could possibly thereabouts but were forc'd to retire from thence to Quito at the same time that the Councellor Tejada being sent by Pizarro to the Emperor came to an Anchor there where they were courteously Entertain'd as also in St. Michael where they got daily more and more Assistants of which Pizarro being inform'd went thither with five hundred Men and forcing the Vice-Roy to flye from thence pursu'd him above thirty Leagues Is put to flight and pursu'd by Pizarro Hanging up all those whom he could take of his Party After many Rencounters and Hardships suffer'd by both Parties Pizarro exceedingly wearied return'd to Quito where he minded nothing but all manner of Debaucheries not in the least regarding the Vice-Roy's Designs which it concern'd him to have narrowly look'd into for he having got five hundred Men on his side resolv'd to venture a Battel It was towards Evening when the two Parties had sight of one another Pizarro having not onely more Men but also better Exercis'd in Arms than the Vice-Roy who being sensible thereof went silently about Midnight from his Station along a narrow by Path so to fall behind upon the Rere of the Enemy who mistrusted nothing by reason the Vice-Roy's Dogs kept a continual Barking in his old Station and the Peruvian Sentinels were heard calling to one another and making great Fires all the Night long but because the Way was over-grown and farther about than it was suppos'd the Vice-Roy finding the Night too far spent went back to Quito out of which he Sallied as soon as he had sight of Pizarro's Forces against whom being clad in a white Riding Coat through the Slits of which appear'd a Cloth of Tissue Doublet he came Riding on a Bay Gelding in the Head of his Party with which breaking in amongst the Enemies Ranks he made a considerable slaughter amongst them till Hernand Tores coming near him gave him a Blow on the Had with a Battel-Ax The Vice-Roy slain by Carvayales that fell'd him to the Ground which the Lawyer Carvayales seeing ran immediately out of desire to revenge his Brother's Death whom the Vice-Roy had murder'd and chopp'd off his Head Thus Pizarro being absolute Master of the Field began to shew his tyranny upon the Prisoners some he took away by Poyson others he Executed with the Sword and Halter others he banish'd to the remote Countrey Chili Pizarro's Luxury and Tyranny and spent his time in all manner of Vice in Quito where amongst other leud Actions making Love to another Man's Wife he hir'd one Vincent Paul to murder her Husband which said Vincent was afterwards Hang'd at Valladolid in Spain The Adulteress also was afterwards Got with Child by her own Father and both of them put to death for Incest and murdering of their Child Pizarro being receiv'd as King in Los Reyos grew every day more proud than other insomuch that his Friends themselves began to hate and envy him and wanted onely a convenient opportunity to rid themselves of this high-minded Tyrant A strange Accident among others had done him great hurt had it not been timely discover'd viz. Joan de la Torre a Soldier formerly belonging to the Vice-Roy found accidentally a Grave in the Valley Hica which by the Peruvians had been worshipp'd above two Ages before and in it so much Offer'd Gold and Silver as amounted to above eighty thousand Crowns in Gold besides many Emeraulds and Turcoises all which Treasure he was puzled how to carry away and possess securely partly fearing the Emperor's Displeasure if he should arrive thus rich in Spain the rather because he had sided with Pizarro and also knowing it was impossible to convey it on Ship-board without one or others knowledge at last after many Contrivances he judg'd it convenient to put the Money in a small Vessel and Sail with the same to Nicaragua there to raise Men to oppose Pizarro in those Parts that so he might re-gain the Emperor's Favor This Undertaking seem'd to be threatned by many Dangers he not having a sufficient Spirit to Command or at least Experience to officiate the Place of a Captain Vela Nunnez and La Torre Plotting against Pizarro are taken and Executed In the mean time Vela Nunnez Brother to the slain Vice-Roy taken in the Battel at Quito had so much priviledge allow'd him from Pizarro that he went a Hunting and other such Exercises distant from the Camp who meeting with La Torre took him in his arms and embrac'd him with great joy which so wrought upon La Torre that he discover'd the Secret of his discover'd Treasure took an Oath of him that he would be faithful to him and take Revenge of Pizarro for all the Injuries receiv'd from him but before according to their Agreement they could set Sail from thence their Plot being discover'd both Nunnez and Torre were Executed and their Riches fell into the Hands of Pizarro Peter Gasca sent to settle Affairs in Peru. Whilest the Peruvian Affairs were in this confusion and disorder Peter Gasca impower'd by the Emperor Charles the Fifth arriving there endeavor'd to settle all things in Peace and Quiet and sent by Peter Hernandes besides the Emperor's Letter another which he writ himself to Pizarro the Contents of which were to this purpose Gasca's Letter to Pizzaro THe Peruvian Soyl hath drunk up the Spanish Blood long enough and the ruin'd Realm gapes for Rest The Emperor proffers Pardon for all past Crimes Repeals the new Laws which the Vice-Roy Vela during his Government enjoy'd the Spaniards to observe If Pizarro aims at the general Welfare he may easily see that Arms must first be laid aside which he now depends on in vain all his Associates being ready to forsake him because no Soldier can take up Arms against the Emperor without being guilty of high Treason Pizarro's Designs against him Pizarro confounded with this Letter call'd a Council of War who differ'd very much from one another in their Votes some judging that it would be best privately to destroy Gasca others were for an open Engagement but most thought of another way viz. to get his Person into their custody and keep him under a strong Guard on the Island Puna under pretence that the Peruvian Princes were sent for to come and acknowledge him as supream Governor which because the Cities lay so remote one from another could not be done in less than two years Mean while an Embassy was to be sent to the Court at Madrid which should enjoyn Gasca to remain in Panama and not offer to come to Peru till such time as the Emperor commanded the same a second time at the return of the Agents His Party generally fall off to Gasca But Hieronimus Loaisa chief Bishop of Los Reyos Thomas Martin Provincial of the Dominicans Gomes Solis Pizarro's Steward Laurence Aldana who were design'd for this Embassy to the Emperor Charles never went their Journey but staid in Panama with
the help of the Master of their diabolical Art and though they escap'd themselves yet their Wives and Children were all put to death upon the King's Command Soon after which appear'd a mighty Comet or blazing Starfor a whole year together the great Temple Cu was set on Fire and burnt to the Ground none knew how the Water which was thrown on the same to quench it burnt like Brimstone in the Skie appear'd three fiery Heads at noon-day and out of a long Tail shot Sparks on the Earth the Laguna between Mexico and Texcuco began to swell into a Tide which turn'd some Houses topsie-turvy a shrill Voice was heard in the Night crying on the Water Children your ruine is at hand whither shall I carry you that you may not be lost A miraculous Story of a Bird. No less strange is what d' Acosta relates of a Bird presented to Muteczuma not unlike a Crane which the Fishermen had taken on the Laguna on the shining Forehead of which there appear'd the resemblance of two Armies Engag'd and one defeated by the other and that whilst the Sages call'd to interpret the meaning hereof sat in Consultation the Bird vanish'd Another of a Country-man Moreover there goes a Tradition That a Countrey-man being at his Labor was taken up by an Eagle and carried through the Air into a gloomy Cave where a Man lay fast asleep snoaring when on a sudden he heard a Voice afar off saying Do you know that Man whereupon the Countrey-man taking special notice of the dormant Man knew him by the Royal Apparel to be Mutexuma after which the Voice was heard again saying How soundly doth he sleep the time is coming which provides Punishments for many Crimes burn the Snoarer with the Torch which he holds in his Hands he will feel no pain Not long after he being inform'd hereof and looking on his Thigh found the same burnt to his no small amazement News of the arrival of the the Spanish Fleet. Having now possess'd the Throne fourteen years he receiv'd news of a Fleet and therewith a Draught of the Men and Vessels painted on Cloth This startling him he immediately advis'd with his Council who judg'd it convenient to secure the Coast along the Southern Ocean with strong Watches yet nevertheless Ferdinand Cortesius Landed with five hundred Foot and sixty Horse took the City Potanchanum march'd through the Countrey Sicuchimalar to Tascalleca where they had a sharp Conflict in which the Spaniards were in great danger and had not they had six Field-Pieces with them which did as much affright as hurt the Indians they had without doubt been cut off there In Chiurutecal they were in as much danger for certainly the Spanish Army had been set upon in the Night had not a Woman inform'd them of it Mean while Muteczuma consulted with his Sorcerers to destroy Cortesius by Charms who then was marching through Chalco whereupon a considerable number of Sorcerers went thither to the top of a high Mountain where as they were beginning their Incantations and Charms their Idol Tezcalipuca appear'd to them and in an angry manner told them That Monteczuma should lose his Crown and Life and to confirm his words he shew'd them a dreadful spectacle for looking about they saw the City in a light flame This being told to Muteczuma he resolv'd to make himself as secure as he could and went to meet Cortesius with costly Presents delivering him the Crown in the presence of all his Council to which purpose he took one Marina experienc'd in the Castilian Tongue with him for his Interpreter all things then seeming to end in Friendship But they continu'd not long in that state for Cortesius whose whole Design was to bring Mexico under the Spaniards Subjection not long after accus'd Muteczuma that Coalcopoca had on his Commands storm'd the new Spanish City Vera Crux which he could no way excuse and notwithstanding Muteczuma deliver'd him Coalcopoca Muteczuma committed to Prison by Cortesius with fifteen of his Nobles Prisoners who were all burnt with green Wood yet he was committed Prisoner to the great discontent of the Mexicans who said That they were now come to a fine pass to be thus fool'd by a few Strangers who had imprison'd their King trampled upon their ancient Images endeavor'd to murther them all and in despite of them brought their mortal Enemies the Tascaltecans and Guazuzingans into Mexico Cortesius marches against Velasquez's Party About this time there were certain Ships come to Vera Crux which was a new Port-Town of this Countrey that the Spaniards had built since their coming thither and had Landed near upon a thousand Men which was an Accident that had like to have spoil'd the Design of Cortesius and all his Company at Mexico these Men being sent by James Velasquez Governor of Cuba expressly against Cortesius and his Men upon pretence that they had acted not conformably to the Commission which they had receiv'd from him and gave him no account of their proceedings which in a great measure was true for it must be confess'd that Cortesius and his Men finding themselves to have fall'n upon an Adventure that was certainly rich and good and having got such footing and interest in the Countrey already by their Success and Victories and chiefly by their Confederacy with so many of the Natives and People of the Countrey revolted to them did almost at first by a general consent renounce their Commission and dependency upon Velasquez and profess'd to act immediately from and for the King of Spain What pretences they had for such a Resolution seemingly at least irregular is not so well known Whatever they were they proceed in it and the whole Company excepting onely some few who yet went along with the rest chuse Cortesius anew for their Commander in chief and appoint likewise by common consent all other Officers of Justice both Civil and Military among themselves and to give the better colour at Court to their Proceedings they send Portocorrero and Monteio two of their Principals into Spain with a rich and noble Present to the Emperor both to make report of the State of the Countrey and to procure immediate Commission from his Majesty to proceed after which they advance towards Mexico as hath been said Velasquez being at Cuba and understanding their Proceedings labor'd to intercept both their Messengers and Present but could not and therefore sent Pamphilius Narvaez with eleven Ships and about nine hundred or a thousand Men to apprehend Cortesius and oppose his Proceedings This hapned about the time that the Differences were but newly calm'd betwixt the Spaniards and the People of Mexico and though it oblig'd Cortesius to leave the City in a wavering and unsetled condition yet he took such order that Muteczuma still remain'd under the Guard of the Spaniards as before assisted with thousands of their Friends of Tlascalla and he himself taking the rest and some few Spaniards
