lowe countreies but kept the hils And we reade of Nimrode who 130. yéeres after the flood built the Tower of Babell intending thereby to saue himselfe if there should come any more such floods Therefore it seemeth that they which first came to be sailers were those which dwell in the east in the prouince of China although others contrariwise hold them which dwell in the west as in Syria to haue vsed the trade of the sea soonest after the flood But this contention about the antiquitie of nauigation I leaue to the Scythians and Egyptians who were at great variance and difference in this matter for each of them chalenged vnto themselues the honour of the first sea trauaile But omitting all iars and differences thereabouts I will apply my selfe to my purposed discourse and speake of that which histories haue left in record THere be some wel séene in Antiquities which say that in the 143. yéere after the flood Tubal came by sea into Spaine whereby it séemeth that in those times nauigations were vsed into our parts out of Ethiopia And they also say farther that not long after this the Quéene Semyramis went against the Indians in that riuer wherof they tooke their name and therein gaue battaile vnto the king Stabrobates wherin he lost a thousand ships Which being credible by the ancient historie prooueth manifestly that in those parts in those times were many ships and the seas frequented in good numbers In the 650. yéere after the flood there was a king in Spaine named Hesperus who in his time as it is reported went and discouered as far as Cape Verde the Island of S. Thomas whereof he was prince And Gonsaluo Fernandes of Ouiedo the Chronicler of Antiquities affirmeth that in his time the Islands of the West Indies were discouered and called somewhat after his name Heâ—perides and he alleageth many reasons to prooue it reporting particularly that in 40. daies they sailed from Cape Verde vnto those Islands There are others that say that the like was done from this Cape vnto the Islands of S. Thomas and the Isle De Principe and that they be the Hesperides and not the Anâ—iles And they doe not differ far from reason seeing in those times and many yeeres after they did vse to saile onely along the coast not passing through the maine Ocean sea for they had neither altitude nor compasse then in vse nor any mariners so expert It cannot be denied but that there were many countries Islands Capes Isâ—hmos and points which now are grown out of knowledge because the names of them are found in histories But the age of the world and force of waters haue wâ—sted and consumed them and separated one countrey from another both in Europe Asia Afâ—ica New Spaine Peru and other places Plato saith in his dialogue of Timaeus that there were in ancient times in the Ocean sea Atlanticke certaine great Islands and countries named Atlantides greater then Afrike and Europe and that the kings of those parts were Lords of a great part of this our countrey but with certaine great tempests the sea did ouerflow it and it remained as mud and shingle so that in a long time after no ships could passe that way It is also recorded in histories that fast by the Island of Cadiz towards the Straights of Gibraltar there was a certaine Island which was called Aphrodisias well inhabited and planted with many gardens and orchards and yet at this day we haue no knowledge of this Aphrodisias but only a bare mention of it in ancient authors The said Island of Cadiz is further said to haue béen so large and big that it did ioine with the firme land of Spaine The Islands of the Açores were sometimes a point of the mountaines of Estrella which ioine vnto the sea ouer the towne of Syntra And also from Sierra Verde or the gréene mountaine which adioineth vnto the water hard by the citie of Sasin in the land of Cucu which is the selfe same Island of Mouchin where Algarbe is come the Islands of Porto Santo and Madera For it is held as a true and vndoubted veritie that all Islands haue their roots running from the firme land though they be neuer so farre from the continent for otherwise they could not stand firme There are other histories which say that from Spaine vnto Ceuta in Barbarie men sometimes trauailed on foote vpon drie land and that the Islands of Sardinia and Corsica did ioine the one with the other as also did Sicilia with Italie and Negroponto with Graecia We reade also that there were found hulles of ships ankers of iron and other memorials of shipping vpon the mountaines of Sussa farre within the land where as it seemeth now no salt water or sea euer came In India also and in the land of Malabar although now there be great store of people yet many writers affirme that it was once a maine sea vnto the foote of the mountaines and that the Cape of Comarim and the Island of Zeilan were all one thing As also that the Island of Samatra did ioine with the land of Malacca by the flats of Caypasia and not farre froÌ„ thence there stands now a little Island which few yéeres past was part of the firme land that is ouer against it Furthermore it is to be séene how Ptolemey in his tables dotâ— set the land of Malacca to the south of the line in thrée or fower degrées of latitude whereas now it is at the point thereof being called â—entana in one degrée on the north side as appéereth in the Straight of Cincapura where daily they doe passe through vnto the coast of Sian and China where the Island of Aynan standeth which also they say did ioine hard to the land of China and Ptolemey placeth it on the north side far from the line standing now aboue 20. degrées from it towards the north as Asia and Europe now stand Well it may be that in time past the land of Malacca and China did end beyond the line on the south side as Ptolemey doth set them foorth because it might ioine with the point of the land called â—entana with the Islands of Biâ—tan Banca Salitres being many that waies the land might be all slime oaze And so the point of China might ioine with the Islands of the Luçones Borneos Lequeos Mindanaos others which stand in this parallele they also as yet hauing in opinion that the Island of Samatra did ioine with Iaua by the chanell of Sunda and the Islands of Bali Aujaue çambaua Solor Hogaleao Maulua Vintara Rosalaguin and others that be in this parallele and altitude did all ioine with Iaua and so they séeme outwardly to those that descrie them For at this day the Islands stand so néere the one to the other that they séeme all but one firme land and whosoeuer passeth betwéene some of them
