eppoun The Morning Rangiante Noon Eppoe The next Day after to Morrow Vya Yesterday Putey The Day before Yesterday Buchiante To Day Mintay Now. Weytiva At that time Wantarulei In the Morning betimes Biliante Always Chumel When. Chemchuem Also Hueno The Heavens Quereb The Air or Wind. Tomo The Clouds Wangelen The Stars Pillan Thunder Gualio Lightning Puta que quereb A Storm Maoni Rain Piren Snow Veaquumao Dew Pillingei Ice Quetal Fire Ko Water Tue The Earth Mappo The Land Pele Clay Cura Stone Maviel Wood. Aluven Timber Millia Gold Lien Silver Paila Brass Titi Tin Pavillue Iron Quatal-cura A Pebble-stone Chadi Salt Lyl A Rock Milla-mappen A Golden Vein Aliquen A Tree Cahu Herbs Nebo Nuts Pino Grass Cayron Hay Wento A Man Domo A Wife Quiduugen A Youth Yecho A Maiden Penien A Boy Domo-penien A Girl Chou A Father Nenque A Mother Cheche A Grandfather Domo-cheche A Grandmother Wenco Mothers Brother Mama Mothers Sister Pelchuchan A Stepfather Caulla A Stepmother Botum A Son Neaque A Daughter Penu A Brother Lamoen A Sister Guempo A Father-in-law Vilca A Mother-in-law Choupa A Son-in-law Weuro-pencho A Kinsman Buytha An old Man Cude An old Woman Cunewa An Hospital Child Peneinboe A Guardian Apo-curaca A Governor Curaca A Lord. Apo A supream Commander Nentoque A Ruler Ulmen A Person of Quality Pulmen A Gentleman Machi A Chirurgeon Cona A Soldier Retave-caman A Smith Guito-wok A Weaver Challo-acaman A Fisher-man Nilla-caboe A Merchant Turnitave A Dyer Chumpiro-caman A Cap-maker Tultunca-caman A Drummer Inchetaniweni A Servant Voerquin A Messenger Langamcheboe A Murderer Chiquiboe A Thief Illuiboe A Beggar Alvee The Devil Ruca A House Ullin A Door Chaquana A pair of Stairs Pylca A Wall Wana-ruca The Roof Pithe-ruca A Hut Colcura A Cupboard Cawyto A Bedstead Depotuarica A Prison Weltelve A Gibbet Pengal A Grave Lonquen The Sea Leva The River Buta-wampo A Ship Aliwen A Mast Mou Ropes Dolio A Canoo Wampo A Boat Vela Sails Wyta An Oar. Tubquen Ashes Cuju A dead Coal Ale The Flame Aypel A burning Coal Wietum Smoak Catila a Candle Wyno A Knife Witi A Spoon Guidi A Pot. Lepoboruwe A Tooth-picker Pavilla-lonco An Helmet Waiqui A Pike
upon the Fort in Puren where those in the Garrison unable to defend themselves went to Tucapel Valdivia taken Prisoner and cruelly put to death by the Indians and from thence to Arauco to Settle there Valdivia marching with three hundred Men to the Castle in Tucapel was so fiercely assaulted at the River Leto that all his Men were kill'd and he himself being taken Prisoner had melted Gold pour'd down his Throat One Boy onely escaping brought the news to those in Garrison in the Fort Arauco who fled to La Conception as those from Puren to Imperial Not long after the Lieutenant Francisco de Villagra went with a hundred and sixty Soldiers to Raquetta a Promontory against the South Sea in Arauco to take Revenge for the Death of his General Valdivia but he also had like to have follow'd the same fate for he left ninety six Men behind him and with much ado recover'd La Conception By which means the victorious Chileses came to be so much fear'd that the Spaniards forsook the Towns Rica St. Jago and Confines and fortifi'd themselves strongly in Imperial Description of Arauco Concerning Arauco it is a small County twenty Leagues long and seven broad The Inhabitants thereof are strangely valiant those that inhabit the Mountains are call'd Pulches and are generally of a duller Spirit than those that dwell in the Valleys all of them use long Pikes Halberds Bowes and Arrows Helmets and Breastplates of Deer-skins in the Wars they know when to close and open their Ranks and stand in good order according to Martial Discipline which makes the Spanish King receive little benefit from Arauco though it is full of rich Mines because those in Garrison being five hundred in number dare not come out of their Fort. To Arauco belongs the Island La Mocha low on the North side and rocky on the South against which the Ocean breaks its Billows in the middle of it rises a split Mountain out of whose Gap flows a fresh Brook the fruitful Soyl produces abundance of Pumpeons Maiz Potato's and all manner of delicious Fruit as also Oxen Sheep and other Cattel which go grazing up and down in great Herds the Village that is upon it boasts about fifty Huts built long of Straw with a Door in the middle and round like an Arch on the top Sir Francis Drake and Candish were formerly somewhat roughly Entertain'd here by the Inhabitants but they shew'd themselves somewhat more civil to the Dutch Admirals Van Noort's and Spilbergen's Entertainment in Mocha Oliver van Noort and Joris Spilbergen The first coming to an Anchor here Anno 1600. put one John Claeszoon Condemn'd for some great Crime to be Landed on some strange Place ashore on La Mocha with a few Trifles for which being kindly Entertain'd the Seamen resolv'd to go ashore the next day who were likewise civilly Treated The Governor of Mocha coming aboard Lodg'd a Night in the Ship and afterwards conducted the Admiral through the Village but forbad the Seamen from entring any of the Huts out of which the Women upon the hearing of a sudden noise came running out and kneel'd down on the Ground in three Parties whilest an old Matron came forth with a Pitcher full of Chica and gave each of the Netherlanders a Cup full to drink sitting on Blocks in the Fields A Man Marries as many Wives here as he can maintain They all live peaceably one with another and go Cloth'd with a pair of Breeches and Frock without Sleeves The Women tie their Hair in Braids about their Heads but the Men let it hang down carelesly Fifteen years after Spilbergen Landing here with four well Mann'd Boats found the Shore full of People who had brought all manner of Provisions to barter against Axes and Knives The Islanders going aboard wondred to see the Soldiers drawn out in order and much more when a Gun was fir'd They furnish'd the Hollanders with a hundred Sheep amongst which was one with an extraordinary long Neck and Legs Hair Mouth and Back like a Cammel The Netherland Admiral Hendrick Brewer coming to an Anchor on the Coast of Guadalanquen Anno 1643. was inform'd by the Chileses that about four years before they had burnt Baldivia murder'd the Spaniards that were in Garrison and pour'd melted Gold down the Governor's Throat and into his Ears and made a Drinking-Cup of his Scull and Trumpets of his Shin-bones Brewer also found some Ruines of the City which formerly boasted four hundred and fifty Houses and was not yet so utterly defac'd but that the two Markets and cross Streets were plainly to be seen and the Walls gave sufficient testimony of its ancient lustre The Countrey round about produces Wheat and Barley neither are there any Mines to be found that produce finer Gold than those which are hereabouts In the Mouth of the River which runs to Baldivia lies a small Isle the Men whereof are gross and fat and spend their time in Drinking and Dancing whilest the Women do all the Work About the City Osorno though lying under a cold Climate is a Soil full of Gold-Mines where above two thousand Chileses are under the subjection of the Spaniards Since Teunis Swarte-Teun conquer'd and ruin'd this Place with small Forces under Spilbergen's Command it hath not yet repair'd its Losses The Ruines of great Buildings are sufficient testimonies of its former splendor On the utmost Point of the Island on which Osorno is built lies the Village Carel-Mappo burnt by H. Brewer An. 1643. for he Landing sixty six Men here under the Command of the Ensign Blauewenhaen they Engag'd with ninety Spaniards who betook themselves to the Woods leaving six Men and fifteen Horses behind them Description of the Sea-Coast of Chile The Sea-Coast of Chile lies as followeth It begins on the North with the Valley Copayapo runs Southerly to the Haven Coquimba and makes the large Inlet Atongayo the convenient Harbor Quintero at the Mouth of the River Concagua is also to the Southward Next Quintero follow the Havens Valparaysa Topocalma and Penco known by several Mountains cover'd with Snow The Stream Labapi disembogues also in the Bay Arauco where the Sea washing over the Shore makes good Salt On the Shore of the River Lebo Garcias Mendoza built the Town Canete which not long after was deserted by reason of the Wars with the Chileses From the Haven Carnero a Channel runs to the City Confines also the River Cauten makes a convenient Harbor before the City Imperial Next appear the Streams Tolten Queule Valdivia Chabin and Bueno and near the Promontory Gallego Chili ends to the South The Province Tucuman Eastward up into the Countrey lies the great Province Tucuman inhabited by three sorts of People viz. Juries Diagnitas and Tucumans from whom the Countrey receives its Denomination and juts Northward against the Chicas belonging to the rich Plate-Countrey Potosi Eastward towards the Province La Plata and Westward towards the South Sea The
Ground about the City St. Jago del Estero formerly call'd Vares being the Bishop's See and Residence of the Governors is brackish and sandy The Citizens are most of them Weavers the Natives go Cloth'd and are of an affable Temper and Disposition The River Estera yearly overflows the Countrey which being dung'd with Mud produces abundance of Maiz Barley Wheat and all manner of Fruits The Stream Salado runs the same Course as the Estera from the West to the East through a Plain-Countrey but hath brackish Water and abundance of Fish Between The Expedition of Garcias Loaysa Alcazova and others Magaglianus was follow'd Anno 1525. by Garcias Loaysa who Sailing into the Straights near the Promontory Virgines endur'd great Colds in the Haven St. George he found store of green Cinamon The People he reported to be of so monstrous a stature that they might well be accounted Giants some of whom went naked others wore a Net of Feathers made fast about their Wastes and others a loose Garment all over their Bodies Loaysa gave this Countrey inhabited by Giants the Denomination of Terra del Patagoni He judg'd the Straights of Magellan to be a hundred and ten Spanish Miles long between the two Promontories Virgines at the North Sea and Deseado at the Southern Ocean Within lie three Inlets which have seven Leagues in breadth Simon Alcazova Sailing hither nine years after Loaysa shunn'd the Land on the left-side of the Straights because it lay most under Water and was forc'd by his Men to return to the Haven Leones where he and all his Seamen were put to death Not long after the Bishop of Placentia fitted out three Sail which entring the Straights Anno 1540. lost their Admiral the Vice-Admiral Wintering at the Inlet Las Zorras so call'd because they took many Foxes on a Champain Countrey without Trees return'd to Spain without any farther success the third Ship with much ado arriv'd also at Arequipa The Voyages of Hawkins Drake and Candish The English Captain Richard Hawkins also Sailing hither found the Land on the South side of the Straights most broken and in some places a few Huts Anno 1578. Sir Francis Drake Sailing hither along the Coast of Brasile Landing on an Island in the Mouth of the Straights kill'd above three thousand Birds Sailing from hence he was miserably toss'd in the South Sea and discover'd about the middle of the Straights that the Current out of the Southern and Northern Ocean met at the place where a great Bay bends Southwardly To three Isles he gave the Name of Elizabeth Bartholomew and George and drove three Weeks without making any Sail in snowy misty and rainy Weather falling amongst dangerous Rocks and at last Anchor'd in the Haven Health which he so call'd because his sick and wearied Men being refresh'd there he set Sail from thence and return'd home Captain Thomas Candish following Sir Francis Drake eight years after found near a Creek within the City Philip-stadt built there by the Spaniards to secure the Passage out of the Northern to the Southern Ocean for themselves to which purpose they held four hundred Men in Garrison in the said City which lying near a pleasant Wood was defended by four Bulwarks each fortifi'd with a Brass Gun But the Spaniards not being able to endure the Cold nor get in their Harvest which was continually spoil'd by the Natives were so pinch'd with Hunger that after three years stay many of them dy'd in their Houses which caus'd a filthy Stink and consequently a vile Distemper not unlike the Small-pox at last twenty three of them amongst whom were two Women judg'd it convenient to bury their great Guns and march away with their Musquets a whole Year they travell'd in great want feeding on the Leaves of Trees wild Roots and Fowls which they now and then kill'd at last they resolv'd to travel by Land to Rio de la Plata but never any news was heard what became of them onely one Spaniard call'd Ferdinand being stray'd from the rest was taken by Candish to whom he gave the foremention'd Relation Candish entring Philip-stadt found a Gibbet on which hung a Malefactor in Chains a Church the Houses full of famish'd Bodies and four Brass Guns which he digg'd out of the Ground From hence he ran to a fresh-water River which disembogues into the Straights whose Banks are inhabited by cruel Cannibals and the Countrey all about plain Pasture Grounds whereas most part of the Shore in the Straights is very mountainous Candish Landing found Spanish Knives and Stilletto's amongst the Man-eaters and lay a whole Moneth at Anchor in the western Mouth of Magellanica by reason of great Storms feeding on Mussles Cockles and Fowl and from thence Sail'd about the World returning home at last with a Booty of twenty Tun of Gold Anno 1599. Simon de Cordes Commanding five Netherland Vessels entring the Straights of Magellan found in the green Bay Mussles of a Span long abundance of Ducks and Geese and a great many Trees not unlike Laurel they being onely bigger and had a sharp biting Shell The Wind blew exceeding hard here over the Rocks insomuch that they were sometimes driven from four Anchors A few Moneths after Oliver van Noord follow'd Cordes and Anchor'd near the Pinguyn Isles the biggest whereof is calll'd Castemme and the least Talke the Inhabitants thereof dwell in Caverns under Ground and feed on the Birds Pinguyns of whose Skins they make Mantles These Birds weigh generally fifteen or sixteen Pound have black Backs white Bellies very thick Skins long Bills like Ravens The Bird Pinguyn short thick Necks two plum'd Fins in stead of Wings black Feet like a Goose and delicate Flesh notwithstanding they feed on Fish after which they swim very swift with the fore-mention'd Fins which hang down on each side along their Bodies when they walk upright on the Shore they sit generally four together in their Holes made after such a manner that a Man which knows not of them may ere he be aware sink up to the Knees in the same and be bitten terribly by the Legs Cordes his Seamen got in two hours time above nine hundred of these Birds whilest he discover'd the salvage People Enoo which inhabit the Countrey Cossi and are divided into the Families Kemenetes Kennekas and Caraike the first inhabited the Territory Carray the second Caramay and the third Morine all of them Paint their Cheeks and Forehead Farther into the Countrey dwell the Trimenes a gigantick sort of People eleven Foot high who maintain continual Wars with their Neighbors Great Discoveries of Netherlanders about the Magellan Straights Moreover Noord discover'd several Inlets full of Ice and fresh Water in the Straights of Magellan whither the United Netherlands have since sent the Admirals William Schouten Joris Spilbergen and Jaques le Heremite The common opinion that the Countrey on the South side of Magellan is of the Main Continent Experience hath manifested for
both great and small yielding good Harbors and store of Whales and Sea-Horses The Voyages of Jonas Pool and others to Greenland In the Year 1610. Jonas Pool Master of the Amity fell in with this Land in May and continu'd upon the Coast discovering of Harbors and killing of Morses till June following and he is said to have been the first that gave this Countrey the Name of Greenland The next year he set out again accompany'd with Thomas Edge Commander of the Mary Margaret And since many other Voyages have been made as to a Place known and a great Trade driven in catching of Whales not without several Contests with the Dutch and Danes but nothing of late discover'd considerable more than in the first Voyages The Harbors Sounds and Coastings most taken notice of are Fair Foreland Cape Cold Black-Point Horn-Sound Knotty-Point Bell-Sound Lowness Cross-Road Deer-Sound Fowl-Sound Close-Cove Gurnet-Nose Ice-Sound and Green-Haven There are few that have Sail'd to Greenland Cherry-Island but make great mention of Cherry Island so call'd as having been first discover'd at the Charges of Sir Francis Cherry an eminent Merchant by others Bear-Island from the multitude of Bears found there it lies in the Latitude of seventy four Degrees and is noted for store of Fowl Foxes like Dogs and upon the Coasts great store of Whales Sea-Horses and Morses It is also said to be furnish'd with Lead-Mines and Pits of Sea-Coal Situation and first Discovery of Iseland Iseland so call'd from the continual Ice which is upon it is a craggy mountainous Countrey and not onely the Hills but a great part of the Low-land cover'd with perpetual Snow It is of a Form somewhat oblong lying between the fifty fourth and fifty ninth Degree of Northern Latitude having Norway on the East the Orcades and Scotland on the South Grenland on the West and the Hyperborean or frozen Sea on the North. It is by Olaus Magnus suppos'd to be twice as big as Sicily that is to say about a hundred Leagues in length It is the most known and most througly discover'd of all the Countreys of the Artick Region and is said to have been first found out and peopled in the Year of our Lord 900. by certain of the Nobility of East-Frisia in the Countrey of Breme in the time of Alebrand Bishop of that Countrey but whether or no utterly unpeopled till that time is a Question not easie to be determin'd though in all probability so obvious a Place to be found out could not lie so long totally uninhabited Not long after several Colonies of Norwegians Setled themselves some in Hitland some in Ferow others following the Example of these Bremers in Iseland The Countrey is full of Rocks and Stones and as is credibly reported not a cultivated Field or Garden in the whole Island and by consequence no sort of Corn yet the People living without either Bread or Salt are very strong and of a good Complexion Neither is there a Tree to be seen except the Birch which likewise grows but in one place and exceeds not the heighth of a Man by reason of the violence of the Winds yet there is said to be great plenty of Butter the Grass being so fat that the Oxen are not suffer'd to stay long at a time in the Pastures for fear of bursting Till of late there was neither Town nor any thing that could be call'd a Village in the whole Island but stragling Cottages here and there not above three or four together in a place most by the Sea side for the convenience of Fishing they were built pretty deep in the Ground but artificially fram'd of Whales Bones with Seats Benches and other Utensils of the same now sometimes they use Fir to the same purpose which is cast upon the Coast by the force of the Sea from Tartary or elsewhere For want of Vessels they lay their Butter in Heaps in the Corners of their Houses like Mortar In the Winter wanting Fodder they feed their Cattel with Fish Besides these Cattel which are Kine without Horns Horses onely fit for carrying of Burthens and very large Sheep there are store of white Foxes and huge Bears of the same colour and a sort of rough Dogs very well known and frequent amongst us by the Name of Shocks which the Islanders esteem not a little and will part with their Children at a far easier rate They keep neither Hogs nor Poultrey for want of Grain to feed them Many Rivers in Iseland The Rivers belonging to this Island are many and those not unpleasant affording to the Inhabitants plenty of Fish especially Sturgeon Trouts and Salmons and one is especially remarkable for a Bridge made over it which being the onely Bridge of the Countrey is made of the great Bones of a Whale The whole Island is one continu'd Desart without any trodden Path or Road from one end to the other so that all that have occasion to travel to any part thereof by Land make use of the Compass as if they were Voyaging by Sea Strange Fish on the Coast of Iseland The Coast of Iseland hath many strange and monstrous Fish worth observation as first the Orca which though nothing near so big as the Whale yet is able to be the death of it for being of the shape of a Ship turn'd upside-down and having sharp long Fins on its Back it pricks the Belly of the Whale therewith till it kills The next is the Hackfall which is very fat and about twelve Inches long Then the Dog-Fish which lifting up its Head out of the Sea Barks and letting forth its young ones receives them into her Belly again when they have sported a while in the Sea Lastly another Monster of a most frightful shape mention'd by Olaus Magnus but not by any particular Name Strange Fountains In divers parts of the Island are Fountains of scalding Water which as soon as taken from the Fountain begins to cool and when cold hath a sulphury Substance swimming on the top At the West end is a smoaky Fountain very cold and turning all that is cast into it into Stone At the place upon the Sea call'd Turlocks Haven are two Fountains of different quality the one hot the other cold which by Pipes being brought together into one place make a Bath of an excellent temperature and of a medicinal Vertue Not far from Haven Halneford is a Cliff in a Rock of an unknown depth and no Water to be discern'd by those that look down into it but if a Stone be cast in it shall make a noise for half an hour together as if it were striking against a Brazen Vessel and all this while the Water will be rising till it comes up to the brim and then will be so long sinking again as the Stone was falling Mountains of Iseland There are also three Mountains in Iseland not to be left unmention'd the Mountain of the Cross the Moutain Snenelstockel
these Countreys onely give Animation and comfortable Enjoyment to all Living Creatures Moreover St. Austin in some places seems to clear his own Doubts saying That People if they could find a means to Sail those Vast and Undiscover'd Seas might make Land raising new Stars under another Sky How beasts came on remote Islands A Learned Father searching after the Original of all sorts of Beasts which multiply by Generation concludes That they must derive themselves from those that were sav'd with Noah in the Ark. But how came they to the Isles To those adjacent and near the Main Land they might easily Swim to the remoter they were Transported And chiefly the wild But this Doubt is not altogether clear'd for the Domestick and other Creatures fit for Humane use and Sustenance were thus brought thither Yet how comes it to pass that Voracious and Wild Creatures are also found there such as Wolves Tigers Lions and other Beasts of Prey This puzzle putting St. Austin to a stand he had no other means to get off but by saying that by God's Commands or Permission the Angels convey'd them thither If so why might not God please to Plant Men there in like manner and the rather the Earth being created for Humane use Austin is contradicted But what needed this when Men can in Ships Transport themselves either of their own accord for curious Inquest to find new Countreys or else enforc'd by stress of Weather to far remoter and altogether unknown Lands How men came to new Countreys Besides though the Earth is here and there divided by large Bays and vast Seas yet nevertheless in other places it is all continu'd Land or at least parted by some narrow In-let or Sea so that there was no difficulty for a crouded Plantation to go over and so ease themselves in another Countrey till then not Inhabited therefore none need to question but that from Adam or nearer from Noah's three Sons Sem Ham and Japhet those as well as we were extracted that Inhabit this our other World Reasons why America was so long unknown But one question is to be observ'd How first after the expiration of so many Ages in these our later times a New-World was discover'd altogether unknown to the Antients when they in the greatness of their Parts and Undertaking Prowess and Prudence were no ways inferior to the Modern and every way as fit for great Designs and grand Exploits Who first sail'd on the Ocean We need not scruple or make the least doubt but the Sea hath been Navigated of old but the first attempters set forth unexperienc'd Several opinions of the Antients concerning it in as pittiful and ill-contriv'd Vessels The Heathens ascribe the Art of Navigation first to the Cretans who under the Conduct of Neptune set forth a Navy to explore Foraign Countries But Pliny long before gives the Invention of this Art to Erythra King of Egypt who upon Pieces of Timber conjoyn'd and brac'd together crept along the Shores and ventur'd to Discover the Isles in the Red-Sea But others give that honor to the Trojans and Micians when with a Fleet by Sea they Invaded Thrace Others Brittains amongst the first Inventors of Navigation to the Brittains who made little Vessels of Leather and were the first that by this Invention found how to Float upon the Waters Some plead that the Samothracians were first Others that Danaeus before all found a way by Sea from Egypt to Greece But without all Contradiction Noah's Ark was the Pattern or Sample that succeeding Ages imitating built their Ships by and the more probable because his Offspring multiplying so fast that they were enforc'd to inlarge their Colonies by passing Seas and other broad Rivers to settle their Super-numeraries there The first Inventers of several things belonging to Shipping So Jason Invented a Ship which he call'd Argos which Sesostris King of Egypt took as his Pattern Next the Biremis a Galley with double Banks of Oar was made by the Erythreans with treble Banks by the Corinthian Amocles the addition of the Quadruple the Carthaginians boast of the Quinqueremis Nesichthon Alexander the Great brought them to twelve Banks Ptolomy Soter to fifteen Demetrius Antigonus Son doubled them to thirty Ptolomy Philadelphus to forty and last of all Philopater rais'd them to fifty Banks of Oars Hippus a Tirian was the first that set Ships upon the Stocks the Rhodians a Ketch and the Batavians a Boat the Copes made the first Oar Dedalus the Mast and Boltsprit Piscus the Beak the Tyrrheans the Anchor Tiphys the Rudder taking example from the motion of a Kites Stern Icarus found Sails fancy'd by the Poets for Wings though some ascribe that honor to his Father Dedalus Why in former Ages no remote Countreys were discover'd Minos was the first that Ingag'd in a Sea-Fight whereby we may easily conjecture that of old none adventur'd far into the Offin or to remote Countreys not daring to trust their so sleight contriv'd Vessels But these later times have strangely and suddenly improv'd this growing Art of Navigation yet pitch'd not to that height at first as boldly to adventure and loose sight of Land The manner of the Antients Sailing The Tyrians first understood how to Steer their Course by the North-Star and when dark and foul Weather had Clouded the Sky that they could neither see Heaven or Earth but onely Sea they directed their Course by the Wind and if they doubted the change thereof they let some Birds flie whom they follow'd supposing that they flood directly to the nearest Land But these are but poor helps and blind Guides to shew you Land from the middle of the boundless Ocean It is certain Of the Romans that the Romans in the time of Julius Caesar and Augustus stretch'd the Bounds of that Empire Eastward to Euphrates Why America was so lately known the Rhyne and the Danube and Westward to the Ocean and Mount Atlas Sailing up and down the Mediterranean with great Fleets which stoutly endur'd the violence both of Waves and Weather but all this made them not so hardy as once to think or look after new Worlds But after the Roman power decreas'd by several Eruptions of the Goths Vandals Huns Normans Lumbards and other Northern Countreys which swarm'd with People that overflow'd all places like a Deluge so that Europe was every where puzzel'd and Imbroyl'd their whole business consisting in conjoyning Forces to withstand such bold Invaders and so vexatious an Enemy And farther East Asia was at the same time little better still trembling at the daily Alarms and Incursions of the Scythians Persians and Saracens and afterwards the Turks growing upon them more than any of the former expected no other than a sad Gatastrophe so that the known World had too much work cut out for them by these Distractions and Alterations of Government then to go in Quest of uncertainties to find they
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
Pottage by its proper Name And Edom setling himself on Mount Seir a part of the Stony Arabia Phenicians deriv'd from Esau and on the Coast of the Red-Sea gave denomination to it because that Sea was much frequented and Navigated by his Successors The Greeks call it Erythreum from Erythros who is the same with Esau and likewise signifies Red. Hereto is added That Phaeix and Erythros have the same signification in the Greek So then these Idumeans taking the name of Phenicians from the great Phaenix spread themselves far and near under mighty Kings by Navigation in the Red-Sea and from thence Planted several Coasts and Islands removing at last to Syria The seventh King of Edom Moses reckoneth to be Baal-hanan which name Gen 36 3â— by transposing the Syllables the famous Carthaginian General Hannibal bare Moreover it may easily be demonstrated that the Phenicians Extracted from Heber have formerly spoke Hebrew and since Arabick for they dwelt before their removing in the Stony Arabia St. Jerom saith Com. in Jâ—â—â— the Punick Tongue agrees for the most part with the Hebrew And St. Austin tells us that many nay In Ps â—30 l. â— c. 3 Punick Tongue Hebrew most of the Carthaginian words are Hebrew Elisa Dido the first Foundress of Carthage proves this for Elisa or Elissah with the Hebrews denotes A Lamb of my God and Dido A Lover But who can find the least likeness between the Hebrew or Arabick Tongue with the Americans Lastly Since the Phenicians acknowledge Esau for a Father what then concerns the Americans the curse of Canaan since they are no more Extracted from Canaan than the Phenicians Thus much concerning the Phenicians If the Americans were deriv'd from thâ— â—ews or the ten Tribes of Israel Some would derive the Americans from the Jews others from the ten Tribes of Israel carry'd into captivity The ground of which Opinions is That the Jews and Israelites were scatter'd amongst all Nations therefore they conclude that America was also Peopled by them the rather because the antient Jews and Americans were of one Complexion and went a like Habited both going without Shooes onely wearing Sandals and an upper Coat over a shorter Linnen Vest Both are humble quick of apprehension and obliging yet Valiant But it is certain they cannot be like the Jews Is contradicted because the Americans change their Habit according as they live in cold or hot Countreys and go not in the least like one another Father Immanuel relates That he saw a Brasilian not onely stoutly make his party good against three Portugal Soldiers but had it not been by meer chance worsted them Lastly What Ceremonies of Religious Rites are observ'd by the Americans which are used in Judaism The Jews indeed have transplanted their Circumcision amongst divers Eastern People and have they onely forgot the first Ceremony and signal Badge of their Religion in America which yet not onely they but those Mahumetans and other Sectaries punctually observe This makes evident their scatterings about the Face of the Earth but will not bring them to reach America Jews distribution The Sacred Text sets forth a two-fold description of the Jews The one before the Birth of our Saviour when they liv'd as strangers in Pontus 1. Pet. 1.1 Scaliger in Notes ad N. T. Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bythinia Jerusalem was their Metropolis although others had their chief residence in Babylon and Alexandria for there was an Asiatick and a European dispersion those of Asia had Babylon for their chief City and us'd in their Synagogues the Chaldean Translation of the Bible The Europeans kept their Seat at Alexandria where they had a Temple like that of Jerusalem and whilst they employ'd themselves in the Greek Version of the Holy Scripture by the seventy two Interpreters under Ptolomeus Philadelphus Joh. 7.35 they were call'd Wandering Greeks Therefore certainly the Americans are not deriv'd from these Jews and with as little reason from those which by Titus Vespasian after the destruction of Jerusalem were driven into several Countreys for they were never permitted that I may borrow the words of St. Cyprian to set forward one step L. de Idolo vanitate though but as Pilgrims towards their Native Countrey but strictly forbidden not to assemble or meet together in any considerable number which would have been necessary if they intended to Plant a new World A small seeming Testimony is added being taken out of the fourth Book of Esdras 2 Reg. 17.6 that the ten Tribes of Israel that were carry'd away by Salmanassar with their King Hosea to Nahalah Habor the River Gozan and the Cities of the Medes might be acknowledged for the first Planters of America Concerning which 4 Esd 13.40 41 42 43 44 45 46. Esdras saith thus The ten Tribes brought over into another Countrey consulted that they should forsake the multitude of the Heathens and travel to a remoter Countrey where no Generation of Mankind had ever liv'd before there they would maintain their Laws which they had not observ'd in their Countrey Whereupon they went thither thorow the narrow entrances of the River Euphrates for the Almighty stopt the Vains of the River till they were past over for thorow the Countrey was a way of a year and halfs Journey wherefore that Tract of Land is call'd Assareth then they liv'd there till the last time But since these Books of Esdras were not Written by a Prophet either in the Hebrew Tongue or allow'd by the Jews to be the Word of God or any where taken notice of in the New Testament wherefore then is Assareth more America than any other remoter Countrey L. 5. in Ezek. l. 6. in Jerom. St. Hierom who certainly had a peculiar knowledge of the condition of the ten Tribes of Israel because he liv'd in Asia and held Correspondence with the Jews that he might perfectly learn the Hebrew Tongue relates That the ten Tribes St. Hierome liv'd about the Year four hundred under the Emperor Theodosius underwent great slavery in the Cities of Medes and Persians so that this strange Voyage to Assareth which must have happen'd long before St. Hierom's time may be Recorded amongst the other Legends of the Rabbies concerning their Behemoth and Leviathan who lock'd up the Souls of those that sleighted their Laws 4 Esd 6.49 50. 14.21 4.41 in Caves under ground as Esdras Antient condition of the Persians And how little opportunity the Israelites had to remove since his time may appear by the horrible Destruction that was made for several Ages together in Persia and Media for although the Persians became Masters again of the Realm Conquer'd by Alexander the Great whilst Alexander's Successors invaded one another yet they were continually in War either against the Romans or else the Indians and other Eastern People nay the Saracens wrested the Scepter out of their hand though but for a small time for
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
he compares the Mexican Peke with the Dutck Beke for though many Mexican Places Mountains and Rivers terminate in Peke yet it signifies not a Brook or Rivulet for that they call Atlauhtli John de Laet tells also De Orig. Gentium Americ That with great diligence he found a Mexican Dictionary Printed by the Spaniards in Mexico to find if there were any words in it which agreed with any of those European Languages that he understood but found not one It is the same case with the Customs and Constitutions between the Norwegians and Northern Americans for what concerns Hunting how many People have formerly liv'd by it The antient Germans and to this day the Tartars make it their whole business excelling in that Art all other Nations Besides that the more serious sort of the Mexicans many Ages since scorn'd to derive themselves from a Hunting Ancestry but affirm that they found the Chichimecen in those Countreys who were great Venators The accounting of Time by the Nights extracted from the Hebrews is observ'd by divers Eastern People and although the Germans dipt and wash'd their Children in cold Rivers or Brooks so soon as they were born yet the Mexicans never did it but the Mother lays the Child on the fourth day after its Birth in an open place of the House in the middle whereof stands a Pot full of Water cover'd with Broom in which they wash the Infant Neither are the Americans so much addicted to the Vice of Gaming as other Nations Customs of the Americans so that Grotius taxeth them too severely as to that point as on the contrary he too much clears them of Polygamy whereas the Mexicans Marry as many Wives as they please or are able to maintain Father Martyn Perez relates the same of the Cinaloans and other Americans as also Quarterius of the Natives in Nova Francia which lie nearest to Norway And what need the Americans have the Germans their Teachers to make Dams and Banks against Floods since Nature and Necessity it self instructs it and where are any People so ignorant as to ascribe the same event to Men and Beasts after death 'T is true their manner of eating in America is several because the People do not much converse together but they did not go naked Their Clothing for the Spaniards found them not onely neatly Habited but had a proper Name for every thing they wore The Virginians us'd long Shirts the Floridans Skins of wild Beasts and towards the North they cover'd themselves from Head to Foot in hairy and undress'd Hydes The sacrificing of Men was in former Ages spreading far and near over the World and how far it was practis'd here hath been already declar'd at large Lastly all the Americans are not guilty of eating of Man's-flesh but that salvageness is confin'd to the Southern America Thus much we have said to prove that the Norwegians had no hand in planting the Northern America we shall now proceed to enquire who planted the Southern Parts from the Straights between Panama and Nombre de Dios to the Straights of Magellan The Peruvians possessing a large Tract of Land along the Coast of the South-Sea Grotius would thus derive from China The Peruvians being of a subtile Wit and quick of Apprehension argue sufficiently that they are not extracted from the more Northern Americans but rather from the Chineses which the several Wrecks of Chinese Ships found on these Coasts sufficiently evidence and no wonder if curiosity or accident brought the Chineses expert Navigators to this Countrey separated onely by one Sea from them To this we may add their Rites of Religion for both worship the Sun and call their King the Son of the Sun they write no Letters but make Characters downwards Relation of Mancocapacus Mancocapacus was a Chinese of strange Policy who being inform'd that his Countrey-men inhabited fruitful Countreys on the other side of the South-Sea but without Laws or Government Sail'd over thither and gather'd the scatter'd Multitudes in a Body and establish'd an hereditary Kingdom after the Chinese manner to him and his Successors The Americans are not extracted from China To which John de Laet answers thus Though the Peruvians exceed the other Americans in Policy and at the arrival of the Spaniards liv'd in a handsom Order of Government yet they can no ways be compar'd to the sharp-witted and noble-spirited Chineses nay there are in no Place of Peru found such Artificers as those of China that bear the praise of all the World no where such manner of Buildings or Cities nor the least likeness of the Chinese Curiosities As concerning the Wrecks found in Peru I find no credible Author that gives an account thereof for certainly the Chineses could much easier and a nearer way have come through the Atlantick Sea to the Coasts of America lying to the East of Peru than steer along the vast and much greater South Sea and endure the horrible Storms and vast Waves which the European Ships are scarce able to endure much less the Chinese Vessels which are not so good The Spaniards which Sail yearly from Acupulco to the Philippines sensible of the great danger which they endure chiefly by the great gusts of Wind near California Besides the Peruvians before the the arrival of the Spaniards were utterly ignorant of great Ships and the use of Sails How could they at once have forgotten that Art which they brought with them thither Moreover it is easier to Sail from Peru to China than from China to Peru because the Winds under the Equinoctial Line commonly blow Easterly And it is the greater wonder that the Chinese Jonks accidentally by Storm should be driven to Peru because they were never stor'd with Provisions but for a short Voyage whereas this ask'd nine Moneths But if any one will suppose that they purposely directed their Course thither how came the Chineses to Sail just to Peru and not to New Spain which is much closer to China why were there no Merchandises of the Chineses found in Peru since they went thither for Trade how came they to neglect that Navigation they had once found Nor is their Sun-worship which was formerly practis'd in most Parts of the World of any validity to derive them from China But the contrary is most apparent for the Peruvians worship for their chief God Viracocha that is God Almighty or The Creator of all things The Chineses it Consutius an eye-witness may be credited are divided into three Sects of Religion The first follow the Learn'd Trigantius and acknowledge a King of the Heavens which must onely be serv'd as the Chineses sole Governor to which purpose two Temples are built in the Royal Cities Nankin and Pekin one Consecrate to Heaven and the other to the Earth The second Sect hath the name of Sciequia and serve the Idol Omyto The third nam'd Lanzu imploy themselves in Magick and Exorcisms Conjuring up and laying Evi-Spirits whose