and shooting Bullets through the lower Region causes Thunder and Lightning They worshipp'd him after the same manner as they did Viracocha and the Sun with holding up of a thing like a Glove and sometimes Offering especially in Cusco living Children Also they ador'd the Earth of which they made the Goddess Bathamama also Mamacocha the God of the Sea The Rainbowe which the Ingas carried between two Serpents for their Arms was also religiously worshipp'd Amongst the Stars they imagin'd Colca by us call'd Aries or the Ram as chief yet held several others of peculiar Denomination in veneration of which they crav'd such things as they wanted The Shepherds ador'd the Star Nereuchilla or Capricorn whom they judge to Rule over the Beasts Others worshipp'd Machacuay which the European Astronomers call the Serpent as commanding Serpents and Dragons that they might receive no hurt from them Tygers Lyons and Bears were Rul'd by the Star Chuquichinchag wherefore those who would walk free from those ravenous Beasts lifted up folded Hands to the Constellations representing the same They believ'd that there was no Creature living on Earth whose Likeness the Heavens could not afford and that those which were on Earth were under the influence of those in Heaven from hence proceeded the Names of the Stars Chacana Topatatca Mamana Mirma and others They likewise attributed a kind of Divinity to Fountains Rivers Rocks Mountains some kinds of Herbs Roots and especially the Papas of a strange shape and had a veneration for all manner of Creatures that were of an unusual form When they travell'd they strew'd Shoes Plumes of Feathers and Cocoa in all cross Ways and tops of Hills by them call'd Apachitas and if they want the fore-mention'd things then they throw a Stone for an Offering from whence it proceeds that in all cross Ways and on the tops of Hills lie heaps of Stones which are accounted holy The like fond veneration of Stones the Saracens are said antiently to have had upon a Tradition That Abraham had enjoy'd Agar upon a Stone and that according to Euthymius and Libanius he ty'd his Cammel to a Stone when he went to Offer his Son Isaac The Images of their deceased Ingas which they call'd Guaoiqui were had in great honor and carried with them to the Wars and up and down in Processionings and call'd upon for fruitful Seasons The Peruvians believ'd the Immortality of the Soul The Immortality of the Soul the giving of Punishments to the Wicked and of Rewards to those that do well was generally believ'd amongst the Peruvians but not the Resurrection of the Dead Many suffer'd themselves to be buried with their Friends that they might accompany them to the other World When the Inga Guaynacava was buried above a thousand of his Courtiers Sung several Songs kept a great Feast and went with great joy to be buried with him that so they might serve their King on the other side of the Mountains They Offer'd likewise a great number of Children and with their Blood cross'd their Faces from one Ear to another But this barbarous Offering was never us'd but at the Death of prime Persons of Quality for the meaner sort of People set onely Meat on the Graves and gave the Dead two Sutes of Apparel put Money in their Mouthes and Hands for they believ'd that the Souls ranging up and down from place to place suffer'd many inconveniences Their Oracle The Peruvian Images consisted generally of Gold Silver Stone or Wood all of them strangely deform'd Some of them were said to give Responces like the Oracle at Delphos and Dodona chiefly in the Temple Pacachama whose greatness is sufficiently manifest by the Ruines of its Walls beyond Lima where Franciscus Pizarrus got an invaluable Treasure Each Peruvian Province had a Temple besides which in the Cities Villages and Hamlets were Chappels of Ease into which the Priests went at Night with their Backs towards the Idol bended Heads and Bodies in which posture they requested to know future Events and were many times answer'd if we may believe their Reports in a terrible Voice The great Temple at Cusco wherein the Ingas had plac'd all the Peruvian Idols is now turn'd into a Dominican Cloyster In each Province of Peru was also a Nunnery if we may so term it or Habitation of devoted Virgins call'd Allaguau ie A House of the Choicest Their Nunneries over which was plac'd a Governor nam'd Appopanaca to whom none durst deny their Daughters some of which were styl'd Wives of the Sun and others Servant-Maids to the same The Wives Cloth'd in Embroyder'd Coats adorn'd the Temple whilest the Maids kept clean the Walls and Floor When they attain'd to fourteen Years of Age some were chosen out from the rest and oblig'd to perpetual Virginity and solitude of Life in their Chappels which sacred Obligation if they broke by suffering any to Lie with them they were buried alive after the manner of the Vestal Virgins the Ceremony whereof is related by Plutarch Others were oblig'd to make daily Offerings others to make peculiar Sacrifices for the Inga's Health and happy Events in War many also were employ'd in the Court-Service to wait upon the Inga's Wife or Concubines and those being absolv'd from their Vow were oft-times Married to Courtiers These Nunneries were Endow'd with great Revenues from the Chacaras Their Offerings or Church-Lands Their Offerings were for sometimes they Offer'd to their Idols the highly esteem'd Herb Cocoa Maiz several colour'd Plumes Sea-Monsters Gold and Silver Images of Beasts fine Clothes call'd Cumbi Sweet-wood and Tallow to burn either to have success in their Journeys Trades or for the preservation of Health or to obtain a plentiful Harvest But their usual Offerings were Cuces a sort of Toads which were eaten by the Peruvians When they were to do any Business of consequence then Persons of Quality kill'd their Sheep Pacos not without strange observation of the colour and number of them as also of the time all which things well consider'd they took the Sheep and laid it cross their right Arm turn'd the Face thereof towards the Sun and mutter'd several words to themselves according to the colour for if it was spotted grey they spoke to Chuquilla or Thunder if white and short Fleec'd to the Sun if well Fleec'd to Viracocha In Cusco they Offer'd daily a short-fleec'd Sheep to the Sun in this manner Making a great Fire call'd Vibbacaronca the Priests threw the Sheep and four Baskets of Cocoa into it Their Sacrifices Cozocovicca and Sapovicca to obtain Conquests were also very strange for they gather'd out of Puna which is a desolate place several sorts of Brambles and Bushes nam'd Ganilli which being all set on fire they went about the Fire with round Stones in their Hands on which were painted Serpents Lyons Toads and Tygers crying Usachum grant us Conquest together with this Prayer Destroy O Creator the power of our Enemies Gods which said several starv'd Sheep were
brought out which for that reason they call'd Urca whose Hearts having torn out they began their Prayers afresh saying Mighty Viracocha thus do thou pull out the Hearts of our Enemies For the prosperity of the Ingas they kill'd in an open Field black Dogs by them call'd Appurucos whose Flesh was eaten with many Ceremonies by People appointed for that purpose They made Offerings also to the Fountains Rivers Brooks and Sea-shells under pretence that those Shells were Daughters of the Ocean and the Ocean the Father of Streams and Springs when they had Sow'n their Fields their Priests chose to that Office went from House to House to gather such Offerings as every one was pleas'd to give which they laid at the Banks of several Sluces at the time when the Water began to rise there thinking by that Oblation to keep them from over-flowing their Lands and washing away their Seed In all places where two Rivers joyn'd together they wash'd themselves having first bedaub'd themselves all over with stamp'd Maiz and afterwards look'd upon themselves as well purg'd from Sin which power they ascrib'd to their Baths To strangle Children between four and ten years of Age was never us'd unless upon the Inga's being sick or when he receiv'd the Royal Tassel that from the death of the Children he might receive Health or Reign prosperously The fore-mention'd Nuns that were chose to attend on the King 's were also strangled when the Inga was sick nay sometimes a Father would Offer his Son to Viracocha on the Sun-Priest's suggestion That by his Son's death he would recover from his Sickness Praying to the foremention'd Deity that they would be pleas'd to save the sick Father because the Son had with his Death paid for his Fathers This kind of Cruelty the Devil seem'd to prompt the Heathens to by making use of Abraham's Example who prepar'd his Son Isaac for a Sacrifice on Mount Moria and that it was a Practice amongst the antient Ammonites and Moabites and other Heathens by which even the Children of Israel were apt to be seduc'd appears from the Scripture it self the Ceremonies of which bruitish Customs with the seven Brazen Chambers of Moloch may be seen describ'd by Rabbi Solomon At the fore-mention'd Chasquis a course was taken to carry all that desir'd to every Temple through the whole Kingdom of Peru where the Inhabitants receiv'd them with great Reverence having before confess'd all their sins to their Yahuries or Father-Confessors Their manner of Confessions who being chosen to that Office with a great deal of Ceremony impos'd greater or lesser Penances according to the sins of the Penitent those that were suspected to have conceal'd any of their sins were put to cast Lots or had the Entrails of the Beasts which they had kill'd to that purpose consulted about them and thereby were discover'd if they had conceal'd any of their sins which whenever it hapned the Priests falling upon the false Penitents thump'd them with a Stone on their Backs so long till they had confess'd all their Faults which the Priest was not to reveal on pain of Death but to make Expiatory Offerings The sins about which they were Examin'd were chiefly Theft Murder Adultery preparing of Poyson or sleighting their Inga or Gods for each of which Transgressions they had several kinds of Punishments When the Inga fell sick all People in general were forc'd to come and make Confession of their sins also every one went to his Confessor when he was in trouble or expected some Misfortune to befall him The Inga himself Confess'd his sins to none but the Sun which he desir'd to relate to Viracocha and to beg pardon of him for the same which done he bath'd himself in a running Stream and cry'd I have made my sins known to thee O Sun do thou O River wash away mine Iniquities and discharge them into the Sea that they may never be more laid to my charge which custom of Bathing call'd Opacuna waâ— also us'd by all other Penitents Their Penances A Father losing his Son by Death was censur'd for a great Sinner wherefore he could not be permitted to be Confess'd before he had been whipp'd with Nettles by a cetain ill-look'd Officer appointed for that end after which their Fathers Ychuris enjoyn'd such Penances as they thought fit some were order'd to fast several days others to pay rich Garments Silver Gold or the like others receiv'd a certain number of Blows some were condemn'd to live on the Mountains excluded from the society of all Men. If their Sorcerers at any time foretold a Fathers Death then he immediately Sacrifis'd his Son that with his Death he might buy his own Life The Esteem of their Soothsayers No People were more respected than their Soothsayers as Men that could discover private Thefts Accidents that hapned in remote Countreys and also future Events and so far their Credit amongst the Vulgar carried them that they undertook to tell the Spaniards when their Countrey-men should be Conquerors and when defeated in the War they maintain'd against the Netherlanders There were also cunning Women who making themselves dead Drunk with Chica with which they mix'd the Herb Viloa and afterwards coming to themselves again answer'd all the Questions that were proposed to them Their monthly Feasts The Peruvians kept two sorts of Feasts the first at certain times the others on special occasions the set-Feasts were kept Monethly on the first Moneth Rayme agreeing with our last Moneth December as aforesaid they kept the great Feast Capacrayme on which they brought Multitudes of Sheep and Lambs for Burnt-offerings besides Silver and Gold Not far from the Fire stood three Carv'd Images of the Sun and three others representing Thunder and this was generally the Day of the Installation of the young Inga's which was after this manner The chief Priest boring a Hole through his Ear cover'd the upper part of his Body with the holy Cloth Guaras whilest the inferior Priests whipt him with knotted Cords and painted his Face with the Blood During these Ceremonies no Stranger was suffer'd to remain in Cusco but after the Feast was ended they all return'd and as before receiv'd Cakes bak'd of Maiz and Blood as a testimony that they lov'd and honor'd the Inga The Destruction of the old Empire of Peru foretold As to the Prognostications and Fore-runners of the destruction of the old Empire of Peru it is reported that Guaynacava Father of the last King Attabaliba lying on his Death-bed in Quito said to his Princes This Realm at present rais'd to the highest top of Eminency is hastning towards its Ruine and though our Kingdom remain as yet freee from foreign Invasion the Countreys round about are already conquer'd and in Slavery The Gods have call'd strange People from unknown Regions who by degrees will reach us also With me who am the twelfth Inga dies the Dominion of the mighty Peru. A People of other Fashions and
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