may touch with their hand the boughs of the trées on the one and on the other side also And to come néerer to the matter it is not long since that in the east the Islands of Banda were diuers of them ouerflowen and drowned by the sea And so likewise in China about nine score miles of firme ground is now become a lake as it is reported Which is not to be thought maruellous considering that which Ptolemey and others haue written in such cases which here I omit to returne to my purpose After the flood 800. yéeres we reade that the citie of Troy was builded by the Dardans and that before that time they brought out of the Indies into Europe by the Red sea spices drugs and many other kindes of marchandises which were there more abundant then now they be Whereunto if credit may be giuen we may conceaue that the sea was of old haunted and frequented séeing that then they of the East had so much and so great trafficke with them of the West that they brought their marchandise vnto an hauen which was named Arsinoe being that which at this day is called Suez standing in 30. degrées on the north part of the Arabian Gulfe It is also by authors farther written that from this hauen of Arsinoe or Suez these marchandises were carried by Carauans or great companies of carriers vpon camels asses and mules vnto the Leuant sea vnto a city called Cassou standing on the coast in 32. degrées of latitude yeelding vnto euery degrée 17. leagues and an halfe as the maner is And there are by account from the one sea to the other 35. leagues or 105. miles These carriers by reason of the heate of the countrey trauailed in the night onely directing themselues by stars and by marks of postes and canes which they vsed to sticke in the ground as they went But after that because this course and iourney had many inconueniences they changed and altered the same twise to finde out the most commodious way 900. yéeres or there about after the flood and before the destruction of Troy there was a king in Egypt called Sesostris who perceiuing that the former courses and passages for the carrying of marchandises by men beasts were chargeable to the one most painfull to the other prouided to haue a way or streame cut out of the land from the Red sea vnto an arme of the riuer Nilus which rūneth vnto the Citie Heroum that by the meanes thereof ships might passe and repasse with their marchandises from India into Europe and not be discharged till they came into Italie So that this Sesostris was the first king which built great caracks to trauaile this way But this enterprise for all that tooke little effect For if it had Africa had then béen made as an Island all compassed with water being no more ground betweene sea and sea then the space of 20. leagues or 60. miles About this time the Graecians gathered together an army or fléete which now is called Argonautica whereof Iason and Alceus were captains general Some say they went from the Isle of Creta others from Graecia But whence soeuer they departed they sailed through the Proponticke sea and Saint Georges Sleeue vnto the Euxine sea where some perished and Iason thereupon returned backe into Greece Alceus reported that he was driuen with a tempest to the lake Maeotis where he was forsaken of al his company and they which escaped with great trauaile passed through by land vnto the Ocean sea of Almaine where they tooke shipping passing the coasts of Saxonie Frisland Holland Flanders France Spaine Italie and so returned vnto Peloponesus and Greece discouering the most part of the coast of Europe Strabo alleaging Aristonicus the Grammarian sheweth that after the destruction of Troy Menelaus the king came out of the straights of the Leuant seas into the sea Atlanticke and coasted Africa and Guinea and doubled the Cape of Bona Sperança and so in time arriued in India Of which voyage of his there may be many more particulars gathered out of the histories This Mediterrane sea was also sometimes called The Adriaticke The Aegaean and the Herculean sea with other names according to the lands coasts Islands which it passeth by running into the great sea Atlanticke along the coast of Africa In the yéere 1300. after the flood Solomon caused a nauie to be prepared on the Red sea at an hauen called Ezeon Geber to saile to the East India where by opinion stande the Islands called Tharsis and Ophir This nauie was thrée yéeres on this voyage and then returned and brought with them gold siluer cypres c. Whereby it séemeth that those places and Islands were those which now be called the Luçones Lequeos and Chinaes For we know few other parts from whence some of those things are brought or wherein nauigation was so long since vsed It is left vs also in histories that a king of Egypt called Neco desiring greatly to ioyne the Red sea with the riuer Nilus commanded the Phoenicians to saile from the straight of Mecca to the farther end of the Mediterrane sea to sée if it did make any turne backe againe vnto Egypt Which