Didacus interpreted the Language in some part agreeing with that of Hispaniola to this effect You have to all admiration come to see this Countrey from another World my advice to you is That you hurt none for the Souls of evil-doers go to dark places But on the contrary they shall enjoy the heighth of all Pleasures that are Friends to Peace Columbus reply'd That he came a Scourge for the cruel Cannibals but a Shield to protect the quiet and well-meaning Indians Great disturbance in Hispaniola After this returning to Hispaniola much contrary to his expectation he found all things which he had setled there turn'd topsie-turvy for first the Governors at Isabella jangled and were at private contentions amongst themselves and the Benedictine Monk Boilus and Peter Margarites were return'd to Spain there to make their complaints at Court and besides the Spaniards had dealt very inhumanely with the Natives by their frequent Rapes Thefts and Murders wherefore the Indians not unjustly incens'd destroy'd all the Spaniards they found stragling in any part without the Lines of their Fortification Caunaboa also lay about the Fort St. Thomas and closely besieged Hoieda but receiving intelligence of Columbus's arrival he broke up his Siege and march'd from thence but soon after was taken Prisoner by the Spaniards Mean while upon Design a Plot none of the wisest the Natives of Hispaniola had neither Till'd or Sow'd the Ground or us'd Agriculture the year before contriving by want of Provisions not considering themselves to starve out the Spaniards but the mischief fell upon the Contrivers for so great a Famine hapned that spreading over the whole Countrey in a few Moneths fifty thousand were starv'd to death but the Spaniards made a saving though hard shift with their own store then though too late the Islanders repented of their folly for they saw the Spaniards making an advantage of their misery not onely built more Houses in their City Isabella but prepar'd their Weather-beaten Vessels with which Sailing to the Gold Mountains of Cipangi on the Hill whence sprung several Fountains they rais'd the Castle of the Conception Great benefit they reap'd by this Fort to which they carry'd daily abundance of Amber Brimstone mix'd Ore of Silver and Gold and Brazile-wood besides great store of Gold and they might have gotten ten times more had they not been so much inclin'd to slothfulness and minding other vain pleasures yet notwithstanding all the Fleet carry'd that year above one thousand two hundred pound weight of Gold to Spain Spaniards tyrannise there In the mean while the Natives complain'd to Columbus of the Spanish Soldiers which under pretence to seek for Gold committed many insufferable Outrages therefore they desir'd that they might be retain'd in their Forts and not straggle so much abroad and they would willingly bring them every three Moneths a certain weight of Cotton Amber Brazile-wood and Gold more than equivalent to what they snatch'd but Columbus whose Soldiers notwithstanding his severity and using Martial Law upon some of them for their Crimes and proud with their success yet prevail'd at last that they consented thereto but the Inhabitants never perform'd their promise who being almost famish'd had much to do to preserve themselves alive spending their time in picking Sallads Whilst the Business remain'd in this ill posture or rather confusion Cibanus Their Conquest Brother to the imprison'd Caunaboa rais'd an Army of five thousand Men the Spaniards divided into five Companies march'd to meet him and their Enemies being naked and having no other Arms than Bowes Arrows and Clubs after some little resistance were soon dissipated and put to flight but overtaken by the Spanish Horse many of them were taken Prisoners and others forc'd to skulk and hide themselves on the tops of Mountains ANGRA op TERCERA Columbus Sails the third time to Hispaniola Whilst all things were thus in disorder at Hispaniola the Admiral Christopher Columbus set Sail a third time with eight Ships from the Haven Barrameda in the Year 1498. To shun the French Pyrates which watched for the Indian Treasures he directed his Course to Madera a fruitful Island of Corn Wine Sugar Wax and Cattel desolate till Anno 1420. Here coming to an Anchor he sent six Ships away to Hispaniola which himself afterwards followed with the remaining two steering by the Flemish Islands or Acores first so call'd from the Flemings the first Planters Here he dropt Anchor before the City Angra on the Isle Tercera which is sixteen Leagues in circumference Description of the City Angra and very Mountainous the tops whereof are like Spires and abound with Grapes the Plain Countrey produces great store of Corn but it will not keep above twelve Moneths The Ground is oftentimes terribly shaken by Earthquakes and between several sulphurous Places both Flames and Smoak ascend up to the Sky Near the City Angra is a Fountain which turns Wood into Stone The Winds in this Place blow so fierce and strong that they not onely beat down Houses but wear out Iron and all manner of Stone-work In Angra the chief Commander of all the Flemish Isles hath his Residence The City surrounded by steep Rocks lies towards the Sea like a Crescent or Half-Moon for at both ends thereof the Mountains extend with deep Points into the Ocean The uppermost part towards the West stands likewise fortifi'd by a high Rock as also by another on the East on both are continual Watches kept whereof those on the first can discover Ships fifteen Leagues off at Sea coming either from the East or West-Indies and on the other all those that come from Europe When they see above fifteen Sail they put out the Kings great Flag upon the top of all the Rock This City of Angra is divided into several Streets the Governor and Archbishop live each in a stately Palace five handsom Churches are no small ornament to it the Sea before it abounds with Fish but are not to be taken in December by reason of the turbulent Waves Christopher Columbus having refresh'd at Angra Sail'd along the African Coast between the Hesperides under the Equinoctial he was so miserably tormented by the Heat that his Vessels seem'd to burn the Hoops sprung from the Casks so that the Water run about the Hold and they could expect nothing but death from the insufferable Heat and want of Water eight days they had endur'd this hardship when they met with a fresh Gale out of the South-East so that they made great Way towards the West On the last of July he discover'd three high Mountains and approaching near the Shore he smelt as in a Posie all the sweet breathings of fragrant Flowers commix'd and at last saw a convenient Haven where going ashore he found cultivated Grounds and steps of Beasts but not a Man appear'd the next day they spy'd a Boat with twenty young Men come rowing from the Shore into the Ocean The Admiral hal'd them in
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
some Figures of Men the Floors are cover'd with parti-colour'd Mats made of Sea-Reeds and several tough Roots and their Carpets beset with Pearl add also a great beauty to their Rooms In the Valleys the Spaniards found several precious Jems as Saphires Jasper Emeralds and great pieces of Amber and in some Huts Baskets and Chests full of dry'd Locusts and Crabs Here also grows the Root Yuca as also on several other West-Indian Coasts of which they make their best Bread and is call'd in Hispaniola and Angola Yuca by the Brasilians Mandiba and Mandihoka by the Mexicans Quauhcamotli it grows with a thick or midling Body according to the fruitfulness or barrenness of the Soil the Leaves are like those of a Tulip and have small Flowers and Seed but no ways useful the Root not unlike Horse-Raddish hath a milky Juice which swells it exceedingly the Sprigs which in the eighth and tenth Moneth shoot out of the Root serve for new Plants and if at any time it happen that either by a moist Season or by Worms or Pismires the Plant is spoil'd then it occasions such an inconvenience amongst the Inhabitants that half of them in that year die of Famine Arias 's Exploits in New Andalusia But to return to our matter Arias coming to an Anchor in the River Daria was cheerfully receiv'd by Nunnez his first Business which he undertook was the building of three Forts to secure the Passages to the South Sea to which purpose Joannes Aiora received the Command over four hundred Workmen Moreover Arias took great dislike in the Place call'd Maria Antiqua which the Spaniards were forc'd by necessity first to Plant in it lay in a deep Valley between high Mountains so that it not onely wanted the benefit of the rising and setting of the Sun but when in or near the Meridian it shin'd down upon them and scorch'd all their Plants and the tepifi'd Morassy Grounds about the same infected the Air and the Water which they took up to wash their Houses immediately bred Frogs the River Daria overflow'd the Grounds with his muddy Water three Leagues distance from the Sea the Passage thither also was very troublesom because of the uneven Ways and besides the Tygers and Lyons devour'd many People and Cattel A strange Accident The first Night that Arias lay in Maria Antiqua the House wherein his Chirurgion Lodg'd was fir'd with Lightning who running out with his Wife being both scorched by the Flames saw a very great Crocodile which snatching up his Dog ran away with him towards the River Remarkable Trees The neighboring Territory Coiba produced Trees whose Timber us'd for Shipping never breeds Worms because of its acerbity whereas on the contrary all other Vessels in that Countrey are very subject to that inconvenience Here also grow those famous Plague-Trees whose very Leaves if but falling upon one are like Gods Arrows mortal and immediately kill unless the Place whereon they light be straightway anointed with fasting Spittle and the Coibensers say that they know another poysonous Wood which they use to destroy their Enemies withall Whilst Arias was consulting about the beforemention'd Affairs he sent several Comanders to divers Places to take a survey and give him an account of their Return of all their Discoveries Remarkable Journey of Moralis to the South Sea Amongst others Gasper Moralis was order'd to march towards the South Sea to confirm the Peace which Nunnez had begun with the Kings Chiapes and Tumaccus and chiefly to go to the Pearl-Island with sixty Men which Nunne was forc'd to leave being stress'd by tempestuous Weather Chiapes and Tumaccus were according to their promise to prepare an Army â—â—ady for his assistance against his coming which indeed they perform'd so tâ—â—t they wanted nothing but Vessels for the biggest of theirs could not carry above three or four Men yet they undertaking their Enterprise Landed seventy Men oâ— the Island upon which the Inhabitants under their Kings Conduct ran to meet the new Landed Forces and crying out aloud Guazzavara Guazzavara they ran in amongst the Musqueteers with their woodden Swords but the report of the Guns mix'd with Fire Smoak and Bullets soon amaz'd them the King flying thought by alarm to raise all the Islanders but they being inform'd that no People whatsoever could withstand the fire-spitting People made Articles of agreement with Moralis and Condition'd to deliver a hundred pound weight of the choicest Pearls to the use of the King of Castile and as a testimony of his Friendship he was Christen'd Peter Arias from the Governors Name of New Andalusia Strange Pearl How great the Treasure was which Moralis brought from the Pearl Island may appear by one of the Pearls for which Pope Leo the tenth gave forty four thousand Ducats to a Venetian Merchant Amongst the Commanders which were sent out by Arias was also Johannes Solisius who Sailing six hundred Leagues Southerly along the Coast of the Caribbies beyond Cape St. Augustine he found the Inhabitants of Pernambuck to be no less cruel than subtile for being invited ashore he with some of his Men Row'd thither Solisius his miserable end where no sooner Landing but were all kill'd and eaten in the sight of the other Sea-men aboard at which being amaz'd they weighed Anchor and Sail'd away Freighted onely with Brasile Wood to Cadiz Aso in an unhappy hour did Johannes Pontaeus put some of his Laundresses ashore on the Island Guadalupa to wash some Linnen for him for the Islanders coming on a sudden out of the Woods surpriz'd them and forthwith killing without mercy cut them in pieces and carbonadoing eat their broil'd Flesh hot from the Coals while Gonsalus Badajocius Sail'd with eighty Men Westerly and having gone sixty Leagues he went ashore and spent some days in vain to Court the Americans to a friendly correspondency which whilst he was doing he was recruited with fifty Men from Daria Commanded by Lodowick Mercado so both agreed together to travel over the Mountains to the South Sea The Governor Juana whose Jurisdictions abound in Gold flying with most part of his Treasure was never heard of onely they took some of his Slaves Strange Slaves whose Faces were strangely Carv'd with sharp Fish-bones the Wounds fill'd with red and black Powder which so discolour'd the Flesh that it could never be got out After that they travell'd through the Wilderness five days together being onely met by some Indians carrying Maiz who signifi'd to them that King Periguete liv'd along the Sea-shore and up into the Countrey the blind Totonoga of both which they got an unvaluable Treasure of Gold Great Booty Amongst other Pieces of that rich Metal was one which weighed two pound Taracura rais'd in this Expedition eighteen thousand weight of Gold and little less did they take out of the Territories belonging to the Princes Pananome Tabor Cheru and Scoria The Prisoners serv'd them in stead of Horses they not being
