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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	flower_n	root_n	stalk_n	1,862	5	10.9023	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53222	America : being the latest, and most accurate description of the new vvorld containing the original of the inhabitants, and the remarkable voyages thither, the conquest of the vast empires of Mexico and Peru and other large provinces and territories : with the several European plantations in those parts : also their cities, fortresses, towns, temples, mountains, and rivers : their habits, customs, manners, and religions, their plants, beasts, birds, and serpents : with an appendix containing, besides several other considerable additions, a brief survey of what hath been discover'd of the unknown south-land and the arctick region : collected from most authentick authors, augmented with later observations, and adorn'd with maps and sculptures / by John Ogilby ...	Ogilby, John, 1600-1676.; Montanus, Arnoldus, 1625?-1683. Nieuwe en onbekende weereld.	1671 (1671)	Wing O165; ESTC R16958	774,956	643

long Life in this World the greatest Good wherefore when any one dies the Friends and Relations make a doleful Cry and suffer the dead Body to lie three nay four Moneths before they bury them stuffing them full of strong smelling Herbs to keep them from putrifying Three days before their Interrment the nearest Allies meet kill a Sheep make Merry and throw the Body into a Hole near the Hut in which the Deceased dwelt putting also a piece of the slain Sheep and a Jug full of the Liquor Chica into the Grave Concerning their Idol Pillan to whom with strange Gestures they Sing divers Songs they believe that he is a Spirit of the Air and Governs all things on Earth Some suppose him to be Thunder and therefore they worship him in a most particular manner when they hear it Thunder for then they stick an Arrow and Stone Ax into the Ground and take Arms into their Hands putting themselves into a posture as if they should suddenly be set upon by a mighty Enemy and look'd upon it heretofore as a fore-running of the Spaniards approach whose Cruelties they exceedingly dreaded They call all their Hero's Pillans and ascribe Divine powers to them They take very much strong Tobacco the Smoak whereof puffing in the Air with strange Gestures they cry Receive this O Pillan Their cruel usage of Prisoners When they return home Conquerors from any Victory they put a Stone Ax into the Ground and standing Arm'd round about the same Drink exceedingly and sing a Song in honor of Pillan They use their Prisoners very cruelly for forcing them to Dance and make Merry amongst them they on a sudden cleave their Heads with an Ax pull their Hearts out of their Bodies and bite the same with their Teeth After the same manner they punish their Robbers and Traitors but those that have good store of Chica to Present the Governors with escape the Execution Yet this cannot buy off Sorcerers or Witches who are without mercy burnt alive with all they enjoy'd They have no Priests nor any that pretend to any religious Function onely those that can Sing the Pawary well are in great esteem amongst them Their second Deity Maruapeante they say informs them in a Dream when they must Marry but he doth not do them this kindness before they have made themselves Drunk and sung Sonnets to his praise This Countrey is Govern'd by prime Persons call'd Ulmen or peculiar Lords call'd Curacen The Ulmens and Curacens Command twenty five sometimes fifty a hundred Families Their Power consists in calling all the People together and consulting with them about State-Affairs which they dare not do with any particular Person nor Levy any Tax without extraordinary occasion They are bound to march in the Front of their Subjects against an Enemy and are under a Governor-General call'd Apocurace or under a Nentoque Other lesser Offices are dispos'd of by the Curaces or Pulmes but their Netonques are chosen after this manner viz. The manner of chusing the Nentoque When that honorable Place is vacant then whoever aims at it computes with himself whether his Means will extend so far as to treat the Curaces and Pulmenes with a noble Treat which if he is able to do then he sends for them to an appointed place whither they all go Arm'd and whilest they are eating and drinking he that desires the Place begins to tell them of his noble Extract valiant Exploits Riches and eminent Relations and therefore