A BRIEFE Description of the Portes Creekes Bayes and Hauens of the Weast India Translated out of the Castlin tongue by I. F. The Originall whereof was directed to the mightie Prince Don Charles King of Castile c. Imprinted at London by Henry Bynneman Anno. 1578. To the right worshipfull Sir Humfrey Gilbert Knight THere came to my hands of late right vvoorshipfull a notable peece of vvoorke of the Portes and of diuers rare things bothe of the Easte and VVeast Indians vvritten by Martin Fernandes Denciso aboute Anno. 1518. then Dedicated to Don Charles King of Castile and after called in aboute tvventie yeares past for that it reuealed secretes that the Spanish natiō vvas loth to haue knovven to the vvorlde And finding in the same vvorke the Longitudes and Altitudes of many Ilandes and of the Portes of the tracte of the firme lande of America I thought good to trāslate out of Spanish into English some parte of the same Calling to minde that your vvorship vvas the firste man of our nation that gaue light to our people for the finding out of the northvvest straight and that novv you meane in proper person and that at your ovvne charges to take some noble voyage and discouerie in hande to leaue behind you renovvne to your family and honour and profite to your countrie I coulde not but honour you in harte And to make some shevv of my good vvill I desired much to present some thing to you and vvas sory that I had no notable vvorke of matter of Nauigation to Dedicate vnto you meete for your so greate vvorthinesse But yet such as this is I dedicate it vnto you besechyng you most humbly to take the same in good parte and to vvay the good vvill of the giuer as very greate persons of highe honour haue done vvhen little trifels haue bene giuen them by others of lovv degree And Sir albeit this small gifte in respect of ministring any knovvledge to you your self may seeme nothing in that you doe vnderstande the tongues vvherein this and many other knovvledges of high value lie hid from our Seamen although not from you yet this may for our meere English Seamen Pilotes Marriners c. not acquaynted vvith forrayne tongues bring greate pleasure if it fortune our Mariners or any other of our Nation to be driuen by vvinde tempeste currents or by other chaunce to any of the Ilandes Portes Hauens Bayes or Forelandes mencioned in this Pamphlet and so it may also in the voyage be a meane to keepe them the more frō idlenesse the Nurce of villany and to giue them also right good occasion by vvay of example vpon any nevv Discouerie to take the Altitude and Latitude to set dovvne the tracte of the Ilandes the natures of the soyles and to note the qualitie of the ayre the seuerall benefites that the Soyles and the Riuers yeelde vvith all the discomodities and vvantes that the same places haue and if our Countrie men fortune the rather to be avvaked out of their heauy sleepe vvherein they haue long lien and the rather hereby be occasioned to shunne bestiall ignoraunce and vvith other nations rather late than neuer to make thēselues shine vvith the brightnesse of knovvledge let them giue Sir Humfrey Gilbert the thankes for vvhose sake I translated the same And thus committing your vvorship to the greate Neptune the greate God of the Christians that ruleth lande and Sea I leaue you to your voyage and to the gouernment of that mightie God vvho neuer plāted in any man so hie courage vvith so much desire to greate attempts but to some greate end as heretofore in many hath bene seene and as the sequele in your happie successes no doubt shall be founde as England and the vvhole vvorld shall out of question vvitnesse From London the xiiij of May. 1578. Your worships at commaundement Iohn Frampton A brief description of the Portes Creekes Bayes and Hauens of the Weast India FRom the Ilande called Fierro vnto the Ilande of saint Nicholas are twoo hundreth leagues the Iland of saint Nicholas lieth South Southweast and from thence to the Ilande called Fuego are .xl. leagues that Iland lieth directly South and from thence to the Cape of S. Iustin whiche standeth in the other side of the Equinoctiall line are foure hundred leagues The cape of S. Austin lieth South Southweast with the Iland called Fuego standeth in eight degrees on the other side of the Equinoctiall towardes the South and from the Cape of S. Austin vnto the gulfe riuer of S. Francis are fortie fiue leagues the coast lieth southweast the riuer of saint Francis standeth in ten degrees towardes the south this is a good porte it hath a good riuer From that riuer vnto the Bay of all Sayntes are seuentie leagues the Baye lieth Southwest by south in .xiij. degrees and there remayneth in the middest porte Roiall whiche is a good porte and hath good riuers The Bay of al Saints hath within it certain litle Ilandes and within these are twoo good riuers In the direction towardes the coast the lande lieth lowe and the people are naked eate bread of rootes It is a baren countrie From the Bay of all Saintes to the porte called Seguro are .lxxx. leagues the coast lying