commandement they obeied sailing towards the south all along the coast and countrey of Melinde Quiloa Sofala till they came to the Cape of Bona Esperança finding the sea continually on the left hand But when they had doubled the Cape and found the coast continually on the right hand they maruailed much at it Notwithstanding they continued their course forward toward the north al along the coast of Guiney and the Mediterrane sea till they came backe againe into Egypt whence they first went out In which discouerie they remained two yéeres And these are thought to be the first that compassed by sea all the coast of Afrike and sailed round about it In the yéere 590. before the incarnation of Christ there went out of Spaine a fléete of Carthaginian marchants vpon their owne proper costs and charges which sailed toward the west through the high seas to sée if they could finde any land and they sailed so farre that they found at last the Islands which we now call the Antiles and Noua Spagna which Gonzalo Fernandes de Quiedo saith were then discouered although Christopher Columbus afterwards by his trauaile got more exact knowledge of them and hath left vs an euident notice where they be But all these historians which wrote of these Antiles before as of doubtfull and vncertaine things and of places vndiscouered doe now plainly confesse the same to be the countrey of Noua Spagna In the yéere 520. before the incarnation and after the setting out of the aforesaid army Cambyses king of Persia tooke Egypt after whom succéeded Darius the sonne of Histaspis and he determined to make an end of the enterprise which king Sesostris had begun
fortresse in Caribana against the Caribes which was the first towne that the Spanyards builded in the Firme land and in Nombre de Dios they built another and called it Nuestra Sennora de la Antigua They builded also the towne of Vraba And there they left for their captaine and lieutenant one Francis Pisarro who was there much troubled They builded other towns also whose names I here omit But these captaines had not that good successe which they hoped for In the yéere 1509. the second Admirall Don Diego Columbus went into the Island of Hispaniola with his wife and houshold And she being a gentlewoman carried with her many other women of good families which were there married and so the Spanyards and Castillians began to people the countrey for Don Fernando the king had giuen them licence to discouer and people the townes of Hispaniola so that the same place grew to be famous and much frequented The foresaid Admirall also gaue order to people the Island of Cuba which is very great and large and placed there as his lieutenant one Diego Velasques who went with his father in the second voiage In the yéere 1511. in the moneth of Aprill Alfonso de Albuquerque went from the citie of Cochin vnto Malaeca In which yéere and moneth the Chineans went from Malaeca into their owne countrey and Alfonso sent with them for master a Portugall called Duarte Fernandes with letters also and order vnto the king of the Mantias which now is called Sian standing in the South They passed through the streight of Cincapura and sailed towards the north went along the coast of Patane vnto the citie of Cuy and from thence to Odia which is the chiefe citie of the kingdome standing in 14. degrées of northerly latitude The king greatly honoured and welcomed Duarte Fernandes being the first Portugall that he had séene and with him he sent backe ambassadours to Albuquerque They passed ouer land towards the west vnto the citie of Tanaçerim standing vpon the sea on the other side in 12. degrées where they imbarked themselues in two ships and sailed along the coast vnto the citie of Malacca leauing it all discouered The people of this countrey of Sian are people that eate of all kinde of beastes or vermine They haue a delight to carrie round bels within the skin of their priuie members which is forbidden to the king and the religious people It is said that of all other people of those parts they be most vertuous and honest They commend themselues much for their chastitie and pouertie They bring no heunes nor doues vp in their houses This kingdome hath in length 250. leagues and in bredth 80. Of this only kingdome the king may bring foorth into the field thirtie thousand elephants when he goeth to warre besides those which remaine in the cities for the garde of them The king much estéemeth a white elephant and a red one also that hath eies like vnto flaming fire There is in this countrey a certaine small vermine which vseth to cleaue fast to the trunke of the elephant and draweth the blood of the elephant and so he dieth thereof The skull of this vermine is so hard that the shot of an handgun cannot enter it they haue in their liuers the figures of men and women which they call Tokeâ—a and are much like vnto a mandrake And they affirme that he which hath one of them about him cannot die with the stroke of any iron They haue also wilde kine in this countrey in the heads of whome they finde stones which are of vertue to bring good hap and fortune to marchants After that Duarte Fernandes had béen with the Mantales or people of Sian Alfonso de Albuquerque sent thither a knight called Ruy Nunnez de Acunna with letters and ambassage vnto the king of the Seguies which we call Pegu. He went in a Iunco of the countrey in sight of the Cape Rachado and from thence went vnto the citie of Pera which standeth fast by the riuer Salano and many other villages standing all along this riuer where Duarte Fernandes had béene before vnto the cities of Tanaçerim and of Martauan standing in 15. degrées toward the north and the citie of Pegu standeth in 17. This was the first Portugall which trauailed in that kingdome