extent mention'd in the beginning The first Colony to be undertaken by certain Knights Gentlemen and Merchants in and about the City of London The second to be undertaken and advanc'd by certain Knights Gentlemen and Merchants and their Associates in or about the City of Bristol Exon Plymouth and other parts At the first Colonies Request in the seventh year of the same King a second Patent was Granted to several Noblemen and Gentlemen including Sir Thomas Gates and some of his former Fellow-Patentees bearing Date May 23. 1610. whereby they were made a Corporation and Body Politique and stil'd The Treasurer and Company of Adventurers and Planters of the City of London for the first Colony of Virginia And by this Patent there was Granted to them their Successors and Assigns two hundred Miles to the Southward from a Cape of Land in Virginia call'd Point Comfort and two hundred Miles to the Northward of the said Cape along the Sea-shore and into the Land from Sea to Sea And on March 12. 1612. the said King in the ninth year of his Reign Grants them a third Patent of all Islands lying in the Sea within two hundred Miles of the Shore of that Tract of Land on the Continent granted to them by the said former Patent Jac. 7. In the Year 1615. Captain Smith procur'd by his Interest at Court and the King's Favor a Recommendation from His Majesty and divers of the Nobility to all Cities and Corporations to Adventure in a standing Lottery which was erected for the benefit of this Plantation which was contriv'd in such a manner that of 100000. Pounds which was to be put in 50000. onely or one half was to return to the Adventurers according as the Prizes fell out and the other half to be dispos'd of for the Promotion of the Affairs of Virginia in which though it were three years before it was fully accomplish'd he had in the end no bad Success In the eighteenth Year of the said King's Reign at the Request of the second Colony a Patent was Granted to several Noblemen and Gentlemen of all that Tract of Land lying in the parts of America between the Degrees of forty and forty eight of Northerly Latitude and into the Land from Sea to Sea which was call'd by the Patent New England in America For the better Government whereof one Body-Politick and Corporate was thereby appointed and ordain'd in Plymouth consisting of the said Noblemen Gentlemen and others to the number of forty Persons by the Name of The Council establish'd at Plymouth in the County of Devon for the Planting Ruling Ordering and Governing of New England im America The Patent of Virginia made void The Miscarriages and Misdemeanors of the aforesaid Corporation for the first Colony of Virginia were so many and so great that His said Majesty was forc'd in or about October 1623. to direct a Quo Warranto for the calling in of that former Patent which in Trinity Term following was legally Evinc'd Condemn'd and made Void by Judgment in the Court of the then Kings-Bench as also all other Patents by which the said Corporation claim'd any Interest in Virginia Thus this Corporation of the first Colony of Virginia was dissolv'd and that Plantation hath been since Govern'd and Dispos'd of by Persons Constituted and Impower'd for that purpose from time to time by immediate Commissions from the Kings of England The Patent of Mary-land granted to the Lord Baltem re In the Year of our Lord 1631. the Right Honorable George Lord Baltemore obtain'd a Grant of King Charles the First of Great Britain c. of part of that Land to the Northward which is now call'd Mary-land but this Patent of Mary-land was not perfected till 1632. as you may understand more fully by the precedent Discourse of Mary-land which by express words in the said Patent is separated from and thereby declar'd not to be reputed for the future any part of Virginia The Patent Carolina granted to several Noble Persons And in the fifteenth Year of the Reign of King Charles the Second of Great Britain c. on March 24. 1663. Edward Earl of Clarendon then High-Chancellor of England George Duke of Albemarle William now Earl of Craven John Lord Berkley Anthony Lord Ashley Sir George Carterett Knight and Baronet Sir William Berkley Knight and Sir John Colleton Knight and Baronet obtain'd a Patent from His Majesty of the Province of Carolina which lies to the Southward of Virginia in which is included some part of that Land which formerly belong'd to the said dissolv'd Company of Virginia So that Virginia at present extendeth it self onely and is situated between thirty six and thirty seven Degrees and fifty Minutes or thereabouts of Northern Latitude and is bounded on the North by mary-Mary-land on the South by Carolina on the East by the Ocean and on the West by the South-Seas The Entrance by Sea into this Countrey is the same with that of mary-Mary-land between Cape Henry and Cape Charles plac'd on each side of the Mouth of the Bay of Chesapeak Rivers of Virginia on the West side whereof you first meet with a pleasant and commodious River call'd James-River about three Miles wide at its Entrance and Navigable a hundred and fifty Fourteen Miles from this River Northward lies York-River which is Navigable sixty or seventy Miles but with Ketches and small Barques thirty or forty Miles farther Passing hence to the North you discover a third stately River call'd Rappahanock which is Navigable about a hundred and thirty Miles from whence following the Shore to the North you enter into Patomeck-River which is already describ'd in the precedent Discourse of mary-Mary-land to which Province this River belongs whose Southerly Bank gives Bounds to that part of Virginia and Mary-land To these Rivers many other Inland Branches and Rivulets are reduc'd the chief of which are hereafter specifi'd Nature of the Countrey The Countrey is generally even the Soil fruitful the Climate healthful and agreeable with English Constitutions especially since the increase of Inhabitants and accommodation of good Diet and Lodging which the first Planters found great want of heretofore For many years till of late most New-comerâ— had the first Year in July and August a Disease which is call'd A Seasoning whereof many died like to what is mention'd before in the Description of Mary-land though more mortal and common than in Mary-land because Virgina is a lower Countrey and somewhat hotter insomuch that formerly divers ill of that Distemper have come purposely from Virginia to Mary-land to recover their Health but now since the Countrey is more open and clear from Wood few die of it and many have no Seasonings at all This Countrey affordeth generally all such Roots Herbs Gums and Balsoms as are express'd before in the Relation of Mary-land All sorts of Trees for Building and Husbandry Trees Fruit-Trees Vines c. are found in both Countreys equal in goodness
in Handicrafts and expert in warlike Affairs above all the Americans besides First Discovery of the Island The Island was discover'd by the Spaniards under the Conduct of Columbus who first built there the Town of Mellilla which disliking he remov'd again to Oristana and finding that an incommodious and unhealthy Situation he remov'd again to another Plantation where he built a very fair Town first call'd Sevilla afterwards St. Jago de la Vega consisting of about seventeen hundred Houses two Churches two Chappels and an Abbey being the chief if not the onely Seat of the Spaniards before the arrival of the English for their Estanchas or small Plantations were committed wholly to the custody of their Slaves Attempts of the English upon this Island The first and onely Attempters upon this Island since the Spaniards made themselves Masters thereof have been the English who in the Year 1592. under the Conduct of Sir Anthony Shirley Landed upon it got clear possession thereof none of the Spaniards that were then upon the Place daring to make the least resistance but not thinking it worth the keeping they soon deserted it and made Sail back again for England after which they remain'd unmolested for a long time till in the Year 1654. a Fleet of English was set out for Hispaniola by Cromwell under the Command of Colonel Venables with a Design for the taking of St. Domingo but meeting with ill success in the Enterprize and being forc'd to quit that Island with loss of Men and frustration of their hopes they steer'd their Course for Jamaica and on the tenth of May in the Year abovesaid with little opposition possess'd themselves of it Upon their approach to St. Jago the Inhabitants thereof deserted it and betook them to the Mountains gaining time by a pretence of Treaty to secure their Women and Goods and oftentimes making Incursions upon the stragling Parties of the English slew and took many Prisoners by surprize but being weary of this wild and irregular kind of living they betake themselves at last to the Isle of Cuba where many of them the Grandees especially were permitted by favour to continue the rest being by the Vice-Roy commanded back with promise of speedy and considerable Supplies by that time this remnant of the Spaniards was near tir'd out with hardship and necessity some being very much discourag'd and driven to utter despondence of Mind others destroy'd out-right part of the long promis'd and expected Supply arrives the greatest part being to follow soon after but finding the Islanders so few in number and in so sickly and necessitous an Estate they would not joyn with them but maugre all the Governor's Perswasions or Commands retreat to the North part of the Island and there fortifie at a place call'd Chireras expecting every day fresh Recruits which not coming time enough and their Quarters being discover'd they were set upon by the English and most of them either slain or taken Prisoners not many Moneths after the rest of the Spanish Forces Land being in all about thirty Companies with Ordnance and good store of Ammunition who falling presently to make strong Fortifications at Rio Novo are nevertheless in a short time utterly defeated by the English Upon which and several other ill Successes despairing to re-gain the Island they Ship off their Women and the richest of their Goods and the Negro Slaves grown Masterless by the general either slaughter or departure of their Patrons shake off their Obedience to the Spaniards and constitute a Governor of their own a Black yet submit themselves and own Subjection to the English Government the Spaniards from Cuba both by their Perswasions and monethly Contributions in vain endeavoring to reduce them onely some few there were that stood out whom the rest not onely made it their business to discover but help'd the English to take them insomuch that at last the Spanish General not having above fifty Men left him was forc'd to seek for Peace and offer'd Terms of Accommodation which the English General would not be drawn to accept of unless upon Condition that he should deliver up to Justice as many as were left of those that had barbarously murder'd any of our Men either in time of Treaty or after Quarter given The English in this Island are setled for above a hundred Miles along the Countrey from the Eastward Chief Towns Their chief Towns are 1. St. Jago built by the Spaniards as afore mention'd which lieth six Miles within the Land north-North-West from the Harbor of Cagway Here the English have built a small Fort. 2. Passage a small Town built also by the English six Miles from St. Jago for the convenience of going to Cagway consisting of about fifty Houses and a Fort whence cross this Harbor about three Leagues distant is the Town of 3. Cagway seated on the Extream end of the Point containing in it above six hundred Houses all built by the English besides the Governor's Palace and the Houses where the Stores for the Army are kept This is counted the most healthful Place in all the Island and the very Scale of Trade where all Merchants Strangers and Sailors reside Here upon the utmost Angle of the Point towards the Sea is a round Tower built of Lime and Stone about which is rais'd a strong and regular Fort containing sixty pieces of Ordnance Port Royal. This Town is now call'd Port Royal and is thought to contain about sixteen thousand Inhabitants A Mile from hence is another Fort Landward call'd Landward which runs from the Harbor to the Sea to defend the Town from any Attempt by Land Off the Mouth of the Harbor towards the Sea lie divers small Islands the most Western of which being within half a League of the Fort and between which and the Fort every Ship that comes into the Harbor is necessitated to pass It is call'd Little Island Little Island where a Fort is likewise rais'd to defend the Mouth of the Harbor containing eight pieces of Ordnance Another Fortification is at Portmorant which we shall make mention of amongst the Harbors Chief Ports and Harbors The chief Harbors of this Island are 1. Port Anthony on the North a very safe Land-lock'd Harbor onely the coming in is somewhat difficult the Channel being narrow'd by a little Island that lies off the Mouth of the Port. 2. On the East of the Island is Portmorant a very capacious Harbor where Ships do conveniently Wood and Water and Ride safe from all Winds 3. On the South is Port Cagway a Harbor wonderfully convenient secure and capacious being five Leagues over in some places in others four and at the narrowerst three it is Land-lock'd by a Point of Land that runs twelve Miles south-South-West from the Main of the Island having the great River that comes by Los Angelos and St. Jago running into it and divers Springs about it where Ships do conveniently Wood and Water Here
in the parts of America between the Ocean on the East and the Bay of Chesapeack on the West and divided from the other part thereof by a right Line drawn from the Promontory or Cape of Land call'd watkin's-Watkin's-Point situate in the aforesaid Bay near the River of Wigcho on the West unto the main Ocean on the East and between that bound on the South unto that part of Delaware Bay on the North which lies under the fortieth Degree of Northerly Latitude from the Equinoctial where New England ends and all that Tract of Land between the bounds aforesaid that is to say passing from the aforesaid Bay call'd Delaware Bay in a right Line by the Degree aforesaid unto the true Meridian of the first Fountains of the River of Patomeck and from thence stretching towards the South unto the furthest Bank of the said River and following the West and South side thereof unto a certain place call'd Cinquack near the Mouth of the said River where it falls into the Bay of Chesapeack and from thence by a streight Line unto the aforesaid Promontory or place call'd Watkins-Point which lies in thirty seven Degrees and fifty Minutes or thereabouts of Northern Latitude By this Patent his Lordship and his Heirs and Assigns are Created the true and absolute Lords and Proprietaries of the said Province Title saving the Allegiance and Soveraign Dominion due to His Majesty His Heirs and Successors so that he hath thereby a Soveraignty Granted to him and his Heirs dependant upon the Sovereignty of the Crown of England The first Seating His Lordship in the Year 1633. sent his second Brother Mr. Leonard Calvert and his third Brother Mr. George Calvert with divers other Gentlemen of Quality and Servants to the number of two hundred Persons at least to settle a Plantation there who set Sail from the Cowes in the Isle of Wight in England on Novemb. 22. in the same Year having made some stay by the way at the Barbadoes and St. Christophers in America they arriv'd at Point Comfort in Virginia on February 24. following from whence shortly after they Sail'd up the Bay of Chesapeack and Patomeck River And having review'd the Country and given Names to several places they pitch'd upon a Town of the Indians for their first Seat call'd Yoacomaco now Saint Maries which the then Governor Mr. Leonard Calvert freely Purchas'd of the Natives there for the Lord Proprietaries use with Commodities brought from England That which facilitated the Treaty and Purchase of the said place from the Indians was a resolution which those Indians had then before taken to remove higher into the Countrey where it was more Populous for fear of the Sansquehanocks another and more Warlike People of the Indians who were their too near Neighbors and inhabit between the Bays of Chesapeack and Delaware there being then actual Wars between them insomuch that many of them were gone thither before the English arriv'd And it hath been the general practice of his Lordship and those who were employ'd by him in the Planting of the said Province rather to purchase the Natives Interest who will agree for the same at easie rates than to take from them by force that which they seem to call their Right and Inheritance to the end all Disputes might be remov'd touching the forcible Incroachment upon others against the Laws of Nature or Nations Thus this Province at the vast Charges and by the unweary'd Industry and endeavor of the present Lord Baltemore the now absolute Lord and Proprietary of the same was at first Planted and hath since been supply'd with People and other Necessaries so effectually The number of Inhabitants that in this present Year 1671. the number of English there amounts to fifteen or twenty thousand Inhabitants for whose Encouragement there is a Fundamental Law establish'd there by his Lordship whereby Liberty of Conscience is allow'd to all that Profess to believe in Jesus Christ so that no Man who is a Christian is in danger of being disturb'd for his Religion and all Persons being satisfi'd touching his Lordships Right as Granted by his Superior Soveraign the King of Great Brittain and possess'd by the consent and agreement of the first Indian Owners every Person who repaireth thither intending to become an Inhabitant finds himself secure as well in the quiet enjoyment of his Property as of his Conscience Mr. Charles Calvert his Lordships onely Son and Heir was in the Year 1661. sent thither by his Lordship to Govern this Province and People who hath hitherto continu'd that Charge of his Lordships Lieutenant there to the general satisfaction and encouragement of all Persons under his Government or otherwise concern'd in the Province The precedent Discourse having given you a short Description of this Province from its Infancy to this day together with an account of his Lordships Patent and Right by which he holds the same we will here speak something of the Nature of the Countrey in general and of the Commodities that are either naturally afforded there or may be procur'd by Industry The Climate is very healthful and agreeable with English Constitutions but New-comers have most of them heretofore had the first year of their Planting there in July and August a Sickness which is call'd there A Seasoning but is indeed no other than an Ague with cold and hot Fits whereof many heretofore us'd to die for want of good Medicines and accommodations of Diet and Lodging and by drinking too much Wine and Strong-waters though many even in those times who were more temperate and that were better accommodated never had any Seasonings at all but of late years since the Countrey hath been more open'd by the cutting down of the Woods and that there is more plenty of English Diet there are very few die of those Agues and many have no Seasonings at all especially those that live in the higher parts of the Country and not near to the Marshes and Salt-water In Summer the heats are equal to those of Spain but qualifi'd daily about Noon at that time of the Year either with some gentle Breezes or small Showres of Rain In Winter there is Frost and Snow and sometimes it is extremely cold insomuch that the Rivers and the Northerly part of the Bay of Chesapeack are Frozen but it seldom lasts long and some Winters are so warm that People have gone in half Shirts and Drawers only at Christmas But in the Spring and Autumn viz. in March April and May September October and November there is generally most pleasant temperate Weather The Winds there are variable from the South comes Heat Gusts and Thunder from the North or North-West cold Weather and in Winter Frost and Snow from the East and South-East Rain The Soyl is very fertile and furnish'd with many pleasant and commodious Rivers Creeks and Harbors The Country is generally plain and even and yet distinguish'd with some pretty small Hills and Risings with variety