south by weast Porte Seguro standeth .m. xvij degrees this is a porte and a Riuer and it is a good porte From porte Seguro vnto the cape which is beyond Golfo Formoso that is to say the fayre gulfe are one hundreth and ten leagues and the coast lieth south southweast and betweene these twoo are many dry and shallowe places whiche lieth on sea borde .xx. and .xxx. leagues and passing them you shall finde neare the land barres and sholdes which haue vpō them three or foure fadome water of deapth and neare towardes the ende of the sholdes standeth the gulfe of Saint Thome whereunto adioyneth the gulfe of Barrosas And passing those shallow places there lieth cape Formoso that is to say the fayre cape in .xxij. degrees and a halfe and beyng paste the fayre cape there appeareth a gulfe betweene two landes and it seemeth to haue a league in breadth and three or foure in length and at the ende therof is the riuer called Delgado this is a good porte a good coūtrie and good people although that they be naked From this gulfe to Cape Frio that is to say the colde cape are .xvj. leagues cape Frio standeth in .xxiij. degrees and a halfe this cape hath before it an Iland adioyning and the fayre cape an other betwene these other little Ilands From the colde Cape the coast doth turne to the Northweast and by North .xxv. leagues from thence it turneth Northeast other .xx. leagues and maketh the Colde cape lyke to an Iland and betweene him and the lande there is a good gulfe with many small Ilandes in the middest and frō this gulfe vnto the gulfe of the
standeth the Ilande of the Trinitie and towardes the weast dothe appeare the gulfe of Paria like to half a round Circle after the fashion of a Diametre and at the ende of this circle is the entery in of Paria and at this entrie there is betweene the land and the Iland right leagues on the other side there is but little space betweene the Iland and the lande but it is deepe and hath a good entrie this Ilande of the Trinitie hath in length .xxv. leagues and as many in breadth standeth in viij â–ª degrees and is inhabited of many people and as yet not vnder subiection Here the Indians do vse to shoote with bowes and arrowes whiche are of a fadom in length made of reedes which grow in that countrie and at the ende of them is artificially wyned a peece of wood very strong vnto the whiche peece of woodde at the ende of it they put a bone of a fish in place of an arrow head these kinde of bones be harder than DiamoÌ„des and euery one of them be three or foure fingers long and they are taken out of a fish that hath three of these bones one vpon the backe and one vnder euery wing but that which groweth vpon the backe is the strongest and the greatest In this Iland the people sayeth that there groweth golde and in this Ilande and in Paria groweth reedes so great that they make staues of theÌ„ and carry of them into Spayne Likewise there be Popingayes very great and gentle and some of them haue their foreheades yellowe and this sorte doe quickly learne to speake and speake muche There be likewise in the gulfe of Paria pearles although not many but very good and greate Paria hath many Ilandes towardes the north parte of it vntill you come to the Iland of saint Christopher and froÌ„ saint Christopher to the Iland called Espanola be other Ilands that lieth towards the Northeast The names of these Ilands are as foloweth The firste and nearest Ilande to Paria is called the Iland of Mayo this is but a small Ilande there is a fruyte growing in it that the caske of it smelleth like to Beniamyn likewise there is Rosine in certayne trees whiche they vse for Incense and Aimasticke This Iland staÌ„deth in ten degrees and a halfe the Iland of Tabaco in ten Santa Lucia and the Assention in xj degrees and a halfe the Baruada in .xij. degrees Martinino in .xij. degrees and a halfe the Dominica in .xiij. and a halfe Gwadalupe and the Deceada in xv degrees Monserate and the Antigua in .xvj. degrees Baruada in .xvij. Baruada is compassed aboute with sholdes the Redonda in .xv. degrees and a halfe saint Christopher in xvij degrees and a halfe saynt Bartolome and saynt Martin in xviij degrees and a halfe Sombrero in xix and a halfe the Anegada in .xx. the Virgines in .xix. and .xx. Sancta Crus in xviij and a halfe saynt Iohn in xix and xx and in .xx. and a halfe From the Trinitie to saynt Iohn be two hundereth and fortie leagues All the other Ilandes whiche I haue named be in the middest of these twoo and be all Cannibals a people which eateth mans flesh and they go to the sea in small botes called Canoas to make warre one of them with an other and as many people as they take one of an other they carry to their owne Ilandes and if they be men they eate them and if they be women they serue them as slaues and if any of the men that they take one of an other be leane they put them to fatte and when they be fatte they eate them and they say that whiche is sweetest to be eaten in a man is the fingers and the thinnest of the belly these do vse to shoote with bowes and arrowes and if