Didacus interpreted the Language in some part agreeing with that of Hispaniola to this effect You have to all admiration come to see this Countrey from another World my advice to you is That you hurt none for the Souls of evil-doers go to dark places But on the contrary they shall enjoy the heighth of all Pleasures that are Friends to Peace Columbus reply'd That he came a Scourge for the cruel Cannibals but a Shield to protect the quiet and well-meaning Indians Great disturbance in Hispaniola After this returning to Hispaniola much contrary to his expectation he found all things which he had setled there turn'd topsie-turvy for first the Governors at Isabella jangled and were at private contentions amongst themselves and the Benedictine Monk Boilus and Peter Margarites were return'd to Spain there to make their complaints at Court and besides the Spaniards had dealt very inhumanely with the Natives by their frequent Rapes Thefts and Murders wherefore the Indians not unjustly incens'd destroy'd all the Spaniards they found stragling in any part without the Lines of their Fortification Caunaboa also lay about the Fort St. Thomas and closely besieged Hoieda but receiving intelligence of Columbus's arrival he broke up his Siege and march'd from thence but soon after was taken Prisoner by the Spaniards Mean while upon Design a Plot none of the wisest the Natives of Hispaniola had neither Till'd or Sow'd the Ground or us'd Agriculture the year before contriving by want of Provisions not considering themselves to starve out the Spaniards but the mischief fell upon the Contrivers for so great a Famine hapned that spreading over the whole Countrey in a few Moneths fifty thousand were starv'd to death but the Spaniards made a saving though hard shift with their own store then though too late the Islanders repented of their folly for they saw the Spaniards making an advantage of their misery not onely built more Houses in their City Isabella but prepar'd their Weather-beaten Vessels with which Sailing to the Gold Mountains of Cipangi on the Hill whence sprung several Fountains they rais'd the Castle of the Conception Great benefit they reap'd by this Fort to which they carry'd daily abundance of Amber Brimstone mix'd Ore of Silver and Gold and Brazile-wood besides great store of Gold and they might have gotten ten times more had they not been so much inclin'd to slothfulness and minding other vain pleasures yet notwithstanding all the Fleet carry'd that year above one thousand two hundred pound weight of Gold to Spain Spaniards tyrannise there In the mean while the Natives complain'd to Columbus of the Spanish Soldiers which under pretence to seek for Gold committed many insufferable Outrages therefore they desir'd that they might be retain'd in their Forts and not straggle so much abroad and they would willingly bring them every three Moneths a certain weight of Cotton Amber Brazile-wood and Gold more than equivalent to what they snatch'd but Columbus whose Soldiers notwithstanding his severity and using Martial Law upon some of them for their Crimes and proud with their success yet prevail'd at last that they consented thereto but the Inhabitants never perform'd their promise who being almost famish'd had much to do to preserve themselves alive spending their time in picking Sallads Whilst the Business remain'd in this ill posture or rather confusion Cibanus Their Conquest Brother to the imprison'd Caunaboa rais'd an Army of five thousand Men the Spaniards divided into five Companies march'd to meet him and their Enemies being naked and having no other Arms than Bowes Arrows and Clubs after some little resistance were soon dissipated and put to flight but overtaken by the Spanish Horse many of them were taken Prisoners and others forc'd to skulk and hide themselves on the tops of Mountains ANGRA op TERCERA Columbus Sails the third time to Hispaniola Whilst all things were thus in disorder at Hispaniola the Admiral Christopher Columbus set Sail a third time with eight Ships from the Haven Barrameda in the Year 1498. To shun the French Pyrates which watched for the Indian Treasures he directed his Course to Madera a fruitful Island of Corn Wine Sugar Wax and Cattel desolate till Anno 1420. Here coming to an Anchor he sent six Ships away to Hispaniola which himself afterwards followed with the remaining two steering by the Flemish Islands or Acores first so call'd from the Flemings the first Planters Here he dropt Anchor before the City Angra on the Isle Tercera which is sixteen Leagues in circumference Description of the City Angra and very Mountainous the tops whereof are like Spires and abound with Grapes the Plain Countrey produces great store of Corn but it will not keep above twelve Moneths The Ground is oftentimes terribly shaken by Earthquakes and between several sulphurous Places both Flames and Smoak ascend up to the Sky Near the City Angra is a Fountain which turns Wood into Stone The Winds in this Place blow so fierce and strong that they not onely beat down Houses but wear out Iron and all manner of Stone-work In Angra the chief Commander of all the Flemish Isles hath his Residence The City surrounded by steep Rocks lies towards the Sea like a Crescent or Half-Moon for at both ends thereof the Mountains extend with deep Points into the Ocean The uppermost part towards the West stands likewise fortifi'd by a high Rock as also by another on the East on both are continual Watches kept whereof those on the first can discover Ships fifteen Leagues off at Sea coming either from the East or West-Indies and on the other all those that come from Europe When they see above fifteen Sail they put out the Kings great Flag upon the top of all the Rock This City of Angra is divided into several Streets the Governor and Archbishop live each in a stately Palace five handsom Churches are no small ornament to it the Sea before it abounds with Fish but are not to be taken in December by reason of the turbulent Waves Christopher Columbus having refresh'd at Angra Sail'd along the African Coast between the Hesperides under the Equinoctial he was so miserably tormented by the Heat that his Vessels seem'd to burn the Hoops sprung from the Casks so that the Water run about the Hold and they could expect nothing but death from the insufferable Heat and want of Water eight days they had endur'd this hardship when they met with a fresh Gale out of the South-East so that they made great Way towards the West On the last of July he discover'd three high Mountains and approaching near the Shore he smelt as in a Posie all the sweet breathings of fragrant Flowers commix'd and at last saw a convenient Haven where going ashore he found cultivated Grounds and steps of Beasts but not a Man appear'd the next day they spy'd a Boat with twenty young Men come rowing from the Shore into the Ocean The Admiral hal'd them in
aptness for Cultivation or Tillage that is because by the painful Hand of the Labourer or Husband-man it may be rendred so fertile as to yield all sorts of Grain and Fruits haply in allusion to that fruitful Countrey of Campania in Italy vulgarly known by the Name of Terradi Lavoro As for the Appellation of Terra Corterealis it need not be question'd but that it derives it self from Gaspar Corterealis a Portuguese Gentleman who about the Year of our Lord 1500. is thought by some to have made the first discovery of these Parts though Sir Sebastian Cabot a Venetian is more generally believ'd to have been the Man that under the favour and countenance of Henry the Seventh King of England first discover'd them at least the adjoyning Island Terra Nova or New-found Land but just onely discover'd being hinder'd the farther prosecution of that Design by the important Affairs in which the said King was about that time involv'd neither did Corterealis whether he was the first or came after do any more for returning within a year after his first setting out he was never heard of nor as Osorius a Portuguese Historian writes any of his Company being all suppos'd to have been drown'd by Shipwrack and in like manner Michael Corterealis who the year following set forth with two Ships in quest of his Brother Gaspar Upon which series of Misfortunes the Portuguese being wholly discourag'd and giving over this Design the French of Armorica or Bretany succeed them in it with somewhat better success about the Year 1504. whereupon it came to be term'd Nova Britannia or New Britain The ancient Inhabitants of this place were formerly of a Nature like the generality of the American People somewhat bruitish and salvage but by long conversation with the French are said to have cast off their original wildness and become more civilly manner'd they are very jealous of their Wives by report much addicted to Soothsaying though otherwise having little of Religion or of any other kind of Learning they dwell for the most part in Caves under Ground feed chiefly upon Fish and are accounted most expert Archers Whatever places the French have built here besides those of chiefest note are St. Maries Cabo Marzo and Brest SECT IV. Canada or New France CAnada as it is taken for one and the same Province with New France contains New France properly so call'd Nova Scotia Norumbega and some adjoyning Islands as the Canada of Cluverius lying more North-Westerly comprehends as we have already intimated Estotiland Laboratoris and Corterealis and according to the most modern Division for that of Cluverius neither consents with the latest Authors nor agrees with exact Survey it being nam'd Canada in respect the River Canada runs through it hath on the North Terra Corterealis on the South New England and on the East the Ocean and hath between forty five and fifty two or fifty three Degrees of Northern Latitude Situation The River Canada is judg'd to be the largest of all the Rivers of America as those Rivers generally the largest of all in the World besides it rises in the Western parts of this Province which remain yet undiscover'd and in some places spreads it self into huge Lakes some of them a hundred Miles in compass with many little Islands dispersed up and down in them and so running from the West about a hundred Leagues falls at last into the North part of St. Lawrence Bay being that wide Emboucheure of thirty five Miles breadth already mention'd This River is extraordinary full of Fish among which there is one sort more remarkable than the rest call'd by the Inhabitants Cadhothuis having Heads resembling the Heads of Hares and Bodies as white as Snow they are taken for the most part before the Isle de Lievres The Countrey on both sides of the River is pleasant and indifferently fertile especially towards the South-West where upwards from the River the Ground rises into many little Hills invested most of them with Vines with which and several other sorts of Trees this Countrey abounds being well water'd with a great many lesser Streams all of them falling into the River Canada That this Countrey is term'd New France First discovery from having been discover'd by the French at least more fully than before there needs no question to be made but whether Joannes Verrazanus under Francis the First of France or Sebastian Cabot before spoken of were the first in this Discovery may admit of some dispute the Cabots indeed for John the Father is by some mention'd to have accompanied his Son who by all are own'd the first Discoverers of New-found-Land and Terra de Baccalaos are also commonly reputed to have first found out the Province of New France together with some parts adjacent though perhaps it might be upon this Ground that Terra de Nova or New-found-Land not being known at first to be an Island New France and that might be taken for one continu'd Province and it appears so much the more probable because Canada or Nova Francia is by some call'd Terra Nova however it be or whoever were the first Adventurers Quarteri and Champlain are the two French-men that have gain'd so much fame by making a more ample and particular search into these parts that this Province may seem from thence to have sufficient claim to the Title of New France whereof that part more especially so call'd lies on the North-side of the River Canada and Southward to Terra Corterealis The Winter is here very long and so much the more severe by reason of a cold North-West Wind which blows most part of the Winter Season and brings with it so thick a Snow that it continues upon the Ground most commonly till after May. The Countrey is for the most part wooddy but in the Champain parts thereof very fruitful of Corn and all sorts of Grain especially Pulse It hath also Fish Fowl wild Deer Bears Marterns and Foxes in abundance and of Hares such plenty that one of the little Islands belonging to this Province is by the French nam'd L' Isle des Lievres or The Island of Hares But the most peculiar Commodity belonging to this Countrey is the Esurgnuy a kind of Shell-Fish extraordinary white and approv'd of singular vertue for the stanching of Blood to which purpose they make Bracelets of them not onely for their own use but also to vend them to others but John de Laet and others have observ'd no other than a superstitious use of them amongst the Salvages in their Funeral Rites for the Dead the manner of their taking it is very remarkable for when any one is condemn'd to die or taken Prisoner they cut off all his fleshy parts in long slices and then throw him into the River where they let him lie twelve hours and at last pulling him out again find his Wounds full of Esurgnui Quadus and Maginus make mention of three ancient Towns namely
Canada denominated as the Province from the River Hochelai and Hochchelaga giving Name to a Territory about it which Geographers either take no notice of or make some question of the being of such Towns however a late Describer of the West-Indies not mentioning the other two gives this description of the last viz. Hocbchelaga This City saith he said to be the Seat and Residence of a King of this Country whom the Natives at least some of them acknowledge and reverence carrying him sometimes in great pomp upon their Shoulders sitting upon a Carpet of Beasts Skins is situate far within Land at a distance of six or seven Leagues from the River Canada and is a kind of fortifi'd place encompass'd about with a threefold Range of Timber Ramparts one within another of about two Rods high from the Ground with cross Planks or pieces of Timber jutting out on purpose to hinder an Enemy's Scaling or getting up towards the top there is as it were a Scaffold or Gallery fram'd from whence they may throw down Stones of which there is always good store ready or what else to annoy the Assailants It hath one onely Gate for Entrance and that likewise well fortifi'd after their manner There are guess'd to be in it fifty or sixty great Houses built as the maner of the Americans that live in Houses usually is in a square Figure each side being about fifty Foot long or more and sixteen or twenty broad but not many Stories high and in the midst of the Court or void space a place to make their Fire and do other necessary work about it Moreover the Territory round about this Town is both rich in Soil and pleasant in Prospect Besides these three above-mention'd Towns there are several others which are not untaken notice of in the most modern Descriptions and Maps viz. 1. Stadac or Stadacone somewhat Westward of a small Isle call'd The Isle d' Orleance 2. Quebeque which being made a Colony of the French and the Natives expell'd came to be Entituled St. Croix 3. Tadoussac which lies in that part of the Countrey denominated from the River Saguenay and by some call'd at this day Nouvelle Biscaye a delightful place and full of stately Trees and hath likewise a good and safe Haven capable of receiving twenty Ships 4. Trois Rivieris or three Rivers 5. Monreal 6. Sillery 7. Richelieu besides two strong Castles or Forts Franceroy and St. Lewis the First built by Monsieur Robeval at his Landing here about the Year 1540. the other design'd for a Colony in the Year 1611. by Monsieur Champlany but hinder'd by the Invasion of the Iroquois The smaller Rivers that run out of the Gulph of St. Lawrence and the grand River Canada towards the North on which side chiefly lies this Province are 1. Chichesedec 2. St. Margarite 3. Lesquemin 4. Saquenay before-mention'd 5. Montonne and on the South side the River Mary The principal Tribes of the ancient Natives of this Countrey were on the North side of Canada the Canadans the Betisiamites the Hurons the Algoniquins the Quenongebins the Algoingequins the Attagopantans the Atticameques the Nipisiriniens and on the South side the Etechemins and the chief Heads or Princes of these Tribes were call'd Sagamores Jaques Quartier Complementing their King Agouthanna took up his Quarters a whole Winter at St. Croix a Sandy Promontory overflow'd by the River Canada into which falls the Lake de Champlain grown round about with Chestnut Trees in it breeds the strange Fish call'd Chaousarou generally ten Foot long Strange Fish nam'd Chaousaron with Heads like Sharks and two rows of Teeth-in their Mouths their Skins full of strong Scales which are sufficient Shields against Swords and Lances are great devourers of other Fish and Fowls which they take after this manner viz. they swim amongst Reeds or Canes and lie still with their Mouths open whereat the Birds sitting down upon them are immediately swallow'd The Natives of Nova Francia anoint their bodies with Oil in the Summer they go naked and in the Winter mantle themselves in Furs Their Warlike Accoutrements are Darts and Clubs but chiefly great Shields They are revengeful cruel and fraudulent their Women common to all Men from fifteen to twenty after which Marrying they become very Chaste Their Diet is Indian Corn fresh and salt Fish Venison Buffalo's and Beavers flesh wiping their Fingers when greasie on their Heads or their Dogs backs which wait for the Scraps At that season when the Corn covers the ground to any heighth they eat Cockles Dogs dead Caryon and the Skins wherewith they Clothe themselves When they have eaten their fill they tabering on their Bellies cry Tapoue Mikispoun that is Verily I am satisfi'd They give their Sick a speedy Cure either immediately killing them or inhumanely exposing them to the Woods to be devour'd by ravenous Beasts but if they die suddenly they in howling tone pronounce Ove Ove thereby to chase the Souls of the Deceas'd out of their Huts they stick the bodies on Woodden Prongs cover them with Bark and lay their Clothes and Arms by them all what remains of the Funeral Feasts is burnt whereas at other times what e're is brought on their Table they eat though ready to burst They make the first Proofs of their Valour by undergoing a most prodigious Torment in this manner Strange proof of Valor Two by consent tie their naked Arms together on which they suffer burning Sulphur to be pour'd till the flesh starts from the bone if either of them shrink or pull back his Arm he is accounted by them ever after as an ignominious and base Coward They call God Atahocan and believe that one Messou first drowning the world by a general Deluge restor'd it again after a wonderful manner Wonderful opinion of God viz. Messou hunting with Wolves they scented a Deer which being closely pursu'd leap'd into a neighboring Pool the Wolves following it were drown'd Flood Messou coming thither stood amaz'd at a Bird which inform'd him that the Wolves were pluck'd down and held fast in the bottom by horrible Monsters whereupon he diving the Pool immediately began to swell and at last the whole surface of the Earth to be overflow'd Messou afterwards let a Raven flie to fetch a Clod of Earth but in vain for all the Land lay drown'd in Water at last a Rat diving to the bottom brought a lump of Earth out of which Messou restor'd the World shot Arrows into Trees which became fruitful Branches Here also reside an innumerable many Sorcerers Sorcerers call'd Pillotoa's which sometimes being possess'd with a Frenzy scourge themselves in a terrible manner insomuch that the Blood runs down by their sides These People are held in great esteem for they boast themselves to have their Original from Heaven upon this occasion They boast their Extract from Heaven Their strange Relation concerning it viz. Ataensic a certain great Queen or Goddess residing above
but also of this Coast of Nova Francia not taking notice it seems of Sebastian Cabot under Henry the Seventh The chief places of Note in this Countrey are 1. Port Royal a Colony of French said to have been Planted there by Monsieur de Montz in 1604. by report capable of receiving a thousand Ships and in 1613. the French being driven out by Sir Samuel Argal Governor of Virginia who took Prisoners Biard and Masse and demolish'd the Fort at Port Royal given by Patent as aforemention'd to Sir William Alexander afterwards by him sold again to the French then in the time of Oliver Cromwel re-taken by Major Sedgwick lastly re-possess'd by the French 2. St. Luke's Bay or Portua Mouton 3. Gaspe or Gachepe 4. The Haven of Passepay 5. The Bay de Toutes Isles 6. The Fort de la Heve 7. The Cape of Sable Within the Southern Point Forchu lies the Isle Longu which boasts of a Silver Mine The most noted People of the ancient Inhabitants of Accadie were the Iroquois lying most South-Westerly upon the Sea Coast who us'd to drive a great Trade in Beavers and other Commodities Westerly before the River Chovacoet lies Bacchus Isle full of Vineyards Remarkable manner of living The Inhabitants thereof differ very much from other Salvages for they shave all the Hair from the Crown of their Head wear long Locks behind pleited together and stuck full of Feathers Paint their Faces black and red go arm'd with Clubs Bows Pikes and Arrows pointed with Fish-bones They Till their Ground very handsomly and divide their Fields with Hedges they Plant Tobâ—cco Vines Cabbages Maiz and divers Colour'd Beans the stalks of the Maiz serve in stead of Poles for their Beans to run up upon Beyond Cape de Rocher lies the brave Harbor Beauport which is secur'd from all Winds by an Isle which lies in the midst of it The Countrey Manur'd in most places and Fruitful feeds store of Men and Cattel The Haven of Malabar is surrounded in a manner with little Huts cover'd with Mats which in the Middle of the Room have a hole for the Smoke to go out at The Southern shore is Sandy and very dangerous For the more full exemplification of what concerns this part of Nova Francia we shall conclude with an account of all Material Passages relating to the French from their own Narrations as followeth THe first discoverer of this Coast was Jaques Quartier Quartier's Expedition sent out Anno 1534. by the French King Francis the First in which Expedition he spent five Months and going from thence to St. Male discover'd the Inlet Lawrence Terreneuf and Natiscotec The following year prosecuting his Voyage he Sail'd into the great River Canada and Winter'd near St. Croix Scurvy when known where he lost divers of his Men by the Scurvy a Distemper till that time altogether unknown and such was his condition that none of his Men had escap'd with life had not the Inhabitants taught him to cure the same with the Bark and Leaves of the Tree Annedda with which many recovering Quartier Weigh'd Anchor and treacherously carry'd the King Donnacona with many of his Nobles Prisoners to France but most of them dying Quartier brought only a few of them back with him in his third Voyage six years after the first when arriving in the Haven St. Croix he cast up a strong Fort which he nam'd Charlesbourg Royal where he staid a whole Winter Joan de la Roque whom the French King had made Governor of Quartier's new-discover'd Countries Sailing thither with three Ships met with Quartier's Fleet near Terreneuf from whence he was then going home because he saw no hopes of subduing the Salvages with so small a Force as he had brought with him from France Exploit of de la Roque But de la Roque endeavoring to make a further discovery of Canada Sail'd up the River Saguenay where spending both time and Money he was Commanded home by the French King and the fruitless Expeditions lay dead till about 1604. Of de Monts When Peter de Monts obtaining Letters Patents to Trade for Furs in the foremention'd Countries Sail'd with two Ships beyond Accadie up St. Lawrence Bay where he Landed on the Isle St. Croix where of ninety seven Men with which he staid there a whole Winter he lost thirty five but having fresh Supplies sent him from France he remov'd to Port Royal where leaving forty Men he return'd home these forty being reduc'd to twenty three and in great want walking along the Sea-shore in a despairing condition espy'd a Ship coming up with full Sail which upon nearer approach prov'd a French Vessel Of Poutrincourt of which Poutrincourt was Commander who receiving his wretched Countrey-men with great joy took them with him to Port Royal being sent thither on purpose to settle a Plantation in Accadie Mean while the Letters Patent granted to Monts being call'd in the first Planters in Port Royal were forc'd to desert the same and return home and also Poutrincourt returning came back again three years after to Port Royal where finding the Houses standing as he had left them he Manur'd the Countrey all about and endeavoring to Plant Christianity among the Natives Christen'd among others an Accadian Lord who was above a hundred years old all which Poutrincourt Sailing back to France related at the Court. Remarkable Transactions of some Jesuits The Jesuits being also inform'd thereof obtain'd leave of the Queen to send Peter Biard and Euemond Masse thither on pretence that Henry the Fourth had himself promis'd them the same Priviledge in his Life time But the Merchants at Diep which were concern'd in the new Plantations with Poutrincourt opposing the going over of the foremention'd Jesuits express'd themselves very violent against them and laid to their charge the Blood of the late King which they said was yet reaking in Paris What assurance alleadg'd they had their Goods which were in the Custody of Men inclin'd to the Spaniards Must the Christian Religion be promulgated There are so many Orders of Monks which may easily produce two Men but if the Queen was resolv'd to send Jesuits thither they desir'd restauration of the Monies which they had disburs'd To which Biard and Masse harkening gather'd up the demanded Monies under pretence of being requir'd towards the Preaching of the Christian Religion amongst these remote Heathens by this means getting great Sums they bought out the foremention'd Merchants so that the new Plantations fell half to the Jesuits who setting Sail and arriving at Port Royal turn'd all things topsiturvy and so thwarted Poutrincourt in his designs that he was forc'd to complain to the French Court of the Jesuits oppression whose aim it was to get all things into their own Possession whereupon they Excommunicated Poutrincourt's Son who serv'd in his Father's place at Court and gain'd the Duke Guereheville in France to be of their Party by promising him that he should share
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
fresh-Water Fish Of their Arts and Mantifactures Their Arts and Manufactures are divers as first their dressing of all manner of Skins which they do by scraping and rubbing afterwards painting them with antique Embroiderings in unchangeable Colours sometimes they take off the Hair especially if it be not kill'd in season Their Bowes they make of a handsom shape strung commonly with the Sinews of Mooses their Arrows of young Elder feather'd with Feathers of Eagles Wings and Tails headed with Brass in shape of a Heart or Triangle fastned in a slender piece of Wood six or eight Inches long which is fram'd to put loose in the pithy Elder aftewards bound fast for riving Their Arrows are made in this manner because it might shake from his Head and be left behind for their finding and the Pile onely remain to gaul the wounded Beast Their Cordage is so even soft and smooth that it looks more like Silk than Hemp. Their Sturgeon Nets are not deep nor above thirty or forty Foot long which in ebbing low Waters they stake fast to the Ground where they are sure the Sturgeon will come never looking more at it till the next low Water Their Canoos are made either of Pine-trees which before they were acquainted with English Tools they burn'd hollow scraping them smooth with Clam-shells and Oyster-shells cutting their out-sides With Stone Hatchets These Boats are not above a Foot and a half or two Foot wide and twenty Foot long Their other Canoos be made of thin Birch Rinds close Ribb'd and on the in-side with broad thin Hoops like the Hoops of a Tub these are made very light a Man may carry one of them a Mile being made purposely to carry from River to River and from Bay to Bay to shorten Land-passages In these cockling Fly-boats wherein an English-man can scarce sit without a fearful tottering they will venture to Sea when an English Shallop dare not bear a Knot of Sail scudding over the over-grown Waves as fast as a wind-driven Ship being driven by their Paddles being much like Battle-doors if a cross Wave which is seldom turn her Keel up-side down they by swimming free her and scramble into her again Of their Language Their Language is onely peculiar to themselves not inclining to any of the more refined Tongues Some have thought they might be of the dispersed Jews because some of their words are near unto the Hebrew but by the same rule they may conclude them to be some of the gleanings of all Nations because they have words which sound after the Greek Latine French and other Tongues Their Language is hard to learn few of the English being able to speak any of it or capable of the right pronunciation which is the chief grace of their Tongue They pronounce much after the Diphthongs excluding L and R which in our English Tongue they pronounce with as much difficulty as most of the Dutch do T and H calling a Lobster a Nobstann Every Countrey doth something differ in their Speech even as our Northern People do from the Southern and Western from them especially the Tarrentine whose Tongue runs so much upon R that they wharle much in pronunciation When any Ships come near the Shore they demand whether they are King Charles's Torries with such a rumbling sound as if one were beating on an unbrac'd Drum In serious Discourse our Southern Indians use seldom any short Colloquies but speak their minds at large without any interjected Discourses from any the rest giving diligent audience to his utterance which done some or other returns him as long an Answer They love not to speak multa sed multum seldom are their words and their deeds strangers According to the matter of their discourse so are their acting Gestures in their Expressions Of their Deaths Burials and Mourning The Indians are of lusty and healthful Bodies not experimentally knowing those Diseases which are incident to other Countreys as Feavers Pleurisies Calentures Agues Consumptions Convulsions Apoplexies Dropsies Gouts Pox Measles or the like but spin out the thred of their Days to a fair length numbering sixty eighty some a hundred years But when any one lies a dying the doleful cries and throbbing sighs of the Friends and Relations express unspeakable sorrow and when the Party is dead and laid in the Ground they not onely weep and howl for a good space over the Grave but also keep Annual Solemnities of Mourning rubbing their Faces with black Lead all about the Eye-brows and part of their Cheeks yet do they hold the Immortality of the Soul in which their Indian Faith jumps much with the Turkish Alchoran dreaming of a certain Paradise or South-West Elysium wherein they shall everlastingly abide solacing themselves in odoriferous Gardens fruitful Corn-fields green Meadows bathing their tawny Hides in the cool Streams of pleasant Rivers and sheltering themselves from Heat and Cold in the sumptuous Palaces fram'd by Nature concluding that neither care nor pain shall molest them but that Natures bounty will administer all things with a voluntary contribution from the Store-house of their Elysium at the Portal whereof they say lies a great Dog whose churlish snarlings deny admission to unworthy Intruders wherefore it is their custom to bury with them their Bowes and Arrows and good store of their Wampompeage and Mowhacks the one to affright that affronting Cerberus the other to purchase more immense Prerogatives in their Paradise For their Enemies and loose Livers whom they account unworthy of this imaginary Happiness they say that they pass to the infernal Dwellings of Abamocho to be tortur'd according to the Fictions of the ancient Heathen Dispositions Employments Usage by their Husbands Apparel and Modesty of the Women The drudgery of all laborious sorts of Work and the management of all domestick Affairs lies wholly upon the Indian Women who are made meer Slaves by their Husbands they build the Houses sowe and reap the Corn provide Lobsters for their Husbands to bait their Hooks when they go a Fishing for Basse or Cod and for these Lobsters they are many times forc'd to dive in the extreamest Weather then lug home a great weight of them upon their Backs as also all the Fish which their Husbands catch for pleasure from the places where they were caught They dress all the Meat serve it up to their Husbands and waiting till they have fill'd their Bellies are glad of their leavings In Summer they gather Flags of which they make Mats for Houses and Hemp and Rushes with Dying Stuff of which they make curious Baskets with intermixed Colours and Pourtraictures of antique Imagery These Baskets are of all sizes from a Quart to a Quarter in which they carry their Luggage In Winter they are their Husbands Caterers trudging to the Clam-banks for their Belly-timber and their Porters to lug it home They likewise sew their Husbands Shoes and weave Coats of Turky Feathers besides all their ordinary Houshold drudgery