which daily lies upon them insomuch that a great Belly hinders no business nor doth a Child-birth take much time but the young Infant being greas'd and sooted wrapp'd in a Beavers Skin bound with his Feet up to his Bum upon a Board two Foot long and one Foot broad and his Face expos'd to all nipping Weather this little Pappouse travels about with his bare-footed Mother to paddle in the Icy Clam-banks after three or four days of Age have confirm'd her recovery For their Carriage it is very civil Smiles being the greatest grace of their Mirth Their Musick is Lullabies in Rocking their Children who generally are as quiet as if they had neither Spleen or Lungs Their Voices are generally both sweet and well order'd so far as pure Nature teacheth them Their Modesty drives them to wear more Clothes than the Men having always a Coat of Cloth or Skins wrapp'd like a Blanket about their Loyns reaching down to their Hams which they never put off in Company Towns buile by the English in New England There are to be reckon'd up forty five chief Towns besides what others there may be of less note built or made habitable by the English since their first arrival in New England till about the Year 1650. First St. Georges Fort where the first Plantation was setled St. Georges Fort. at the Mouth of the River Sagadebock in a kind of Peninsula or half Island The second New Plymouth seated no less commodiously upon a large Bay New Plymouth call'd by the Natives Pautuxed where they first setled that went over out of dissatisfaction to the Church-Government of England The third Salem call'd by the Indians Mahumbeak Salem which stands on the middle of a Neck of Land very pleasantly having a South River on the one side and a North River on the other side This Town seems to have been built in the Year 1628. by a part of that Company who being sent over by the Merchant-Adventurers setled themselves in this Cape The fourth Mashawmut or Charles-town Charles-town situate on a Neck of Land on the North-side of the River Charles The form of this Town in the Frontispiece of it resembleth the Head Neck and Shoulders of a Man through the right Shoulder whereof runs the Navigable River Mistick which by its near approach to Charles River in one place makes the chief part of the Town a Peninsula It consists of a hundred and fifty Dwelling-houses many of them beautifi'd with pleasant Gardens and Orchards Near the Water-side is a large Market-place forth of which issue two fair Streets and in it stands a large and well built Church The fifth Matapan or Dorchester a Fronteer Town Dorchester standing over against the Island near the Sea-side It is water'd with two small Rivers and is built in the form of a Serpent turning its Head Northward it hath Orchards and Gardens full of Fruit-trees The sixth is Boston anciently Accomonticus the Center and Metropolis of the rest Boston built in the form of a Heart and fortifi'd with two Hills on the Front-part thereof the one having great store of Artillery mounted thereon the other having a strong Battery built of whole Timber and fill'd with Earth At the Descent of the Hill lies a large Cave or Bay on which the chief part of this Town is built over-topp'd with a third Hill all three like over-topping Towers keeping a constant Watch to foresee the approach of foreign Dangers The chiefest part of this City-like Town is crowded upon the Sea Banks and wharf'd out with great Industry and Cost the Edifices large and beautiful whose continual enlargement presageth some sumptuous City The seventh Roxbury Roxbury situated between Boston and Dorchester water'd with cool and pleasant Springs issuing from the Rocky Hills and with small Freshets watering the Valleys of this fertile Town The form of it resembleth a Wedge double pointed entring between the two above-mention'd Towns and in the room of those Swamps or tearing Bushes which were there before they have now goodly Fruit-trees fruitful Fields and Gardens The eighth is Lynne Lynne or according to the Indian Name Saugus situated between Salem and Charles-town near a River whose strong Freshet at the end of Winter fills all her Banks and with a violent Torrent vents it self into the Sea This Town is almost square consisting many years ago of above a hundred Dwelling-houses having also an Iron Mill in constant use The Church being on a level Land undefended from the north-North-West Wind is made with Steps descending into the Earth The ninth is call'd Water-town Water-town anciently Pigsgusset situated upon one of the Branches of Charles-River water'd with many pleasant Springs and small Rivulets running like Veins throughout her Body This Town began by occasion of Sir Richard Saltingstall who arriving with store of Cattel and Servants Winter'd in these Parts In the Year 1633. there was erected between Charles-town and Water-town New-town a Place call'd New-town and by the Indians Amongcangen since nam'd Cambridge being the tenth in order It is in form like a List of Broad-cloth reaching to the most Southerly part of Merrimeck River it hath comely and well order'd Streets and two fair Colledges Harverd Colledge the first call'd Harverd Colledge from Mr. John Harverd who at his Death gave a thousand Pounds to it to the other Mr. John Harnes was the chief Benefactor This Town was appointed to be the Seat of the Government but it continu'd not long The eleventh call'd Ipswich Ipswich or Sawacatuc by the Indians is situated on a fair and delightful River issuing forth from a very pleasant Pond and afterwards breaking its Course through a hideous Swamp of large extent it lies in the Sagamoreship or Earldom of Aggawan now by the English call'd Essex Twelve Miles from Ipswich Newbury near upon the Streams of Merrimeck River is situated the twelfth call'd Newbury The People of New-town Hartford or Cambridge upon their removal of the Plantation of Canectico passing up the River built a Town which they call'd Hartford the thirteenth in number divers others coming in the room of those that departed from Cambridge The fourteenth Concord seated upon a fair fresh River whose Rivulets are fill'd with fresh Marsh and her Streams with Fish it being a Branch of that large River of Merrimeck Allwives is built in the Inland Countrey and call'd Concord It consisted at first of above fifty Families Their Buildings are for the most part conveniently plac'd on one streight Stream under a Sunny Bank in a low Level The People that first set forth to build this Town sustain'd great hardship and misery by reason of the uncouth Ways and extremity of the Weather it being the first Inland Town that was built South-East of Charles-River upon the Sea-Coast Hingham is situated the fifteenth Town Hingham the form whereof is somewhat intricate to describe by reason of
rather than Provinces The principal whereof are these that follow viz. Misteca 2. Tutepecque 3. Zapoteca 4. Guazacoalco 5. Gueztaxatla and 6. the Valley of Guaxata from whence Cortez after the Conquest of Mexico had his Title given him by the Emperor Marquess of the Valley It is the richest and most pleasant part of the whole Province extended in a continu'd Tract together full sixteen Leagues or more lying about fourscore Southward of Mexico and wanting neither Mines of Gold and Silver nor any other of the prime and best Commodities of the New-World In this Countrey they speak thirteen sorts of Languages Languages of which the Mexican is most us'd Poisonous Herb. Amongst the Plants which grow here is an exceeding Poysonous Herb which kills those whosoe're pluck it though a long time after that is to say if it be of a Years growth it kills not before the Years end if a Moneth old at the Moneths end if a Day on the same This Countrey formerly suffer'd also many inconveniencies by Earthquakes but of late they are somewhat abated which the Spaniards ascribe to Martialis Protector of the Cathedral at Antequera Misteca is divided into Alta and Baxa both of which have Rivers and Brooks that afford Gold whither the Indian Women taking Provisions go for several days and gather Gold in Troughs which they exchange at the Spanish Markets for Provisions Strange Cave Not far from the Village Cuertlavaca lies a high Mountain remarkable for a strange Cave whose Entrance is very narrow at the end whereof appears a square Place of fifty Foot upon one side whereof stand Pits with Steps near which begins a crooked Way of a League long at the end of which is a spacious Place with a Fountain of good Water from the Foot of which flows a small Brook But because none have made any farther discovery of this Cave the other parts of it remain yet unknown On the top of St. Antonio the Indians live with their Families in Caves between the Rocks Not far from hence appear two Mountains whose tops though they lie at a great distance from one another at the bottom they are so near that a Man may step from one to the other The six Rocks Pennoles formerly Garrison'd by the Kings of Mexico have Gold Lead-Mynes and a Root which is us'd in stead of Soap In the Village Totomachiapo is a Cave of half a Mile long at the end whereof the Water prevents a farther discovery The Rocky Countrey Zapotecas formerly bred very salvage Inhabitants Mantled in Furrs but now Civiliz'd clad after the common manner Americans whether Extracted from the ten Tribes of Israel The People spread over Guaxacualco Yluta and Cueztxatla observe Circumcision according to an ancient Custom from whence some have in vain sought for a testimony that these Americans should be originally extracted from the scatter'd Tribes of Israel but the Tartars more immediately who at last crossing the Straits of Anian furnish'd the desolate Countrey of America with Inhabitants But this Opinion is without any probability of truth for it will never follow from their Circumcision that the Tartars the greatest People on Earth must owe their original to a few Israelites Prisoners since that Ceremony was never thought on by them till they embrac'd the Mahumetan Religion And though they had been Circumcis'd before Mahomet's time this would be no testimony that they were extracted from the Israelites for how many People embrac'd Circumcision which were never extracted from Abraham's Seed It is affirm'd by Diodorus Siculus that the Cholchians by Philo Judaeus the Egyptians by Herodotus the Moors by Strabo the Troglodytes by Cyprian the Phoenicians and Arabians Circumcis'd themselves from all Antiquity which is to this day observ'd by some of them It also plainly appears by the Prophet Jeremiah that the Egyptians Edomites Ammonites Moabites and Ishmaelites had the same Custom anciently amongst them Towns and chief Villages of Guaxaca The Towns of principal note inhabited by the Spaniards in this Province are 1. Antequera in the Valley aforesaid a stately City and beautifi'd with a fair Cathedral Church built with Pillars of the finest Marble of great heighth and bigness The River which glides by the Walls springing out of the Ground runs to the Mountain Coatlan Not far from thence lies the Village Herrera which boasts four hundred Spanish Families though some say that the greatest part of them are Indians who pay the Spaniards Cotton Cloaks and Nuts for Tribute 2. Illephonso de los Zapotecas lies on a Mountain belonging to the Mixes anciently a salvage strong and long-bearded People who speak a gross Language and in former times went naked onely a white Deer-skin Tann'd in Man's Brains about their Middle They maintain'd continual War against the Zapoteca's and could never have been subdu'd by the Spaniards had it not been for their Dogs which kept them in such awe that thirty Spanish Soldiers ventur'd to live in Illephonso amongst thirty thousand Mixes who now drive a Trade in Cotton Maize and Gold 3. San Jago de Nexapa appears at a great distance on a high Mountain where also twenty Soldiers with their Dogs were wont to awe the cruel Natives 4. The last Place built by Gonzales de Sandovall Anno 1522. is Villa del Espiritu Santo Commands fifty Indian Villages which with great difficulty were brought to submit to the Spaniards The River Aquivicolco affords a convenient Harbor the Mouth thereof being a hundred and ninety Paces broad Upon the Southern Ocean is the Haven Guatulco where the Ships that Sail to Honduras and Peru take in their Lading The Custom-house belonging to this Place was first plunder'd by Sir Francis Drake and nine years after burnt by Candish The River Ometipu which springing out of the Mountain Cacatepec falls into Tepoanteque abounds with divers sorts of good Fish especially Cra-Fish There are also reckon'd of the Natives of this Province no less than fifteen thousand Persons that pay Tribute to the Spaniards besides Women and Children and also a great number of Spaniards Sect. V. Panuco Bounds and Description of Panuco PAnuco is the most Northerly Province of Hew Spain by some call'd Guasteca bounded on the East with the Gulf of Mexico on the West with Uxitipa a Countrey of New Gallicia on the North with some undiscover'd Countreys of Florida from which it is divided by the River of Palms on the South with Mechoacan and Mexicana It is call'd Panuco from a River of that Name which turning from the Mountains Tepecsuan in New Gallicia and dividing New Biscay from the Province of Zacatecas passeth through the midst of this Countrey also and at last empties it self into the Gulf. This Countrey is reckon'd to be about fifty Leagues in length and not much less in breadth of a fruitful Soil having some Mynes of Gold in it and once very populous till the Spaniards about the Year 1522. dispeopled it by their
above two hundred Leagues already discorver'd but doubtless taking up no small part of those Countreys which are sometimes assign'd to Florida if not of the Confines of Virginia also Travels of Ruyz Espejus and others This Countrey was first Anno 1581. discover'd by a Franciscan Monk nam'd Augustine Ruyz who with two other Monks of his Order got eight Soldiers of Conde de Coruna Vice-Roy of New Spain for his Companions with whom he travell'd from the Valley Sant Bartholomew to the Province De los Tiguas where one of the two Monks was kill'd by the Natives which occasion'd such a fear amongst the Souldiers who judg'd themselves too weak to make any resistance that they resolv'd to return notwithstanding all the arguments which Ruyz us'd to disswade them from it yet nevertheless he and his Brother Franciscus Lopez and four Indians went onward of their Journey which news the Souldiers carried back to the Franciscans in Sant Bartholomew who fearing their Brethren would be destroy'd sent several Souldiers and a Monk call'd Bernardyn Beltran after them who were also accompanied by Antony Espejus who spent a great part of his Estate in raising of Men providing Arms and Provisions loading therewith a hundred and fifty Horses and Mules with which he travell'd direct North from the fore-mention'd Valley and after two days Journey found a People call'd Conchi who went naked and liv'd in Huts built together like a Village They were Govern'd by Casiques fed on Hares Deer Rabbets Maiz Calabashes and Melons Several adjacent Rivers afford them plenty of Fish They were amaz'd at the Crosses which the Spaniards there erected till they were inform'd of a Crucifi'd Saviour Espejus being every where kindly Entertain'd amongst them and conducted twenty two Leagues father came amongst the Indians call'd Passaguates of the like Constitution with the Conchi's who had skill in Minerals and judg'd that there were many Silver Mines in that Countrey From whence the Passaguates travell'd with the Spaniards to the Borders of the Los Tobosos who no sooner saw them but they fled because a few years before they had been miserably dealt with by the Spaniards but being inform'd by the Interpreters that they needed not be afraid of any thing they all appear'd and conducted Espejus to the Borders of the Patarabueyes which People possess a large Countrey Stone Houses and Villages built in good order Great Rivers with come out of the North and others that disembogu'd into the North Sea afforded them all sorts of Fish as also the Woods plenty of Venison Fowls and wholsom Plants In some Pools also the salt Water afforded Salt The Valour of the Inhabitants may sufficiently appear by the rough Entertainment which the Spaniards met withall the first Night for the Patarabueyes fell so fiercely upon them that had not the Watch given notice thereof in time none had escap'd with Life nevertheless five Horses were kill'd and a considerable number of Men wounded after which retreating they went upon a neighboring Hill whither Espejus sent his Interpreter and an Indian the same Countrey to inform them That the Spaniards came not to