of the newe Mexico CHAP. XI Departing from the citie of Mexico they go vnto the port of Acapulco in the south sea whereas they doo imbarke themselues from the Ilandes Philippinas they passe by the Ilandes of theeues and do declare the rites and condition of that people FRom the citie of Mexico they go to imbarke themselues or take shipping at the port of Acapulco which is in the south sea and is eleuated from the poole nineteen degrées and ninetie leagues from the citie of Mexico in al which way there be many townes inhabited with Indians and Spaniards Being departed from this port they sayle towards the south west till they come into twelue degrées a halfe to séeke prosperous wind to serue their turne which the marriners do call Brizas and are northerly windes which are there of such continuance so fauourable that being in the moneths of Nouember December and Ianuarie they haue no néede to touch their sayles which is the occasion that they do make their voyages with so great ease So that for that for the fewe stormes that happened in that passage they do cal it the mar de Damas which is the sea of Ladies They sayle alwayes towards the west following the sunne when as she departeth from our hemispherie In this south sea they sayle fortie daies without séeing anie lande at the end whereof they came to the Ilandes of Velas which by an other name are called de los Ladrones there are seuen or eight of them they do lye north and south and are inhabited with much people in the order as you shall vnderstand These Ilands are in 12. degrées but there are different opinions of the leagues y t are betwixt the port of Acapulco those Ilands for vnto this day there is none that hath vnderstood the certâ—â—ntie thereof for that their nauigation lieth from the east vnto the west whose degrées there haue bin none y t â—uer could measure Some say this iourney hath a thousande and seuen hundred leagues others a thousand and eight hundred but the opinions of the first we vnderstand to be most certaine All these Ilands are inhabited with white people of comely faces like vnto those of Europa but not of their bodies for that they are as bigge as gyants and of so great force and strength for one of them hath taken two Spaniardes of a good stature the one by one foot and the other by the other with his handes hath lifted them both from the grounde with so great ease as though they had bin two children They go naked from top to too as well women as men yet some of them were woont to weare an aporne made of a deares skinne before them of halfe a yeard long for honesties sake but they are but a fewe in nuÌ„ber in respect of those y t weare nothing before them The weapons which they do vse be sâ—inges darts hardened in the fire and are with both the one and the other very expert throwers They do maintaine themselues with fish which they do take on the coast and of wild beasts which they do kill in the mountaines in ouertaking of them by swiftnesse of foot In these Ilands there is one the strangest custome that euer hath bin heard of or séene in all the whole world which is that vnto the young men there is a time limited for them to marrie in according vnto their custome in all which time they may fréely enter into the houses ofsuch as are married and be there with their wiues without being punished for y e same although their proper husbands should sée them they doo carrie in their handes a staffe or rodde when they do enter into the married mans house they doo leaue it standing at the doore in such sort that if any do come after they may plainly sée it which is a token that although it be her proper husband he cannot enter in till it be taken away The which custome is obserued and kept with so great rigour and force that whosoeuer is against this lawe all the rest do kill him In all these Ilands there is not as yet knowen neyther king nor lord whom the rest should obey which is the occasion that euery one do liue as he list and at his pleasure These Ilandes were woont to haue warre the one with the other when occasion did force them as it happened at such time as the Spaniardes were there in the port of the said Iland there came abord their ships to the number of two hundred small barkes or botes in the which came many of the inhabitants thereof to sell vnto them of the ships hens nuts called cocos patatas and other thinges of that Iland and to buy other such things as our people did carrie with them but in especiall yron vnto the which they are very much affectionated and vnto things of chrystall and such like of small estimation But there grew a great contention amongest them which people of what Ilande should first come vnto the shippes and was in such order that they fell vnto blowes and wounded the one the other maruellously more liker beastes than men of the which there were many slaine in the presence of the Spaniards and would neuer leaue off their