the Seawasting Crooks where it beats upon a moultring Shore yet in some places the Streets are compleat It consisted at first of about sixty Families The sixteenth is in Plymouth Government situate upon the Sea-Coast Dukesbury or Sandwich first nam'd Dukes-bury afterwards Sandwich About the year 1617. a new Supply coming over into these Parts Newhaven and not finding in the Mattachusets Government any commodious place to settle in they after much search took up a place somewhat more Southerly near the Shalle s of Capecod where they found a commodious Harbor for Shipping and a fit place to erect a Town in which they built in a short time with very fair Houses and compleat Streets and shortly after several others Amongst which they erected a new Government which from their first Fronteer Town being the seventeenth was call'd Newhaven The eighteenth is in the Government of the Mattachusets and call'd Dedham Dedham being an Inland Town situate about ten Miles from Boston in the County of Suffolk well water'd with many pleasant Streams and abounding with Gardens and Fruit-Trees It consisted at first of about a hundred Families being generally given to Husbandry The nineteenth being also in this Government is call'd Weymouth Weymouth batter'd on the East with the Sea Waves on the South-West Rocks and Swamps make it delightful to the Deer as the ploughable Meadow-Lands to the Inhabitants About the Year 1638. Printing was brought over into New England About six Miles from Ipswich North-Eastward Rowly was erected another Town call'd Rowly being the twentieth About the Year 1639. began the one and twentieth Town Hampton Hampton in the County of Norfolk to be built It is situate near the Sea-Coast not far from the River of Merrimeck The great store of salt Marsh did entice the People to set down their Habitations there Not far from this Town of Hampton was erected the two and twentieth Salisbury call'd Salisbury seated upon the broad swift Torrent of Merrimeck-River It lieth on the Northern side over against the Town of Newbury the River between them being about half a Mile broad but hath an Island in the midst thereof which makes it the more easily passable The situation of this Town is very pleasant the Skirts thereof abounding in fair and goodly Meadows with good store of stately Timber in many places upon the Uplands Long-Island Southampton About the Year 1640. by a fresh Supply of People that setled in Long-Island was there erected the twenty third Town call'd Southampton by the Indians Agawom The same Year also the Town of Sudbury being the twenty fourth Sudbury began to be built in the Inland Countrey It is furnish'd with great store of fresh Marsh but lying very low it is much endammag'd with Land-floods About this time there was built at Mount Wollestone Braintree by some old Planters and certain Farmers of the great Town of Boston a Town nam'd Braintree being the twenty fifth within the Mattachusets Government It is well peopled and hath great store of Land in Tillage In the Year 1641. Mr. Richard Blindman coming from Green Harbour Gloucester a Place in Plymouth Patent with some few People of his acquaintance setled in Cape Anne where they built the twenty sixth Town and nam'd it Gloucester There is also situate upon Puscataque River to the North-East of Boston Dover a Town call'd Dover being the twenty seventh the People by voluntary resignation being under the Mattachusets Government In the Year 1642. was erected the eight and twentieth Town Wooburn call'd Wooburn In the Year 1644. Reading the nine and twentieth Town was built Reading being in the Government of the Mattachusets it is well water'd and situated about a great Pond having two Mills a Saw-Mill and a Corn-Mill which stand upon two several Streams A little after was built the thirtieth Town in this Colony Wenham call'd Wenham situate between Salem and Ipswich it is very well water'd as most Inland Towns are and the People live altogether on Husbandry About the Year 1645. one Mr. Pinchin having out of desire to improve his Estate by Trading with the Indians setled himself in a place very remote from any of the Towns of the Mattachusets Colony yet under their Government and great store of People still resorting to him they at last erected a Town upon the River Canectico Spring-field calling it Spring-field being the one and thirtieth Town it is very fitly seated for a Beaver Trade with the Indians in regard it is situate upon this large Navigable River and upon some Rivulets of the same In the Year 1648. was founded the Town of Haverhill Haverhill being the two and thirtieth about a Mile or two from the place where the River of Merrimeck receives into it self the River Shawshin which is one of her three chief Heads Not long after Malden the Town of Malden being the three and thirtieth Town was built by certain People that came out of Charles-Town these two Towns being sever'd the one from the other by the large River of Mistick The rest we shall onely name as 34. Berwick alias Chawun 35 Oxford alias Sagoquas Falmouth alias Totam 36. Bristol 37. Hull alias Passataquack 38. Dartmouth alias Bohanna 39. Norwich alias Segocket 40. Taunton alias Cohannet 41. Greens-Harbour 42. Yarmouth 43. Northam alias Pascataqua 44. Exeter 45. Weymouth The chief Rivers of New England are Pascataway Sagadahoc Pemmaquid Agamentico Merrimeck Tachobacco Mistick Narraganset Mishuwin Connectacut Newichwavoch Kynebequy The present state of the Natives The Indian Natives are now become so weak in number and in some measure reduc'd to a dread of the growth of the English that of late years they have not practis'd any thing against them or at least not justifi'd them by numbers in open Hostility willing rather to purchase their Peace and buy off Injuries committed by them at the Price of their Lands and Possessions And although care and expence hath been many years apply'd to the Conversion of Indians to the Faith however inclinable they seem'd at first to the imbracing thereof not then so well discerning the insincerity of its Professors yet there are so few of late who do imbrace it or persevere in it wanting a good Foundation for instruction in Moral Honesty and perhaps the example of it in those that undertake to instruct them in Religion that Christianity to them seems a Chimera Religion a design to draw them from the libidinous Pleasures of a lazy Life however some there are who make Profession of Christianity and some who are educated in the Schools of New Cambridge to entitle them to Preach the Gospel in their own Language One great hindrance to the Propagation of the Faith amongst those Heathens is the diversity of their Languages for it is commonly known that the Natives themselves do not understand one another if their Habitations are but at forty Miles
Battel in revenge of some former Injuries done by the Troquois to the Algovinquins who had the Victory for which cause the French have been so hated ever since by the Nation of the Troquois that none of them durst ever appear in any part of that Lake But their Trade said to be sixteen thousand Beavers yearly is partly sold to the Dutch who Trade with the West-end of the said Lake over Land by Horses from their Plantation upon Hudson's River and another part is conceiv'd to be purchas'd by the Hiroons who being Newters are Friends both to the one and the other and these Hiroons bring down the greatest part of all by the River of Canada The Way over Land to this great Lake from the Plantation of Pascataway hath been attempted by Captain Walter Neale once Governor at the Charges of Sir Ferdinando Gorges Captain Mason and some Merchants of London and the Discovery wanted but one days Journey of finishing because their Victuals was spent which for want of Horses they were enforc'd to carry with their Arms and their Clothes upon their Backs They intended to have made a settlement for Trade by Pinnaces upon the said Lake which they reckon to be about ninety or a hundred Miles from the Plantation over Land The People of the Countrey are given to Hunting of wild Beasts which is their chiefest Food Their Arms are Bowes and Arrows Their Armor is made partly of Wood and partly of a kind of twisted Stuff like Cotton-Wool Their Meat is Flour of Indian Corn of that Countreys growth sodden to Pap which they preserve for times of Necessity when they cannot Hunt This Province of Laconia however known by a distinct Name is included within the Province of Main which offers it self next to our consideration Of the Province of Main All that part of the Continent of New England which was allotted by Patent to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and to his Heirs he thought fit to call by the Name of The Province of Main It takes it beginning at the entrance of Pascatoway Harbor and so passeth up the same into the River of Newichwavoch and through the same unto the farthest Head thereof and from thence North-Westwards for the space of a hundred and twenty Miles and from the Mouth of Pascatoway Harbor aforesaid North-Eastward along the Sea-Coast to Sagadehock and up the River thereof to Kinibequy River even as far as the Head thereof and into the Land North-Westwards for the space of a hundred and twenty Miles To these Territories are also adjoyn'd the North half of the Isles of Sholes together with the Isles of Capawick and Nautican as also all the little Islands lying within five Leagues of the Main all along the Sea-Coast between the aforesaid Rivers of Pascatoway and Sagadehock He no sooner had this Province setled upon him but he gave publick notice That if any one would undertake by himself and his Associates to Transport a competent number of Inhabitants to Plant in any part of his Limits he would assign unto him or them such a proportion of Land as should in reason satisfie them reserving onely to himself some small High-Rent as 2 s. or 2 s. 6 d. for a hundred Acres per Annum and if they went about to build any Town or City he would Endow them with such Liberties and Immunities as should make them capable to Govern themselves within their own Limits according to the Liberties granted to any Town or Corporation within this Realm of England And as for others of the meaner sort who went as Tenants that they should have such quantities of Land assign'd them as they were able to manage at the Rate of 4 d. or 6 d. an Acre according to the nature or situation of the Place they settle in And for the Division of the Province and the Form of Government which he intended to Establish he first divided the Province into several Parts and those again he subdivided into distinct Regiments as East West North and South those again into several Hundreds Parishes and Tythings and these to have their several Officers to Govern according to such Laws as should be agreed upon by publick Assent of the Free-holders with the approbation of himself or Deputy and the principal Officers of the publick State The setled Government for the general State to whom all Appeals were to be made and from whom all Instructions for the welfare of the Publick were to issue were to consist of himself or his Deputy who was to be chosen every three year by himself with the advice of his Council Next a Chancellor for the determination of all Causes A Treasurer to whom the care of the publick Revenue was to be committed A Marshal whose Office was to oversee the Regiments and to provide Men for publick Service An Admiral to take care of all Maritime Affairs to whom a Judge of the Admiralty was to be joyn'd to determine all Maritime Causes A Master of the Ordnance to look to the publick Arms and Ammunition A Secretary to receive Intelligence and to acquaint himself or Deputy therewith To these belong all their several Officers and Ministers for the Execution of all Matters proper to their several Places The chief Town of this Province is call'd Gorgiana which is Govern'd by a Mayor the rest are onely inconsiderable Villages or scatter'd Houses but through Encouragement given to Adventurers and Planters it may prove in time a very flourishing Place and be replenish'd with many fair Towns and Cities it being a Province both fruitful and pleasant SECT II. New Netherland now call'd New York THat Tract of Land formerly call'd The New Netherland doth contain all that Land which lieth in the North parts of America betwixt New England and Mary-Land the length of which Northward into the Countrey as it hath not been fully discover'd so it is not certainly known The breadth of it is about two hundred Miles The principal Rivers within this Tract are Hudson's-River Raritan-River Delaware-Bay-River The chief Islands are the Manhatans-Island Long-Island and Staten-Island The first which discover'd this Countrey was Henry Hudson who being hir'd by the East-India Company to seek a Passage in the Northern America to China set Sail Anno 1609. in the Half-Moon Frigat coming before Terre-neuff he stood about towards the South-West where Sailing up a great River he found two Men Clad in in Ruffelo's Skins and from thence arriv'd safe at Amsterdam New Netherland thus discover'd invited many Merchants to settle a firm Plantation there to which purpose they obtain'd Letters Patents in 1614. granted them by the States in the Hague That they might onely Traffick to New Netherland whereupon they earnestly prosecuting the Design sent out Adrian Block and Godyn who discover'd several Coasts Isles Havens and Rivers NOVI BELâ—â— Quod nune NOVI JORCK vocatur NOVAE que ANGLIAE Partis Virginiae Accuratissima et Novissima Delineatio After His Majesties Restauration His Majesty being truly
act Warlike postures and then they come in painted for War with their Faces black and red or some all black some all red with some streaks of white under their Eyes and so jump and leap up and down without any order uttering many Expressions of their intended Valour For other Dances they onely shew what antick Tricks their ignorance will lead them to wringing of their Bodies and Faces after a strange manner sometimes jumping into the Fire sometimes catching up a Firebrand and biting off a live Coal with many such tricks that will affright rather than please an English-man to look upon them resembling rather a company of infernal Furies than Men. Their sitting in Council When their King or Sachem sits in Council he hath a Company of Arm'd Men to guard his Person great respect being shewn him by the People which is principally manifested by their silence After he hath declared the cause of their Convention he demands their Opinion ordering who shall begin The Person order'd to speak after he hath declar'd his mind tells them he hath done no Man ever interrupting any Person in his Speech nor offering to speak though he make never so many long stops till he says he hath no more to say The Council having all declar'd their Opinions the King after some pause gives the definitive Sentence which is commonly seconded with a shout from the People every one seeming to applaud and manifest their Assent to what is determin'd If any Person be condemn'd to die which is seldom unless for Murther or In cest the King himself goes out in Person for you must understand they have no Prisons and the guilty Person flies into the Woods where they go in quest of him and-having found him the King shoots first though at never such a distance and then happy is the Man that can shoot him down for he that hath the fortune to be Executioner is for his pains made some Captain or other Military Officer They grease their Bodies and Hair very often and paint their Faces with several Colours as black white red yellow blue c. which they take great pride in every one being painted in a several manner Within two Leagues of New York lieth Staten-Island it bears from New York West something Southerly It is about twenty Miles long and four or five broad mosr of it very good Land full of Timber and producing all such Commodities as Long-Island doth besides Tin and store of Iron Oar and the Calamine Stone is said likewise to be found there There is but one Town upon it consisting of English and French but it is capable of entertaining more Inhabitants Betwixt this and Long-Island is a large Bay which is the coming in for all Ships and Vessels out of the Sea On the North-side of this Island After-skull River puts into the Main Land on the West-side whereof there are two or three Towns but on the East-side but one There are very great Marshes or Meadows on both sides of it excellent good Land and good convenience for the setling of several Towns There grows black Walnut and Locust as there doth in Virginia with mighty tall streight Timber as good as any in the North of America It produceth any Commodity which Long-Island doth Hudson's River runs by New York Northward into the Countrey towards the Head of which is seated New Albany a Place of great Trade with the Indians betwixt which and New York being above a hundred Miles is as good Corn-Land as the World affords enough to entertain hundreds of Families which in the time of the Dutch Government of these Parts could not be setled by reason of the Indians excepting one Place call'd The Sopers which was kept by a Garrison but since the Reducement of these Parts under His Majesties Obedience and a Patent granted to his Royal Highness the Duke of York which is about six years by the care and diligence of the Honorable Collonel Nichols sent thither as Deputy to his Highness such a League of Peace was made and Friendship concluded betwixt that Colony and the Indians that they have not resisted or disturb'd any Christians there in the setling or peaceable possessing of any Lands within that Government but every Man hath sat under his own Vine and hath peaceably reap'd and enjoy'd the Fruits of their own Labors which God continue Raritan-River Westward of After-skull River before mention'd about eighteen or twenty Miles runs in Raritan River Northward into the Countrey some scores of Miles both sides of which River are adorn'd with spacious Meadows enough to feed thousands of Cattel The Wood-Land is very good for Corn and stor'd with wild Beasts as Deer Elks and an innumerable multitude of Fowl as in other parts of the Countrey This River is thought very capable for the erecting of several Towns and Villages on each side of it no place in the North of America having better convenience for the maintaining of all sorts of Cattel for Winter and Summer Food Upon this River is no Town setled onely one at the Mouth of it but next to it Westward is a Place call'd Newasons where are two or three Towns and Villages setled upon the Sea-side but none betwixt that and Delaware-Bay which is about sixty Miles all which is a rich Champain Countrey free from Stones and indifferent level having store of excellent good Timber and very well water'd having Brooks or Rivers ordinarily one or more in every Miles travel This Countrey is peopled onely with wild Beasts as Deer Elks Bears and other Creatures so that in a whole days Journey you shall meet with no Inhabitants except a few Indians It is also full of stately Oaks whose broad-branch'd tops serve for no other use but to keep off the Suns heat from the wild Beasts of the Wilderness where is Grass as high as a Man 's Middle which serves for no other end except to maintain the Elks and Deer who never devour a hundredth part of it than to be burnt every Spring to make way for new How many poor People in the World would think themselves happy had they an Acre or two of Land whilst here is hundreds nay thousands of Acres that would invite Inhabitants Delaware Bay the Mouth of the River Delaware-Bay lieth about the mid way betwixt New York and the Capes of Virginia The best Commodities for any to carry with them to this Countrey is Clothing the Countrey being full of all sorts of Cattel which they may furnish themselves withal at an easie Rate for any sort of English Goods as likewise Instruments for Husbandry and Building with Nails Hinges Glass and the like They get a Livelihood principally by Corn and Cattel which will there fetch them any Commodities Likewise they Sowe store of Flax which they make every one Cloth of for their own wearing as also Woollen Cloth and Linsey-woolsey and had they more Tradesmen amongst them they would in a little time
in the parts of America between the Ocean on the East and the Bay of Chesapeack on the West and divided from the other part thereof by a right Line drawn from the Promontory or Cape of Land call'd Watkin's-Point situate in the aforesaid Bay near the River of Wigcho on the West unto the main Ocean on the East and between that bound on the South unto that part of Delaware Bay on the North which lies under the fortieth Degree of Northerly Latitude from the Equinoctial where New England ends and all that Tract of Land between the bounds aforesaid that is to say passing from the aforesaid Bay call'd Delaware Bay in a right Line by the Degree aforesaid unto the true Meridian of the first Fountains of the River of Patomeck and from thence stretching towards the South unto the furthest Bank of the said River and following the West and South side thereof unto a certain place call'd Cinquack near the Mouth of the said River where it falls into the Bay of Chesapeack and from thence by a streight Line unto the aforesaid Promontory or place call'd Watkins-Point which lies in thirty seven Degrees and fifty Minutes or thereabouts of Northern Latitude By this Patent his Lordship and his Heirs and Assigns are Created the true and absolute Lords and Proprietaries of the said Province Title saving the Allegiance and Soveraign Dominion due to His Majesty His Heirs and Successors so that he hath thereby a Soveraignty Granted to him and his Heirs dependant upon the Sovereignty of the Crown of England The first Seating His Lordship in the Year 1633. sent his second Brother Mr. Leonard Calvert and his third Brother Mr. George Calvert with divers other Gentlemen of Quality and Servants to the number of two hundred Persons at least to settle a Plantation there who set Sail from the Cowes in the Isle of Wight in England on Novemb. 22. in the same Year having made some stay by the way at the Barbadoes and St. Christophers in America they arriv'd at Point Comfort in Virginia on February 24. following from whence shortly after they Sail'd up the Bay of Chesapeack and Patomeck River And having review'd the Country and given Names to several places they pitch'd upon a Town of the Indians for their first Seat call'd Yoacomaco now Saint Maries which the then Governor Mr. Leonard Calvert freely Purchas'd of the Natives there for the Lord Proprietaries use with Commodities brought from England That which facilitated the Treaty and Purchase of the said place from the Indians was a resolution which those Indians had then before taken to remove higher into the Countrey where it was more Populous for fear of the Sansquehanocks another and more Warlike People of the Indians who were their too near Neighbors and inhabit between the Bays of Chesapeack and Delaware there being then actual Wars between them insomuch that many of them were gone thither before the English arriv'd And it hath been the general practice of his Lordship and those who were employ'd by him in the Planting of the said Province rather to purchase the Natives Interest who will agree for the same at easie rates than to take from them by force that which they seem to call their Right and Inheritance to the end all Disputes might be remov'd touching the forcible Incroachment upon others against the Laws of Nature or Nations Thus this Province at the vast Charges and by the unweary'd Industry and endeavor of the present Lord Baltemore the now absolute Lord and Proprietary of the same was at first Planted and hath since been supply'd with People and other Necessaries so effectually The number of Inhabitants that in this present Year 1671. the number of English there amounts to fifteen or twenty thousand Inhabitants for whose Encouragement there is a Fundamental Law establish'd there by his Lordship whereby Liberty of Conscience is allow'd to all that Profess to believe in Jesus Christ so that no Man who is a Christian is in danger of being disturb'd for his Religion and all Persons being satisfi'd touching his Lordships Right as Granted by his Superior Soveraign the King of Great Brittain and possess'd by the consent and agreement of the first Indian Owners every Person who repaireth thither intending to become an Inhabitant finds himself secure as well in the quiet enjoyment of his Property as of his Conscience Mr. Charles Calvert his Lordships onely Son and Heir was in the Year 1661. sent thither by his Lordship to Govern this Province and People who hath hitherto continu'd that Charge of his Lordships Lieutenant there to the general satisfaction and encouragement of all Persons under his Government or otherwise concern'd in the Province The precedent Discourse having given you a short Description of this Province from its Infancy to this day together with an account of his Lordships Patent and Right by which he holds the same we will here speak something of the Nature of the Countrey in general and of the Commodities that are either naturally afforded there or may be procur'd by Industry The Climate is very healthful and agreeable with English Constitutions but New-comers have most of them heretofore had the first year of their Planting there in July and August a Sickness which is call'd there A Seasoning but is indeed no other than an Ague with cold and hot Fits whereof many heretofore us'd to die for want of good Medicines and accommodations of Diet and Lodging and by drinking too much Wine and Strong-waters though many even in those times who were more temperate and that were better accommodated never had any Seasonings at all but of late years since the Countrey hath been more open'd by the cutting down of the Woods and that there is more plenty of English Diet there are very few die of those Agues and many have no Seasonings at all especially those that live in the higher parts of the Country and not near to the Marshes and Salt-water In Summer the heats are equal to those of Spain but qualifi'd daily about Noon at that time of the Year either with some gentle Breezes or small Showres of Rain In Winter there is Frost and Snow and sometimes it is extremely cold insomuch that the Rivers and the Northerly part of the Bay of Chesapeack are Frozen but it seldom lasts long and some Winters are so warm that People have gone in half Shirts and Drawers only at Christmas But in the Spring and Autumn viz. in March April and May September October and November there is generally most pleasant temperate Weather The Winds there are variable from the South comes Heat Gusts and Thunder from the North or North-West cold Weather and in Winter Frost and Snow from the East and South-East Rain The Soyl is very fertile and furnish'd with many pleasant and commodious Rivers Creeks and Harbors The Country is generally plain and even and yet distinguish'd with some pretty small Hills and Risings with variety
of Springs and Rivulets The Woods are for the most part free from Underwood so that a Man may Travel or Hunt for his Recreation The ordinary entrance by Sea into this Country is between two Capes distant each from the other about seven or eight Leagues the South Cape is call'd Cape Henry the North Cape Charles within the Capes you enter into a fair Bay Navigable for at least two hundred Miles and is call'd Chesapeack Bay stretching it self Northerly through the heart of the Countrey which adds much to its Fame and Value Into this Bay fall many stately Rivers the chief whereof is Patomeck which is Navigable for at least a hundred and forty Miles The next Northward is Patuxent at its entrance distant from the other about twenty Miles a River yielding great Profit as well as Pleasure to the Inhabitants and by reason of the Islands and other places of advantage that may Command it both fit for Habitation and Defence Passing hence to the Head of the Bay you meet with several pleasant and commodious Rivers which for brevity we here omit to give any particular account of On the Eastern Shore are several commodious Rivers Harbors Creeks and Islands to the Northward whereof you enter into another fair Bay call'd Delaware Bay wide at its entrance about eight Leagues and into which falls a very fair Navigable River The natural Commodities of the Countrey This Countrey yields the Inhabitants many excellent things for Physick and Chyrurgery they have several Herbs and Roots which are great Preservatives against Poyson as Snake-Root which presently cures the bitings of the Rattle-Snake which are very Venomous and are bred in the Countrey others that cure all manner of Wounds they have Saxafras Sarsaparilla Gums and Balsoms which Experience the Mother of Art hath taught them the perfect use of An Indian seeing one of the English much troubled with the Tooth-ach setch'd a Root out of a Tree which apply'd to the Tooth gave ease immediately to the Party other Roots they have fit for Dyers wherewith the Indians Paint themselves as Pacoone a deep red c. The Timber of these parts is good and useful for Building of Houses and Ships the white Oak for Pipe-staves the red for Wainscot there is likewise black Wall-Nut Cedar Pine and Cypress Chest-nut Elme Ash and Popelar all which are for Building and Husbandry Fruit-trees as Mulberries Persimons with several kind of Plumbs and Vines in great abundance Of Strawberries there is plenty which are ripe in April Mulberries in May Rasberries in June and the Maracok which is something like a Lemon is ripe in August In Spring time there are several sorts of Herbs as Corn-sallet Violets Sorrel Purslane and others which are of great use to the English there In the upper parts of the Countrey are Buffeloes Elks Tygers Bears Wolves and great store of Deer as also Beavers Foxes Otters Flying-Squirils Racoons and many other sorts of Beasts Of Birds there is the Eagle Goshawk Falcon Lanner Sparrow-hawk and Marlin also wild Turkies in great abundance whereof many weigh fifty Pounds in weight and upwards and of Partridge great plenty There are likewise sundry sorts of singing Birds whereof one is call'd a Mock Bird because it imitates all other Birds some are red which sing like Nightingales but much louder others black and yellow which last sort excels more in Beauty than tune and is by the English there call'd the Baltemore-Bird because the Colours of his Lordships Coat of Arms are black and yellow Others there are that resemble most of the Birds in England but not of the same kind for which we have no names In Winter there are great plenty of Swans Cranes Geese Herons Duck Teal Widgeons Brants and Pidgeons with other sorts whereof there are none in England The Sea the Bays of Chesapeack and Delaware and generally all the Rivers do abound with Fish of several sorts as Whales Sturgeon Thorn-back Grampuses Porpuses Mullets Trouts Soules Plaice Mackrel Perch Eels Roach Shadd Herrings Crabs Oysters Cockles Mussels c. but above all these the Fish whereof there are none in England as Drums Sheeps-head Cat-fish c. are best except Sturgeon which are there found in great abundance not inferior to any in Europe for largeness and goodness The Minerals may in time prove of very great consequence though no rich Mines are yet discover'd there but there is Oar of several sorts viz. of Tin Iron and Copper whereof several trials have been made by curious Persons there with good success The Soyl is generally very rich the Mould in many places black and rank insomuch that it is necessary to Plant it first with Indian Corn Tobacco or Hemp before it is fit for English Grain under that is found good Loam whereof has been made as good Brick as any in Europe There are store of Marsh-grounds for Meadows great plenty of Marle both blue and white excellent Clay for Pots and Tiles To conclude there is nothing that can be reasonably expected in a place lying in the same Latitude with this but what is either there found naturally or may be procur'd by Industry as Oranges Lemons and Olives c. Commodities which are or may be procur'd by industry We need not here mention Indian Corn call'd Mayz Pease and Beans of several sorts being the peculiar products Planted by the Indians of that part of America All sorts of English Grain are now common there and yield a great encrease as Wheat Rye Barley Oats Pease Beans c. good Beer of Wheat or Barley Malt after the English Mode is made even in the meanest Families there Some drink Beer of Indian Corn others of the Stalks thereof or of the Chipps of the Pockykerry-Tree all which make a fort of fresh and pleasant Drink but the general Diet of the Country is now English as most agreeable to their Constitutions There are few able Planters there at present but what are plentifully supply'd with all sorts of Summer and Winter Fruits as also of Roots and Herbs of all sorts out of their Gardens and Orchards which they have Planted for their Profit as well as Pleasure They have Pears Apples Plumbs Peaches c. in great abundance and as good as those of Italy so are their Mellons Pumpions Apricocks Cherries Figgs Pomegranates c. In fine there is scarce any Fruit or Root that grows in England France Spain or Italy but hath been try'd there and prospers well You may have there also Hemp Flax Pitch and Tar with little labor the Soyl is apt for Hops Rape-seed Annice-seed Woad Madder Saffron c. there may be had Silk-worms the Country being stor'd with Mulberry-trees and the superfluity of the Wood will produce Pot-ashes There is a great quantity of Syder made there at present and as good as in any other Countrey good Perry and Quince-drink is there likewise made in great plenty The Ground doth naturally bring forth Vines in great quantities
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
and quantity onely in such things as require more Sun and that may be produc'd by Industry there may be some little difference because Virginia is somewhat more to the Southward of Mary-land as in Vines Oranges Lemmons Olives Silk c. There is a Plant grows naturally in this Countrey Silk-Grass and in Mary-land call'd Silk-Grass which will make a fine Stuff with a silky Gloss and better Cordage than Hemp or Flax both for strength and durance The wild Beasts Birds and Fish are much the same also in this Countrey as are before describ'd in the precedent Description of Mary-land Nevertheless we shall think it proper not to omit some Fruits Plants Beasts c. mention'd by the most authentick Describers of New England Fruits peculiar to Virginia as peculiar to that Countrey The Fruits are their Putchamines which are a kind of Damsons Messamines a kind of Grapes Chechinquamins a sort of Fruit resembling a Chesnut Rawcomens a Fruit resembling a Gooser-berry Macoquer a kind of Apple Mettaquesunnauks a sort of Fruit resembling Inkian Figs Morococks resembling a Straw-berry besides a Berry which they call Ocoughtanamnis somewhat like to Capers Their peculiar Roots are Tockawaugh Roots good to eat Wichsacan of great vertue in healing of Wounds Pocones good to asswage Swellings and Aches Musquaspen wherewith they Paint their Targets and Mats Also they have in great request a Pulse call'd Assentamen and the Plant Mattouna of which they make Bread Their peculiar Beasts are Beasts the Aroughena resembling a Badger the Assapanick or Flying-Squerril Opassum a certain Beast having a Bag under her Belly wherein she carrieth and suckleth her Young Mussascus which smelling strong of Musk resembleth a Water-Rat Utchunquois a kind of wild Cat. Their peculiar Fish are Stingrais On the West side of the Bay of Chesapeak between Cape Henry and the Southerly Bank of the River of Patomeck are three fair Navigable Rivers as is before mention'd into which the other small Rivulets fall Rivulets which here we will give some account of as also of the Indian or antient Names by which these three principal Rivers were formerly known The first whereof is Powhatan now call'd James-River according to the Name of a large and considerable Territory that lieth upon it The Rivers that fall into this Southward are Apamatuck Eastward Quiyonycohanuc Nansamund and Chesopeak and Northward Chickamahania The second Navigable River is Pamaunkee by the English now term'd York-River The Rivulet that falls into this is Poyankatanck The third which is before describ'd and usually known by the Name of Rappahanoc was formerly term'd Toppahanoc This we thought fit here to insert to the end no colour of mistake might remain to after Ages concerning the derivation or original change of such proper Names especially being Places of great advantage to the Colony Several People of the ancient Natives of Virginia The chiefest of those Tribes or Divisions of People among the Indians that were by Name known to the English at their first arrival were upon the River Pouhatan the Kecoughtans the Paspaheghes on whose Land is seated James-Town the Weanocks Arrohatocks the Appametocks the Nandsamunds the Chesapeacks c. On the River Pamaunkee are the Younghtanunds the Mattapaments c. On the River Toppahanoc the Manahoacks the Moraughtacunds and the Cuttatawomens On the River Patawomek the Wighcocomocans the Onawmanients and the Moyanances On the River Pawtuxunt the Acquintacsuacs the Pawtuxunts and the Matapunients On the River Bolus the Sasquesabanoes Southward from the Bay the Chawonocks the Mangoacks the Monacans the Mannahocks the Masawomecks the Atquanahucks and the Kuscarawaocks besides a number not material to be nam'd as having had little of Transaction that we hear of with the Planters Number of Inhabitants The number of English Inhabitants in this Countrey are in this present Year 1671. about thirty or forty thousand who are plentifully stock'd with all sorts of tame Cattel as Cows Sheep Horses Swine c. and all sorts of English Grain great store of brave Orchards for Fruit whereof they make great quantities of Cyder and Perry They have been much oblig'd by that worthy Gentleman Mr. Edward Digges Son of Sir Dudley Digges who was Master of the Rolls and a Privy Councellor to King Charles the First of Great Brittain c. For the said Mr. Digges at his great Charge and Industry hath very much advanc'd the making of Silk in this Countrey for which purpose he hath sent for several Persons out of Armenia to teach them that Art and how to wind it off the Cods of the Silk-Worms and hath made at his own Plantation in this Colony for some years last past considerable quantities of Silk which is found to be as good Silk as any is in the World which hath encourag'd divers others to prosecute that Work The Commodities of Virginia Though this Countrey be capable of producing many other good Commodities yet the Planters have hitherto imploy'd themselves for the most part in Planting of Tobacco as they do in Mary-land whereof there are two sorts one which is call'd Sweet-scented and the other call'd Oranoack or Bright and Large which is much more in quantity but of lesser Price than the former and the Plantations upon York River are esteem'd to produce the best of that sort of Sweet-scented There is so much of this Commodity Planted in Virginia and Imported from thence into England that the Custom and Excize paid in England for it yields the King about fifty or threescore thousand Pounds Sterling per annum With this Commodity the Planter buys of the Ships that come thither for it which are above a hundred Sail yearly from England and other English Plantations all Necessaries of Clothing and other Utensils of Houshold-stuff c. which they want though they make some Shoes and Linnen and Woollen Cloth in some parts of Virginia of the growth and Manufacture of the Countrey and if they would Plant less Tobacco as it is probable they will e're long find it convenient for them to do it being now grown a Drug of very low value by reason of the vast quantities Planted of it they might in a little time provide themselves of all Necessaries of Livelyhood and produce much richer and more Staple-Commodities for their advantage Their usual way of Traffique in buying and selling is by exchange of one Commodity for another and Tobacco is the general Standard by which all other Commodities receive their value but they have some English and foreign Coyns which serve them upon many occasions The Government is by a Governor and Council Appointed and Authoriz'd from time to time by immediate Commission from the King of Great Brittain And Laws are made by the Governor with the consent of a General Assembly which consists of two Houses an Upper and a Lower the first consists of the Council and the latter of the Burgesses chosen by the Freemen of the Countrey and Laws