otherwise they believ'd their Idols would devour the Souls of the Dead and this though Christians they did not forget Nay further when he went to War he carry'd the Image of the Virgin Mary with him in the Front of his Army often saying Ave Maria and this was the end of that Voyage But afterwards Ancisus complain'd against Vascus Nunnez in the Spanish Court where he receiv'd a Sentence very prejudicial to him Colmenares and Quicedo had also Audience there whereupon matters being settled a firm Government was establish'd in Uraba SECT VIII Peter Arias his Expedition and remarkable Passages of Vascus Nunnez PEter Arias Knight accompany'd with his Wife Elizabeth Boadilla set Sail Anno 1514. but surpriz'd by a violent Storm lost two Ships and return'd to Spain yet not long after began his Voyage afresh notwithstanding he had lately had such bad success and heard of the great hardship which Nicuesa suffer'd Nicuesa suffers hunger having not onely kept himself alive a considerable time by feeding on flesh of Dogs and other such like Creatures a great Frog being sold in Veragua for a lump of Gold Nunnez immediately resolv'd to Sail thither notwithstanding it was the middle of October when the South-East Winds make such a turbulent and hollow Sea as many times wash'd away Trees and pieces of Rocks Besides the Weather was more terrible by continual Lightning and great Thunder-Claps the Nights very cold the Days exceeding hot yet all these difficulties could not prevail for Nunnez would not stay to expect fairer Weather but went on and coming thither he saw how the Indians Fish for Pearls Manner of Fishing for Pearls which was Diving for Oysters but the Weather being rough and foul they durst not venture for the best which lay far from the Shore Nunnez returns But Nunnez leaving his sick and weary'd Men with Chiapes March'd quite another way back than he came and crossing a great River was receiv'd by Prince Teaocha who furnish'd him with Gold Pearls Provisions and Guides which carry'd his Luggage and Goods Pacra a great Oppressor of all his Neighbors hearing of the approach of Nunnez fled but terrifi'd with threats return'd with three other Princes which were all so Deform'd that more horrible Monsters were never seen scarce any part about them resembling those of a Man Pacra a tyrannous King his horrible death The Guides which Teaocha had provided for the Spaniard desir'd that he might be put to Death for the Cruelties which he had long committed whose Request being granted he with the other three Princes were given as a Breakfast to the Spanish Doggs Mean while the Spaniards were in danger to have perish'd for want of Water yet at last in a Thicket of Brambles they found a small Brook but none of the Indians durst venture to go to it for fear of Tygers and other Wild Beasts relating That the Tygers took many people in the nights out of their Huts if they were not careful in making fast their Doors Strange relation of Tyger John Ledesma had himself eaten part of a Tyger which for six Moneths together had every night feasted on Mans flesh or Beasts which they caught in this manner In the Path along which he pass'd coming out of his Den to seek for Prey a deep Pit was digg'd and cover'd very sleightly on the top into which the Tyger fell yet though taken so fiercely withstood the Pikes Darts and Stones thrown at him that every one was amaz'd to see the fury of the Beast After that they sought for the Female but found onely two young ones without a Dam which taking along with them they put Iron Collars about their Necks intending to carry them to Spain but seeing no likelyhood of breeding them up they brought them back again purposing to fetch them away when grown somewhat older and accordingly coming afterwards to look for them they found the Den empty so that it was supposed they had been devour'd by their Dam. Nunnez further Journey into the Countrey very remarkable In the Province of Bononiama the Spaniards inrich'd themselves with Chains and Breast-Plates of Gold which in great plenty hung on the Walls in every House At the River Comogrus they discharg'd Teaocha's Guides and made use of Cotog and Ciuriza two Governors of a barren Tract of Land full of Hills and Mountains which they left on their right Hand and wandred three days over a Morasse in which they often sunk to their Knees In all these Travels Victual was so scarce that they were much weaken'd by their wants and though they took fresh courage when they got footing on King Buchebua's Jurisdiction yet they found nothing but empty Huts and the like in the Countrey of Chiorisus both having a little before been pillag'd by their more powerful neighboring Enemies But although they could not furnish Nunnez with Provisions they presented him with weighty Ingots of Gold but this rich Metal not able to purchase the least morsel of Bread drove them into a great strait and indeed they had without doubt been all famished had not Pocchorosa mother King fed them forty days together with stamp'd Roots Thus refresh'd and instigated by Pocchorosa they broke by night in Tubunama's Palace and took him Prisoner with eighty Concubines who fearing to be put to death gave an incredible Treasure of Gold to purchase his Ransom Nunnez thus enriched came at last to his People which he had left on the River Daria where two Ships sent from Hispaniola rode at an Anchor Peter Arias his Voyage and Fight in the Haven St. Martha Whilst things were thus carry'd in America Peter Arias Sail'd with fifteen Ships Mann'd with fifteen hundred Men to New Andalusia by the Islands Martinina Guadalupe and Galanta all in America a considerable time he Sail'd through the Sea overgrown with Weeds Afterwards anchoring in the Haven St. Martha he receiv'd a great repulse from the Natives who no ways daunted at the bigness of the Ships waded up to their Breasts in the Sea and shot many great flights of poisonous Arrows at the Spaniards of whom two being wounded immediately died Arias sending some of his Men ashore they found many Boats lying full of Nets made of tough Weeds and Ropes pleited of Rushes In the Haven St. Martha being three Leagues wide are abundance of Fish which may be seen under Water twenty Fathom deep But now the Spaniards that were ashore breaking into the Houses and taking Women and Children Prisoners the Americans prepar'd for another Fight which at the beginning was very fierce but at last they were forc'd to quit the Field Strange Houses and Houshold-stuff Their Houses and Furniture in them are worthy of observation their Cielings being cover'd with Shells strung on small Thred which make a pleasing noise when mov'd by the least breath of Wind. The Walls are hung with fine Stuffs woven full of Imagery as Cranes Lyons Tygers and
on his lawful King is presently Executed Once a Year he takes his Progress accompanied with a dozen of his best Subjects to view his Countrey to recreate himself and establish good Orders When he enters into any of their Houses without any more Complement he is desir'd to sit down on the Ground for they use neither Stools nor Cushions and after a little respite all that are present come in and sit down by him one of his Seniors pronouncing an Oration gratulatory to his Majesty for love and the many good things they enjoy under his peaceful Government A King of large Dominions hath his Vice-Roys or inferior Kings under him to agitate his State Affairs and keep his Subjects in good Decorum Other Officers there are but how to distinguish them by Name is something difficult For their Laws as their Vices come short of many other Nations so they have not so many Laws though they are not without some which they inflict upon notorious Malefactors as Traitors to their Prince inhumane Murtherers and some say Adulterers for Theft as they have nothing to steal worth the Life of a Man therefore they have no Law to Execute for Trivials a Subject being more precious in the Eye of his Prince than where Men are so scarce to be cast away upon so sleight a matter A Malefactor having deserv'd Death and being apprehended is brought before the King and some other of the wisest Men where they enquire out the original of the thing after proceeding by aggravation of Circumstances he is found Guilty and Cast by the Jury of their strict Inquisition he is Condemn'd and Executed in the following manner The Executioner comes in who blind-folds the Party sets him in the publick view and Brains him with a Tamahauke or Club which done his Friends bury him Of their Marriages Now to speak something of their Marriages the Kings and the Powwows or great Doctors may have two or three Wives but seldom use it Men of ordinary Rank having but one which dilproves the report that they had eight or ten Wives apiece When a Man hath a desire to Marry he first gets the good will of the Maid or Widow after the consent of her Friends for her part and for himself if he be at his own disposing and if the King will the Match is made her Dowry of Wampompeage paid the Sagamore or King who for every Marriage hath a Fathom of Wampompeage which is about the value of seven or eight shillings joyns their Hands never to part till Death unless she prove a Whore for which they may put away their Wives Of their Worship Invocations and Conjurations As it is natural to all Mortals to worship something so do these People but exactly to describe to whom their Worship is chiefly bent is very difficult They acknowledge especially two Ketan some say Tantum their good God and Hobamocco some say Squantum their evil God to Ketan they Sacrifice as the ancient Heathens did to Ceres after their Garners be full with a good Crop They likewise Invocate this God for fair Weather for Rain in time of Drought and for the recovery of their Sick but if they do not hear them then they verrifie the old Verse Flectere si nequeo Superos Acheronta movebo their Powwows betaking themselves to their Exorcismes and Necromantick Charms by which they bring to pass strange things if we may believe the Indians who report of one Pissacannaw that he could make the Water burn the Rocks move the Trees dance and metamorphose himself into a flaming Man In Winter when there is no green Leaves to be got he would out of the Ashes of an old Leaf calcin'd and put into the Water produce a new green Leaf And of a dead Snakes Skin a living Snake both to be seen felt and heard The manner of their action in their Conjuration is thus The Parties that are sick or lame being brought before them the Powwow sitting down the rest of the Indians giving attentive audience to his Imprecations and Invocations and after the violent expression of many a hideous bellowing and groaning he makes a stop and then all the Auditors with one voice utter a short Canto which done the Powwow still proceeds in his Invocations sometimes roaring like a Bear other times groaning like a dying Horse foaming at the Mouth like a chased Boar smiting on his naked Brest and Thighs with such violence as if he were mad Thus will he continue sometimes half a day spending his Lungs sweating out his Fat and tormenting his Body in this diabolical Worship Sometimes the Devil for requital of their Worship recovers the Party to nuzzle them up in their devillish Religion But since the English upon whom and in whose presence it is said the Powwows could never work their Witchcrafts frequented those Parts they daily fall from his Colours relinquishing their former Fopperies and acknowledge the Power of the English-man's God as they call him And it is reported of them that at the very first they were so tractable to the Christian Religion that they would say King James was good and his God good but their Tanto nought though of their two Gods he was accounted the good one Of their Wars They use no other Weapons in War than Bowes and Arrows saving that their Captains have long Spears on which if they return Conquerors they carry the Heads of their chief Enemies that they slay in the Wars it being the Custom to cut off their Heads Hands and Feet to bear home to their Wives and Children as true tokens of their renowned Victory When they go to their Wars it is their Custom to paint their Faces with diversity of Colours some being all black as Jet some red some half red and half black some black and white others spotted with divers kinds of Colours being all disguis'd to their Enemies to make them more terrible to their Foes putting on likewise their rich Jewels Pendents and Wampompeage to put them in mind that they Fight not onely for their Children Wives and Lives but likewise for their Goods Lands and Liberties Being thus Arm'd with this Warlike Paint the antique Warriors make towards their Enemies in a disorder'd manner without any Soldier-like Marching or Warlike Postures being deaf to any word of Command ignorant of falling off or on of doubling Ranks or Files but let flie their winged Shaftsmen without either fear or wit Their Artillery being spent he that hath no Arms to Fight finds Legs to run away Their Games and Sports of activity They have two sorts of Games one call'd Puim the other Hubbub not much unlike Cards and Dice being no other than Lottery Puim is fifty or sixty small Bents of a Foot long which they divide to the number of their Gamesters shuffling them first between the Palms of their Hands be that hath more than his Fellow is so much the forwarder in his Game Many other Whimsies
an Ell long and three quarters broad between their Legs so that a square piece hangs behind below his Back and another before over his Belly The Women wear a Coat which comes half way down their Legs so curiously wrought with Sea-shells that one Coat sometimes costs thirty Pounds Moreover their Bodies are cover'd with Deer-skins the lappets or ends of which hang full of Points a large Skin button'd on the right Shoulder and ty'd about the middle serves for an upper Garment and in the Night for a Blanket Both Men and Women go for the most part bare-headed the Women tie their Hair behind in a tuft over which they wear a square Cap wrought with Sea-shells with which they adorn their Foreheads and also wear the same about their Neck and Hands and some also about their middle Before the Hollanders were Planted here they wore Shoes and Stockings of Buffelo's-skins some likewise made Shoes of Wheaten-straw but of late they come nearer to our Fashions The Men Paint their Faces with several Colours the Women only put here and there a black Spot both of them are very reserv'd Their houses Their Houses are most of them built of one fashion onely differing in length all of them agree in breadth of twenty Foot They build after this manner they set Peel'd Boughs of Nut-Trees in the ground according to the bigness of the place which they intend to build then joyning the tops of the Boughs together they cover the Walls and top with the Bark of Cypress Ashen and Chest-nut-Trees which are laid one upon another the smallest side being turn'd inwards according to the bigness of the Houses several Families to the number of fifteen dwell together every one having his Apartment Their Fortifications are most of them built on steep Hills near Rivers the access to them is onely at one place they are built after this manner They set great Poles in the Ground with Oaken Pallisadoes on each side cross-ways one amongst another between the crosses they set other Trees to strengthen the Work Within this inclos'd they generally build twenty or thirty Houses of which some are a hundred and eighty Foot long and some less all of them full of People In the Summer they pitch Tents along by the River side to Fish against Winter they remove into the Woods Romove to be near their Game of Hunting and also Fuel Many Wives To take many Women is not customary here only amongst Military Officers who Marry three or four Wives which so well agree that there is never any difference betwixt them those that are not of Age never Marry but with the consent and advice of their Parents Widows and unmarry'd Men follow their own opinion and choice only they take Cognizance of their Estates and Extraction The Bridegroom always presents the Bride for the