Seas to Sail to it there being not any Islands Rocks or Sands between the Lands-End in England and New-found Land and for the most part it is not above three or four Weeks Sail thither and less coming back and is the most commodiously situated for the discovering of the north-North-West Passage and other Inlets into the South Sea whereby the ordinary Voyages to China Japan and the East-Indies are much eas'd in the expence of Time and Charge and the most open to Trade to all Parts of any Island of the West-Indies On the East side of the Land are the Bays of Trinity and Conception which stretch themselves towards the south-South-West Tor-Bay and Capelin-Bay lying also on the East stretch themselves towards the West The Bays of Trespassey St. Mary Borrel and Plaisance on the South part of the Land extend their Arms towards the North. The great Bay of St. Peters lying on the south-South-West side of the Land and Southerly from the great River of Canada being about twenty Leagues distant the same stretcheth toward the East Trinity Harbour lies in near forty nine Degrees of North Latitude being very commodiously seated to receive Shipping in seasonable Weather both to Anchor in and from thence to Sail towards either the East West or South It hath three Arms or Rivers long and large enough for many hundred Sail of Ships to moare fast at Anchor near a Mile from the Harbours Mouth Close adjoyning to the Rivers side and within the Harbour is much open Land well stor'd with Grass sufficient Winter and Summer to maintain great store of ordinary Cattel besides Hogs and Goats if such Beasts were carried thither and it standeth North most of any Harbor in the Land where our Nation practiseth Fishing It is near unto a great Bay lying on the North side of it call'd The Bay of Flowers to which Place no Ships repair to Fish in regard of sundry Rocks and Ledges lying even with the Water and full of danger The bottom of the Bay of Trinity lieth within four Leagues through the Land south-South-West Southerly from Trinity as by experience is found and it comes near unto the Bay of Trespassey and the bottom of some other Bays Trespassey in like manner is as commodious a Harbour lying in a more temperate Climate almost in forty six Degrees of North Latitude and is both fair and pleasant and a wholsom Coast free from Rocks and Shelves so that of all other Harbours it lies the most South of any in the Land and most conveniently to receive our Shipping passing to and from Virginia and the Bermuda Islands and also any other Shipping that shall pass to and from the River of Canada and the Coast thereof because they usually pass and so return in the sight of the Land of Trespassey and also for some other purposes as shall be partly declar'd in the following Discourse The Soil of this Countrey in the Valleys and sides of the Mountains is so fruitful Fruitful Soil as that in divers places the Summer naturally produceth without Tillage great plenty of green Pease and Fitches fair round full and as wholsom as ours in England Berries and Fruits Of Berries and Fruits there grows Strawberries red and white and as fair Raspice-berries and Goose-berries as there be in England as also Bilberries which are call'd by some Whortes and many other delicate Berries peculiar to the Countrey in great abundance Likewise small Pears Cherries Filberds c. Herbs and Flowers There are also Herbs for Sallets and Broth as Parsly Alexander Sorrel c. and also Flowers as the red and white Damask Rose with other kinds which are most beautiful and delightful both to the sight and smell And questionless the Countrey is stor'd with many Physical Herbs though their Vertues are not known When Corn was first Sow'n here it was observ'd to grow very fair the increase was great and the Grain very good and several sorts of Kitchin Plants that have been Set here have prov'd very well In divers parts of the Countrey there is great store of Deer Beasts and some Hares many Foxes Squerrils Beavers Martins and Otters yielding excellent Furrs Wolves and Bears with other sorts of Beasts serving as well for Necessity as for Profit and Delight Variety both of Land and Water-Fowl is in this Countrey infinite Birds The chief Land-Fowl besides a great number of small Birds that live by scraping their Food from the Earth in the hardest Winter are Hawks great and small Partridges Thrush and Thrussels abundance very fat as also Filladies Nightingales and such like which sing most pleasantly There are also Birds that live by prey as Ravens Gripes Crows c. For Water-Fowl there is certainly so good and as much variety as in any part of the World as Geese Ducks Pigeons Gulls Penguins and many other sorts These Penguins are as big as Geese but do not flye for they have but a little short Wing and they multiply so infinitely upon a certain flat Island that men drive them from thence upon a Board into their Boats by hundreds at a time as if God had made the innocency of so poor a Creature to become such an admirable Instrument for the sustentation of Man And also Godwits Curlews and such like which Fowl do not onely serve those that Trade thither for Food but also they are a great furthering to divers Ships Voyages because the abundance of them is such that the Fisher-men do bait their Hooks with the quarters of Sea-Fowl on them and therewith some Ships do yearly take a great part of their Fishing Voyages with such Bait before they can get others The fresh Waters and Springs of that Countrey are many in number Springs and withall so very pleasant delightful and wholsom that no Countrey in the World hath better And Fewel for Fireing no where more plentiful In like manner there is great abundance of Trees fit to be employ'd in other serviceable uses Trees There are Fir and Spruce-Trees sound good and fit to Mast Ships with and as commodious for Boards and Buildings as those of Norway and out of these come abundance of Turpentine Moreover the Pine and Birch-Trees here are scarce to be compar'd for heighth and greatness The Rivers also and Harbours are generally stor'd with delicate Fish as Salmons Peals Eels Herrings Mackrel Flounders Launce Capelin Cod and Trouts the fairest fattest and sweetest that ever were seen in these Parts The like for Lobsters Cra-fish Mussles and other variety of Shell-fish The Seas likewise all along the Coast do plentifully abound in other sorts of Fish as Whales Spanish Mackrel Dorrel Pales Herrings Hogs Porposes Seals and such like Royal Fish c. But the chief Commodity of New found Land yet known and which is grown to be a setled Trade and that it may be much better'd by an ordinary Plantation there if the Traders thither will take some better course than formerly they have
fifteen hundred in number inhabited twenty Leagues of Land in length Forts built upon the Bermudas On the longest Island call'd St. George for the Bermudas consists of several Islands great and small they built Warwick and Dover Forts with other Fortifications and Towers which had their Denominations from those Noble-men and Gentlemen that were Undertakers in this Plantation as Cavendish Paget Herbert c. from the Earl of Devonshire the Lord Paget the Earl of Pembroke and others â—orts and Havens Amongst the Havens the eminentest are Southampton the Inlet Harrington and the Great Sound All these Islands lying together resemble a Half-Moon and are surrounded with Rocks which appear at Low-water and at High lie but shallow for it seldom Ebbs or Flows above five Foot The Shore for the most part Rocky and hardned by the Sun and Wind receives no damage by the Waves which continually beat against the same Nature of the Soil The Ground it self differs for in some places it is sandy or clayie and in others partly black and partly white or Ash-colour'd Earth which last is accounted the worst and the black the best Three Foot deep under the Ash-colour'd Earth lie great Slates and under the black a white spungie Stone like the Pumice in whose moist Crevises Trees take root The Pits or Wells though they Ebb and Flow with the Sea yet produce a wholsom and sweet Water Temperature of the Air. The Skie is generally serene but when over-cast with Clouds is subject to Lightning and Thunder yet the Air is of a good temper being neither exceeding cold nor excessive hot for which reason the European Fruits grow better there than in their natural Soil Their Harvest is twice a year for that which they Sowe in March is ripe and gather'd in June then what they Sowe again in August they gather in January Productions of the Countrey These Islands breed no hurtful Creatures nay the yellow Spider which spins silken Cobwebs is free from Poyson The Plant Nuchtly which bears speckled Pears grows betwixt the Rocks which are drench'd with Sea-water The Hogs which above a hundred and fifty years since swam ashore out of the Spanish Wrack are exceedingly increas'd there but because of their poorness are scarce eatable they feeding onely on the sweet Berries which fall from the Palmito-Trees About the white and red Mulberries which grow plentifully there breed thousands of Silk-worms which spin Silk according to the colour of the Mulberries The Sea produces some quantity of Pearls and Ambergreece From the beginning of the year till May the Whales are seen to swim not far from the Shore A strange sort of Sea-Fowl breed in Holes like Rabbets and amongst other Birds here are also store of Cranes The Tobacco which the English have planted here grows very well Tortoises Laying of Eggs. Here are likewise great Tortoises which Lay their Eggs in the Sand on the Shore where they are Hatch'd by the Beams of the Sun and are taken after this manner In the Night some are set to watch where they Land and whilest they are digging a deep Hole in the Ground are thrown on their Backs and not being able to get upon their Legs again they lie and groan very pitifully some of them having above two Basons full of Eggs in their Bellies which being about the bigness of a Tennis-Ball have a thin Shell which incloseth a Yolk and White If these Eggs lie buried six years then the young Tortoises breaking the Shell come out of the Sand and instantly creep into the Sea Their Flesh is not onely wholsom but toothsom The Oyl made of them is not inferior to Butter Cedars of an excellent kind Moreover the Bermudas produce Cedars the like of which are not to be found in the whole World The Leaves are douny and prickly at the ends almost like those of the Juniper Tree The Wood hath a sweet smell and the Berries which are like the Myrtle of a pale Red inclose four white Kernels the outermost Skin whereof is sweet the innermost which covers the Kernel sharp and the Pulp tartish The Trees are always flourishing being at the same time full of Blossoms green and ripe Fruit The Berries when grown ripe begin to gape and fall off in rainy Weather leaving a round Stalk on the Boughs which loses not its Rind till two years after half which time the Berry requires before it attains to its perfect ripeness which generally happens in the Winter The Boughs shoot straight upwards and become in time so heavy that they cause the Body of the Tree to bend This most excellent Wood grows in divers places of the Bermudas We shall conclude with the resolute Exploit of five Sea-men Anno 1616. who to the great admiration of all People set Sail from thence in an open Vessel of three Tun through the main Ocean and after having suffer'd terrible Tempests arriv'd in the space of seven Weeks safe in Ireland These Islands are remarkable for divers sorts of Plants unknown in other Parts as the Prickle Pear Poyson Weed Red Weed Purging Bean Costive Tree Red Pepper and the Sea Feather Also several strange Birds as the Egg Bird Cahow Tropick Bird and the Pemlico which presageth Storms CHAP. XIII Hispaniola THe Islands call'd De Barlovento by which are understood Hispaniola Cuba Jamaica and Boriquen as also the Lucaies with the Caribes and lastly the Isles call'd De Sotavento viz. Margareta Cabagua and Tabago are by some comprehended all under the general Name of The Isles Antilles though others reckon the Antilles to be the same with the Caribes onely But leaving this Controversie undecided we shall begin with the Isles De Barlovento the chief whereof is Hispaniola Bounds and Description of Hispaniola Hispaniola or Little Spain as Columbus nam'd it is though not the largest yet the fairest and goodliest of all the American Islands call'd by the Natives anciently Hayti and Quisqueia It lieth about fifteen Leagues Westward of Porto Rico and distant from the main Land of America about one hundred and twenty 't is of a triangular form the sharpest Point whereof is that towards Porto Rico which they call Cabo de Enganno that towards the West inclines to a Semi-circle containing a good and convenient Bay betwixt the two Points viz. St. Nicholas to the North and Cabo de Donna Maria towards the South It is not thought to be less than a hundred and fifty Leagues in length and in breadth from threescore to thirty and to contain in the compass of the whole four hundred Leagues at least lying betwixt eighteen and twenty Degrees of Northern Latitude having an Air somewhat infested with the Morning Heats but well cool'd again in the Afternoon by a constant Wind from the Sea which they call there Virason It is for the fertility of the Soil one of the richest and most flourishing Countreys in the World the Trees and all things else there continually
Fol. 450 Cusco Fol. 456 Los Charcas Fol. 462 Collao Fol. 466 Chile Fol. 471 Chile properly so call'd Fol. 472 Magellanica Fol. 473 Paraguay or Rio de la Plata Fol. 475 Rio de la Plata properly so call'd Fol. 476 Tucuman ibid. La Crux de Sierra Fol. 477 Brasile ibid. St. Vincent Fol. 495 Rio de Janeiro Fol. 496 De Spirito Santo Fol. 497 Porto Seguro Fol. 498 Los Isleos Fol. 501 Bahia de Todos los Sanctos Fol. 502 Pernambuco Fol. 505 Parayba Fol. 508 Maragnan Fol. 511 The Lordships Tamarica Rio Grande Siara and Para Fol. 517 A Relation of the Proceedings of the Netherland West-India Company in Brasile to the Year 1658. Fol. 518 The Journey of Rodulphus Baron with the Description of the Customs and Manners of the Tapuyans Fol. 595 Grave Maurice his Account of Brasile so far as it concern'd the West-India Company Fol. 600 The Councellor Dussen 's Relation of so much of Brasile as concern'd the West-India Company Fol. 601 A Description of the Palace Freyburgh two Bridges and a Banquetting-house all built by Grave Maurice Fol. 605 Guiana Fol. 607 A Relation of the Journey of Francisco Orellana ibid. Paria or New Andalusia Fol. 620 Cumana Fol. 621 Venezuela Fol. 624 The Islands Margareta Cubagua and Coche Fol. 627 Of the Islands of Southern America Fol. 628 In the Appendix RIo de la Plata Fol. 631 Chili Fol. 634 A View of the Chilesian Language Fol. 635 Magellanica Fol. 649 The Unknown south-South-Land Fol. 653 Terra Borealis or The Arctick Region Fol. 661 Several Attempts for the discovery of the north-North-West Passage Fol. 672 A brief View of what Places are possess'd at this day in the West-Indies by the English Spaniards French Portuguese and Dutch Fol. 674 AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF AMERICA CHAP. I. America unknown to the Antients Description of the Ocean THE Sea that takes several Denominations from the Countreys which it washeth and surrounding the dry Land cuts out and shapes so many winding Bays Creeks and Meandring In-lets seems no where so much confin'd and penn'd into so narrow a Channel as the Straights of Magellan From whence again soon expatiating it spreads it self into two immense and almost boundless Oceans that which opens to the North gives terminaries to the four Regions of the Earth that to the South onely to Asia and America both which indeed are but one continu'd Sea extending it self round the Universal Globe This watry part of the World that almost through all Ages lay Fallow hath in these later times been Furrow'd by several Expert and Stout Captains who now by their Art and Industry have given a good Account of and made clear Discoveries from East to West where-ever the Sun rises or sets The Northern Bounds under the Artick-Zone have been hitherto so obstructed with Ice that the undertakings of such as adventur'd either to find by the North-East or North-West a Passage to India have been utterly frustrate Of the Southern no such pains hath as yet been taken in the Discovery so that for the most part it is yet unknown how far the Water either deep or shallow overspreads the Earth onely thus much Experience hath made out that the Antartick needs lesser Line to Fathom than the Artick-Ocean The Ancients had little knowledge in Navigation The antient Greeks Phenicians and Romans or whosoever that were Renown'd by Antiquity and Listed in the number of their famous Navigators were no less Timerous than Ignorant concerning Maritim Affairs and are not fit to stand in the least degree of competition with our later Voyagers Of old by an inviolable Law made by Custom according to Pliny Vigetius and others the Sea was lock'd up from the eleventh of October to the tenth of March no Ships daring to venture forth dreading short Nights and foul Weather neither in Summer did they so much as once offer unless driven by Storms to attempt the Offin or loose sight of Land yet there is no question but that several Nations in former Ages Navigation is very ancient made it their business spending their whole time and wearying themselves in the Practical Art of Navigation The Sacred Scripture testifies That the Kings of Judea Solomon Jehosaphat Ozias and others prepar'd several Fleets that Sail'd through remote Seas freighting themselves with Gold from Ophir and other Rarities which were Imported to supply and enrich the Holy-Land Geograph lib. 1. And Strabo also tells us That King Solomon being contemporary with Homer then discover'd India And Pliny relates That the Romans in the Reign of Augustus passing the Straights of Gibraltar and sleighting the Ne plus ultra Hist Nat. lib. 2. cap. 67. Coasted Spain France and Belgium leaving not at the Promontory of the Cimbrians now call'd Shager-Riff but also ventur'd into the Northern Ocean which washes Norwey and Lapland But long before this as Athenaeus relates Phileas Taurominites a Grecian Captain and several others pass'd the Herculean-Pillars penetrating the Northern Seas as far as Brittain and adventuring Vltima Thule suppos'd by some to be Ireland Vide Georgic made the first Discovery of Thule And to the Southward the African Coasts without Gibraltar and beyond Atlas were now and then explor'd by several expert Captains But more remarkable is the Voyage of Hanno a Carthaginian The Voyage of Hanno who out-sail'd these and inspected the Coasts of Africa Of Eudoxus Strab. l. 2. as far as the Gorgades And Eudoxus Cyzicenus flying from King Lathyrus set Sail from the Arabian Gulph and passing the Great-Cape came to an Anchor at last in the Mouth of Gibraltar having discover'd all the Eastern Southern and Western parts of Africa Moreover it deserves special observation That an antient Swedish King as Cornelius Nepos relates sent as a Rarity and great Present to the Roman Consul Metellus Celer Strange Voyage of some Indians some Indians who loosing their course hatter'd up and down with perpetual Storms and stress of Weather were at last driven into the Northern Ocean where they suffer'd Shipwrack yet saving themselves Landed on his Coast Of Menelaus Aristonicus Gramaticus relates That Menelaus Sailing from the Sack of Troy became so great a Voyager that leaving the Straights he surrounded Africa and discovering India after eight years re-measuring the same way he went return'd with great Riches in safety to his own Kingdom Which is consentaneous to Homer who saith Odyss l. 4. None must compare Mansions with Jove his Seats Celestial are But with me any may who eight years tost Through Worlds of Miseries from Coast to Coast ' Mongst unknown Seas of my Return small hope Cyprus Phoenicia Aegypt (d) The Commentators on Homer have been very inquisitive to find out Menelaus Voyage into Aethiopia Crates suppos'd that he pass'd out at the Straights doubled the Southern Cape and so arriv'd thither Eratosthenes conjectures that in the time of Homer the Straights Mouth was an Isthmus and