they go to make warre and do vnderstand that such as they go vnto be stronger than they then they leaue that place and goe to another In all these Ilandes they say there is golde in that of Gwadalupe hath bene golde found and gathered but by reason they be not in subiection there is no certaintie of it The Iland of saynt Iohn is a good Iland and it hath two good portes one of them standeth towardes the north whiche is called porte Rico and the towne that is in it is of Christians and it is a good towne although that it is not great and the other is called saynt German in this Iland is gathered much golde and all is fine golde this Iland is xxx leagues long and lieth East Weast and in breadth twentie From this Ilande to the Ilande called Espanola are xvj leagues and the Ilande called the Mona standeth well neare in the middest betweene bothe whiche is a little Iland At the beginning of the lande called Espanola is the Cape of Higuei whiche standeth in .xx. degrees from this cape of Higuei vnto the cape of Tiburon which is the cape and ende of the Iland are one hundreth and sixtie leagues they lie east and weast from the cape of Higuei vnto the Saona whiche is neare to the entring in at the porte of Higuei are .xv. leagues The Saona lieth southweast in xâ—x degrees and a halfe Saint Catherine standeth in as many From the entery of the porte of Higuei vnto the entry of the porte of saynt Domingo the coaste lyeth weast and are .xxxv. leagues and from saynt Domingo to Acuia are twentie Acuia lieth weast From Acuia to the Beata are twentie leagues The Beata standeth from Acuia Southweast in xix degrees From the Beata to Yaquimo are fiue and twentie leagues From Yaquimo to the Cauana are fourtie leagues Yaquimo and the Cauana lieth in twentie degrees From the Cauana lieth out a cape from the lande into the Sea towardes the South cyght leagues and from thence the coast turneth Weast Northweast vnto cape Tiburon There is from one cape to the other .xxv. leagues Before the Cauana standeth an Iland which is called 〈◊〉 and betweene it and the Cauana is sholde and the chanell lieth neare to the lande an other lieth at the end of the Iland From the cape of Tiburon the coast turneth towardes the East vnto Yaragua three score and ten leagues vntill it come neare to the Iland of Guanabon In this three score and tenne leagues the Iland called Espanola hath not in breadth more than twentie or two and twentie leagues From Yaragua the coast turneth towardes the Northweast and by North vnto the cape of saynt Nicholas There is from Yaragua to the cape of saynt Nicholas fiftie and fiue leagues and the cape of saint Nicholas beyng doubled the coast turneth towardes the east vnto porte Roiall and from the cape of saint Nicholas to port Roiall be fifty leagues This porte Roiall is the best porte of the Ilande sauyng that it is out of the way of all trade and therefore they go not to it
some doe carrie a thing like to a fonnell of golde wherein they put their members The Women goe all couered from the wast downewarde with wast coates of cotten woll and weare rings put through their eares and many other things and cheynes of gold There hathe bin found amongst the Indians much golde although that muche of it is course and in valewe of tenne and twelue kuyllats and lesse and they call this Giamin In the South part of this countrey is found golde in the Riuers and as it hath not bin much sought till now it hath not bin knowen I haue seene a graine gathered in a Riuer whiche wayed seauen Ducates From Nombre de Dios to Veragua are fiue and thirtie leagues Veragua is towardes the Weast in tenne degrees And neere to Nombre de Dios is Port Bello which is a good Port. It hathe at the entrie of it a little Ilande and in the middest another The Countrey of this coast is full of sharpe Mountaynes and barren From Veragua the coast turneth North to the cape of Gracias Adios threescore leagues The cape of Gracias Adios standeth in foureteene degrees And neere to Veragua is the Furmia and after Corobora and after that certayne Ilandes compassed aboute with sholdes and from the cape of Gracias Adios the coast turneth Weast â–ª to the cape of Caxines where is an Ilande and is thirtie leagues distante And from the cape of Caxines the coast turneth towards the North threescore and fifteene leagues vnto the cape de Lagar and all these threescore and fifteene leagues be sholdes and entreth into the Sea towardes the East threescore leagues and from this cape to the cape of the Iland of Cuba are one hundred and twenty leagues The cape of Cuba lieth North. From the cape of Lagar vnto the cape of Fondura are fiue and thirtie leagues The coast lieth West The cape of Lagar and that of Fondura standeth in .xvj. degrees and being past the cape of Fondura is a Gulfe that entreth .xv. leagues within the lande and in the entrie it hath .xviij. leagues of length and farther in xxv From this cape to the bay of S. Thome are .lx. leagues and the coast lieth Weast And neere to the bay entreth one end of the laÌ„d into the sea .xx. leagues towards