whose Principles not being corrupted with Learning and Distinction are contented to follow the Dictates of right Reason which Nature has sufficiently taught all Men for the well ordering of their Actions and enjoyment and preservation of humane Society who do not give themselves up to be amus'd and deceiv'd by insignificant Terms and minding what is just and right seek not Evasions in the Niceties and Fallacies of Words Carolina granted by Patent to several Noble Persons by His Majesty The same is to be said of the first discovery of this Countrey as hath been formerly said of Virginia and Florida of both which it partakes but as to the present Interest and Propriety the English besides all Virginia intirely have also so much of Florida as makes up this considerable Province of Carolina which soon after the happy Restauration of His present Majesty King Charles II. from whom it receives Denomination was granted by Patent to Edward Earl of Clarendon L. Chancellor of England George Duke of Albemarle William Earl of Craven John Lord Berkley Anthony Lord Ashley Sir George Carteret Vice-Chamberlain of His Majesty's Houshold Sir William Berkley Knight and Baronet and Sir John Colleton Knight and Baronet The Lords-Proprietors of this Countrey for the better Settlement of it according to their Patent granted unto them by His Majesty and for the enlargement of the King's Dominions in those parts of America have been at great Charge to secure this so rich and advantageous a Countrey to the Crown of England to whom of ancient Right by the Discovery of Sir Sebastian Cabott in the time of Henry the Seventh it doth belong and for its Situation Fertility Neighborhood to our other Plantations and several other Conveniences of too valuable consideration to be negligently lost By the Care therefore and Endeavors of those Great Men Their care for Setling and Improving of this Plantation it hath now two considerable Colonies Planted in it the one of Albemarle on the North side bordering on Virginia where are some hundreds of English Families remov'd thither from New England and some of our other Plantations in the West-Indies and another towards the middle of the Countrey at Charles-Town or Ashley-River a Settlement so hopeful for the healthiness of the Land and convenience of access by a large deep Navigable River and so promising in its very Infancy that many of the rich Inhabitants of Barbados and Bermudas who are now crowded up in those flourishing Islands and many in our other American Plantations are turning their Eyes and Thoughts this way and have already remov'd part of their Stock and Servants thither Nor is it to be doubted but that many following the Example of those who went to Albemarle will be drawn to this better Plantation at Ashley-River from New-England where the heat of their Zeal and the coldness of the Air doth not agree with every Man's Constitution and therefore it is to be thought that many well temper'd Men who are not much at ease under such Extreams will be forward to remove hither Fair Terms propos'd to whomsoever shall remove thither The Lords-Proprietors for the comfortable subsistence and future enrichment of all those who shall this Year 1671. Transport themselves and Servants thither allow every Man a hundred Acres per Head for himself his Wife Children and Servants he carries thither to him and his Heirs for ever paying onely one Peny an Acre as a Chief-Rent which Peny an Acre is not to be paid these nineteen years and those Servants who go along thither with their Masters shall each also have a hundred Acres upon the same Terms when he is out of his Time But though these Conditions are very advantageous and the Countrey promises to the Planter Health Plenty and Riches at a cheap Rate yet there is one thing that makes this Plantation more valuable than all these and that is the secure possession of all these things with as great certainty as the state of humane Affairs and the transient things of this Life are capable of in a well continu'd Form of Government wherein it is made every Man's Interest to preserve the Rights of his Neighbor with his own and those who have the greatest Power have it limited to the Service of the Countrey the Good and Welfare whereof whilest they preserve and promote they cannot miss of their own the Lords Proprietors having no other aim than to be the greatest Men in a Countrey where every one may be happy if it be not his own fault it being almost as uncomfortable and much more unsafe to be Lord over than Companion of a miserable unhappy and discontented Society of Men. With this Design the Lords-Proprietors who are at great Charge for carrying on this Plantation have put the framing of a Government into the Hands of one whose Parts and Experience in Affairs of State are universally agreed on and who is by all Men allow'd to know what is convenient for the right ordering Men in Society and setling a Government upon such Foundations as may be equal safe and lasting and to this hath a Soul large enough to wish well to Mankind and to desire that all the People where he hath to do might be happy My Lord Ashley therefore by the consent of his Brethren the rest of the Lords Proprietors hath drawn up to their general satisfaction some fundamental Constitutions which are since by their joynt approbation confirm'd to be the Model and Form of Government in the Province of Carolina the main Design and Ballance thereof according to the best of my memory having had a Copy thereof in short is as followeth The Model drawn up by the Lord Ashley for the Government of Carolina 1. EVery County is to consist of forty square Plots each containing twelve thousand Acres Of these square Plots each of the Proprietors is to have one which is to be call'd a Signiory Eight more of these square Plots are to be divided amongst the three Noble-men of that County viz. a Landgrave who is to have four of them and two Casiques who are to have each of them two apiece and these square Plots belonging to the Nobility are to be call'd Baronies The other twenty four square Plots call'd Colonies are to be the Possession of the People And this Method is to be observ'd in the Planting and Setting out of the whole Countrey so that one Fifth of the Land is to be in the Proprietors one Fifth in the Nobility and three Fifths in the People 2. The Signories and Baronies that is the hereditary Lands belonging to the Proprietors and Nobility are all entirely to descend to their Heirs with the Dignity without power of alienation more than for three Lives or one and twenty years or two Thirds of their Signiories and Baronies and the rest to be Demesne 3. There will be also some Mannors in the Colonies but none less than three thousand Acres in a Piece which like the
upon the place and was content himself to march quietly away with the rest 3. Ochalis a Town consisting of about five or six hundred Sheds and Cottages likewise of the Natives 4 Vittacuche a Burrough of two hundred Houses There is also on the the Eastern Shore of this Peninsula St. Matthews a Place possess'd and well fortifi'd by the Spaniards and St. Augustines on the same Shore but lying somewhat more Southerly than the other at the Mouth of a River of the same Name taken and sack'd by Sir Francis Drake in the Year 1585. SECT II. Jucatan YUCATAN Conventus Iuridici Hispaniae Novae Pars Occidâ—â—talis et GUATIMALA CONVENTUS IURIDICUS St. FRANCISCO DE CAMPECHE The chief Towns of the Province are 1. Merida in the Navel of the Countrey and the Seat of the Governor twelve Leagues distant from the Sea on either side 2. Valladolidt thirty Leagues distant from Nerida 3. Campeche a great Town consisting of about three thousand Houses or more when first conquer'd by the Spaniards who found such Monuments of Art and Industry in it as did clearly argue that the Place had been once possess'd by some People that were not barbarous It is now call'd St. Francisco and was surpriz'd in the Year 1596. by Captain Parker an English-man who took the Governor himself and some other Persons of Quality with him together with a Ship richly laden with Gold and Silver besides other Commodities of good value 4. Tabasco by the Spaniard now call'd Villa de Nuestra Sennora de Victoria and commonly Victoria onely in memory as 't is thought of the first great Victory which Cortez otain'd over these People at the Battel of Potonchan as hath been said 5. Cintla 6. Potonchan 7. Salamanca All along the Coast of this Countrey there lie certain Islands some within the Bay or Gulph call'd Honduras pertaining to the next Province as 1. La Zarza 2. La Desconescida 3. Vermeia 4. Los Negrillos and some without it as 1. Zaratan 2. Pantoia 3. De Mugeres or The Island of Women so nam'd by the Spaniards who at their first Discovery of these Parts for a long time together could meet with none but Women The chief of them is call'd Acusamil commonly Cozamul and is fifteen Leagues in length and about five in breadth and was as it were the Thoro-wfare or Common Road of the Spaniards when they first discover'd the Countreys of New Spain For first here Landed Ferdinando de Corduba after him John de Grialva and others and last of all the fortunate Cortez It is now call'd St. Crux CHAP. IV. Guatimala It s Situation and Bounds GUatimala stretcheth to the Isthmus or Neck of Land which as we said joineth the Northern and Southern parts of the New World together This Countrey is bounded Northward with the Peninsula of Jucatan abovesaid and part of the Gulph or Bay of Honduras on the South with Mare del Zur on the East and South-East it hath Castella Aurea and on the West New Spain The length of it lieth upon the Coast of Mare del Zur and is said to be little less than three hundred Leagues but the breadth not half so much and in some places very narrow It is generally a fertile and good Countrey in all respects but especially abounding in Cattel and good Pastures it is subdivided into seven inferior Provinces or Countreys which are 1. Chiapa 2. Verapaz 3. Honduras 4. Nicaragua 5. Veragua 6. Costa Rica and 7. Guatimala specially so call'd all differing in Language and Customs one from another The Bishoprick as it is now call'd of Chiapa is border'd on the West with New Spain on the East with Vera Paz and on the South with Mare del Zur It is a Countrey much shaded with Woods and those replenish'd with many fair and goodly Trees of divers sorts and of the largest size as Oaks Pines Cedar Myrtle and Cypress-Trees besides others which yield them a good kind of Rozen precious Gums c. also several sorts of Balsom as white red green and black not onely pleasant to the Scent but an excellent Remedy for all manner of green Wounds the best of it drops out of the cut Bodies of the Trees and the worst is press'd out of the Wood and Leaves Trees and Plants There are also proper to this Countrey several other kinds of Trees and Plants as that whose Fruit tastes like Pepper and Cloves being of a great heighth a Tree whose Leaves cure all ulcerated Sores or the bitings of any poysonous Beast There is a sort of Cabbage call'd Ilantas which grows to the heighth of a Tree so that Birds make their Nests in them they are eaten likewise like other common Cabbages There is also an Herb with narrow Leaves which is no sooner touch'd but it shrinks up to nothing but at the going away of those which touch it it obtains its former vigour Here are likewise Quails Birds Ducks Geese Pheasants Parrots Turtle-Doves Pigeons and the like in great abundance Amongst the several sorts of Falcons which breed in this Countrey there is one sort which hath one Foot proper to its kind the other like that of a Goose it feeds on Fish along the Rivers The Bird Toto-Queztall which is somewhat smaller than a Pigeon with green Feathers and a long Tail is taken onely for its Tail which when the Indians have pull'd out they let the Bird fly again there being a Law amongst them that whosoever kills one of them is to suffer death The Cranes here are of a dark Gray the biggest of them have a tuft of Feathers like a Crown upon their Heads The Birds Guacamayes which are red and blue are like a Peruan Goose Birds Moreover the Countrey yields brave Horses Goats Sheep Rabbets and Foxes Beasts also wild Dogs Leopards Lyons and Tygers The wild Hogs which breed here have their Navels on their Backs and have no Tails they smell exceeding strong and feed together in great Companies The Taquatrin a certain Beast proper to those Parts hath a Bag under its Belly in which it generally carries seven or more young ones and hath also a bald Tail it creeps into Houses in the Night to steal Hens Here is also a certain Beast whose Name we find not about the bigness of a Rabbet and like a Rat and carries its young ones on its back whensoe're it comes abroad The Serpents which are very numerous here trouble the Inhabitants exceedingly especially near the Village Ecatepeque where there are such an abundance on two little Hills that none dares approach them some of them are very poysonous for if touch'd with a Stick the Poyson runs up the same and whoever are anointed with the Blood of a dead Serpent die a lingring Death John de Laet relates that the Indians took one which carried thirty young ones which being a Finger long crep up and down immediately and the old one being above twenty Foot long serv'd the Natives
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
Countrey for the most part yet well distinguish'd with Valleys and lower Ground It is much subject to Rain which 't is said to have for nine Moneths of the Year almost continually by reason whereof the Countrey being otherwise hot is much annoy'd with a kind of Mosquit or great sort of Gnats which spoil the Fruit very much and are otherwise not a little trouble to the People Moreover there happen oftentimes terrible Earthquakes and Storms with Thunder and Lightning Commodities of the Countrey The chief Commodities of this Countrey are a kind of Amber which some call Liquid Amber which drops from divers of their Trees and is said to be a Commodity very precious and of much use Mastick Sanguis Draconis Gum Anime Sarsaparilla China-Wood and divers other Medicinal Drugs which it affordeth in great plenty The Woods afford a sweet smell and the Trees in the same grow a wonderful heighth The Canes which grow here being a hundred Foot long and proportionably thick serve for Timber There is also a hard Wood call'd Iron-Wood either from its hardness or colour or both which never rots The abundance of Flowers which grow here afford nutriment to innumerable swarms of Bees which are about the bigness of small Flies Their Honey which is somewhat tart they hide in the Roots of Trees or in the Earth Another sort which is made by the Wasps bereaves those that taste of their Senses The noted'st Beast in this Countrey is the Danta Beasts which resembles a Mule hath no Horns but Ash colour'd long Hair short Neck hanging Ears thin Legs with three Claws before and two behind long Head narrow Forehead little Eyes a Nose hanging over its Mouth little Tail sharp Teeth and a Skin which is six Fingers thick and scarce penetrable by any Weapon This Beast is taken in Traps Holes or else with Dogs which he often kills when hunted towards the Water They say that this Beast taught Men first to Let-blood for if it be too full of Blood it pricks it self against a sharp Cane and stops up the Orifice again very carefully The Flesh thereof is good Meat as also that of the Ross-Lyons which in the day-time sleep on a high Tree where they are shot by the Indians The Tygers are much more dangerous to be taken yet the Indians Hunting them eat them in stead of Beef and also through all New Spain The Bears which make the Ways very dangerous to travel have black frizled Hair broad Tails Feet like Mens Hands but since the Indians have made use of Guns which they learn'd from the Spaniards they have much lessen'd the number both of Bears and Tygers There are likewise many Leopards Apes and wild Goats whose Skins serve the Natives for Drums Hogs and Armadillo's Amongst their Fowls are Eagles and Parrots The Countrey is so well stor'd with Water that in three Leagues space are above thirty Rivulets and as many Fountains Medicinal Plants On the Mountains grow great quantities of Sarsaparilla Mechoacan and the China-Root which being yellowish hath several Saffron-colour'd Knobs on the top The Sarsaparilla grows with many Stalks creeping along over the Ground the Body thereof is tough and full of Prickles the Leaves broad and sharp at the ends and are of a bluish colour on one side and green on the other and bear Clusters of Flowers which close like Buds and are first green next vermilion-red and lastly blackish within are two hard Stones which inclose a white Kernel by the Indians call'd Juapecanga The Bay Golfo Dulce which pours its muddy Water into the Sea feeds the great Fish Monati and a great number of Crocodiles Several Rivers abounding with Fish fall also into the same having their Banks set all along with Trees in whose Boughs joyn'd together on the top those sort of Birds make their Nests which prey on Fish The Women in this place are much shorter Liv'd than the Men so that there are often thirty Widowers to one Widow Women with Child are Deliver'd by themselves in the High-way and from thence they go to the next River to wash themselves and the Child Places of note As for any Towns or Places of much Traffick or Note inhabited by the Spaniards we find not any nam'd save onely St. Augustines near unto which there is said to be a Cave and Fountain within Ground which converts the Water that falleth into it out of several lesser Springs into a kind of Alabaster or Stone perfectly white and fashions it likewise into Pillars Statues and other artificial Forms of very curious Workmanship as Laet reporteth SECT III. Honduras Situation and Bounds HOnduras hath on the South Guatimala abovesaid on the West a certain Bay or Arm of the Sea which they call Golfo Dulce from the abundance of fresh Waters which run into it from all Parts on the North and North-East the Atlantick Ocean and somewhat to the South-East Nicaragua It contains in length viz. from East to West Coasting along upon the Sea about a hundred and fifty Leagues and in breadth eighty The Countrey is rich both in Corn and Pasturage being said to be very much advantag'd that way by the constant overflowings of the Rivers which are very many about Michaelmass-time and which the People order so well that they water their Gardens and exceedingly fertilize the whole Champain or lower part of the Grounds by them The fruitful Valleys of this Countrey were anciently very well inhabited till vast multitudes of the Natives were destroy'd by the Spaniards Cruelties of which the Bishop Bartholomeo de las Casas in his Letter to the Emperor Charles the Fifth gives this Relation Cruelties of the Spaniards The young Children saith he they murder'd beating out their Brains against the Stones the Kings and Princes of the Countrey they either scorch'd to death or threw them to the Dogs to be torn in pieces the poor People they drove into their Houses and then set them on fire those that remain'd were condemn'd to the greatest slavery imaginable being us'd in stead of Mules and Horses and having greater Burdens laid upon them than they were able to carry insomuch that thousands of them fell down dead under them some out of despair running into the Woods were famish'd after they had kill'd and eat their Wives and Children for Hunger In this one Province onely they massacred above twenty hundred thousand Men and amongst others Persons of Quality which had civilly Entertain'd them nay they tortur'd the poor innocent Natives all the ways they could possibly invent onely to know of them where their Gold lay particularly Diego de Valasco spar'd none that ever fell into his hands insomuch that in a Moneths time above ten thousand were slain by him He hang'd thirteen Noble-men to twelve of whom he gave the Denomination of The twelve Apostles and the chiefest of them he call'd in a derision Jesus Christ Some they suffer'd to starve to death with their Heads
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
Natives it was a long time and they met with many difficulties before they could make themselves Masters of the Treasure It s chief Towns The chief Towns they have here are 1. La Conception lying at the Mouth of a River so nam'd and the Seat of the Governor 2. La Trinidad upon the Banks of the same River likewise but down towards Port Beleno and about six Leagues Eastward of Conception 3. St. Foy twelve Leagues more to the South where the Spaniards melt their Gold and cast it into Bars or Ingots 4. Carlos a Town they have upon the Coast of Mare del Zur 5. Philippina another on the West of Carlos both of these seated upon a large capacious Bay before which there lie certain little Islands to the number of thirty or more which the Spaniards are said to have wholly dispeopled long since by forcing the Natives over into the Continent to work in the Mynes as usually they did before the Emperor's Prohibition but now they use Slaves or Negro's which they buy for that purpose from Guinee and other Parts SECT VII Guatimala properly so call'd Bounds of the Country GUatimala specially so call'd hath on the West the River Xicalapa which divides it from Vera Paz on the East it is bounded with the Countrey of Nicaragua on the North with Honduras and on the South with Mare del Zur This Countrey was conquer'd by Peter de Alvarado Anno 1525. It is by reason of its neighborhood with Vera Paz not altogether clear of Mountains but otherwise well water'd with Rivers and enrich'd with fair and fruitful Valleys which afford not onely good Pasturage and many great Herds of Cattel but likewise good store of Wheat Maiz and other Fruits of the Earth Great plenty of Cotton-Wool is generally both here and in the other Provinces viz. Vera Paz Chiapa c. some Medicinal Woods likewise and Liquors and absolutely the best Sulphur in America The People are generally tractable and well dispos'd both in point of Religion and civil Government Towns of note The Towns of chief note are 1. Guatimala now call'd St. Jago de Guatimala since the re-building thereof for about the Year 1586. it was almost buried in Ashes which one of the neighboring Mountains for the space of six Moneths together continually belch'd out in such fearful quantities that many People were slain the old City deserted and a new one built in another place The day before this sad Accident hapned the neighboring Mountains were observ'd to shiver and a great noise was heard from under Ground which amazing the Indians the news thereof was carried to the Bishop Franciscus Moroquin who narrowly enquiring into the Causes of these Accidents and what they might portend found that a sad Event would suddenly follow as accordingly it did for about midnight on the eighth of August Anno 1541. such a mighty store of Rain fell as if the Clouds had been all dissolv'd into Water which came rowling from the Rocky Mountains with such violence that it wash'd down great Stones which carried on by the strength of the Water against the Houses beat them down and none could have seen how they were ruin'd had not the mighty flashes of Lightning follow'd by terrible claps of Thunder lighted the Night Some instantly deserting this miserable place fled up into the Countrey and there built a new Guatimala as above-mention'd sur-nam'd St. Jago three Leagues farther towards the East in a Valley through which flow two Rivers between two Vulcans or smoaking Mountains which sometimes vomit forth terrible Flames mix'd with dreadful Thunder-claps Ashes and great Stones insomuch that the Ground all about it which is exceeding fruitful seems to move There are many of these Vulcans in several parts of America as namely at Arequipa in the Kingdom of Peru at Puebla de los Angelos in the Province of Tlascalla abovesaid a Mountain of so great heighth that they are fain to go little less than thirty Leagues turning and wind-before they can reach the top of it and others in several other places They are generally Mountains of great heighth and running sharp upwards but at the top containing some quantity of plain and level Ground in the midst whereof is a Pit or Hole out of which abundance of Smoak and fiery Sparkles are vomited almost continually and so deep that they are suppos'd for the most part to reach to the very bottom of the Mountain Some of these Vulcans cast forth neither Fire not Smoak yet are clearly seen to burn at the bottom with a quick Fire and which is so extreamly hot that it instantly melteth Iron or any other Metal that is cast into it as by experience hath been found for some conceiving that the Matter which maintains these Fires within the Bowels of the Earth so long together can be nothing else but melted Gold have endeavor'd several times to extract and draw it forth in certain Vessels of Iron and Brass which they have caus'd to be let down into the bottom of the Vulcan or Pit by long Iron Chains made on purpose but as we said the extream heat and force of the Fire below always melted them before they could be drawn up again and by that means hath rendred all such Attempts frustrate In this Town now call'd St. Jago reside above six hundred Spanish Commanders and more than twenty five thousand Indians which pay Tribute They have also a brave Church and two Cloysters one belonging to the Dominicans and another to the Order La Merced and likewise a noble Hospital Not far from thence is a place call'd Yzaleos where there are Orchards of Cacoa two Leagues in square each of them producing yearly as much as fifty thousand Men are able to carry They reckon the Cacao by Contels which is the number of four hundred by Xequipiles of eight thousand and by Carga's of twenty four thousand In this County is a Mountain whose top smoaking continually consumes by degrees and oftentimes covers the neighboring Countrey with Ashes The Water which flows from the same differs very much for some of it is wholsom and fit to drink some foul and stinking and some turns Wood if laid in the same to Stone Here is also the Beast whose Head is highly esteem'd for the Bezoar-Stone which it carries in the same Here is likewise a little Bear which in stead of a Mouth hath a long Nose with a round Hole in it and a hollow Tongue with which it sucks Honey and disturbs the Nests of Pismires The Women in this Place make curious Earthen Ware colour'd either red or black with the Mud of two several Brooks The Indians call'd the boyling Fountains in this County Hell because they bubble up a Bowes-shot high and make the River Caliente which notwithstanding it hath pass'd half a League through a wide Channel retains its exceeding heat Not far from it lies a Stone which having a Crack in the middle sends forth a thick
of Viztliputzli they perform'd fifty years one after another Mean while Acamapixtli who had inlarg'd Mexico with Streets Palaces Temples and Markets dying would not name any one to succeed him but left the choice of the Election to the Commonalty who Crown'd his Son Vitzilovitli and Marry'd him to the King of Tapunecans Daughter that by that means they might gain his friendship and be eas'd of their strange Annual Tribute Whereupon Ayauchigual the King of Tapunecans Daughter being Marry'd to Vitzilovitli was within twelve Moneths deliver'd of a Son which the Grand-father call'd Chimalpopoca which signifies A Gun which gives Smoke and afterwards was satisfi'd with two Geese and some Fish yearly from the Mexicans onely as an Acknowledgment that they inhabited his Countrey Chimalpopoca loosing his Parents in his tenth year was Crown'd King with a Bowe and Arrows in his left Hand and a Woodden Sword in the right Soon after he oblig'd his Mothers Father to be kind to the Mexicans for they being in great want for fresh Water he had leave by Channels to bring the same out of the Mountain Chapultepec a League distant from Mexico to which purpose they made a Pipe of Planks and hollow Trees joyn'd together with Clay quite through the Lake but this Pipe not being teight and durable and the fresh Water by that means mixing with the Salt they sent Agents to Azcapuzalco to request Stones Mortar and Work-men to make a substantial Sewer This message was ill resented by the Council of Azcapuzalco What said they do the Mexicans think shall a rambling company of People which on Charity live in anothers Countrey Command those that Govern them to be their Servants This grudge went so far that at last they took a Resolution without the King's knowledge for he was suspected because of his Grand-chil'd Chimalpopoca to forbid all manner of Trade with the Mexicans nay to endeavor utterly to root them out yet some judg'd that they ought to spare Chimalpopoca while others on the contrary said That he ought to be destroy'd because his Father being a Mexican he would to the utmost of his Power defend his People which last being approv'd of so troubled the King of the Tapunecans that he dy'd of grief for the Design being soon after put into execution and the Tapuneca's breaking in the Night into Chimalpopoca's Palace Murder'd him which Murder made the Mexicans thirst for revenge whereupon setting themselves wholly against the Tapunecans they enter'd into a League with Vezcuco and Culhuacan and chose Izcoalt for his great Valor for their King notwithstanding Acamapixtli had begotten him on a Slave Izcoalts success against the Tapanecas Izcoalt was no sooner Crown'd but he made great preparation for a War though against every ones Opinion because of the Populousness of the Tapunecans yet it was concluded on that they should request Peace and a place to inhabit on the main Continent that so they might remove from the Isles This Request they thought could not be deny'd them in Azcapuzalco provided the Mexicans brought their Gods thither and wholly conform'd themselves to the manners of the Tapunecans for otherwise they could expect nothing but utter Ruine Yet though every one else imbrac'd the Proposal Tlacaellel the King's Nephew stiffly oppos'd it alleging that it did not agree with the Mexicans quality to make so mean and slavish a Proffer and that they had best consider first if there were no other means to be found and that he would willingly venture his Life in going to Azcapuzalco as a Spie to pry into their whole Designs and Intentions which was perform'd accordingly and soon after returning he brought information that the Tapunecans were making great preparations for War and made no mention at all of Peace which news struck a general fear into all Peoples Hearts many desiring that they might save themselves by flight but Izcoalt putting fresh courage into them made an agreement with the People that if he was beaten by the Tapunecans they should eat him up but if he prov'd Conqueror they should all be at his Command to which all consenting they boldly march'd with their King to the City Azcapuzalco The Front of the Army consisting of the prime Nobility was led by Tlacaellel and the Rear Izcoalt brought up who was also to give the sign on a Drum when they should fall upon the Enemies who having ten Men to the Mexicans one suddenly Sally'd out of the Gates where they were so briskly entertain'd by Tlacaellel that in a confus'd manner they soon ran back into the City whither the Conqueror pursuing them got within the Gates where he put all to the Sword which he could meet with some fled to a steep neighboring Mountain whither being also follow'd they threw down their Arms and begg'd Quarter to serve the Mexicans as Slaves which was granted them whilst Izcoalt found an unvaluable Mass of Treasure in Azcapuzalco and distributed the Conquer'd Countrey amongst those who had behav'd themselves best This Conquest made the neighboring People jealous of the Mexicans whose Success and growing Power they dreaded The Cuyoacans utterly subdu'd by Tlacaellel The Towns Tacuba and Cuyoacan though they had Governors of their own yet were subject to the Tapunecans whose General advising those of Azcapuzalco to try another Encounter they took up Arms again but before it came to a Battel the Cuyoacans play'd a subtile trick with the Mexicans for inviting them to an Idolatrous Feast after they had Eat Drunk and Danc'd they forc'd them to put on Womens Apparel to their no small disgrace and ignomy which remain'd not unreveng'd for the Mexicans made a Poysonous Fume in the Gates of Cuyoacan which made Women with Child to Miscarry and many to fall dangerously sick yet lastly both Parties march'd into the Fields where whilst Izcoalt was elsewhere ingag'd Tlacaellel marching about came upon the backs of the Cuyoacans with such eagerness that they fled to a strong Temple which soon after was set on fire by Tlacaellel who pursu'd the Enemy ten Leagues MUTECZUMA Rex ultimus Mexicanorum This Conquest stir'd up the Suchimilcos the first Family of the Navatlaca's to stop the proceedings of the Mexicans that they might not as they had already done to others fall upon them to which purpose they thought to surprize the Conquering Army but Tlacaellel who led the Van march'd in good Order to meet the Suchimilcos fell resolutely upon their whole Army and after a short conflict put them to flight and took the City Suchimilco for Izcoalt who being Crown'd King there Commanded the Conquer'd to make a direct Road betwixt Suchimilco and Mexico of four Leagues long both that a Trade might the easier be drove between these two Cities and to keep them the better in awe Notwithstanding these examples Cuytlavacan a City built at the Lake Laguna trusting to the abundance of Boats which the Citizens knew how to use with great dexterity daily molested Mexico with them by Water
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
insatiable cruelty Conquest of it difficult Before Ferdinand Cortesius Francis de Garay attempted to Conquer this Province but after much pains to no purpose he return'd with but a small remnant of those he carried with him and though Cortesius subdu'd the Countreys Ayotetextetlatan and Chila yet it was not without many considerable Losses for the Inhabitants being valiant and cruel not fearing the Spanish Bullets ran in amongst them and made great slaughter and according to an old Custom in New Spain drank their Blood Strange usage of Prisoners They also dealt strangely with Persons that were yearly to be Offer'd to their Idols for after having wash'd them they put on them the Clothes of the Idol and gave them the same Name every one honouring them as a God were permitted to walk up and down but guarded by twelve Men that they might not escape for then the chiefest of the Guard was to supply the others place Moreover they resided in the chiefest Apartments of the Temple eat of the best were serv'd like Princes and attended through the Towns by Persons of the greatest Quality who led them through the Streets where they no sooner play'd on a little Pipe but all People came running to them fell at their Feet and worship'd them In the Night they lock'd them up in a Cage secur'd with Iron Bars and at the appointed time flay'd them alive Towns and Villages The chief Towns now remaining and inhabited by the Spaniards are 1. St. Lewis de Tampice a Colony of Spaniards situate on the Northern Bank of the River Panuco at the very Mouth of it where it hath a very large Haven but so barr'd with Sands that no Ship of any great Burden can enter or abide in it with safety and yet the River otherwise so deep that Vessels of five hundred Tun might Sail up threescore Leagues at least within Land and thereby visit the rich Mynes of Zatatecas on the one side of it and of New Biscay on the other at pleasure and without fear of much opposition 2. St. Stevan del Puerto on the South side of the same River eight Leagues distant from the Sea or Gulf of Mexico at present the Metropolis or chief Town of the Province built by Cortesius in the place where stood old Panuco which was likewise the Metropolis or Head Town of the Natives before the Spaniards burnt and destroy'd it 3. St. Jago de las Valles which is a Fronteer Place and enjoyeth certain special Immunities and some fair Possessions also for defence of the Countrey against the Salvages It is twenty five Leagues distant from St. Stevan del Puerto lying in an open or Champain Countrey and is fenc'd about with a Wall of Earth Miles Philips his Voyage Miles Philips an Englishman put ashore by Captain John Hawkins in the Bay of New Spain Anno 1568. suffer'd great hardship before he came to Panuco from whence returning he made mention of a City lying along a River of the same denomination which is there not above two Bowe shoots-broad in a pleasant Countrey containing two hundred Spanish Families beside the antient Inhabitants and Negro's which all drive a great Trade in Salt which is made in Pans Westward from the River Philips travelling from Panuco to Mexico saw by the way the Villages Nohete by the Spaniards call'd Santa Maria and a Cloyster of white Monks Next he view'd Mestitlan where some grey Monks had a House and the Town Puchuen Chilton's Journal Another account of this Province is taken from a Journal kept by John Chilton four years after Philips's Voyage he having a Spaniard for his Convoy left Mexico to find out Panuco in three days time they reach'd the City Mestitlan where he observ'd that twelve Spanish Families liv'd amongst thirty thousand Indians The City built on a high Mountain full of Woods is surrounded with Villages through which run many brave Springs and the Air about them is no less wholsom than the Ground fruitful the High-ways are shaded with all sorts of Fruit-Trees The Village Clanchinoltepec four times more Populous than Mestitlan belongs to a Spanish Nobleman who built a Cloyster there for nine Augustin Monks of which Order there also reside twelve in the City Guaxutla Moreover they travel'd over the plain Countrey Guastecan to the Village Tancuylabo inhabited by a tall People with blue Painted Bodies and Pleited Hair hanging down to their Knees going stark naked but never without a Bowe and Arrow They esteem nothing more than Salt as being the onely Cure against certain Worms that grow between their Lips From hence they travel'd to Tampice in which Journey they spent nine days and coming thither were inform'd that of forty Christians which dwelt in the same the Indians had slain twelve whilst they were gathering of Salt From hence they came to Panuco then in a manner deserted because of the Indians oppressing the Spaniards of which at that time there were but ten and one Priest Chilton falling sick here resolv'd nevertheless to change that unwholsom Air and barren place for a better to which purpose getting a Horse he took an Indian behind him for his Guide but loosing his way in a thick Wood happen'd amongst a Company of wild People which dwelt in Straw Huts twenty of them immediately surrounding him brought him some clear sweet Water to drink out of a Gilt Venice Glass which having drunk two naked Men led him into the high-way which ended at the Gate of the Wall'd City Santo Jago de las Valles inhabited by twenty five Spanish Families who inform'd Chilton of the great danger which he had been in for the People which gave him the Water were Man-eaters who not long since had burnt an Augustine Cloyster built on a Mountain had taken away and eat the People of which they had in all likelyhood gotten the Venice Glass and had they not observ'd Chilton to be sickly he had without doubt been eaten by them and his Skin with some of his Hair that being a great Ornament amongst them been hung about their middle During Chilton's stay in St. Jago Frans de Page came thither with forty Soldiers from the Vice-Roy Henry Manriques and took five hundred Indians good Bowe Men out of the Neighboring Villages Tanehipa and Tameclipa with which he design'd to go to the Silver Mines at Zacatecas Chilton joyning with this Company came to the great Rives De las Palmas which separates New Spain from Florida where they spent three days in vain seeking to find a passage over wherefore they at last took pieces of Timber which joyning together and standing upon they were Tow'd over by Swimming Indians being gotten on the other side they March'd over steep Mountains and thick Wildernesses and came at last to Zacatecas on whose Silver Mines the richest in all America work'd above three hundred Spaniards daily SECT VI. Tabasco Bounds and Description of Tabasco THe last Countrey belonging to New Spain