molest them and if they pleas'd to come to them they should meet with none but Friends which was the more easily credited because the Casiques receiv'd some Presents after which being reconcild they conducted the Spaniards twelve days Journey up a long River whose Banks were inhabited in several places from thence they reach'd to a Place inhabited by a People richly Cloth'd who also seem'd to have some knowledge of God for in their Discourse they pointed up to Heaven call'd the Creator and Preserver of all things Apalito and signifi'd that they had receiv'd that Knowledge formerly from those that were left of Pamphilius Narvaez's Army who having rang'd through Florida were driven hither These People also Presented Espejus many tann'd Skins with which he went to a great Village the Inhabitants whereof were very courteous and barter'd them for brave Plumes of Feathers and Cotton Cloaks streak'd with blue and white but Espejus having no Interpreters whom they could understand could not learn by what Name they were known yet by signs they express'd what time of the year they had Precious Stones brought to them and also what their Countrey produced and also that abundance of those Riches was to be found in a Province about five days Journey Westward from thence whither they freely offer'd to conduct the Spaniards which accordingly they did bearing them company one and twenty Leagues to the next Province inhabited by a People whose Name also they could not be inform'd of yet staying three days amongst them they were Entertain'd with Presents and Dances both Night and Day The Countrey afforded them also store of Venison and Fruits Those that understood Minerals judg'd that there were likewise several Gold Mines Leaving this Province they entred into a great Wilderness of Pine-Trees in which they travell'd twelve Leagues in fifteen days without seeing either Man or House but at the end of the Wood they spy'd a Village of Straw Huts where there were great quantities of white Salt and Deer Skins neatly dress'd The People of the Place courteously Entertain'd the Spaniards and conducted them along the River Del Norte to New Mexico The Banks of the River on each side was planted with Nut-Trees and Vines which spread themselves out above three Leagues through which they had scarce pass'd three days together when they saw ten Populous Villages pleasantly seated on the the said River from whence came many thousands of the Natives to meet Espejus who was not so much amaz'd at the great number of People as at their extraordinary Civility and decent Habits for they Entertain'd him with well dress'd Meat roasted Poultrey and pleasant Fruits Their Garments were Cotton Cloaks Deer-skin Breeches Shoes and Boots of good Leather The Women wore their Hair neatly Comb'd and Pleited Their Houses were almost four Stories high handsomely built and divided into fair Chambers had Stoves or Cells under Ground against the Cold in the Winter Every Village was Govern'd by a Casique whose Commands were publish'd by the Alguaziles Each House had a peculiar place in which their Idol stood before whom they set Meat twice a day Near the High-ways stood Temples very curiously painted wherein their Deity as they say diverted himself in his Progress from one Village to another At certain Distances near their Plough'd Lands stood Portico's supported on four Columns under which the Husband-man us'd to eat and take his Noon-sleep Besides their Swords which were strong enough to cut a Man through the Middle they us'd Bowes and Arrows Their Shields were made of Deer Skins Espejus having stay'd here four days went to the Province De las Tiguas which had sixteen Villages in the chiefest whereof call'd Poala Augustine Ruyz and his Brother Monk Franciscus de Lopez had been slain besides four others wherefore the People being conscious of this Crime and fearing that Revenge would
Robert Gore Shares 3 11 S. Edwards Sackvile Shares 1 11 S. Iohn Davers Shares 1 12 M. Robert Gore Shares 2 13 M. Iohn Delbridge Shares 1 14 M. Iohn Wroth Esq Shares 1 15 M. Rich. Chamberl. Esq Shares 10 Ad Communem agram in singu lis Tribubus quol attinet in quot portiones dividatur et ibi inceat quemadmodum partim in Mappa Choragraphica exprimitur Ita eti am claribus liquet ex Libre Geo desiae Virginianae Societati tradito After the granting of the Patent aforesaid of 13 Car. 1. Sir David Kirk's great Pains there and constant Endeavours were beyond expectation bless'd with a continuance and preservation of Trade in that Place in the carrying on of which he had always a special regard to the real Advantage of this Kingdom and the particular Service of His Majesty The wonderful Bank of Terra Nova Before this Island right over against Cape Ray at the distance of twenty four Leagues or more there lieth an huge Bank or Ridge of Land extending it self in length out of the Sea above a hundred Leagues but in breadth not above four or five and twenty when it is broadest and in other parts much less sharpning towards each end into a Conus or narrow Point It is accounted one of the Wonders of the Sea which round about at some distance is very deep and hardly to be sounded especially betwixt the Bank for so they commonly call it and Cape Ray but drawing nearer it grows by degrees more and more shallow insomuch that nigh the Land there is not much more Water than is necessary for the Ships to Ride in It runneth out in length as was said from North to South from forty one Degrees of Latitude to fifty two and round about it there lie scatter'd a multitude of lesser Islands which Sir Sebastian Cabot when he first discover'd the Place call'd by one common Name Los Baccaloos or The Islands of Cod-fish The Baccaloos from the great quantity of that sort of Fish he there found which was such that they hindred the passage of his Ships and lay in such multitudes upon the Coasts that the very Bears would come and catch them in their Claws and draw them to Land The Isle of Assumption IN the Gulf of St. Laurence towards the Mouth of the River Canada is another less considerable Island said to have been first discover'd by Quartier and by him call'd The Island of Assumption by John Alphonso The Island of Ascension by the Natives Natistcotec It extends it self from the forty eighth to the fiftieth Degree between the South-East and North-West Quartier makes mention of a strange kinde of Fish found in the River of Canada like unto a Sea-Hog but having the Head of a Hare it is call'd by the Natives Adhothuys Not far from this is a little Island call'd by the French Isle de Sable or The Sandy Island and another on the West of Terra Nova call'd Isle de Bretons or The Island of St. Laurence besides several little scatter'd Islands in the Gulf of St. Laurence as Menego and The Three Islands of Birds in which are found a kind of amphibious Animal call'd by the French Cualrus and by the Russians Morsh somewhat like a Sea-Calf but more monstrous CHAP. XII The Bermudas or Summer-Islands Situation of the Bermudas THe Bermudas or Summer-Islands probably so term'd as to the first Appellation from certain black Hogs by the Spaniards call'd Bermudas which from a Ship bound with them to some other parts of the West-Indies and cast away upon that Coast swam ashore and there increased or as others say from John Bermudes a Spaniard who is said to have been the first Discoverer or as to the second from one George Summers an English-man who there suffer'd shipwrack are situated in thirty two Degrees and twenty five Minutes of Northern Latitude about sixteen hundred Leagues from England twelve hundred from Madera four hundred from Hispaniola and three hundred from the nearest Coast of Virginia The first that endeavour'd to settle Plantations here was a Spaniard nam'd Hernando Camelo being design'd Conductor in this Expedition And this Undertaking was so much the more eagerly prosecuted upon consideration that the Plate-Fleet Sailing from Havana through the Straights of Bahama might here have a convenient Harbour but those who were invited to become Adventurers with proffers of great Advantage shewing themselves very slack in the Business and Charles the Fifth being at that time intangled in War and other troublesom Affairs the Design came to nothing and for above sixty years after no farther Attempt was made by any for the Planting of these Islands till at last the French made a Voyage thither under Captain Barboriere but by Shipwrack were frustrated of their hopes nor made they any more Preparations in this Design In which nevertheless the English were not so easily discourag'd for first Captain Gosnol and Smith set forth at the Charges of Mr. Edward Wingfield next Captain Nelson then successively West Gates Argal and Wyat but all with little or no success till at length in the Year 1612. a Company was establish'd in London by the King's Letters Patents who sent one Mr. Richard Moor with sixty Men to the Bermudas where he spent three years in fortifying those Islands but that which put a little stop to this good beginning was a kind of Misfortune that hapned for the Rats which were gotten ashore from a Shipwrack increas'd so exceedingly that they devour'd all the Plants in the Field and the Provision in the Houses insomuch that a great Famine proceeded from thence all means to destroy the Vermine being in vain till at last Providence sent a Disease amongst them which â—â—ill'd them all in a very short time Mean while Moor went on in the fortification of the Island and was ere long supply'd with fresh People Mr. Barlet was sent over with sixty Men and carried from thence with him eighty Pound of Ambergreece And soon after three Ships more viz. the Blessing the Star and the Margaret convey'd thither four hundred and ten Men and Women As soon as Moor was call'd away Daniel Tuckard coming from Virginia to succeed him bestirr'd himself very much Planting all places full of Trees fetch'd from the West-Indian Islands as also Tobacco with which he fraighted a Ship to London Moreover the Countrey was divided into Acres that every Planter might have an equal share and know his own Lands Anno 1619. Tuckard was succeeded by Nathaniel Butler who in four Ships brought thither five hundred Men and Women to supply the first Plantation which was much decay'd since the Rats had devour'd their Provisions so that it was little look'd after by the Company in London But now they built a Church and erected a Court of Judicature and all things were order'd conveniently for the publick good After which many Noble Persons set Sail thither in the Magazine Frigat and the Planters being now
in Handicrafts and expert in warlike Affairs above all the Americans besides First Discovery of the Island The Island was discover'd by the Spaniards under the Conduct of Columbus who first built there the Town of Mellilla which disliking he remov'd again to Oristana and finding that an incommodious and unhealthy Situation he remov'd again to another Plantation where he built a very fair Town first call'd Sevilla afterwards St. Jago de la Vega consisting of about seventeen hundred Houses two Churches two Chappels and an Abbey being the chief if not the onely Seat of the Spaniards before the arrival of the English for their Estanchas or small Plantations were committed wholly to the custody of their Slaves Attempts of the English upon this Island The first and onely Attempters upon this Island since the Spaniards made themselves Masters thereof have been the English who in the Year 1592. under the Conduct of Sir Anthony Shirley Landed upon it got clear possession thereof none of the Spaniards that were then upon the Place daring to make the least resistance but not thinking it worth the keeping they soon deserted it and made Sail back again for England after which they remain'd unmolested for a long time till in the Year 1654. a Fleet of English was set out for Hispaniola by Cromwell under the Command of Colonel Venables with a Design for the taking of St. Domingo but meeting with ill success in the Enterprize and being forc'd to quit that Island with loss of Men and frustration of their hopes they steer'd their Course for Jamaica and on the tenth of May in the Year abovesaid with little opposition possess'd themselves of it Upon their approach to St. Jago the Inhabitants thereof deserted it and betook them to the Mountains gaining time by a pretence of Treaty to secure their Women and Goods and oftentimes making Incursions upon the stragling Parties of the English slew and took many Prisoners by surprize but being weary of this wild and irregular kind of living they betake themselves at last to the Isle of Cuba where many of them the Grandees especially were permitted by favour to continue the rest being by the Vice-Roy commanded back with promise of speedy and considerable Supplies by that time this remnant of the Spaniards was near tir'd out with hardship and necessity some being very much discourag'd and driven to utter despondence of Mind others destroy'd out-right part of the long promis'd and expected Supply arrives the greatest part being to follow soon after but finding the Islanders so few in number and in so sickly and necessitous an Estate they would not joyn with them but maugre all the Governor's Perswasions or Commands retreat to the North part of the Island and there fortifie at a place call'd Chireras expecting every day fresh Recruits which not coming time enough and their Quarters being discover'd they were set upon by the English and most of them either slain or taken Prisoners not many Moneths after the rest of the Spanish Forces Land being in all about thirty Companies with Ordnance and good store of Ammunition who falling presently to make strong Fortifications at Rio Novo are nevertheless in a short time utterly defeated by the English Upon which and several other ill Successes despairing to re-gain the Island they Ship off their Women and the richest of their Goods and the Negro Slaves grown Masterless by the general either slaughter or departure of their Patrons shake off their Obedience to the Spaniards and constitute a Governor of their own a Black yet submit themselves and own Subjection to the English Government the Spaniards from Cuba both by their Perswasions and monethly Contributions in vain endeavoring to reduce them onely some few there were that stood out whom the rest not onely made it their business to discover but help'd the English to take them insomuch that at last the Spanish General not having above fifty Men left him was forc'd to seek for Peace and offer'd Terms of Accommodation which the English General would not be drawn to accept of unless upon Condition that he should deliver up to Justice as many as were left of those that had barbarously murder'd any of our Men either in time of Treaty or after Quarter given The English in this Island are setled for above a hundred Miles along the Countrey from the Eastward Chief Towns Their chief Towns are 1. St. Jago built by the Spaniards as afore mention'd which lieth six Miles within the Land North-West from the Harbor of Cagway Here the English have built a small Fort. 2. Passage a small Town built also by the English six Miles from St. Jago for the convenience of going to Cagway consisting of about fifty Houses and a Fort whence cross this Harbor about three Leagues distant is the Town of 3. Cagway seated on the Extream end of the Point containing in it above six hundred Houses all built by the English besides the Governor's Palace and the Houses where the Stores for the Army are kept This is counted the most healthful Place in all the Island and the very Scale of Trade where all Merchants Strangers and Sailors reside Here upon the utmost Angle of the Point towards the Sea is a round Tower built of Lime and Stone about which is rais'd a strong and regular Fort containing sixty pieces of Ordnance Port Royal. This Town is now call'd Port Royal and is thought to contain about sixteen thousand Inhabitants A Mile from hence is another Fort Landward call'd Landward which runs from the Harbor to the Sea to defend the Town from any Attempt by Land Off the Mouth of the Harbor towards the Sea lie divers small Islands the most Western of which being within half a League of the Fort and between which and the Fort every Ship that comes into the Harbor is necessitated to pass It is call'd Little Island Little Island where a Fort is likewise rais'd to defend the Mouth of the Harbor containing eight pieces of Ordnance Another Fortification is at Portmorant which we shall make mention of amongst the Harbors Chief Ports and Harbors The chief Harbors of this Island are 1. Port Anthony on the North a very safe Land-lock'd Harbor onely the coming in is somewhat difficult the Channel being narrow'd by a little Island that lies off the Mouth of the Port. 2. On the East of the Island is Portmorant a very capacious Harbor where Ships do conveniently Wood and Water and Ride safe from all Winds 3. On the South is Port Cagway a Harbor wonderfully convenient secure and capacious being five Leagues over in some places in others four and at the narrowerst three it is Land-lock'd by a Point of Land that runs twelve Miles South-West from the Main of the Island having the great River that comes by Los Angelos and St. Jago running into it and divers Springs about it where Ships do conveniently Wood and Water Here