desires the Place of the deceased Nentoque then the Curace rising the intended Nentoque hangs a Chain of Turkoises or Cockle-shells about his Neck whereupon the Curace moves the rest to the Election without any Articles the new Nentoque onely promising to Govern all things for the best advantage and benefit of the common State which done the Curace takes the Chain of Turkoises and distributes them amongst the primest Persons of Quality and so they end the Day in Drinking Dancing and Singing After the same manner they chuse an Apocurace or prime Governor which of late the Uca's that they may enjoy the more Priviledge themselves have not elected The Chileses Arms consist of Lances as long again as the Europeans Their Arms. made sharp at the Points They also use Clubs plated with Iron and Spanish Swords The Pulches who dwell behind the high Mountains Cordilbra use poyson'd Arrows make Helmets and Breastplates of Ox-hides which neither Sword nor Arrow can enter they all know how to manage a Horse and the use of a Lance but are very much afraid of Musquets or Fire-locks Because they can neither write nor read the Governor by a faithful Messenger sends to his inferior Officers such Commands as he judges may tend to the most advantage of the Publick both in Peace and War This Messenger carries an Arrow with a Ribbon as a Sign of his Employment the Arrow is held in the Right-hand and if he who receives it will answer the Message then he sends back the same Arrow with another but if he judges it convenient to acquaint any other Curaces and Pulmenes with the same Message then he sends one of his own Servants to them with the same Arrow A particular Account of Chili As touching the Climate and Production of Chili this Account is given by an Eye-witness The Winter Season saith he is so tempestuous that sometimes the Trees are not onely blown up by the Roots but the Earth it self is rent asunder some Valleys being fill'd with Snow swell the Rivers exceedingly when it melts which overflowing part of the Countrey makes the same very fruitful It is also extream cold here because such sharp Winds blow from the Mountains that they pierce through the Skin and Flesh of a Man and indeed these Winds would make the whole Countrey desolate were not the Mountains overgrown with great Oaken Trees against which the Wind breaks Moreover the Valleys produce Coals which serve the Inhabitants for Fewel The Winter bereaves the Trees of Leaves but not those which grow in the Wildernesses In March the Fields are full of innumerable sorts of sweet-smelling Flowers out of some whereof are boyl'd the Angel-Water so call'd for its smell and wholsom taste The Grass grows in November and December as high as our standing Corn. Turnips Mint Clover and Mustard-seed grow naturally for several Leagues together Likewise excellent Physical Herbs grow here whose power and operation their Doctors call'd Maci keep from the Spaniards These Maci are in great esteem not onely amongst the Chileses but also the Spaniards for their great skill in Physick Amongst these Herbs the chiefest is call'd Quincia-mali which grows but half a hands-breadth above the Ground and spreads into several Stalks like a Nosegay and on each Stalk is a Saffron-colour'd Flower This Herb pull'd up with the Root and boyl'd and the Decoction given to any one that is bruis'd within works most wonderfully for it draws out the putrifi'd Blood

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 ●●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 ●●dicated to the 〈◊〉 Sebastian and Blas●●● The Cloysters of Franciscan and 〈…〉 are 〈◊〉 small Ornament to the City Besides other stately Structures are the Resid●●● 〈…〉 the Receivers of the Kings Revenues to which the Peruvians that live a●●●●● 〈◊〉 being computed no less than fifty thousand in number ●ay Tri●●● and to keep them in subjection the City Quito is always well stor●d with a●● 〈◊〉 of Ammunition and Instruments of War The chiefest Trade h●●● 〈…〉 Goats and other Cattel Cotton-Clothes Cloth Flax Ha●s 〈…〉 ●●gar and Salt which Salt being grey and bitter springs out of a Fountain in 〈◊〉 Coun●●y Mira. The Oyl Wine and Drugs which are us'd here are fetch●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

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