least offence the Man after having soundly beaten his Wife turns her out of Doors and Marries another insomuch Marriages that some of them have every year a new Wife On breach of Marriage the Children follow the Mother from whom they account their Generation They account Adultery if committed under the bare Canopy of Heaven a great Sin Whoring is Licenc'd to single Women if they receive Money for it Whoring permitted and no Man scruples to Marry them nay those that are Marry'd boast how many they have enjoy'd before their Marriage She that is inclin'd to Marry Strange Marrying covers her whole body and sets her self wrapt up in the middle of the way where a Batchelor passing by sees her and makes up the Match blindfold When impregnated they take great care that their Fruit receives no hindrance nor prejudice Child-bearing Womens strange actions When the time of their Delivery approaches which they know exactly they go to a Melancholly place in the Woods though in the coldest Weather where they raise up a Hut of Mats and bring the Child into the World without any help or Company wash the Child in cold Water and wrap it up in Mats then a few days after going home they bring up the Infant with great care none putting them out to Nurse So long as a Woman gives suck or is quick with Child she will not admit of Copulation one who hath the Flowers never comes abroad In time of sickness they faithfully assist one another When any die Funerals the nearest Relations shut their Eyes and after having watch'd them some days they are Interr'd after this manner The Corps is plac'd sitting with a Stone under its Head near it they set a Pot Kettle Dish Spoons Money and Provisions to use in the other World then they pile Wood round about it and cover it over with Planks on which throwing Earth and Stones they set Pallisadoes and make the Grave like a House to which they shew Veneration wherefore they account it a great piece of villany to deface any thing of it The Men make no shew of sorrow over the Dead but the Women mourn exceedingly and carry themselves very strangely beating their Breasts scratching their Faces and calling night and day on the name of the Deceas'd The Mothers make great Lamentation at the Death of their Children Mourning over the dead remarkable especially Sons for they shave off the Hair of their Heads which at the Funeral is burnt in the presence of all their Relations which is also perform'd by the Women when their Husbands die besides they black all their Faces and putting on a Hart-skin Shirt mourn a whole year notwithstanding they liv'd very contentiously together On some occasions they go a Worshipping of the Devil Conjurers to a certain place where the Sorcerers shew strange Feats of Activity tumbling over and over beating themselves and hot without great noise leaping in and about a great Fire at last they make a great Cry all together upon which as they say the Devil appears to them in the shape either of a tame or wild Beast the first signifies bad and the other good fortune both inform them of future Events though darkly and if the business fall out contrary they affirm that they have not rightly understood the Devil's meaning Moreover they bewitch some in such a manner that they foam at the Mouth throw themselves into the Fire and beat themselves severely and so soon as they whisper in the Ear of those whom they have bewitch'd they immediately recover their former health Language of the New Netherlanders The Language of this Countrey is very various yet it is divided into onely four principal Tongues as the Manhattans Wappanoo Siavanoo and Minqua's which are very difficult for Strangers to learn because they are spoken without any Grounds or Rules Their Money is made of the innermost Shells of a certain Shell-fish Money cast up twice a year by the Sea These Shells they grind smooth and make a Hole in the middle cutting them of an exact bigness and so put them
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
along with him with undaunted courage and resolution marches against Narvaez and such was his good fortune that not onely Narvaez became his Prisoner without much blood-shed but likewise all his Men joyn'd with him in his Design through the favour of the Chancery or supream Court of St. Domingo and by the procurement of the Licentiat Vasquez de Ayllon a Judge of it who was sent with Narvaez to accommodate the Differences With this Recruit Cortesius marches back again to Mexico but at his coming finds things in a very bad condition for the Citizens gather'd together under the Command of one Quicuxtemoc had recourse to Arms and for three days and three Nights vex'd the Spaniards with continual Stormings notwithstanding what-ever Commands they had to the contrary from their imprison'd King who at last looking out of a Window endeavoring to appease them was hurt with a Stone of which he soon after died as they say who would not have the Spaniards thought to have murder'd him as the Mexicans say they did with divers other Noble-men and some of his Children the very Night they fled However it were not long after his Death out of extream necessity and chiefly for want of Victuals the Spaniards were forc'd to leave the City in the night-time and with the loss of four hundred and fifty of their Men who were either slain or taken Prisoners at the passing of a Draw-bridge the rest making a heavy Retreat to their Friends at Tlascalla There is standing at this day in Mexico upon the place where so many of them were kill'd a certain Hermitage which they call Los Martyres or The Hermitage of the Martyrs though but improperly if upon that occasion as one of their own Writers confesses though he alledges no other reason This Retreat of the Spaniards out of Mexico hapned to be upon the tenth of July after mid-night in the Year 1520. which the Spaniards at Mexico call The Doleful Night Nevertheless the undaunted Cortesius being got though with much difficulty and trouble by reason of the pursuit of the Mexicans for a good part of the Way to his sure Friends of Tlascalla neither lost his Courage nor gave over his Resolution of yet gaining Mexico especially the way being now laid open and sufficient occasion given by the Death of Muteczuma and the provocations of the Mexicans themselves to make himself absolute and sole Lord of the Place wherefore having sent for and procur'd a competent Supply of fresh Soldiers from Santo Domingo or Hispaniola Almeria Cuba and other places being in all nine hundred Foot eight hundred Horse and seventeen Pieces of Ordnance he joyns himself with the Auxiliary Forces of Tlascalla which were no less than a hundred thousand Men Arm'd with Bowes and Arrows and with this Army marches again towards Mexico and Besieges it both by Land and Water viz. with the help of thirteen Brigantines or Galliots which he had built upon the Lake and six thousand Canoos or little Boats which his Friends and Confederates had procur'd him By which means and by his Army on Land in a short time he cut off all Provision from the City and after a Siege of full three Months or more and a most stout and obstinate resistance made by the People within in which they are said to have lost above a hundred thousand Men beside those which perish'd by Famine Sickness or otherwise Mexico taken by the Spaniards he took it by Storm upon Tuesday the thirteenth of August 1521. Sackt it first and then burnt it to the Ground yet afterwards he caus'd it to be Re-built again far more Beautiful than at first it was as in due place we shall further see They speak not of above fifty Spaniards slain during the whole Siege six Horses and not many Tlascaltecans In this manner and with so little Charges to the Conqueror there fell to the Crown of Spain the richest and goodliest Kingdom one of them of the whole World viz. the Kingdom of Mexico which the Conquerors presently nam'd New Spain and in reference to which name the Catholick King hath ever since stil'd himself in the plural number Hispaniarum Rex or King of both Spains and all by the Valor Prudence Cortez advanc'd to Honors admirable Resolution and happy Conduct of Cortez who was at first but a private Adventurer in the American Plantations and Discoveries though otherwise a Gentleman of a good Family in Spain born at Medellin in the Country of Estramedura The Emperor Charles the Fifth who was also then King of Spain for his great Services endow'd him deservedly with many great and rich Territories in the Provinces of Tlascalla Mechoacan and other parts thereabouts made him Marquess of the Valley viz. of Guaxata which is his chief Title a rich and flourishing Province of that Countrey Captain General or Commander in Chief of all the Military Forces of New-Spain and General Discoverer of all the Maritime parts and Coasts of America towards the South-Sea assigning him in propriety the twelfth part of whatsoever should be discover'd to him and his Heirs for ever but deny'd him the Government of Mexico out of reason of State though 't is said he much desir'd it Among the famous Havens which lie along the South Sea and Northern Ocean the chiefest is Acapulco before-mention'd The grand Haven Acapulco whither all Merchandize is sent to be transported to China which is above two thousand Leagues distant from thence in which Voyage they generally spend fourteen Months four Sail each of eight hundred Tun appointed for this Trade generally two of them set Sail to China in March and returning in Summer have no sooner drop'd their Anchors but the other two set out from Acapulco from whence the way by Land to Mexico is seventy two Leagues over steep Mountains dangerous Rocks and several Rivers the chiefest whereof are first Del Papagayo or De las Balsas which runs exceeding strong which the Indians cross on bundles of Canes ty'd upon Callabashes Next San Francisco which though the biggest yet hath many shallow places to wade over The Mustichoes are no small Plagues to those that travel this way for their Poysonous Stings are the occasions of many Ulcerated Wounds and oft-times Death it self In this way lies also the Countrey del Valle from which Ferdinand Cortesius receiv'd the Title of Earl PORTUS ACAPULCO The Mouth of the Haven Acapulco gapes a full League North and South and within exceeding large hath a nook call'd Boca Grande where the Ships Ride safe at an Anchor More Easterly appears a Land Inlet by the Spaniards call'd Puerto del Marques secur'd against all Winds near which is the City of San Diego to which belongs a Fort with six Bulwarks lying on a Promontory the main of the City is one large Street consisting of fair and stately Houses and leading directly to the Haven the Church which is of an oblong square hath a high Steeple in the middle
which they made an Idol resembling their Deity Viztipuztli across whose Nose and Forehead they drew a blue Stroke his Head they adorn'd with a Plume of Feathers and in the left Hand plac'd a round Box in the right a crooked Staff like a Serpent and Wings behind on his Shoulders at the appointed Feast-day the Nuns meet before Sun-rising in new white Apparel with Garlands of Maiz about their Heads and Necks which hung down below the left Shoulder their Faces painted with several colours about their Arms hung Parrots Feathers from their Elbows down to their Hands Thus adorn'd they carried the kneaded Idol to a Court where the Youths that inhabited a Cloyster in the same Temple fetching the Idols blue Throne with great Reverence set it down at the lower Step of the Temple at which the People threw Dust on their Heads which was no sooner done but the Boys ran with all speed to the Mountain Chapultepec a League from Mexico whither the Multitude flowing them in manner of Procession made all short Prayers and Offerings there from thence hastening into the Champain Fields Atlacuavaya they perform'd the like Service as before which done they went to the Village Cuyoacan a League farther from whence they came back in all haste with their Idol into Mexico Wherefore this Processioning for its expedition was call'd Ipaina Viztliputli The Idol being brought into the Temple was by four Cords made fast to his Throne hoised up to the Cieling with the noise of Drums and Trumpets whilst the fore-mention'd Youths strow'd the Temple both within and without full of Roses after which the Nuns gave the Boys the resemblances of Bones made of the same Dough with the Idol with which they were to cover the Floor of the Chappel then appear'd the Temple-Priests with Scarfs about their Bodies Garlands on their Heads and Strings with Flowers about their Necks each going in order according to his quality to the place where the Bones lay which being Consecrated with Songs and Dances were religiously worshipp'd for Bones of the Idol after which six of the Priests went down to the Stone Quauxi-calli on which the Prisoners lying upon their Backs had their Hearts pull'd out which being finish'd the Maids and Boys before-mention'd went to meet one another Dancing to the sound of Pipes Drums and Songs which their nearest Relations answering Danc'd round about them whither the whole City and Countrey People all about came flocking in great numbers During this high Feast none upon great Penalties durst eat any other Food but the Cakes made of the same Dough of which the Idol was made neither were they permitted though Children to drink till the Afternoon Lastly the Priest climb'd up to a Chappel strow'd with Roses in which the Idol sitting they disrob'd him broke his holy Arms and Legs into little pieces which they distributed amongst the common People who receiv'd them with great Reverence and with tears in their Eyes imagining they eat the Body of their God for which honour every one paid a tenth part of the Charge which had been spent in this high Feast Then a Priest admonish'd them how they should lead their Lives since they were united with their God which ended they all went to their several Habitations in a wonderful good order from the Temple These Heathens also seem'd to have something of Circumcision and Baptism for they not onely cut off a piece of the Infant 's Ears and privy Members which they Offer'd to their Idols but also wash'd them as soon as they came into the World putting into their Hands such Tools as were of use in their Fathers Profession Their Nuptial Solemnities Their Marriages also were celebrated with great solemnity The Priest having ask'd the Bride and Bridegroom If they would joyn together in Matrimony