the Prince of Latin Poets Aeneid lib. 6. had known the New-World in these Verses Aeneid lib. 6. There there 's the Prince oft promis'd us before Divine Augustus Caesar who once more Shall Golden Days bring to th' Ausonian Land Kingdoms that once old Saturn did command And shall His power to India extend Beyond the Annual Circle and beyond The Sun 's long Progress where great Atlas bears Laden with Golden Stars the glittering Sphears Hic vir hic est tibi quem promitti saepius audis Augustus Caesar divûm genus aurea condet Saecula qui rursus Latio regnata per arva Saturno quondam super Garamantas Indos Proferet imperium Jacet extra sidera tellus Extra anni Solisque vias ubi coelifer Atlas Axem humero torquet stellis ardentibus aptum America was not known to the Ancients But what of all this Who finds in any of these Writings any Marks of America or the least Description thereof Though we cannot deny that the Antient Sages and Wise Philosophers of former times might easily make out and no question did that the Earth and Sea made the perfect Figure of a Globe first from the round Shadow of the Earth that Ecclipses the Moon the different Risings and Settings of the Celestial Luminaries and the still Variation of the Pole so that the Earth and Sea making one Ball they might easily conjecture that the South-side of the Equinoctial might be Inhabited as well as the North But all this was more grounded upon Natural Reason and Right Judgement than any Experience of theirs or the least certain knowledge thereof which since these later times had the first happiness to obtain so laying these Conjectures aside there have been none more grosly erroneous and so utterly mistaken in this Point than some of the Ancients and especially the Fathers of the Church Lactantius Firmianus Lactant. l. 3. c. 24. and St. Austin who strangely jear'd at as ridiculous and not thinking fit for a Serious Answer the Foolish Opinion of Antipodes or another Habitable World beyond the Equator At which Lactantius Drolling says What Forsooth here is a fine Opinion broach'd indeed an Antipodes heigh-day People whose Feet tread with ours and walk Foot to Foot with us their Heads downwards and yet drop not into the Sky There yes very likely the Trees loaden with Fruit grow downwards and it Rains Hails and Snows upwards the Roofs and Spires of Cities tops of Mountains point at the Sky beneath them and the Rivers revers'd topsi-turvy ready to flow into the Air out of their Channels Lactant. error concerning our Antipodes But these seeming witty Observations of Lactantius though they may serve for a Jest yet are not grounded on any serious Reasons for the Earth and Sea being Globular making one Universal Ball all Materials whatsoever that belong to this great Body sink by a natural Propensity towards its Center so that where-ever we Travel our Feet are downwards and our Heads upwards the Sky above and the Earth beneath neither need they fear that any where the Earth should Moulder and drop into the Clouds As also St. Austin de Civit Del l. 16. c. 9. But St. Austin Reasons better admitting that the Earth and Sea make a Universal Globe yet it no way follows that inhabited Countreys should lye opposite to our Northern nay altogether impossible seeing that side which is our Antipodes is all nothing but Sea and should we allow that there were Land and Water mixt as ours is who could prove that they were Peopled or how could any get thither over such Vast and Immense Seas or possibly pass the extream heat of the Torrid Zone not to be endur'd by any living Creature And what then becomes of Sacred Scripture which says positively That all Men were deriv'd from Adam and after the Floud from Noah and his three Sons Therefore the Nations of the Antipodes must be of another Abstract there being no possibility as they suppos'd of passing from this World to that But since the Discovery of the East and West-Indies Experience the best Mistress hath taught that in the South are mighty Lands and vast Territories and that as far as they have been Penetrated are found to be full of People extending their Dominions from East to West And though St. Austin deny'd this now well-known Truth yet long before his time Cicero Pliny and others amongst the Greeks and Romans divided the Earth under five Zones which Virgil describes thus Five Zones the heav'ns infold hot Sun-beams beat Always on one and burns with raging heat The two Extreams to this on each hand lies Muffled with Storms fetter'd with cruel Ice 'Twixt Cold and Heat two more there are th'aboads Assign'd poor Mortals by th' Immortal Gods Quinque tenent caelum zonae quarum una corusco Semper Sole rubens torrida semper ab igni Quam circum extremae dextra laevaque trahuntur Caerulea glacie concretae atque imbribus atris Has inter mediamque duae mortalibus aegris Munere concessae divum via secta per ambas Obliquus qua se signorum verteret ordo Marcob in Somnio Scipionis l. 2. c. 5. Vide Carpent Geograph With Virgil Pliny and the Prince of Latin Orators agree who saith You see that those that inhabit the Earth dwell in Countreys so separated one from another that it is impossible they should have any Commerce some of them are our Antipodes walking with their Heads downwards some their Feet against our sides others as we with their Heads upright You see how the same Earth seems to be Swath'd about with Rolls of which two separated by the other three are at utmost distance one from the other lying equi-distant under the Vertick Points of Heaven always cover'd with Snow and Ice but the middlemost and greatest is scorch'd by the violent heats of the Sun Two Tracts are Habitable one to the South our Antipodes the other North which we Inhabit And Pliny also affirms Pliny lib. 2. though against the Vulgar Opinion this truth That the Earth is round about inhabited and that people walk Foot to Foot in most parts thereof though every one be ready to ask why our Antipodes drop not into the Sky which question our Antipodes may also ask concerning us But although the Ancients upon these and the like Demonstrations well understood that there was a Habitable World towards the South under our Horizon yet they could not make out or believe that there was any possibility to pass thither And according as St. Austin conceiv'd That the Earth produc'd nothing under either Pole by reason of excessive cold and that the Equinoxs or Middle-Zone was not to be penetrated because of the insufferable heat Macrob. in Somno Scip. lib. 2. And Macrobius saith That the Equinoctial Circle the Artick and Antartick Lines bind the two Habitable Zones and make Temperate by the excessive Neighboring Heats and Colds and
Ships Ereighted only with Men Women and Children and all other Materials fit for a new Plantation which not long after Landed in Acuzamil a Countrey in the North of America as Francis Lopez de Gomara believes because there he onely found some remaining Tracks of Christianity a People that worshipp'd the Cross but knew no reason why or wherefore they ador'd that sign of our Redemption Now some will say that this Worship of the Cross is no argument to prove that the Brittish Christians first Planted in the North of America but what will not time and change of place do where Transplanted People keep no Records so they forget not onely Religion Laws and Customs but who they were and from whence they came Oblivion first mutilating and at last swallowing up all of which take this one late president Strange occasion of De la Roche Anno 1598. The Duke De La Roche obtain'd leave of the French King to transport a Colony of Volunteers to New France in his way he Landed fifty Men on the Island De Sable to rest his Passengers and that he might the better and with more ease explore the Countrey and when resolv'd where to settle then to fetch them off who accordingly as design'd soon after returning thither was met with so violent a Storm that not being able to Weather the Isle of Sable where he left his People he lost his whole Expedition and was driven back to a French Harbor where no sooner arriv'd he was so highly charg'd that he was cast into Prison when those he had left neglected upon the Isle were not once so much as thought of in this interim they never expecting to hear more of their Captain liv'd in a wild and miserable condition feeding upon Fish and sometimes wild Swine without Bread Drink or Salt When the Baron of Leri went with Letters Patents to be Governor of Nova Francia and by stress of Weather in his Voyage was forc'd to put in at Sable where he found the remainder of La Roches People who being from fifty reduced to twelve having clad themselves in Sea-Wolves Skins they had not onely lost their former French Civilities but forgot in a manner their Religion much of their Language and what they were being as if Metamorphos'd into bestial Salvages If some did not come accidentally to America And although we have already controverted the improbability of Peopling America either by accident of Storm or set purpose yet it may be possible that so it might happen for as the several vertues of Plants Herbs Precious-Stones and Minerals though strangely occult and so altogether unknown that what could never be found by Art meer chance hath brought to light and their wondrous qualities some casual accident hath made apparent so strange and remote Countreys never to be found in our Charts or Maps nor Registred in any Story Seamen bound to their intended Harbors have stumbled on by chance either Hood-wink'd by blind Mists or forc'd upon by pertinatious Weather of which America may be her own witness for how was Columbus stirr'd up but by incitations of the Journals of a Sea-Captain dying in his House driven on the American Islands by foul Weather America was Peopled presently after the Flood Although from the foremention'd places and after the same manner America might be furnish'd with Inhabitants so it also gives us a more certain assurance that the Planting of America was not onely soon after the Flood but that they came also thither by Land And how strangely would it be against the Majesty and Wisdom of Divine Providence to leave half the Universal Globe a World fully supply'd with all sorts of Creatures fit for Food and Service Plants Herbs and the richest Minerals like a House new built and well fumish'd Giants in America without a Master or any Inhabitant viz. Man who being of Celestial Extract should be able to acknowledge and glorifie the Creator by admiring the Creature in his great Works Besides the confus'd Notions and Fables of Giants Perpetrators of all manner of Crimes and wallowing in all kind of sensual Debaucheries are always remembred among the Antiquities of the Americans and that they had some slender hints of antient Truth not onely of the Giants before the Flood but of those that soon after the rank fatness of the Earth produc'd and fed to that pitch of Arrogance that the covenanting Brethren defi'd God Conjurati fratres Virg. Georg. The Flood acknowledg'd there fortifying themselves to fight him by the advantage of that their long congested Pile Babel which in a short time was transverted by the Heathen Poets into their Gigantomachia heaping Hills on Hills like the American Traditions From which we may conjecture that they came thither in the time of Noah for why may not any believe when Noah liv'd three hundred years after he Landed on Mount Ararat that he took care to People the World And who will make him ignorant of this New World who living five hundred years before might not improbably by his own industry and the help of the former long-liv'd Patriarchs been well able to make a general Survey of the Old and he could better furnish America it being nearer Mount Ararat than supply Italy Spain Germany or any Northern Territories in Europe so that America might be known to the first people after the Flood nay inhabited by them though since that the knowledge was lost Pliny complaining of the Supine negligence and stupendious sloth which reign'd then and long before as he had observ'd among all people and in every place who were so far from making inquiry after discoveries of Lands for new Plantations that they lost the old when they had begun to settle though under the greatest serenity of Peace The Sea by that means lying open beyond what any juncture of former times could be proud of Canary Islands by whom discover'd Yet the Fortunate or Canary Islands were in the first ages after Noah frequented with Vessels which in later times were altogether neglected till Guillaum Betancourt a Gentleman of Picardye brought them again to be taken notice of by a fresh Trade Kesperian Gardens what they fignifie The Fable of the Hesperian Gardens and the Dragon that kept the Golden Fruit with constant Vigils is nothing but an allusion to the Sea which with Serpentine Embraces not onely secur'd these scatter'd Isles but swallow'd up several Adventurers that too hardy made their unhappy approaches for discovery Another Allegation for the Planting of America by Land both whose sides are wash'd on the East and West by the South and Atlantick Ocean may be thus probably made out The Atlantick rowls over with almost Fathomless Waters three thousand Leagues of Ground the South-Sea not much less which well may be being indeed but one continu'd Sea encompassing till meeting there the Universal Ball whence springs a more likelyhood that America might be Planted from the Southern parts from
on the Proposals concerning the delivery of the Prisoners Cornelius Jacobszoon Sailing to Pisco with four Sail from the Fleet could do no good there for he not onely found the City to be surrounded with a Wall of fifteen Foot high but having also many Earthen Redoubts behind which lay above two thousand arm'd Men wherefore he deserted the same after some Rancounters Vershoor's Explâ—it But the Rear-Admiral John Williamszoon Vershoor who was sent to Gainquil had much better luck for he not onely took that Metropolis but also burnt a new Royal Gallion and two lesser Vessels carry'd a conquer'd Vessel to Lima slew above a hundred Spaniards and threw seventeen over-board because they had shot Poyson'd Bullets against the Law of Arms of which Conquest Captain Engelbert Shutte had the greatest honor But the Sea-men grew weaker and weaker by the Scurvy and all of them would have perish'd had they not found a soveraign Herb on the highest Mountains of Lima Schapenham being chose Admiral in L' Heremites place Schapenham's remarkable Exploits Weigh'd Anchor from Callao and ran into the Inlet Piscadores where on the shore he rais'd a Sconce yet not long after departed from thence without any effect but lost twenty eight Men through the bad Conduct of their Commanders the like number he lost also at Aquapulque on the side of which City stands a Castle with four strong Bulwarks the Holland Fire-ship lay just without the reach of the shot the rest lay along the shore in a row there to seize upon the Vessels expected thither from the Manillaes But because the Scurvy raged amongst the Sea-men and disabled them they waited in vain Schapenham Sail'd through the South-Sea to the Ladrones where he found store of Provisions Anno 1625. in March he drop'd Anchor before Maleye and from thence went with Herman Spiult the Governor for the East-India Company in Amboina to Ceram where they Conquer'd the Fort Lochoe and soon after Cambella then the Fleet being divided Schapenham carry'd home two Ships from Batavia and the remainder return'd at several times they being hir'd to serve the East-India Company to Surratta Malacca Schapenham dies Coromandel and the Molucco Isles Schapenham Deceasing near Bantum and being Bury'd on Pulo Boftok the Ships arriv'd at the Texel in July Anno 1616. Henry Brewer his Voyage ANno 1643. Brewer set Sail with four Ships from Reciffo and ran close along the States-Isle so dangerous and Rocky that he durst not put in to the Land from which flew great abundance of Party-colour'd Ducks with sharp Bills about the Ships and under the Keels swam also Whales On the West side of the Straights Le Maire Brown ran into Valentine's Inlet where he was much troubled by the Winds which came whistling through the hollow Mountains with great and sudden gusts The shore afforded red and black Strawberries Carville and Muscles to the great refreshment of the Sea-men who daily saw Sea-Lions Sea Lions but could not come to shoot one of them for no sooner they perceiv'd any body but they Diving under Water swam away and though they saw Mens Foot-steps of eighteen Inches long yet they never found any Men. Thence Sailing into the South-Sea along the Coast of Chili they enter'd a Bay which they nam'd Brewer's-Haven Brewer's Haven Remarkable Exploits where Landing they walk'd towards a great Smoke which they saw afar off but coming near it found only two Houses within a large Plain full of Sheep Oxen and Horses before the Houses stood Woodden Crosses The Dolphin Pink and a great Boat being sent to the Inlet lay the following Night at an Anchor near a high Mountain from whence in the Night two great Guns were fir'd whereupon Lieutenant William Ter Bergen Landed with sixteen Musqueteers and climbing up the Mountain found a Village behind the same where all things were in Alarm Drums beating Trumpets sounding Ter Bergen's Exploit Bells ringing the Villagers suddenly firing their Guns on Ter Bergen who being supply'd with thirty four Men Encounter'd the Enemy so Valiantly that he fled into the Woods not without the loss of Men and Horses The Guns with which they had shot in the Night lay onely on a Redoubt Ter Bergen persuing this Victory March'd into the Woods and shot the Spanish Commander Andreas Munes Iserrera from his Horse got great store of Treasure which lay hid under the Tree being brought out of Carelmappa which Village he set afire and kill'd all the Horses and Weigh'd Anchor with the Admiral Brewer to Michael de Cabuco where not being able to Land because of the many obscure Rocks and Shoals they set Sail to Castro Castro a City which they conquer'd and burnt without the least resistance This City situate on a Mountain is stately built among Flowry Meadows delightful Orchards and brave Fountains Stream Chili the Sea before it flows daily fourteen Foot Brewer also burnt a Spanish Ship and set some Houses afire took three Spaniards Prisoners on Las Bahias who inform'd him that the Winter Season was almost over but that it was never known by any to pass over so mildly ill Weather generally using to blow down Houses Trees and rend Rocks asunder that there was much Gold in Osorno and Baldivia which last they had some years since deserted for hunger but it was since Garrison'd by three hundred Castilians that none could get at the Fort Conception which lay a League Westerly from thence but in a small Boat that there were on the place near two thousand Inhabitants Moreover an ancient Matron call'd Lovysa Pizarra from Quintian one of the Isles in the Chilean In-Land-Sea being fetch'd from thence gave information that forty years since before the Indians took up Arms the Spaniards were quietly setled in Osorno and in so good a condition that an ordinary Planter had at least three hundred Slaves of which every one was to procure a certain quantity of Gold that the Isles Chiloves were divided into above a hundred Colonies or Plantations the Chileses serving the Castilians as their true Governors those that do good Service the King of the Colony makes them Commanders and that the Chineses had Rebell'd in several places Brewer on the Chileses request took some of them with their Wives and Children into his Ship furnish'd with Arms he digg'd a Chest of Silver and a Brass Gun out of the Earth and soon after being sick Brewer dies dy'd His Successor Elias Herkmans prosecuting those Publick Affairs sent the Pilot of the Unity out of Brewer's Haven and some Sea-men with two Chilean Casiques with a Boat to Carelmappa but being surpriz'd by a violent Storm Strange accident stood in for Horse-Island where he and the Casiques Landing he order'd seven Sea-men to carry the Boat to a safer Harbor but being driven from the shore by strong Winds it took in so much Water as fill'd and sunk it so that all of them were drown'd Horse-Island being destitute