contention a good while till in the end by way of peace they consented a conclusion amongest themselues but with a great noyse which was that those of one Iland should go to the larbord of the ship and those of the other Iland should go to the starbord with the which they were pacified and did buy and sel at their pleasure But at their departure from our people in recompence of their good intertainment they threw into the ship of their dartes hardened with fire with the which they did hurt many of theÌ„ that were aboue hatches yet went they not away scotfrée for that our people with their hargabushes did paye them in readie money their bold attempt These people do more estéeme yron than siluer or golde and gaue for it fruites nnames patatas fish rise ginger hennes and many gallant mattes very well wrought and all almost for nothing Thâ—se Ilandes are verie fertile and healthfull and very easie to bee conquered vnto the fayth of Christ. If that at such time as the ships doo passe that way vnto Manilla they would leaue there some religious men with souldiers to garde them till the next yeare and might be doone with small cost It is not as yet knowen what ceremonies and rites they do obserue for that there is none that doo vnderstande their language neither hath any béene on those Ilandes but onely as they haue passed by which is the occasion that they cannot be vnderstood The language which they doo vse to any mans iudgement is easie to be learned for that their pronunciation is verie plaine they call ginger asno and for to say take away your hargabush they say arrepeque
the kingdom they should neuer haue séene them for they haue great care that any other nations should know their secrets their manner of gouernâ—ment and liuing CHAP. XVII Here it doth intreat of the mightinesse goodnesse riches and fortitude of the kingdome of China THis kingdome is vnder the tropike of Capricorne and stretched foorth on the sea coast south west and north-northeast more than fiue hundreth leagues it hath on the partes south west the kingdome of Cochinchina and on the north east it dooth confine on Tartaria a kingdome which dooth compasse the most part of the lande on the other part to the northwest there is an other mightie kingdome of white people which is beyonde the kingdome of Persia it is called Catay there be in it Christians and the king thereof is called Manuell It is sayd of a truth that from the furthest part of this kingdome vnto Ierusalem is sixe moneths trauaile by lande the which they vnderstoode by certaine Indians which came from that kingdome by Persia whose testimonials were made in Ierusalem sixe moneths before wherein was declared how that they had trauelled by Arabia felix and passed the red sea The other fourth part of this kingdome is compassed with a verie asper and high mountaine which is fiue hundreth leagues vpon a right line but nature had left certaine places open towards the northwest which might be fourscore leagues little more or lesse towards the sea of Iapon which is towards the Septentrion The great riches of this countrie and the great number of people that be therein did supplie the same as in the first part of this historie is more at large declared And for that the king of this countrie séeing himselfe oppressed and troubled by the mightie Tartaro seemed that easily he might defende himselfe from him in shutting vp of those gates which nature had left open betwixt the mountaines he did shut it vp with the death of many thousande of people for that hee vsed therein great tyrannie which afterwardes was the occasion of his owne death This mountaine with the supply by man is the famous wall of the kingdom of China that is of fiue hundred leagues long yet you must vnderstande it in the manner aforesaide the better to giue credite thereunto for alonely fâ—ure score leagues were made by mans handes with great industrie and there is vpon it an infinite number of bulwarkes which maketh it the more fayrer and stronger But yet not so strong as is the other four hundreth and twentie leagues which were made by nature Nigh vnto the same there is a great desert full of ditches and lakes of water which is the occasion that this kingdome hath béene conserued for more than two thousand yeares as doth appeare by their owne histories which they holde to bee verie true All is imparted into fiftéene prouinces with that of Aynao and euerie one of them hath a principall Citie of the which it beareth the name In the middest of this kingdome there is a great lake out of the which proceedeth many great and mightie riuers which runne through all the kingdome and are so big that there sayleth vp and downe in them barkes sregats brigandines and many other vessels of an other kinde of making This great abundance of water is the occasion that it is so sertile and so well prouided of all thinges and againe the most part of their cities and