Vice-Roy of New Spain nam'd Lodowick de Velasco order'd a certain number of Soldiers Slaves Horses and Mules for every Mine to defend the Workmen from the Assaults of the Natives which oftentimes Sallied out upon them Moreover Velasco sent Priests through all the Countrey to Preach the Gospel But Yvarra having the care of the Priests guarded them with a company of Soldiers and in his Way discover'd the Valley San Juan and the River De las Nacos where he conquer'd the rebelling Natives Near the Silver Mine Sant Martins the Monks built a Cloyster after which Yvarra gave free leave to all that would to dig in the Mine at Avinno which he had bought on condition they should pay the real fifth part of what they got to the Spanish King which Priviledge stirr'd up many insomuch that Avinno in a short time grew very populous Yvarra though having brought his Business to this pass could not rest but sent Antonius Pacheco to a Valley in Guadiana to build the foremention'd City Durango where several Rivers make a convenient and delightful place for Habitation whither Yvarra follow'd three Moneths after and finish'd the new Town But the chiefest Silver Mines which borrow their Denominations from the Province Zacatecas are continually guarded by five hundred Spaniards and as many Slaves CHAP. VII New Biscay Bovnds of New Biscay NEw Biscay by some accounted a Province of New Gallicia hath on the South Zacatecas on the West the Countrey of Cinoloa Northward it is bounded with New Mexico the Eastern Borders of it looking towards Florida not yet well discover'd so call'd by the Spaniards onely from its neighborthood to New Gallicia It is as the other Provinces exceeding rich in Silver Mines and hath some also of Lead which serve principally as some say for the refining or purging of the other Metal The People generally are of a stout and resolute Disposition and with much difficulty submitting to the Yoke yea the Spaniards themselves confess that there remain yet to this day four great Towns unreduc'd though they lie as it were in the mid-way betwixt the Zacatecas aforesaid and the Mines and Town of St. Barbara of this Province The Spaniards call them Las Quatro Ceinegas or The Four Quagmires as lying perhaps in the Marshes or in some Fenny and lower parts of the Countrey Towns and Cities The Towns which themselves hold are 1. St. Barbara famous for the rich Mines about it 2. St. Johns equal to the other and not above three or four Leagues distant from it 3. Ende the most Northerly Town which the Spaniards have in this Countrey distant about twenty Leagues from the other These be all Colonies of the Spaniards and built on purpose for securing the Mines which when they were first discover'd by Yvarra he order'd Roderigo del Rio to guard the same and took up his Winter Quarters at St. Juan in a strong House stor'd with all manner of Provisions and erected there by him as a place of defence against the Chichimecae who though the Spaniards kept the place with strong Guards kill'd above four hundred of their Horses and Mules which loss no way daunted him so as to change his Resolution of going Topia whither travelling he found many snowy Mountains and suffer'd extream Cold which kill'd most of their Horses being seen fifteen days after to stand so stiffly frozen as if still alive at last getting within the Borders of Topia after he had suffer'd many inconveniences he was oppos'd by the Inhabitants till he pacifi'd them with Presents SECT II. Convenient Havens of New Gallicia THis Countrey hath many convenient Havens viz. San Jago Navidad Malacca Chacalla below the Promontory Corientes the Bay Xalisco the Road Massatlan and Chiametla so call'd from a Town about eleven Leagues from the Ocean Here and in several places of New Gallicia grow Lillies Roses Violets Jessamins and many other Flowers amongst which the Floripondium deserves peculiar observation because it flourishes the whole Year and its white Blossoms which are bigger than Lillies opening in the Morning yield an exceeding sweet smell The Flower Granadilla In no less esteem is the Murucuia by the Spaniards call'd Granadilla which will not grow it bereav'd of any of its Leaves it bears a Flower from the resemblance of our Saviour's Suffering call'd The Passion-Flower which exceeds the biggest Rose in circumference the uppermost Leaves green those underneath of a purple colour on the top hangs a round Bush of a thousand interwoven threds of divers colours distinguish'd by white and red Specks the pale Stalk which sticks in the middle of the Flower is divided into five others that bend downwards with a yellow Button-like Knob on the middlemost Stalk stands a pale yellow Flower which appear three hours after Sun-rising and closes again a little before Sun-set the Fruit which is very round smooth and a pale Green hath white Specks a thick Rind Saffron-colour'd Pulp which is wholsom of a good rellish and hath abundance of black Seeds inclos'd in little Husks CHAP. VIII New Mexico Bounds of New Mexico NEw Mexico as 't is call'd for distinction's sake is bounded on the South-West with New Biscay more directly Westward with some parts of Quivira the Countreys Northward of it not yet discover'd Eastward it extends it self as far as Florida This Province doubtless for largeness may compare with New Gallicia having been search'd and discover'd by the Spaniards above a hundred some say two hundred Leagues directly Eastward and to the North-East and they report Wonders of it if we may believe them at least in respect of what was generally found in these Northern parts of America at their first Discovery as namely That they have Towns fairly and well built of Lime and Stone Houses of four Stories high and most of them provided with Stoves for the Winter Season as well as any in Europe the Streets fair and broad and the People as curious and expert in divers Arts and Manufactures as any of theirs More particularly they tell us of a Town call'd Chia of the Province of Cuames so big that it is said to contain eight several Market-places Another call'd Acoma a great Town but seated on the top of an high Rock without any ordinary way of access to it but by a pair of Stairs hewn out of the hard Stone or else by certain Ladders which the Inhabitants let down and take up as they please And likewise of a third which they call Conibas containing as they say no less than seven Leagues in length and about half so much in breadth seated upon a Lake but scatteringly built and much of the space taken up with Mountains and many fair Gardens in the midst of which the Town standeth of all which more hereafter This certain that the Countrey to which they give the Name of New Mexico is of a vast extent reaching from the Mines of St. Barbara in New Biscay Eastward and to the North-East
follow fled to the Mountains from whence they could not be enticed whilst the Spaniards found their Houses full of Provisions and some Minerals Now those being dead whom they sought for some though it convenient to return but Espejus and Beltran perswaded the contrary alledging That farther up according to the Indians information lay several Provinces which were worth the discovery and advis'd that the chiefest part of their Forces might stay there whilst they and some few resolute Men went farther upon the Discovery which accordingly was perform'd Espejus having travell'd two days came into a fruitful Province jutting against Cibola in which he found eleven Villages inhabited by above fourteen thousand People who were clad in Skins and Cotton worshipp'd many Idols and receiv'd the Spaniards with great Civility The like Entertainment they met withall in the Countrey Los Quires wash'd by the River Del Norte near which stood five Villages inhabited by about fifteen thousand People Thirteen Leagues farther they found De los Cunames having also five Villages the chiefest of which being Cia boasted as above mention'd eight Market-places The Houses made of Lime were neatly Painted and compris'd in all above twenty thousand Persons and civil People who presented Espejus and his Company with handsom Cloaks set good boyl'd Meat before them and shew'd them rich Minerals and the Mountains out of which they got the same Of the like Constitution were the Inhabitants De los Amires which being thirty thousand in number resided in seven well built Villages lying North-West from Cunames After this they march'd Westward and found the eminent Village Acoma mention'd before built on an exceeding high Rock to which led onely a narrow Path up a pair of Stairs cut in the Rock as also many Wells to receive Rain besides what they have out of a River led by moats round about their Plough'd Lands The Spaniards staying here three days were Entertain'd with all sorts of good Meat Dances and Drolls From hence travelling twenty four Leagues more Westerly they entred the Province of Zuny where the erected Crosses which had remain'd there till that time were sufficient testimonies of Cornaro's having been there after he was deserted by Andreas de Cuyocan Casper de Mexico and Antonius de Guadalajara being setled on Zuny otherwise call'd Cibola and speaking the Indian Tongue better than their Native Language inform'd Espejus that sixty days Journey farther lay a great Lake whose Shores were crown'd with many brave Villages inhabited by a People which wore Golden Armlets and Ear-rings whither Franciscus Vasquez had gone a second time had not Death prevented him This Information so encourag'd Espejus that notwithstanding it was so great a Journey yet he resolv'd to venture thither though the Monk Beltran and most of his Company perswaded him to the contrary whereupon Beltran return'd After which Espejus went on to the said Lake wither he was accompanied with a hundred and fifty Indians Having gone twenty six Leagues he found a populous Province whose Borders he no sooner approach'd but he was told That if he was willing to lose his Life he and his Party might enter into a forbidden Dominion yet notwithstanding this threatnign Message he wrought so much upon the Casique by the Presents which he sent him that he was permitted to come in freely nay the Inhabitants of Zaguato strow'd Meal on the Earth for the Spaniards to go over and presented Espejus at his departure with forty thousand Cotton Cloaks and a considerable quantity of Plate which he sent with five of his Soldiers and all the Cibolan Indians back to Cibola keeping onely four Companions and one Guide with whom he travell'd forty one Leagues Westward where he found a Mountain to the top whereof led a broad Path which ascending he took up Silver Oar with his own Hand The several sorts of People that inhabited here were all civil and courteous living in good fashion in pretty large Houses built on the Banks of a pleasant River shaded with Vines and Nut-Trees and thick planted with Flax They inform'd Espejus that near a River which runs eight Miles towards the North Sea were such stately Places as could not be beheld without great admiration But Espejus going back a plain Road to Cibola found not onely those whom he had sent from Zaguato but also Beltran with the other Soldiers who having been detained where by the Civilities and kind Entertainments of the Indians were now upon returning home so that Espejus was left alone with eight Soldiers who resolv'd to venture their Lives and Fortunes with him They travell'd along the River Del Norte through the Provinces De los Guires and Habutas whose Mountains over-spread with Pine-Trees and Cedars have many rich Mines The Natives wore painted Cotton Cloaks and dwelt in stately Houses five Stories high At the Borders of the Realm Los Tamos they were stopt and not permitted to come on farther wherefore being but few in number and several of them sick they judg'd it convenient to cross the River De las Vaccas so call'd from the abundance of Cows that were thereabouts to the River Conchos and the Village Bartholomew where Espejus was inform'd that Beltran was long before his arrival gone to Guadiana And now that we may have the better Account of New Mexico which Ruyz Espejus and Beltran endeavor'd to discover it will be necessary to begin with the first original thereof according as several ancient Histories make mention First original of the New Mexicans The most ancient Possessors of that part of Northern America call'd New Spain were for their fierce and salvage Nature call'd Chichimecae who dwelling in Caves fed on Moles Rabbets Hedghogs Serpents Roots and Herbs Whilst the Women accompanied their Husbands in their Travels the Children were put into Baskets and hang'd in a Tree No manner of Government was to be found amongst them They never Till'd their Ground till the Navatlacans came from New Mexico which was anciently divided into two Countreys Aztlan and Teuculhuacan to New Spain after which they Sow'd their Lands The Navatlacans who us'd to dwell in Houses worship Images plough their Lands and obey their Governors were divided into six Tribes each Tribe possessing their limited Bounds and there goes a Tradition That out of six Pits that are to be seen in New Mexico the Navatlacans had their original The time when they deserted New Mexico as their most authentick Histories or Records declare was according to our computation Anno 940. and they farther affirm that they spent forty years in a Journey which might have been travell'd in a Moneth The reason of which tediousness was because they rested in all places where they found a fruitful Countrey but as they had advice from their diabolical Spirits which as they say appear'd visibly to them they still went on farther and farther yet left behind those that were aged sick and decrepid building convenient Houses for them and appointing Overseers to look after
there Captain Francis Drake set Sail from Plymouth Anno 1577. and after much hardship getting through the Straights of Magellan arriv'd in the Haven Guatulco having before his coming thither taken as many rich Spanish Ships in the Southern Ocean as he could possibly have wish'd for so that his onely care now needed to have been how to get safe home yet he put on a Resolution not to come short of Ferdinandus Magellanus who Saild about the World Which brave Resolution of Drake's was approv'd of by all his Sea-men whereupon he set Sail along the North of California the fifth of June being gotten into forty two Degrees which was the farthest that Cabrillo went he came on a sudden out of a warm Air into so frigid a Climate that the Sea-men were almost kill'd with Cold and the farther they went the colder it grew wherefore falling down three Degrees more Southerly they got into a convenient Haven where the Natives who liv'd along the Shore brought them Presents which Drake left not unrequited by returning them others that were to them more novel and not unuseful Nature and Habit of the People These People are exceeding hardy for notwithstanding the extraordinary coldness of the Climate the Men go naked but the Women wear Garments of pleited Flags or Rushes which being put about their Middle hang down to their Ancles on their Stomachs hang the ends of a hairy Skin ty'd together which hanging also over their Shoulders cover their hinder Parts They shew great Respect and Obedience to their Husbands Each House is surrounded with an Earthen Wall and all the Corners thereof being close stopp'd and Fires made in the midst of them they are very warm Rushes and Flags strow'd thick on the Ground near the Walls serve them in stead of Beds Drake's Entertainment by the King of the Countrey The rumour of these Strangers arrival spreading all over the Countrey made the Inhabitants far and near desirous to see them the King himself sending Ambassadors to Drake to inform him that he was on the Way coming to see him all which the Agents related at large and desir'd some Presents as a testimony that their King should be welcome which he being assur'd of came with a Retinue of above twelve thousand Men before whom walk'd one of a Gygantick size carrying a costly Scepter on which by three long Chains made of Bones hung a great and a small Crown made of Feathers next follow'd the King himself in a Sute of Cony-Skins then came a great confus'd company of People each of them carrying a Present whereupon Drake putting his Men into good order march'd to meet the King at which the Mace-bearer made a long Preamble and when he had done Danc'd to the Tune of a Song which he Sung himself then the King and his whole Retinue also fell a Singing and Dancing so long till being weary the King went to Drake and humbly desir'd of him that he would accept of the Realm assuring him that all the People should be under his Obedience which said he put the fore-mention'd Crown on his Head and hanging three double Chains about his Neck call'd him Hioh whereupon Drake took possession of the Countrey in Queen Elizabeths Name The King staying alone with Drake his Retinue went amongst the English every one looking very earnestly upon them and to those whom they lik'd best being the youngest they falling down and crying proffer'd Offerings as to Gods and held their Cheeks to draw Blood out of them which the English refusing they desisted but shew'd them great Wounds and desir'd some Plaisters of them which they suppli'd them with The English going up into the Countrey found the same well grown with Woods which abounded with Coneys whose Heads differ'd little from the European but having Feet like Moles long Tails like Rats and in their Sides a Bag wherein when they had fill'd their Bellies they put the remainder They also saw numerous Herds of Deer with whose Flesh having been courteously Entertain'd in several Villages they return'd to the Fleet. Drake just before he weighed Anchor caus'd a Pillar to be set in the Ground with a Silver Plate on the same A Monument erected by Drake before his departure with an Inscription mentioning the Day of his Arrival Name and Arms of Queen Elizabeth and free delivering of that Realm to him by the Indians he also nail'd a Sixpence with the Queens Effigies on the Plate under which he caus'd his own Name to be Engraven THE ISLANDS OF Northern America CHAP. XI Terra Nova or New-found Land with the Island of Assumption HAving treated at large of all the several Regions and Provinces of the North part of the Continent of America we come now to those Islands that lie within the same Degrees of Northern Latitude with that part of the Continent The first is Terre Neuve or New-found Land discover'd together with several other Parts upon the Continent before mention'd by Sir Sebastian Cabott by the Countenance and Charge of King Henry the Seventh of England whereupon a rightful Claim thereunto and Interest therein hath been own'd by the succeeding Kings of England as hereafter shall be more particularly related Situation and bound of New-found Land New-found Land is situated betwixt the Degrees of forty six and fifty three of Northern Latitude and is divided from the Continent of America by an Arm of the Sea in like distance as England is from France The Island is as large as England in length greater in breadth and lies near the Course that Ships usually hold in their Return from the West-Indies and is near the mid-way between Ireland and Virginia INSULAE AMERICANAE IN OCEANO SEPTENTRIONALI cum Terris adiacentibus We shall not much need to commend the wholsom temperature of this Countrey Temperature seeing the greatest part thereof lieth above three Degrees nearer to the South than any part of England doth so that even in the Winter it is pleasant and healthful as England is Nature of the Inhabitants The natural Inhabitants of the Countrey as they are but few in number so are they something a rude and salvage People having neither knowledge of God nor living under any kind of Civil Government In their Habits Customs and Manners they resemble the Indians of the Continent from whence it is to be suppos'd they come they live altogether in the North and West part of the Countrey which is seldom frequented by the English but the French and Biscainers who resort thither yearly for the Whale-fishing and also for the Cod-fish report them to be an ingenuous and tractable People being well us'd and very ready to assist them with great labour and patience in the killing cutting and boyling of Whales and making the Trayn-Oyl without expectation of other Reward than a little Bread or some such small Hire It hath the most commodious Harbours in the World Commodious Harbors and the most safe
Robert Gore Shares 3 11 S. Edwards Sackvile Shares 1 11 S. Iohn Davers Shares 1 12 M. Robert Gore Shares 2 13 M. Iohn Delbridge Shares 1 14 M. Iohn Wroth Esq Shares 1 15 M. Rich. Chamberl. Esq Shares 10 Ad Communem agram in singu lis Tribubus quol attinet in quot portiones dividatur et ibi inceat quemadmodum partim in Mappa Choragraphica exprimitur Ita eti am claribus liquet ex Libre Geo desiae Virginianae Societati tradito After the granting of the Patent aforesaid of 13 Car. 1. Sir David Kirk's great Pains there and constant Endeavours were beyond expectation bless'd with a continuance and preservation of Trade in that Place in the carrying on of which he had always a special regard to the real Advantage of this Kingdom and the particular Service of His Majesty The wonderful Bank of Terra Nova Before this Island right over against Cape Ray at the distance of twenty four Leagues or more there lieth an huge Bank or Ridge of Land extending it self in length out of the Sea above a hundred Leagues but in breadth not above four or five and twenty when it is broadest and in other parts much less sharpning towards each end into a Conus or narrow Point It is accounted one of the Wonders of the Sea which round about at some distance is very deep and hardly to be sounded especially betwixt the Bank for so they commonly call it and Cape Ray but drawing nearer it grows by degrees more and more shallow insomuch that nigh the Land there is not much more Water than is necessary for the Ships to Ride in It runneth out in length as was said from North to South from forty one Degrees of Latitude to fifty two and round about it there lie scatter'd a multitude of lesser Islands which Sir Sebastian Cabot when he first discover'd the Place call'd by one common Name Los Baccaloos or The Islands of Cod-fish The Baccaloos from the great quantity of that sort of Fish he there found which was such that they hindred the passage of his Ships and lay in such multitudes upon the Coasts that the very Bears would come and catch them in their Claws and draw them to Land The Isle of Assumption IN the Gulf of St. Laurence towards the Mouth of the River Canada is another less considerable Island said to have been first discover'd by Quartier and by him call'd The Island of Assumption by John Alphonso The Island of Ascension by the Natives Natistcotec It extends it self from the forty eighth to the fiftieth Degree between the South-East and North-West Quartier makes mention of a strange kinde of Fish found in the River of Canada like unto a Sea-Hog but having the Head of a Hare it is call'd by the Natives Adhothuys Not far from this is a little Island call'd by the French Isle de Sable or The Sandy Island and another on the West of Terra Nova call'd Isle de Bretons or The Island of St. Laurence besides several little scatter'd Islands in the Gulf of St. Laurence as Menego and The Three Islands of Birds in which are found a kind of amphibious Animal call'd by the French Cualrus and by the Russians Morsh somewhat like a Sea-Calf but more monstrous CHAP. XII The Bermudas or Summer-Islands Situation of the Bermudas THe Bermudas or Summer-Islands probably so term'd as to the first Appellation from certain black Hogs by the Spaniards call'd Bermudas which from a Ship bound with them to some other parts of the West-Indies and cast away upon that Coast swam ashore and there increased or as others say from John Bermudes a Spaniard who is said to have been the first Discoverer or as to the second from one George Summers an English-man who there suffer'd shipwrack are situated in thirty two Degrees and twenty five Minutes of Northern Latitude about sixteen hundred Leagues from England twelve hundred from Madera four hundred from Hispaniola and three hundred from the nearest Coast of Virginia The first that endeavour'd to settle Plantations here was a Spaniard nam'd Hernando Camelo being design'd Conductor in this Expedition And this Undertaking was so much the more eagerly prosecuted upon consideration that the Plate-Fleet Sailing from Havana through the Straights of Bahama might here have a convenient Harbour but those who were invited to become Adventurers with proffers of great Advantage shewing themselves very slack in the Business and Charles the Fifth being at that time intangled in War and other troublesom Affairs the Design came to nothing and for above sixty years after no farther Attempt was made by any for the Planting of these Islands till at last the French made a Voyage thither under Captain Barboriere but by Shipwrack were frustrated of their hopes nor made they any more Preparations in this Design In which nevertheless the English were not so easily discourag'd for first Captain Gosnol and Smith set forth at the Charges of Mr. Edward Wingfield next Captain Nelson then successively West Gates Argal and Wyat but all with little or no success till at length in the Year 1612. a Company was establish'd in London by the King's Letters Patents who sent one Mr. Richard Moor with sixty Men to the Bermudas where he spent three years in fortifying those Islands but that which put a little stop to this good beginning was a kind of Misfortune that hapned for the Rats which were gotten ashore from a Shipwrack increas'd so exceedingly that they devour'd all the Plants in the Field and the Provision in the Houses insomuch that a great Famine proceeded from thence all means to destroy the Vermine being in vain till at last Providence sent a Disease amongst them which â—â—ill'd them all in a very short time Mean while Moor went on in the fortification of the Island and was ere long supply'd with fresh People Mr. Barlet was sent over with sixty Men and carried from thence with him eighty Pound of Ambergreece And soon after three Ships more viz. the Blessing the Star and the Margaret convey'd thither four hundred and ten Men and Women As soon as Moor was call'd away Daniel Tuckard coming from Virginia to succeed him bestirr'd himself very much Planting all places full of Trees fetch'd from the West-Indian Islands as also Tobacco with which he fraighted a Ship to London Moreover the Countrey was divided into Acres that every Planter might have an equal share and know his own Lands Anno 1619. Tuckard was succeeded by Nathaniel Butler who in four Ships brought thither five hundred Men and Women to supply the first Plantation which was much decay'd since the Rats had devour'd their Provisions so that it was little look'd after by the Company in London But now they built a Church and erected a Court of Judicature and all things were order'd conveniently for the publick good After which many Noble Persons set Sail thither in the Magazine Frigat and the Planters being now
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
into the Water to try whether he would drown or not and seeing him wholly depriv'd of Life he concluded by consequence that the rest of them were mortal and thereupon he set upon them when they were seeking for Gold and kill'd above a hundred and fifty of them Peter Martyr relates farther That these People though very expert in Arms yet were oftentimes beaten by the Cannibals who at one time carried above five thousand People out of Porto Rico for their Winter Provisions The Avarice and Cruelty of the Spaniards Nor was their Condition better'd after the Spaniards conquer'd the Island for those that could not furnish them with Gold were certain of Death Nor were their Cruelties in other places undivulg'd to this People before their Arrival whereupon as is related by Peter Ordonnez de Carellos the Casique Hatvey being inform'd of the Spaniards Approach took an Oath from his Subjects That they should never discover where the Gold lay though they should be put to death for it For said he Gold is their God for which they make so many cursed Blood-baths where-ever they come therefore throw the Gold into some very deep Waters for when the Spanish God is sunk the Spaniards will lose their Courage and not plague us so much for it Ceremonies of the old Natives Many were the Idolatrous Ceremonies of the old Natives of this Place which would be too tedious to relate but amongst the rest they annually kept a great Feast at which the Casiques summon'd all their Subjects to a Temple appointed for that purpose where the Priests had prepar'd an Idol ready set forth in all its Pageantry near which the Casique plac'd himself when upon the beating of a Drum all the Commonalty came also into the Temple the Men painted with divers Colours having on their Heads Plumes of Feathers about their Necks Legs and Arms Strings of Sea-shells The Married Women had a light Covering about their Middle but the Maids went stark naked all of them Dancing and Singing Songs in praise of the Idol after which having saluted the Casique they thrust little Sticks down their Throats so to bring up all they had upon their Stomachs which done and sitting down with their Legs under them they began to Sing anew often bowing and shewing Reverence to the Casique whilest some Women carried Baskets of Bread amongst those that Sang and utter'd certain Prayers which were answer'd by some of the Men the Bread being bless'd by the Priests they gave every one a piece with which they return'd home very merry and jocund But the God of this Island whoever he was hath been a long time left without Worshippers for those that were left by the Invading Cannibals were cruelly massacred by the Spaniards insomuch that they have been thereby necessitated to furnish themselves with Negro's to work in their Mines and Sugar-Mills and these also not able to endure such hard Entertainment ran most of them away for when a Negro did not bring Gold enough home at Night his Master tying him naked to a Stake or Post and beat him with Rods or Switches so long till the Blood ran down his Back then pour'd boyling Oyl into the Wounds and then threw Pepper and Salt into them and so let him lie or else put him into a Pit out of which his Head appear'd onely But those that fled gathering together sometimes met with the Spaniards and paid them in their own Coin The Islands Mona and Monico EAstward of Porto Rico and betwixt it and Hispaniola there lieth a little but fruitful Island call'd Mona and Westward of that another call'd Monico or Monetta which last the English when time was found so admirably stor'd with a sort of wild Fowl that the huge Flights of them seem'd to darken the Air over their Heads and upon their Landing found such plenty of their Eggs upon the Shore and Ground thereabouts that they presently laded two of their Boats with them But how peopled or possess'd not so well known CHAP. XV. Cuba The several Names of Cuba VVEstward or rather to the North-West of Hispaniola lieth Cuba accounted one of the four Isles of Barlovento and by Columbus upon his first Discovery call'd Joanna afterwards Fernandina then Alpha and Omega till at last the present Name prevail'd it is parted from the other by a Frith or narrow Channel which runneth betwixt the Capes of St. Nicholas belonging to Hispaniola and that call'd Mayzi belonging to Cuba Its Bounds On the North it hath a Frie of little Islands call'd The Leucayae Islands of which more in their proper place so many and so thick scatter'd that they serve for no small Security and Defence of the Island on that side besides a part of the Peninsula of Florida which Coasteth it likewise Northward on the West it hath the Countrey of Jucatan which is part of the Continent but at a distance of forty or fifty Leagues and on the South Jamaica It is reckon'd to be in length from Cape Mayzi which looks towards Hispaniola to the Cape of St. Anthony which is upon the Bay of Mexico two hundred and thirty Leagues but in breadth in some places not above fifteen or sixteen Leagues over in the broadest place from Jardines to Lucanaca not above forty in others sixty five But for fertility of Soil contending with Hispaniola it self and for temperature and healthiness of Air much exceeding it nor less rich formerly in good Mines both of Gold and Silver and plentifully stor'd at present not onely with Sugar-Canes of the best Growth but likewise with abundance of Ginger-Roots Cassia-Fistula Mastick Aloes Cinamon Long-Pepper of America as they call it and divers other sorts of Spices The Pastures no less abounding with Cattel of all sorts especially of European Breed the Rivers and Coasts of the Sea with good Fish no scarcity of Fowl whether wild or tame good Brass and Iron still found with some Gold in the Rivers especially those which fall into the Bay Xagua on the South side of the Island the chiefest thereof are Arimao La Luna De Mares and Cauto the biggest of them falls Southward into the Sea all of them breed store of Crocodiles which have oftentimes seiz'd both upon Men and Beasts and carrying them into the Water devour'd them there The Cedars breathe forth a most excellent sweet smell Trees and grow so large that out of the single Trunks of some of them Boats are said to have been made capable to hold forty sometimes sixty Men. There are also many other very odoriferous Trees yielding a certain Rozen or Gum no less precious than the Storax But nothing grows here more plentifully than Vines Birds the Bodies or Stocks of which are as thick as a Man 's Middle and bear excellent Grapes Besides Partridges Turtle-Doves and other Fowl the Sea-shore breeds thousands of Cranes which when young are white but when old become of several Colours they stand commonly
come out of the West-Indies have their place of Rendezvouz here and from hence set Sail altogether for Spain The City stands along the Haven and hath two Churches with spiry Steeples The Houses are now built after the Spanish manner Havana several times Assaulted and taken But Havana was not so strongly fortifi'd in former times for Anno 1536. it could not resist a mean French Pyrate who losing the rest of his Fleet was driven hither by Storm and conquering Havana had burnt the same consisting at that time of woodden Houses cover'd with Thatch had not the Spaniards redeem'd them from the Fire for seven hundred Ducats with which Money the French set Sail when the day following three Ships arriv'd from New Spain before Havana and having unladed their Goods and preparing themselves for Battel pursu'd the Pyrate whom getting sight of the Admiral who Sail'd before durst not venture to Engage him alone but staid for the other two Ships from which cowardly Action the French Pyrate taking Courage fell on the Spanish Admiral who without firing a Gun ran his Ship ashore and deserted the same the next Ship thereby discourag'd Tacking about made away from the Enemy on which the third also follow'd insomuch that at last they were all three taken by the French who encourag'd with this unexpected Victory steer'd their Course a second time to Havana where they got as much more Money from the Inhabitants as before After this the Spaniards built all their Houses of Stone and a Fort at the Mouth of the Harbor yet nevertheless the City lay open on the Land side of which the English Fleet Cruising about in those Seas being inform'd Landed not far from Havana and enter'd the City before Day-break the Spaniards thus suddenly surpriz'd fled into the Woods whilest the English plunder'd and ransack'd the City without any resistance But this was not the last Blow which Havana receiv'd for during the Wars between the Emperor Charles the Fifth and the French King Henry the Second a Ship set Sail with ninety Soldiers from Diep to Cuba where they made themselves Masters of St. Jago and carried great Treasure away with them Thus enrich'd they set in the Night on Havana but found their Expectations frustrated for all the Houses were empty the Spaniards being so often Plunder'd having remov'd all their Goods to their Countrey Houses which lay scattering about the Island Whilest the French were searching the Houses two Spaniards came under pretence of agreeing with them but their Design was chiefly to take an Account of their Enemies Forces The French demanded six thousand Ducats of them to which the two Spaniards reply'd That all their Goods would not raise so much then going to their Party inform'd them of the number of the Enemies and their Demands whereupon Consulting some judg'd it best to comply with a forc'd Necessity and if they could not get any thing abated to pay the demanded Sum but most of them were of another opinion alledging That the number of the French was not equivalent to their Demands and that it would not be for their Credit to yield up their Estates so tamely without trying their Title by the Sword This being judg'd fittest they march'd to Engage them with a hundred and fifty Men which about Midnight fell on the French and at the first Onset slew four of them but upon the firing of the Gun they were all alarm'd and after a small Skirmish put the Spaniards to flight The Conquerors enrag'd at this treacherous Plot of the Spaniards set fire on Havana in which at that time was a good quantity of Pitch and Tarr with which the Gates Windows Roofs and Pent-houses being all bedaub'd over were in few hours all in a light Flame after which the Churches in order for their firing were also going to be over-laid with the same combustible Matter at which a Spaniard boldly desir'd that the Temples erected for Gods Service might be spar'd to which he was answer'd That People who keep not their Promise nor had any Faith had no need of Churches to profess their Faith in The French not satisfi'd with burning pull'd down the Walls and utterly demolish'd the Fort. The Haven Xagua The Haven Xagua also is not inferior to any the Mouth thereof being a Bowe-shot wide and within ten Leagues The Ships are securely shelter'd behind three Islands and also the Mountains which rise along the Shore Moreover the Inlet Matanca is not onely eminent by reason of the round Mountain Elan de Matancas which rises from a low Ground The Success of Admiral Peter Hein but chiefly for the Expeditions of Admiral Peter Peterson Hein who being sent out by the West-India Company to Cruse up and down before Havana with one and thirty Sail was from thence by a strong Current driven down to Matanca where he stood from the Shore when ten Ships came just running amidst his Fleet and were all taken but one About Noon they discover'd nine Ships more which Sailing along the Shore got into the Inlet Matanca where they ran aground whither Hein following came up to them the next Morning by Break-of-day and after a small Resistance took them being valu'd to be worth above a hundred and fifteen Tun of Gold besides the Musk Ambergreece and Bezoar with which two other Ships were laden and another rich Prize This large Island Cuba as we have before observ'd formerly divided into so many populous Territories is now in a manner desolate for according to the Spaniards Relation to the Admiral Henry Jacobson Lucifer when he was before Havana Cuba had upon it not above sixty thousand Persons in all in Anno 1627. But who-ever Reads that which Bishop Bartholomeo de las Casas hath written in his Book Printed first in Sivill in the Spanish Tongue and afterwards with the King of Spain's leave in French at Antwerp will easily find the reason why Cuba and many other Indian Countreys lie so desolate and how sensible the Indians were of the Spaniards usage appears by this following Story related by the said Bishop of a Casique call'd Hathuey who before the Spaniards approach'd his Countrey Anno 1511. fled from Hispaniola to Cuba where afterwards he was taken by the Spaniards and condemn'd to be burnt alive with green Wood whilest he was tying to a Stake a Franciscan Monk Preach'd to him the Mysteries of the Christian Religion of which he had never heard and likewise that he should ascend up to Heaven if he dy'd in that Belief but if not burn perpetually in Hell Whereupon Hathuey asking the Franciscan If there were any Spaniards in Heaven and being told there were answer'd I will rather converse amongst the Devils in Hell than amongst the Spaniards whose Cruelty is such that none can be more miserable than where Spaniards are Before we conclude the Description of Cuba it will be material to add some Passages of a Letter from Major Smith Governor of the Isle of Providence