if they both consented he ty'd the Brides Scarf and Bridegrooms Coat together and so accompanying them home led them nine times about the Fire-hearth If the Bride had no Impediments then the Bridegroom made Presents to her Father and Mother Offerings to the Gods and a brave Dinner to the nearest Relations after which an Inventory was drawn of what each of them had brought that upon their being Divorc'd which was very common amongst the Mexicans each might have his share and if they had Children the Man was to keep the Sons and the Woman the Daughters nor were they permitted on pain of death being once parted to joyn together again The Feast Texcoals On the ninteenth of May they kept the Feast Texcoalt Consecrated to the Idol Tezcatlipuca before whom they Offer'd a Slave which was done after this manner Towards the Evening the Multitude coming into the Temple the Priests pulling off the Idols old put on new Apparel hung him full of Precious Stones and Armlets set Plumes of Feathers on his Head which done the Curtains behind which he stood were drawn and a Priest Cloth'd exactly like the Idol coming forth turn'd himself round blow'd a kind of Trumpet towards the four Winds and ate Earth which all the People imitated whereof those which had committed any hainous Offence Offer'd Incense to the Idol and weeping begg'd forgiveness of their Sins Those that were Soldiers besought him to grant them store of Prisoners and strength to conquer their Enemies for which they would return him thanks with Offer'd Prisoners This Feast of Texcoalt lasting ten days ended on the twenty ninth of May with peculiar Ceremonies for in the Morning a company of Priests black all over carried on their Shoulders a large Chair of State richly adorn'd in which sat their Idol Tezcatlipuca and Priests with long pleited Hair and Clad in the same Apparel with the Idol which they set down at the Foot of a pair of Stairs which led up to a Chappel whither the attendant Youths and Virgins came and spread Carpets before it and green Boughs of Manghey after which two Priests carried the Idol into a spacious Court in the Temple several others walking before each with a perfuming Vessel when they threw their Perfumes on the Consecrated Hearth they held their Hands towards the Idol desiring him that he would send their Prayers to Heaven Next follow'd the Multitude who scourg'd themselves till the Blood ran down from their Backs So soon as the Procession was ended the represented Tezcatlipuca was hoised up to the Cieling and abundance of Flowers strow'd before the Altar which done every one went home to Dinner whilst the Youths and Virgins adorn'd the Idol and plac'd Meat before him Lastly the Votaresses came two and two with Baskets of Bread and Dishes of Meat their Governess in a white Sur-Coat over a red Vest with Wings on her Shoulders and broad Girts at which hung Calabashes fill'd with holy Reliques and Flowers Moreover she conducted the Votaresses to the Steps of the Altar on which the Idol sat where having eaten Bread they came back and the Temple-Servants went in their places and carried the Meat
Cape and Port is St. Nicholas from whence North-East and by East lieth the Island of Tortuga near the Coast of Hispaniola It is of five Leagues length Farther along the Coast is Monte Christo the West Cape of Natividad to the East of which there is a great Bay call'd Port Real This Island is so full of Harbours that he that will Coast it cannot well miss of one where he pleaseth most of which afford fresh Meat and good Water Moreover Hispaniola hath many brave Rivers the chiefest of which are Hayna Nizao along whose Shore the first Sugar-Canes were planted Neyba a great River Yaquimo Yaqui which Columbus call'd Rio de Oro because the Ground thereof glitter'd like Gold and lastly the Rivers Nicayagua amongst whose Sands is Gold Nigua which borrows its Denomination from the fore-mention'd leaping Insect the swift Stream Juno whose Banks are crown'd with handsom Houses and Jaquin which hath many Salt-pans The Rivers Itabo Ocoa Cepi Bia Cazui Sanate de Plata and Chiabon have some one others more Sugar-Mills upon them But the chiefest River is Ozama broad and so deep that the biggest Vessel may lie close by the Shore and also washes St. Domingo Description of the City of St. Domingo This City the Metropolis of all the Isles round about was built by Bartholomeus Columbus and was peopled Anno 1494. after which it flourish'd eight years when a terrible Storm blowing the same down to the Ground Nicholas Olanda remov'd it to the Western Shore of Ozama that the Spaniards who had for the most part setled towards the West might not be necessitated to Ferry over but the first place stood much more conveniently being not onely provided of a Fountain of sweet Water but also freed of those unwholsom Vapours which daily rise with the Sun at this new-built City To prevent the inconvenience of crossing to the foremention'd Fountain of which the Inhabitants found themselves oftentimes in great want Olanda went about to lead the neighboring River Hayna into the Ozama but the Design not being prosecuted bereav'd Domingo of the onely thing which would have made it able to stand in competition with any City in the World for it lies on a Plain the South side whereof is wash'd by the Sea the East side by the River on the North and West are many delightful Fields The City which in a manner is built square is divided into long straight Streets full of fair Houses after the Spanish manner in the middle thereof is a square Market-place with a handsom Church the Yard whereof is encompass'd with a high Wall which upon occasion would serve for a place of great Defence The Collectors of the King of Spain's Revenue dwell in stately Palaces and the Dominicans Franciscans and Monks De la Merced have brave Cloysters besides two more for the Nuâ—s The Latine School and Hospital belonging to the City are Endow'd with great yearly Revenues The Arch-bishop of St. Domingo hath Command over the Bishoprick of Conception La Vega Cuba Venezuela and Porto Rico. The City is surrounded with a Stone Wall and fortifi'd with a Castle which with two Bulwarks reaches to the River Ozama and within them two Half-Moons On the utmost Shore stands a round Tower near the Southern Bulwark Before the new discover'd Countreys entic'd away many People from St. Domingo and the Silver Fleet put into Havana the Inhabitants drove a great Trade in Hides Tallow Sugar Cassia Horses and Hogs Anno 1586. Sir Francis Drake Landed here with twelve hundred English-men took the City by Storm staid a whole Moneth in the same and upon Composition with the Spaniard left it undestroy'd Other chief Towns of Hispaniola Other chief Towns in Hispaniola are 1. Salvaleon twenty eight Leagues distant from St. Domingo towards the East 2. Zeybo 3. Cotny formerly inhabited by those that work'd in the Gold-Mines the last especially was once a rich Town and much frequented but now in a manner deserted 4. Azua or New Compostella eight Leagues distant from St. Domingo famous for the Sugar-Mills not far from it and one of the Ports before-mention'd 5. Yaguana for its brave Harbour also call'd Maria del Puerto in the more Western parts of the Island a small Town not above a League distant from the Sea It was burnt by Captain Christopher Newport URBS DOMINGO IN HISPANIOLA 6. Conception de la Vega adorn'd with a Cathedral and Cloysters of Fryers and lying twenty or thirty Leagues Northward of St. Domingo It was built by Columbus and from thence he had his Title of Duke de la Vega. 7. Sant Jago de los Cavalleros a very pleasant Place ten Leagues Northward of St. Domingo 8. Puerto de Plata or The Silver Haven four Leagues distant from St. Domingo towards the North It hath been counted the second Place of Trading and Wealth in the whole Island being commodiously seated on an Arm of the Sea and fortifi'd with a Castle 9. Monte Christo one of the Ports also above-mention'd It lies fourteen Leagues Westward of Plata and extends it self along the Northern Coast it is wash'd by the River Yagui on whose Banks are many Salt-pans The Island dispeopled by the cruelty of the Spaniards All those Cities are much decay'd and thinly inhabited the Spaniards being most of them drawn by the temptation of new discover'd Gold and Silver Mines in other places and the first Inhabitants having been miserably destroy'd The Bishop De las Casas an Eye-witness relates That the King Gauccanarillo secur'd the Goods of a stranded Ship of which Columbus was Commander and receiv'd the Spaniards very courteously but not being able to continue supplying them with that quantity of Gold they requir'd wanting Men to gather so much out of the Streams and Mines and seeing no way to rid himself from the Spaniards Oppressions fled to the Province of Ciguayos the Casique of which was his Deputy whereat the Spaniards were so enrag'd that they burnt all that they could meet with neither sparing young nor old and at length taking Guaccanarillo put him in Irons Their barbarous usage of Guaccanarillo and others and thought to have carried him to Madrid but the Ship in which he went suffering Shipwrack he with many others was cast away being before almost dead with grief for his Consort who had been Ravish'd by a Spanish Commander Likewise Anacoana Sister to the Casique or Governor of the Province Xarana and Partner with him in the Government seeing three hundred of her Councellors burning in a great House set on fire by the Spaniards and her Subjects torn by Dogs or cut in pieces hung her self out of despair The same Death died Higuanama Queen of Huguey Others say that Anacoana was put to death together with her Brother in a most barbarous and cruel manner by Nicholas de Olanda who succeeded Diego de Arana in the Government of this Island Many Women and Children were kept alive onely to Manure the
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
the Labors of his Subjects for nothing Their several sorts of Tribute from conquer'd Countreys When at any time he conquer'd a Countrey by force of Arms he made them pay three several sorts of Tribute the first was bestow'd in religious Offices Each Guaca or Chappel receiv'd also a Revenue from the late conquer'd Countreys the Fruit of which serv'd for Offerings to their chief God Pachayachachu the Sun their Thunderer Chuquilla and to the Souls of the Deceased and for Food for the Priests The Religion through the whole Realm agreed with that which was observ'd in Cusco But the second Tribute fell to the Inga's Family or Relation and Soldiers Those who Till'd the Inga's Ground Sung before him in Festival Clothes That which could not be spent in the Court was laid up in Store-houses for ten years together against a scarcity should happen Aged People Widows and such as were decrepid paid no Tribute The third part was for the Poor which had every Year a piece of Ground allow'd them to make use of as they pleas'd In unfruitful Years they receiv'd an Allowance out of the Store-houses before mention'd Their Provision for the Poor So likewise the Pasture Meadows and Arable Land was order'd for three several Uses one third for religious Uses a second for the Inga's and the last for the Poor The Sheep being shorn on a certain Day yielded the Poor a certain quantity of Wooll to make them Clothes As soon as any Beast grew Mangy which the Peruvians call'd Carache they burnt them alive so to prevent the spreading of it farther Those that belong'd to the Inga's Family wore all Clothes made of the finest Wooll and the coursest call'd Tabasca was distributed among the Vulgar Their Industry Besides this good Order of Government it is wonderful to observe the Peruvians manner of Living each learning from their Infancy not onely a Trade but all things which they accounted necessary in House-keeping as Weaving Tilling of Land building of Houses and making of Tools requisite for both so that they never made use of one another on any Account Moreover Master Artists who work'd more for Pleasure than Gain dwelt apart being Silver-smiths Painters Musicians and Dancers Their Habits Their Habits were heretofore of one fashion through the whole Realm onely the Covering of their Head were several by which the People of one Countrey were distinguish'd from the other according to an inviolable Law made many Ages since some therefore wore thin Caps others broad Pleits others little Hats others round Bonnets others woven Caps and the like Their Post-Stages Their Post-Stages call'd Chasquis were little Houses each standing a League and a half from one another wherein dwelt certain Officers who with extraordinary speed convey'd the Inga's Letters from one Chasquis to the other after which manner in two days time they convey'd a Letter a hundred Leagues But since the Spaniards conquer'd this Countrey that Convenience was lost till the tenth Peruvian Vice-Roy Martin Enriques re-establish'd the same for he allow'd a Sallary to those Posts that they might with speed convey all Letters and Packets from one to the other being distant according to his Establishment four Leagues Their severe Laws against Malefactors Lastly the Ingas maintain'd strict Laws in criminal Affairs for as they did not neglect to encourage noble Atchievements for whoe're had done a valiant Act in the Wars was made Governor of a Countrey or had a certain quantity of Land given him or Married one of the Inga's Family so likewise they severely punish'd all Malefactors for Murderers Thieves and Adulterers suffer'd Death without Mercy yet they allow'd store of Concubines and it was free for any one to Lie with his Neighbor's Concubine but Death to have to do with any Man 's lawful Wife who were serv'd by the Concubines Their Marriages When a Bridegroom Betrothed himself to his Bride he gave her and put them on himself a pair of Shoes call'd Ajota not unlike those of a grey Fryer which were lin'd with Cotton if she were a Maid but with Leaves if a Widow who nevertheless being generally younger than the Man was to Mourn a whole year in Black for her deceased Husband till the expiration of which time she was not to Marry another Governors of Provinces and other Officers of State receiv'd their Wives from the Ingas who enquiring out the beautifullest and most accomplish'd Virgins they could hear of put the Ajota on their Feet and gave them to such Persons as they most fancied after which if they committed Adultery they were certainly put to death The Marrying of Brothers and