the Northweast and at the end of the land is the entrie of the baye of S. Thome and the bay doth returne vpon the cape Southeast .xlv. leagues and carieth in length and breadth .xv. leagues And at the entrie in of this gulfe towards the Weast appeareth another little rouÌ„d gulfe full of small Ilands From the mouth of this gulfe to the Port of the Figueras are .xxx. leagues The coast lieth Northweast and it is all sholdes The entrie of the Gulfe of S. Thome standeth in .xix. degrees and halfe It entreth in at the East part for by the Weast part it is all sholdes The cape of the Figueras standeth in .xxj. degrees and from this place the discouerers returned and past no farther they found in this CouÌ„trey trees of oke with acornes like to oures and many birdes different from those of this Countrey and hennes as greate as Geese and they found tokens shewes of much golde for they found great peeces of golde in the power of Indians And now I do returne to the Gulfe of S Michael to the coast of the other side towards the South The Gulfe of S. Michael lieth Northeast Southweast with that of Vraba there are .xxv. leagues of land betweene the one and the other That of S. Michael is towards the Southweast it hath at the entrie in .x. leagues of length .xxv. And towards the Southweast lieth the Ilande of Perles There is from the Gulfe to the Ilande tenne leagues This IlaÌ„d is plentiful of vittaile There is in it many birds so many conyes that they enter into the houses to breede And round about it on euery side is much fishing of great Pearles and very fyne I sawe one of the fashion of a little peare the best and greatest that I haue seene The entrie of the Gulfe of Saint Michaell standeth in sixe degrees From the entrie of the Gulfe of Saint Michaell the coast lieth West seauen leagues vnto the Cacike Tamao The coast lyeth .xxviij. leagues toward the Northweast and by Weast to the Riuer of Tubanama This Riuer of Tubanama hath at the entrie an Ilande in triangle whiche causeth him to haue two mouthes it is a good Riuer and a good Countrey well inhabited and of much vittayle and great fishing there is in it much golde In this coast the Sea doth ebbe and flowe much From this Riuer to Panama are twenty leagues and the coast lieth Weast and there is in the middest the Riuer called Chapanere and the Riuer Pacora whiche are in a good countrey and where as is gold and the people are good Panama hath an Iland towards the Sea neere the land FroÌ„ Panama to the cape of Chiru are .xx. leagues and the coast lyeth Weast and by South there is in the middest Perequete and Tabora From Chiru towards the West appeareth a gulfe oblique in the middest whereof dwelleth the Cacike Paris an Indian Gentleman of greate power and the richest in that coast and there remayneth in the myddest Nathan and Estora which are good townes All this coast froÌ„ the Gulfe of Saint Michaell to Chiru and Paris be from sixe to seauen degrees The countrey is playne and good and of much vittayle of all sortes and in all that countrey is muche golde From Paris lyeth a poynt of the land into the Sea tweÌ„tie leagues and being past the poynt the coast turneth to the Northeast vntill it come hard to the cape of Gracias a Dios and all the Countrey is frutefull and a rich Countrey of gold whereas are many good townes In this Countrey they doe compasse about the townes with timber for feare of Tygres and Lions that they come not by night into the houses From the Gulfe of Vraba Saint Michaell to the end of the cape of Gracias Adies are two hundred leagues and all this Countrey hathe not in breadth more than thirtie and where it is most fourtie leagues and all are good people and riche and a fruyteful couÌ„trey There they vse no bowes nor hearbe of poyson but Launces and Dartes And there are in this Sea towardes the Southe many Ilandes where is as muche golde and Pearles as the Indians doe say And they say that there is a countrey where the people that doe inhabite it haue bookes and do wryte and reade as we doe Now seyng that we haue spoken of that part that is from the Ilande of Fierro towardes the Weast and Northweast lette vs speake of one peece of lande whiche is in this seconde parte towardes the North whiche lande is called the lande of Labrador This lande of Labrador standeth in .lvij. degrees it standeth Northweast from Calizia and East and Weast with Scotlande This lande of Labrador hath towardes the Weast parte of it the countrey of Bacallaos whiche is a countrie of muche fishyng and a great countrey and the Bocallaos standeth Weast from Galizia and parte of them Weast and by Northe and this countrey hath many portes and good Muche of the countrey is inhabited and there are many Ilandes before it all inhabited They say there is in it greate quantitie of Furres and very fine The lande of Labrador is towards the North from the Acores There is from the Acores to the lande of Labrador three hundreth leagues and from Galizia to the lande Labrador three hundreth and fiftie And there is from Galizia to the lande of Cauallaos fiue