lies in Basse-Terre and which is also built full of Store-houses and Dwelling-houses two Stones high The Castle which lies near the City hath four Bulwarks with great Guns The next neighboring Mountain is also crown'd with Garrison'd Fort. The Moubane-Tree The Countrey hereabouts bears Moubane-Trees which produce yellow oval Plumbs with great Stones wherewith the Hogs are exceedingly fatned The Corbary The Corbary which grows higher than the Moubane hath a hard shelly Fruit in which lies a douny Pulp of a Saffron colour The Gum which drops out of the Tree is hardned by the Sun and becomes very clear wherefore the Caribbeeans make use of it for Arm-rings and other Ornaments SECT XVI Deseado Situation of Deseado TEn Leagues to the North-West of Guadalupe and at sixteen Degrees and ten Minutes appears Deseado or Desirado like a Galley of which the North-East end hath a low Point to the Northward lie Sand-Hills full of red Veins It was so call'd by Christopher Columbus in his second Voyage from obtaining of his Desire it being the first of the Caribbees which he discover'd as St. Salvador the first Land in all America The Guano The Soil is wholly barren and destitute of Trees and breeds the amphibious Creatures call'd Guano's which in stead of Fins to swim withal have four Feet the biggest of them are fifteen Inches long their Skin full of little Scales shines like Silver and in the Night they make a loud and shrill noise from the Holes in the Rocks The Frigates On this desolate Island are an innumerable company of Fowls call'd Frigates which have a Body like a Duck but larger Wings and flye swifter so soon as they perceive a Fish in the Water they falling upon the same catch them in their Claws and especially devour abundance of flying Fish The Fauves But the Fauves which are much leaner are no way so swift they resemble a Moor-Hen have Feet like Ducks Bills like a Snipe and in rainy Nights rest on the Ships in stead of Rocks so that many times they become an easie prey to the Mariners SECT XVII Marigalante Situation of Marigalante NOt far from hence at fifteen Degrees and forty Minutes appears Marigalante like a Wood in the Water On the South-East side about half a League from the Shore lie black 〈…〉 full of white Specks Westerly the Shore is very plain whither the Governor Monsieur De Howell sent some People from that Island of which twenty were kill'd by the Caribbeeans who had Gardens and Fish-ponds thereon Not long after which Howell built a Fort here and Garrison'd the same with French-men The Woods afford a delightful sight to the Eye as also the Cinamon-Trees whose Leaves never wither a sweet smell to the Nose The Fish Lamantin The Ocean hereabouts produces plenty of Lamantins which are dry'd like Haberdine This Fish grows eighteen Foot long and seven thick the Head thereof is like a Cows with little Eyes and a thick brown Skin rough and speckled in some places and hath two little Feet in stead of Fins it feeds on Weeds which grow on the Rocks and Banks the Females bring two young ones at a time which suck for some days their Flesh palatable and wholsom is streak'd with Fat which when melted never putrifies they are oftner taken in the Mouthes of Rivers than in the Ocean The Sea-Devils About this Isle as well as the rest of the Caribbees are Fishes call'd Sea-Devils four Foot long and proportionably thick their Skins rough their Heads flat their Backs arm'd with Prickles little black Eyes wide Mouthes full of Teeth and two Tusks that stick out of the same four Fins a long slit Tail with which they swim exceeding swift above their Eyes stick broad sharp Horns turn'd towards the Back the Flesh is deadly poyson The Becune The Becune which is eight Foot long falls upon a Fish like a mad Dog biting great pieces of the Flesh out of the Body which occasions present Death its Flesh is likewise poyson SECT XVIII Todos Sanctos Situation of Todos Sanctos SOuthward from Guadalupe and at the same Latitude with Marigalante lie four desolate Isles call'd Todos Sanctos and on their Shores a sort of Shell-fish call'd Lambis from the resemblance of a Tongue Curious sorts of Shells the Shells whereof the Indians Sound in stead of Horns when they give an Alarm as also another sort call'd Porcelenes of which the most esteem'd are without of a Carnation and within of a Silver or Skye-colour mix'd with Golden Beams The next are the Black mix'd with a pale Blue and little Veins But the most remarkable Shells are those whose Back Nature hath mark'd in such a manner with Musical Notes that one might almost express a Tune by them Mother-of-Pearl Oysters Moreover it would amaze the Beholder to see the Mother-of-Pearl Oyster moving at the Foot of a Rock for at the Rising of the Sun they appear above the Water and gape for the Dew of which they have no sooner receiv'd a Drop but they close their Shells and fall to the Ground again SECT XIX De Aves Situation of De Aves VVEstward from Todos Sanctos at fifteen Degrees and forty five Minutes lies the Isle De Aves Besides Ducks Pluvers Moor-hens Geese and the like Fowls that suffer themselves to be catch'd by the Hands of Men which are very strange to them there are here also many rare sorts of Birds as the white Birds call'd Aigrettos Aigrettos which are somewhat bigger than Crows with red Bills and Feet and curious Plumes on their Heads they often flye a great way off at Sea The large Bird call'd The Craw-fowl Craw-fowl which feeds on Fish hath a thick Head a long flat Bill hollow Eyes and a short Neck under which hangs the Maw big enough to contain a Pail full of Water On the Trees along the Sea-side they watch for Fish which swim near the top of the Water and by their attentiveness on their Prey are easily shot themselves Here is likewise the Bird Arras Arras of the bigness of a Pheasant but more resembling a Parraquito their long Tail consists of divers colour'd Feathers some have shining skye-colour'd Heads Backs and Necks their Bellies and Wings of a pale Yellow they are so stout or rather so simple that if they are not hit with the first Shot they will stay for a second They also learn to talk but not so distinctly as the Canides which are no way inferior in beauty to the Arras nay exceed them very much Monsieur du Montell above mention'd seeing one at Corassao describes it after this manner Description of the Canides It deserves to be numbred saith he amongst the most beautiful Birds in the World I took so particular notice of it having had of them in my Hands many times that I have the Idea's of it still fresh in my Memory Under the
besides Brandy and English Spirits but of these latter now no great quantities Imported or spent by reason of the general use of the Spirit of Sugar-Cane call'd Rum which the meaner sort as Servants and Slaves do not onely drink in great abundance but much also is hence Transported into Virginia Bermudas and New-England Here is also Imported great store of Provisions of all sorts viz. Beef Pork Fish c. from Ireland New-England Virginia Bermudas New-found Land c. also Pease Flour Butter Cheese and Bisquet likewise Timber Boards Pipe and Hogshead Staves c. also Negro-Slaves from Guinee and live Cattel as Bulls Cows Asinego 's and Horses from the Cape de Verd Island New-England and from England Servants and all other Commodities for Plantations and for Apparel of all which great quantities are hither brought and sold The Shipping that comes to Trade to this Island belongs generally to England some few Vessels are here built and pass to and fro to the Leeward Islands and some belong to New-England Bermudas c. The number of Vessels which come hither to Trade in one year is found upon search to be about two hundred of all sorts some years more some less as Ketches Sloops Barques c. containing in Burthen fifteen thousand five hundred and five Tun according as they were here Entred which is at the least a third part less than their true Burthen by reason every Ship pays one pound of Powder per Tun the means ordain'd by this Country for storing the Magazine the greatest part of which Ships re-load with Sugars for England and many go for New-England Bermudas Virginia Tangier c. not always full loaden with this Countreys Growth The usual Rate for Tunnage from hence to London is from 4 l. to 5 l. per Tun sometime when Ships are very plentiful it is at 3 l. and less and at other times when scarce from 6 l. to 7 l. in the late War with the Dutch it was at 10. 11. and 12 l. per Tun. The Government is Constituted by the Laws of England and Laws not repugnant to them onely some particular Laws are here made proper for this Place by the Governor or Deputy and his Council which usually are from seven to twelve in number and an Assembly that consists of twenty two Persons chosen by the Free-holders two out of every Parish SECT XXIV St. Vincent Situation of St. Vincent THe Island of St. Vincent South-West from St. Lucia and having sixteen Degrees of North-Latitude was so call'd by the Spaniards as having discover'd it on that Saint's Day being the fifth of April It is accounted eight Leagues long and six broad and rises round about with high Grounds and several Mountains which are seen at a great distance This Island hath a very fruitful Soil and for the bigness of it hath been long since well peopled with Caribbeeans before the arrival of the Spaniards possessing here several Villages to whom they are still sworn Enemies but Truck'd with the Hollanders for Provisions Horns Axes Knives and other Trifles At the West and South sides are convenient Bays to lie at Anchor and take Water in The Fruit Momen The Inhabitants highly esteem the Momen growing to the bigness of an Apple-Tree the Fruit which it bears resembles a green Cucumber and is of a pleasant Juice the Skin always green and prickly the Seed which is in the same about the bigness of a French Bean is generally black and streak'd with Golden-colour'd Veins The Granadilla Here is also that Plant mention'd elsewhere by the Spaniard call'd Granadilla by the Dutch Rhang-Apple and La Fleur de la Passion by the French and it is so call'd as being fancied to represent the thorny Crown of our Saviour together with the Cross Nails Hammer and Pillar the Plant runs along the Ground unless it meet with a Pole by which it runs up SECT XXV Bekia Situation of Bekia NOt far from St. Vincent lies the Island Bekia which reckons twelves Leagues in circumference and lies at twelve Degrees and twelve Scruples of Northern Latitude It hath a secure Harbor against all Winds but because it is without fresh Water is is onely frequented by the Caribbeeans that dwell on St. Vincent who come hither to Fish and visit certain little Gardens which they have there for their pleasure The Soil produces store of Water-melons whose red juicy Pulp yields when squeez'd a great quantity of sweet Liquor which is very refreshing and good to create an Appetite their white Flowers notch'd at the end of the Leaves afford a delightful smell Anno 1633. Captain John Johnson Van Hoorn putting in to Bekia to catch Tortoises found a fine Inlet on the West and Eastward a Ridge of Rocks Cotton growing wild in the Fields and upon the Shore a kind of Snails call'd Burgun under whose first Shell appear'd another of a Silver colour with black Specks SECT XXVI Granada Situation of Granada GRanada lying at twelve Degrees and sixteen Scruples like a Half-moon from the North to the South is full of Woods Towards the South-West runs a fresh River into the Sea The Shore very low affords good Anchorage at twelve Leagues distance The Current grows exceeding strong here and the Water also ebbs and flows in a few hours Dirick Simonszoon Witgeest Sailing from Tobago was amaz'd to see with what force the Current drove him to Granada The French possess it Hither Du Parquet at his own Charge sent three hundred Men from Martinico who scuffled with the Inhabitants six Moneths before they could possess the same in Peace and scarce had they obtain'd it at last but by telling them that the French Assistance would be very advantageous unto them against the Arovages The Duke Seryllac in Paris inform'd of the Fertility of this Island bought it of Du Parquet for a considerable Sum of Money And inded Granada is none of the meanest of the Caribbees the Soil producing very good both Fruit and Timber-Trees amongst which is the Latine-Tree of a tall Body but ordinary thickness and in stead of Boughs hang Leaves like Fans in long Stalks which being ty'd together serve for Roofs of Houses There is also the Tree Cocoa which yet grows not so high here as in other parts of the West-Indies SECT XXVII Tabago Situation of Tabago THe next which comes in view is Tabago so call'd as some think from the quantity of that Drug there Planted eight Leagues long and four broad lying in the eleventh Degree and sixteen Minutes of Northern Latitude and hath many high Mountains full of Wood out of which glide eighteen Streams which watering the Plains fall into the Sea Captain Vitgeest coming to an Anchor here found a convenient Inlet on the East and fresh Water to fill his Casks Half a League from the Shore rise five Rocks through which he Sail'd with his Ships Within the Cliff opens a Bay into which runs a River well stor'd