townes are situated on the riuers side so that by them the one prouince doth communicate with an other carrying the one vnto the other great store of marchandice and other thinges of great curiositie and is done with little cost for that all things are done very good cheape This sea cost of this kingdome is the biggest and the best that is knowen in all the world there is vpoÌ„ it fiue prouinces which be these of Canton Chincheo Liampon Nanquin and that of Paquian which is the furthest towardes the northwest in the which is resident the king and his counsel with all his court ordinarily and the most part of the men of warre that it hath for that this prouince doth confine vpon the Tartaros their enimies Some will say that the kings ordinarie dwelling there is for that it is the best and most fertilest of all the kingdome But I beleeue according to the saying of some of the Chinos that he doth it not but because it is so nigh vnto Tartaria and to finde himselfe there whereas hee may supply all necessities which might happen vpon a soddaine by his enimies In these riuers there are certaine Ilandes the which are very profitable vnto all the kingdome for that there is nourished brought vp in them great store of deare hogges and other beasts which is the occasion that the cities are so well prouided and serued But one of the things which causeth most admiration to theÌ„ that go to this kingdome is to see so infinite a number of ships and barkes that be in euerie port thereof and are so many that there hath béene a man in the citie of Machao that hath layde a wager that alonely in the riuer of Canton there be more ships and vessels than in all the cost of Spaine One thing I may affirme that I haue heard declared by persons of great credite that haue béene in that kingdome but in especiall of the father Ignacio whom I do follow in this Itinerario that it is an easie thing in any one of these fiue prouinces that be vpon the sea cost to ioyne together a thousande ships of warre and all of them as they say in Spaine dedicated for that purpose The occasion why there be so many is alreadie declared in his proper chapter There are diuers opinions touching the greatnesse of this kingdome but the most are conformable with the father fryer Martin de Herrada who like a good Geomatrician and Mathematician went nighest the pricke This opinion is declared in the first part of this historie whereunto I referre me and in that which toucheth in particular things of that kingdom for that it is there declared at large as it was taken out of their bookes But one thing I cannot let passe but declare for that it séemeth woorthie to make thereof a particular memorie and I vnderstood it by the mouth of the said father Ignacio which is that he doth affirme it to bee certaine true approued that euery day in the yeare one with an other besides wars and the plague the which in this countrio they remember not to haue any neither do they find written in their histories for 2000. yeares neither by famin nor any other accidentall occasions to consume the people yet doth there die many thousands of people both smal great in al the fiftéen prouinces of this kingdome which is no small griefe vnto theÌ„ who with a christian zeale doth consider this heauie tribute of so many soules that the diuell doth recouer eueriâ—
that it séemed a whole legion of diuels had taken holde on both sides of the shippe forcing the one against the other that it rowled in such sort that many times the halfe decke was in the water so that the marriners could not stand vpon their féete but were driuen to sustaine themselues by the ropes cavels But the religious men trusting in God whose zeale had caused them this great trouble did pray and desire him with many teares that hee would deliuer them out of the same daunger and not to giue place vnto the diuell for to disturbe them of their voyage and enterprise Those their orations and prayers did so much preuaile with certaine coniurations which they made against the diuels whoÌ„ they thought they did see visibly that after midnight the north winde ceased and began to blowe at the north east with the which the sea began to waxe calme so y t they might make their way to be east north-northeast for that they had intelligence that that course was the shortest cut to the firme land This winde which was so fauourable vnto theÌ„ did increase so much in two houres that the sea waxed loftie and caused them to forget the sorrowe past and constrained them for that the shippe was but small to cut their mast ouer borde and to put themselues vnto the courtesie of the sea with little hope to escape the danger But our Lorde whose zeale did mooue them to attempt that iourney did direct their voyage in such sort that the next day â—ollowing it came to be calme in such sort that they might set vp a newe mast in the place of that which was cut ouer borde in the storme