hundreth and thirtie leagues The lande of Cauallaos standeth in fourtie nine and in fiftie degrees FINIS The cape of saynt Austin The riuer of saynt Francis. The Bay. Saynt Thome Cold Cape Saynt Sebastian Marauon The Sea of freshe vvater Paria The Trinitie The Ilande of Mayo â—andes Canibalâ— Saynt Iohn The Iland called Espanalo Higuei Saynt Domingo The manners of the Ilande called Espanola Cuba Cape de Crus Small Ilandes Iamayca Paria Margarita pearles Cana fistola Coquibacoa Veneciuela Cape Dela vela Tucuraca Sancta Marta Appels of poyson Yaharo MouÌ„tayns vvith Snovve Garia Ilandes of Sandes The portes of Carta gena Iperboton â–ª Caraâ—â—â—â— Cenu An earth of golde Canibals The Gulfe of Vraba Lyons Tygres Lizards Yaguanas A greate Riuer The Gulfe of S. Michaell Careta Nombre de Dios. Pocurosa Veragua The cape of Gracias Adios Sholdeâ— The cape Lagar The bay of S. Thome The cape of the Figueras The Gulfe â–ª of Saint Michaell An Ilande of Pearles Tamao Tubunama Panama Pacora Chiru Paris
Mangues are xx leagues That of the Mangues hath two Ilands at the end of it and it is great hath .xx. leagues at the mouth From this gulf vnto the riuer of S. Francis are .lxxv. leagues And that of saint Francis lieth Southweast in .xxv. degrees and before that of saynt Francis lieth the riuer of the Cananca whiche is a good riuer and in the middest of this coast lieth the cape of saint Sebastian which entreth foure leagues into the sea and towardes the Easte parte of it standeth the porte of Gregorio and to the weast parte lieth the porte of Terrerias which is a good gulfe and bath an Iland in the middest All this coast hath many litle Ilands before it From the porte of saynt Francis vnto the riuer Delas Bueltas that is to say the croked riuer are .lx. leagues the coast lieth South the croked riuer standeth in .xxix. degrees and neare to the riuer of saynt Francis toward the land lieth an Iland which hath in leÌ„gth xxv leagues and towarde the lande he seemeth in circle oblique and rounde aboute the same is the Sea and hath 〈◊〉 leagues in breadth and towardes the â—â—rme lande lieth the gulfe and riuer called Reparo and the riuer of Bayadas From the crooked riuer vnto the Cape saint Mary are .lxxx. leagues The cape saynt Mary standeth in .xxxv. degrees and a little past this cape entreth in a riuer more than twentie leagues of breadth where be people that do eate mans flesh This coast is al full of sholdes And before cape saynt Mary are certaine small Ilandes In all these coastes from cape saynt Mary vnto cape saint Austin groweth muche Brasill and little other thing of any profite in it And seing that we haue spoken of the coast that lieth from the cape of saynt Austin towardes the pole Antartike let vs returne to speake of that whiche is towardes the parte of the pole Artike whiche is called the North pole I say that from the cape of saynt Austin vnto the riuer Marauon are three hundreth leagues Marauon lieth weast in seuen degrees and a halfe it is a greate riuer and hath more than .xv. leagues in breadth and ryght leagues within the land It hath many Ilandes and in this riuer within the lande .xl. leagues there is neare to the sayd riuer a Mountaine wherevpon groweth trees of Incense the trees be of a good height the bowes be like to Plum trees the Incense doth hang at them as the yet doth at the tyles of a house in the winter season when it dothe freese In this riuer were taken foure Indians in a small boate called in the Indian language a Canoa that came downe by the riuer and there was takeÌ„ from them two stones of Emeralds the one of them being as great as a mans hand â–ª They sayde that so many dayes iourney goyng vpwarde by the riuer they founde a rocke of that stone In likewise there was takeÌ„ from them two loaâ—s made of floure whiche was like to cakes of Sope and it seemed that they were kneâ—â—ed with the licour of Balsamo All this coaste from the cape of saynt Austin vnto Maranon is a cleare coast and deepe but neare to the riuer are certaine sholdes towards the East parte And by the weast part the riuer is deepe and it hath a good entrie From this riuer Maranon vnto the riuer whiche is called the Sea of fresh water art .xxv. leagues this riuer hath .lx. leagues of breadth at the mouth and carieth suche great aboundance of water that it entereth more than xx leagues into the Sea and mingleth not it selfe with the salte water this breadth goeth .xxv. leagues within the land and after it is deuided into partes the one going towards the southeast and the other towardes the southwest That which goeth towards the southweast is very deepe and of much water and hath a chanell half a league of breadth that a Carrake may goe vp through it and the tydes be so swifte that the shippes haue neede of good cabels The ryuer of this porte is very good and there haue bene some that haue entered fiftie leagues within it and haue seene no Mountaynes The Indians of this countrey haue their lippes made full of small holes in foure partes and through those holes be put small rings and likewise at