Peace one with another not without many good Laws and Customs viz. That they allow but one Wife to one Man That they punish Adultery with Death That they suffer not Maids to talk or converse with Men till they be Married That Widows may not Marry till they have Mourn'd at least one half year for their Husbands deceased and divers others of like nature which perhaps if the truth were known do more properly belong to the Natives of Utopia or New Atlantis than to these of California Placs of note The Places therein as yet observ'd are onely upon the Sea-coasts 1. The Capes of St. Clara and St. Lucas the one at the South-East end of the Island looking towards New Gallicia the other at the south-South-West looking into the Sea and towards Asia 2. St. Cruce so nam'd from its being first discover'd on Holy-Rood-Day being a large and convenient Haven not far from Cape St. Clara. 3. Cabo de las Playas so call'd from a company of little bare Hillocks appearing from the Sea and is more within the Bay 4. Cabo Baxo so term'd as lying towards the bottom of the Gulf. 5. St. Andrews another convenient Haven upon an Island of the same Name 6. St. Thomas an Island at the Mouth of the Gulf or Bay of about twenty five Leagues in compass rising Southerly with an high mountainous Point under which is a convenient Road for Shipping and twenty five Fathoms of Water On the other side of the Island towards the Main Sea there is 1. St. Abad a good Haven and almost surrounded with a pleasant and fruitful Countrey 2. Cape Trinidado a noted Promontory 3. Cape de Cedras so call'd together with a small Island near it from the store of Cedars growing thereabouts 4. Enganno 5. Puebla de las Canoas so nam'd from the abundance of those little Boats which the Americans generally use and do call Canoos whereof perhaps some store are made there 6. Cabo de Galera from its resemblance to a Rat. It is believ'd there are many more Promontories and Bays on both sides of this Island besides Rivers and Islets yet not nam'd and altogether unknown Moreover Dr. Heylin hath well observ'd that those above-mention'd are the Names onely of Places and not of Towns and Villages though doubtless there must needs have been some scatter'd Houses built formerly by the Spaniards in so many Expeditions Cortez the first Discoverer of these Parts The first Discoverer of these Parts was Ferdinando Cortez who having in the Year 1534. set out two Ships to that purpose from St. Jago a Haven of New Spain and not finding the Success answerable to his Expectation went next Year himself in Person and pass'd a good way up the Gulf but for want of Provisions was forc'd to return without having done any thing to the purpose In 1539. one Francisco a Companion of Cortez in the former Expedition Set out upon his own Charges and having Coasted all about both upon the Eastern and Western Shores he at last Landed but not without notable opposition from the Natives who with much clamour and many antique Gestures set upon his Men so furiously with Stones and Arrows that they had met with a shrew'd Repulse had it not been for the Valor of their Auxiliaries the Mastiff Dogs which it seems they us'd to carry along with them in those kind of Voyages but at last he got footing so far that he took possession in the Name of the King of Spain with the usual Formalities and following the Example of Columbus set up a Cross in the Place for a Memorial and Testimony of his having been there Marco de Nisa his Relation of these Parts Much about the same time Marco de Nisa a Franciscan undertaking a Voyage into these Parts reported Wonders at his Return of the plenty of golden Mines stately Cities set out with magnificent Buildings the very Gates whereof were enrich'd with Turquoises and other Precious Stones and whose meanest Inhabitants went glittering in Gold and Mother of Pearl and of the flourishing Condition of the Kingdoms of Acu Tonteac and Marata whereupon the Governor of New Gallicia was sent by the then Vice-Roy of Mexico with great hopes of bringing back a Confirmation of these Reports but whether out of spite to be deceiv'd in his Expectation or having real cause so to do he represented all things as mean and despicable as the Fryer had proclaim'd them rich and glorious De Alarcon his Voyage The next that went upon this Design was Ferdinando de Alarcon who is reported to have Sail'd many Leagues up a River call'd Buena Guia and there to have receiv'd Homage of Naguacatus one of the Heads of the Californian Tribes Cabrillo his Expedition One more Attempt was made in the Year 1642. by Roderico Cabrillo who discover'd the Island of St. Luke and another call'd The Island of Possession and this was the last we hear of that thought it worth while to go an Undertaker to these Coasts and ever since all Undertakings hither have been so wholly laid aside that what-ever was once discover'd in these Parts seems rather to be lost and forgotten than any way improv'd As for Nova Albion whereas many determine it to be onely the utmost Northern part of California though it doth not absolutely appear to be so from the Relation of Sir Francis Drake's Discovery of it we judge it agreeable to Method and Decorum not wholly to omit the mention of it in this place though it hath been already spoken of and the aforesaid Relation deliver'd at large amongst the rest of those Provinces of largely-taken California which were taken for granted to be upon the Continent Drake's Account of the Countrey Drake and his Company brought home this Description of the Countrey and its Inhabitants viz. That the Countrey was exceedingly well stor'd with Deer Grazing up and down the Hills by thousands in a company That the Men generally went naked all over the Women using onely a piece of a Mat or some such thing in stead of an Apron That their Houses were built onely of Turf and Osier yet so wrought together that they serv'd very well to keep out the Cold in the midst of it was their Hearth where they made their Fire and lay all round about it together upon several Beds of Bull-Rushes What their Towns were or whither they had any is altogether unknown The Third Book CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF PERUANA OR Southern America CHAP. I. Situation and Form of Southern America HAving compleated our Description of Mexicana or Northern America being that great Peninsula which lies Northward of the Isthmus or Straight of Darien together with all the Islands on the North side of the Equinoctial Line we come now to the Southern Part otherwise call'd Peruana from Peru the chief Kingdom thereof being the other great Peninsula which lies Southward of the aforesaid Straight It is generally resembled to the form of
which on that side it is bounded having on the West Mare del Zur on the South Lima and on the East Los Quixos It lieth in a manner right under the Line and is said to be seventy two Leagues in length and in some places about twenty five in breadth The Winter begins here in October and continues till March in which fall mighty Showers and on the Mountains abundance of Snow but all the Summer long the Sun is seldom darkned with a Cloud Many of the Inhabitants die of a Giddiness in the Head about the beginning and end of Summer The POX also destroys many of the Natives with which Disease they are often born and give it to the Spaniards who are not able to abstain from the Indian Women they use Sassaparilla and the Wood Guaiacum to cure themselves with Here grow also many poysonous Herbs which the Peruvians make use of to poyson one another The Fruit Quaba In the farthest parts of Quito grows the salt and cooling Fruit Quaba two Handfuls long cover'd with a grey Rind and within full of white Pulp and hard Kernels The Tree Guaiaba The Tree Guaiaba hath a pale smooth Bark thick Boughs hard and glittering Leaves Flowers consisting of five Leaves not unlike a Peacock's Plume long Apples woolly without and within full of a pale red Pulp and eatable Stones the Root which spreads it self very much is sweet and when boyl'd cures the Bloody-flux This Tree grows in most places especially in low Grounds the more because the Kernels which the Birds picking out let fall on the Ground spring up in new Trees The Spanish Fruits as Peaches Cittrons Figs Pomegranates Pears Quinces and Oranges grow also here in great abundance but when ripe are subject to rot Moreover the Fields abound with Wheat Barley and Maiz the Pastures afford plenty of Grass for Oxen Horses and Sheep which bring forth Lambs twice in fourteen Moneths The Ocean and Rivers store of Fish the Stream Barbara us'd formerly to produce Gold also In moist Grounds the Inhabitants find abundance of Salt-petre the best that is for the making of Gun-powder The Inns Tambos For the Accommodation of Travellers Inns call'd Tambos are built near the High-ways exactly five Leagues distant one from another where all sorts of Provisions are sold at a set Price The Nature of the People The Natives antiently went Cloth'd in a Frock without Sleeves as wide on the top as at the bottom and pleited their long Hair They are strong well proportion'd in Body and subtile enough to learn any Art but treacherous inconstant and inclin'd to Drunkenness They were very hard also to be brought to receive the Roman Religion so that most of them would not suffer themselves to be Baptiz'd till they lay a dying They also drove a great Trade in Cotton Wooll and Cloth This Tract of Land produces Maiz and abundance of Mortuanos a Fruit resembling Damask Prunes which eaten in excess cause Drunkenness and Faintness The Lake Yaguarcocha signifying Bloody-Water because the Inga Guayanacava kill'd and drown'd twenty thousand there Towns and Places of chief note The chief Towns and Places of Note are 1. Caranguez antiently a Royal City where stood a sumptuous and stately Palace of the Kings of Peru now almost deserted The Palace built of Stone in a little Plain without either Mortar or Iron-work manifests its former glory by its Ruines 2. The Royal Castle of Atabalo or Ottavallis in the building of which the Ingas spar'd no Cost nor Charges and indeed it is a Structure no way inferior to any of the antient Roman Edifices Between this Castle and Cochequi a stately House lies a cold snowy Mountain Moreover the Spaniards have several Habitations along the Way to Quito and especially in the Valley Annaquito where the Vice-Roy Vela lost the Battel fought against Gonsalvo Pizarro 3. Quito commonly call'd St. Francisco de Quito There stood formerly here certain Palaces built by the Ingas but the City was re-built by the Spaniards at the Foot of a certain Ridge of Mountains which it hath on the North and North-West side of it and are said by Laet to cross the whole Countrey of Peru quite over from the South to the North Sea It was soon after the Building inhabited by five hundred Families of Spaniards at least besides Natives and well fortifi'd and might be thought a Town very well seated in all respects but for the neighborhood of a Vulcan which at times annoyeth it very much as namely in the Year 1560. when it vomited out such abundance of flaming Cinders and other sulphureous Matter that had it not been for a Shower of Rain unexpectedly falling would have much damnifi'd if not destroy'd the Place The Natives about Quito are more Moraliz'd than other Peruvians The Valleys which are warm'd by the Sun produce all manner of Fruit-Trees and large Vineyards and the Root Papas not unlike Apples The Quintla which is of 〈◊〉 heighth hath little Seeds of which a pleasant Liquor is boyl'd From Quito the High-way leads to Cusco along which at every four Leagues distance stands a brave Palace and from Cusco to Chili being in all above a thousand Leagues long The City built on a sandy Soyl is divided in the middle by a Moat over which lead several Bridges the Streets are large and â—â—eight and full of handsom Houses and at the ends of the four chief Streets four Market-places Besides the Cathedral are two other Churches â—â—dicated to the 〈◊〉 Sebastian and Blasâ—â—â— The Cloysters of Franciscan and 〈…〉 are 〈◊〉 small Ornament to the City Besides other stately Structures are the Residâ—â—◠〈…〉 the Receivers of the Kings Revenues to which the Peruvians that live aâ—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 being computed no less than fifty thousand in number â—ay Triâ—â—â— and to keep them in subjection the City Quito is always well storâ—d with aâ—◠〈◊〉 of Ammunition and Instruments of War The chiefest Trade hâ—â—◠〈…〉 Goats and other Cattel Cotton-Clothes Cloth Flax Haâ—s 〈…〉 â—â—gar and Salt which Salt being grey and bitter springs out of a Fountain in 〈◊〉 Counâ—â—y Mira. The Oyl Wine and Drugs which are us'd here are fetchâ—d from the South Sea up the River Ambato and from thence with Carts into the City 4. Thomebamba famous for a Royal Palace built there by some of the Ingas It lies Southward from Quito in the Province of Canares where two Rivers commix their Waters near a Plain abounding with Venison There yet remain considerable Ruines of this Palace in which one may discern the vast Dimensions of divers Rooms in some of which Arms were kept and in others Provisions and Clothes of which kind of Buildings or Magazines the Ingas had erected above a thousand in Peru especially along the High-way that they might have their Ammunition ready in all places if need should require On the left side of Thomebamba appeal'd the famous Temple of the Sun whose Gates were not onely curiously Painted but