and therewith to nauigate forwardes with their begunne voyage So vpon the fryday following at the breake of the day they sawe lande and thinking that it had béene the firme lande of China they gaue thankes vnto God and reioyced in such sort that they had cleane forgotten the troubles of the stormes and foule weather passed so they made towards it and came thither about noone but when they were a shore they found that it was but a small Iland and situated foure leagues from the firme lande and for that it was so nigh a farre off it séemed to be all one thing But when they came vnto this Ilande they did discouer many ships which were so many in nuÌ„ber that it séemed all the sea to be couered with theÌ„ The friers with the great desire they had for to knowe in what port they were they coÌ„manded to gouerne their ship towardes whereas they were who when they saw them could not know theÌ„ by the strangenes of their ship and sailes they did fly from them all that euer they could The which ouâ— men perceiuing could not imagine the cause thereof they were very much agréeued and sorrowfull and the more for that they could not learne nor vnderstand where they were But séeing nigh vnto them to the lewarde thrée ships they made towardes them and wheÌ„ they were somwhat nigh they put themselues as the others did In this sort they spent all the rest of the day in going from one port to an other vnto those ships for to infirme theÌ„selues where they were but all this diligence preuailed them nothing at all till it was almost sunne set they entred with their frigat into a gut vnder the shore whereas fell from a high rocke which was more than one hundreth fatham by estimation a streme of water which was as bigge as the bodies of two men together In this gut there was thrée other ships and they came to an anker in the middest amongest them the which beeing done they asked of them what countrie that was but they answered nothing nor made any semblance but looked the one vpon the other in beholding of the Spaniards they gaue great laughters In this gut they remained all that night almost amased to sée how those people were as though they were inchanted and they without any light of their desire which was to knowe wher they were So y e next day folowing which was saterday verie early in the morning they set sayle and went amongest a great sort of Ilandes alwayes bearing vnto them which they thought to be the firme lande being greatly amarueiled to sée the infinite number of shippes both great and small that they sawe some were a fishing and some vnder sayle and other some ryding at an anker The same day about noone there happened vnto them a strange miraculous thing and it was that passing through a straight that was but a quarter of a league of bredth which was betwixt the firme lande and a small Ilande in the which was continually foure score ships of warre sette there for watch and warde they passed thorough the thickest of them and were neuer seene for if they hadde without all doubt they had sonke them or slaine them their order and commission is so straight giuen them by their generalles of the sea in the which they are commanded that whatsoeuer kinde of people of strange nations that they do méete vpon the coast for to kill them or sinke them except they do bring licence from some gouernor of such Cities as be vpon the coast for that such as do meane to haue trafickâ— doo sende to demande the same leauing their ships a great way at sea This lawe for to watch and warde was made and ordayned as they do say in respect of the Iapones who did enter into certaine of their portes dissembling themselues to be Chinos being apparelled as they were and speaking their language they did vnto them great and strange hurtes and damages as is declared in the booke before this So when they were passed this straight they sayled almost sixe leagues forwardes into a verie fayre and great bay following other shippes that went before them for that it seemed that they would enter into some port and there they might informe themselues where they were which was the thing that they most desired When they had sayled about two leagues in this bay they ouertooke one of the thrée shippes and asked of the people that were within her by the interpreter they had with them whether they sayled and what lande that was which they sawe before them Then the principall that was in that ship did put himselfe into his boat the which hee had at sterne and came vnto the ship where the Spaniardes were the better to vnderstande what they did demand for they before by reason that they were somewhat farre off the one from the other could not vnderstande the Spaniards demand but by signes So when that he vnderstoode their request he answered them that it was the country of China how that he came laden with salt from the citie of Chincheo and went to make sale thereof vnto the citie of Canton which was so nigh hand that they might ariue there before night But when