Sisters was also forbid till the Inga Topa Yupangui Father to Guaynacava broke that Law by Marrying his own Sister Mamoello and made ah Order that the Ingas onely should have that liberty nay when he lay on his Death-bed he strictly charg'd his Son Guaynacava to take his own Sister Goya Cuissilmay to Wife and this incestuous Marriage produc'd Huascar and Attabaliba though some say Attabaliba was begotten on a Concubine in whose time the Peruvian Kingdom went to ruine Guaynacava also permitted the common People to Marry their Sisters of the Fathers side but not of the Mothers Their manner of living The Peruvian Houses were antiently for the most part light and small and for their Table they made but little preparation satisfying themselves with a little Beer made of Rice Bread bak'd of Maiz dry'd Flesh Fish and Roots In their Wars they us'd Slings Darts Arrows Lances Pikes Halberds Pole-Axes and Shields Their Funerals Their Funerals were also solemnly kept especially those of Persons of Quality the Corps was carried out on a brave Chair from which he was put into the Ground with two of his Concubines whom he best affected and also three Servants Gold and Silver Vessels Maiz and the Liquor Chica which the nearest Relation spurted into his Mouth through a Cane all which they did that the Deceased might make use thereof in the other World But before the Funeral the Relations Mourn'd over the Corps several days and after the Body was Interr'd they plac'd the Picture of the Deceased upon the Grave but the meaner sort of People had the Tools belonging to their Trade and Soldiers their Arms plac'd on the same The various Idolatry of the Peruvians This kind of Idolatry was common to the Peruvians with several other Nations of the antient Heathens as hath been before observ'd which made them mock at the Spaniards when they told them of a Crucifi'd Saviour saying they had a splendid God who appear'd to them in glory every Morning In the third Temple near the River Taciquaque in Peru which exceeded the other two they worshipp'd Thunder by the Name of Chuquilla Catuilla and Intillapa which the Peruvians believ'd to be a Man that Commanded the Air and who being Arm'd with a Club and Sling throws down Rain Hail and Snow from the Clouds
mention'd which part at the East end of the City are pass'd over with divers Bridges The narrow Streets are full of Stone Houses built in good Order In several places are Vaulted Cellars under Ground in some of which are buried great Treasures they had been formerly the Habitations for Necromancers and Soothsayers for this sort of People were once in great esteem amongst the Inhabitants who coming from Chili Pasto Bocamores Topona Bombon Charcas Collao Chiachiapoias Conchucos and other Peruvian Countreys receive great benefit from the fresh Water and from the Corn-Mills built on the Streets through the City The ancient Places and other stately Structures in Cusco The stately Palaces which the Peruvian Nobility have at several times built in Oren-Cusco being one part of the City are very wonderful the Owners whereof were forc'd by the Ingas to appear at Court at Set-times that so he might prevent all Insurrections Also he caus'd the Children of the prime Lords to be brought up in Cusco under pretence that they might learn the Cuscoan Tongue perfectly in which the Ingas would always be spoken to whenas their Design was to keep them as Hostages in their own Jurisdictions that their Fathers might not rebel by which means it hapned that in most places of Peru which amongst the several Tribes and Principalities had several Languages the Cuscoan Tongue was understood and spoken But the Spaniards who are the present Possessors thereof have alter'd and repair'd most of the ordinary Houses which are now neatly built of Stone Above all the old Structures the Palace of the Ingas and the Temple of the Sun are the most magnificent the Palace lies inclos'd within a square quadruple Wall each corner whereof is adorn'd and strengthned with a Tower The Palace it self is built round and with Arches but that which chiefly amazes the Beholder is to see how the Stones which are so big that forty Horses are notable to stir one of them out of its place were brought thither by the Labor of the Builders from the neighboring Mountains for the Peruvians never made use of any laboring Beast except their Sheep Pacos not knowing the use of Horses Camels Oxen Elephants or the like before the Spaniards coming thither The Halls within the Palace were Wainscoted with Golden Plates yet the Inga's Apparel was not answerable to the rest of his Pomp for in stead of a Crown they bound their Heads about with a red woollen Sash with which they almost cover'd their Eyes at the end of the Sash hung certain Ribbands which they gave the Governor as occasion offer'd that by this Sign as by a Commission they might exercise their Offices the sight of which String caus'd such Obedience that if the Inga had commanded the Inhabitants of a Town or Countrey to murder themselves none durst deny The Inga was generally carried by a hundred of his Noble-men of whom if any one had accidentally chanc'd to stumble he was immediately put to death No man durst presume to look him in the Face or speak to him without a Present The Temple Curicanche The Temple Curicanche Dedicated to the Sun was certainly the most rich and sumptuous that ever the World boasted it being Govern'd by the Chief Priest Villanoa The Inga Guainacava spent an invaluable Treasure in the building of this Structure for he cover'd the Roof and Walls with thick Plates of massie Gold and Silver At his return home from the Conquest of the Province of Quito from whence the Inhabitants according to an antient Custom of the Ingas were carried to one of the remotest Countreys in Peru. But Guainacava enamor'd of a Quitoan Maid staid a considerable time in the City Quito and kept a splendid Wedding at the Marriage of his Bride who bare unto him the famous Attabaliba whom he lov'd beyond all his other Children and a little before his death made him King of Quito But Huascar after Guainacava's Decease would not suffer his Brother to live in the late conquer'd Kingdom of Quito A cruel Battel between two Brothers but gave him Battel in the Plain of Tomebamba which lasted three days and three Nights and after much Blood-shed Attabaliba being defeated was taken Prisoner and not long after making his Escape by the help of an antient Woman whilest Huascar's Commanders and Soldiers rejoyc'd with Cups full of Chica for their gotten Victory he made his Subjects in Quito believe that he being transform'd into a Serpent crept through a little Hole out of the Prison and that he had a Promise from Heaven to obtain Conquest over Huascar which being believ'd stirr'd up all his Subjects to take up Arms and valiantly to go and meet the Enemy whom they not onely defeated but took Huascar Prisoner Huscar being destroy'd by Attabaliba and Attabaliba by Pizarro Mango Inga their youngest Brother took the Government upon him made continual Sallies upon the Spaniards from inaccessible Mountains and at his Decease left the remaining part of Peru to his Son Zaires Topa Zaires the Son of Mango Inga submitâ— to the Spaniards who seeing no good to be done by force of Arms submitted himself freely to the King of Spain's Jurisdiction in the Year 1557. since which the Spaniards have been sole Masters There are at this day four great Churches in Cusco Also the Dominicans Franciscans Augustines and the Monks De la Merced have each of them stately Cloysters here but the Jesuits Structure exceeds all the other Above forty thousand Peruvians pay annual Tribute to this City In the Valley about the City feed abundance of Cattel also Wheat and all manner of Herbs grow here in great plenty The Gold and Silver-Mines have not that resort which they had formerly most of the Workmen being remov'd to Potosi Concerning the Service which they perform'd in the fore-mention'd Temple of the Sun and their superstitious Opinions about their Idol Con they are much of the same ridiculous nature with what hath been already Discours'd of in other places Five Leagues Southwardly from Cusco lies the Valley Yucay between high snowy Mountains under a temperate Climate and pleasant Soil Not far from hence the Ingas built a most invincible Castle on a Rock which was surrounded with many cliffy Walls one above another these Walls were also Carv'd with Images of Lyons Tygers and other wild Beasts which held Lances in their Paws the â—op of the Rock was crown'd with a Royal Structure built of Stone through which ran Golden Veins joyn'd together with a certain Gum by some call'd Jews-Lime To the Province of Condesuyo belong the valiant People Chumbibalcas and Ubinas In the County Pomatambo they make Carpets of fine Wooll curiously Painted 8. The City Francisco de Vittoria which lies in the rough Valley Vilcabamba and is inclos'd by the Mountains Andes belonging to the Jurisdiction of the Province Andesuyo 9. The Village Juan del Oro which is the chief Place of the Countrey Caravaya and so call'd by the Spaniards
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
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
the Portuguese by their Presence to take up Arms according to a private Contract having to that purpose Landed twelve hundred Men at Tamandera besides the Army led by Camaron and Diez from St. Salvador to Pernambuco Colonel Hous about this time being sent for back to Reciffa and staying with five hundred Men for Captain Blaek's coming who was sent to fetch all the Portuguese Women within three Leagues about Reciffa was set upon in the Night by Vidal with two thousand Portugueses the Brasilians who were above half his Forces flying into the Woods leaving onely two hundred Netherlanders to fight with Vidal by whom being so much over-power'd they were forc'd to submit to his mercy and suffer themselves to be all carry'd Prisoners to St. Salvador By this time at Reciffa all things were in a confusion the Pits digg'd about Maurice-stadt afforded nothing but brackish Water which occasion'd Sickness The Fort St. Augustine treacherously surrendred by Hoogenstraet to the Portuguese Vidal encourag ' d by his Victory march'd to St. Augustine where without doubt he had stopt if Hoogenstraet who had the chief Command of the Fort had not been Disloyal for this Traitor thought it not enough to surrender this invincible Fort to the Enemy but also bereav'd Reciffa of Provisions and Ammunition which he did very subtilly sending earnestly thither for Souldiers Bullets Powder and Shot in lieu whereof he sent thither two Barques full of old Men Women and Children that so he might deprive Reciffa of stout Men and supply their room with unable People For this treacherous and villanous Act the Portuguese were to give him 1800 l. and make him a Colonel Moreover all the Soldiers in Garrison consisting of three hundred Men receiv'd 3 l. a Man and were sent to joyn with a Regiment of six hundred and fifty Men over which Hoogenstraet was made chief Commander Lichthart gains a noble Victory over the Portuguese Fleet. The day before this eminent Castle was to be deliver'd up to the Enemy Admiral Lichthart obtain'd a brave Victory at Sea for the Portuguese Fleet consisting of seventeen Sail the rest being gone with Bonavides to Portugal anchoring before Tamandera were valiantly set upon by Lichthart who Engag'd with them on the ninth of September 1645. with the Utrecht being the Admiral Ship the Zealand Ter Veer Over-Ysel the Pinks Salt-Land and Leyden a Dogger and three Barques In the Hole of the Haven Tamandera three Portuguese Carvels kept Watch and near a Battery full of Guns lay three Barques and the other Ships a little farther nigh the Shore The Enemy at first shot very fiercely from the Battery whilest the Ships drove to the Shore and the Men leaping overboard swam ashore onely the Admiral Jeronymo Serao de Payva made some resistance but at last surrendred up his Ship the Netherlanders in their Barques killing above seven hundred Portugueses in the Water Lichthart burnt the whole Fleet except the Admiral and Vice-Admiral which he carry'd to Reciffa But this Victory was not comparable to the Loss which the East-India Company sustain'd by the selling of the Promontory of St. Augustine and the taking of the Forts Porto Calvo and Rio Francisco to the last whereof the Barques coming too late to carry the Soldiers off they were all made Prisoners by the Portuguese as also the Planters in all to the number of five hundred Vidal marching to Tamarica Storm'd Schuppen-stadt but found such resistance from George Garstman who supply'd the Prisoner Hous his Place that he lost three hundred Men Bouilloux put to Death by the Governor of Prayba After which he endeavor'd by means of Fernandes Bouilloux to purchase the Fort Margareta for 1500 l. Sterl of the Governor of Parayba who immediately without any farther Examination caus'd Bouilloux that proffer'd the Money to be put to death A Dutch Sergeant in Olinda dealt very treacherously for he sold the Fort to a Portuguese Ensign for 100 l. and also most basely betray'd all his Soldiers Lives to the merciliess Enemy The distressed Condition of Reciffa By these means Reciffa was round about in jeopardy as also within for the great Thirst of the Inhabitants under a scorching Climate augmented by the Hollanders salt Meat could not be quench'd with brackish Water for fresh was not to be had Famine also increas'd daily insomuch that the Poor threatned to fall upon the Rich which made the Magistrates go Arm'd from House to House to enquire what Store every one had which being writ down was carry'd away and put into the Store-houses where each receiv'd alike share without respect of Persons Fewel also grew very scarce which made many eat their Meat raw or half dress'd In the interim every one that was able was forc'd to work at the Forts of Reciffa which were beaten down by the Rains and the Soldiers continually alarm'd by the Enemy were forc'd to be Night and Day up in Arms. The People dy'd more and more daily when two Fly-Boats arriv'd there with Provisions and News that a Fleet was coming to their assistance The Captains Rhynbag and Montagne went in the Night each with a Company to fall upon the Enemy who being two thousand five hundred strong drove them back and pursu'd them within shot of the Afogados where forty Portugueses were kill'd About the same time a Terra Neuf Sailor laden with the dry'd Fish Bocraillo came to Reciffa In Parayba three hundred Netherlanders Sallying out of the Forts fell so valiantly upon nine hundred Portugueses that they forc'd them to flye not without a considerable loss After which a Party of Brasilians surpris'd eighty Portugueses as they were at Mass in Andreas Diez de la Figuereda's Sugar-Mills where they spar'd none but Figuereda's Daughter whose Beauty so charm'd them that they comforted her mourning for her Father's Death and deliver'd her undefil'd to the Governor of Parayba The barbrous Cruelty of Vidal Vidal raging for madness because now and then some of his Prisoners escap'd caus'd several of them to be cruelly murder'd tying some of them Back to Back and then cutting them in pieces others he threw with Stones ty'd about their Necks into the Rivers others he ty'd by their Privities and hung them upon Trees and also knock'd out the Brains of others The Soldiers at Reciffa mutiny for want of Provision In Reciffa the Soldiers consisting of divers Nations began likewise to mutiny crying They should be all starv'd and saying They had better be slain in the Field fighting against the Enemy than die of Hunger in the City They also complain'd The Commissioners themselves betray Brasile and threatned by force to fetch the Provisions out of the publick Stores saying They had long enough endur'd Thirst and Hunger These Transactions in Brasile were very ill resented in Holland the common People in the Hague being ready to pull down the Portuguese Ambassador's House in revenge of the Cruelties exercis'd upon the Netherlanders in Brasile had