of Provisions and Lodgings those that were Landed expected nothing but Death till they found out a small Hut and in the same six brave Sheep and a good quantity of Potatoe Roots which serv'd for Bread But when this their new-found Store was almost spent they happily were fetch'd off by the Boat belonging to the Ship Amsterdam and with the whole Fleet came to an Anchor before Baldivia Baldivia a brave City This City built by the Castilians consisted formerly of five hundred and fifty fair Houses and was divided into Streets and cross Ways with two large Markets and as many costly Churches The Chileses unsufferably oppress'd slew all the Spanish Garrison and into the Governor's Mouth and Ears pour'd melted Gold of his Skull they made a Drinking-cup and of his Shin-bones Trumpets after this the City fell almost to decay onely a great part of the Wall remain'd yet standing The Chileans hereupon flock'd hither by thousands some on Horses others on Foot all Arm'd with Lances of a Foot long Herkman hereupon informing them by an Interpreter that they being mortal Enemies of the Spaniards would joyn with the Chileans against that common Foe and desir'd that they might build a Fort on the Market-place in Baldivia for a defence against all Invasions and that they might be supply'd with Provisions which the Fleet wanted all which the Chileans granted and accordingly brought in store of Sheep Hogs and Cattel But so soon as Herkman began to make the least mention of Gold they were all abash'd and said that they knew of no Gold Mines nay their Hair stood an end when they heard the name of Gold so horribly the Spaniards had dealt with their Parents Why the Chiloses grew strange to the Hollanders After this the Chileans growing more and more strange did not in the least countenance the building of the Fort and the longer the Fleet staid the less Provisions they brought aboard upon which the Ships were necessitated without any remarkable Exploits to set Sail and return to Reciffo The Second Book CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF Northern America CHAP. I. Of the Bounds of America and of the Division of the Mexican or Northern part thereof The Bounds and Division of Northern America HAving in the first Part of this Volume discours'd at large concerning the Original of the Americans and whether that part of the World call'd India Occidentalis or America were known to the Ancients or own its Discovery wholly to the Moderns as also of all the Discoveries that have been made of the several parts thereof and by whom we shall now pass on to the Topographical part describing every particular Province or Region by giving an Account of their Situation Temperature Productions Nature of the Soil and Quality of the Inhabitants America lying Westward of the Azores and the Worlds Meridian is by some suppos'd to consist of one vast Island and several lesser ones scatter'd about it Nor can this Supposition be thought improbable if as many think it be environ'd with Sea on the North side as towards the East South and West it is known to be East by the Atlantick Ocean South by the Magellanick Straight and West by Mare del Zur But because the North-West Passage though attempted by many as Nelson Davis Forbisher Button Smith Hudson and others hath not yet been fully discover'd by any so that it is not certainly known whether America be joyn'd to Groenland and the Arctick Region by a continu'd Tract of Land or sever'd by the Ocean we shall follow the method of those Geographers who reputed sufficiently authentick have divided this New World into Islands and two grand Peninsula's joyn'd together by an Isthmus or Neck of Land call'd The Straight of Darien by some The Straight of Panama lying almost under the Equinoctial Line and extending in length from Nombre de Dios Southward above a hundred English Miles and from East to West seventeen Miles over in the narrowest place Of these two grand Peninsula's the Northern is generally call'd America Mexicana from Mexico the chief City of the Province properly call'd Mexicana which without doubt was heretofore the most potent rich and flourishing of all the Kingdoms of the Indians at least on the North side of the Isthmus In the Division of the several Provinces of America as well those of the Northern as of the Southern Continent we find so various an Account among the several Geographers that have written of them not any two of them agreeing in one and the same order that to reconcile the differing methods of so many disagreeing Authors would be an endless Work wherefore we shall pitch upon the surest course and not omitting the mention of any of the Provinces taken notice of by the said Authors hereby endeavor to take in whatsoever material hath been observ'd by all of them and by the way take occasion to shew how one differs from another in the distribution of them Those therefore of the Northern America that as near as can be we may bring many into one seem most fitly describ'd in this following order 1. Estotiland 2. Terra Laboratoris or Nova Britannia 3. Canada or Nova Francia 4. Nova Scotia 5. Norumbegua 6. New England 7. New Netherland now call'd New York as being in the possession of the English 8. Mary-Land 9. Apalchen now call'd Virginia 10. Carolina 11. Florida 12. Jucatan 13. Guatimala containing Chiapa Vera Paz Honduras Nicaragua Costarica Veragua Guatimala properly so call'd 14. The Kingdom of Mexico or New Spain containing the Arch-bishoprick of Mexico Mechoacan Tlascalla Guaxata Panuco Tabasco 15. New Gallicia containing Guadalajara Xalisco Chiametla Couliacan Cinoloa Zacatecas 16. New Biscay 17. New Mexico 18. Cibola wherein are mention'd Tontonteac and Nova Granada 19. Quivira to which by most Authors is added California which being an Island we thought fit to reserve to be spoken of among the Islands as also Terra Nova or New-found Land which last lies utmost East as the other West of Northern America Some there are also and particularly Monsieur De Martini who among the above-mention'd Provinces have inserted Groenland though doubtless with little reason since should it be granted that it is not divided by any Sea yet it is evident if any credit may be given to all modern Maps and Globes that the greatest part of Groenland lies in the Hemisphere of the known World and therefore we have judg'd it most convenient to refer the particular mention thereof to the Description of the Arctick Region The Islands of Northern America are 1. Terra Nova or New-found Land 2. The Island of Assumption 3. The Bermudas or Summer-Islands 4. Hispaniola 5. St. John Porto Rico. 6. Cuba 7. Jamaica 8. The Lucayes 9. The Caribbees being twenty eight in number 10. The Isles of Sotavento 11. Trinidado and 12. California the biggest of all the American Islands The Extent and Circumference of the West-Indies The length of the West-Indies is
Degrees and some odd Seconds where they easily went on Shore In the Year 1608. the Commander of the Colony deceasing and not long after him the Lord Chief Justice who had been the chief that had furnish'd them with fresh Supplies they return'd for England in those Ships that had been sent them with Succours At which unexpected return the Patrons of the Design were so offended that for a certain time they desisted from their Enterprizes In the mean while the French making use of this occasion Planted Colonies in divers places when Sir Samuel Argal from Virginia disturb'd their Designs and brought away Prisoners all he could lay hold on Suddenly after Captain Hobson and divers others were set out with very great Preparations and with them two of the Natives which had been detain'd for some time in England whom they thought to have made use of the better to draw the rest of the Natives to their Commerce but because a little before twenty four of them had been treacherously dealt with by one Hunt they contracted from thence so great an animosity towards the English that Captain Hobson was constrain'd to return without effecting any thing In the Year 1614. Captain John Smith being sent to Fish for Whales and seek after Mines of Gold and Silver Landed upon the Island of Monahiggan where he found some store of Whales but not such as those by whose Oyl they use to make so much profit About the same time two of the Natives being recover'd Erpenow of Capawick that had escap'd from Captain Hobson and Assacumet of Pemmaquid one of those that had been taken Prisoners with Chaloung Captain Harly with Necessaries convenient for such a Voyage was dispatch'd away by Sir Ferdinando Gorges the Earl of Southampton favouring the Design and furnishing him with some Land-Soldiers under the Command of Captain Hobson who not discourag'd with his former ill Success resolv'd upon a second Adventure In the Year 1615. Sir Richard Hakings undertook a Voyage into those Parts by authority of the Council of the second Colony but by reason of the great Wars among the Natives his Observations could not be such as might give any farther light than what had been already receiv'd Soon after which Captain Dormer coming for England from New-found-Land and Landing at Plymouth apply'd himself to the Governor by whom he was dispatch'd away with Direction to meet Captain Rocroft sent away a little before but Rocroft being dead by that time Dormer could come after him to Virginia where he heard he was he returning to Capawick was there set upon by Erpenow the foremention'd Salvage and other Indians that were Conspirators with him and within a short while after at Virginia whither he went to be cur'd of the Wounds he receiv'd in that Assassination he fell sick and died About the Year 1623. Captain Robert Gorges newly come out of the Venetian War was employ'd by the Council of New Englands Affairs as the Lieutenant-General to regulate the Abuses of divers Fisher-men and other Interlopers who without License frequented those Coasts for which Service he had assign'd to him all that part of the main Land situate upon the North-East side of the Bay of the Messachasets By these several Colonies sent so thick one after another both a full Discovery of the Countrey came to be made and a large gap open'd to the free possession thereof yet in regard of the many disappointments and misfortunes the several Companies sent over met with and counting the vast Charges their setting forth cost the Undertakers which would have been still increas'd by the need of continu'd Supplies in all probability New England would have been but thinly peopled to this day had not a great Tide of People possess'd with an aversion to the Church-Government of England and fled into Holland for Liberty of Conscience eagerly taken hold of this opportunity to make themselves Masters of their own Opinions and of a Place where they might erect a Government suitable thereunto and though at first there were some Exceptions taken as if this Countrey was to be made a Receptacle of Sectaries and such as condemn'd the Ecclesiastical Government of the Nation insomuch that Sir Ferdinando Gorges to whom they apply'd themselves desiring him to mediate for them to the Council of New Englands Affairs when they perceiv'd the Authority they had from the Virginia Company could not warrant their abode there had enough to do notwithstanding his Apology That these things hapned contrary to his expectation to wipe away the jealousie which was entertain'd of him it being Order'd that no more should be suffer'd to pass into New England but such as should take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy yet at last there was little notice taken who went perhaps upon consideration that the vast resort of People thither would be of greater advantage to the Plantations than their different Opinions at so remote a distance could be prejudicial so long as they acknowledg'd Obedience to the King and Civil Power However Sir Ferdinando to clear himself the better mov'd those Lords that were the chief Actors in the Business to resign their Grand Patent to the King and pass particular Patents to themselves of such part of the Countrey along the Sea-Coast as might be sufficient for them To this Motion there being a general Assent given by the Lords and a Day appointed for the conclusion thereof an Act was made for the Resignation of the Patent alloting to each Man their several Bounds From the uttermost parts began the Limits of the Lord Mougrave and ended at Hudson's River To the Eastward of which River for the space of sixty Miles in length was plac'd the Duke of Richmond's Assignment Next to him was setled the Earl of Carlile Next him the Lord Edward Gorges Next the Marquess of Hamilton Then Captain John Mason And lastly his own which extended to the great River Sagadehoc being sixty Miles and so up into the Main Land a hundred and twenty Miles which he was pleas'd to call by the Name of The Province of Main The Landing of the English in Plymouth Plantation was very much facilitated by the great Mortality that hapned amongst the Indians about that time amongst the Pecods Narragansets Nianticks Tarantines Wippanaps and those of Abargini Agissawang and Pockanekie their Powwows or Doctors seeing with amazement their Wigwams or Streets lie full of dead Bodies and in vain expecting help from Squantam their good or Abbamoch their bad God Not long before that blazing Comet so much talk'd of in Europe apppear'd after Sun-setting in their Horizon South-West for the space of thirty Sleeps for so they reckon their Days They Landed at first with little or no resistance a handful of Men onely being sent before to keep possession for their Companions who arriv'd eight days after when the Natives appearing with their Bowes and Arrows let flie their long Shafts amongst them whereupon one Captain Miles Standish with his Fowling-piece
shot the stoutest Sachem amongst the Indians as he was reaching an Arrow from his Quiver which the rest seeing fled into the Woods and Thickets The same Year the Merchant-Advenurers in England sent forth store of Servants to provide against the Wants of that place amongst whom came over a mix'd Multitude who setled themselves in the Bosom of the Cape now call'd Gloucester About the Year 1651. there fled to the English at Water-town the Indians that dwelt thereabouts for protection against the Tarratines a sort of cruel and salvage Cannibals by whom near the Town of Saugust in the very dead time of the Night one Lieutenant Walker being on a sudden alarm'd was shot through his Coat and Buff Jacket with two Indian Arrows That Night the English stood upon their Guard and the next Morning sent word to other parts who gather'd together and taking counsel how to quit themselves of these Indians agreed to discharge their great Guns whose redoubled noise ratling in the Rocks struck terror into the Indians and caus'd them to betake themselves to flight The Autumn following others of the Indians who till then had held a good correspondence with the Planters began to quarrel about the Bounds of their Land but a great Mortality by the raging of the Small-Pox breaking out amongst them put an end to that Controversie There died amongst the rest one of the chief of the Sagamores of the Mattachusets call'd Sagamore John who before his Death had been instructed in the Christian Faith and took care that his two Sons should be nurtur'd therein In the Year 1635. there arrived several Ships with great plenty of Provisions and many Persons of good Quality and amongst the rest Sir Henry Vane The same Year the People of Cambridge otherwise call'd New-town hearing of a fertile place upon the River Canectico remov'd thither and erected anew Corporation by the Name of Banectico being encourag'd thereunto by the Lord Say and the Lord Brooks and planting a Forrest at the mouth of the River call'd it Saybrook Forrest About the Year 1638. the Pequods a stout and Warlike Nation lying to the South-West of the Mattachusets were discover'd upon their March within some few Miles of Hartford Their coming very much terrifi'd all that inhabited thereabouts but they took onely three Women and return'd one of whom making a violent resistance had her Brains beaten out the other two they carried away with them without abusing their Persons as it was suppos'd they would for they esteem'd their own Shaws being black beyond our Women Their chief Design was to learn to make Gunpowder which seeing they could not effect they look'd upon their Prize as nothing so precious as they imagin'd A little after another Indian War threatning the English they resolv'd together to send an Ambassador to Cannonicus chief Sachem of the Naragansits endeavoring to prevent him from confederating with the Pequods who as they had Intelligence were about sending to him to joyn with them Cannonicus being grown old had resign'd the Government to his Nephew Mantinemo a stern Man and of a cruel Nature The Ambassadors arriving at his Court which was about eighty Miles from Boston the Indian Prince assembled his chief Councellors and having Entertain'd the Ambassadors Magnificently and Feasted them Royally gave them Audience in his State-house where the Sachem to manifest his greater State lay along upon the Ground with all his Nobility sitting about him with their Legs doubled up and their Knees touching their Chin The English Interpreter having made his Speech in the Name of the rest both Cannonicus and the young King gave discreet Answers signifying their Resolutions to keep a fair Correspondence with the English and yet not to fall out with the Pequods Who a little after making also their Addresses to the same King he disswaded them by many Reasons from making War with the English and to deliver into their hands those Persons that had murther'd any of them The Pequods nevertheless though they seem'd inclinable to his Counsel yet they acted as Enemies for when the English sent a Company of Soldiers into their Countrey to treat with them about delivering up the Murtherers they made shew of willingness but spying their advantage betook themselves to their Heels and whomsoever they took stragling by surprise they revil'd and insulted over in a most cruel manner vilifying the Christian Religion and uttering all the Blasphemies they could invent Whereupon they rais'd fresh Souldiers for the War to the number of four score out of the several Towns in the Mattachusets and with some Indian Guides came to their Fort within which they had pitch'd their Wigwams the Entrance being on two sides with intricate Meanders to enter at which were plac'd Indian Bowe-men who shot the foremost of the English yet they had little to boast of in the end for the English rushing in through the winding Ways and placing themselves round the Wigwams made a very prosperous Shot by directing the Muzzles of their Musquets against the Indians which lay sleeping on the Ground In the midst of which rouzing terror and confusion they were defeated with little ado most of them being either wounded kill'd or taken The English thus animated with the first Victory send their Prisoners to the Pinnaces and prosecute the War in Hand marching against the next Body of the Indians which lay Encamp'd on a Hill about two Miles distant where they gave them a second Overthrow slaying many more than in the first Engagement the rest flying to a very thick inaccessible Swamp or Bog were there besieg'd by the English and skulking up and down as they saw their opportunity they would Shoot at them with their Arrows and then suddenly fall flat along in the Water at last the English finding out a Passage into the Swamp utterly defeated them and put an end to the War with the loss of few Mens Lives and not many wounded In the Year 1640. there came over a fresh Supply of People into New England and finding no place to settle in within any of the former erected Colonies they repair'd to a place call'd Long Island sever'd from the Continent of New-Haven about sixty Miles off the Sea The Year following the four Colonies namely the Massachusets Plymouth Canectico and New-Haven taking into consideration the many Nations that were on all sides of them as the French Dutch Jews and native Indians as also how the three first went to lay claim to Lands they never had any right to and the last to be continually quarrelling and contending where they saw any hopes of prevailing by Commissioners chosen from the respective Colonies concluded a firm Confederation to assist each other in all just and lawful Wars upon which there came in certain Indian Sachems as Pomham Miantonemo Soccanocoh and Uncas who not onely submitted to the English Government but also if occasion were in matters of Controversie submitted to their Arbitration But the Contest between