chance and haue bin séene of some there abouts declared vnto theÌ„ y e secret of y e mysterie froÌ„ whence I do gather that either this Iland is imagined or inchaunted or else there is in it other some great mysterie for the which to giue credite vnto it or to varie from the truth it shal be wisedome not to proceed any further but to conclude in y t which toucheth y e Ilandes of Canarias aforesaid The clyme and temperature of them all is excellent good and hath abundance of al necessary sustenance for mans life There is gathered in them verie much wheate and other séedes and wine there is also made verie much sugar there is nourished and brought vp great store of cattell and that verie good But in especiall Camelles whereof there is great store Also all kinde of sustenance is better cheape there then in Spaine All these Ilandes are inhabited with Spaniardes whereas they doo liue verie pleasantly amongest whome at this day there be some that be naturall of the Guanchas aforesaid who be verie much Spaniarde like The principall of all these seuen Ilandes is the Gran Canaria in the which is a bishoppe and a Cathedrall Church and counsell of the inquisition and royall audience from the which dependeth the gouernement of all the other sixe Ilands CHAP. II. They do depart from the Ilands of Canaria for the Ilande of Santo Domingo otherwise called Hispaniola and do declare of certaine things in the way thitherward AFtâ—r that the fléetes or shippes had taken refreshing in the Ilandes of Canarias aforesayde they departed from thence sayling by the same Rutter vntill they come vnto an Ilande called the Desseada which is fiftéene degrées from the Equinoctiall eyght hundreth and thirtie leagues from the Canarias all which is sayled without séeing any other land they are sayling of the same ordinarily eight and twentie and thirtie dayes This Iland Desseado was called by that name by reason that the gulâ—e is great and so many daies sayling that when they do sée it is that after that they haue verie much desired the same so that Desseado is as much to say as desired This Iland hath nigh about it many other Ilandes one of the which is that which is called La Dominica which is peopled and inhabited by certaine Indians who are called Caribes by such as do nauigate that way which are a kind of people that doo eate humaine flesh they are very expert archers very cruell they do annoint their arrowes with a deadly earth so ful of poison that the wound the which is made therewith can not be healed by any humaine remedie This Ilande is in fiftéene degrées It is verie little and not of much people yet notwithstanding it hath béene the death of many Spaniardes both men and women such as haue come thither in shippes not knowing the daunger thereof haue gone a shore for fresh water or else to wash their lynnen and vppon a soddaine vn looked for haue béene be set by the Indios who haue slaine them and after eaten them and they say that it is very sweete flesh and sauorie so that it be not of a Fryer for of fryers by no meanes they will eate nor would not after that happened vnto them as hereafter followeth There was a ship that was bound vnto the firme land and did arriue at that Ilande in the which went two religious Fryers of the order of Saint Francis and hauing no care as aforesayde but very desirous to be a lande they went a shore without any feare or suspition of any harme that might happen vnto them and being at a riuer side sporting themselues with great recreation by reason of the freshnesse thereof easing themselues of the long and painefull nauigation which they had comming from the Ilandes of the Canarias vnto that place when the Caribes did sée them without any feare vpon a soddaine they descended from a mountayne and did kill them all without leauing any person aliue Many dayes they made great feastes and bankets eating of those bodies which they had slaine some sodde and some roasted as their pleasure was So on a day they would amongest them eate one of the fathers who was very faire and white but all that did eate of him in a little space did swell marueilously and did die madde with great gaspings that it was woonderfull to sée so that from that time they remaine as warned neuer for to eate any more of the like flesh Of these euils they haue committed an infinite number and haue at this day with them many Spaniardes both men and women whose liues they pardoned for to serue their vses or euilles because they were verie young of the which they say that some haue fled away They go naked like vnto the Indians and doo speake their language and are almost conuerted vnto their nature This great inconuenience might be remedied if that it did please his maiestie to command some generall that were bound vnto the firme land or vnto the new Spaine to make abode there a fewe dayes