made prodigious Attempts to thrust them with his Horn which he turn'd with an inexpressible dexterity and nimbleness and that if he had had as much Water under him as would have born him up he would have been too hard for them all When the Entrails were taken out it was found that he liv'd by Prey for there were within him the Scales of several kinds of Fish What could be preserv'd of this miraculous Animal especially the Head and the precious Horn fastned in it hung up near two years at the Guard-house of the Island till Monsieur Le Vasseur the Governor of it presented one Monsieur Des Trancarts a Gentleman of Xaintonge who had given him a Visit with the Horn. Not long after coming over in the same Ship with the Gentleman who had that precious Rarity put up in a long Chest our Ship was cast away near the Island of Payala one of the Assores and all the Goods were lost but nothing so much regretted as the loss of that Chest The Natives how call'd The Natives call themselves Cubao-bonon that is Inhabitants of the Islands and Caribbeeans which last Denomination was not onely receiv'd amongst the American Isles but also on the Main Continent of the Northern and Southern America long before the Spaniards coming thither Concerning the original of these People there are several Opinions Their Original for those who make them to be Extracted from the Jews have no other testimony but that they abstain from Swines-flesh Those that take them for a People fled from the great Islands Hispaniola Jamaica Cuba and Porto Rico to save themselves from the Spaniards Cruelty dispute against a known Truth for who knows not that the Indians who escap'd the Spanish Slaughter have not the least resemblance either in Language or Customs with the Cannibals nay more they are mortal Enemies to them besides that the Cannibals at that time when Columbus first arriv'd possess'd those Places which they now inhabit The Cannibals seem ignorant themselves in this Point for they affirm their Extraction to be from Guyana where the Calibites speak the same Language and also observe the same Customs and Religion The occasion of their removal they ascribe to the King of the Arovages who made all the adjacent People about his Court Slaves to him which to prevent they first went to Tabago where being strengthned by new Comers they resolv'd to take revenge on him and Engaging with him in a Field-Battel utterly defeated him and spat'd none of his Party alive except the Women whence it proceeds that the Arovage Women have the same Customs and Language with the Caribbeans But Bristock an English Knight by long Conversation experienc'd in the severall American Tongues saith That the Caribbeeans have their Original from the Apalachites in Florida who being a valiant People destroy'd many of the Natives that inhabited Mexico that so they might Settle themselves there to which purpose they built a City like that of Apalache The Cofachites inhabiting Northerly and spred over a barren and Rocky Countrey made use of this opportunity to conquer their deserted Habitation for on a set-time they set fire to all the Villages and spoyl'd all things which they could not carry away with them that not the least hopes of returning might be left them therefore they must either Conquer or Die which resolv'd upon they fell unawares on the Apalachites whose King had nevertheless so much time that he Guarded the usual Paths which directed to the inhabited Villages But the Apalachites leaving the common Roads climb'd over almost inaccessible Mountains and so got into the heart of the Countrey which exceedingly amaz'd Paracousis for so that King was call'd who lay Encamp'd at the Foot of a Mountain whether the Van of the Apalachites were marching whereupon he sending his Army to meet them they began a most fierce Combat when at last both Parties wanting Arrows they fell upon one another with Clubs till the Night parted them The Cofachites come to Terms of Agreement with the Apalachites and neither could boast of the Victory At last this War was turn'd into Peace and the Articles of Agreement were these viz. That the Cofachites should for ever possess the Province Amana and become one People with the Apalachites and acknowledge the King of Apalache for their Chief Governor After which the Cofachites were call'd Caribbeeans which signifies Accidental Subjects But these two sorts of People did not long agree They fall off for the Caribbeeans sleighted the Customs of the Apalachites in the Countrey Bemarin and at the same time threw off their Obedience to the King chose one Ragazin for their Governor subdu'd the neighboring Province Matika and at last defi'd the Apalachites who inferior to them in Strength and making use of subtilty suppos'd it the best way to make a Difference amongst the Caribbeeans themselves to which the Priests freely proffer'd their Assistance and their Design prov'd also successful for the Caribbeeans regarding no Religion onely dreading the angry Deity Mabouya the Apalachite Priests call'd Jaova's Are brought to worship the Sun took great pains to perswade their Neighbors to the worshipping of the Sun which so prevail'd that a considerable number of them ascending the Mountain Olaimi fell down and shew'd Reverence to that celestial Luminary which Opportunity Paracousis taking notice of caus'd the Jaova's to publish amongst the Caribbeeans That in the beginning of the Maairims or March a great Feast should be held in Reverence to the Sun on the usual place where the King would Entertain and give Presents to all the Worshippers thereof The Sun generally worshipp'd by the antient Heathens How great a Religion this Sun-worship was antiently amongst the Gentiles appears from the Writings of several authentick Authors The Syrians whose Idolatry the Israelites learn'd honor the Sun by the Name of Bahal which signifies Lord. The Phenicians call'd the Sun Beel-samen Lord of the Heavens and the Citizens of Accaron Baal-zebahim Lord of the Offerings but God chang'd the Name to Baalzebub or The God of Flyes Moloch or Milcom also signifi'd the Sun amongst the Ammonites in honor of which Children were carried by their Parents and set between two great Fires or else by the Priests upon pretence of cleansing them and sometimes parch'd to death in an Image of Moloch which had seven Cavities heated like Ovens Macrobius tells us That the Assyrians ascrib'd the supream Command to the Sun under the Name of Adad and to the Goddess Adargatis representing the Image of Adad with Beams darting downwards and Adargatis with those that shot upwards by the first they express'd that the celestial Power consisted in Sun-beams which shooting downwards warm the Earth and by the second that all things by those Beams were cherish'd and enliven'd The most magnificent Temple which Syria Apamena boasted was Consecrated to the Sun The Arabians Offer'd Myrrhe on the tops of their Houses at the Rising of
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
so call them formerly inhabited by a valiant People call'd Tarabe de Zenu whether chiefly the dead Bodies were brought from all the adjacent Countreys to be buried in great State as hath been before intimated Towns and Places of principal note The principal Towns and Places of note are 1. Charthagena so call'd either from the resemblance of its Situation with the City Carthagena in the Kingdom of Murcia belonging to Old Spain or because the first Inhabitants were Citizens of the said City which was begun to be built Anno 1532. by Peter de Heredia but fully finished by Georgio Robledo eight years after the first Foundation thereof was laid This Episcopal Metropolis is on the North wash'd by the North Sea over a plain shallow Ground on the Land side the Sea flows through a narrow Bay by the City towards the Lake Canupote which ebbs and flows equal with the Ocean and receives and discharges its Water through two Pipes which lie under along Bridge The Description of Carthagena joyning Carthagena to the Main Coast This City boasted long since above five hundred Stone Houses being divided into twenty six large Streets whereof four are six hundred and twenty Paces long behind each House is a Garden and the Church appears above all the other Buildings The Dominicans Cloyster is also fairly built neither is the Franciscans inferior to it who also possess a second Edifice on the Main Continent over the Bridge The Custom-house and Court where the Courts for the whole Province of Carthagena art kept are also stately Structures The Haven hath two Entrances the chiefest whereof lies half a League Eastward from the City and the Western call'd La Boca is as far again both very dangerous because of the many blind Rocks that lie before them Anno 1585. when Sir Francis Drake took Carthagena by Storm the whole was fortifi'd with Sconces besides two Forts for the better security thereof whereof one lock'd up the narrow Mouth of the Haven with a strong Chain not far from which stood an Abbey Dedicated to the Franciscans and Wall'd round about since which they have several Out-works Forts and Towers to prevent all foreign Invasions The City grows wealthy daily by the Peruan Plate-Fleet putting in there before they go to Spain and especially by the Trade from New Granada along the River Magdalena The Island before the Haven antiently call'd Codega now Carex inhabited by Fisher-men when the Spaniards Landed there is now desolate the remainder of those that were destroy'd by them being fled to wild places from the Spaniards Cruelties notwithstanding the People hereabouts were valiant enough to Engage with them But since the Devastation made by Sir Francis Drake Carthagena hath receiv'd a more fatal Blow for it was scarce fully repair'd when five French Privateers burnt the City to Ashes which Mischief was occasion'd by a Spanish Seaman who being whipt by Command of the Governor resolving for Revenge went from Spain to France and conducted the fore-mention'd Ships to Carthagena where he reveng'd himself on the Governor for finding him asleep he first wak'd him and after having told him of his causing him to be Whipt he kill'd him The Booty which the Spaniards carried from thence at that time amounted to above a hundred and fifty thousand Ducats The Balsam of Tolu very famous 2. Tolu by the Spaniards now call'd St. Jago twelve Leagues distant from Carthagena a Place memorable for the excellent Balsam which is brought from thence and commonly call'd The Balsam of Tolu it is gather'd in a Spoonful of black Wax stuck under the Hole cut in the Bark of a low Pine-Tree out of which in hot Weather runs a Golden colour'd Gum very soveraign and of an excellent smell 3. St. Crux de Mopox a neat Town seated a little above the confluence of the two Rivers St. Martha and Magdalena which waters this Province 4. Baranca de Nolambo a Place of great Traffick especially for all Commodities of the new Kingdom of Granada it standeth upon the Banks of the River Magdalena and about six Leagues distant from the Sea 5. Buena Vista otherwise call'd St. Sebastian de Buena Vista a Town commodiously seated upon a rising Ground not far from the Gulf of Urraba or the Sound of Darien about a League and a half from the Sea 6. Villa de St. Maria thirty Leagues Southward of Carthagena Rivers of Carthagena The Province of Carthagena is stor'd with many Brooks and great Rivers amongst which the Stream Cauca falls into the River Magdalena beyond Popayan near Mopox The River Zenu which gives Denomination to the above-mention'd Territory makes a very convenient Harbor with its Mouth where much Salt is to be had The Daria which runs between Panama and Carthagena into the Inlet Urraba gives its Denomination to the foregoing Province through which it also runs as hath been already mention'd The River which for its greatness is call'd Rio Grande or Magdalena because it was discover'd on the Day Consecrated to that Saint falls with such force into the Northern Ocean about twenty three Leagues Eastward from Carthagena that running two Leagues broad and ten long into the Sea it retains its freshness of Water in which there lying many Rocks makes the same very dangerous for Ships In the Mouth of the Haven lies an Island which is divided by the River the widest and most frequented Channel of which respects St. Martha where those that carry the Merchandise up this Stream to New Granada spend two Moneths in Toeing whenas they come from thence in three Weeks Thunder and Lightning rages here many times after a terrible manner from Midnight till Morning In January there falls also abundance of Rain which gliding from the Mountains swells the River exceedingly SECT V. St. Martha Description of St. Martha ST Martha so call'd from the chief City of the Province is border'd on the West with New Andaluzia on the East with Rio de la Hacha on the North with the Ocean and on the South with New Granada It is about threescore and ten Leagues in length and not much less in breadth It was antiently distributed into several little Seignories Govern'd by Casiques or petty Princes viz. Pozigueica Betoma Buritaca Chimola inhabited by valiant Men and beautiful Women and above all the rest Tairona whose People for a long time maintain'd War against the Spaniards lying at the Foot of the high Mountains Sierras Nevadas whose snowy Crowns are seen thirty Leagues off at Sea and run along in a continu'd Ridge through Peru and Chili to the Straights of Magellan This Countrey was Discover'd and part of it Planted Anna 1524. by Roderic de Bastredas who afterwards was murder'd in his Sleep by his own People The Nature of the Climate and Commodities of the Countrey The Sun shines so exceeding hot near the Sea-coast that there is no enduring of the same but up in the Countrey the snowy Mountains
which on that side it is bounded having on the West Mare del Zur on the South Lima and on the East Los Quixos It lieth in a manner right under the Line and is said to be seventy two Leagues in length and in some places about twenty five in breadth The Winter begins here in October and continues till March in which fall mighty Showers and on the Mountains abundance of Snow but all the Summer long the Sun is seldom darkned with a Cloud Many of the Inhabitants die of a Giddiness in the Head about the beginning and end of Summer The POX also destroys many of the Natives with which Disease they are often born and give it to the Spaniards who are not able to abstain from the Indian Women they use Sassaparilla and the Wood Guaiacum to cure themselves with Here grow also many poysonous Herbs which the Peruvians make use of to poyson one another The Fruit Quaba In the farthest parts of Quito grows the salt and cooling Fruit Quaba two Handfuls long cover'd with a grey Rind and within full of white Pulp and hard Kernels The Tree Guaiaba The Tree Guaiaba hath a pale smooth Bark thick Boughs hard and glittering Leaves Flowers consisting of five Leaves not unlike a Peacock's Plume long Apples woolly without and within full of a pale red Pulp and eatable Stones the Root which spreads it self very much is sweet and when boyl'd cures the Bloody-flux This Tree grows in most places especially in low Grounds the more because the Kernels which the Birds picking out let fall on the Ground spring up in new Trees The Spanish Fruits as Peaches Cittrons Figs Pomegranates Pears Quinces and Oranges grow also here in great abundance but when ripe are subject to rot Moreover the Fields abound with Wheat Barley and Maiz the Pastures afford plenty of Grass for Oxen Horses and Sheep which bring forth Lambs twice in fourteen Moneths The Ocean and Rivers store of Fish the Stream Barbara us'd formerly to produce Gold also In moist Grounds the Inhabitants find abundance of Salt-petre the best that is for the making of Gun-powder The Inns Tambos For the Accommodation of Travellers Inns call'd Tambos are built near the High-ways exactly five Leagues distant one from another where all sorts of Provisions are sold at a set Price The Nature of the People The Natives antiently went Cloth'd in a Frock without Sleeves as wide on the top as at the bottom and pleited their long Hair They are strong well proportion'd in Body and subtile enough to learn any Art but treacherous inconstant and inclin'd to Drunkenness They were very hard also to be brought to receive the Roman Religion so that most of them would not suffer themselves to be Baptiz'd till they lay a dying They also drove a great Trade in Cotton Wooll and Cloth This Tract of Land produces Maiz and abundance of Mortuanos a Fruit resembling Damask Prunes which eaten in excess cause Drunkenness and Faintness The Lake Yaguarcocha signifying Bloody-Water because the Inga Guayanacava kill'd and drown'd twenty thousand there Towns and Places of chief note The chief Towns and Places of Note are 1. Caranguez antiently a Royal City where stood a sumptuous and stately Palace of the Kings of Peru now almost deserted The Palace built of Stone in a little Plain without either Mortar or Iron-work manifests its former glory by its Ruines 2. The Royal Castle of Atabalo or Ottavallis in the building of which the Ingas spar'd no Cost nor Charges and indeed it is a Structure no way inferior to any of the antient Roman Edifices Between this Castle and Cochequi a stately House lies a cold snowy Mountain Moreover the Spaniards have several Habitations along the Way to Quito and especially in the Valley Annaquito where the Vice-Roy Vela lost the Battel fought against Gonsalvo Pizarro 3. Quito commonly call'd St. Francisco de Quito There stood formerly here certain Palaces built by the Ingas but the City was re-built by the Spaniards at the Foot of a certain Ridge of Mountains which it hath on the North and North-West side of it and are said by Laet to cross the whole Countrey of Peru quite over from the South to the North Sea It was soon after the Building inhabited by five hundred Families of Spaniards at least besides Natives and well fortifi'd and might be thought a Town very well seated in all respects but for the neighborhood of a Vulcan which at times annoyeth it very much as namely in the Year 1560. when it vomited out such abundance of flaming Cinders and other sulphureous Matter that had it not been for a Shower of Rain unexpectedly falling would have much damnifi'd if not destroy'd the Place The Natives about Quito are more Moraliz'd than other Peruvians The Valleys which are warm'd by the Sun produce all manner of Fruit-Trees and large Vineyards and the Root Papas not unlike Apples The Quintla which is of 〈◊〉 heighth hath little Seeds of which a pleasant Liquor is boyl'd From Quito the High-way leads to Cusco along which at every four Leagues distance stands a brave Palace and from Cusco to Chili being in all above a thousand Leagues long The City built on a sandy Soyl is divided in the middle by a Moat over which lead several Bridges the Streets are large and â—â—eight and full of handsom Houses and at the ends of the four chief Streets four Market-places Besides the Cathedral are two other Churches â—â—dicated to the 〈◊〉 Sebastian and Blasâ—â—â— The Cloysters of Franciscan and 〈…〉 are 〈◊〉 small Ornament to the City Besides other stately Structures are the Residâ—â—◠〈…〉 the Receivers of the Kings Revenues to which the Peruvians that live aâ—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 being computed no less than fifty thousand in number â—ay Triâ—â—â— and to keep them in subjection the City Quito is always well storâ—d with aâ—◠〈◊〉 of Ammunition and Instruments of War The chiefest Trade hâ—â—◠〈…〉 Goats and other Cattel Cotton-Clothes Cloth Flax Haâ—s 〈…〉 â—â—gar and Salt which Salt being grey and bitter springs out of a Fountain in 〈◊〉 Counâ—â—y Mira. The Oyl Wine and Drugs which are us'd here are fetchâ—d from the South Sea up the River Ambato and from thence with Carts into the City 4. Thomebamba famous for a Royal Palace built there by some of the Ingas It lies Southward from Quito in the Province of Canares where two Rivers commix their Waters near a Plain abounding with Venison There yet remain considerable Ruines of this Palace in which one may discern the vast Dimensions of divers Rooms in some of which Arms were kept and in others Provisions and Clothes of which kind of Buildings or Magazines the Ingas had erected above a thousand in Peru especially along the High-way that they might have their Ammunition ready in all places if need should require On the left side of Thomebamba appeal'd the famous Temple of the Sun whose Gates were not onely curiously Painted but
the Citizens were destroy'd by him and their Houses burnt to Ashes The like Destruction and upon the same occasion befel the three Villages in the Province Bracomoros discover'd by Juan Parzel and Captain Vergara together with the Countrey Chichiapoios where Alphonso Alvarado built the Town Levanto surrounded with deep Caverns through which to the great strengthning of the City flow several Rivers Round about Puerto Viejo the Natives dwelt in Trees whom the Spaniards had much ado to bring under their subjection for their Countrey being barren and mountainous was not onely wanting in Provisions to feed an Army but the Peruvians also threw great Stones out of their Huts built in Trees and likewise Javelins and Pots full of boyling Water with which they did much mischief to their Enemies that Storm'd them who at last covering themselves with Boards cut down the Trees with which they falling were torn in pieces by the Spanish Dogs SECT IV. Lima. Situation and Description of the Province of Lima. LIma call'd also Los Reyos hath on the East Collao and some part of Cusco on the North Los Quixos and on the South Charcas The Countrey extendeth it self in length upon the Coasts of the South Sea two hundred and fifty some say full three hundred Leagues in length viz. from Cape del Aguia Northward on the Borders of Quito as far as Arequipa towards the South and runs Eastward to Brasile and Rio de la Palma The several Valleys of this Province In this Province are several very pleasant Valleys the first whereof is Motupe to which a sandy Way leads from St. Miguel de Valverde between barren Wilds from whence several Streams falling are immediately drunk up by the Sand wherefore all Travellers that go that way carry Water and Wine with them in Calabashes for twenty Leagues together which they Walk or Ride by Night because of the excessive heat of the Sun In the Valley Motupe grow abundance of Trees which receive nourishment from a River that springs up near the same Here is also much Cotton Not far from hence are the Valleys Xayanca formerly very populous and full of Palaces The River which flows through the middle is led in Trenches amongst the neighboring Fields The Valley Tuqueme is also very pleasant and the decay'd Palaces sufficiently testifie its former splendor The next being Cinto is no way inferior to Tuqueme and between both lie sandy Hills and barren Rocks on which grow neither Trees nor Herbs nor is any living Creature to be found upon them the Way through which being a whole days Journey cannot be travell'd without sure Guides The Valley Collique water'd by a River of the same Denomination and very thick set with Trees was formerly very populous but since the Spanish Wars it is become quite desolate for not onely a considerable number of them were slain by the Spaniards but also many destroy'd themselves Wives and Children of which Peter Martyr Councellor to the Emperor Charles the Fifth sets down several terrible Examples of which two were remarkable above the rest the first was after this manner The Spanish Captain Olandus Lying with the Daughter of an Indian Casique question'd when she grew big with Child Whether she was with Child by him and that he might know the real truth by Torture he caus'd her to be ty'd naked to a woodden Spit and laid to roast against a Fire made of green Wood so that she died in a most miserable manner upon which her Father ran in a rage with thirty of his Companions to Olandus's House where he kill'd his whole Family and locking all the Doors about the House set fire on the same into which when it was at its greatest heighth he and his Associates leap'd into the middle thereof Two tragical Passages The second Accident is also very terrible viz. An Indian Maid being Got with Child by a Spanish Ass driver acquainted her Father and Mother with it withal telling them that she was ready to suffer Death for her Offence and notwithstanding they freely pardoning and perswading her to the contrary she eat raw Juca which when boyl'd is a wholsom Food but if eaten raw certain though languishing Death which she perceiving ran to the next River where after having wash'd her self she broke off from a large Tree a Bough of five Foot long and making the end thereof very sharp fell upon the same and so kill'd her self Several other Ravish'd Maids taking example hereby hang'd themselves upon the Boughs of the same Tree But to proceed in our Description next to Collique lies the Valley Zana of the like bigness and famous for the City Miraflores The next is Pascayamo which exceeds all the former in fruitfulness and populousness of Inhabitants who before they were destroy'd by the Ingas were much fear'd by their Neighbors This Valley also was adorn'd with several fair Temples which are now turn'd into Cloysters Cattel Hogs and Goats breed here in very great numbers The chief Trade of this Place consists in Cotton and Linnen The Valley Chacama in which the Dominican Monks inhabit a brave Cloyster produces abundance of Sugar Four Leagues farther lies the spacious Valley Chimo so call'd from an old Peruvian Heroe which affords a pleasant Prospect by reason of the many Banquetting-houses built there by the Ingas No place in Peru is able to stand in competition with this for plenty of Provisions the Ocean and Rivers producing store of Fish the Countrey affording Cattel and all manner of Fruit. The Cotton which grows here is Shipp'd to the South Sea Chanca is a Valley chiefly considerable for the Town Arnedo which is situate therein of which more hereafter But the Valley Guanape not far from Chanca yields the best Peruvian Liquor Chica and hath a convenient Harbor for Ships The Plain Santa being overflow'd in the Winter is all overgrown for want of Inhabitants who were all destroy'd by the Spaniards The Woods hereabouts swarm with a sort of venomous Bug which exceedingly torments the Traveller Next follow in order the Valleys Guambaico very fruitful and Guarney abounding with Horses Hogs and other Cattel Spilbergen's Attempt Joris Spilbergen Landing here Anno 1615. found the Haven secure against all Winds and between the Shore and the Village Guarmey a Creek and somewhat farther a fresh-Water Pool on one side of which stood a decay'd Castle built of square Stone whereon the Hollanders set the States Flag and Garrison'd the same to secure those that fetch'd Water out of the fore-mention'd Pool In the aforesaid Village stood a Church with a spiry Steeple behind which rose high Mountains and at the Foot thereof a great Wood into which the Inhabitants fled with all their Goods so that Spilbergen found nothing but a little Meal a few Hens Hogs and Oranges in their Houses which whilest he was sending Aboard a small Body of Horse appear'd but immediately fled into the Woods The Hollanders staying here seven days were
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
from the fine Gold which is found there in great abundance Havens Isles and Points in Peru. Along the Sea-Coast of Peru belonging to the Jurisdiction of Los Reyos lie the following Havens Isles and Points South-East from the Promontory Aguya rises the Isle St. Roque out of the South-Sea Sea surrounded with Rocks and abounds with Birds of prey through the midst of it runs a River which divides the Island The Haven Malabrigo ill defended against the Winds cannot be entred by great Vessels unless in calm Weather Next follow the Harbors Guanape and Santa where the Ships us'd to furnish themselves with Water out of a fresh River Casuya and Guarmay both inhabited by Peruvians Near the Mouth of the Road Guara stands a large Salt-pan the Salt about which is found in great hard Pieces The Island Collao secures the Haven before Lima. Behind Cape Guarco lies the Lobos and not far from hence the Harbor Sangallan being so commodious that the Spaniards consider'd a long time whether they should build the City Los Reyos here The Promontory Nasca affords also good shelter for Ships and the Haven Hacari yields store of Refreshments Moreover the Streams Oconna Camana and Quilca discharge their Waters into the Sea The Haven Arequipa appears at its Mouth like a little Pool surrounded with Mountains Between Quilca and the River Tamboyalla lies the Isle Nuli and a little more Southward the Haven Paracca and Pisca and up in the Countrey the Village Yca where the most and best Peruvian Wine is to be had SECT VI. Los Charcas Situation and Description of Los Charcas LOs Charcas is the farthest Countrey Southward of the Kingdom of Peru reaching up as far as Chile with which on the South it is border'd having on the North Lima and Collao on the West Mare del Zur and on the East some Countreys not yet well discover'd which lie betwixt it and the Province of Paraguay or De la Plata The Countrey is said to be in length about a hundred and fifty Leagues measuring it directly or in a right Line from North to South but measuring it about along the Sea-Coast much about two hundred It is not very rich either in Corn or Cattel although in some parts it wanteth not good Pasturage but of unparalell'd Wealth in respect of the Mines of Gold and Silver which are here digg'd the principal whereof are those of Potosi and Parco The Mountains hereabouts are inhabited by the Cavinas who dwell in Stone Houses Their Neighbors the Canches are a subtile good natur'd and painful People breed many Sheep sowe Corn and catch plenty of Fish out of the Rivers Next comes in view the cold Countrey Conas On the right side towards the Southern Ocean the great Wilderness Parinacocha extends it self a vast way the Mountains round about are continually cover'd with Snow and the Dales have many deep Moors POTOSI 2. Oropesa a place of good Metal as a man may perceive by the Name It lieth in the rich and pleasant Valley Cochobamba twenty Leagues distant from La Plata 3. Potosi eighteen Leagues Westward from La Plata by the Spaniards call'd The Imperial City built at the Foot of a Mountain bearing the same Denomination on a barren Soil under a cold Climate though but twenty one Degrees to the South-ward of the Equinoctial Line the Cold proceeds from the high Lands which lie bare to the bleak and sharp Winds call'd Tomohavi which blow every year very fiercely from May till September But though the barren Countrey produces no Fruit yet no place in Peru hath greater plenty of all Provisions and Dainties than this the Markets being always full of Fruit Salt-Meat Maiz Papas Wheat Sugar Sweet-meats and all things that are requisite for the subsistence of Man-kind which are brought thither from all parts for the Silver which is there in such plenty As to what concerns the famous Mountain Potosi in the Countrey of Charcas it is of an Ash colour and rises above the adjacent Mountains in the form of a Sugar-Loaf on the top of it stands a Chappel to which leads a craggy Path which with a little care may be rid up with a Horse the heighth thereof is a thousand six hundred and twenty four Rods or a quarter of a League at the Foot thereof appears the Mine call'd Guaina Potosi that is The young Potosi near which the City Potosi stands being two Leagues in circumference and is adorn'd with a Church and Cloyster for the Dominicans and exceedingly resorted to by Traders In the time when the Ingas Govern'd Peru the Silver-Mines at Porco were very famous but it was not till after the arrival of the Spaniards that Silver was found in Guaina Potosi and by degrees the Silver Veins which lay hid in the great Potosi the manner of which Discovery was as followeth The occasion of the first Discovery of the Mines in Potosi A Peruvian call'd Gualpa who work'd in the Mines at Porco going a Hunting it chanc'd that the Game ran up the steep Mountain of Potosi which prevented his pursuing of it any farther but the Mountain being overgrown with Trees he got hold from one Bough to another to help himself up and at last taking hold of the Bramble call'd Quinua he pull'd the same out of the Ground and finding it heavy look'd upon it and espy'd a great lump of Silver hanging at the Root of it whereupon viewing the Hole he discover'd a rich Silver Vein of which taking some pieces home and melting them he found that it was the best Silver that ever he had known wherefore he privately got a greater quantity and by degrees grew extraordinary rich but though he carried his Design never so close yet he was at last suspected and especially by his Neighbor Guanca born in the Valley Xauxa who was the more jealous of him because he sold greater Bars of Silver than any were cast at Porco whereupon he resolv'd to speak to him and getting out the Secret it came to this Agreement between them That they should both be Partners and share the Booty Gualpa was to keep the Vein since call'd The Rich Vein and Guanca was to have another at present nam'd Diego Centeno but they agreed not long for Guanca finding much labor upon his Vein by reason of the hardness and that he could get no share in what Gualpa got acquainted his Spanish Master Vilaroel with it who rested not till he had found out the truth thereof for which Vilaroel obtain'd according to the Custom of Porco several Rods to work for himself onely paying the King one fifth part of what he got and so remain'd Owner of the Mine Centeno The Mine Potesi when discover'd This Discovery of the rich Mine Potosi is said to have hapned on the twenty fourth of April Anno 1545. Soon after which they found the Silver Vein Del Estanno which though it was very rich was difficult to be digg'd because of
the Governor thereof is always nam'd by the King of Spain himself and his Place estimated at fifty thousand Ducats per Annum 6. Tiaguanaco at the Estuary or Mouth of the Lake memorable onely for the Ruines of certain great and stupendious Buildings which antiently have stood there some of the Stones whereof are said to have been of thirty Foot length apiece fifteen Foot broad and six or seven Foot thick There were likewise found the Statues of certain Men excellently Carv'd and Wrought of a Gigantick stature or bigness and likewise vested in foreign and strange Habits not at all us'd nor ever known to have been us'd by the Peruvians themselves or by any other of the Natives of America 7. Nuestra Sennora de la Paz or Our Lady of Peace otherwise call'd Pueblo Nuevo It is but a small Town yet pleasantly seated upon the Banks of a River in a fair and fruitful Plain full of Springs Fruit-Trees Savanas and Fields of Maiz having Mountains on either side It lieth almost in the middle of the Province Chuquinabo fourteen Leagues distant from Cusco and as many from Potosi The Province Chuquinabo it self which in the Peruvian Tongue signifies Inheritance of Gold hath many rich Gold-Mines good Salt-pits and a temperate Climate except from the beginning of December till March in which time the continual Rains cause Feavers and Agues The Inhabitants being very poor People us'd to go naked in the Summer Season 8. Copavana two and twenty Leagues beyond Lopoz It is onely inhabited by Peruvians amongst whom an Image of the Virgin Mary long since erected there hath been ever in great veneration especially by reason of a Tradition of a great Miracle there perform'd for the Spaniards affirm That Johannes Anachoreta going a Journey of several Weeks from home plac'd a lighted Candle before the Image which during the time of his absence did not at all diminish A strange Earthquake at Angoanga An Accident which fell out in this Countrey is very remarkable viz. The Ground of an old Village call'd Angoanga then inhabited by eminent Necromancers began on a sudden to swell and the Earth to run like a broken Wave two Leagues overwhelming the Houses in Sand and filling up a neighboring Lake The like in Herefordshire in England Eight years before this terrible Earthquake here there hapned in the County of Hereford in England almost the same kind of prodigious Motion for not far from the Town Ledborough arose Marcely Hill to an exceeding heighth and moving along bury'd all whate're it met with after which manner it continu'd for the space of three days to the great terror of all that beheld it 9. Chilane 10. Acos 11. Pomata and some others all of them good Towns but not so considerable as those other Roads and High-ways made by the Ingas Concerning the Roads or High-ways it may well be said That none of the seven Wonders of the World can compare with any one of them neither was the Way that Appius Claudius made from Rome to Brundusium upon the repairing of which the Emperors Julius and Augustus spent great sums of Money fit to stand in competition with the Roads made by the Ingas in Peru for who cannot but admire at the consideration of so many Valleys fill'd with Mountains the hardest Rocks cut asunder Moors damm'd up great Stone Bridges laid over swift gliding Streams and through vast Wildernesses a Way made of twenty Foot broad inclos'd in high Walls extending from Quito to Chilo a thousand Leagues and at the end of every ten Leagues brave Houses or Magazines stor'd with Bowes Arrows Halberds Axes Clubs Clothes and Provision for twenty or thirty thousand Men. Some relate that Guainacava when he return'd Victor from the conquer'd Countrey Quito suffer'd great Inconveniences on the pathless Mountains and thereupon commanded his Subjects to make the fore-mention'd Way But it is more probable that this Master-piece was not the work of one Inga especially since besides the Way from Chili to Quito there leads another through the Mountains over the Plains from Cusco to Quito forty Foot broad and five hundred Leagues long inclos'd within two Walls The manner of the Peruvian Registers The Peruvians relate from the testimony of the Quipos much more concerning these High-Ways and other Buildings on them made by Guainacava These Quipos are Rowls of divers colour'd Strings full of all manner of Knots which serve in stead of Characters to keep their Chronicles in which were employ'd the Quipo-Camayos who being in the nature of our Secretaries Registred all Transactions performing the same with the several Strings and Buttons with which they gave Obligations Discharges and the like but besides the Quipos they also us'd Rings full of little Stones for the same purpose and knew with Maiz-Seed how to cast up an Account as well as the best Arithmetician with Figures Their Account of Time hung on the twelve Pillars Succanga erected on a Mountain beyond Cusco by the Inga Pachacuma that is The Regulator of the Year to shew the Course of the Sun and according to that their appointed Feast-days times of Sowing and Harvest Their Year begins in December The present State of Peru under the Spanish Government The Spanish Government in the Kingdom of Peru is setled at present in great tranquility and splendor The Vice-Roy who keeps a splendid Court in Lima otherwise call'd Los Reyos Commands over Chili and Terra Firma and never comes abroad without a Guard of forty Halberdeers when he travels by Land he is accompanied by the Arch-bishop and guarded by his forty Halberdeers a hundred Pike-men and fifty Musquetteers His Reign is generally not above six or eight years during which time he receives forty thousand Ducats per Annum out of the King's Exchequer The present flourishing Condition of the City Los Reyos The City Los Reyos hath been of late years very much enlarg'd and brought to a most flourishing Condition being exceeding populous and extending four Miles in length and half as much in breadth In the biggest Market-place is the City Hall and the Exchange where all things are brought to be sold Of the other three Markets two have their Denominations from St. Anne and St. Jacob the fourth is call'd El Santo de los Cavallos because nothing but Mules Asses and Horses are sold there The chief Church is Consecrated to St. John the Evangelist the other Three to Marcellus Sebastian and Anna. The Franciscans inhabit three Cloysters the Dominicans Augustines and Monks De la Merced each of them two besides two costly Structures for the Jesuits Other Orders have also five Cloysters here viz. the Creation Conception the Holy Trinity St. Joseph and St. Clara the three first have each of them a Church built hard by the several Cloysters Dedicated to the Santas Virgines del Montserratto Del Prado and De Loretto Each Cloyster contains above two hundred and fifty either Monks or Nuns Here are also