which daily lies upon them insomuch that a great Belly hinders no business nor doth a Child-birth take much time but the young Infant being greas'd and sooted wrapp'd in a Beavers Skin bound with his Feet up to his Bum upon a Board two Foot long and one Foot broad and his Face expos'd to all nipping Weather this little Pappouse travels about with his bare-footed Mother to paddle in the Icy Clam-banks after three or four days of Age have confirm'd her recovery For their Carriage it is very civil Smiles being the greatest grace of their Mirth Their Musick is Lullabies in Rocking their Children who generally are as quiet as if they had neither Spleen or Lungs Their Voices are generally both sweet and well order'd so far as pure Nature teacheth them Their Modesty drives them to wear more Clothes than the Men having always a Coat of Cloth or Skins wrapp'd like a Blanket about their Loyns reaching down to their Hams which they never put off in Company Towns buile by the English in New England There are to be reckon'd up forty five chief Towns besides what others there may be of less note built or made habitable by the English since their first arrival in New England till about the Year 1650. First St. Georges Fort where the first Plantation was setled St. Georges Fort. at the Mouth of the River Sagadebock in a kind of Peninsula or half Island The second New Plymouth seated no less commodiously upon a large Bay New Plymouth call'd by the Natives Pautuxed where they first setled that went over out of dissatisfaction to the Church-Government of England The third Salem call'd by the Indians Mahumbeak Salem which stands on the middle of a Neck of Land very pleasantly having a South River on the one side and a North River on the other side This Town seems to have been built in the Year 1628. by a part of that Company who being sent over by the Merchant-Adventurers setled themselves in this Cape The fourth Mashawmut or Charles-town Charles-town situate on a Neck of Land on the North-side of the River Charles The form of this Town in the Frontispiece of it resembleth the Head Neck and Shoulders of a Man through the right Shoulder whereof runs the Navigable River Mistick which by its near approach to Charles River in one place makes the chief part of the Town a Peninsula It consists of a hundred and fifty Dwelling-houses many of them beautifi'd with pleasant Gardens and Orchards Near the Water-side is a large Market-place forth of which issue two fair Streets and in it stands a large and well built Church The fifth Matapan or Dorchester a Fronteer Town Dorchester standing over against the Island near the Sea-side It is water'd with two small Rivers and is built in the form of a Serpent turning its Head Northward it hath Orchards and Gardens full of Fruit-trees The sixth is Boston anciently Accomonticus the Center and Metropolis of the rest Boston built in the form of a Heart and fortifi'd with two Hills on the Front-part thereof the one having great store of Artillery mounted thereon the other having a strong Battery built of whole Timber and fill'd with Earth At the Descent of the Hill lies a large Cave or Bay on which the chief part of this Town is built over-topp'd with a third Hill all three like over-topping Towers keeping a constant Watch to foresee the approach of foreign Dangers The chiefest part of this City-like Town is crowded upon the Sea Banks and wharf'd out with great Industry and Cost the Edifices large and beautiful whose continual enlargement presageth some sumptuous City The seventh Roxbury Roxbury situated between Boston and Dorchester water'd with cool and pleasant Springs issuing from the Rocky Hills and with small Freshets watering the Valleys of this fertile Town The form of it resembleth a Wedge double pointed entring between the two above-mention'd Towns and in the room of those Swamps or tearing Bushes which were there before they have now goodly Fruit-trees fruitful Fields and Gardens The eighth is Lynne Lynne or according to the Indian Name Saugus situated between Salem and Charles-town near a River whose strong Freshet at the end of Winter fills all her Banks and with a violent Torrent vents it self into the Sea This Town is almost square consisting many years ago of above a hundred Dwelling-houses having also an Iron Mill in constant use The Church being on a level Land undefended from the north-North-West Wind is made with Steps descending into the Earth The ninth is call'd Water-town Water-town anciently Pigsgusset situated upon one of the Branches of Charles-River water'd with many pleasant Springs and small Rivulets running like Veins throughout her Body This Town began by occasion of Sir Richard Saltingstall who arriving with store of Cattel and Servants Winter'd in these Parts In the Year 1633. there was erected between Charles-town and Water-town New-town a Place call'd New-town and by the Indians Amongcangen since nam'd Cambridge being the tenth in order It is in form like a List of Broad-cloth reaching to the most Southerly part of Merrimeck River it hath comely and well order'd Streets and two fair Colledges Harverd Colledge the first call'd Harverd Colledge from Mr. John Harverd who at his Death gave a thousand Pounds to it to the other Mr. John Harnes was the chief Benefactor This Town was appointed to be the Seat of the Government but it continu'd not long The eleventh call'd Ipswich Ipswich or Sawacatuc by the Indians is situated on a fair and delightful River issuing forth from a very pleasant Pond and afterwards breaking its Course through a hideous Swamp of large extent it lies in the Sagamoreship or Earldom of Aggawan now by the English call'd Essex Twelve Miles from Ipswich Newbury near upon the Streams of Merrimeck River is situated the twelfth call'd Newbury The People of New-town Hartford or Cambridge upon their removal of the Plantation of Canectico passing up the River built a Town which they call'd Hartford the thirteenth in number divers others coming in the room of those that departed from Cambridge The fourteenth Concord seated upon a fair fresh River whose Rivulets are fill'd with fresh Marsh and her Streams with Fish it being a Branch of that large River of Merrimeck Allwives is built in the Inland Countrey and call'd Concord It consisted at first of above fifty Families Their Buildings are for the most part conveniently plac'd on one streight Stream under a Sunny Bank in a low Level The People that first set forth to build this Town sustain'd great hardship and misery by reason of the uncouth Ways and extremity of the Weather it being the first Inland Town that was built South-East of Charles-River upon the Sea-Coast Hingham is situated the fifteenth Town Hingham the form whereof is somewhat intricate to describe by reason of
Battel in revenge of some former Injuries done by the Troquois to the Algovinquins who had the Victory for which cause the French have been so hated ever since by the Nation of the Troquois that none of them durst ever appear in any part of that Lake But their Trade said to be sixteen thousand Beavers yearly is partly sold to the Dutch who Trade with the West-end of the said Lake over Land by Horses from their Plantation upon Hudson's River and another part is conceiv'd to be purchas'd by the Hiroons who being Newters are Friends both to the one and the other and these Hiroons bring down the greatest part of all by the River of Canada The Way over Land to this great Lake from the Plantation of Pascataway hath been attempted by Captain Walter Neale once Governor at the Charges of Sir Ferdinando Gorges Captain Mason and some Merchants of London and the Discovery wanted but one days Journey of finishing because their Victuals was spent which for want of Horses they were enforc'd to carry with their Arms and their Clothes upon their Backs They intended to have made a settlement for Trade by Pinnaces upon the said Lake which they reckon to be about ninety or a hundred Miles from the Plantation over Land The People of the Countrey are given to Hunting of wild Beasts which is their chiefest Food Their Arms are Bowes and Arrows Their Armor is made partly of Wood and partly of a kind of twisted Stuff like Cotton-Wool Their Meat is Flour of Indian Corn of that Countreys growth sodden to Pap which they preserve for times of Necessity when they cannot Hunt This Province of Laconia however known by a distinct Name is included within the Province of Main which offers it self next to our consideration Of the Province of Main All that part of the Continent of New England which was allotted by Patent to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and to his Heirs he thought fit to call by the Name of The Province of Main It takes it beginning at the entrance of Pascatoway Harbor and so passeth up the same into the River of Newichwavoch and through the same unto the farthest Head thereof and from thence North-Westwards for the space of a hundred and twenty Miles and from the Mouth of Pascatoway Harbor aforesaid North-Eastward along the Sea-Coast to Sagadehock and up the River thereof to Kinibequy River even as far as the Head thereof and into the Land North-Westwards for the space of a hundred and twenty Miles To these Territories are also adjoyn'd the North half of the Isles of Sholes together with the Isles of Capawick and Nautican as also all the little Islands lying within five Leagues of the Main all along the Sea-Coast between the aforesaid Rivers of Pascatoway and Sagadehock He no sooner had this Province setled upon him but he gave publick notice That if any one would undertake by himself and his Associates to Transport a competent number of Inhabitants to Plant in any part of his Limits he would assign unto him or them such a proportion of Land as should in reason satisfie them reserving onely to himself some small High-Rent as 2 s. or 2 s. 6 d. for a hundred Acres per Annum and if they went about to build any Town or City he would Endow them with such Liberties and Immunities as should make them capable to Govern themselves within their own Limits according to the Liberties granted to any Town or Corporation within this Realm of England And as for others of the meaner sort who went as Tenants that they should have such quantities of Land assign'd them as they were able to manage at the Rate of 4 d. or 6 d. an Acre according to the nature or situation of the Place they settle in And for the Division of the Province and the Form of Government which he intended to Establish he first divided the Province into several Parts and those again he subdivided into distinct Regiments as East West North and South those again into several Hundreds Parishes and Tythings and these to have their several Officers to Govern according to such Laws as should be agreed upon by publick Assent of the Free-holders with the approbation of himself or Deputy and the principal Officers of the publick State The setled Government for the general State to whom all Appeals were to be made and from whom all Instructions for the welfare of the Publick were to issue were to consist of himself or his Deputy who was to be chosen every three year by himself with the advice of his Council Next a Chancellor for the determination of all Causes A Treasurer to whom the care of the publick Revenue was to be committed A Marshal whose Office was to oversee the Regiments and to provide Men for publick Service An Admiral to take care of all Maritime Affairs to whom a Judge of the Admiralty was to be joyn'd to determine all Maritime Causes A Master of the Ordnance to look to the publick Arms and Ammunition A Secretary to receive Intelligence and to acquaint himself or Deputy therewith To these belong all their several Officers and Ministers for the Execution of all Matters proper to their several Places The chief Town of this Province is call'd Gorgiana which is Govern'd by a Mayor the rest are onely inconsiderable Villages or scatter'd Houses but through Encouragement given to Adventurers and Planters it may prove in time a very flourishing Place and be replenish'd with many fair Towns and Cities it being a Province both fruitful and pleasant SECT II. New Netherland now call'd New York THat Tract of Land formerly call'd The New Netherland doth contain all that Land which lieth in the North parts of America betwixt New England and Mary-Land the length of which Northward into the Countrey as it hath not been fully discover'd so it is not certainly known The breadth of it is about two hundred Miles The principal Rivers within this Tract are Hudson's-River Raritan-River Delaware-Bay-River The chief Islands are the Manhatans-Island Long-Island and Staten-Island The first which discover'd this Countrey was Henry Hudson who being hir'd by the East-India Company to seek a Passage in the Northern America to China set Sail Anno 1609. in the Half-Moon Frigat coming before Terre-neuff he stood about towards the South-West where Sailing up a great River he found two Men Clad in in Ruffelo's Skins and from thence arriv'd safe at Amsterdam New Netherland thus discover'd invited many Merchants to settle a firm Plantation there to which purpose they obtain'd Letters Patents in 1614. granted them by the States in the Hague That they might onely Traffick to New Netherland whereupon they earnestly prosecuting the Design sent out Adrian Block and Godyn who discover'd several Coasts Isles Havens and Rivers NOVI BELâ—â— Quod nune NOVI JORCK vocatur NOVAE que ANGLIAE Partis Virginiae Accuratissima et Novissima Delineatio After His Majesties Restauration His Majesty being truly
act Warlike postures and then they come in painted for War with their Faces black and red or some all black some all red with some streaks of white under their Eyes and so jump and leap up and down without any order uttering many Expressions of their intended Valour For other Dances they onely shew what antick Tricks their ignorance will lead them to wringing of their Bodies and Faces after a strange manner sometimes jumping into the Fire sometimes catching up a Firebrand and biting off a live Coal with many such tricks that will affright rather than please an English-man to look upon them resembling rather a company of infernal Furies than Men. Their sitting in Council When their King or Sachem sits in Council he hath a Company of Arm'd Men to guard his Person great respect being shewn him by the People which is principally manifested by their silence After he hath declared the cause of their Convention he demands their Opinion ordering who shall begin The Person order'd to speak after he hath declar'd his mind tells them he hath done no Man ever interrupting any Person in his Speech nor offering to speak though he make never so many long stops till he says he hath no more to say The Council having all declar'd their Opinions the King after some pause gives the definitive Sentence which is commonly seconded with a shout from the People every one seeming to applaud and manifest their Assent to what is determin'd If any Person be condemn'd to die which is seldom unless for Murther or In cest the King himself goes out in Person for you must understand they have no Prisons and the guilty Person flies into the Woods where they go in quest of him and-having found him the King shoots first though at never such a distance and then happy is the Man that can shoot him down for he that hath the fortune to be Executioner is for his pains made some Captain or other Military Officer They grease their Bodies and Hair very often and paint their Faces with several Colours as black white red yellow blue c. which they take great pride in every one being painted in a several manner Within two Leagues of New York lieth Staten-Island it bears from New York West something Southerly It is about twenty Miles long and four or five broad mosr of it very good Land full of Timber and producing all such Commodities as Long-Island doth besides Tin and store of Iron Oar and the Calamine Stone is said likewise to be found there There is but one Town upon it consisting of English and French but it is capable of entertaining more Inhabitants Betwixt this and Long-Island is a large Bay which is the coming in for all Ships and Vessels out of the Sea On the North-side of this Island After-skull River puts into the Main Land on the West-side whereof there are two or three Towns but on the East-side but one There are very great Marshes or Meadows on both sides of it excellent good Land and good convenience for the setling of several Towns There grows black Walnut and Locust as there doth in Virginia with mighty tall streight Timber as good as any in the North of America It produceth any Commodity which Long-Island doth Hudson's River runs by New York Northward into the Countrey towards the Head of which is seated New Albany a Place of great Trade with the Indians betwixt which and New York being above a hundred Miles is as good corn-Corn-Land as the World affords enough to entertain hundreds of Families which in the time of the Dutch Government of these Parts could not be setled by reason of the Indians excepting one Place call'd The Sopers which was kept by a Garrison but since the Reducement of these Parts under His Majesties Obedience and a Patent granted to his Royal Highness the Duke of York which is about six years by the care and diligence of the Honorable Collonel Nichols sent thither as Deputy to his Highness such a League of Peace was made and Friendship concluded betwixt that Colony and the Indians that they have not resisted or disturb'd any Christians there in the setling or peaceable possessing of any Lands within that Government but every Man hath sat under his own Vine and hath peaceably reap'd and enjoy'd the Fruits of their own Labors which God continue Raritan-River Westward of After-skull River before mention'd about eighteen or twenty Miles runs in Raritan River Northward into the Countrey some scores of Miles both sides of which River are adorn'd with spacious Meadows enough to feed thousands of Cattel The wood-Wood-Land is very good for Corn and stor'd with wild Beasts as Deer Elks and an innumerable multitude of Fowl as in other parts of the Countrey This River is thought very capable for the erecting of several Towns and Villages on each side of it no place in the North of America having better convenience for the maintaining of all sorts of Cattel for Winter and Summer Food Upon this River is no Town setled onely one at the Mouth of it but next to it Westward is a Place call'd Newasons where are two or three Towns and Villages setled upon the Sea-side but none betwixt that and Delaware-Bay which is about sixty Miles all which is a rich Champain Countrey free from Stones and indifferent level having store of excellent good Timber and very well water'd having Brooks or Rivers ordinarily one or more in every Miles travel This Countrey is peopled onely with wild Beasts as Deer Elks Bears and other Creatures so that in a whole days Journey you shall meet with no Inhabitants except a few Indians It is also full of stately Oaks whose broad-branch'd tops serve for no other use but to keep off the Suns heat from the wild Beasts of the Wilderness where is Grass as high as a Man 's Middle which serves for no other end except to maintain the Elks and Deer who never devour a hundredth part of it than to be burnt every Spring to make way for new How many poor People in the World would think themselves happy had they an Acre or two of Land whilst here is hundreds nay thousands of Acres that would invite Inhabitants Delaware Bay the Mouth of the River Delaware-Bay lieth about the mid way betwixt New York and the Capes of Virginia The best Commodities for any to carry with them to this Countrey is Clothing the Countrey being full of all sorts of Cattel which they may furnish themselves withal at an easie Rate for any sort of English Goods as likewise Instruments for Husbandry and Building with Nails Hinges Glass and the like They get a Livelihood principally by Corn and Cattel which will there fetch them any Commodities Likewise they Sowe store of Flax which they make every one Cloth of for their own wearing as also Woollen Cloth and Linsey-woolsey and had they more Tradesmen amongst them they would in a little time