and he gaue good information of that countrey and of the people which vse to were bels in their priuities euen as the Mantales doe In the end of this yeere 1511. Alfonso de Albuquerque sent thrée ships to the Islands of Banda and Maluco And there went as Generall of them one Antonio de Breu and with him also went one Francis Serrano and in these ships there were 120. persons They passed through the Streight of Saban and along the Island of Samatra and others leauing them on the left hand towards the east and they called them the Salites They went also to the Islands of Palinibam and La Suparam from whence they sailed by the noble Island of Iaua and they ran their course east sailing betweene it and the Island of Madura The people of this Island are very warlike and strong and doe little regard their liues The women also are there hired for the warres and they fall out often together and kill one another as the Mocos doe delighting onely in shedding of blood Beyond the Island of Iaua they sailed along by another called Bali and then came also vnto others called Aujaue çambaba Solor Galao Mallua Vitara Rosalangum Arus from whence are brought delicate birds which are of great estimation because of their feathers they came also to other Islands lying in the same parallele on the south side in 7. or 8. degrées of latitude And they be so nere the one to the other that they séeme at the first to be one entire and maine land The course by these Islands is aboue fiue hundred leagues The ancient Cosmographers call all these Islands by the name Iauos but late experience hath found their names to be very diuers as you see Beyonde these there are other Islands toward the north which are inhabited with whiter people going arraied in shirts doublets and slops like vnto the Portugals hauing also money of siluer The gouernours among them doe carrie in their hands red staues whereby they séeme to haue some affinitie with the people of China There are other Islands and people about this place which are redde and it is reported that they are of the people of China Antonie de Breu and those that went with him tooke their course toward the north where is a smal Island called Gumnape or Ternate from the highest place whereof there fall continually into the sea flakes or streames like vnto fire which is a woonderfull thing to behold From thence they went to the Islands of Burro and Amboino
came on land in Iucatan standing in 20. degrées of latitude at a point which they called Punta de las Duennas that is to say The point of Ladies which was the first place wherein they had séen Temples and buildings of lime and stone The people here goe better apparelled then in any other place They haue crosses which they worship setting them vpon their tombes when they be buried Wherby it séemeth that in times past they had in that place the faith of Christ among them And some say that thereabouts were The seuen Cities They went round about it towards the north which is on the right hand from whence they turned backe vnto the Island of Cuba with some examples of gold and men which they had taken And this was the first beginning of the discouerie of New Spaine In the yéere 1518. Lopez Suares commanded Don Iohn de Silueira to goe to the Islands of Maldiua and he made peace with them and from thence he went to the citie of Chatigam situated on the mouth of the riuer Ganges vnder the Tropicke of Cancer For this riuer and the riuer Indus which standeth an hundred leagues beyond the citie of Diu and that of Canton in China doe all fall in t the sea vnder one parallele or latitude And although before that time Fernan Perez had béen commanded to goe to Bengala yet notwithstanding Iohn de Silueira ought to beare away the commendation of this discouerie because he went as captaine generall and remained there longest learning the commodities of the countrey and maners of the people In the said yéere 1518. the first day of May Diego Velasques gouernour of the Island of Cuba sent his nephew Iohn de Grisalua with fower ships two hundred soldiers to discouer the land of Iucatan And they founde in their way the Island of Cosumel standing towards the north in 19. degrées and named it Santa Cruz because they came to it the third of May. They coasted the land lying vpon the left hand of the Gulfe and came to an Island called Ascension because they came vnto it vpon Ascension day They went vnto the end of it standing in 16. degrées of latitude from whence they came backe because they could finde no place to goe out at and from hence they went round about it to another riuer which they called The riuer of Grisalua standing in 17. degrées of latitude the people thereabout troubled them sore yet notwithstanding they brought from thence some gold siluer and feathers being there in great estimation and so they turned backe againe to the Island of Cuba In the same yéere 1518. one Francis Garay armed thrée ships in the Isle of Iamaica at his owne charges and went towards the point of Florida standing in 25. degrées towards the north séeming to them to be an Island most pleasant thinking it better to people Islands then the firme land because they could best conquere them and kéepe them They went there on land but the people of Florida killed many of them so that they durst not inhabite it So they sailed along the coast and came vnto the riuer of Panuco standing 500. leagues from the point of Florida in sailing along the coast but the people resisted them in euery place Many of them also were killed in Chila whom the Sauages flaied and eate hanging vp their skinnes in their Temples in memoriall of their valiantnes Notwithstanding all thiâ— Francis de Garay went thither the next yéere and begged the gouernment of that countrey of