neither do they go any whither till the Sun has dry'd up the Dew King Janduy his u bu le Plot. King Janduy before-mention'd being above a hundred years of age desir'd the Prince of Juckers fair Daughter to Wife but being deny'd contriv'd a subtil Plot viz. he invited Jucker with his Courtiers to a Wrestling whither he coming with his whole Train was earnestly minding the Sport when a considerable number of Janduy's Women falling upon Jucker's Men destroy'd a great many of them and got the desir'd Maid for Janduy who at that time had fourteen Wives and sixty Children but had formerly enjoy'd fifty Wives and Concubines The Women wear long Chains of Snail-shells which hang down over their Shoulders their Faces are Painted with divers colour'd Rings surrounded with Specks their Necks and Arms they adorn with Necklaces and Armlets of little Bones They carry their Husbands Provisions in time of War Their Army they order by blowing on the Horn Inubia others play on Mens Bones kill'd a little before for going by Water they use Boats made of the Barks of Trees each whereof being able to carry fifty Men go exceeding swift The strongest Men always march before and as many as they take whether Men Women or Children they are all kill'd and roasted in their Boucans Their Villages consist of Houses of eighty ninety or a hundred Paces long those that lie near the Enemy are fenc'd with Walls and Pallisado's against any Attempt Their manner of Fighting Their Field-Battels are very terrible for as soon as they get sight of one another they howl like Wolves which Tone they raise as they approach nearer and nearer and with their Horns and Pipes make also a mighty sound then shaking their former Enemies Teeth which they wear about their Necks at one another they cry That they shall immediately fall into each others hands for Food whereupon they throw their Darts at one another which are adorn'd with all sorts of Feathers and if any one be wounded he pulls out the Dart and bites the same like a mad Dog next falling to their Clubs they knock one anothers Brains out which manner of Fighting lasts commonly some hours before the one or other Party leave the Field All their Prisoners they fatten and eat them at a Merry-meeting at which when they have Danc'd seven hours together three Men lead the Prisoner ty'd with a Rope made of the Bark of a Tree call'd Juira through their Village whilest the Prisoner looking to and again saith in a scornful manner thus unto them You do ye hear I have eaten your Fathers and to others I have roasted your Brother your Nephew also tasted very well my Death will be sufficiently reveng'd Having carry'd him about for some time they put the Rope so strait about his Middle that he can neither stir one way nor other then they give him Stones in his Hands and lay others at his Feet saying Now take Revenge for your Death before you die then he immediately throws at those who are nearest him and when Stones are wanting he throws with Earth at last comes the Executioner adorn'd with Feathers with a black Club in his Hand and asks Have not you at several times eaten of our Relations to which the Prisoner undauntedly answers Pache tan tan ajouca atoupave that is Yes I am he that have eaten several of your Peole and laying his Hands upon his Head cries out O how valiantly did I behave my self therein Executioner replies And therefore shall you be kill'd by me and serve for Food for these Spectators Then the Prisoner answers again What care I since I know my Death will be reveng'd which said his Brains are dash'd out and falling on the Ground he is carry'd away by his Wife for the Conqueror commonly betroths his Sister or Daughter to the Prisoner who seemingly bemoans the Body of which she hath the first Cut when it is Dress'd then the old Women put the Corps into scalding Water in which they let it lie till the Skin comes off then the Owner of the Prisoner quartering the Body distributes it amongst the Guests the pieces laid on their Gridirons call'd Boucans are turn'd by the old Women who lick up the Dripping desiring the By-standers to bring more such Food and with the Blood anoint the Childrens Faces the Meat being broyl'd every one takes a piece and eats it up to the Bones which are kept as Trophies Brasilians molested by an evil Spirit The Brasilians do not onely thus plague one another but they are likewise tormented by an evil Spirit which they call Aygnan and Caagerrel if credit may be given to John Leerius a Burgundian who relates that he hath often seen them sweat out of fear and striking their Hands upon their Thighs cry out Mair autourassap acequerey Aygnan atoupave that is O my Fool my Companion I fear the Devil above all Evils Diseases peculiar to Brasile Amongst several Diseases to which Brasile is subject there is one call'd Pians being as malignant as the French POX proceeding from libinousness the whole Body being full of Carbuncles each about the bigness of a Man's Thumb Strangers in Brasile are also much troubled with a Giddiness occasion'd by the extream Cold in the Night as also with with sore Eyes which they get by going abroad before Sun-rising or after Sun-setting The Palsie is also very common there taking People so suddenly that falling down stiff on the Ground they are often in danger of losing their Breath Besides these there are several other Distempers that very much infest Brasile as the Bloody-flux Dropsie Rising of the Gall Worms Meazles and St. Anthony's Fire Brasilians success in curing of several Distempers by their knowledge in Herbs The aged Brasilians have for the most part great skill in Herbs which they gather in the Woods and apply them to the Sick both inwardly and outwardly and chiefly they know how to expel Poyson None can perswade them against the Medicines which they have learn'd from their Predecessors nay they will rather chuse to lose their Lives than use any other and indeed they do not always succeed amiss but often manifest that they understand the Vertue of Herbs better than our European Physicians The Learned Guilielmus Piso relates That he hath seen several times in the Army which Grave Maurice sent against the Portuguese in Brasile that the Brasilians in a short time cur'd those Wounds with fresh Gums and healing Herbs which the Netherland Chirurgeons judging past Cure presently advis'd the cutting off either the Arm or Leg of the wounded Person Piso adds moreover That he himself us'd some of Hippocrates's and Galen's Prescriptions in Wine for the curing of Cancers and Swellings which the Brasilians have made well onely with the Juice of Tobacco They also in a moment recover'd a Person given over by all European Physicians with the Juice of the Root call'd Jaborandi wherefore he always desir'd their Company
when he went to visit sick or wounded Men. Their manner of curing the Sick and bewailing the Dead The Distempers in America differ much from the European not onely in the Signs of any Distemper but also in the Cure for when a Distemper cannot be cur'd by the prescribed Medicines a Father or Mother sends for the Neighbors to know if they can find any means to cure the Disease which Custom was anciently observ'd amongst the Greeks They also strictly observe a Rule in their Diet and take care to keep the Patient out of the Sun in the Day and cold Winds in the Night however if their Fathers and Mothers be sick nevertheless they leave not off their usual Dancing and Singing but if the sick Person die especially a Father they lament and cry over the Corps like Wolves calling to one another with a quavering Voice and uttering these Expressions The strong Man is deceas'd who carry'd so many Prisoners for a brave Dinner to his House Oh what a quick Hunter and subtil Fisher hath Death bereav'd us of we shall see him no more till our Souls are carry'd beyond the high Mountains where our valiant Predecessors Dance in Rings The Women make the greatest noise and in the midst of their howling embrace one another which lasts six hours and then they put the Body upright into a Grave made like a Hogshead hanging about it divers colour'd Feathers and other things in which the Deceased delighted most when living upon the Grave the nearest Relations place Dishes of Meat both Flesh and Fish and the Liquor Cauou-in that their evil Spirit call'd Aygnan may be reconcil'd by these Offerings and not carry away the Body but when they remove from thence they cover the Grave with the Herb Pindo This Custom is not observ'd by all Brasilians for some eat up their deceased Relations Sect. XIII Grave Maurice his Account of Brasile so far as it concern'd the West-India Company BRasile so far as it concerns the West-India Company extends from the River Real which divides Seregippa and the Lordship of St. Salvador to Maragnan Seregippa it self reaches along the Sea-Coast thirty two Leagues and was first brought under the King of Spain's Jurisdiction by Christovan de Barros Cardoso who being order'd by the King of Spain to Plant this new Countrey invited many People from St. Salvador who built four Sugar-Mills and a Town consisting of a hundred Houses and four hundred Sheds for Cattel but the Town being destroy'd hath nothing left but Heaps of Rubbish and the Cattel either fell into the Netherlanders hands or were devour'd by Tygers the Inhabitants fled back to St. Salvador Many troubles have prevented the re-building of it The fertility of Pernambuco Pernambuco may for its fruitfulness stand in competition with any Place in the World except in those parts where the Soil is sandy and stonie The Fields feed abundance of excellent Cattel the Woods Deer and Fowl the Ocean and Rivers all manner of good Fish It is inhabited but eight Leagues into the Countrey because the nearer the Sea the more convenient it is for Importing and Exporting of Goods neither could the Portuguese by reason of their small number spread themselves farther as also in regard they found great resistance from the Brasilians The Negro's that work in the Sugar-Mills between the River Grande and Francisco amount to four thousand The Cape Verde Mina Angola Ardra and Calabaria generally provide three thousand in a year to supply the number of the Sick or those that run away SECT XIV The Councellor Dussen's Relation of so much of Brasile as concerns the West-India Company THat part of Brasile which the West-India Company have subdu'd by force of Arms on the Continent of America is divided into six Counties viz. Seregippa Pernambuco Itamarica Parayba Rio Grande and Siara The Expedition undertaken by Gysseling and Schuppe made Seregippa desolate the Inhabitants wheof remov'd to the Coast Todos los Sanctos Also Siara which the Portuguese formerly possess'd was thinly inhabited and had a mean Fortress there whither some few Brasilians came now and then to the Netherlanders assistance Pernambuco lying between the Rivers Francisco and Tamarica excells the other Countrey in fruitfulness and pleasantness The Brasilians compare it to a hollow Rock under which fresh Water flows Havens of Pernâ—mbuco Moreover Pernambuco hath several Havens viz. the outermost Road before Reciffa which being in the open Sea is somewhat dangerous but the innermost is secure against all Storms also at the Promontory St. Augustine where the Mouth of the Haven is narrow and dangerous by reason of the Rocks and shallow Grounds the Island Alexio is very fit to Crain Ships in Barra Grande hath a large and safe Inlet convenient for all manner of Vessels yet it is inferior to Cororipa lastly the Havens Jaragoa and Franco are very eminent Amongst the Rivers the chief are Jangades Serinhain Formosa Porto Calvo Rivers Camarigibi Antonio Michael and Francisco Pernambuco also is divided into six Jurisdictions the first and most ancient is Igarazu the second and biggest Olinda the third Serinbain the fourth Porto Calvo the fifth the Alagoas and the sixth Rio Francisco which is the Boundary of Pernambuco on the South Towns of Pernambuco Pernambuco also boasts five Towns viz. Garasu Olinda Maurice-stadt to which also belongs Reciffa Bella Pojuca and Formosa The Villages Moribeca St. Laurence Antonio Amaro and others are also not inferior to little Towns The Countrey is for the most part Hilly but is exceeding fruitful in the Valleys and near the Rivers especially in Sugar-Canes Here are also a hundred and twenty Sugar-Mills of which a great number stand still for want of Negro's Next Pernambuco lies Tamarica which hath onely one Haven one City and twenty three Sugar-Mills of which thirty are onely employ'd This Island produces excellent Grapes and Melons yet is for the most part barren by reason of the Pismires The Countrey Parayba hath its Denomination from the River which washeth it being deep and without any Rocks or Sands on the Banks thereof stand twenty Sugar-Mills two of which are still standing In the Lordship of Rio Grande stands the Town Puntael whose Buildings were ruin'd in the Wars after which the Inhabitants had leave to build them another City on a fruitful Soil The Countrey hereabouts us'd formerly to be very full of Cattel but was not onely bereav'd thereof by the Hollanders and Portuguese but also for the most part made desolate The River which washes the Castle Ceulen affords a convenient and safe Harbor for all sorts of Vessels This Lordship of Rio Grande boasts onely two Sugar-Mills of which one is decay'd so that in all those Parts in Brasile which belong to the West-India Company are a hundred and sixty Sugar-Mills constantly employ'd besides forty six which are about repairing It is scarce to be reckon'd how much Sugar they make yearly in regard through the