but also of this Coast of Nova Francia not taking notice it seems of Sebastian Cabot under Henry the Seventh The chief places of Note in this Countrey are 1. Port Royal a Colony of French said to have been Planted there by Monsieur de Montz in 1604. by report capable of receiving a thousand Ships and in 1613. the French being driven out by Sir Samuel Argal Governor of Virginia who took Prisoners Biard and Masse and demolish'd the Fort at Port Royal given by Patent as aforemention'd to Sir William Alexander afterwards by him sold again to the French then in the time of Oliver Cromwel re-taken by Major Sedgwick lastly re-possess'd by the French 2. St. Luke's Bay or Portua Mouton 3. Gaspe or Gachepe 4. The Haven of Passepay 5. The Bay de Toutes Isles 6. The Fort de la Heve 7. The Cape of Sable Within the Southern Point Forchu lies the Isle Longu which boasts of a Silver Mine The most noted People of the ancient Inhabitants of Accadie were the Iroquois lying most South-Westerly upon the Sea Coast who us'd to drive a great Trade in Beavers and other Commodities Westerly before the River Chovacoet lies Bacchus Isle full of Vineyards Remarkable manner of living The Inhabitants thereof differ very much from other Salvages for they shave all the Hair from the Crown of their Head wear long Locks behind pleited together and stuck full of Feathers Paint their Faces black and red go arm'd with Clubs Bows Pikes and Arrows pointed with Fish-bones They Till their Ground very handsomly and divide their Fields with Hedges they Plant Tob●cco Vines Cabbages Maiz and divers Colour'd Beans the stalks of the Maiz serve in stead of Poles for their Beans to run up upon Beyond Cape de Rocher lies the brave Harbor Beauport which is secur'd from all Winds by an Isle which lies in the midst of it The Countrey Manur'd in most places and Fruitful feeds store of Men and Cattel The Haven of Malabar is surrounded in a manner with little Huts cover'd with Mats which in the Middle of the Room have a hole for the Smoke to go out at The Southern shore is Sandy and very dangerous For the more full exemplification of what concerns this part of Nova Francia we shall conclude with an account of all Material Passages relating to the French from their own Narrations as followeth THe first discoverer of this Coast was Jaques Quartier Quartier's Expedition sent out Anno 1534. by the French King Francis the First in which Expedition he spent five Months and going from thence to St. Male discover'd the Inlet Lawrence Terreneuf and Natiscotec The following year prosecuting his Voyage he Sail'd into the great River Canada and Winter'd near St. Croix Scurvy when known where he lost divers of his Men by the Scurvy a Distemper till that time altogether unknown and such was his condition that none of his Men had escap'd with life had not the Inhabitants taught him to cure the same with the Bark and Leaves of the Tree Annedda with which many recovering Quartier Weigh'd Anchor and treacherously carry'd the King Donnacona with many of his Nobles Prisoners to France but most of them dying Quartier brought only a few of them back with him in his third Voyage six years after the first when arriving in the Haven St. Croix he cast up a strong Fort which he nam'd Charlesbourg Royal where he staid a whole Winter Joan de la Roque whom the French King had made Governor of Quartier's new-discover'd Countries Sailing thither with three Ships met with Quartier's Fleet near Terreneuf from whence he was then going home because he saw no hopes of subduing the Salvages with so small a Force as he had brought with him from France Exploit of de la Roque But de la Roque endeavoring to make a further discovery of Canada Sail'd up the River Saguenay where spending both time and Money he was Commanded home by the French King and the fruitless Expeditions lay dead till about 1604. Of de Monts When Peter de Monts obtaining Letters Patents to Trade for Furs in the foremention'd Countries Sail'd with two Ships beyond Accadie up St. Lawrence Bay where he Landed on the Isle St. Croix where of ninety seven Men with which he staid there a whole Winter he lost thirty five but having fresh Supplies sent him from France he remov'd to Port Royal where leaving forty Men he return'd home these forty being reduc'd to twenty three and in great want walking along the Sea-shore in a despairing condition espy'd a Ship coming up with full Sail which upon nearer approach prov'd a French Vessel Of Poutrincourt of which Poutrincourt was Commander who receiving his wretched Countrey-men with great joy took them with him to Port Royal being sent thither on purpose to settle a Plantation in