the Emperour because he sawe in it some shew of gold and siluer In the yeere 1519. in the moneth of Februarie Fernando Cortes went from the Island of Cuba to the land which is called Noua Spania with 11. ships and 550. Spanyards in them The first place where he went on land was the Island of Cosumel where they immediately destroied all the Idols and set crosses on the altars and the images of the virgine Marie From this Island they went and arriued on the firme land of Iucatan at the point De las Duenâ—as or the point of Ladies and went thence to the riuer of Tauasco and set vpon a citie fast by called Potoncian inuironed with wood and the houses were built with lime and stone and couered with tile they fought there egarly and there appeered vnto them S. Iames on horsebacke which increased their courage They called that citie Victoria and they were the first people which were subdued to the Spanyards obedience in all Newe Spaine From hence they went discouering the coast till they came vnto a place named S. Iohn de Vllhua distant as they said from Mexico where the king Muteçuma was 60. or 70. leagues and there was a seruant of his that gouerned that prouince named Tendilli which gaue them good entertainment although they vnderstood not one another But Cortes had 20. women whereof one was called Marine borne in thaâ— countrey They were the first that were baptized in New Spaine And from that time forward Marine and Aguilar serued as interpreters Tendilli presently gaue knowledge of this vnto Muteçuma that a kinde of bearded people were arriued in his countrey for so they called the Castillians But he was troubled vpon that newes for his Gods which are to be thought to be diuels had told him that such people as the Spanyards were should destroy his law and countrey and be Lords thereof And therefore he sent gifts vnto Cortes in value 20. thousand ducats but would not come to him Because S. Iohn de Vllhua was then no place for a nauie to ride in Cortes sent Francis de Montâ—io and the pilot Antonie Alaminos in two brigandines to discouer that coast who came to a place where they might ride without danger They came to Panuco standing in 23. degrées northward from whence they came backe vpon an agreement to goe vnto Culuacan being an hauen of more safetie They set saile but Cortes went by land westward with the most part of his men on horsebacke and they came vnto a citie called Zempoallan where they were well receiued And from thence he went to another towne called Chiauitztlan with the Lord of which towne as with all the countrey besides he made league to be against Muteçuma And when he knew that his ships were come he went vnto them and there builded a towne and called it Villa rica de la vera cruz From whence he sent vnto Charles the Emperour a present and made report of all that he had done and how he determined to goe to Mexico and to visite Muteçuma and besought the Emperour to giue him the gouernment of that countrey And because his people should not rise in mutinie as they began he destroied all his ships Cortes presently went from Villa rica de la vera Cruz leauing there 150. Spanish horsemen and many Indians to serue
earthquake with raine and lightning which sunke 70. houses They passed ouer cold and snowie hils where they found many Indians frozen to death maruelling much of the great snowe that they found vnder the Equinoctiall line From hence they went to a prouince called Cumaco where they tarried two monethes because it rained continually And beyond they sawe the Cinamome-trées which be very great the leaues thereof resembling bay leeues both leaues branches rootes and all tasting of Cinamome The rootes haue the whole taste of Cinamome But the best are certaine knops like vnto Alcornoques or acornes which are good marchandise It appéereth to be wilde Cinamome and there is much of it in the East Indies and in the Islands of Iaoa or Iaua From hence they went to the prouince and citie of Coca where they rested fifty daies From that place forwards they trauailed along by a riuers side being 60. leagues long without finding of any bridge nor yet any foorde to passe ouer to the other side They found one place of this riuer where it had a fall of 200. fathoms déepe where the water made such a noise that it would make a man almost deafe to stand by it And not far beneath this fall they say they found a chanell of stone very smooth of two hundred foote broad and the riuer runneth by and there they made a bridge to passe ouer on the other side where they went to a countrey called Guema which was so poore that they could get nothing to eate but onely fruits and herbes From that place forward they found a people of some reason wearing certaine clothing made of cotton wooll where they made a brigandine there they found also certaine Canoas wherein they put their sicke men and their treasure and best apparell giuing the charge of them to one Francis de Orellana and Gonsaluo Pizarro went by land with the rest of the companie along by the riuers side and at night went into the boates and they trauailed in this order two hundred leagues as it appeereth When Pizarro came to the place where he thought to finde the brigandine and Canoas and could haue no sight of them nor yet heare of them he thought himselfe out of all hope because he was in a strange countrey without victuales clothing or any thing else wherefore they were faine to eate their horses yea and dogs also because the countrey was poore and barren and the iourney long to goe to Quito Yet notwithstanding taking a good hart to themselues they went on forwards in their iourney trauailing continually 18. monethes and it is reported that they went almost 5. hundred leagues wherein they did neither sée sunne nor any thing