Men and the other Captains being Parker North Thornap and Sir Walter Raleigh's Son The Spaniards having a Garrison at Orinoque fir'd very fiercely at the English who suffer'd great damage and amongst divers others Captain Raleigh himself was slain whilest the other five Sail lay near the Island Trinidad under John Pennington's Command who daily fear'd the Spanish Fleet. But Keymes found it very difficult to Land in Orinoque by reason of the Banks along the Shore which Diego de Palameque from Puerto Rico kept strongly guarded therefore going to an even Shore with intention to Land he was so sharply receiv'd by a Body of Spanish Musquetteers that divers of his Men were mortally wounded yet breaking in amongst them he went towards the Gold-Mines to which the Way led through a Wood where the Spaniards lay in Ambuscade but he judg'd himself too weak to do any good upon the Mines one of which belong'd to Peter Rodrigo de Parama a second to Herviano Frontino and the third to Francisco Fashardo The English also were fearful by reason of the Spaniards Cruelties who not long before had flay'd several Merchants alive Raleigh upon Gundamor's Accusation Beheaded so that Keymes contented himself with pillaging and burning the Town St. Thomas which the Spaniards had deserted Soon after which Captain Whitby ran away with a Ship from the Fleet whilest Keymes return'd back to Raleigh who laid several things to his Charge concerning the unnecessary Expence and shame of such an unsuccessful Voyage which so wrought upon Keymes that he offer'd to lay violent hands on himself in his Cabbin At length Raleigh returning to London was accus'd by the Spanish Ambassador Gundamor for the burning St. Thomas urging that his Master resented it so ill that he threatned to wage a War with England if Raleigh was not Executed who notwithstanding he alledg'd That the Spaniards shew'd the first Acts of Hostility against the English who onely defended themselves and that St. Thomas was burnt without his knowledge or Order and that Keymes had not observ'd his Command in the discovering of the Gold-Mines which Apologies were generally look'd upon as real Truths yet the King esteeming the Peace with Spain of more value than one Man's Life without taking notice of Gundemor's Accusations commanded that the Sentence formerly pass'd on him for Treason should be Executed and accordingly in the sixtieth year of his Age he was Beheaded discovering himself by his Christian Behavior and Profession at his Death to be a far other kind of Person than what the World had censur'd him to be Since this last Expedition of Sir Walter Raleigh we find not that there hath been any great Resort or Trade unto this Countrey except by a few Netherland Merchants who have yearly sent eight or nine Ships to the River Orinoque for Tobacco The temperature of the Air. As for the Air or Climate of Guiana it is very differing for about the Amazone River dry Weather begins about August and the windy and rainy Season about February but Westward towards Orinoque the Summer takes beginning in October and the Winter in April the Days and Nights are almost of an equal length and the difference of Heat and Cold is but little Burning-Feavers Dropsie and the Jawnes destroy many People here which last is not unlike the POX and proceeds from carnal Copulation with the Guianian Women who are naturally subject to this Disease The Nature of the Inhabitants The Inhabitants are divided into several sorts the chiefest whereof being the Caribbees go naked covering onely their Privities with a Lappet The Women though yellow are very comely and both Men and Women paint their Bodies with Netto which grows on little Trees in Cods They make Holes through their Noses Lips and Ears and hang Glass Bells pieces of Copper or any other Trifles that they get from the English and Netherlanders in them About their Necks Arms and Legs they wear Strings of Beads or Cockle-shells Their Houses with low Roofs serve them onely to sleep in the Night upon Cotton Hammocks for in the day-time they sit under high Arch'd open places that the Wind may blow full upon them Their Houshold-stuff consists of Earthen Pots and Dishes neatly painted They live in Tribes or Families together in a Town which is Govern'd by the eldest of them and their Militia is Commanded by one that is able to endure most Stripes with Switches without any shew of pain The chiefest of their Families have commonly three or four Wives whereas others are contented with one The Men seldom do any toilsom Work but make their Wives do all insomuch that as soon as a Woman is Deliver'd of a Child she must immediately go about her usual Employment whilest her Husband lies lozelling out his Moneth on a Hammock Their Language sounds not unpleasantly but is hard to learn because many words differ but little in the pronunciation and yet have quite another signification When they march into the Field against their Enemies then the General sends a Stick to all the Villages under his Jurisdiction on which are cut so many Notches as there are Days appointed before he intends to set forth which they cut out again as the Days expire and on the last they repair to the appointed place A not much unlike Custom they observe in all Promises and Bargains for they give one another as many Sticks as they desire Days to perform the same in and so throw away every day one till they have onely one remaining and then they begin to think of performing their Promise or Bargain They know no word whereby to express any greater number than Ten Twenty they express by laying their ten Fingers on their Toes and all that exceeds Twenty they compare to the Hairs of their Head crying Ounsa awara Some of the painted Canoos made of the Trunks of Trees will carry five or six Tuns Their manner of â—ighting Reâ—â—gion c. In their Wars they use Bowes poyson'd Arrows short Truncheons of speckled Wood and Shields full of carv'd Images and Fight without any Order They go upon no Design but in the Night and upon certain advantages All Women and Children which they take Prisoners are sold for Slaves but the Men are cruelly put to death There is but little of Religion that can be ascrib'd to these People onely that some shew Reverence to the Sun and Moon which they believe are both living Creatures but they make no Offerings to them Their Funeral-Feasts for great Persons are strangely kept viz. all the Men making themselves Drunk with the Liquor Parranoro Dance three or four days one after another and he that drinks most and is worst Drunk gains the greatest Honor whilest the Women lament and mourn for the Deceased Their Priests call'd Peeaios are in great esteem amongst them because they pretend that they Converse with the Spirits Wattipa and Yarakin which the Guianians exceedingly fear apprehending themselves often beaten
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
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
Enemy by Water whilst himself falling upon them by Land put the Lord of Tlatellulco with his whole Army to flight which was so closely pursu'd that they forc'd their way into the City with them put the Governor to Death and laid the Town in Ashes those which went by Water having had no less success Autzol succeeds him Axayaca after eleven years Reign Deceasing bequeath'd his Crown to Autzol who sought to promote his Election by ingaging with the mighty Province Quaxutatlan whose Inhabitants though but a little before they had been so bold as to demand Tribute of the Mexicans yet terrifi'd at the approach of Autzol's Army fled over an Arm of the Sea where they had been secure had not Autzol invented a floating Isle of Planks by which he got over his whole Army upon which the amaz'd Quaxututlans immediately submitted themselves to the Mexicans who pursuing their Victory extended their Dominions to Guatimala over a Tract of three hundred Leagues Autzol's Generosity and Mrgnificence The new King having now subdu'd all his Enemies and made himself glorious by his Victories was also ambitious to be as much extoll'd for his Generosity and Magnificence to which purpose he distributed all the Wealth which was brought unto him from the neighboring Countreys amongst the Poor and the Nobility to the first he gave Clothes and Provisions to the last Plumes of Feathers and Arms. Moreover he caus'd all mean Houses to be pull'd down and new ones to be built in their places Lastly he consulted how to bring fresh Water into Mexico which was plac'd in a brackish Soil Upon this Design he was so bent that when one of his Sages disswaded him from it alledging That the Water would drown the City he in stead of following his Advice banish'd him his Presence and upon his flying to Cuyaocun caus'd him to be fetch'd from thence and Executed Then prosecuting his Design he cut the Ditch before Cuyaocun by which means great store of fresh Water came flowing into the Lake Laguna which the Priests welcom'd with strange Ceremonies for some perfum'd the Water others Offer'd Quails Blood whilst others play'd on several Musical Instruments with many other Ceremonies which are at large describ'd in the ancient Mexican Chronicles kept in the Vatican Library at Rome But the Prophecy of the Executed Sorcerer was in a manner fulfill'd for the Water overwhelm'd a great part of Mexico and divided the City into Isles But to prevent farther Mischief Autzoll caus'd Banks to be rais'd and Channels digg'd and not long after in the eleventh Year of his Reign he deceas'd After which the Mexican Kingdom tended towards its period as the ensuing Story will declare Amongst the Mexican Nobility Mutexuma a melancholy Man yet very prudent who resided in a stately Apartment near the great Temple Cu that there he might the better converse with Viztlipuztli was elected King which he no sooner heard but fled from hence but being found out he was against his will led to the Grand Assembly and from thence to the holy Hearth where for an Offering he drew Blood out of his Cheeks Ears and Legs and according to an ancient Custom the Council of State boring a Hole in his Nose hung an Emerauld in the same after which the Lord of Tescuco saluted him with a Speech which since it is mention'd by Joseph d' Acosta together with several other Speeches of Congratulation to their Kings which were taught to Schollars to make them expert in their Language it will not be amiss to be annexed here that of many this one may serve for a pattern of the Mexicans Eloquence which is as followeth The Lord of Tescuco his Speech to Muteczuma THe great happiness most noble Muteczuma which is befall'n this Realm by your Election may easily be conjectur'd from the general joy none besides your self being able to undergo an Office in the management whereof so much Prudence is requir'd It is a most certain testimony that God loves Mexico that he hath given its Inhabitants understanding to make such a Choice Who can doubt but that you who have expatiated through the Heavens and convers'd with Viztlipuztli may easily Govern us Mortals on Earth Who can despair but that the Vertue inclos'd within your Breast will extend to the Widows and Orphans Therefore rejoyce O Mexico the Heavens have granted us a Prince without Vice Merciful and not a Violator of the Laws Affable not despising common Conversation And you O King let not this great Preferment occasion any alteration in your so long known Vertues The Crown breeds care for the publick good the troubles thereof must extend over the whole Realm and every one in the Realm Preparationâ— for the Coronation of Muteczuma Muteczuma having heard out the Speech would willingly have answer'd the same but could not utter a word for Tears which gush'd from his Eyes Before he went out to fetch Prisoners for Offerings at his Coronation he first setled his Houshold Affairs And whereas till this time the Kings had been serv'd in their Palaces by ordinary Citizens he took Knights and the chiefest of the Nobility intending thereby to make a distinction between the Nobility and the common People and add more Majesty to the Royal Dignity This done Muteczuma marching against a certain rebellious Province fetch'd a considerable number of People to be Offer'd to Viztupuztli At his Return the Coronation Day was appointed against which thousands of People came to Mexico even their very Enemies of Tlascala Mechoacan and Tepeaca which were never conquer'd by the Mexicans flock'd thither in great numbers All those Countreys which were under Tribute bringing unvaluable Treasures came in vast Multitudes which so throng'd the City that the very tops of the Houses were fill'd with Spectators no King in Mexico ever going to the Throne in such splendor His Grandeur nor was ever any King so much fear'd by his Subjects none of the common People daring to look in his Face neither did he ever set Foot on the Ground but was always carried in a Chair on the Shoulders of his prime Nobility he never wore a Suit of Clothes but once nor ever us'd a Cup or Dish after it was once foul'd he strictly maintain'd the Laws which he had made and often went himself in a Disguise to make a strict enquiry after all Affairs whatsoever by which means the Mexican Power was now arriv'd to the highest top but as other Realms grown top-heavy with good Fortune turn at last topsie-turvy just such a Misfortune befell Mexico but not without several fore-running signs of its destruction The ruine of the Mexican Empire prognosticated for in the City Cholola their God Quezalcoalt inform'd them that a strange People were coming to take possession of the Mexican Dominions and their Soothsayers prognosticated the same for which Muteczuma committed them all to Prison and doubtless had put them all to death had not they escap'd with