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
Bodies and through the black runs also a white Streak No Beast in the World is hardier than this for though it fasts twelve days and is afterwards flay'd alive yet it will live several hours after The Lakes in Brasile are for the most part overgrown with Weeds just like a Field yet are exceeding full of Fish and Fowl Where the Sea runs into the Lakes great multitudes of Crabs are seen crawling along the Ground and the Oysters hang in Clusters on the Boughs of a Plant call'd Manyle or Mangues The Plant Manyle which grow with their Roots either near or in the Water in such a manner that new Bodies still shoot from the old Roots which prevents easie access to the chief Plant on whose uppermost Leaves after Sun-rising sticks very white Salt which in the Night or in a cloudy Day turns to a brackish Dew Moreover those places where Brasile rises with Hills and Mountains are likewise very fruitful except the barren tops of some which seem to kiss the Skyes and though the fruitful Mountains flourish in the time of the rainy Months yet many of the Trees which grow on them die in Summer and their Ashes being burnt by the Inhabitants are us'd in stead of Dung. Some Woods extend themselves three hundred Leagues in length and are full of Trees so tall that an Arrow shot upwards falls short of the top of them and a Boat may be made out of the Body which can carry a hundred and fifty Men. On the great Boughs of these mighty Trees grow other excrescent Shrubs after the manner of Misseltoe which proceed from the Kernels swallow'd and muted upon them by the Birds that light there In some places also grow also Sweet-wood Trees which afford either excellent Gums or Wood to Dye with amongst which the chief is the Ibiripitanga which yields the Brasile Wood that gives Denomination of Brasile to this vast Tract of Land Description of the Tree Ibripitanga The Tree Ibripitanga is tall and spreading hath sad colour'd Bark full of short Thorns the Leaves are green and differ in form but little from the Box-Tree Leaf the Boughs shoot forth other lesser full of yellow and sweet-smelling Flowers which falling off are succeeded by a flat long Cod of a dark grey colour full of little red Pulse the upper part of the Tree is not good to Dye with but onely the lower part of the Body which because the Tree grows far up in the Countrey is not transportable without much trouble But the Tatai-iba grows in the Woods along the Shore The Tree Tatai-iba the Bark being of an Ash-colour invests a yellow Wood the Leaves are sharp and notch'd the Fruit not unlike Mulberries pale juicy and full of white Seed the Wood boyl'd Dyes a pure Yellow It is observable not onely of this Tree but generally of the Trees of this Countrey that they neither flourish nor shed their Leaves all over at once nor do several Trees of the same kind and growing here germinate or fade together for whilest one is fullest of Blossoms the other is without Leaves and whilest the same Tree sheds its Leaves on one side the other side is newly Budded The European Plants and Herbs with soft Roots being once Planted in Brasile come to be hard and lignifi'd There is also great difference according to the Ground in which they are Planted for such Plants and Trees as in the Plains are but small and tender grow ten times higher if Planted in the Woods All sorts of Indian Pulse grow higher than the tallest Trees like high Arbors under which both Men and Beasts may shelter themselves from the Sun or Rain Far up into the Countrey amongst the Mountains inhabit Canibals or Man-eaters The Europeans that first travell'd that way found the Countrey very fertile and full of People especially in the Valleys but somewhat incommoded by the want of Water and the excessiveness of the Heat in the Day and of the Cold in the Night In some places the Countrey is so over-grown with Brambles that they are forc'd to cut their way through the same But there are a sort of Thistles which having concave Leaves receive the Dew and Rain for the accommodation of the Natives Besides Serpents and Dragons the Tygers are most of all to be fear'd when hungry but once satisfi'd are easily taken Dogs Oxen Sheep and Horses thrive also exceedingly in most parts of Brasile The Nature of the Brasilians The Brasilians live to be very old without being Bald or Grey There are seldom or never to be seen squint-ey'd lame decrepid or any deformed People notwithstanding the Children are never Swath'd but thrown into cold Water as soon as born The Men generally have a very near resemblance one with another as also the Women so that there is not such a difference betwixt Man and Man there as amongst other People There is scarce any Sickness heard of in these Parts for besides a long Life they enjoy the benefit of Health so long as they live They trouble not themselves with much Business and in one Hut whose Covering consists of Palm-Leaves dwell several Families together Their manner of Living The general Bread of the Brasilians is the stamp'd Root Mandihoka besides which they also eat all manner of Fruit and Plants and many times Flesh which they either eat boyl'd broyl'd or stew'd their Boyling is after this manner First they kindle their Fire with two Sticks the one of hard and the other of soft Wood the hard they make sharp at the end and fix the same into the soft which setting on fire they immediately lay Cotton thereupon or else dry Leaves and so boyl the Flesh in round Earthen Pots call'd Camu but they account that better which is stew'd in a Pot the bottom whereof is cover'd with Leaves on which they lay the Flesh then stopping the same close on the top with Earth and Leaves they make Fire over it so long till they think the Flesh to be sufficiently stew'd Their Broyling they perform by fixing forked Stick into the Ground over which they lay several others like a Gridiron and upon them the raw Flesh cut in long Slices and Pepper'd and Salted then make a Fire under the same till it is enough and their Meat so dress'd keeps good fourteen days Their Fish either boyl'd or broyl'd is eaten with the Sawce Juquitinga The little Fish Piaba and Piquitinga they make up in Rolls and lay them under hot Ashes Both with their Flesh and Fish they eat for Bread as hath been said the Meal of the Root Mandihoka which they taking up with three Fingers throw into their Mouthes so dexterously that not the least scrap falls besides They never observe any set hours to eat for they make several Meals in the Day and sometimes in the middle of the Night if their Appetite serves and neither drink nor speak whilest they are at their Meat They sleep in spread Hammocks
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
time four hundred Hollanders Sallying out made a furious Onset upon the two Regiments who had possession of the Cloyster Bento where the Spaniards sustain'd considerable damage for besides the wounding of three Captains and the loss of a great number of Soldiers there were slain the Commanders Emanuel Aquitara Alonso de Gana Pedro San Stevan Diego Espinosa and Colonel Pedro Osorio But Toledo no whit dismay'd hereat but taking fresh courage brought twenty nine Demi-Culverins ashore which fir'd so vehemently out of the Carmelites and Bento's Cloysters on the seventeen Dutch Ships that lay near the Shore that several of them were sunk and others shatter'd beyond hopes of ever being repair'd After this the Spanish Army was divided into three several Parties which continually fir'd on the City from three new rais'd Works the chiefest Party which was in the Carmelites Minster had twenty three Brass Guns the secon'd plac'd on the great Wall of the Cloyster Bento fir'd Night and Day with eight Demy-Cannons on the City in which all things were in a confusion whilest the Governor William Schouten went unconcern'd from one Tavern to another railing at the Soldiers who thereupon mutinying and deposing him chose Serjeant Hans Ernst Kyf in his room who as he was calling a Council of War receiv'd a Summons from Toledo to deliver up the City at which Kyf being much surpris'd sent a Drummer with a Letter to Toledo desiring him to grant the Besieged three Weeks time to repair and make fit their batter'd Vessels to carry them back for Holland and also that they might according to Martial Custom march out with lighted Matches flying Colours Bullets in their Mouths and with Bag and Baggage To which Toledo return'd Answer That he was now in his own Countrey and had gotten possession of four Fortifications about St. Salvador on which he had planted thirty seven Cannons and therefore saw no such necessity to grant the Besieged who could not possibly expect any fresh Supplies such advantageous and bold Demands and onely promis'd them their Lives should be at his discretion Yet at last William Stoop Hugh Antoniszoon St. Salvador re-taken by the Spaniards from the Hollanders and Francis du Chesne being sent to the Carmelites Cloyster agreed with Toledo on these Conditions That the Hollanders should surrender St. Salvador in the Condition it was then in march out unarm'd but with Baggage and have a free Pussage with Provisions and all things necessary allow'd them for their Trasportation for Holland Whereupon on the first of May the City was deliver'd up to the Spaniards in such disorder that some of them had taken possession of the Gate Bento before those on the other side of the City knew of any Agreement that was made between Toledo and Colonel Kyf And thus the Place which had a whole year been under the Jurisdiction of the Netherlanders fell again under the possession of the Spanish Crown onely through the indiscreet management of the Commanders for otherwise it was sufficiently strong and well stor'd with Ammunition and Men being able to make out two thousand Moreover the Ketch De Haes was set out before from the Holland Fleet and brought news of the Forces that were sent from the Netherland Havens to their assistance But the Ships under Admiral Lam as also those under Boudewyn Henriczoon were stay'd a considerable time in their Harbors by contrary Winds and at last reaching the Line were becalm'd and through the excessive heat of the Climate many Men lost by raging and mortal Distempers insomuch that they reach'd not the Bay Todos los Sanctos before the twenty sixth of May on which they saw the Spanish Flag streaming from the Walls of St. Salvador and fifty great Ships riding at an Anchor near the Shore The Netherland Fleet divided into four Squadrons consisted of thirty four Sail amongst which Lam carry'd the Flag on the Main-top the Vice-Admiral Adrian Cheszoon on the Fore-top the Rere-Admiral Adries Veron on the Main-mast and the Commander of the fourth Squadron on the Mizne-top All of them seeing the Spaniards absolute Masters judg'd it most convenient to put to Sea but standing a pretty while to the South they found that the strong Current drove them to the Shelves on the West-side of the Inlet wherefore Tacking about they made towards the Enemy who at first seem'd to meet them with twenty eight great Ships but returning towards the City the Hollanders also stood to Sea again Steering Southerly though without making much advantage in their Way the Sea going very hollow and the strong Current setting them towards the Shore by which means they were in no small danger before the River Francisco where many of the Men dy'd for want of fresh Provisions and the number of the Sick increas'd daily insomuch that some of the Ships were like to perish for want of Men to guide them It was also judg'd dangerous to lie longer with such a great Fleet near a Lea-Shore herefore they put into the Inlet Trayciaon which lies a League to the Northward of he River Monguapigape from whence a ridge of Rocks extends to Tayciaon and being overflow'd at High-water hath three Openings or Entrances two for great Ships and one the most Northern for small Vessels to pass through The Sea also breaking against this Cliff never molests the Ships whatever Winds blow The Countrey is overgrown with Brambles and hath a Lake two Leagues long and a quarter broad on the opposite Shore of which stood a Village inhabited by Portugueses and Brasilians but the Portugueses flying from thence left the Brasilians in absolute possession The Hollanders going thither found thirty Chests of Sugar in one Hut after which the Admiral Lam caus'd his sick Men to be brought ashore whilest the Captains Boshuisen Swart Dyke Stapels and Uzeel march'd up into the Countrey where they got plenty of Oranges and Cattel In the mean time the Ketch Vosken Mann'd with thirty six Seamen Cruising along the Sea-Coast of Brasile took three Ships one out of the Inlet Todos los Sanctos laden with Sugar and Tobacco another with the same Merchandise from Pernambuco and the third laden with Wines from Madera On the first of August the Fleet set Sail again to the great sorrow of the Brasilians who out of hopes of being protected by them against the Portuguese had joyn'd their Forces with theirs but now being forsaken they expected nothing but utter Ruine which to escape many of them desir'd to be admitted to go along with the Fleet which had been granted them had not the Hollanders wanted Provisions for themselves The Fleet getting off at Sea the Admiral Veron ran with twelve Sail to the Coast of Africa and Boudewyn Henrickszoon kept eighteen Ships under his Command the rest returning home with Admiral Lam and thus the Fleet left the unfortunate Haven Trayciaon where above seven hundred Dutch Seamen were bury'd Boudewyn Henrickszoon refreshing at Cape St. Vincent steer'd Westerly when
might make way for the Seamen to Land if the Netherland Forces should chance to guard the Sea-Coast thereabouts and to joyn with them as soon as they were Landed But Grave Maurice encourag'd by his late Victory at Sea immediately sent the Field-Marshal Coin against Cameron who diviidng his Army into small Companies had distributed them through the Woods Cameron's Forces and Barbalio's put to flight by Coin in which Coin follow'd his Example and with divided Forces pursu'd Cameron's Army and overtook his Captain Tak and two hundred Men at Poyuca whereof Lopes Barbalio was Governor who fled notwithstanding he Commanded six hundred Men. Soon after which the Muster-master Mansveld met him near the Village St. Laurence Engag'd him and putting him to flight found several Papers of Concern that he had left behind Portugueses Plot against the Netherlanders discover'd and amongst others a Letter in which Barbalio was commanded to spare neither Brasilians nor Netherlanders alive but to kill all without regard either to their Age or Quality except the Portuguese Moreover Andries Vidal urg'd the Owners of the Sugar-Mills in the Netherlanders Brasile immediately to take up Arms to regain their ancient Freedom as soon as Mascarenhas appear'd with the Spanish Fleet on the Coast of Brasile Thus Vidal by Letters and private Conferences prevail'd so much that most of the Portuguese were ready against their Oaths to root out the Netherlanders The sign when they should be ready was the burning of some Sugar-Mills Vidal imagining thereby to have drawn the Netherlanders from the Sea-side and so made the Sea-Coast free for the Spaniards to Land securely in But the Garrison under Coin along the Sea-shore near Alexis not ignorant of the Enemy's Plot kept their Stations and suffer'd the Mills to burn The like did Craey at the Promontory of St. Augustine Picard at Paomarello Captain Day at Cantolaria and Donker on Goyana Hoogstraet kept Guard up in the Countrey Tourlon also sent out by Maurice against Francisco Sosa and Henrick Dias who had pillag'd all the Countrey about the River Conajou fell upon them in such a manner that he destroy'd eighty seven of them and wounded a considerable number more of them made the rest flie to St. Salvador Two Moneths before the Spanish Fleet set Sail from Todos los Sanctos three thousand Tapuyans came to Rio Grande with their Wives and Children from an unknown Countrey remote from the Sea Grave Maurice requested their King John de Wy that he would please to keep Watch along the Sea-Coast and prevent the Landing of the Spanish Seamen Whereupon De Wy sent his Son to the Castle Ceulen making solemn Protestations that he was ready to lose his Life and Fortune for the Netherlanders in helping them to drive the Portuguese out of Brasile Maurice also joyn'd two thousand Brasilians and Colonel Garstman with sixty Netherlanders to the Tapuyans that so he might train them up in Martial Discipline whilest the Tapuyans Wives and Children were plac'd on the Island Tamarica About the beginning of the Year 1640. Houte-been and Lichthart brought a considerable Fleet from the Netherlands to an Anchor at Reciffa where a Consutation was held whither these Ships might be sent to do most Service every one had an Eye on St. Salvador not long since Storm'd in vain but Maurice judg'd that they had not Forces enough to undertake so grand a Design but thought it would be better to Land some fresh Forces near St. Salvador that there they might burn the Sugar-Mills and destroy all things they could find in revenge of what the Enemy had done at Parayba Whereupon Tourlon and Lichthart set Sail with twenty Ships Mann'd with two thousand five hundred Men to the Inlet Todos los Sanctos where they burnt all the Portuguese Sugar-Mills Houses and Villages neither did their Swords spare any alive but Women and Infants The Cattel which they found they carry'd aboard of their Ships and burnt all other Provisions In the mean time Houte-been and Coin fell upon Porto Franco where they ruin'd all things to no other end but that the Enemy might call home his Forces out of the Netherlanders Brasile to defend the Province Todos los Sanctos Capt. Brand taken Prisoner But Captain Brand going up too far into the Countrey with his Army was suddenly set upon had a hundred of his Men slain on the Spot and was himself taken Prisoner together with many more Also the Storming of the Town Spirito Sancto by Coin prov'd unsuccessful Coin unsuccessfully Storms Spirito Sancto because he led an undisciplin'd Company and wanted little Vessels to Land in on a sudden for the Enemy having had timely notice immediately rais'd a Sconce about the Town and with five Brass Guns fir'd stoutly on him who endeavor'd to climb up the Hill but was forc'd to sound a Retreat his Men failing in their Courage yet at last breaking into the Town he set some of the Houses on fire which being built of Stone resisted the Flame so burning onely four hundred and fifty Chests of Sugar he left sixty Men kill'd and brought back eighty wounded Lichthart in the mean time made great havock about St. Salvador In this Conjuncture the West-India Company suffer'd much by Robberies and Spoils committed up and down the Countrey by the setting their Woods of Brasile on fire by a company of Negro's Woods of Brasile set on fire by Peter Vist the chief Ring-leader of whom was one call'd Peter Vist who from Caves and almost inaccessible Ways came forth in the Night and set fire on whatsoever places he came to notwithstanding a hundred Negro's of his crew were soon after caught which he at several times had by force taken out of their Masters Sugars-Mills which Grave Maurice prevented as much as possible by keeping Soldiers up and down in Arms. He also us'd the Portuguese very civilly who though they promis'd Obedience because they liv'd under the Jurisdiction of the West-India Company yet were ready on all occasions to shew the contrary wherefore Grave Maurice sending for the chief of them to Reciffa from Pernambuco Itamaraca and Parayba told them before the Privy Council that they might easily see how vainly they expected that the Spanish Crown should take Brasile from the Netherlanders that formerly they depended on the Spanish Fleet Commanded by Mascarenhas but that being destroy'd by a small Force that hope Was lost therefore if henceforward they would Trade on their own Accounts they might be assur'd they should not suffer in the least either in their Goods Religion or Persons Hector de Calce taken Pâ—isoner The Neopolitan Field-Marshal Hector de la Calce setting Sail from the Haven Todos los Sanctos with an old Ship carrying six hundred Men was forc'd to run aground in the Haven of Parayba where he and the chief Commanders were taken Prisoners whilest the Common Soldiers by reason of the scarcity of Provisions were set at liberty Houte-been
conquer'd Fort according to Ordas his appointment who went up the River Orinoque not without great hardship for his Provisions were not onely short but he was tormented in the Day by the Muschitoes and in the Night by the Bats at last coming to a Village Commanded by Viapari he was kindly Entertain'd which made Ordas contrary to the will of his Men who would willingly have gone farther into the Countrey stay there all the Winter but as soon as the rainy Moneths were over Ordas went farther up the River Orinoque where his Ship was stav'd against a sandy Shelf which forc'd him with two hundred Foot and forty Horse to travel along the Shore where he was much scanted of Provisions and for forty days together met none but a few poor wild Fishermen and at last stopt at an unknown River which fell into the Orinoque The Guianian Guide which Viapari had given Ordas advis'd him to go along the Shore of the new River because it would lead them to a well Cloth'd and rich People But Ordas went along by the River Oronoque till he came where the Water falling from the Mountains makes it so terrible rough that Ordas his Vessels which were Toed along were not able to be got any farther so that after two hundred Leagues advance he was necessitated by reason of the fore-mention'd Water-falls to go aboard and Sail down the Stream His Men being weary'd with so troublesom a Journey forsook him on the Island Cubagua which made him return over Hispaniola to Spain where not long after he dy'd with Grief The Expedition of Hieronimo Ortall This unsuccessful Expedition of Ordas no way daunted Hieronimo Ortall from prosecuting the same Design for setting Sail from St. Lucas Anno 1533. to the Fort which Ordas had taken from Juan Gonsalves he Steer'd from thence over to Cubagua to fetch some Men and sent the Lieutenant Alonso Herrera with five Ketches carrying two hundred Men the same way which Ordas had been Herrera coming to the fore-mention'd Water-falls where Ordas return'd caus'd his Vessels to be unladen then Toed them by meer force over the Water-falls where he discover'd plain Fields without any Inhabitants extending themselves to the Mouth of the River Meta where he quitted his Vessels and with no small trouble got over Morasses and Pools to the fruitful Countrey of the Xaguas a People both cruel and valiant whom after a sharp Conflict vanquishing he became Master of their Village in which he found plenty of Provisions as also in another neighboring Town where his tir'd and almost starv'd Army began to take Breath being exceedingly refresh'd with the delicious Meat of a sort of wild Dogs which were here in great abundance Having spent the Winter Season here they were often set upon by the Caribbeeans by whose poyson'd Arrows several of them being shot dy'd Distracted and amongst the rest Herrera himself after which his Successor Alvaro Ordas return'd to the Vessels which were left at the Mouth of the River Meta from whence he Sail'd back without any other success the Design being to find out the Golden City Manoa on the Banks of the great Lake Parime Is follow'd by Hermandes and others Not long after Peter Hermandez de Serpa undertook the same Work with three hundred Spaniards several Brasilians and Negro's but before he could reach the River Orinoque he was destroy'd by the salvage People Wikiri eighteen of his Men onely escaping to bring the news of this sad Disaster Peter de Orsua following the footsteps of Gonsalvo Pizarro went to seek for Gold in Guiana but being kill'd by Lopes Agira near the Amazone River that Expedition also prov'd fruitless Berreo's Relation of his Adventures to Sir Walter Raleigh With the same desire of finding Gold in Guiana Antonio Berreo went from New Granada thither but being taken by Sir Walter Raleigh was interrupted in his Design however he gave him an Account of his Adventures so far as he had gone viz. That he went to find out a Way along the River Cassanor between New Granada and New Guiana went from Cassanor to the Stream Meta and from thence to Orinoque where he was in great danger by reason of sharp Rocks over which the Stream flowing washes several Isles That he spent a whole year before he came to the utmost Borders of Amapaia near which he lost several of his Barques and on the Shore not onely divers Horses but also many of his Men who either dy'd of hardship or were kill'd by the Natives with poysonous Arrows so that sixty of his Men were kill'd in the Countrey of Amapaia which extends along the River Orinoque besides a great many that dy'd there by drinking the Water which was full of poysonous Animals and glided over a slimy and muddy Ground which made it thick and troubled Six Moneths he stay'd in the Countrey Amapaia where he made Peace with the Inhabitants of Anebas who gave him ten curious Images of massie Gold The River Orinoque is about four Leagues broad here and about seven hundred Miles long before it fall into the Ocean and is every where enrich'd with the Waters of many Rivers which fall into it from the North and South He added moreover that he endeavor'd to go down Southerly to Guiana but was prevented by steep Mountains and therefore went on Easterly till he came to the Countrey Emeria where he found a courteous People and plenty of Provisions that the Governor of Caripana being about a hundred years of age had a long time Convers'd with the Christians on the Islands Trinidad and Margareta and learn'd a Form of Civil Government that Sailing down the River Orinoque between many Isles lying at the Mouth of the River to Trinidad and from thence to Margareta he took sixty Men into his Service but that he himself being tir'd with so great a Journey and staying to refresh himself at Trinidad fell into the hands of another Party of the English that before he was taken he sent several of his Men to Caripana to find the King of Morequito who three years before had been with abundance of Gold at Cumana and Margareta and inform'd a Spaniard call'd Vides so much concerning the Golden Countrey Guiana that he obtain'd a Patent at the Spanish Court to discover Guiana but that Vides jealous that he might be there before him had not onely incens'd Morequito against him but so instructed him that he suffer'd his Men to pass through the Countrey to fetch Gold from the City Manoa and as they return'd set upon them and slew them on the Borders of Aromaia together with a Monk that was in their Company one Man onely escaping by whom being inform'd of the Murder he immediately sent divers Soldiers to take Revenge of Morequito who flying to the Governor Vides was nevertheless upon his demanding him in the King's Name deliver'd to him and notwithstanding he proffer'd a great Sum of Money for his Ransom was cruelly put to
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
here as out of a Mine and gather it naturally made ready to their Hands not half a Mile from the Sea side on the back side of the Promontory or Cape by some call'd Punto de Araya and by others for this reason Cape de Salinas Towns and Places of note Places of chiefest consideration here are 1. Cumana it self a Colony of Spaniards seated on the Banks of a little River two Miles distant from the Sea where it hath a good Harbor 2. St. Jago a very strong Fortress which the Spaniards of late years have built for the defence and security of the Salt-works against the Dutch who began to Trade much that way and in the Year 1622. had a Design to have made themselves Masters of the Place 3. St. Michael de Neveri another Fortress of theirs standing upon a River bearing the same Name 4. Guaniba a Town of the Natives This Countrey of Cumana being generally infested with terrible Crocodiles hath a large Inlet call'd Cariaco which flows fourteen Leagues into the Countrey Manners and Customs of the People The Men of this Countrey wear Cotton Cloaks and anointing their Bodies with Gum stick the same full of Feathers When they go to Wars or to a general Feast then they shave their Hair off above their Ears pull out their Beards and black their Teeth with a certain Herb. Their Princes and Grandees take as many Wives as they please and give to those of their Guests whom they intend most to oblige their choice of the fairest of them to lie with Whoring is accounted no shame except amongst Marry'd Women who generally live very Chaste unless their Husbands consent to their Adultery The Women also Hunt Fish Shoot and Swim and are diligent in Tilling their Lands and other Houshold Affairs Most of them have sore Eyes occasion'd not so much as some wrongfully suppose by their drinking of the Water out of the Stream Cumana but proceeding rather from their unwholsom Food as Spiders and the like Amongst the several sorts of Trees that grow here there are some that yield a white well scented Gum or delicious Juice like Milk and produce a Fruit not unlike a Mulberry which may be boyl'd to an excellent Syrrup the Wood also strikes Fire There are others whose Timber is good for Shipping The Soil also produces Cassia-Fistula Roses and other strong smelling Flowers and Herbs For Beasts Beasts besides Lyons Tygers and wild Hogs there are several strange kinds here as the Cappa which is bigger than an Ass having shaggy and black Hair it runs away from Mankind but devours whasoever else it meets with The Aranata which hath a Goats Beard and is of the bigness of a Greyhound it howls very dreadfully and feeds on Fruits The wild Cats which breed here leap though great with Young from one Tree to another In the Evening a Beast like a lean Dog comes to their Huts cries like a Child and devours all those it meets abroad wherefore every one that goes out in the Night carries a lighted Stick with him for this Beast dreads the sight of Fire The Trees give Harbor to great numbers of Parrots and other fine Feather'd Birds The Bats here are very large and hurtful sucking the Blood from Men and Beasts The Muschito's also do very much plague and vex the Inhabitants The Spiders much bigger than those of Europe and of divers colours make very strong Cobwebs Along the Sea-Coast and in the Rivers is plenty of delicious Fish Anno 1513. two Dominican Fryers went over from Terra Firma to Cumana where the Natives kindly Entertain'd them till a Spanish Ship Anchoring there for the Pearl-Trade carry'd away by violence the Governor and seventeen of his Servants whereupon the Natives threatned that unless their Lord was restor'd they would put the two Dominicans to death the Spaniards promising restauration of him in four Moneths time inform'd the Council at Hispaniola of it who not consenting to his Releasement the two Monks were according the former threatning presently put to death Yet after this the Franciscans and Dominicans built each of them a Cloyster in the Province of Chiribichi where they kept friendly Correspondence with the Cumana's till Anno 1520. when Alonso de Ojeda coming to an Anchor before Maracapana under pretence of bartering Maiz for Spanish Goods with the Tagarez who came about fifty from the Mountains on which they liv'd being three Leagues up in the Countrey and brought Maiz down to the Shore the Spaniards took thirty six of them Prisoners and kill'd or wounded the rest Whereupon the Governor Gonzales being complain'd unto by the neighboring Prince Maraguey and his assistance desir'd in taking Revenge of the Dominicans and Franciscans who had urg'd and perswaded Ojeda to the fore-mention'd Act Gonzales hereupon made an Agreement with Maraguey that he should destroy the Monks whilest he himself would kill Ojeda which they accordingly perform'd The Council in St. Domingo inform'd hereof immediately sent three Ships Mann'd with three hundred Men under the Command of Gonzalo de Ocampo who Anchoring in the Haven of Maracapana feign'd as if he came newly from Spain and that he knew nothing of the Business between Ojeda and Gonzales that so he might entice the Natives into his Ship and accordingly when divers of them came aboard the Armed Spaniards started from under the Decks and hung them up at their Yard-arms burnt the Village Maracapana and ruin'd the Countrey far and near with Fire and Sword Ocampo also built the Town Toledo about half a League farther into the Countrey where the Bishop Bartholomew de las Casas making his Visitation commanded Ocampo to forbear his cruelty against the Natives he having daily either burnt hang'd beheaded or made Slaves of some or other of them Casas also caus'd a little Fort to be built at the Mouth of the River Cumana to be near to prevent the inhumane Murders and Oppressions committed by his Countrey-men but because the Inhabitants of Cubagua bereav'd him of his chief Builder his Fort was left half unfinish'd wherefore Casas leaving the Command of this Countrey to Francisco de Soto went back to Hispaniola where in St. Domingo he made his Complaints to the High Court of Justice of the Spaniards Cruelties but being little regarded he went into the Dominicans Cloyster till he was call'd out and made Bishop of Chiapa Mean while Soto contrary to Casas his order had fitted out two Ships to Trade along the Coast of Paria but the Expedition prov'd very unsuccessful Soto with all his Men destroyâ—d by the Indians for he and all his Men were destroy'd by the Natives not without just reason for the Spaniards according to the Relation of Casas from an Eye-witness destroy'd this Countrey after such a manner that a Ship Sail'd between Lucago and Hispaniola sixty Leagues without any Compass finding the Way onely by the floating of dead Bodies thrown out of the Spanish Ships Moreover the Prisoners fainting were
he chang'd his Resolution SECT IV. The Islands Margareta Cubagua and Coche NOtwithstanding we have already spoken something of the Islands Margareta and Cubagua in regard they are by some reckon'd amongst the Isles of Northern America yet because they are by many accounted to make up a part of the Division of New Andalusia we shall add in this place what we have found most worthy of Re-mention though much to the same purpose as before The Island Margareta discover'd by Christopher Columbus Anno 1498. contains thirty two Leagues in circumference hath many Woods and Pastures yet little fresh Water To the Eastward of it lie the Cliffs Testigos where it is very mountainous as also on the East Round about the same are delicious Fish without which the Natives could not live because the brackish Soil produces but little Provision The Pearl-Fishing of Margareta The chiefest thing for which this Island Margareta is famous is the Pearl-Fishing for which in times past a great Trade was driven though of late it is come to little or nothing The Spaniards with inhumane cruelty taught the Negro's to Dive for the Pearls for those that were not nimble or dextrous enough they beat unmercifully dropt scalding Wax or scalding Oyl upon them or stigmatiz'd them with hot Irons The Pearl-Banks were cover'd with five six seven or eight Fathom Water from whence the Negro's pull'd the Oysters with such force that the Blood gush'd out of their Mouths and Noses when they came above Water to breath after which to refresh them they receiv'd a Glass of Wine and a Pipe of Tobacco The Spanish Kiay receiv'd a fifth part of the best Pearls that were taken here but whether the Oysters have forsaken this Place or their growth hinder'd by often Fishing for them we know not but however it is few Pearls are found here of late years which makes Margareta to be more and more deserted The Nature of the Island of Cubagua Between the Main Continent of Paria lie the Islands Cubagua and Coche the first whereof hath an unfruitful and sultry Soil without either Trees Birds and four-footed Beasts except Pock Wood Sea-Fowls or Parrots and Castilian Hogs being carry'd thither change their Nature strangely for in a short time their Claws grow long and crooked The King of Spain us'd formerly to receive fifteen thousand Ducats yearly for his fifth part of the Pearls chat were taken which Gain invited many thither who built the Town Nova Cadiz on Cabugua in the Year 1521. but when the Arayans demolish'd the Monks Cloyster on Paria The City Nova Cadiz built there but at length totally deserted the Spaniards being three hundred in number fled from Nova Cadiz to Hispaniola where the High Court displeas'd at their cowardly deserting the Place gave them but cool Entertainment and sent five Ships under the Command of Jacomo de Castellan to Cubagua to build new Store-houses in Nova Cadiz which was afterwards re-inhabited but when the Pearl-Fishing ceased the Island and Town was at once deserted Opposite to Margareta lies the Promontory Araya behind which lies a salt Lake in which is found abundance of Salt not onely above but under the Water with which the English Spanish and Dutch Ships are fraighted Da Vern's Description of the Salt-pans on Araya Isaac du Verne describes the Salt-pans on Araya thus Round about the same saith he the Ground is craggy barren and of a brackish taste and destitute of fresh Water which is therefore fetch'd three Leagues farther out of a Brook flowing from the Mountain Bordones into the Bay of Comena likewise all manner of Provisions are brought from other Parts Westward from the Point Araya there is a convenient Harbor where the Ships take in their Salt Three hundred Paces from the Shore lies a great Salt-pan where the Salt being first beat in pices is carry'd in Wheel-barrows to the Ships The little Salt-pan produces less Salt and lies also out of the way which makes few Ships take in their Lading from thence The Countrey is every where overgrown with Brambles and Bushes in which breed Tygers and very poysonous Serpents There are likewise abundance of Stags Bucks Hares and Coneys besides other strange Beasts The Netherlanders beaten out of their Salt-Trade here by the Spaniards Till Anno 1605. the Netherlanders came hither unmolested for Salt when eight Spanish Gallions falling unawares upon them strangely misus'd their Seamen but afterwards the United Netherlands having made an Agreement with Spain for a certain time renew'd their Trade to Araya till the King of Spain having for the better security of the Place built the Fort St. Jago which Commanded the great Salt-pan forbad the Netherlanders from lading any more Salt who thereupon Storm'd the Fort though to their cost for several of them were kill'd and the rest return'd home empty SECT V. Of the Islands of Southern America THe chiefest Islands of note in the Southern part of America that is to say those that lie remote from the Continent in Mare del Zur are Los Ladrones and the Islands Fernandinas for the rest being as we may call them Mediterranean Islands fall naturally under the Description of the Continent The Isles Los Ladrones 1. Los Ladrones in English The Islands of Thieves lie as it were in the mid-way betwixt the Main Land of America and the Philippine Islands but some hundreds of Leagues distant from either in the fourth Degree of Northern Latitude so nam'd by Ferdinand Magellan from the pilfering disposition he observ'd in the Natives when he Sail'd that way for the Moluccae Islands They were a nimble and active sort of People yet light-finger'd tall of stature and going for the most part naked excellent Swimmers and Divers and have not much more to be said in their commendation The Isles Fernandinae 2. The Fernandinae are onely two Islands of no great bigness lying over against the Coast of Chile in the three and thirtieth Degree of Southern Latitude and about a hundred Leagues or three hundred English Miles from the Continent yet well stor'd with some lesser sorts of Cattel as Goats c. good plenty likewise of Venison in the Woods and Fish upon the Coasts for which reason though lying at some distance yet are they not a little frequented by the Spaniards of Peru who find many good Harbors and Roads for Shipping belonging to and about these Islands An Appendix CONTAINING Partly a farther prosecution of the Descriptions of some Provinces already treated of in the foregoing Book partly an Account of some other Discoveries than what have hitherto been deliver'd in any Description of the NEW WORLD CHAP. I. Rio de la Plata THe River De la Plata by the Natives call'd Paranaguazu is next to the River of the Amaszones the greatest in the World and falls into the Northern Ocean between the Capes Antonio and Maria lying thirty Leagues one from another It receives from East and West