the Governor thereof is always nam'd by the King of Spain himself and his Place estimated at fifty thousand Ducats per Annum 6. Tiaguanaco at the Estuary or Mouth of the Lake memorable onely for the Ruines of certain great and stupendious Buildings which antiently have stood there some of the Stones whereof are said to have been of thirty Foot length apiece fifteen Foot broad and six or seven Foot thick There were likewise found the Statues of certain Men excellently Carv'd and Wrought of a Gigantick stature or bigness and likewise vested in foreign and strange Habits not at all us'd nor ever known to have been us'd by the Peruvians themselves or by any other of the Natives of America 7. Nuestra Sennora de la Paz or Our Lady of Peace otherwise call'd Pueblo Nuevo It is but a small Town yet pleasantly seated upon the Banks of a River in a fair and fruitful Plain full of Springs Fruit-Trees Savanas and Fields of Maiz having Mountains on either side It lieth almost in the middle of the Province Chuquinabo fourteen Leagues distant from Cusco and as many from Potosi The Province Chuquinabo it self which in the Peruvian Tongue signifies Inheritance of Gold hath many rich Gold-Mines good Salt-pits and a temperate Climate except from the beginning of December till March in which time the continual Rains cause Feavers and Agues The Inhabitants being very poor People us'd to go naked in the Summer Season 8. Copavana two and twenty Leagues beyond Lopoz It is onely inhabited by Peruvians amongst whom an Image of the Virgin Mary long since erected there hath been ever in great veneration especially by reason of a Tradition of a great Miracle there perform'd for the Spaniards affirm That Johannes Anachoreta going a Journey of several Weeks from home plac'd a lighted Candle before the Image which during the time of his absence did not at all diminish A strange Earthquake at Angoanga An Accident which fell out in this Countrey is very remarkable viz. The Ground of an old Village call'd Angoanga then inhabited by eminent Necromancers began on a sudden to swell and the Earth to run like a broken Wave two Leagues overwhelming the Houses in Sand and filling up a neighboring Lake The like in Herefordshire in England Eight years before this terrible Earthquake here there hapned in the County of Hereford in England almost the same kind of prodigious Motion for not far from the Town Ledborough arose Marcely Hill to an exceeding heighth and moving along bury'd all whate're it met with after which manner it continu'd for the space of three days to the great terror of all that beheld it 9. Chilane 10. Acos 11. Pomata and some others all of them good Towns but not so considerable as those other Roads and High-ways made by the Ingas Concerning the Roads or High-ways it may well be said That none of the seven Wonders of the World can compare with any one of them neither was the Way that Appius Claudius made from Rome to Brundusium upon the repairing of which the Emperors Julius and Augustus spent great sums of Money fit to stand in competition with the Roads made by the Ingas in Peru for who cannot but admire at the consideration of so many Valleys fill'd with Mountains the hardest Rocks cut asunder Moors damm'd up great Stone Bridges laid over swift gliding Streams and through vast Wildernesses a Way made of twenty Foot broad inclos'd in high Walls extending from Quito to Chilo a thousand Leagues and at the end of every ten Leagues brave Houses or Magazines stor'd with Bowes Arrows Halberds Axes Clubs Clothes and Provision for twenty or thirty thousand Men. Some relate that Guainacava when he return'd Victor from the conquer'd Countrey Quito suffer'd great Inconveniences on the pathless Mountains and thereupon commanded his Subjects to make the fore-mention'd Way But it is more probable that this Master-piece was not the work of one Inga especially since besides the Way from Chili to Quito there leads another through the Mountains over the Plains from Cusco to Quito forty Foot broad and five hundred Leagues long inclos'd within two Walls The manner of the Peruvian Registers The Peruvians relate from the testimony of the Quipos much more concerning these High-Ways and other Buildings on them made by Guainacava These Quipos are Rowls of divers colour'd Strings full of all manner of Knots which serve in stead of Characters to keep their Chronicles in which were employ'd the Quipo-Camayos who being in the nature of our Secretaries Registred all Transactions performing the same with the several Strings and Buttons with which they gave Obligations Discharges and the like but besides the Quipos they also us'd Rings full of little Stones for the same purpose and knew with Maiz-Seed how to cast up an Account as well as the best Arithmetician with Figures Their Account of Time hung on the twelve Pillars Succanga erected on a Mountain beyond Cusco by the Inga Pachacuma that is The Regulator of the Year to shew the Course of the Sun and according to that their appointed Feast-days times of Sowing and Harvest Their Year begins in December The present State of Peru under the Spanish Government The Spanish Government in the Kingdom of Peru is setled at present in great tranquility and splendor The Vice-Roy who keeps a splendid Court in Lima otherwise call'd Los Reyos Commands over Chili and Terra Firma and never comes abroad without a Guard of forty Halberdeers when he travels by Land he is accompanied by the Arch-bishop and guarded by his forty Halberdeers a hundred Pike-men and fifty Musquetteers His Reign is generally not above six or eight years during which time he receives forty thousand Ducats per Annum out of the King's Exchequer The present flourishing Condition of the City Los Reyos The City Los Reyos hath been of late years very much enlarg'd and brought to a most flourishing Condition being exceeding populous and extending four Miles in length and half as much in breadth In the biggest Market-place is the City Hall and the Exchange where all things are brought to be sold Of the other three Markets two have their Denominations from St. Anne and St. Jacob the fourth is call'd El Santo de los Cavallos because nothing but Mules Asses and Horses are sold there The chief Church is Consecrated to St. John the Evangelist the other Three to Marcellus Sebastian and Anna. The Franciscans inhabit three Cloysters the Dominicans Augustines and Monks De la Merced each of them two besides two costly Structures for the Jesuits Other Orders have also five Cloysters here viz. the Creation Conception the Holy Trinity St. Joseph and St. Clara the three first have each of them a Church built hard by the several Cloysters Dedicated to the Santas Virgines del Montserratto Del Prado and De Loretto Each Cloyster contains above two hundred and fifty either Monks or Nuns Here are also
Pyramid revers'd make this part of the Countrey to be the Spire or top thereof It beareth the Name from Ferdinand Magellan a Portuguese who first discover'd that narrow Sea so famously known by the Name of Magellans Straights It is a large Countrey and suppos'd not to be altogether barren of Metals but as yet no great Discovery hath been made of it partly by reason of the excessive Cold to which 't is thought to be subject and partly perhaps by reason of the difficulty of the Enterprize it being so far remote and very hardly passable in many places by reason of the huge Mountains the Andes which bar it as it were against all Adventurers but chiefly by reason of the stoutness and untameableness of the Araucanes and other Natives of Chile through whose Countrey the March lieth and who must first be conquer'd so that very little can be said more of this Countrey than onely to name the Ports and Places upon the Sea-Coasts 〈…〉 and â—â—â—â—ghts at which the Spaniards and likewise some other Nations at several times have touched the chief whereof upon the South Sea are 1. Cabo de las Islas a Promontory or Foreland twenty six Leagues distant from that of St. Felix on the Confines of Chile 2. Puerto de San Stephano fifty Leagues from that towards the South 3. La Villa de Nuestra Sennora or Our Ladies Dale a large and secure Bay eighteen Leagues Southward of St. Stephens 4. La Punta Deglada 5. Puerto de los Reyos and 6. Ancona Sin Salida all of them opening towards the Straights There is also at the opening of the Straights Cabo de la Vittoria Cabo Desseado and some others Upon the North Sea and up towards Rio de la Plata the chief Places observable are 1. Rio de la Crux and the Cape which they call De las Rameras about thirty Leagues distant from the Straights Mouth 2. The Bay of St. Julian forty Leagues Northward of the former 3. El Puerto Desseado 4. Puerto de los Leones 5. The Bay of Anegada all of them good and capacious Havens for the security of Shipping upon these Coasts and lying at a distance of thirty or forty Leagues one from another up towards Rio de la Plata and the Countrey of Paraguay of which we are next to speak Description or the Magellan Straights As for the Straights themselves so much spoken of and likewise so necessary to be known by those who frequent these parts of the World they are a narrow Sea or Frith by which the Atlantick Ocean or rather some parts of it doth fall into Mare del Zur or the South Sea the Passage is long running as 't is commonly suppos'd well nigh a hundred Leagues together almost in a paralel Line or in the same Degree of Latitude from one end to the other and likewise extreamly difficult by reason of the many windings and turnings of the Sea which force them to be ever and anon altering of their Course and a mountainous high Countrey on both sides of it from whence it is almost continually beaten with Storms both dangerous and terrible They were first discover'd by Ferdinand Magellan by Nation a Portuguese but in the Service of the King of Spain and by him nam'd Magellan's Straights who although himself liv'd not to return into Spain being slain in the Conquest of the Molucca Islands yet his Companions did in the Ship call'd Vittoria from whence the Cape De la Vittoria abovesaid took its Name The Mouth or Entrance of them by the Atlantick Ocean lies in fifty two Degrees of Southern Latitude and hath not above fifty three and some Minutes at the Exit or opening into the South Sea The Straights of Le Maire There is likewise since this and but of late times viz. about the Year 1615. another Straight discover'd by the Dutch and call'd from the Discoverer Fretum Mairi or The Straights of le Maire four or five Degrees more to the Southward than those of Magellan and suppos'd to be a much easier and safer Passage The Intention by the discovery of these Straights was to have found a shorter Way to the East-Indies and the Kingdoms of Cathay and China than that which was then onely us'd viz. by the Cape de Buena Speranza and the Coast of Africk but by reason of the great difficulty as 't is to be suppos'd and uncertainty of the Passage neither the one nor the other is much frequented the Spaniards for the most part serving themselves of their American Ports upon the South Sea from whence they make their Voyages and Returns to and from the other Indies and from thence home to Spain and the English with other Nations of Europe Trading still by the Coast of Africk and Cape of Good Hope or else by the way of Alexandria and the Persian Gulf as heretofore PARAQVARIA Vulgo PARAGVAY Cum adjacentibus CHAP. VI. Paraguay or Rio de la Plata VVE have seen in Magellanica the farthest that is the most Southerly part of the New World and before it in order all the Western Coasts of America that lie either upon or towards Mare del Zur viz. from Panama the first Province of this Southern part down as far as the Straights We are now to return and take a view of the Eastern Coasts and those Countreys which lie upon the Atlantick Ocean steering our Course henceforth Northward not directly but as the Coast leads us for a while Eastward and by North forasmuch as the Land of America from the Straights of Magellan up as far as Brasile and almost to the AEquator runneth out with a long Point little less than three thousand Leagues together Situation and Description of Paraguay or Rio de la Plata The first Province we meet with on this side next to Magellanica is the Countrey of Paraguay oftentimes call'd Rio de la Plata from the Name of an huge River which runneth for the most part through the midst of it It is border'd as we said to the South and towards the Straights with Magellanica on the East with the Atlantick Ocean more Northward or to the North-East it hath Brasile and on the West those undiscover'd Countreys of the Province of Chile of which we have spoken The Countrey on both sides the River is reported to be a very lusty and fruitful Soil bearing besides those which are proper and native all sorts of European Fruits and Grain in great abundance with Sugar-Canes both large and good as any other Province of the New World Nor is it excell'd by any other for good Pasturage and great Herds of Cattel Sheep and Swine in particular Horses are said to have multiply'd so here that of thirty Mares and about six or seven Stallions which the Spaniards left there in forty years the whole Countrey thereabouts was fill'd with the Breed of them running wild in great Companies together through all the Woods and Forrests of the Countrey and
nothing they met with for they murther and destroy all things where e're they come Brasile by whom possess'd at present The several Nations that now possess Brasile besides its native Inhabitants are Portuguese English Hollanders Germans and French which the Brasilians by a general Name call Ajuru-juba otherwise they call all Strangers Caraiba or Pero But from the commixing of several Nations proceeds a fifth sort for one that is born of European Parents in Brasile is call'd Mozombo of an European Father and Brasilian Mother Mameluc of an European Father and a Moor Mulatto of a Brasilian and Moor Curiboca or Cabocles of two Negro's Criolo But above all others the Portuguese are the strongest along the Sea-Coast who when first they began to settle on Brasile found great resistance and had not the Natives been at Wars amongst themselves they could never have got so much footing but now they are sufficiently Masters for they have either slain all the old Inhabitants or driven them up into the Inland however the Brasilians are so valiant that they will Encounter a great Army being brought up in the Wars from their Cradle When they Engage one with another they shoot their Arrows exceeding thick Hooting Hollowing and Leaping from one side to the other to shun the Arrows with a wonderful dexterity The Conquerors spare none but kill all and Feast on the slain Bodies but some they hale away Prisoners with a Rope about their Necks to each of whom they allot a young Maid who cherishes and fattens them up for five Moneths at the end of which they make a great Feast and drink to a pitch beyond Sense or Reason having first fill'd their Bellies with the Flesh of the slain Prisoners roasted If the Woman be got with Child by the Slain they imagine that they can take no greater revenge of their Enemy than to devour the Child as soon as it comes into the World but it often happens that the Woman really loving her Husband the Prisoner runs away with him and so bereaves her Friends of a Banquet SECT II. St. Vincent THe continual Wars which the Portuguese have maintain'd against the Brasilians have hindred them from Setling any where but along the Sea-side where their Residences are divided into thirteen Praefectures or Lordships by them call'd Capitanias the Southermost whereof being 1. St. Vincent Places of note in the Praefecture of St. Vincent hath a City of the same Denomination which lies near a River that coming out of the Ocean runs round in the Countrey and so returns into the Sea 2. Sanctos los Leyes which reckons four hundred Houses and three Sugar-Mills Here great Ships take in their Lading in the middle of the City 3. Hitauhacin the most Southern is inhabited by the Portuguese Twelve Leagues from thence up into the Countrey the Jesuits have built the Village St. Paulo near the Gold-Mines that lie in the Mountains extending from East to West thirty Leagues This Village long since containing eighty Houses is inhabited by Brasilians and a mix'd People the Way thither is troublesom over rough Mountains and Ways overgrown with Brambles On the Island Britioga at a sandy Inlet which makes a good Harbor lies a Fort for defence of the Haven St. Vincent and since the English Anno 1582. sunk a Ship there a second Fort hath been built to prevent the coming in up the River yet notwithstanding Captain Thomas Candish ran by both the Forts and burnt St. Vincent but spar'd Sanctos Before the River which washes St. Vincent appears the Island Sebastian pretty large wooddy and well stor'd with Venison It hath wholsom Water good Herbage and a secure Road for Ships against all Winds Farther into the Sea