and to roote â—ut and make cleane that Ilande of so euill wicked people which were a good déede and they doo well deserue it and to giue libertie vnto the poore Christians that are there captiue a great companie of them And it is saide of a truth that some of them be of good calling There can none goe a lande on this Ilande but straightwayes they are discouered by such ordinarie spyes as they doo put to watch And if they do sée that those which doo come a land are many in number and that they can not hurt them they doo remaine in the highest part of the mountayne or else amongest the thickest of woods and bushes till such time as the shippes do depart which is so soone as they haue taken fresh water or fire wood They are great traytors and when they sée oportunitie they giue the assalt in the manner as hath béene tolde you and doo very much harme Nigh vnto this Ilande Dominica towardes the northwest is the Ilande of S. Iohn de Puerto rico the which is in eightéene degrées it is fortie and sixe leagues long and fiue twentie leagues brode and in compasse about an hundred and fiftie leagues There is in it great store of kyne verie much sugar and ginger and yéeldeth very much wheate It is a lande of verie much golde and is not laboured nor taken out of the earth for lacke of people it hath verie good hauens and portes towardes the south and towardes the north onely one the which is sure and good in respect whereof the Spaniardes did giue the name vnto the whole Ilande Puerto rico taking the name of the port or hauen In it there is foure townes of Spaniardes a bishoppe and a cathedrall church and he that is prelat at this day is the reuerend father don fryer Diego de Salamanca of the order
which is called the Cape of San Anton they doo put two hundreth and fiue and twenty leagues of Longitude and of Latitude sixe and thirty it is inhabited with Spaniards who conuerted all the rest vnto the faith of Christ there is in it a bishop and monasteries of religious Friers When that any ships do go vnto Noua Espania they haue sight of them likewise when they do returne all those which do come from the Peru do enter into the foresaid port of the Hauana which is a very good port and sure and there is to be had all kind of prouision necessary and belonging vnto the fleetes and ships some which the Ilande dooth yéeld it selfe and other some brought from other places but in particular there is great store of very good timber as wel for the repairing of ships as for other thinges with the which they do ordinarily balest their ships that come for Spaine The kinges maiesty hath in this a gouernor and a captaine with very good souldiers for the defence therof and of a fort which is in the same harbor the best that is in all the Ilands This Iland of Cuba was discouered in the yeare 1511. and was in it being of the bignesse aforesaid a great number of naturall people and now but a very fewe it hath a riuer wherein is very much gold according vnto the opinion of the natural people and was tolde by the fathers vnto their children the which was cast into that riuer by the natural people in this order following There was a Casique called Hatuey who for feare that hée had of the Spaniards came from the Iland Hispaniola vnto this Iland with many of his people and brought al their riches with much golde amongst them who by the relation of other Indians of Santo Domingo wheras he had béen king vnderstood that the Spanyardes were comming vnto that Iland whereupon he gathered togither all his people and many of that Iland and made a parley vnto them saying It is said of a certeintie that the Christians doo come into this Iland and you doo well vnderstand by experience what they haue done by the people of the kingdome of Aytim which was the Iland Hispaniola the like will they doo here by vs but doo you know wherfore they doo it they answered and saide because they were of their owne nature cruel The Casique saide no that they did it not therefore but because they had a God whom they did worship because they will haue him from vs they doo kil vs and in saying these words he tooke forth a basket with golde iewels which he brought thither in secret and shewed it vnto thē saying this is their God that I spake off let vs make vnto them Ateytos the which are sports and dances and possible we shall please them then wil they command their people not to do vs any harme For y e accomplishing furnishing of the same euery one of them brought that which they had in their houses made therof a great mountaine of wheate and danced rounde about the same till they were werie then the Casique saide I haue thought with my self whilest we were dancing that howsoeuer it be these that do come wil kil vs for whether we do kéep our treasure or giue it vnto them with couetousnes to séeke more from vs we shall die therefore let vs throw it into this riuer the which they did with a common