else whereby they might be comforted wherefore of two hundred men which went foorth at the first there returned not backe past ten vnto Quito and these so weake ragged and disfigured that they knew them not Orellana went fiue hundred or sixe hundred leagues downe the riuer séeing diuers countreyes and people on both sides thereof among whom he affirmed some to be Amazones He came into Castile excusing himselfe that the water and streames draue him downe perforce This riuer is named The riuer of Orellana other name it the riuer of the Amazones because there be women there which liue like vnto them In the yéere 1540. Cortes went with his wife into Spaine where he died of a disease seuen yéeres after In the yéere 1541. it is recorded that Don Stephan de Gama gouernour of India sailed toward the streit of Mecca He came with al his fléete vnto an anker in the Island of Maçua and from thence vpwards in small shipping he went along the coast of the Abassins and Ethiopia till he came to the Island of Suachen standing in 20. degrées towardes the north and from thence to the hauen of Cosâ—ir standing in 27. degrées and so he crossed ouer to the citie of Toro standing on the shore of Arabia and along by it he went vnto Suez which is the farthest ende of the streit and so he turned backe the same way leauing that countrey and coast discouered so far as neuer any other Portugall captaine had done although Lopez Suarez gouernour of India went to the hauen of Iuda and the hauen of Mecca standing on the coast of Arabia in 23. degrées of latitude and 150. leagues from the mouth of the streit Don Stephan de Gama crossing ouer from Cosâ—ir to the citie of Toro as it is reported found an Island of Brimstone which was dispeopled by the hand of Mahumet wherein many crabs doe bréede which increase nature wherefore they be greatly esteemed of such as are vnchaste Also they say that there are in this streit many roses which open when women are in their labour Iohn Leo writeth in the very end of his Geographie which he made of Africa that there is in the mountaines of Atlas a roote called Surnag ouer which if a maid chance to make water shée shall léese her virginitie In the same yéere 1541. Don Diego de Almagro killed the Marques Francis Pizarro and his brother Francis Martinez of Alcantara in the citie de los Reyes otherwise called Lima and made himselfe gouernour of that countrey In the yéere 1540. the Viceroy Don Antony de Mendoza sent one Francis Vasquez de Coronado by land vnto the prouince of Sibola with an armie of Spaniards and Indians They went out of Mexico and came to Culuacan and from thence to Sibola which standeth in 30. degrées of latitude They required peace with the people and some victuals being thereof destitute But they answered that they vsed not to giue any thing to those that came vnto them in warlike manner So the Spaniards assalted the towne and tooke it and called it Nueua Granada because the generall himselfe was borne in Granada The soldiers found themselues deceiued by the words of the Friers which had béene in those parts before and because they woulde not returne backe to Mexico againe with emptie hands they went to the towne of Acuco where they had knowledge of Axa and Quiuira where there was a king very rich that did worship a crosse of golde and the picture of the quéene of Heauen They indured many extremities in this iourney and the Indians fled away from them and in one morning they found thirtie of their horses dead From Cicuie they went to Quiuira which was two hundred leagues off according to their account passing all through a plaine countrey and making by the way certaine hillocks of cowe dung because thereby they might not loose their way in their returne They had there haile-stones as bigge as Oranges Now when they were come to Quiuira they found the king called Tatarrax which they sought for with a iewell of copper hanging about his necke which was all his riches They saw neither any crosse nor any image
Gastro arriued at the Island of Mindanao sixe kings receiued the water of Baptisme with their wiues children and subiects and the most of them Antonie Galuano gaue commandement to be called by the name of Iohn in remembrance that king Iohn the third raigned then in Portugall The Portugals and Spaniards which haue béene in these Islands affirme that there be certaine hogs in them which besides the téeth which they haue in their mouthes haue other two growing out of their snouts and as many behinde their eares of a large span and an halfe in length Likewise they say there is a tree the one halfe whereof which standeth towards the east is a good medicine against all poyson the other side of the trée which standeth toward the west is very poison and the fruite on that side is like a bigge pease and there is made of it the strongest poyson that is in all the world Also they report that there is there another trée the fruite whereof whosoeuer doth eate shall be twelue houres besides himselfe and when he commeth againe vnto himselfe he shall not remember what he did in the time of his madnes Moreouer there are certaine crabs of the land whereof whosoeuer doth eate shall be a certaine space out of his wits Likewise the countrey people declare that there is a stone in these Islands whereon whosoeuer sitteth shall be broken in his bodie It is farther to be noted that the people of these Islands do gild their téeth In the yéere 1539. Cortes sent thrée ships with Francis Vlloa to discouer the coast of Coludean northward They vient from Acapulco and touched at S. Iago de buqna sperança and entred into the gulfe that Cortes had discouered and sailed till they came in 32. degrées which is almost the farthest end of that gulfe which place they named Ancon de Sane