live without the help of any other Countrey for their Clothing for Tradesmen there are none but live happily there as Carpenters Blacksmiths Masons Taylors Weavers Shoemakers Tanners Brickmakers and so any other Trade Them that have no Trade betake themselves to Husbandry get Land of their own and live exceeding well We shall conclude our Discourse of this Countrey with a notable Character given thereof by a late Writer as to the great advantage of happy living in all respects for whosoever shall be pleas'd to betake himself thither to live The Character of a happy Countrey IF there be any terrestrial happiness saith he to be had by any People especially of an inferior rank it must certainly be here Here any one may furnish himself with Land and live Rent-free yea with such a quantity of Land that he may weary himself with walking over his Fields of Corn and all sorts of Grain and let his Stock amount to some hundreds he needs not fear there want of Pasture in the Summer or Fodder in the Winter the Woods affording sufficient supply where you have Grass as high as a Man's Knees nay as high as his Waste interlac'd with Pea-Vines and other Weeds that Cattel much delight in as much as a Man can pass through And these Woods also every Mile or half-Mile are furnish'd with fresh Ponds Brooks or Rivers where all sorts of Cattel during the heat of the day do quench their thirst and cool themselves These Brooks and Rivers being inviron'd of each side with several sorts of Trees and Grape-Vines Arbor-like interchanging places and croding these Rivers do shade and shelter them from the scorching beams of the Sun Such as by their utmost Labors can scarcely get a Living may here procure Inheritances of Lands and Possessions stock themselves with all sorts of Cattel enjoy the benefit of them whilst they live and leave them to their Children when they die Here you need not trouble the Shambles for Meat nor Bakers and Brewers for Beer and Bread nor run to a Linnen-Draper for a supply every one making their own Linnen and a great part of their woollen Cloth for their ordinary wearing And how prodigal if I may so say hath Nature been to furnish this Countrey with all sorts of wild Beasts and Fowl which every one hath an interest in and may Hunt at his pleasure where besides the pleasure in Hunting he may furnish his House with excellent fat Venison Turkies Geese Heath-hens Cranes Swans Ducks Pigeons and the like and wearied with that he may go a Fishing where the Rivers are so furnish'd that he may supply himself with Fish before he can leave off the Recreation Here one may travel by Land upon the same Continent hundreds of Miles and pass through Towns and Villages and never hear the least complaint for want nor hear any ask him for a Farthing Here one may lodge in the Fields and Woods travel from one end of the Countrey to another with as much security as if he were lock'd within his own Chamber And if one chance to meet with an Indian Town they shall give him the best Entertainment they have and upon his desire direct him on his Way But that which adds happiness to all the rest is the healthfulness of the Place where many People in twenty years time never know what Sickness is where they look upon it as a great Mortality if two or three die out of a Town in a years time Besides the sweetness of the Air the Countrey it self sends forth such a fragrant smell that it may be perceiv'd at Sea before they can make the Land No evil Fog or Vapor doth any sooner appear but a north-North-West or Westerly Wind immediately dissolves it and drives it away Moreover you shall scarce see a House but the South-side is begirt with Hives of Bees which increase after an incredible manner So that if there be any terrestrial Canaan 't is surely here where the Land floweth with Milk and Honey Noua TERRA-MARIAE tabula This Northerne part of Virginia the limitts whereof extend farther Southwards is heere inserted for the better description of the entrance into the Bay of Chesapeack A NEW DESCRIPTION OF MARY-LAND SECT III. BEfore We proceed to the Description of this Countrey it will be first requisite to relate the true occasion and means whereby this part of America came to be erected into a Province and call'd Mary-land In the Year of our Lord 1631. George Lord Baltimore obtain'd of King Charles the First of Great Brittain c. a Grant of that part of America first discover'd by the English which lies between the Degrees of thirty seven and fifty Minutes or thereabouts and forty of Northerly Latitude which is bounded on the South by Virginia on the North by New England and New Jersey The situation part of New York lying on the East side of Delaware Bay on the East by the Ocean and on the West by that part of the Continent which lies in the Longitude of the first Fountains of the River call'd Patomeck In pursuance of this Grant to his said Lordship a Bill was prepar'd and brought to His Majesty to Sign who first ask'd his Lordship what he should call it there being a Blank in the Bill designedly left for the Name which his Lordship intended should have been Crescentia but his Lordship leaving it to His Majesty to give it a Name the King propos'd to have it call'd Terra-Mariae in English Mary-land in honor of his Queen whose Name was Mary which was concluded on and inserted into the Bill which the King then Sign'd and thereby the said Tract of Land was erected into a Province by that Name His Lordship somewhat delaying the speedy passing of it under the Great Seal of England dy'd in the interim before the said Patent was perfected whereupon a Patent of the said Province was shortly afterwards pass'd to his Son and Heir who was Christen'd by the Name of Coecil but afterwards confirm'd by the Name of Coecilius the now Lord Baltemore under the Great Seal of England bearing Date June 20. 1632. in the eighth Year of His said Majesties Reign with all Royal Jurisdictions and Prerogatives both Military and Civil in the said Province as Power to Enact Laws Power of pardoning all manner of Offences Power to confer Honors c. to be held of His said Majesty His Heirs and Successors Kings of England in common Soccage as of His Majesties Honor of Windsor in the County of Berks in England yielding and paying yearly for the same to His Majesty and to His Heirs and Successors for ever two Indian Arrows of those parts at the Castle of Windsor aforesaid on Tuesday in Easter Week and the fifth part of all Gold and Silver Oar which shall happen to be found in the said Province The Bounds By the said Patent is Granted to his Lorship his Heirs and Assigns all that part of a Peninsula lying
built The Governor hath a House there call'd St. John's the Chancellor Mr. Philip Calvert his Lordships Brother hath another and in this place is built and kept the Secretaries Office where all the Records are kept all Process Grants for Lands Probates of Wills Letters of Administration are issu'd out the Plat of a Fort and Prison is lately laid there upon a point of Land term'd Windmil-Point from a Windmil which formerly stood there the situation is proper for that it commands the breadth of the said River of Saint Georges so that when it is finish'd all Shipping may safely Ride before the Town without the least fear of any sudden Assault or Attempt of Pirats or other Enemy whatsoever This City has formerly been the usual place of abode for his Lordships Lieutenants and their Retinue but of late years the present Governor Mr. Charles Calvert hath built himself a fair House of Brick and Timber with all Out-houses and other Offices thereto belonging at a place call'd Mattapany near the River of Patuxent before-mention'd where he and his Family reside being a pleasant healthful and commodious Seat about eight Miles by Land distant from St. Maries Of the Indians in Maryland The Indians in Mary-land ate a People generally of streight able and well proportion'd Bodies something exceeding the ordinary pitch of the English their Complexion Swarthy their Hair naturally long and black without Curle which generally they cut after some strange Fantastical Mode nay sometimes they Dye it with red and other preposterous Colours They Liquor their Skins with Bears Grease and other Oyls which renders them more tawny and less apt to receive injury from the Weather They are subtile from their Infancy and prone to learn any thing their Fancy inclines them to in other things slothful There are as many distinct Nations among them as there are Indian Towns which are like Countrey-Villages in England but not so good Houses dispers'd throughout the Province Each Town hath its King by them term'd Werowance and every forty or fifty Miles distance differs much from its Neighbors in Speech and Disposition The Sasquahanocks though but few in number yet much exceed the rest in Valor and Fidelity to the English the rest being generally of a more Treacherous Spirit and not so stout and the number of the English do already exceed all the Indians in the Province The Werowance is assisted by Councellors call'd Wisoes who are commonly of the same Family and are chosen at the pleasure of the Werowance They have Captains in time of War which they term Cockorooses Most of their Governments are Monarchical except the Sasquabanocks which is a Re-publick but for succession they have a peculiar Custom that the Issue of the Males never succeed but the Issue-Male of the Female succeed in Government as the surer side They all submit to and are protected by the Lord Proprietaries Government and in case of any Assault or Murder committed on any English the Party offending is try'd by the Laws of the Province and in case of any new Election of King or Emperor among them they present the Person so Elected to the Governor for the time being who as he sees cause either alters or confirms their Choice In the Year 1663. at the Indians Request the present Governor Mr. Charles Calvert and some others of his Lordships Privy-Council there went to Pascatoway in this Province to be present at the Election of a new Emperor for that Nation They presented a Youth nam'd Nattawasso and humbly Requested to have him confirm'd Emperor of Pascatoway by the Name of Wahocasso which after some charge given them in general to be good and faithful Subjects to him the Governor accordingly did and receiv'd him into his Protection They pay great Respect and Obedience to their Kings and Superiors whose Commands they immediately Execute though with an apparent hazard of their Lives The Mens chief employment is Hunting and the Wars in both which they commonly use Bowes and Arrows some of late have Guns and other Weapons by a private Trade with some English Neighboring Plantations They are excellent Marks-men it being the onely thing they breed their Youth to The Women Plant and look after the Corn make their Bread and dress what Provisions their Husbands bring home Their way of Marriage is by agreement with the Womens Parents or Friends who for a certain Sum of their Money or other Goods deliver her to the Man at a day appointed which is commonly spent in jollity Their Money There are two sorts of Indian Money Wampompeage and Roanoack these serve among them as Gold and Silver do in Europe both are made of Fish-shells which they string like Beads Wampompeage is the largest Bead sixty whereof countervails an Arms length of Roanoack which is valued at six Pence Sterling with this they purchase Commodities of the English as Trading-Cloth c. of which they make themselves Mantles which is something shaggy and is call'd Dutch Duffels this is their Winter Habit in Summer they onely wear a narrow slip of the same to cover those parts which natural modesty teaches them to conceal the better sort have Stockings made thereof and pieces of Deer-Skin stitch'd together about their Feet in stead of Shooes The Womens Apparel is the same but those of the best Quality among them bedeck themselves with Wampompeage or Roanoack or some other toy Manner of habitation Their Houses are rais'd about the height of a large Arbor and cover'd with Barks of Trees very tite in the middle whereof is the Fire-place they lie generally upon Mats of their own making plac'd round the Fire a Woodden-bowl or two an Earthen Pot and a Mortar and Pestle is their chiefest Houshold-stuff he that hath his Bowe and Arrows or Gun a Hatchet and a Canoo a term they use for Boats is in their minds rarely well provided for each House contains a distinct Family each Family hath its peculiar Field about the Town where they Plant their Corn and other sorts of Grain afore-mention'd Civility to the English They are courteous to the English if they chance to see any of them coming towards their Houses they immediately meet him half-way conduct him in and bid him welcome with the best Cates they have The English giving them in like manner civil Entertainment according to their Quality The Werowance of Patuxent having been Treated for some days at St. Maries by the then Governor Mr. Leonard Calvert his Lordships Brother at his first coming thither to settle that Colony took his leave of him with this Expression I love the English so well that if they should go about to kill me if I had so much breath as to speak I would Command my People not to revenge my death for I know they would not do such a thing except it were through my own default In Affairs of concern they are very considerate and use few words in declaring their
so made are in Force there till His Majesty thinks fit to alter them The Chief Court of Judicature is call'd The Quarter-Court because it is held every quarter of a Year where all Causes Criminal and Civil are heard and determin'd and the Judges of this Court are the Governor and Council The present Governor in this Year 1671. is Sir William Berkley who was made Governor by King Charles the First of Great Brittain c. in the Year 1640. And those of the Council are Sir Henry Chichesly who is one of the greatest and most considerable Planters there and Mr. Edward Diggs before-mention'd Mr. Thomas Ludwel Secretary Major-General Robert Smith and divers other worthy Gentlemen That part of the Countrey where the English are Planted is divided into nineteen Counties viz. Northampton-County in Acomack on the Eastern shore and on the Western shore Corotuck Lower-Norfolk Nansemund Isle of Wight Surry Warwick Henerico James Charles York New-Kent Gloucester Middlesex Lancaster Northumberland Westmoreland Rappahanock and Harford-Counties In every one of these Counties there are inferior County-Courts kept every Moneth these take no Cognizance of Causes relating to Life or Member or exceeding a certain limited Value such being refer'd to the Quarter-Courts only to which likewise there lie Appeals from their Inferior Courts There are Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and other Officers in every respective County appointed by the Governor for the Administration of Justice who sit there according to his Order and whereof these County-Courts are chiefly compos'd There are few Towns as yet erected in this Colony the Principal Seat of the English there is at a place call'd James-City in Honor of King James of Great Brittain c. This is situated in a Peninsula on the North side of James-River and has in it many fair Brick and other good Houses In this place are held the Quarter-Courts General Assemblies the Secretary's Office and all other Affairs and greatest Concerns of the Colony are here dispatch'd On the same side nearer the Mouth of this River stands Elizabeth-City containing also several good Houses of Brick and Timber Sir William Berkley the present Governor resides at a place somewhat distant from James-City call'd Green-Spring a fair Brick House which he himself caus'd to be built The other Towns of Note belonging to the English only Henricopolis or Henry's-Town so nam'd from Prince Henry then living built in a very convenient place more within Land about eighty Miles distant from James-City and Dale's-Gift so nam'd and Planted at the Charges of Sir Thomas Dale Deputy-Governor of the Countrey about the Year 1610. Of the Indians of Virginia The Indians of Virginia in Stature Complexion and Disposition differ very little from those of mary-Mary-land Their Laws and Customs their way of Living and Apparel their Religion Money and manner of Burial are the same in both places all which are more particularly express'd in the precedent Description of that Province to which we refer the Reader Yet these Indians far exceed those of Mary-land in Treachery and Cruelty to the English there as will appear by this following Relation of their Proceedings towards them since the first Seating of that Colony wherein nevertheless the Civility of some particular Persons at their first Landing is not to be omitted Transactions between the English and the Natives Upon the first arrival of Captain Amidas and Captain Barlow in Wingandacoa now Virginia they were accosted by Granganimeo the King's Brother of that Countrey who attended with a Train of forty or fifty Men came in a very civil manner to Treat about a Commerce of Trade and Traffick which immediately began between them and several Barters were made Granganimeo who was very just of his Word and always kept his promis'd Day of meeting fancying most a Pewter Dish gave twenty Deer-skins for it and boring a Hole therein hung it about his Neck for a Breast-plate afterwards he with his whole Company and his Wife and Children frequently and familiarly did eat and drink aboard the English Ships the King himself call'd Wingina lying sick at his chief Town six days Journey off of a dangerous Wound which he had receiv'd from a neighboring King his mortal Enemy Some of the English going to Land upon the Isle of Roanoack were met by Granganimeo's Wife who her Husband being absent commanded her Servants some to draw their Boat ashore some to carry them on their Backs to Land others to carry in their Oars into the House for fear of stealing and having caus'd a great Fire to be made to warm them and to dry those that had been wet in their Voyage she afterwards Entertain'd them with a very plentiful Feast or Banquet after that Countrey fashion and when they took alarm at the coming of two or three of her Men with Bowes and Arrows she caus'd the Bowes to be broken and the Men to be beaten out of the House besides several other demonstrations of extraordinary civility and when notwithstanding all this they could not be perswaded to Lodge any where but in their Boat she us'd all means imaginable to make them quit their jealousie and accept of a Lodging in the House In the Year 1585. a Company that went over with Sir Richard Greenvill burnt the Town of Aquascogoc by reason of a Silver Cup that was stoln by some of the Indians took Prisoner Menatonon King of Chawonoc who gave a large Relation of another King about three days Journey off who possess'd an Island wonderfully rich in Pearl which was taken in great abundance in a deep Water that inviron'd it Going towards the Countrey of the Mangoacks among whom in the Province of Chaunis Temoatan they heard of a Mine of strange Copper call'd Wassador with Skiko the King of Chowonock's Son and Manteo a faithful Salvage for their Guide they were treacherously dealt with by Wingina alias Pemissapan for so his Brother Granganimeo being lately dead he had alter'd his Name who endeavor'd to stir up a Confederacy of the Chawonocks Moratocks and Mangoacks against them yet by the urgent perswasions of Ensenore his Father the truest Friend the English had after the death of Granganimeo and seeing them safe return'd from their Journey wherein he thought they had all perish'd and especially upon Menatonon's sending Messengers to them with Pearl and Okisco King of Weopomeock to yield himself Vassal to the Queen of England his Hatred was somewhat cool'd but Ensenore deceasing soon after he return'd to his old treacherous Practises again and in the end while he was contriving mischief against the Planters he himself was shot taken Prisoner and beheaded After the Company left upon Virginia by Sir Richard Greenwill for he himself was return'd tir'd out with hunger hardship and the many extremities they were at last reduc'd to had deserted the Place and obtain'd Passage for England through the civility of Sir Francis Drake pitying their distress fifty Men more were Landed upon Roanoack-Isle by the