their eares and if any man aske of theÌ„ where they had their golde they answere that goyng vp by the riuer so many dayes iourney they found certaine mountaynes that had much of it and from those mountaynes they brought it when they would haue it but they made no great accoÌ„pt of it for they neither buy nor sell and amongst them is nothing but chaunge In this countrey they eate bread of rootes and Maiz and they eate certaine rootes whiche they call Aies and Batatas but the Batatas be better than the other rootes and beyng rawe they haue a smell of Chestnuts they are to be eateÌ„ rosted These Indians do make wine of the fruite of Date trees which fruite is yellow in colour is as great as a litle Doues egge and being in season is good to be eaten and of him proceedeth good wine and is preserued for a long time These kinde of people doe make their houses with vpper rowmes and they sleepe in them as also all their habitation is in the vpper rowmes and that whiche is alowe they leaue it open and also they vse certayne mantels of cotton wooll and these they tie at the endes with ropes and the one ende of the rope they make fast to one parte of the house and the other ende to the other parte of the house and in these they lie and be their beddes and these kinde of beddes be vsed in all the Occidentall India and there is not in any parte of India any chambers that the people do vse to lodge in aloft from the ground nor they make any high rowmes but onely in this parte of India and in all other places they make their houses without any loftes or chambers and they couer their houses with the leaues of Date trees and of grasse And from this fresh water Sea vnto Paria the coast lieth weast northweast and all full of sholdes that the shippes can not come neare to the land There is from this riuer to Paria twoo hundreth and fiftie leagues In this freshe water sea the tydes doe ebbe and flowe as much as they do in Brytayne and standeth in sixe degrees and halfe Paria standeth on the other side of the Equinoctiall towarde the North in seuen degrees In Paria the sea floweth but little and from Paria towardes the weast the sea dothe not flowe From the entery of the gulfe of Paria vnto the cape that litth towardes the weast are thirtie fiue leagues from thence the coast turneth towardes the northeast other .xxxv. leagues and from thence the coast turneth towardes the weast Before this gulfe
And seyng that we haue spoken of the Ilandes lette vs returne to the coast of Paria where we began to speake of the Ilandes I say after that you goe from Paria the coast of the lande turneth toward the Weast there is from the mouth of the gulfe of Paria vnto the cape that standeth vppon the gulfe of Aliosar seuentie fiue leagues the gulfe of Aliosar lieth Weast and by North in nine degrees and a halfe and there remayneth in the middest the gulfe of all Sayntes neare to the gulfe of all Sayntes towardes the weast there entereth a cape of a lande into the Sea three leagues and neare to this Cape towardes the North eight leagues into the sea there be Ilandes and rockes called the Friers which be a company of small Ilandes lyke to rockes And towardes the Weast parte from the Friers is the Ilande called Margarita whiche is an Ilande that hath xx leagues from the East to the Weast and from the North to the South .xij. Round aboute al this Iland are fished fine pearles in great quantitie And in the gulfe of Aliofar they fishe pearles also but in this Ilande be more quantitie and greater and towardes the South side are moste and greatest and the Cape of Aliofar beyng doubled a gulfe of Sea doth returne betweene twoo landes towardes the East more than fiue and twentie leagues of breadth in this gulfe be fished many pearles and muche Aliofar the shelles wherein they breede be lyke to Cockle shelles but they be greater and brighter within them lyke to the selfe same pearles but without they be of the colour of cockles they fishe greate quantitie of them From the ende of the gulfe Aliofar vnto the Cape whiche standeth vpon the porte Flechado called Tucuraca he soure score leagues Tucuraca standeth in nine degrees and a halfe and there remayneth in the middest the cape of small Ilandes and before it is the porte called Solo and the porte called Canafistola and after him is porte Flechado and hath many Ilāds before him al this coast is of much fishing and in it are trees of Canafistola which doth bring forth there Canes so great as a great Launce and are very good And as it hath aboundance of substaunce it dothe putrifie sooner than that which we haue here The portes Flechado and Canafistola standeth in eight degrees This countrey hath much victuall there is in it many Popingayes Pearles Aliofar The Indians of this countrey do vse to shoote with bowes their arrowes be a fadom long there are growyng great recdes as big as a good staffe Frō Tucuraca to the cape of saynt Roman are xlv leagues The cape of Saint Roman standeth Southweast and by South in .xj. degrees the cape of saynt Roman entreth into the sea .xx. leagues