appears the high and rocky Isles Alcatraces as also Victorio des Busires Porto des Castellanos Monte de Frigo Muella and Queimadas The Nature of the Tupinikinsi Natives of St. Vincent The Natives of St. Vincent which are in League with the Portuguese are call'd Tupinikinsi inhabiting the Mountains which extend above twenty eight Leagues up into the Countrey They maintain continual Wars against the Carioes a civiliz'd People and white of Complexion as also against the Cupin-Imbas on the North and a nameless People bordering on Peru. Moreover the Miramumins a very wild People range all the Countrey over but are much lessen'd since the Portugueses Arrival SECT III. Rio de Janeiro First Discovery and Possesion of Rio de Janeiro THe second Lordship Rio de Janeiro formerly by the French call'd Ganabara was discover'd Anno 1515. by Juan Dias de Solis but the French first Setled themselves here forty years after Dias de Solis for setting Sail from Havre de Grace with three well Mann'd Ships Commanded by Nicholas Durandus Villegagnon they arriv'd at Rio Janeiro in November and at the Entrance into the River which is about half a League broad built a woodden Fort of a hundred Foot long and sixty broad and giving it the Name of the French Admiral Coligni put several Guns into the same to secure the Entrance inclos'd on each side by two steep Mountains In the River which is very broad lie several wooddy Isles on one of which near the Fort Coligni Villegagnon Setling himself suffer'd great Inconveniences for want of Water because he durst not Land on the Main for fear of being surpris'd by the Natives Here he stay'd a year and a half in a deplorable Condition when Philip Corguileray and Du Pont set Sail with three Ships from the Haven Honfleurs but they also though they had many Men yet were ill stor'd with Provisions insomuch that Hunger increas'd amongst them daily wherefore Villegagnon return'd home without any farther Exploits Jean Leri who went with Corguileray describes Rio Janeiro after this manner Jean Leri his Description thereof The River saith he lies twenty three Degrees Southward of the Equinoctial Line the Inlet of the Sea twenty fourthousand Paces broad and in some places broader is hemm'd in by hills the Mouth of the Inlet is somewhat dangerous by reason of three rocky Isles beyond the large Bay is a narrow Channel on the left-hand whereof there rises a high Mountain which the French call'd Le Pot de Beure because it resembles a Butter-pot Somewhat farther lies the Rock Ratier where Villegagnon thought to build a Fort but the Water in stormy Weather washing over the Rock he was forc'd to give over his Design Half a League farther is an Island a thousand Paces in length and a hundred and fifty in breadth surrounded with Rocks on which the French resided at each end of the Isle rises a Hill and from the middle a Rock sixty Foot high on the Hill Villegagnon pitcht his Tent till he had built him a handsom House on a Rock the other Houses were built in the Valley Three Leagues and a half farther lies a fruitful Isle nine Miles in circumference inhabited by a salvage People call'd Touoebinambauti there
whilest Fouke Honx Storm'd the Battlements towards the South but Stein Callenfels and Eltz being already Masters of Olinda the Defendants surrendred all Mean while the Colonel 's Skiff brought five hundred Men more ashore with which he march'd without any hinderance into the City where the Conquerors faint with excessive Heat and want of Water found but little Booty because the Inhabitants having notice of the Hollanders coming had convey'd all their Goods and Wealth to Reciffa which the Governor Matthias Albuquerque Brother to the Lord Duarte Albuquerque to whom Pernambuco properly belong'd burnt with all the Store-houses partly out of revenge to the Inhabitants who fled contrary to his Commands and partly because he would not enrich the Hollanders The Portuguese Captain Correa de Castel Blanco in his Letter to the King of Spain values the loss at twenty hundred thousand Ducats But still the Portuguese had possession of several Forts about the Countrey whereof the most considerable was St. George whither Stein Callenfels march'd in the Night with six hundred Men but his Ladders being too short and the Hand-Granado's not easily taking fire he was for'd to Retreat whereupon judging it most convenient to besiege the Castle he digg'd Trenches about the same nor was it long ere the Besieged desir'd Quarter The Fort St. George taken which being granted they march'd from thence with ninety Men. The Water Castle surrendring in like manner they found fifteen Brass Guns therein and in that of St. George four thousand pound of Gun-powder and twenty four Iron Guns When the Netherland Forces Landed on Pernambuco the Portuguese inhabited eleven Towns the chiefest whereof being Olinda was generally Garrison'd by four Companies of Armed Citizens each containing a hundred Men and three Companies of Soldiers Amongst the Citizens were two hundred Merchants some of whom were judg'd to be worth fifty thousand Crusados Southward from Olinda between the River Biberibe and the Ocean was a narrow Cawsey at the end of which lay the populous Village Reciffa where the Ships lade and unlade About the middle of the Cliff being a League long is the Anchoring place for great Ships call'd Pozo At the end of the fore-mention'd Cawsey against Pozo appear'd a round Tower of Fre-stone The memorable Exploits of the English under Captain James Lancaster The Journal kept by the English Fleet that came hither under the Command of Captain James Lancaster Anno 1595. makes mention of a Fort which lay at the Mouth of the Haven before Reciffa which the English valiantly Storm'd notwithstanding six hundred Men and seven Brass Guns might easily have made it invincible But they conquering the same march'd up to Olinda took the Suburb consisting of a hundred Houses without any resistance as also a great Booty and the greater because the Goods of a rich Carak which had some few days before suffer'd Shipwrack were kept there they also took fifteen laden Ships and for thirty days kept the whole Countrey about Olinda restless with continual Alarms Since this Invasion the Portuguese built a third Fort on Reciffa so that the Ships must pass in in between two Forts where the Channel is also full of Rocks and consequently the more dangerous From Reciffa the Goods are sent in Barques or Lighters to Olinda between which and St. Salvador run the two great Rivers Francisco and Real the first whereof retains its freshness twenty Leagues into the Ocean Along the River Popitinga stand many Sugar-Mills and five Leagues farther Northward beyond Olinda the Portuguese inhabit these Villages viz. Garasu Reciffa Moribeca Antonio de Cabo Miguel de Poyuca Gonsalvo de Una Povacon de Porto Calvo Alagoa del Nort and Alagoa del Zur besides other Brasilian Hamlets and above seventy Sugar-Mills The nature of the Soil in Pernambuco The County of Pernambuco hath for the most part a good Soil several Plains low Hills and fruitful Valleys abounding with fair Canes which also grow on the Mountains Masurepe Zebaatan Poyuca and Moribeque The Wilds of El Gran Matto afford the best Wood with which they drive the greatest Trade in the Village Laurenzo Whilest Matthias Albuquerque Intrench'd himself a League and a half Westward from Olinda by the Sugar-Mills belonging to Francisco Montero with a hundred Portuguese and three times as many Armed Brasilians Loncque finding that he could not long keep the City Olinda against the Enemy caus'd the same to be pull'd down and burnt Sergippo del Rey. Between the Rivers Francisco and Real lies the Town Sergippo del Rey up in the Countrey near a small Rivulet which at Spring-Tydes hath fourteen Foot Water The Woods round about feed wild Cattel and the Mountains contain Mines of Gold and Silver The first Plantation in Brasile was in the Island Itamaraca three Leagues long and two broad but extends its Jurisdiction along the Main Coast from which it is separated by a narrow River which runs betwixt both thirty five Leagues The Countrey is eminent for twenty Sugar-Mills and abundance of Brasile Wood. Villa de Conception The chief Town of this Island is call'd Villa de Conception near the Sea which round about the Island is full of Rocks The French settling themselves here at first were driven from thence by the Portuguese The Town it self built on a Rock hath a strong Castle on the one side erected near a shrubby Moor to the Northward of which Stein Callenfels found a little Isle scarce a Musquet-shot long which at High-water is overflown and being full of small Trees makes a Receptacle for Sea-Fowl which flock thither about six a Clock in the Evening to Roost on the Boughs from which when once setled to take their repose they will not stir till six of the Clock the next Morning though you discharge Guns at them all Night but since Stein Callenfels cut down the Wood to make Pallisado's for the new Fort against the Town Conception they were never seen afterwards SECT IX Parayba Description of Parayba NOrthward from Itamaraca borders the County of Parayba whence the French Ships carry'd yearly several Ladings of Brasile Wood till Anno 1585. the Portuguese General Martin Leytam drove them from all places since when they never recover'd any part thereof OSTISâ—â—â—NES The Silver-Mine Copaoba The French under the Command of Captain Dourmigas discover'd ninety years ago the Silver-Mine Copaoba and for a considerable time carry'd Silver and Brasile Wood from hence till the Portuguese made themselves absolute Masters Moreover on the North-side of Parayba the Salvages call'd Petiguars inhabit sixteen Villages Strange Birds Amongst the Birds of prey which breed here are the Ouyaourassou twice as big as a Crane with curious Feathers and so bold and strong that it devours not onely Sheep but Deer and Men. The Bird Mayton is no way inferior in beauty to the Peacock his whole Body being cover'd with white and black Feathers on his Head grows a Tuft the Flesh is also very pleasant
Feu SECT X. Maragnan MAragnan forty five Leagues in circumference Situation lies in two Degrees of Southern Latitude and a considerable distance from the Bay which appears between the Rivers Aperegha and Comajamu The Eastern Entrance into this Bay hath before the Promontory Arbres Secs the Isle St. Anna by the Brasilians call'd Upaonmiri Opposite to Maragnan about half way from the said Inlet fall three Rivers into the Sea the most Easterly call'd Mounin hath a Mouth a Mile wide and discharges its Water into the Sea the middlemost Taboucourou is five hundred Leagues long and ends with two Mouths half a League distant one from the other the most Westerly call'd Miary is about six Leagues broad so falling into the Sea The Stream Maracou falls into the Pinare and thus united they joyn both with the Miary which runs exceeding swift into the Sea Between the Capes Arbres Secs and De la Tortue the Coast lies full of sandy Banks some of which extend a League into the Ocean On the other side of the Promontory Tapoytapere near Maragnan towards the River of Amazones lie so many Isles along the Sea-shore that no Ship is able to approach the same because the Spaces between the Isles are overgrown with Trees call'd Apparituriers whose Boughs shooting down and rooting in the Sea produce other Trees which grow so close together that they seem one entire Tree with many Branches Besides this Inconvenience there is abundance of drift Sand when the Wind sits from the Shore which oftentimes swallows the Ships which lie upon the same Beyond Maragnan lie two Roads the first between the Promontory Arbres and the Isle St. Anna but dangerous the other discover'd some years since reaches to the Fort of Maragnan and is as dangerous as the first This Island hath twenty seven Villages by the Natives call'd Oc or Tave each Village consisting of four Houses made of great Stakes and cover'd with Palm-tree Leaves against the Rain each House being thirty Foot broad and from two hundred to five hundred Paces long according to the greater or lesser number of Inhabitants The first Village opposite to St. Anna is call'd Timbohu the second well known for two eminent Fishing-places is Itapara but the two biggest are Juniparan and Eussaouap each having about five or six hundred Inhabitants This Island of Maragnan lies under a temperate Climate being seldom troubled with excessive Colds Droughts pestilential Vapors Wind Hail or Thunder only it Lightens Morning and Evening in serene Weather When the Sun returns from the Tropick of Capricorn to the North then it Rains for six Weeks together but when he declines from Cancer towards the Southern Solstice the Trade-Wind or Eastern Breezes rise at seven of the Clock in the Morning but grow fainter towards Sun-setting Fruitful Soil and rich Coast of Maragnan The Soil of Maragnan is exceeding fruitful producing abundance of Brasile â—ood Sugar Cotton the red Colour Roucou Tobacco Balsam not inferior to 〈◊〉 Arabian Pepper and all manner of Fruits On the Coast is often found excellent Amber-greece and Jasper Stones which the Inhabitants wore in their Lips In some places along the Sea-shore appear Rocks of red and white Stone Diaphanous like Crystal which some say are as hard as Diamonds and call'd Allencon The Woods produce Timber and the Shore Stones and Shells of which they make Mortar There are also several pleasant Fields and Hills whose Feet are wash'd by delightful Brooks along which they pass in Canoos from one Village to another The Woods consist most of Palm-Trees amongst which breed all sorts of Fowls and Beasts Fruit-Trees The chiefest of the Fruit-Trees which grow here is the Accayou which being much bigger than our Pomewaters hath Leaves not unlike those of an Oak and also a Nut resembling a Sheeps Kidney cover'd with a hard Shell which incloses an oylie Pith. Out of these the Islanders press a very wholsom and pleasant Liquor as also out of the Pacoeira and Bannanas both excellent Plants which will grow in any Ground This Plant they pluck up by the Roots wild as soon as it hath put forth three Leaves which Leaves being rowl'd up hard together like a Twig are again Set and then sprout up each with ten green Leaves which when mov'd by the Wind rattle like Parchment and tear very easily the Stalk is an Inch thick from which spread several lesser Branches under the Leaves hang yellowish Flowers of a pleasant smell at whose Stalks are lesser Leaves resembling little Scoups full of Juice in taste like Honey and in colour like the White of an Egg after the Flower follows the Fruit very like a Cucumber onely they are three square and have a hardish Shell which incloses a well tasted and wholsom Pulp which commonly grows in Clusters This Plant when the Fruit is ripe is pluck'd up from whence another springs up immediately which bears the like Fruit the next year so that this Plant lives as it were by propagation continually The Bannanas bear Leaves of a Fathom long and two Foot broad the Fruit is very like that of the Pacoeira The Mangaa is very like the Apricock both in taste and form The Tree Jaracaha hath a spread Crown leaves like those of a Fig-Tree yellow Flowers and Pears with Shells and full of Kernels The Ouaieroua is an exceeding sweet-smelling Tree bears a Fruit much bigger than the greatest Melons The Junipap which is much taller hath Apples which whilest they are green are best yielding a Juice which Dyes Coal-black and therefore is us'd by the Natives to paint their Bodies with The Apples when ripe are yellow within and without very well tasted and melting in the Mouth Besides these fore-mention'd Fruit-Trees there are several others that grow on this Island amongst which is the Vua-pirup eminent for its Blossom which is yellow blue and red and bears delicate Apples which ripen best in the rainy Season Lastly the Pekey which three Men cannot Fathom bears a Fruit of two handfuls bigness having a hard thick Shell and within four Kidney-like Kernels each concealing a prickly Stone which hurts the Mouths of unwary Eaters The Plant Carouata hath Leaves an Ell long and two Inches broad they are very thick and thistly from the middle and about two Foot from the Ground grows an exceeding pleasant Fruit yellow without and within three square a Finger long and hanging oftentimes sixty in a Cluster Vua a sort of Melons green without and within full of white Pulp and black Kernels and hath a pleasant Juice dissolves to Water if cut in the middle sweeter than Sugar and very refreshing Manioch a thick Root of the Plant Manicup Leav'd like a Fig-Tree being ground to Meal it serves in stead of Bread Besides these already mention'd there are several other Plants the most usual are the great flat Beans call'd Commanda-ouassou and the long Pease Commanda-miry Strange Birds Here are variety of Birds of several sorts especially