ingenious in divers mechanical Arts especially in making of Feather-Pictures a piece of Curiosity wherein they are held to be incomparably or rather inimitably excellent and so industrious at it that although the Americans generally are not a People over-much addicted to any kind of Labor or Study yet at this they will sit a whole day together without either Meat or Drink onely out of a natural affection they have to the Work and a desire to be excellent in it The Countrey indeed affords them great variety of Birds and other Fowl of most rare and exquisite Colours which is a great advantage to their Skill and helps much to the accomplishment of their Work They Paint likewise very curiously upon their Cottons and are held to be generally the best Goldsmiths in the World of most perfect skill in the purging and refining of all sorts of Metals but especially of Gold and Silver And yet in other things so strangely stupid and ignorant that when the Spaniards first appeared amongst them not a few of them as 't is reported took the Horse and Man both for one Creature and when the Horse Neighed they would enquire very seriously what he said Lakes of New-Spain There are likewise many fair Lakes in this Province but the principal are those of Chapala and Mexico the former of which is in the more Northern parts of the Kingdom towards the Borders of New Gallicia and is chiefly famous for the abundance of good Salt that is yearly made and Transported thence The other of Mexico is one of the largest and goodliest in the World of circular form as some say little less than nine hundred Miles in compass environ'd with the main Land the Peninsula or Cape of Florida Jucatan and the Island Cuba having two onely Passages in and out and both of them well fortifi'd the one betwixt the Point of Jucatan and the Isle Cuba where the Tyde violently enters and the other betwixt the said Island and the Cape of Florida where it goeth as violently out upon which Gulf the King of Spain hath always some good Ships in readiness for all occasions and by them 't is suppos'd he doth more assure his Estates in those parts of America than by all the Garrisons besides The whole Kingdom of Mexico or New-Spain is subdivided into these Inferior Provinces The several Provinces 1. The Arch-bishoprick of Mexico 2. The Bishoprick Mechoacon 3. Los Angelos or Tlascale 4. Guaxaca 5. The Lordship Panuco And 6. the Province Tabasco NOVA MEXICO bound of Mixicana It is bounded on the East with the East with the Gulf of Mexico on the West with Mechoacan on the North with Panuco and some parts of New-Gallicia and on the South with Tlascalla Nature of the Countrey This Countrey is both large and rich containing not much less than one hundred and thirty Leagues both in length and breadth and if it yields any thing to Peru in the plenty of Gold and Silver 't is certain it much excels it in many other Commodities as namely in all sorts of Fruits abundance of Cattel plenty of Corn and Grain in all which the advantage this Countrey hath not only of Peru but of all the other Provinces of America beside is well known Not to speak any thing of the great plenty and variety of good Fish which both the Rivers and Lakes of this Countrey afford which is very great insomuch that the very Tribute of the one Lake of Mexico is said to yield an Income of above twenty thousand Crowns yearly one with another The People of the Countrey are generally Industrious and Active especially since the Spaniards came among them rich Merchants if they apply themselves to it and they say likewise good Soldiers when they are train'd and imploy'd that way Chief Towns of Mexicana The chief Towns and places of the Province are 1. Mexico both anciently and at present the Metropolis and Capital City being the Seat of an Archbishop and the ordinary Residence of the Vice-Roy and chief Governors of New-Spain Description of the City Mexico This City by the Indians was formerly call'd Tenustatan lies in nineteen Degrees and a half to the Northward of the Equinoctial-Line rais'd out of a brackish Lake full of muddy Water whose circumference along the Mountains is seventy Leagues This Lake swarms continually with Boats which carry the People to and again from one inhabited Island to another four Stone-bridges no less costly than artificial with Arches and Gates in several places lead from the City to the Main Continent The fresh Water which they have in the City Mexico is led into the same through Pipes that lie in the bottom of the Lake but none are to enjoy the benefit thereof before they have paid a certain Sum of Money to the King's Collectors Moreover the City divided into Islands contains above sixty thousand Houses which being built on several Isles have large Bridges which reach from one to another some that lie in the middle of the Lake they approach in little Boats round about the Lake especially where the way leads from the Continent into the City lie several Suburbs all inclos'd with Walls between which stand strong Towers cover'd on the top To keep off the force of the Water the Tenustatans have with great labor and charge made a Bank through the Lake half way along the City But the Lake Laguna from whose bottom Mexico is rais'd is divided in two parts the Sweet Lake which is higher than the Salt falls in to the same through Sluces with Bridges built on the Bank that leads from the City to the main Land The Salt-Lake which hath brackish and bitter Water ebbs and flows according as the Wind blows no Fish is able to live in the same because the Water which in the sight of Mexico falls into the same out of the Mountains hath a sulphury Ground All along the shore much Salt is made with which the Citizens drive a great Trade There are continually above a hundred thousand Boats by the Indians call'd Acales and by the Spaniards Canoos going off and on from one shore to another The fresh Water Lake which is bigger than the salt and feeds small Fishes hath above fifty Suburbs about the same of which some boast five thousand and others ten thousand Houses Nay the Suburb Tescuco in former times was no way inferior to Mexico in bigness since the Spaniards have been Masters of this City they stopt up many Moats to inlarge their narrow Streets Besides three publick Markets every open place affords all sorts of Provisions daily the Indians call the Markets Tianguystly and the Spaniards Tianguez the first and chiefest stands in Tatelulco adorn'd with Galleries on three sides in the middle of this Square which is accounted the biggest in the World stands next to the place of Execution a stately Fountain the Tents which are every Week pitch'd up here for Trade amount to above thirty
Apple-Trees which grow by Rivers sides or on the Sea-shore whose Fruit is rank Poyson and who-ever sleeps under the shadow of them will certainly be Lame The Fruit eaten generally causes Death or if Nature be so strong in him that eats of it to overcome the same yet he is certain to lose his Hair As hurtful is the prickly Herb Quibey which bears white Flowers like Violets The Tree Gaiaba But this Island receives the greatest prejudice by the Tree Guaiaba because it grows in most places and over-runs Plains and Hills so spoiling all the Grass between which and the fore-mention'd Tree there is such an antipathy that none will grow near it The Tree bears a brown Apple full of Kernels which are eaten by Beasts and Fowls and from which falling on the Ground when ripe grow up in new Trees which makes the Countrey a meer Wilderness The Body of it is smooth and of a pale colour the Leaves hard and glittering and grow two and two over one another the Flowers have also five Leaves in the middle of which rises a Crown like that on a Peacock's Head The Fruit which is cover'd with a soft Doun and somewhat longer than the European Apple when cut through hath a pale red Pulp full of eatable Kernels before it is ripe it is of a sharp taste yet good boyl'd but when ripe of a most delicious and pleasant rellish nevertheless too much of it causes a Lask The Roots which are red without and white within are juicy sweet and very long the Leaves sallow and sowre of taste The Beast Javaris Amongst the strange Beasts the Javaris Opassum and Tatow are the most remarkable The Javaris are taken for a sort of wild Hogs and have short Ears and a Navel on their Backs little Tails some black and some spotted white The Opassum The Opassum is as big as a Cat hath a sharp Mouth the upper Jaw-bone hanging over the lower long straight and broad Ears and a very long Tail bald at the end which winds in a Circle on it s Back black Hair sprinkled with grey Spots and with its sharp Claws climbs up the Trees where it feeds on Fruit and sometimes preys on Fowls Nature hath furnish'd this Beast with a strange Bag under its Belly whereof the in-side hath a far softer Doun than the out-side in which the young ones lie and suck after which the Bag opening they creep out upon the Ground The Males have also a Bag which serves onely to carry their Young in for they and the Females carry them by turns The Tatow The Tatow which is arm'd with sharp Scales hath the Mouth of a Hog and at each Foot five sharp Nails when it is Hunted or goes to sleep in the Night it draws its Head Legs and Tail under its scaly Coat of Mail like a Tortoise and in that manner lies secure against all manner of danger The Venison taken here is very delicate but difficult to be got for this Beast having a breathing-place in its Back never tires with running and when encompass'd by the Dogs falls valiantly on those that are nearest to it and often tears them in pieces Chief Towns and Citiâ—s The chief Towns in this Island are 1. Porto Rico it self commonly call'd St. John de Porto Rico so term'd by Christopher Columbus as being the first Land discover'd by him in the Year 1493. at that time when he could not perswade his Seamen wearied out with continual hardship from returning if they discover'd not Land in two days a strong and neat Town built by the Command of Philip the Second King of Spain It was attempted by Sir Francis Drake in the Year 1595. without success but a few years after taken by the Earl of Cumberland 2. St. Germans in the West part of the Island three or four Leagues distant from the Sea 3. Arrecibo Westward from Porto Rico where the most noted Haven is of those Parts for all the others are full of Rocks and Sands The antient Inhabitants of this Island maintain'd continual Wars with the Cannibals probably the Natives of the Islands so call'd who us'd every year to come thither those that were conquer'd as well of the one side as of the other were eaten by the Conquerors so that in effect both sides were but a different sort of Cannibals Columbus Landing here found a great House surrounded with twelve others but all of them empty and desolate This Island which formerly is said to have been under the absolute Power of one sole King the Spaniards not much regarded at first having enough to do with Hispaniola where they found more Gold than on Porto Rico. The building of St. Germans Anno 1510. John Ponce de Leon obtain'd a Commission from the Court of Spain to be chief Governor of this Island and built Caparra which Place was inhabited twelve years notwithstanding it stood behind a scraggy Mountain in a desart place far up in the Countrey but their thirst after Gold of which some Veins were discover'd there made them dispence with all other inconveniences yet at last beginning to be weary of this desolate and barren place of Settlement they remov'd to Guanica water'd by many Rivers whose Sands had great quantities of Gold-dust Not staying long there they went four Leagues farther and call'd their new Plantation Soto Major Lastly returning again they setled themselves in the former Valley Guanica and built the fore-mention'd Town St. Germans by the River Guaorabo which makes an inconvenient Haven The Situation Description and â—ate of St. Juan de Porto Rico. Juan de Porto Rico stands Eastward at the beginning of the North Coast on a small Peninsula joyn'd to the Island by an high Isthmus call'd Puente de Aguilar Near the Mouth of the Haven lies on a rising Hill the Fort Morro Empinado built triangular by John de Texila and Baptista Antonelli who also planted there forty Guns and surrounded with the Sea which renders it a well fortifi'd place The Governor Diego Mendez de Valdez had in it fifteen hundred Men and eighty Horses when the foremention'd valiant Duke of Cumberland with a far less number fell upon him in the Year 1597. and not onely took the City Porto Rico but several other Fortifications and besides an invaluable mass of Treasure he carried away eighty Guns Sometime before this Defeat the Spaniards under the Government of Christopher Son to the Portuguese Duke of Camigna were Invaded by the Cannibals and all that were then upon the place utterly destroy'd none of them escaping but the Bishop and his Servants who betimes fled away with the Church Ornaments so that the Islanders from that time were put out of doubt that the Spaniards were mortal for they suppos'd them immortal when first they saw their great Ships and heard the noise of their thundering Cannon The Casique Yaguara's Experiment Hugh Linschot relates That the Casique Yaguara threw a Spaniard
into the Water to try whether he would drown or not and seeing him wholly depriv'd of Life he concluded by consequence that the rest of them were mortal and thereupon he set upon them when they were seeking for Gold and kill'd above a hundred and fifty of them Peter Martyr relates farther That these People though very expert in Arms yet were oftentimes beaten by the Cannibals who at one time carried above five thousand People out of Porto Rico for their Winter Provisions The Avarice and Cruelty of the Spaniards Nor was their Condition better'd after the Spaniards conquer'd the Island for those that could not furnish them with Gold were certain of Death Nor were their Cruelties in other places undivulg'd to this People before their Arrival whereupon as is related by Peter Ordonnez de Carellos the Casique Hatvey being inform'd of the Spaniards Approach took an Oath from his Subjects That they should never discover where the Gold lay though they should be put to death for it For said he Gold is their God for which they make so many cursed Blood-baths where-ever they come therefore throw the Gold into some very deep Waters for when the Spanish God is sunk the Spaniards will lose their Courage and not plague us so much for it Ceremonies of the old Natives Many were the Idolatrous Ceremonies of the old Natives of this Place which would be too tedious to relate but amongst the rest they annually kept a great Feast at which the Casiques summon'd all their Subjects to a Temple appointed for that purpose where the Priests had prepar'd an Idol ready set forth in all its Pageantry near which the Casique plac'd himself when upon the beating of a Drum all the Commonalty came also into the Temple the Men painted with divers Colours having on their Heads Plumes of Feathers about their Necks Legs and Arms Strings of Sea-shells The Married Women had a light Covering about their Middle but the Maids went stark naked all of them Dancing and Singing Songs in praise of the Idol after which having saluted the Casique they thrust little Sticks down their Throats so to bring up all they had upon their Stomachs which done and sitting down with their Legs under them they began to Sing anew often bowing and shewing Reverence to the Casique whilest some Women carried Baskets of Bread amongst those that Sang and utter'd certain Prayers which were answer'd by some of the Men the Bread being bless'd by the Priests they gave every one a piece with which they return'd home very merry and jocund But the God of this Island whoever he was hath been a long time left without Worshippers for those that were left by the Invading Cannibals were cruelly massacred by the Spaniards insomuch that they have been thereby necessitated to furnish themselves with Negro's to work in their Mines and Sugar-Mills and these also not able to endure such hard Entertainment ran most of them away for when a Negro did not bring Gold enough home at Night his Master tying him naked to a Stake or Post and beat him with Rods or Switches so long till the Blood ran down his Back then pour'd boyling Oyl into the Wounds and then threw Pepper and Salt into them and so let him lie or else put him into a Pit out of which his Head appear'd onely But those that fled gathering together sometimes met with the Spaniards and paid them in their own Coin The Islands Mona and Monico EAstward of Porto Rico and betwixt it and Hispaniola there lieth a little but fruitful Island call'd Mona and Westward of that another call'd Monico or Monetta which last the English when time was found so admirably stor'd with a sort of wild Fowl that the huge Flights of them seem'd to darken the Air over their Heads and upon their Landing found such plenty of their Eggs upon the Shore and Ground thereabouts that they presently laded two of their Boats with them But how peopled or possess'd not so well known CHAP. XV. Cuba The several Names of Cuba VVEstward or rather to the north-North-West of Hispaniola lieth Cuba accounted one of the four Isles of Barlovento and by Columbus upon his first Discovery call'd Joanna afterwards Fernandina then Alpha and Omega till at last the present Name prevail'd it is parted from the other by a Frith or narrow Channel which runneth betwixt the Capes of St. Nicholas belonging to Hispaniola and that call'd Mayzi belonging to Cuba Its Bounds On the North it hath a Frie of little Islands call'd The Leucayae Islands of which more in their proper place so many and so thick scatter'd that they serve for no small Security and Defence of the Island on that side besides a part of the Peninsula of Florida which Coasteth it likewise Northward on the West it hath the Countrey of Jucatan which is part of the Continent but at a distance of forty or fifty Leagues and on the South Jamaica It is reckon'd to be in length from Cape Mayzi which looks towards Hispaniola to the Cape of St. Anthony which is upon the Bay of Mexico two hundred and thirty Leagues but in breadth in some places not above fifteen or sixteen Leagues over in the broadest place from Jardines to Lucanaca not above forty in others sixty five But for fertility of Soil contending with Hispaniola it self and for temperature and healthiness of Air much exceeding it nor less rich formerly in good Mines both of Gold and Silver and plentifully stor'd at present not onely with Sugar-Canes of the best Growth but likewise with abundance of Ginger-Roots Cassia-Fistula Mastick Aloes Cinamon Long-Pepper of America as they call it and divers other sorts of Spices The Pastures no less abounding with Cattel of all sorts especially of European Breed the Rivers and Coasts of the Sea with good Fish no scarcity of Fowl whether wild or tame good Brass and Iron still found with some Gold in the Rivers especially those which fall into the Bay Xagua on the South side of the Island the chiefest thereof are Arimao La Luna De Mares and Cauto the biggest of them falls Southward into the Sea all of them breed store of Crocodiles which have oftentimes seiz'd both upon Men and Beasts and carrying them into the Water devour'd them there The Cedars breathe forth a most excellent sweet smell Trees and grow so large that out of the single Trunks of some of them Boats are said to have been made capable to hold forty sometimes sixty Men. There are also many other very odoriferous Trees yielding a certain Rozen or Gum no less precious than the Storax But nothing grows here more plentifully than Vines Birds the Bodies or Stocks of which are as thick as a Man 's Middle and bear excellent Grapes Besides Partridges Turtle-Doves and other Fowl the Sea-shore breeds thousands of Cranes which when young are white but when old become of several Colours they stand commonly