consent and good will From thir point or cape of Sant Anton they saile to the port of San Iuan de Lua which is on the firme land of Mexico two hundreth and thirtie leagues from the said point in all that bay there is great fishing but in especial of one kind of fish which is called Mero the which are so easie to be taken that in one day they may lade not shippes but whole fléetes and many times it happeneth that they bring so many to their ships that that they throw them again into the sea for lack of salt to salt them with They passe in sight of an Iland called Campeche the which is a gallant fresh country nigh vnto the kingdom of Mexico in it is great store of victuals but specially hony and waxe and is thrée hundreth leagues compasse al the people of that Iland are conuerted vnto the law of our Lord Iesus Christ. There is in it a bishop and a cathedrall Church a gouernor for his maiestie and monasteries of Friers Within few dayes after they depart from this Ilande and come vnto the port of saint Iohn de Lua in the which by reason that it hath many flats it is requisite to be carefull for to enter into it his maiestie hath in it a fort which is good and strong Fiue leagues from this port is the Cittie of the Vera Cruz whereas is the whole trade traficke and there is resident the kings officers it is a hot country by reason that it is in ninetéene degrées but well replenished of all kinde of victuals it was wont to be vnholesome but now they say it is not so much they know not what shoulde bee the occasion whether it bee by the moouings of the heauens or by the good gouernement and discretion of them that do dwel in it This cittie is from the citie of Mexico y e which is metropolitā of al that kingdom and by whom al the rest is gouerned seuentie leagues al y e way inhabited ful of townes both of Indians Spaniards so great store of prouision y t it seemeth to be y e land of promission It is mauellous temperate in such sort that almost throughout al the whole yeare it is neither whot nor cold neither dooth night excéede the day nor the day the night but a very little by reason that it is almost vnder the Equinoctiall line The mightinesse of this kingdome and some particularities you shall vnderstand of in the Chapter following CHAP. V. Of the bignesse of the kingdome of Mexico and of some particular and notable things that are in it THis kingdome of Mexico is the firme land on the one side it hath the North sea and on the other side the South sea it is not possible to declare the bredth and length thereof for that vnto this day it is not all discouered Euery day they doo finde and discouer new countries as in the yeare of fourescore and thrée you may perceiue by the entry which was made by Antonio de Espeio who with his companions did discouer a countrie in the which they found fiftéene prouinces al ful of townes which were full of houses of foure and fiue stories high the which they did name Nueuo Mexico for that it doth resemble the old Mexico in many thinges It is towards the North and they do beleeue that that way by inhabited place they may come vnto that country which is called of the Labrador
that case that they were constrained to yéelde vnto their enimies who at their willes did repay themselues very well of the iniurie receiued and a very good warning vnto all those that shall heare thereof to slie from putting themselues into the like trance so the Chinos were very wel reuenged of the iniury by them receiued The faith of Christ is very well planted in some of these Ilands by the good diligence and trauell of the fathers and Iesuites but in particular by that which was doone by master Francisco Xabier one of the tenne companions of the father Ignacio de Loyola founder of the saide religion hee trauelled with great zeale in the conuerting of the saide Ilands and that which was a great helpe vnto the same was his holy doctrine and apostolike life as vnto this day the Iapones doo confesse attributing vnto him next vnto God the goodnesse that hath come vnto them by receiuing the baptisme whome the fathers of that companie haue followed in all pointes such as remained after his death as also such as haue gone thither since that time So that vnto them may bee attributed the thankes for the mollifying of such adamantine hearts as are those of y e natural people of these Ilandes whose wittes although they be good and subtill are naturally knowne to be inclined vnto warres robberies and doing of euill and at this day being Christians they do followe their euill inclinations yet notwithstanding by the good doctrine and ensample of the saide fathers they are much better Christians then those of the Orientall or East Indians I do not set downe here the number of those that are baptised in these Ilands for that there are therein diuers opinions as also for that the fathers of the name of Iesus or Iesuits doo distinctly declare in their