and the lande is not past three or foure leagues broade and towarde the cast lieth the port of Coriana and towardes the weast porte of the Pico they be good portes There are from them to the cape twentie leagues they are in ten degrees From the cape of saynt Roman vnto the cape of Coquibacoa are three small Ilandes Trianglewyse betweene these twoo capes is one gulfe of sea in shape foure square and at the cape of Coquibacoa entereth in frō this gulfe an other little gulfe within the lande foure leagues and at the ende of him neare to the lande there lieth a great rocke which rocke is plaine vpon the toppe and vpō it standeth a village of houses of Indians whiche is called Veneciuela and it standeth in ten degrees Betwene this gulfe of Veneciuela and the cape of Coquibacoa the water turneth within the lande towardes the Weast and in this turne standeth Coquibacoa Here hath bene founde wayght and touche for golde in the Towne whiche is great and the Indians doe say that they bryng the golde from within the lande xxv leagues and when they goe thither they carry with them the waight the touch whereby they know what they bring In all the Weast India hath not bene found waight but in this place The towne of Coquibacoa is greate and a good towne and of good peaceable people In Veneciuela be people of a tall growth and there are goodlier women than are in any other parte of that countrey There are good Pearles and well growen although not so many as in the Margarita Here the Indians do vse Laūces of .xxv. foote long and things to shoote withall like to dartes From the Cape of Coquibacoa vnto the cape Dela Vela are .xl. leagues The cape Dela vela lieth weast northwest in xij degrees a halfe and neare to this cape Dela vela is a good port with a little Iland before it which lieth weast beyng past cape Dela vela the coast turneth south by weast lieth lowe and likewise all the land from the cape Dela Vela is low lande From the cape Dela Vela to Tucuraca are .xxx. leagues Tucuraca standeth in .xj. degrees and a halfe is a good porte Frō Tucuraca to Sancta Marta are .xxv. leagues Sancta Marta lieth weast in xj degrees and a halfe and is a good porte it hath a small Ilande before it is the best porte of all this coast This countrey of Sancta Marta is a countrey that is watered by sluces and the corne and things which they sowe and plant they doe water with their owne labour it is an open grounde and hath hight mountaynes and without any thing growing in them The sande of the riuers is altogether stony sande of the colour of golde and it sheweth as though that it were al gold There are in this Ilande many Hogges and much Deare There is found in the powre of the Indians much gold and coper and also much gilt Coper The Indians do say that they gilte the Coper with an hearbe that groweth in that countrey whiche beyng stamped and the iuyce taken out and the Coper beyng washed therewith and put to the fire it turneth to the colour of most fine gold and it riseth more or lesse in colour accordyng to the quātitie of the hearbe that is put to it The people be fearce and warlike they vse bowes and their arrowes be little bigger than quarrels which they annoynt with an hearbe that is so full of poyson that it is a great chaunce when they hit any man if he escape beyng wounded with that hearbe one of the things wherewith they make that hearb are certaine apples which be in that coūtrey are of the greatnesse and colour of the wilde Apples of this coūtrie The tree that doth carry them is like to a small Peare tree of this coūtrie As sone as any mā hath eaten one of thē immediatly it turneth to wormes within his body whiche grow so great eate so muche of the bodie that they kill him this is knowen to be so by reason I caused it to be experimented in
From porte Roiall to the porte of Plata are fiue and thirtie leagues from the porte of Plata to the Cape de Cierpe are fourtie leagues the coaste lieth East Southeast From the Cape of Cierpe vnto the cape of Higuei are eight and twentie leagues And from the Cape of Higuei to the cape of Tiburon are one hundreth and eightie leagues and that is the length of this Ilande It hath in breadth from the Beata to porte Roiall ninetie leagues the South parte of it standeth in .xix. and .xx. degrees the North parte in .xxiiij. This Ilād is inhabited with Christiās There is gathered in it much gold there cōmeth euery yeare frō this Iland to Castile 400000. Castellanos more euery Castellano is worth .vij. shillings of our money of Englād It is a countrie of much fleshe and also of much freshe fishe the cattayle do multiply much bycause there is no kinde of vermine that do hurt them In al this Iland the Kine and Mares do bring forth yong ones once euery yeare and the yong Mares and yong Kine be with fole when they be but a yeare and a halfe olde The grasse is alwayes greene and neuer waxeth drye the trees be alwayes greene with their leaues as they be here in the moneth of May and Iune They eate bread of a roote which they call Casaui There be other rootes like to Turneps