Accadie Mean while the Letters Patent granted to Monts being call'd in the first Planters in Port Royal were forc'd to desert the same and return home and also Poutrincourt returning came back again three years after to Port Royal where finding the Houses standing as he had left them he Manur'd the Countrey all about and endeavoring to Plant Christianity among the Natives Christen'd among others an Accadian Lord who was above a hundred years old all which Poutrincourt Sailing back to France related at the Court. Remarkable Transactions of some Jesuits The Jesuits being also inform'd thereof obtain'd leave of the Queen to send Peter Biard and Euemond Masse thither on pretence that Henry the Fourth had himself promis'd them the same Priviledge in his Life time But the Merchants at Diep which were concern'd in the new Plantations with Poutrincourt opposing the going over of the foremention'd Jesuits express'd themselves very violent against them and laid to their charge the Blood of the late King which they said was yet reaking in Paris What assurance alleadg'd they had their Goods which were in the Custody of Men inclin'd to the Spaniards Must the Christian Religion be promulgated There are so many Orders of Monks which may easily produce two Men but if the Queen was resolv'd to send Jesuits thither they desir'd restauration of the Monies which they had disburs'd To which Biard and Masse harkening gather'd up the demanded Monies under pretence of being requir'd towards the Preaching of the Christian Religion amongst these remote Heathens by this means getting great Sums they bought out the foremention'd Merchants so that the new Plantations fell half to the Jesuits who setting Sail and arriving at Port Royal turn'd all things topsiturvy and so thwarted Poutrincourt in his designs that he was forc'd to complain to the French Court of the Jesuits oppression whose aim it was to get all things into their own Possession whereupon they Excommunicated Poutrincourt's Son who serv'd in his Father's place at Court and gain'd the Duke Guereheville in France to be of their Party by promising him that he should share

is Tabasco bounded on the North by the Northern Ocean and on the East with Jucatan and however some account it a distinct Province yet others make no mention of it letting it pass for that part of Jucatan which lies about the City Tabasco from which it seems to be denominated The Ground level and without Mountains hath many great Woods of Cedar-Trees Brasile and others Here are also many good Indian Fruits as the Manmeyes Zapotes Aguacates and Guajabos For three Moneths they have continually dry Weather the rest of the year being for the most part rainy which vicissitude of Moisture and Heat makes the Countrey exceeding fruitful insomuch that they have three or four Harvests of Maiz in a year Vines Figs Lemmons Oranges Rice Barley and all sorts of Garden-Herbs grow here also in great plenty The Pools Brooks and Lakes abound likewise with all manner of Fish and for Sea-Fish besides the Tortugas and Yguanras the Manae or Sea-Cow is of principal note The Fish Manate This Fish is terrible to behold having a Head like an Ox little Eyes two Feet near the Head in stead of Fins two round Holes in stead of Ears round bones like Balls in its Brains a short Tail and bristly Skin The Females have two Dugs with which they suckle their Young Peacocks Pheasants Parrots Quales Hens Pigeons Birds with several sorts of Birds altogether unknown to the Europeans are here in great abundance The Woods also abound with Tygers and Lyons Beasts which do no little hurt to the Inhabitants Wild Hogs Deer and Rabbets are likewise here in great plenty and Turtles of an exceeding bigness Likewise Apes Polecats and Squerrils which do very much hurt to the Fruit-Trees especially the Cacao The Musticho's are a great annoyance to the People and disturb their rest at Night Languages of the Natives Since the Spaniards have conquer'd Tabasco they have forc'd the Inhabitants to observe their Laws and Customs They speak three sorts of Languages amongst which that most us'd call'd Chontal is copious of Words The second Zoques is spoken on the Mountains which divide Chiapa and Tabasco The Mexican Tongue was first brought thither by the Garrisons which Muteczuma plac'd there in the Forts Zimatlan and Xicalango and is the most spoken in regard it hath not onely its Accents but is also of great use partly because it is understood in most places of America and