Andres because they came thither on that saints daie Then they came out a long the coast on the other side and doubled the point of California and entred in betwéene certaine Islands and the point and so sailed along by it till they came to 32. degrées from whence they returned to newe Spaine enforced thereunto by contrarie windes and want of victuals hauing béene out about a yéere Cortes according to his account spent 200000. ducates in these discoueries From Cabo del Enganno to another cape called Cabo de Liampo in China there are 1000. or 1200. leagues sayling Cortes and his captaines discouered new Spaine from 12. degrées to 32. from south to the north being 700. leagues finding it more warme then cold although snow do lie vpon certaine mountaines most part of the yéere In new Spaine there be many trées flowers and fruits of diuers sorts and profitable for many things The principall trée is named Metl It groweth not very high nor thicke They plant and dresse it as we do our vines They say it hath fortie kinde of leaues like wouen clothes which serue for many vses When they be tender they make conserues of them paper and a thing like vnto flaxe they make of it mantles mats shooes girdles and cordage These trées haue certaine prickles so strong and sharpe that they sewe with them The roots make fire and ashes which ashes make excellent good lie They open the earth from the roote and scrape it and the iuice which commeth out is like a sirrupe If you do féeth it it will become honie if you purifie it it will be sugar Also you may make wine and vineger thereof It beareth the Coco The rinde rosted and crushed vpon sores and hurts healeth and cureth The iuice of the tops and roots mingled with incense are good against poyson and the biting of a viper For these manifold benefits it is the most profitable trée knowne to growe in those parts Also there be there certaine small birds named Vicmalim Their bill is small and long They liue of the dewe and the iuice of flowers and roses Their feathers be verie small and of diuers colours They be greatly estéemed to worke golde with They die or sléepe euerie yéere in the moneth of October fitting vpon a little bough in a warme and close place they reuiue or wake againe in the moneth of Aprill after that the flowers be sprung and therefore they call them the reuiued birds Likewise there be snakes in these parts which sound as though they had bels when they créepe There be other which engender at the mouth euen as they report of the viper There be hogges which haue a nauell on the ridge of their backs which assoone as they be killed and cut out will by and by corrupt and stinke Besides these there be certaine fishes which make a noyse like vnto hogs and will snort for which cause they be named snorters In the yéere 1538. and 1539. after that Diego de Almagro was beheaded the Marques Francis Pisarro was not idle For he sent straight one Peter de Baldiuia with a good companie of men to discouer and conquere the countrey of Chili He was wel receiued of those of the countrey but afterwards they rose against him and would haue killed him by treason Yet for all the warre that he had with them he discouered much land and the coast of the sea toward the southeast till he came into 40. degrées and more in latitude While he was in these discoueries he heard newes of a king called Leucengolma which commonly brought to the field two hundred thousand fighting men against another king his neighbour and that this Leucengolma had an Island and a temple therein with two thousand priestes and that beyond them were the Amazones whose Quéene was called Guanomilla that is to say The goldeu heauen But as yet there are none of these things discouered About this time Gomez de Aluarado went to conquer the prouince of Guanuco and Francis de Chauez went to subdue the Conchincos which troubled the towne of Truxillo and the countreyes adioyning Peter de Vergara went to the Bracamores a people dwelling toward the north from Quito Iohn Perez de Vergara went against the Ciaciapoians Alfonsus de Mercadiglio went vnto Mulubamba Ferdinando and Gonzaluo Pisarros went to subdue Collao a countrey very rich in gold Peter de Candia went to the lower part of Collao Peranzures also went to conquer the said countrey And thus the Spanyards dispersed themselues and conquered aboue seuen hundred leagues of countrey in a very short space though not without great trauailes and losse of men The countreyes of Brasill and Peru stand east and west almost 800. leagues distant The néerest is from the Cape of Saint Augustine vnto the hauen of Truxillo for they stand both almost in one parallele and latitude And the farthest is 950. leagues reckoning from the riuer of Peru to the streits of Magellan which places lie directly north south through which countrey passe certaine mountaines named the
Andes which diuide Brasill from the empire of the Ingas After this maner the mountaines of Taurus and Imaus diuide Asia into two parts which mountaines begin in 36. and 37. degrées of northerly latitude at the end of the Mediterran sea ouer against the Isles of Rhodes and Cyprus running still towards the East vnto the sea of China And so likewise the mountaines of Atlas in Africa diuide the tawnie Moores from the blacke Moores which haue frisled haire beginning at mount Meâ—es about the desert of Barca and running along vnder the Tropicke of Cancer vnto the Atlanticke Ocean The mountains of the Andes be high ragged and in some places barren without trées or grasse whereon it raineth and snoweth most commonly Vpon them are windes and sudden blastes there is likewise such scarcitie of wood that they make fire of turffes as they do in Flanders In some places of these mountaines and countries the earth