alterations of the annual Seasons as also the more or less fruitful Fields they produce one year and in one place more than in another The Inhabitants are of two sorts viz. free People and Slaves the Slaves are African Negro's and the others Netherlanders Portugueses or Brasilians which last came in of their own accords or else were absolv'd from their Oaths and acquitted from their Martial Offices yet are ready to venture their Lives and Estates and to Serve either on Foot or Horseback for their Freedom against their Enemies Those that went from the Netherlands to Brasile on their own Accounts drive a Trade or Serve the Traders or else keep Inns and follow Handicraft Faculties some of which when grown rich buy Parts in Sugar-Mills others live on Tilling by all which several sorts of People Reciffa is very well inhabited and full of Houses which yield great Rents and are held at high Prices wherefore Grave Maurice thought good to mark out pieces of Ground on the Isle Antonio Vaes which were sold for a considerable Sum of Money insomuch that in a short time a new City call'd Maurice-stadt was built on the same and inclos'd within strong Bulwarks yea notwithstanding the Rumor of a great Spanish Fleet in some measure abated the Courage of the Builders yet the City was extended down to the Fort Frederick Henrich and a brave Bridge laid over the Stream Biberibi cross which they go from Reciffa to Antonio Vaes where no People were in greater esteem than Handicrafts-men who could get their ten or twelve Shillings a day The Labor which is requir'd in the Sugar-Mills no Men are able to undergo but the Negro's Of the Portuguese some have liv'd here a considerable time others lately came hither being most of them Jews of whom there live a great many at Reciffa and are very diligent in promoting of Trade They possess several Sugar-Mills and are kept very much under their whole study and contrivance is for Gain they conceal their Hatred against the Christians as also their Covetousness yet are mortal Enemies to the Hollanders The Brasilians who are the ancient Inhabitants live apart from other People in their Villages consisting of long Straw Huts forty or fifty of them under one Roof sleeping on woven Hammocks they esteem no Houshold-stuff but Nets and Calabashes using the first to fish with and the other to drink out of about their Huts they plant Mandihoka and Brasile Trees when they are not employ'd in the Wars they spend most of their time in Hunting but many in Idleness they esteem wild Fruits better than those which are Planted they Drink night and day making their Liquor of the chew'd Root Mandihoka or the Apples Tajovis they esteem nothing so much as strong Drink and to wear Linnen next their Skins they would not value Money could they but get Brandy and Spanish Wine without it if they are not promis'd a Reward they will not work Each Village nay House hath its peculiar Governor but besides him there is a Hollander who stirs up the Idle to work and takes care that the Owners of the Sugar-Mills do them no injury They never suffer themselves to be Hir'd for above twenty days at the end whereof they demand their Wages they are commonly employ'd to chop Wood to boyl the Sugar with but by reason of the scarcity of Negros they are often made use of for other Business which to avoid they hide themselves as also when they are to go to Fight they are hard to be kept in Ranks for they will run out of their own Fyle into another on the least occasion but if they put their Enemy to flight they pursue him and spare none alive They little regard the Christian Religion yet some of them have learn'd the Lord's-Prayer and the Creed of the Roman Priests The Minister Davil having learn'd the Brasilian Tongue Converted very many of them and Baptiz'd them in their Villages The Brasilian Women and Children usually go to Wars with their Husbands and Fathers The Brasilian Slaves were some years since bought of the Tapuyans or made Slaves because they assisted Boudewyn Henrickszoon when he Landed in the Inlet Traluson but they have since obtain'd their Freedom of the Portuguese The Angolan Slaves can undergo greater Labor than any other The Brasile Wood grows generally ten or twelve Leagues up in the Countrey from the Sea not in particular Woods but amongst other Trees The Negro's when the Sugar-Mills work not are employ'd in pulling off the white Bark three Fingers thick from the Tree which bears dark-green Leaves small and prickly at the ends and hanging on thin Stalks but bearing neither Blossoms nor Fruit. Osnabrig Linnen is highly esteem'd amongst the Brasilians as also colour'd Wax Copper Tin Wine Beer Butter Cheese Meal Stock-fish Pork Hung-beef and Gammons of Bacon The Papists Teach and observe their Religion in publick their Spiritual Men being divided into Priests and Monks the Monks consist of Franciscans Carmelites and Benedictines the Franciscans being the most eminent possess six fair Cloysters besides which they have neither Land nor other Revenues but live on what is given them daily their Cloysters stand in Frederick-stadt Iguaraca Olinda Pojuca Serinhain and Antonio Vaes But the Carmelites have three Structures at Parayba and as many more in Frederick-stadt and Olinda where they live plentifully on what they reap from Tillage Rents of Houses and Legacies of deceased Persons The Benedictins though they possess onely two Cloysters one in Frederick-stadt and the other at Olinda yet they have the greatest Income from the Sugar-Mills of Muserapa and the Countrey about Parayba as also Cattel and Cane-Fields Reciffa the Seat of War hath two Horn-works towards Olinda the first rais'd with Stone defends the Haven with seven Brass Demi-Culverins the other lies opposite to the River Biberi and hath five Brass and two Iron Guns Reciffa also hath a strong Rail about it and many Guns plac'd in good order Near the Powder-house stand two Batteries with Guns On the Shore towards Olinda lies the Stone Castle St. Joris on a Hill opposite to the Haven fortifi'd with a Bulwark and thirteen Iron Guns The Water-Castle built round rises out of the Sea and stands at the end of the Stone Cliff which makes an Inlet through which the Ships Sail that come to and go from Reciffa The Fort Bruine hath four Points seven Brass Guns and Pallisados round about Somewhat farther is the Redoubt call'd The Lady Bruine which hath two Brass Guns The Castle Waerdenbergh built before the Mouth of the River Capivaribi in the Bay made by the River Biberibi hath three Points each rais'd square because the fourth Bulwark towards Antonio Vaes cannot be finish'd by reason the Earth is sunk away The Fort Ernestus stands on the North-side of Maurice-stadt on the Island Antonio Vaez That part of the City which respects the Fort lies open with five Points and a double Horn-work it is the more secure from
The Land of Pygmies but upon what certain Ground cannot in the least be discover'd for we find not from the Russians to whom the Place by reason of its Vicinity is probable to have been first known any other Account of the Inhabitants but that they are a People wholly destitute of civil Manners and unlimited by Law or Religion saving that they seem to give some kind of Adoration to the Sun Moon and North-star and have some Qualities which speak them national Creatures whereas the Pygmies if there be any such Creatures are thought to have nothing of Humane but their Shape onely Willoughby-Island Besides Nova Zembla there is not far from it another Island known by the Name of Willoughby-Island from Sir Hugh Willoughby the first Discoverer they both are of the Dominions of the Czar of Russia Several Attempts for the discovery of the North-West Passage WHat hath been discover'd of Sea in the North or South parts of the World is of no less Consequence than what hath been discover'd of Land and the Straight of Hudson Northward is no less considerable than the Straight of Magellan South we shall therefore compleat this Discourse of the Artick Region with a brief Mention of what Capes Bays Sounds c. have been found out by those that have attempted to find a Passage by the North-West to the East-Indies Not to insist upon the fabulous Stories of King Arthur's first conquering Ireland and then Sailing into the Northern Seas and subduing Scantia Iseland Groenland and as the Story saith many other Islands beyond Norway even under the Pole or of Malgo's subduing Ireland Iseland the Orcades and Norway or Octher's Reports to King Alfred of his Voyages to the North-East parts beyond Norway or the Voyages of the two famous Venetian Brethren Nicolo and Antonio Zeni or of Marcus Paulus Venetus Odoricus and Vertomannus the first English-man we hear of that made an Expedition into those Northern Seas was Sir Hugh Willoughby before taken notice of for the Discovery of King James's Newland and Willoughby-Island in the Year of our Lord 1553. Stephen Burroughs as hath been intimated discover'd amongst other Places about the Year 1556. the Straight of Vaigats In the Year 1576. Sir Martin Forbisher setting forth with two Barques after he had been out about five Weeks had sight of a High-land which he nam'd Queen Elizabeths Foreland Queen Elizabeths Foreland Thence Sailing more Northerly to the heighth of about sixty two Degrees he descry'd a great Sea or Inlet which he entred and thence it took the Appellation of Forbisher's Straight Forbister's Straight About two years after proceeding to a farther discovery of it he entred a good way into it and took possession of the utmost Place he went to for Queen Elizabeth who thereupon gave it the Name of Meta Incognita Anno 1580. Arthur Pett and Charles Jackman were sent out by the Russian Company to make a Discovery of the River Ob and passing the Straight of Waigats took particular observation of the Islands and Places there but not being able to pass much farther by reason of the Ice towards the latter end of the year they return'd In prosecution of this Discovery to the north-North-West Captain John Davis of Sandruge in Devonshire made three Voyages his first Anno 1585. his second 1587. in which he met with many strange Adventures but the main thing that accru'd from these Voyages was finding of a mighty Through-let between vast and desart Islands to which his Name gave the Appellation of Fretum Davis Davis's Straight or Davis's Straight The next that went upon this Design was Captain George Weymouth who from the Year 1585 to 1602 made several Expeditions which produc'd large Relations of strange Accidents that befell them but little of Discovery farther than what had been made before Mr. James Hall very noted for his Voyages to Groenland which before was by Captain Davis call'd Desolation at his falling in with that Place nam'd a Head-land from then King of Denmark Cape Christianus Cape Christianus which some think to be no other than Cape Farewel Anno 1606. Mr. John Knight was set out by the King of Denmark of the Passages of whose Voyage little or nothing memorable is recorded The next and most famous Attempter in the discovery of the North-Wast Passage was Henry Hudson who is said to have discover'd farther Northward to the Pole than any before him From the Year 1607 to 1610 he made several Voyages being set out by Sir Thomas Smith Sir Dudley Diggs and Mr. John Wostenholm with others that were his great Friends and Advancers of such publick Designs In his last Voyage the Isles of Gods Mercy Prince Henry's Foreland King James's Cape Queen Annes Cape Digg's Island Cape Wostenholm The King 's Foreland Mount Charles Cape Salisbury c. were first taken notice of and nam'd and which were his principal Discoveries and therefore worthily retaining his Name Hudson's Straight and Bay Hudson's Straight and Bay but in his return homeward he was set upon in his Cabbin by one Green Wilson and others of their Conspiracy and together with his Son John Hudson Tho. Widdows Arn. Ludlow Sidrach Faner and two or three more was put over into a small Shallop in which they were forc'd to seek their Fortune and in all likelihood perish'd for they were never heard of after Nor long after Green going on Shore upon a strange Island was shot from an Ambuscade of Salvages into the Heart the like End has Wilson and three more of the Conspirators dy'd of their mortal Wounds the rest with much ado got home in a very sick and weak Condition through the Hardships the had sustain'd and want of Provisions There was also another Hudson who Anno 1608. went to the height of eighty one Degrees and gave Names to certain Places which continue to this day as Whale-Bay Hackluit's Headland and Hudson's Touches By the Assistance of Prince Henry and those other Noble Persons above mention'd Captain Thomas Button set out in the Year 1612. and is said to have pass'd Hudson's Straight and leaving Hudson's Bay to the South to have Sail'd two hundred Leagues South-Westward over a Sea above eighty Fathoms deep which at length he discover'd to be another great Bay since call'd Button's Bay Button's Bay He is said also to have discover'd a great Continent which he call'd New Wales Several other Voyagers there were in this great Attempt of the North-West Passage as Captain Gibbons Robert Bylot William Baffins and Captain William Hawkridge who though they all came short of the main Enterprize yet every one found out some new Cape Bay or Promontory or open'd a farther Passage than had been before as Bylot made known Cape Comfort Baffin Baffin's Bay the Inlet call'd from him Baffins Bay as also Sir James Lancaster's Sound Hawkridge a farther Passage into Lumly's Inlet From the Year 1616. to 1631. the Business slept and then a Voyage