partly because the Priests have made Songs in that Tongue with which the Tabascans are much delighted The chief City Nostra Sennora de la Vittoria already mention'd in Jucatan was so call'd by Ferdinand Cortesius from the great Victory which he obtain'd over the Indians when he march'd first towards Mexico The Idols in New Spain are represented in terrible Figures to which they Offer humane Sacrifices The Priests divided into higher or lower Orders acknowledge a supream Head which they call Papas Each Idol had a peculiar sort of Priests Those that serv'd Viztlipuzli obtain'd their Places by Inheritance but others were chose by the Commonalty unless they had been bred Priests from their In●ancy Cloysters dedicated to the ancient Mexican Religion The Mexican Cloysters in the time of Heathenism were generally built in the chiefest Temples in a great Piazza or square Court where for the most part two Monastical Houses stood one against another the one inhabited by a Fraternity of Recluses and the other by a Sisterhood which last being Maids of twelve or thirteen years of age call'd The Penitential Daughters swept the Temple prepar'd Meat for the Idols and Priests which was plentifully supply'd from the Alms and Offerings that were daily brought in to the Priests consisting of little Cakes made like Hands and Feet besides other strange Meats which being set before the Idols was soon after taken away again and eaten up by the were under a Governess who employ'd them in making Embroideries to adorn the Temple and sometimes rose up with the Priests at Mid-night and play'd on Pipes perfum'd the Temple and scourg'd themselves till the Blood ran down their Backs besmearing their Faces therewith and leaving it on a whole year then going into a large Chamber where a Cistern stood for that purpose they wash'd it off again after which if they committed the least uncleanness they were put to a most miserable Death which was judg'd upon seeing a Rat run through the Nuns Chamber or a Batt flying by it or finding any piece of Cloth gnaw'n by a Mouse or Rat for they suppose that the fore-mention'd Creatures dare not come into a hallow'd place unless defil'd In this recluse manner they were onely confin'd to live a year which being expir'd they had free leave to Marry The House opposite to the Nuns in the same square place of the Temple was inhabited by Youths of eighteen and twenty years of age whose Heads were shaven like Monks and pleited Tufts hung from the Crown down to their Backs they liv'd also mean and chaste kept the Priests Clothes and Perfuming-Vessels carried Wood for Offerings and kept always burning Lamps before Viztlipuztli's Altar Amongst them were also Boys of a less Age whose Office was to gather Flowers and Herbs to strow the Temple with to sharpen the Priests Lances which they Let themselves Blood with every Night in the Legs and carry them Water These Youths Cloth'd in Nets fell on their Faces on the Ground when they met with a Woman and went four and four or six and six together to beg Alms and by turns watch'd the fore-mention'd Fire in the Morning they drew Blood out of their Thighs with which they anointed their Temples down to their Ears and when the Blood look'd black wash'd it off again in a consecrated Bath which their strict and severe Life endur'd a whole Year Mexican Religion abhorr'd by the neighboring People The particular Religion of the Mexicans compos'd of cruel slaughters and butcheries of Men reign'd a long time against the minds of the other Indians that were under their Dominion every one beginning more to abhor the cruel flaying of living People and tearing out the Hearts of Men for Offerings and the rather because they were forc'd to fetch them out of their Enemies Countrey with the hazard of their own Lives insomuch that they were ready long before to have embraced another Doctrine if any other Teacher had but appear'd amongst them which was the chief reason why they so easily receiv'd the Roman Religion for when Cortesius had conquer'd the City Mexico the Mechoacan Agents entreated him to send them Teachers to prescribe them Laws according to which they might live because their Idolatry which had long oppress'd them was not to be suffer'd any longer because of the Cruelties which were requir'd of them in the performance thereof Their Processions Their Processions were stately and after this manner The chiefest Nuns raising a Paste of Bledoi-Seed and parched Maiz kneaded it with Honey of