is of diuers colours as blacke white red gréene blew yellow and violet wherewith they die colours without any other mixture From the bottomes of these mountaines spring many small and great riuers principally from the east side as appéereth by the riuers of the Amazones of S. Francis of Plata and many others which runne through the countrey of Brasil being larger then those of Peru or those of Castilia del oro There grow on these mountaines many turneps rapes and other such like rootes and herbes One there is like vnto Aipo or Rue which beareth a yellow flower and healeth all kinde of rotten sores and if you apply it vnto whole and cleane flesh it will eate it vnto the bone so that it is good for the vnsound and naught for the whole They say there be in these mountains tigers lions beares woolues wilde cats foxes Dante 's Ounces hogs and déere birdes as well rauenous as others and the most part of them are blacke as vnder the North both beasts birdes be white Also there be great terrible snakes which destroied a whole armie of the Ingas passing that way yet they say that an olde woman did inchant them in such sort that they became so gentle that a man might sit vpon one of them The countrey of Peru adioining vnto the mountaines of Andes westward toward the sea and containing 15. or 20. leagues in bredth is all of very hot sand yet fresh bringing foorth many good trées and fruites because it is well watered where there growe abundance of flags rushes herbes and trées so slender and loose that laying your hands vpon them the leaues will fall off And among these herbes and fresh flowers the men and women liue and abide without any houses or bedding euen as the cattell doe in the fields and some of them haue tailes They be grosse and weare long haire They haue no beards yet haue they diuers languages Those which liue on the tops of these mountains of Andes betwéene the cold and the heate for the most part be blinde of one eie and some altogether blinde and scarce you shall finde two men of them together but one of them is halfe blinde Also there groweth in these fields notwithstanding the great heate of the sand good Maiz and Potatos and an herbe which they name Coca which they carrie continually in their mouthes as in the East India they vse another herbe named Betele which also they say satisfieth both hunger and thirst Also there are other kindes of graines and rootes whereon they féede Moreouer there is plentie of wheate barly millet vines and fruitful trées which are brought out of Spaine and planted there For all these things prooue well in this countrey because it is so commodiously watered Also they sow much cotton wooll which of nature is white red blacke gréene yellow orange tawnie and of diuers other colours Likewise they affirme that from Tumbez southward it doth neither raine thunder nor lighten for the space of fiue hundred leagues of land but at some times there falleth some little shower Also it is reported that from Tumbez to Chili there breede no peacocks hennes cocks nor eagles falcons haukes kites nor any other kinde of rauening fowles and yet there are of them in all other regions and countreies but there are many duckes géese herous pigeons partriges quailes and many other kindes of birdes There are also a certaine kinde of fowle like vnto a ducke which hath no wings to flie withall but it hath fine thinne feathers which all the body Likewise there are bitters that make war with the seale or sea wolfe for finding them out of the water they will labour to picke out their eies that they may not sée to get to the water againe and then they doe kill them They say it is a pleasant sight to behold the fight betwéene the said bitters and seales With the beards of these seales men make cleane their téeth because they be wholesome for the toothach There are certaine beastes which those of the countrey call Xacos and the Spanyards shéepe because they beare wooll like vnto a shéepe but are made much like vnto a déere hauing a a saddle backe like vnto a camell They will carrie the burteen of 100. weight The Spanyards ride vpon them and when they be wearie they will turne their heads backward and void out of their mouthes a woonderful stinking water From the riuer of Plata and Lima southward there bréede no crocodiles nor lizards no snakes nor any kinde of vene mous vermine but great store of good fishes bréede in those riuers On the coast of Saint Michael in The South sea there are many rocks of salt couered with egges On the point of Saint Helena are certaine Well springs which cast foorth a liquor that serueth in stead of pitch and tarre They say that in Chili there is a fountaine the water whereof will conuert wood into stone In the hauen of Truxillo there is a lake of fresh water and the bottome thereof is of good hard salt In the Andes beyond Xauxa there is a riuer of fresh water in the bottome whereof there lieth white salt Also they affirme by the report of those of the countrey that there haue dwelt giants in Peru of whose statures they found in Porto viejo and in the hauen of Truxillo bones and iawes with téeth which were thrée and fower fingers long In the yeere 1540. the captaine Ferdinando Alorchon went by the commandement of the Viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoça with two ships to discouer the bottome of the gulfe of California and diuers other countries In this yeere 1540. Gonsaluo Pisarro went out of the citie of Quito to discouer the countrey of Canell or Cinamome a thing of great fame in that countrey He had with him two hundred Spanyards horsemen and footemen and thrée hundred Indians to carrie burthens He went forward til he came to Guixos which is the farthest place gouerned by the Ingas where there happened a great