letters The Portugals say that in respect of the number of people that are to bée conuerted the number that are baptised are very fewe and that there are many that are not for lacke of ministers and preachers the which may easily be remedied in commaunding to go thither more religious men of other orders for to aide and helpe the saide Iesuites the which shoulde be vnto them a particular content and comfort as I doo beléeue as hath béene seene by experience in all partes of the Indians whereas haue come religious men vnto places of their doctrine for that the quantitie of people is so great that are in these Ilandes that although there shoulde go thither many laborers of the Gospell and all the orders of religious men the one shoulde not be a let or hinderance vnto the other and they shoulde all of them finde enough to occupie themselues especially if that the successor of Nobunanga were conuerted with his subiectes All the men of these Ilands are well set and well proportioned and go well apparelled although not in so good order as those of China they liue verie healthfully and long by reason that they doo vse verie fewe diuersities of meates they doo not suffer amongst them any Phisitians and doo not cure themselues but with simples They haue amongst them many priests of their Idols whom they do call Bonsos of the which there be great couents Likewise they haue amongst them great witches who do ordinarily talke with the diuell and are not a small impediment for thē to receiue the lawe of God in that kingdome The women or wiues of these Iapones do kéepe themselues very close and very seldome go forth of their houses in the which they do resemble those of China much as hath béene said yet haue they many wiues for that by their lawes it is lawfull for them to haue as they please can sustaine yet are they so prudent that they do restraine themselues and liue in great peace Both men-seruants and women-seruants do serue their masters as though they were slaues they may kill them at their pleasure without incurring any penalty of their lawes a thing far different from any good policie Many other things more could I declare of this kingdome the which I do let passe for the reason aforesaid and againe for that the fathers of the company of Iesus haue intreated thereof at large and vere truely Not farre from these Ilands of Iapon they haue discouered of late certaine Ilandes which are called of the Amazones for that they are all inhabited by women whose ordinary weapons are bowes and arrowes and are very expert in the same they haue their right brest drie the better to exercise their bow Unto these Ilands in certaine monethes euery yeare goeth certaine shippes from Iapones with merchandice and they bring from thence such as they haue there in the which time the men do deale with the Amazones as with their own proper wiues for to avoide dangers that might happen amongst themselues they deale in this order following After that their shippes are aryued there goeth on shore two messengers for to giue aduice vnto the quéene of their arriuall and of the number of men that are in their shippes who dooth appoint a day when they shall all come on shoare the which day shee doth carrie to the waters side the like number of women as they bee of men but the saide women doo first come thither before the men doo disembarke themselues and euery one of them dooth carry in their hande a paire of shooes or a paire of slippers and on them their owne seuerall marke and do leaue them on the sands at the waters side without any confort or order and presently departe from thence Then the men come on shoare and euery one take the first paire of shooes that he commeth vnto and put them on then presently the women come forth and euery one of them carryeth with her him who hath fallen vnto her by lot to put on her shooes and maketh him her guest without any other particularitie although it chanceth vnto the most vilest of them all to méete with the quéenes shooes or otherwise to the contrarie So when the monethes are expired set downe by the quéene in the which are permitted the men aforesaid they doo depart euerie one leauing with his hostis his name and the towne where hee dwelleth for that if it so fall out that they bee with child and be deliuered of a sonne that hee may bee carried the yeare following vnto his father but the daughters do remaine with them This is very doubtfull to bee beléeued although I haue bin certified by religious men that haue talked with persons that within these two yeares haue béene at the saide Ilands haue séene the said women and that which causeth me more to stand in doubt is for that the fathers of the companie that dwell at the Iapones haue not in their letters made any particular mention of them therefore let euery one giue credite to this as liketh him best CHAP. XX. They haue notice of certaine kingdomes borderers vnto these