Pylqui A Dart. Pulque-tuboi A Bowe Tultunca A Trumpet Mecane An Iron Club. Cachal An Awl Wita A Spade Juisue A Sieve Chilca A Letter Charavilla A pair of Breeches Icha A Womans Garment Domo-ruida A Coat Couchon A Bag. Pino-chompiro A Straw Cap. Congi Food Cobque Bread Nul-cobque The Crumb Liquangue Light Dumingei Darkness Quemeiquen Dainties Medda Pap. Core Broth. Ilon Flesh Cuichalon Mutton Wara-ilon Beef Chuchi-ilon Pork Chuchi-chain A Gammon of Bacon Chaditues-ilon Salt Caucan Roast-meat Avaun Boyl'd-meat Puytscha The Guts Curam An Egg. Quecuram The Yolk of an Egg. Lycuram The White of an Egg. Iwyn Butter Ylu Milk Puuloo Drink Vino Wine Chiche Beer Cutan Pain or Sickness Aren-cutan A Feaver Towongen The Head Cancocultano The Head-ache Veno-aren Scabs Albungien A Wound Molbuen Blood Touma A blind Man Cawinto A Meal Colchou The Small-pox Wocubu A wild Beast Pangy A Lyon Naguel A Tyger Cuchy A Swine Michun A Calf Dewe A Mouse Waren A Rat. Twe-dewe A Mole Tewa A Dog Pulpeo A Fox Guetaltuange A Hare Noquen A She-bear Lame A Sea-Dog Lemo-cuchi A wild Swine Chumam A Bear Puedo A Sea-Goat Quelen A Tail Chiliweki A Sheep Zuneu a Bird. Lyppe A Plume Mepoiinem A Wing Dani-inem A Nest Achaival a Hen. Alchahawal a Cock. Pylken A Duck. Jeca A Raven Guereo A Magpye Cogo A Cuckow Nullyn A Bee Pulli A Flye Vulgumusky The King of Bees Petar A Louse Perem A Flea Piro A Worm Vilo A Serpent Bylcum A Hedghog Ponono A Toad Challua A Fish Cawel A Dolphin Iene A Whale Vouqui A Grigg Vilochalva An Eel Chadituel-chalva Salt-fish Anquen-chalva Dry'd-fish Quinpilon Oysters Chapes Mussles Coinow A Crab. Quichiquinchio a Falcon. Manco A Crane Choroi A Parrot Pilo Dead Hilca A one-ey'd Person Topilgen To squint Topil Lame Poo A Bough Kempomamel Dry Wood. Bopemamel Wither'd Wood. Nobue An Acorn Nido-iwas A Vineyard Nidu A Pole Vanguen Straw-berries Couchow Black-berries Litue Toad-stools Pilun-proque Plantain Calicai Clover-grass Curi Stinking Nettles Pragyn Flowers Manen Seed Methen Meal Chiquelen To gather Gueli-vanca Coral Kispi Glass Cudi Milstone Pel Mud or Dirt. Tassaquido A Treasure Guengu A Marriage-Portion Deren-culyn A Debt Culyn A Reward Willawyn Single-money Guyn One Eppo Two Quila Three Meli Four Quechu Five Cuyn Six Regli Seven Pura Eight Culla Nine Maripataco A hundred Marama A thousand Guiltui A Kernel Tapel Leaves Nil The Bark Pelli The Smell Oaliel The Body Lai-calel A dead Corps Ven Flesh Molvin Blood Boro A Leg. Telqui The Skin Vel The Sinews Ven-molvin A Vein Congo The Head Tol The Forehead Lenglen The Scull Lonco The Hair Teren-lonco Grey Lolo The Brain Angen The Face Taun The Jaws Ne The Eyes Tacune The Members Denen The Eye-brows Ju The Nose Peloju The Nostrils Merum Snot Pilum The Ears Oun A Mouth Adem Sweat Quewen The Tongue Melbue The Lips Boru The Teeth Ilga The Gums Bida-bida The Roof of the Mouth Cain Spittle Mewe The Throat Neen The Breath Quette The Chin. Paion The Beard Pel The Neck Lipan The Shoulders Puilpa An Arm. Cue A Hand Mancue The Right-hand Melecoe The Left-hand Puley-cue The Palm of the Hand Changel-cue The Fingers Buta-changel The Thumb Wili The Nails Zevo The Breast Moju The Nipples Pue The Belly Weddo The Navel Cadi The Ribs Buri The Back Anca The Sides Quichio The Buttocks Penem A Man's Genital Parts Metu A Womans Chan The Thighs Lucu The Knees Metunthoy The Knee-Bone Hemum The Calves Kamon The Feet Pinque The Heart Mocun The Lungs Que The Maw Curique The Liver Vaca The Milt Quelche The Guts Villin The Bladder Momay To Stink Pelengsley A Spider Inche I. Tubei He. Eimi You. Inchen We. Tecengen-eimen You People Liengen Those People Emma So. Muh No. Pichumei Hard by Averlugei Far. Taymen Against Woecun Without Compay Within Pulon Below Wono Above Buri Behind Junengen Before Quelleb Near. Munai Enough Alengei Too much Munalai Too little Chemibla Wherefore Venibla Therefore Vei-mai Let it be so Wei These Temunei Fair. Woranei Ugly Newonei Strong Leptungei Swift Chouwo Lazie Alilonconei Very wise Wentannei Valiant Queunei Proud Culenei Rich. Cunewal Poor Toucou Foolish Molgei Naked Ilungei Clothed Queten Narrow Anqueu Dry. Prequin Bountiful Buta Great Pichi Little Montingei Fat Toutau Lean. Pettun Colour'd Queli Red. Calbu Blue Carel Green Choot Yellow Curi Black Lye White Nilla-caju To change Illawyn Giving Tuignei To be merry Umatum Sleeping Limen To wake but of Sleep Bemgne To Build Playn To find Vangen-lyn To lose Necul To run Amon To go Utalegen To stand Jucheleyn To lie down Tecanen To dance Padenatum To fall Utalenen To rise Avinge To sit Dimgne To speak Temelenge To be silent Puronge To Sing Pylcunge To call Quipay To come Ien To eat Butum To drink Mepai To go to Stool Willam To Urine Cudepain To play Locatum To scold Mecowyn To carry Chuquin To steal Guallulueno To restore Pelteney To pay Lay To die Rengalgei To be buried Quedau capay Working Intunge millo To dig for Gold Nilla-teubyn To sell Nilla-vin To buy Quimli wi tami piel I cannot understand you Chu pipaimi What do you Champaila Nothing Juei pingeimi What is your Name Juan pingen I am call'd John Cheo ruaimi Whither do you go Moppo muruam I go into the Countrey Cheo tui mi From whence came you Miro comotoun I came from home Chumel quipai tuai mi When shall you come Chumel pratuai mi When shall you go Ale prungi tamruca Is your Habitation far from hence Picherungei It is hard by Aleprungei It is farther Inchi quiparum camappumu I intend to go into another Countrey Chemnibla qui parui cammappumu Why will you go into another Countrey Merelya tiva mappumu Here is no Provision Aleiblay twachi tipanto benebliaale geniep ayn The year hath been unfruitful and therefore we want Cheo mappungen tamichau In what Province dwells your Father Alu ei ei The Devil hath fetch'd him away At eimi ruaju inchio Will you keep him company Ailan No I will not Bien I will Chuben quecken neieimi tania Have you any thing to give us to eat Cancan achawal Yes I have roasted Hens Mu wy How many Munalei enchintavia There will be enough for us Chuben putuayn Where shall we Drink Aile Mangunmeinis I thank you Chuben domo trivo What Woman is this Inchi tan curi It is my Wife Ni nave My Daughter Ni domo My Concubine Alei teminigei vei domo It is a handsom Woman Qui pangnei Come hither Amotunge Run away Umatuayn Let us go to Bed Utajuca Let us rise Wira cuchai compay tan mappumu The Spniards are fall'n into this Countrey Quipa waicha laimi Shall we Fight together Waiquenagelan I have no Arms. Ima en pea in Waiqui Follow me and I will get Arms. Ali teum inche I am contented The Seamen who went under Hendrick Brewer's Command Anno 1643. from Brasile to Chili
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
with Leaves their Skins were black onely on their Foreheads they drew a red Stroke which reach'd to their Ears their brown curl'd Hair was by some colour'd grey by some red some let it hang loose over their Sholdiers others ty'd the same in a Tuft on their Crown cover'd with a Cap of Pisang Leaves others wore their Hair scarce two Fingers long and through the Gristle of their Nose a piece of Cane or Quill and a broad Beard without Mustacho's they had nothing to barter but large Snail-shells on which they made a strange noise and whatsoe're they receiv'd they first smell'd on it like Dogs they fancy'd not Nails as all the other Southlanders had done Their manner of Fishing was thus They ty'd several half Clappes-shells made fast like a Chain to a long Reed shook the same to and again on the Water to gather the Fish together In the Boats lay Planks of an oval fashion which by Ropes ty'd in the middle they held before them in stead of Shields When these Southlanders went from the Ships one of them threatned to beat the Seamen shaking his great Club at them whereupon they all Row'd with great speed to the Shore whilest one in every Boat knockt with a Staff against the sides just as if they had beat an Alarm Amongst them one had barter'd for an old Doublet with which he shew'd many antick Tricks putting it on the wrong way sometimes on his Head then his Feet into the two Arm-holes and anon the Button-holes behind on his Back The Ships Sailing from hence ran along a broken Coast and on the twelfth of April were so terribly shaken by an Earthquake which lasted an hour and a half that they seem'd shivering to pieces in the Water as if they had ran against a Rock notwithstanding they could not fathom Ground with their longest Line Somewhat farther they discover'd a burning Mountain on an Island between which and the Main on which stood also a very high Mountain they steering their Course came into a white Water mov'd by a strong River from the Continent and coming to an Anchor before the Island Jamna they saw the Isles Moa and Arimoa before them The Jamneans calling New Guinee by the Name of Belah inform'd the Hollanders that they Warr'd continually with the Inhabitants thereof These People being also Coal-black some of them had loose curl'd Hair hanging down over their Shoulders in long Braids and others had onely two thick Locks which cover'd their Ears all of them wore four Feathers on their Heads the Men pull'd out their Beards and hung a great Bone Ring through their Ears at which also hung a Shell like a Spur most of them had red Roses ty'd about their Heads and a Necklace of Hogs Teeth about their Necks under their Navels they wore Girdles a handful and a half broad and about their Wastes Strings full of Shells or Sea-Cockles to which a small Lappet was ty'd and hung down before their Privities but because it was but two Fingers broad and moy'd to an again by the Wind their Nakedness appear'd to those that took notice thereof through the Gristle of their Noses they wore a Hogs Tooth or the Splinter of a Cane Upon the Stern of their small Boats was the Shape of a little Lyon One of these Islanders imitated the Hollanders when they spoke endeavoring to repeat their words after them and therefore was call'd Parrot Tasman Sailing from hence to Moa came to an Anchor before the Coast ten Leagues beyond Jamna where a great Boat carrying seventeen Men coming near the Ship let flie a great many Arrows at the Seamen but the next Morning being better reconcil'd they came aboard where the Chirurgeon of the Ship gave a Cap to one of â—he Jamneans who as a testimony of his thankfulness for the Present requested him to sit down which done he began to braid his Hair from his Forehead to his Neck tying the same with a String Tasman weighing Anchor Sail'd between New Guinee and the Island Insou having got nothing but a few Jamnean words from the Islanders who call'd a Bone Vertilia a Hog Paro a Knife Sapera Beads Sassera a Nail Tortor Sleep Moeni and a Rat Asphoo So steering his Course along Arimoa which is both higher and larger than the neighboring Amoa and resembles a Seaman's Cap he left New Guinee a Stern of him and Steering on Northerly Sail'd by Schoutes-Island where eight large Boats came within Gun-shot of him each of which had on each side a Wing under which sat four Rowers two and two together with their Feet hanging in the Water at their approaching near the Ship they put out a long Pole with a white Flag upon it whereupon Tasman also commanded his white Ensign to be put forth and threw a String of Beads ty'd to a piece of Wood out of his Cabbin Window which the Southlanders had no sooner taken up but in testimony of thankfulness they all broke their Arrows over their Heads and kept near the sides of the Ship till such time as the Boatswain thereof sounded a Trumpet upon the hearing of which thep all Row'd away with as much speed as they could possibly These People were of a sallow Complexion they broke their Arrows with great Ceremony for first they pointed with them towards the Skie then put them into the Water and breaking each Arrow in two pieces on their Heads they threw one over the Larboard and the other over the Starboard he that broke the Arrow made a long Speech to the Hollanders who took the same for an Oath of their Fidelity toward them In every one of these Boats were twenty eight or thirty Men. Tasman's farther Voyag into New Guinee Tasman prosecuting his Voyage farther discover'd the following day another Island and a crooked Arm of New Guinee near which he judg'd might be an Opening betwixt New Guinee and Gilolo then leaving on his Starboard a great many blind Cliffs dangerous Shelves and uneven Grounds he cast Anchor near a Rock which at high Water was overflow'd A Boat coming near the Ship in which were six Men whose long Hair hung down their Backs one of them amongst the rest standing up call'd to the Hollanders in the Ternaren Language saying What People to which a Seaman who understood and spake the said Language answer'd Spaniards whereupon he ask'd From what Countrey and whither bound to which he was answer'd From Moa to Ternata The Southlander hereupon reply'd You are Deceivers the Ship is not Spanish but Holland make whereupon Tasman caus'd the Prince of Orange's Flag to be put out which the Southlanders no sooner saw but he cry'd It appears by your Flags that you are Hollanders who are always more welcom to us than Spaniards However though the Seaman acknowledg'd his mistake in saying they were Spaniards yet the Southlanders would not stay within shot of them but at their Rowing away cry'd aloud Here is abundance of Pisang Clappes Potato's
Sugar-Canes and other Fruits on Shore From hence Tasman Sail'd Northerly between many Isles and a Channel that separates New Guinee from Gilolo by Cerani Manipe Bolao and Burro to a narrow Opening where Pangesane being on his Larboard rose with exceeding high Rocks as Botton on the Starboard These Rocks are most of them overgrown with Trees and Brambles In the middle of this Channel also lies a Rock for its shape call'd A Galley by which Tasman Sailing bent his Course homeward and at last on the fifteenth of June Anno 1643. cast Anchor before Batavia CHAP. V. Terra Borealis or The Artick Region HAving spoken something of the Terra Australis Incognita or Unkown South-Land there remains something to be said of the opposite part namely the Terra Borealis or the Artick Region which is call'd Incognita in like manner as the Terra Australis in regard though very much as well of the one as of the other hath been search'd into and in part discover'd by several Voyagers yet doubtless there is a very vast Tract of Land in the Artick Region especially if it be not rather Sea which is altogether unknown and those parts which have been discover'd as Groenland Iseland Nova Zembla Spilbergen Hudson's Straights and Bay c. so imperfectly known that they may well deserve the Title of Unknown The several parts of this Artick Region are 1. Terra Subpolaris Incognita or that part which lies directly under the Pole and is otherwise call'd Orbis Arcticus 2. Groenland 3. Spilbergen or Nieuland 5. Iseland 6. Nova Zembla A Description of Terra Subpolaris The Terra Subpolaris is describ'd by a certain Seaman of Bosleduc to be a great black Rock about thirty five Leagues in compass and of an extraordinary heighth through the Land adjoyning to which the Sea violently breaking makes four great and violent Euripi or Whirlpools whose Waters driving Northward with so forcible a Stream that no Ship though carry'd by nexer so strong a Gale is able to stem the Current are at last swallow'd up in the Earth It is also reported that between two of these Euripi namely that made by the Scythick Ocean and that on the back side of Groenland there lieth an Island Northward of Lappia and Biarmia inhabited by Pygmies Much more to this purpose is related of the Subpolar Region but since it is very improbable that any one could come so near as to make any discovery thereof to say more of this Matter would be but to insist upon things savoring more of Fables than Reality Bounds and Situation of Groenland Groenland is that part of Terra Septentrionalis which winds about from South to East and decline Northward from Cape Faruel in the Deucaledonian Sea however Groenland hath been generally taken for an Island yet many late Navigators think it joyns with the Continent of Tartary and others leave it in doubt whether it be Island or Continent It is bounded towards the East with the Deucaledonian Ocean towards the West with Hudson's Straights and Bay which separate it from America towards the North its Bounds are altogether unknown and is not without reason suppos'd to be the utmost part of the World towards the North Pole There are who believe it to be one Continent with America and that upon this ground because several who have attempted to pass through the Straight commonly call'd The Straight of Davis into the East-Indies affirm that they found it to be a Gulph but one Captain John Monk who was also a great Undertaker in the North-West Passage through this Straight or Gulf of Davis alledges great Probabilities of this Lands being divided by Sea from the Continent of America The Topography of Groenland from the Danish and Iseland Chronicles This Countrey hath anciently been divided into two Regions East-Groenland and West-Groenland answerable to which Division Errick surnam'd The Ruddy the Son of Torvalde is reported by the Danish Chronicle to have built two Forts or Lodges Ostrebug and Westrebug in the Eastern part The first Planters of Christianity built the City Garde which became as the said Chronicle mentions a City of great Repute and Traffick and not long after the Town Albe and towards the Sea-Coast a Monastery dedicated to St. Thomas The City Garde was a Bishop's See to which belong'd a Cathedral Church by the Title of St. Nicholas built in the same City though a certain Iseland Chronicle makes mention of the Church of Strosnes as the chief Metropolitan and Bishop's See of Groenland The Bishop assisted oftentimes in the Assembly of the Estates of Denmark and held of the Bishop of Nidrosia or Drunthen in Norway as the Temporal Estates of Groenland held of the Crown of Norway the Norwegians being the onely known Planters of this Countrey deriving their Original from the aforesaid Errick according to the testimony of Mr. Vormius and also of Angrimus Jonas in his Specimen Islandicum and the Vice-Roy of Norway the Nomophylax as the said Angrimus calls him or Sovereign Judge of the Countrey The Inhabitants of Westreburg or the Western Coast of Groenland are by some call'd Skreglinguers According to the Iseland Chronicle the Towns and Places of chief note are Skageford in the most Eastern part a little farther West the Port of Funchebuder so call'd from a Page of St. Olaus King of Norway who together with several others were cast away upon that place a little higher the Roansen full of white Bears and other wild Beasts In the Western Coast Kindelfiord an Arm of the Sea on the right Shore whereof stands Korsekirk i. e. a Church built cross-ways also the Town Vandalebug and not far off a Monastery dedicated to St. Olaus and St. Augustine the next Place is Rumpesinfiord where there is a religious Convent and divers little Islands in which are Springs of Water warm in the Winter and temperate in the Summer which are accounted Medicinal and of great Vertue in the curing of divers Maladies upon the same Coast lies Etsnatsfiord between which and Rupesinfiord is the Palace Fos and a great Church dedicated to St. Nicholas near the Promontory Clining is another great House call'd Daller and beyond Eynatsfiord a great Island denominated Reynatsen from the abundance of Rein-Deer which breed there In the same Island is a Quarry of the Stone Talguestin not consumable by Fire and yet soft enough to be cut into any form insomuch that Vessels have been made of it containing twelve Tun. More Westerly lies the Island Langen and another Royal House call'd Hellestad then Erricksfford another Arm of the Sea and at the Entrance thereof the Island Herrieven part whereof belongs to the Dome or Cathedral and the other part to the Church of Dunes the principal Church of Groenland next to the Cathedral North-West from Erricksfiord is Midfiord and farther Northward Bondeford near which are several little Isles and Ports Between Ostrebug and Westrebug is a large Desart altogether uninhabited This
white Bears with red Patches on their Heads also white Hawks and all sorts of Fish There are moreover in the Countrey divers Rivers frozen up for the most part of the Year and cover'd with Ice yet it is generally affirm'd that it is not so cold there as in Norway or Iseland On the Hills are said to grow Acorns and Nuts very well tasted and as big as Apples also as good Wheat as is commonly produc'd in other Parts An Account of Groenland from Dithmar Blefkens his Journal In the Journal of Dithmar Blefkens's Voyage mention is made of a certain blind Monk brought up in the Monastery of St. Thomas who reported several memorable things concerning this Countrey as that it was call'd Groenland antiphrastically or by contrariety of Speech as appearing seldom or never green and that it abounded with Bears and white Foxes and was not without Pygmies and Unicorns which never appear'd till after the Sun was entred into Aries that in the said Monastery of St. Thomas there was a Fountain of scalding Water which was convey'd through Pipes of Stones to the Monks several Cells and serv'd them not onely for Stoves but for the dressing of their Meat which was as well boyl'd by means of this Water as if it had been over a real Fire and that the Walls of the Monastery were made of a kind of Pumice-stone upon which if Water were pour'd it would produce a slimy Matter commonly us'd in stead of Lime for Mortar like the Stone of Mount Hecla in Iseland that two of these Pygmies a Male and a Female were kept by the Abbot and were both endu'd with perfect humane Shape and overgrown with Hair even to the outermost Joynts of their Fingers the Male especially who had a Beard reaching down to his Knees but that they seem'd wholly devoid of Reason and Understanding nor had any distinct use of Speech onely made a semblance of Hissing of the manner of Geese lastly he reported the duration of the Lives of these Creatures to be answerable to the shortness of their Stature but that concerning their Wars with the Cranes he had no other knowledge than by Tradition From Mr. James Hall's Description The Description of Groenland left by Mr. James Hall renders it a high mountainous and craggy Region sufficiently water'd with Rivers and provided with good Harbors of a Soil not unfertile in all places where he came having between the Mountains fruitful Valleys and pleasant Plains abounding with several sorts of Fowl as Partridges Pheasants Sea-mews Gulls Crows c. but of Beasts chiefly black Foxes and as was conjectur'd by the plenty of Harts-horns found about their Tents Rein-Deer yet not destitute of other Beasts the Vestigium of one whereof was found to be not less than eight Inches over As for the Manners and Customs of the Natives they are by the said Description represented to be a kind of Samoid or wandring People still moving from place to place warlike and active using Slings and Darts with marvellous dexterity of a brown Complexion for the most part and of an indifferent Stature eating their Meat either quite raw or onely a little parboyl'd Clothing themselves with the Skins of such Beasts or other Creatures as they kill especially Seals or some of the largest size of Fowls which they Dress very smooth and soft turning the Feather or Hair side outwards in Summer and inward in Winter Their Weapons Bowes Slings and Bone or Iron-headed Darts their Religion Idolatrous but chiefly Sun-Worship as was gather'd from their manner of Accost when any of the English first approach'd them for they us'd to point up to the Sun as chief Author of their felicity and then beat their Breasts crying Iliont which seem'd to signifie as much as I mean no harm and would not come near till those that met them did the like Their Houses built of Whales Bones and the Baulks thereof with Whales Ribs and cover'd with Earth but the best sort with Seal-Skins having Vaults or Rooms under Ground four-square and two Yards deep in the Earth Their manner of Burial a Pile of Stones thrown over the Corps being first wrapt up in Seal-Skins First Discovery of Spilbergia or Greenland Spilbergia so call'd by the Hollanders from Spilbergen whom probably they reckon to have been the first Discoverer of it is the same that we vulgarly call Greenland and which Sir Hugh Willoughby if not the first of all yet at least the first of the English that discover'd any thing of these Parts nam'd King James's New-Land The said Sir Hugh Willoughby set forth Anno 1553. in the Bona Esperanza accompany'd with two Ships more viz. the Bonaventure Richard Challoner Captain and the Bona Confidentia and after some time of Coasting up and down those Northern Seas he Landed with his Company upon the Place where staying a few days he sent three Men three days Journey into the Countrey South-West and three more as far full West who all after much hardship in their Travelling return'd without having met any People by the Way or seen the least appearance of any Habitation Sailing hence back for Lapland they were all frozen to death in the Haven Arzina Fotherby's Description of Greenland A Description of Greenland by one Mr. Robert Fotherby represents the Nature of this Place contradictory to its Name as before was observ'd of Groenland For certainly saith he no part of the World yet known and discover'd is less Green than this both the Mountains and Low-lands being cover'd with Snow till the beginning of June The Countrey which is for the most part mountainous bearing neither Grass nor Tree save onely Heath or Ling as it is call'd in the North parts of England which grows upon the Moors or Heathy Grounds when the Snow begins to melt and on which in Summer the Deer feed themselves fat in one Moneth but how they live in the Winter is a thing beyond any Man's skill to comprehend especially during the Sun's absence under the Horizon which in the Latitude of seventy seven Degrees continues from the eighteenth of October to the fourth of February This Countrey is by many suppos'd never to have been inhabited by Men yet not altogether uncapable of affording Habitation to such as would bring with them sufficient defensive Weapons against Hunger and Cold For other Animals it is found by the testimony of those that have been upon the Place not to be destitute for besides Deer before mention'd there have been seen Bears and Foxes and of wild Fowl Cuthbert Ducks Willocks Stints Sea-Pigeons Sea-Parrots Gulls Noddies c. The Southermost part of Greenland call'd Point Look-out stands in seventy six Degrees and thirty Minutes The West side of the Land was discover'd by the first Voyagers Northward as far as eighty Degrees and odd Minutes and in that compass six or eight good Harbors for the Whale-fishing the East side as far as seventy eight Degrees with divers Islands
and the Mountain Hecla the two first are chiefly considerable for their wonderful heighth and for the dreadful noise of Thunder which is heard on the top of them when in the adjacent parts below the Air is calm and clear the third lying in the North of the Island and not very high is one of the most prodigious Vulcans in the World for the casting forth of Flames black Ashes and Pumice-Stones insomuch that there is no possibility of Habitation within six Miles of it round about and it is a receiv'd Opinion of the Inhabitants that it is the place of Torment for the Souls of the Damned from whence there hath risen such a company of strange Stories and Fables that it would make up a Volume of it self to relate them The occasion of the great Eruption of this Mountain is not without much reason imputed to the inflammation of the Sulphur of which there are several Mines or Pits in the Countrey though none of any sort of Metal First planting of Christian Religion here Waldemarus King of Denmark and Norway being consequently Master of this amongst the other Norwegian Colonies Planted the Christian Religion in this Island in the Year of Christ 1398. and Ordain'd two Bishops one in Schalholden in the East part another in Hollen in the West and after the Reformation was begun Christianus King of Denmark took care to propagate the Reformed Doctrine there as well as in other parts of his Dominions and to that end sent over a PRINTER thither that the BIBLE together with the Works of Philip Melancthon and Urbanus Regius might be publish'd in the Vulgar Tongue of the Countrey But these Proceedings were mainly oppos'd by the Bishop of Schalholden who animating the People to Rebellion they slew the King's Lieutenant Whereupon the next Year Paul Holfelt a Knight of the Danish Order being sent over with an Army overthrew the Rebels and taking off the chief Heads of the Rebellion committed the Charge of the Government to another Nobleman of Denmark whom he left upon the Place But one Tadde Bonde a great Man of the Countrey meditating a Revolt drew divers Persons of principal note into Conspiracy with him and was advancing to a formidable Power had not the Bishop given continual Intelligence of their Proceedings to the King's Lieutenant who thereupon employ'd Agents to the chief Accomplices of the Faction and what with fair Means and threatnings so wrought with them that they return'd to their Obedience and forsook Todde insomuch that he flying with a small Party betook himself to a fastness at the Foot of Heckelveld where being hemm'd in those about him were slain and he himself taken Prisoner and because no Man to whose safe custody he was offer'd durst receive him so much dreaded was his Power one Jonas a bold courageous Fellow slew him with his own Hand and thereby put an end to all farther Tumults and Seditions The People of Iseland addicted to Sorcery and Superstition So much have the People of this Island been ever addicted to Sorcerie and Superstition that notwithstanding the Profession of Christianity and the frequent Preaching against those Sins especially since the Reformation the generality of them are still wedded to many of those old diabolical Customs which were practis'd there in time of Paganism and amongst other things they are said to be serv'd many of them by Spirits which constantly attend them and as Olaus Magnus writes of the Finlanders they are oftentimes dealt with by Strangers to sell them prosperous Winds for Money and doubtless by the help of the Devil perform the same as also on the contrary they are said by their Enchantments to stop the Course of a Ship and make it as it were immovable though in the Stream of never so prosperous a Gale They are a proud haughty People and for the most part endu'd with vast strength of Body their Habit so promiscuous that neither Sex can be distinguish'd by it They are not onely forward to prostitute their Daughters to those Germans that Trade with them at Hafnefords but that Virgin who hath had to do with a German shall be sure to be so much the more esteem'd and Courted Towns and Places of note The onely Towns and Buildings of note here and those erected but of late Ages are 1. Hafnefords a Haven Town chiefly frequented by Dutch Merchants for Traffick with the Natives 2. Bedstede the Residence of the Lord Lieutenant or Governor for the King of Denmark 3. The Bishops See of Halsar having four Monasteries belonging to it viz. Pingore Remestede Modor and Monkeniere 4. The Bishops See of Schalholt to which also doth belong four Monasteries viz. Vedey Pernebar Kirkebar and Schirde Their Place and manner of Judicature The Nobles of Iseland are call'd Bonden their Justiciaries or Judges being twelve in number Lochmaders that is Men of Law or Justice who are said to meet once a year on the twenty ninth of June to administer Justice in a place ordain'd for that purpose in the midst of the Island appearing like some feigned Paradice so pleasant a place it is represented to be at that time of the year being as the Tradition goes from a high burning Mountain like Hecla consum'd to a Plain and so environ'd with Rocks that there was left but a small Passage for one at a time to enter Here the Governor having first given the Charge leaves the Trial of all Matters to the Lochmaders who having diligently heard every Cause argued on both sides withdraw for a while to Consult together and then proceed to Sentence the same Persons being both Jury and Judge but if any Case of difficulty or scruple arise they consult the Governor Angrimus Jonas's Relation of Iseland Angrimus Jonas's Relation of Iseland differing much from what hath been deliver'd by Blefkens is not to be omitted He saith it was first discover'd by one Naddecus a Pyrate who going towards the Farensian Islands was cast by Tempest upon the Shore of East-Iseland near the Mountain Reidarfial and as he departed from the Coast perceiving the tops of the highest Mountains cover'd with a very deep Snow call'd the Island Snaelandia that is Snowy Countrey Gardarus's Voyage to Iseland Upon the fame of Naddocus's Discovery one Gardarus the Son of Suavarus a Swede was desirous to make a Voyage thither and arriving near the Eastern Shore Winter'd in the Bay of Skialfanda or North-Island in the Year of our Lord 864. and call'd the Haven Huscawick from the Houses or Wintering-places built there as the next Haven to it was call'd Nartarawick from Natrare an eminent Mariner in this Expedition Gardarus returning home about the beginning of the Spring call'd the Countrey from his own Name Gardarsholm Flocco's Voyage to the same Place The next that follow'd his Example was one Flocco a famous Pyrate whose Daughter Geirhilda being drown'd upon the Coast of Schetland anciently Hietland gave the Name of Geirhildarwata
was undertaken by Captain Luke Fox who at his Return gave very good hopes and encouragement that the Work so long in prosecution was not impossible to effected nevertheless by reason of the late troublesom Times i◠〈…〉 wholy laid aside for almost forty years but in the Year 1668. several Persons of Honor undertook to revive the Work and to that purpose furnish'd out two Ships which set forth in June and return'd about the beginning of October the Year following giving so satisfactory an Account of their Voyage that in the Year 1670. the same Adventurers thought fit to send out two Ships more so furnish'd as to endure a Wintering there which they did with greater hopes than ever of finding out the North-West Passage besides a handsom Caâ—go of rich Furrs which made it more than a saving Voyage so that 't is suppos'd this will not be the last Attempt but that another will suddenly follow And it may well be observ'd that nothing considerable hath been done in this grand Enterprize but by the English A brief View of what Places are posses'd at this day in the West-Indies by the English Spaniards French Portuguese and Dutch THe English possess in Northern Amerrica New England the Bay of Trinity Chincet and a part of Terra Nova or New-found Land Virginia part of Florida now call'd Carolina the Bermudas or Summer-Islands New Holland which they took from the Dutch An. 1664. with New Amsterdam and Fort Orange Terra Mariae or Mary-Land part of the Isles call'd Lucaies among the Antillae or Caribbee-Islands Barbados Anguilla part of St. Christophers Montserrat Nieves or Mevis Antego Dominico and St. Vincent the Isle of St. Catherine otherwise call'd Providence Jamaica the Isles of Curacao and Trinity several Colonies at Surinam and Sinamari with several Forts upon the Coast of Guiana and lastly the Haven Porto Bello once the Spaniards The Spaniards possess the greatest and best part of America wherein they have a vast number of very considerable Towns In Northern America they have 1. New Spain in which are the Audiences of Mexico Guadalajara and Guatimala 2. The Islands Cuba and Hispaniola excepting some parts towards the West which are in possession of the French Boriquen c. also St. Augustine and St. Matthew in Florida and a part of New Mexico In Southern America Castilla d' Oro or Golden Castile otherwise call'd Terra Firma in which are the Audiences of Quito Lima and La Plata lastly Chili and Paraguay which comprehends the Countreys of Tucuman and La Plata The French have in Canada or Nova Francia Montreal the Rivers Quebeck Tadousack and some Places upon the great River of St. Lawrence also Accadie or Nova Scotia the Isle of Cape Breton with the Fort St. Peter from whence they Traffick to Nepigiquit with the Salvages of that Coast part of the Isle of Terre-Neuve Pemptagoet St. Jean Port-Royal and other Fortresses Among the Caribbee-Islands part of St. Christophers St. Bartholomew St. Crux St. Martin Guadalupe Deseado Marigalante Todos los Sanctos Martinico St. Alousie and Granada likewise some Colonies on the West of Hispaniola Upon the Continent of Southern America on the Coast of Guiana the Isle Cayene where stands the Fort of St. Michael de Ceperoux now Fort Louis also the Colonies of Mathouri and Armire Courrou Coonama and Comaribo The Portuguese possess all the Coast of Brasile in Southern America with the several Capitania's or Praefectures thereof The Dutch have onely the Isles of St. Eustace and Saba the Town of Coro in Terra Firma the Colonies Boron Esquib Berebie Aperwaque and others on the Coast of Guiana FINIS Directions for placing the Whole-sheet Prints in this Volume of America TItle The general Map of America Fol. 1 Christoffel Colonus Fol. 43 Angra op Tercera Fol. 52 Americus Vesputius Fol. 60 Ferdinand Magellanus Fol. 79 Vetus Mexico Fol. 87 Athabaliba Fol. 97 Novum Belgium quod nunc Nov. Jorck vocatur Fol. 168 Mary-Land Fol. 183 Nova Virginiae Tabula Fol. 192 Arx Carolina Fol. 205 Virginiae pars Australis Florida Fol. 213 Pagus Hispanorum in Florida Fol. 218 Yucatan Guatimala Fol. 222 Francisco de Campeche Fol. 223 Truxillo Fol. 231 Nova Hispania Nova Gallicia Guatimala Fol. 238 Nova Mexico Fol. 243 Muteczuma Fol. 253 Portus Acapulco Fol. 260 Viztlipuztli Fol. 297 Insulae Americanae in Oceano Septentrionali Fol. 304 Mappa AEstivarum Insularum alias Barmudes Fol. 311 Urbs Domingo in Hispaniola Fol. 318 Porto Rico Fol. 327 Havana Fol. 333 Jamaica Fol. 337 Urbs Martini 365 Carthagena Fol. 401 Terra Firma Regnum Granatense Popayan Fol. 408 Peru Fol. 412 Franciscus Pizarrus Fol. 429 Cusco Fol. 456 Potosi Fol. 463 Callao de Lima Fol. 466 Chili Fol. 470 Magellanica Fol. 472 Paraquaria Fol. 474 Brasile Fol. 477 Sinus omnium Sanctorum Fol. 502 Olinda Fol. 505 Ostium fluminis Paraybae Fol. 508 Itamaraca Fol. 517 Fluvius Grandis Fol. 517 Siara Fol. 517 Urbs Salvador Fol. 519 Obsidio expugnatio Portus Calvi Fol. 554 Alagoa del Zul Fol. 556 Serinhaim Fol. 580 Mauritio-Polis Fol. 604 Castrum Mauritii ad ripam Francisci Fol. 605 Arax Principis Guilielmi Fol. 605 Bonavista Fol. 606 Guiana sive Amazonum regio Fol. 607 Arx Nassovii Fol. 608 Venezuela cum parte Australi novae Andalusiae Fol. 624