whiche be called Aies and also Batatas but the Batatas be better and there be fieldes ful of them as be here of sowen fieldes There is also a fruyte which is called Pinas whiche be of the makyng of a Pine apple but they be greater the trees that beareth them be lyke to the Canes or stockes of Lillies and Flure de Luces Whē they be in season they turne yellow like to waxe the smell of it is so much so sweete that it smelleth in all the house where they be It is of a maruelous goodly sauour although that the tast of it be somwhat egre There is also an other fruit of trees which is called Mameis which is as great like to a Doues egge of a tawny colour being within three kernels the meate of it is like to a Peach somewhat red The people of this Ilande were Idolaters naked although that now they be turned Christians The womē do weare a kind of apparel which they call there Naguas made in such sorte that it couereth them from the waste to the knees and they which be Virgines go naked as they were borne when any woman hath loste bi r Virginitie immediately she doth couer hir self and if she haue no Naguas she putteth before hir a leafe tied on with threedes made of Cotton woll wherwith she couereth hir Secretes and that leafe they call there Pampanillia and when any of these women are with childe or giue sucke to any childe there is no man that will company with hir for any thing in the worlde they say it is sinne to company with hir at that time And when any woman is with childe hir husband taketh an other vntill his wife be deliuered of hir childe and as long as she giueth sucke and when any man dieth that is of estimation they did make a greate hole in the ground where they vsed to put him in and they put him in sitting and put in also with him both meate and drynke and they couer the hole with timber and with earthe and lefte open a straight mouth where a man mighte goe in to these came their wiues and such as loued them well and went in to him and put in meate and after that they were entered in the mouth was couered with timber and earth and so they were lefte all within and they sayde that they wente to beare him company to the other world where they should haue better cheere and more pleasure And now there is in this Iland many townes of Christians the principall towne is Sancto Domingo where is a good porte and ryuer and likewise there is the best trade of all the Ilande this is towardes the south parte at the north parte is the porte of Plata but the towne is little and the porte is not very good and by this meanes the trade is litle In this Iland be many moūtaines of Salte and rockes of Salte From the cape of Saint Nicholas to the Iland of Cuba are xiiij leagues the Iland of Cuba lieth west it hath in length two hundereth and twentie leagues and in breadth by the cape de Crus fiftie leagues and by the other partes by some wayes thirtie leagues and other some twenty It is a good Iland and in it is much victuall and much wilde foule Pigeons Geese and Partriche and many Popingayes The countrey is full of Mountaynes there is gathered in it much golde although that it is not so fine as that of the Iland called Espanola The people be idolaters the one parte of it is inhabited with Christians The ende of the land which standeth next to the cape of saynt Nicholas is in .xxiiij. degrees and a halfe and that which lieth towardes the weast is in .xxvij. degrees The poynt of the cape de Crus is .xxiij. degrees This Iland of Cuba hath at the north parte of it aboue two hundreth small Ilandes and they be all inhabited with people which people be not very blacke be of a good growth both the men and also the women but there is no flesh to eate in these Ilandes their meate is fishe rootes and bread made of rootes and the blades of grasse and if any of the people be caried to other places if they doe giue them fleshe to eate immediatly they die if the flesh which they eate be not very litle in quantitie Towarde the south parte of Cuba is the Ilande called Iamayca and this of Iamayca lieth weast from the cape of Tiburon There is from the cape of Tiburon which is in the Iland of Spanola vnto Iamaica xx leagues and in the middest betweene both lieth the Nauaca whiche is a little small rocky Iland beyng plaine and vnprofitable Iamaica lieth East and Weast it hath in length fiftie leagues and in breadth .xxv. it is a fruytefull Ilande and hath muche corne growing in it and hath all kinde of victuall such as they vse to eate whiche suffiseth their necessitie and groweth vpon the same Ilande there is much cattel and many trees of cotton wooll they gather much Cotton wool in it wherof they make store of cloth but there is no golde there is also great aboundance of Fishe And there be a certayne kinde of little beastes that haue the snoute and tayle like to a Ratte and the body like to a Coney and these be called Hutias whose fleshe is good to eate and there are multitudes of them From the ende of the Ilande of Cuba towardes the Northweast hath appeared a great countrie it is thought to be a firme lande