is every where good Anchorage the Road being so deep that a Ship of a thousand Tun may lay his sides to the Shore of the Point and load and unload with Planks afloat 4. On the West is Point Megrill a Port very convenient and secure to Windward from which a little North-West is the Seat of the old Town of Mellilla founded by Columbus as afore mention'd The chief Plantations of this Island are 1. Portmorant above the Harbor before mention'd and by the two Rivers that run into it Here are good Plantations of Sugars Cottons Tobacco's c. 2. Hence about ten Miles lieth Morant where a thousand Acres of Land have been taken up for my Lord Willoughby and a Company of Merchants 3. Hence farther Leeward lieth Yallow having good Plantations of Cotton Tobacco and other Provisions excellent Savana's and some store of tame Cattel 4. Thirty Miles hence on the North side of Cagway is Ligonce where are excellent Plantations of Sugar Cotton and Tobacco very pleasant Savana's and some store of wild Cattel 5. Twenty Miles farther West nines Miles from the Harbor of Cagway is Los Angelos having some Plantations of Sugar Cacao and Tobacco all which were old Spanish Plantations and are less considerable than those made by the English in other places 6. Eight Miles from hence North-West is Guanaboa where likewise were some Spanish Plantations since improv'd by the English who have very many excellent Plantations of Sugar Cacao c. 7. Hence West South-West lieth Guatabacoa a most pleasant rich and fertile part of the Countrey abounding with Cattel and excellent Savana's Here the Negro's setled that revolted from the Spaniards who are endeavouring to make some Plantations of Tobacco's and Provisions and with them are setled some few English who have divers Walks of Cacao The several Governors of the English in Jamaica The several Governors of this Island since the taking of it by the English are as followeth General Robert Venables staid upon the Place about three Moneths after the taking of it and at his coming away for England he left the chief Command to Major General Richard Fortescue who liv'd Governor about three Moneths after which Lieutenant General Edward Doyly was by the Army elected President but upon his coming away soon after for England Lieutenant General William Brain was sent over Governor in his room who living in the Government about three quarters of a year did as it were bequeathe it again to Doyly for he was chosen by vertue of a Blank Commission wherein Brain had inserted his Name whom he would have succeed and remain'd Commander in Chief both by Land and Sea till His Majesty's Restauration and then by His Majesty's Letters Patents was confirm'd in the Government and so was the first that was Governor there for His Majesty The next that succeeded was the Lord Windsor upon whose coming away Sit Thomas Muddiford was sent Governor and after him Sir Thomas Linch who remains Governor at present CHAP. XVII The Islands call'd the Lucaies Situation and Description of the Lucaies HAving done with the four Islands of Barlovento as they are term'd viz. Hispaniola Cuba Porto Rico and Jamaica we come next to the Lucaies so call'd as some think from Lucaioneque one of the biggest of them they lie over against Florida Westward from the Bermudas South-West and North of Hispaniola and the rest of the Barloventi and because they are but small ones and lie so near the Continent Geographers sometimes describe them as a part or appertaining to the Continent The chiefest of these Islands are Lucaioneque afore-mention'd Bahama and Guanahani Lucaioneque is accounted the biggest of them all and lieth in twenty seven Degrees between Bahama and Guanahani Bahama lies nearest to the Coast of Florida and gives Name to the Straights so call'd which run between the Cape of Florida and it with such a violent Course and Torrent that although it be above sixteen Miles broad yet many times neither Wind nor Oars can prevail against it that though the Winds be prosperous Ships cannot enter it and if it be cross they go with the Current yet those Straights the Spanish Fleet must pass in their Return from the Havana towards Spain Guanahani was the first piece of American Ground discover'd by Christopher Columbus and therefore by him call'd San Salvador or St. Saviour because that thereby he was deliver'd from the mutinous rage of the Seamen who threatned to throw him over-board if they discover'd not Land in such a time There are besides a number of small Isles scatter'd up and down which are generally comprehended in the number of the Lucaies one is Little Island encompass'd with a company of Shelves call'd the Bimini so that it is hardly accessible there goes a Tradition that it hath been inhabited by very beautiful Women the fame of whom drew many to attempt to Land there and take up their Habitation in which Attempt many were cast away There is said to be a Fountain in the midst of it of such a Vertue that whosoever drank of the Waters of it had their Youth renew'd Also three Islands or rather Rocks call'd Los Martyres lying to the South-East of Cape Florida and cover'd for the most part with a whitish Sand and a few Bushes growing on them they seem at a distance to bear a resemblance of Men impal'd or bound to Stakes as the Martyrs in the primitive Times usually were which occasion'd the Spaniards so to Name them 't is very dangerous to come too near them but to have sight of them is of great use to Men at Sea for by passing these Rocks and leaving them on the South-East they certainly know that they are now entred the Straights of Bahama that is that they have left the Ocean and are fall'n in amongst those many Islands which do as it were Barracado and Block up the Eastern Coasts of America towards Nombre de Dios and Terra Firma as they call it through which the Continent is sometimes dangerous by reason of contrary Winds and always such that it requires the skill and care of an experienc'd Pilot to conduct the Ships well thither The rest are Abacoa twelve Leagues long Yuma twenty Leagues in length and eight in breadth between twenty four and twenty five Degrees Yumeata fifteen Leagues in length between twenty three and twenty four Degrees Jamana seven Leagues every way Yabague ten Leagues likewise and lying between twenty two and twenty three Degrees Magaguana twenty Leagues long and ten broad Quagua ten Leagues every way and lying between twenty and one and twenty Degrees Caycos five Leagues in length and in the one and twentieth Degree Mackre in the twentieth Degree encompass'd with Shelves Abreo environ'd also with Shelves and fifteen Leagues long also Guatao Cigateo Guanima Jabaka Triangulo and several others The Lucales left desolate by the Spaniards On these Islands are no Inhabitants those that did live there were a harmless simple
Pearl-fishing than the other two SECT III. Trinidado Situation of Trinidado THe Island of Trinidado was first discover'd by Columbus Anno 1447. in his third Voyage and by him so call'd as some guess from its three Points or Promontories but that seems not so probable in regard it is otherwise call'd La Trinidad or Insula Sanctae Trinitatis and therefore is likely to have been denominated upon a religious Account It lieth nine Degrees or thereabouts distant from the Line at the Mouth of the River Orenoque and is separated from the Coast of Paria over against which it lies by a Straight that is three Miles over and which for the dangerousness of passing it Columbus the first Discoverer of it call'd Bocca del Draco the length thereof from the most Southern Angle call'd Punta del Andrada to the North-East call'd Punta del Galera is reckon'd twenty five Leagues those that reckon fifty may be suppos'd to mistake Leagues for Miles and the breadth about eighteen Chief Commodities of the Island The Air of this Place is so impure that it is accounted the unwholsomest Island of all the Indies nevertheless the Soil is not unfertile as bringing forth Sugar-Canes Cotton Maize Tobacco of the best kind with other Commodities of the general growth of the West-Indies besides store of good Fruit and Cattel and one part of the Island call'd Terra de Bea produceth great plenty of Pitch but not of the best kind and there have been discover'd several Veins of Gold and other Metals The Natives some say were antiently call'd Cairi or Carai and were distinguish'd into several Clans or Tribes each under the Government of a Casique or petty Prince but most of them dreading the Spaniards Cruelty deserted the Island and Setled themselves in Guiana and at present both this Place Guiana and El Dorado have of Custom one and the same Governor whose Place of Residence here is St. Josephs the chief if not onely Town of the Island it stands Southward upon the Carone Here most of that Tobacco is made which is sold amongst us for Spanish In the Year 1595. Sir Walter Raleigh possess'd himself of it being then but a petty Village of about forty Houses and took Prisoner the then Governor Antonio Berreo who in all probability to ingratiate himself with him gave him some light towards the discovery of Guiana On the North-East of Trinidado and not above eight Miles distant from it Tabago lies the Island of Tabago which hath been already treated of as one of the Caribbees though some will have it one of the Sotavento it is otherwise call'd New Walcheren from a Town of that Name in Zealand from whence a Colony of Netherlanders was sent to Plant it Amongst others of the small obscure Islands hereabouts is Virgin Gorda Virgin Gorda which is sometimes reckon'd amongst the Caribbee Islands but since there is nothing considerable to be spoken of it it is sufficient that it hath been mention'd though not punctually in its proper place CHAP. XX. California California how distinguish'd HAving before made mention of California as it is by some taken for that large portion of Northern America which lies most Southward and also utmost West of all that is known of the New World and having treated of those several Provinces which are generally reckon'd to be comprehended in it excepting California strictly taken as it is generally granted to be an Island viz. Quivira Cibola and Nova Albion lying on the Continent though there want not those who make Nova Albion onely the North part of California we shall close up our Discourse of these Islands that lie Northward of the Equinoctial Line with the aforesaid California specially so call'd which was by many thought and describ'd to be but a Peninsula or half Island by reason that the Bay which divides it from Quivira and New Gallicia towards the North runneth much narrower than it doth Southerly 〈…〉 that some where or other at the North it waâ— joyn'd to the 〈…〉 been â—aid have â—â—und it to bâ—â—◠〈…〉 â—aâ—e from the Continent for about the Yâ—◠〈…〉 upon those Coasts Northward accidentally 〈…〉 fell upon a Straight the Waters whereof ran with such 〈…〉 â—hat they brought them into Mar Vermiglio whether they 〈…〉 no and before they knew it and by that means discover'd that California was an Island and that the Waters which were observ'd to fall so violently unto that Sea towards the North were not the Waters of any River emptying it self into the Bay from the Main Land as was formerly thought but the Waters of the north-North-West Sea it self violently breaking into the Bay and dividing it wholly from the Continent It lieth North and South extending it self in a vast length full twenty Degrees of Latitude viz. from twenty two to forty two but the breadth nothing answerable The most Northern Point of it is call'd Cape Blanche that to the South Cape St. Lucas memorable for that rich and gallant Prize which Captain Cavendish in the Year 1587. being then in his Voyage about the World took from the Spaniards near to this Place As for the Island it self it is at present little if at all inhabited by the Spaniards whether it be that they want Men to furnish new Plantations or that they find no matter of invitation and encouragement from the Countrey or perhaps that the access thither be not so easie for 't is reported to be wonderfully well peopled by the Natives and that there were found onely upon the Coasts and along the Shore of Mar Vermiglio twenty or twenty three Nations all of different Languages though from the particular Narrations that have been made of the Voyages of several eminent Persons into these Parts it appears that the Spaniards have taken great pains in the discovery thereof and also from the several Spanish Names of Places that they have had Plantations here formerly however neglected at present The Customs and Manners of the Natives The Countrey is abundantly well stor'd with Fish and Fowl as appears partly by the Natives who take a huge pride in making themselves gay with the Bones of the one with which they load their Ears and sometimes their Noses also and with the Feathers of the other which ordinary People wear onely sticking about their Wastes but Great Persons and such as will be fine indeed beset their Heads strangely with them and have commonly one Bunch of them bigger than ordinary hanging down behind them like a Tail Having no knowledge of the true God they worship what the Devil will have them that is the Sun attributing to it onely the increase of their Plants healthful Seasons and most of the other good things they enjoy or are sensible of Their Government is said to be onely Oeconomical Their Government each Father ordering the Affairs of his Family apart without subjection to any other Superior yet so well manag'd that they live in good
to the taste The Toucan another Bird resembles a Turtle-Dove in all parts except the Bill and Breast for the Belly is ten Inches long and three broad the Breast of an Orange colour mix'd with Crimson Spots the remaining part is white the Back red and the Tail and Wings Coal-black The Plant Yarammacarou The Plant call'd Yarammacarou deserves also a peculiar observation viz. It is thicker than a Man's Thigh grows twelve Foot high with three Branches of equal length and thickness which you may easily break it is green without white within and without Leaves leaving red Blossoms streak'd with blue from whence grows a Fruit about the bigness of an Apple crimson without and white within and tasting like a Mulberry The Guara-tereba with other strange Fish The River Parayba produces amongst many other Fishes the Guara-tereba which hath a thick Body flat Head crooked Back split Tail and triangular Scales which laid in the Sun shine like polish'd Gold The Sea also hereabouts affords a strange Fish with a very long and thin Tail the Females whereof Lay every day Eggs like Hens they are full of poysonous Prickles and divided into several sorts amongst which the chiefest are accounted the Naainari and Jabebara Description of the Sea Coast of Brasile THe Sea-Coast of Brasile from St. Vincent to Spirito Santo appears as followeth Before the Coast of St. Vincent lie the four little Isles Queimadas and on one side the Alcatraces and Busios East North-East from which bears the Island Sebastian Before the Inlet Ubatuba lies the Isle Dos Porcos close under a high Shore where the Haven runs far up in the Countrey Fourteen Leagues farther the Island Grande stor'd with fresh Water with Fish-ponds Woods and two good Havens Before the Road of Garatuba appear several broken Isles the chiefest whereof is Morambaya The Ships Sailing along the Brasilian Coast view next the Mouth of the wide River Jenero without fear of Rocks or Shoals Moreover a sandy Ground exâ—ends from the Western Point to Cape Frio which rises out of the Sea like a Rock with white Streaks and crack'd on the top between both which the high Island before Frio makes a safe Harbor Nine Leagues beyond Frio to the Northward St. Salvador opens a large Bay hemm'd in on the South by divers nameless Isles Lastly the several Salt-pans along this Coast are very remarkable as also the Promontory St. Thoma and Parayva the Inlets Manangea and Itapemeri and the River Guarapari famous for the Mountain Pero Cam towards the North and Guapel to the South The Island Salvago round and mountainous lies before the Mouth of the River Guarapari where the Main Coast grows uneven and Hilly On the North-East Point of Spirito Santo a long ridge of Rocks appears above the Sea and near the Inlet rises three black Hills on the South and two Leagues up in the Countrey the broken Mountain Mestre Alvaro which extends along the Sea-Coast The River Des Reyos Magos encompasses three Mountains severally and makes three Isles The Coast on each side of the River Dolce is very plain and even but Cricare hath a mixture of high and low Lands In the Mouth of the River Maranipe lies a great company of white Shelves near together appearing afar off as if all one Parairepe is remarkable by the high Trees growing on it The Mouth of the River Caruvelas lies full of Sand-plats Near the Beacon Tauhaen rises a red Cliff from which a sandy Point reaches to the River Curubabo Before Porto Seguro lie several dangerous Rocks in the Sea to the Southward of which rises the high-High-land Cape Pasqual Not far from hence Santa Cruiz a good Haven for small Vessels from whence the Coast extends North North-East and South south-South-West to Rio Grande where the Shoals call'd Baxos de St. Antonio making a dangerous Entry force the Ships for the most part to keep three Leagues from the Shore Beyond the Arm of Rio Grande appear three high Mountains cover'd with Trees from whence to Ilheos is a safe Passage free from Shelves Eight Leagues farther the River Dos Contas runs between two broken Cliffs into the Sea in the Mouth of it rises a Rock resembling a high Island Between Ilheos and Contas the Coast rises also but falls low again in a Bay where white Sugar-Mills formerly belonging to Lucas Giraldes are seen at a great distance The Countrey on each side of the River Camanu is plain the Stream it self hath a wide Mouth and respects with its Northern Shore the Isle Cayepa dangerous for the many Shelves which are about the same The River Tinhare is known by the Mountain Morro de Santo Paulo which rises like a Galley on the Southern Shore Twelve Leagues farther opens the Bay of Todos los Sanctos on whose Eaststern Point stands the Castle Antonio and before the Northern Shore the Island Topoam to the East and South-East low and strong The River Das Pedras falls with a wide Mouth into the Ocean Next you pass by the Streams Tapicuru Real Vasabaris and Francisco known by a low Promontory The Rivers Miguel Antonio Camaragili Porto Calvo Formoso and Serinhaem disembogue also into the Sea Next the Stream Das Pedras rises the Promontory St. Augustine all overgrown with Bushes and Brambles Five Leagues Southward lies the small Isle Alexo The Coast from St. Augustine to Pernambuco extends North and by East and South and by West The Island Tamaraca lies in the Mouth of the Stream Gajana and fifteen Leagues farther appears Parayba between which two the Shelf Pedra Furada extends three Leagues along the Coast and another from the Shore of the Promontory Blanco where the Road Porto de Franeses affords Seamen secure Anchorage for Shipping Next to Parayba follow the Havens Treicaon Pipa and Busios the Stream Siara and Maragnan which washes the Western part of Brasile and is taken for the Boundary between the Spanish Indies and the Portuguese according to the Division by Pope Alexander the Sixth Anno 1502. Lastly there belongs to Brasile the Island Fernando de Noronho in three Degrees of Southern Latitude The Capuchin Claude de Abbeville going thither found the same to be six Leagues in circumference and extraordinary fruitful besides good fresh Water Pease Beans Maiz Potato's Melons Cotton Cattel wild Goats and all sorts of Poultrey which this Island affords but it chiefly abounds with great variety of a sort of Birds which suffer themselves to be caught with the Hand There grows likewise a nameless Tree Strange Tree not unlike the Laurel being of a strange Nature for who e're touches the Leaves and afterwards rubs his Eyes loses his Sight for four hours with exceeding pain which pain nevertheless another Tree growing in the same Island cures immediately The French who Landed on Noronho Anno 1613. found a Portuguese there with eighteen Brasilians Men Women and Children banish'd thither from Pernambuco whom Baptizing they carry'd to Maragnan Near Noronho lies the Isle De
a good Disposition and go naked they catch Fish after a strange manner for they onely throw the strong smelling Wood Ayaw in the Water which works so upon the Fish that they suffer themselves to be caught with the Hand The well-known American Root Cassavi serves them for Bread being bak'd in round Cakes on hot Stones of the Cakes they also make the Liquor Perrinoe which tastes almost like stale Beer and is prepar'd by old Women and little Children which chew the Cassavi and spit the same into a Pot full of Water which having stood a while they strain the same through a Cloth and set it a working with Potato-Roots They are troubled with no Vermine not so much as the little Fleas Niquas by the Spaniards call'd Chigos which creep in between the Nails On the Sea-Coast are many Tortoises whose Flesh is of a delicious taste but heavy to digest Sheep and Oxen will not thrive here but Swine would thrive exceedingly if their Dugs were not bit off in the Night by the Bats The River Wiapoco hath many dangerous Water-falls the one much higher than the other a little way beyond the first of them the Stream Army falls into Wiapoco The Marashewaccas Three days Journey Westerly dwell the Marashewaccas whose Ears hang down on their Shoulders they worship for their Deity an Image representing a Man who sitting flat on the Ground with his Legs stretch'd out leans with his Elbows on his Knees and holding up his Hands gapes and stares up towards Heaven North-West from Wiapoco rises the Mountain Gomeribo which produces Maiz Tobacco Cotton-Trees and Vines In the same place the Creek Wainary runs Westwardly with fresh Water a days Journey into the Countrey and from the said Creek a high Mountain fit for the production of Sugar and Tobacco extends it self to the River Apurwaca where the Wiopocaries inhabit a great Tract of Land The Harrithiahans north-North-West from Wiapoco flows the River Aperwacque whose mountainous Shores bear Brasile Wood and wild Cinamon The Stream it self takes its original out of a large Lake in the middle whereof lies a three-corner'd Isle South-East from the Lake dwell the Harrithiahans beyond whose Countrey are the Rivers Cauwo Wia and Cajani On the Banks of the first dwelt Anno 1596. according to the Relation of Laurence Keymis a People call'd Jaos driven by the Spaniards from Moruga and who formerly possess'd the greatest part of Guiana they distinguish themselves from other People by pricking their Faces full of Holes with the Tooth of a Beast not unlike a Rat But at present the Jaos being departed from hence the Countrey lies desolate The Wia which springs a great way up in the Countrey hath a wide Mouth and near several Islands convenient Harbors The biggest of the Isles inhabited by the Shebaios is full of Provisions viz. Fowl Fish excellent Fruit wild Hogs and other Beasts The triangular Isles lying more Westerly are also very fruitful but not comparable to Gowatery So far as the Coast extends it self with high Mountains it is overgrown with Brasile Wood but the lower Grounds produce Cotton Pepper Silk Balsam and the Root Wiapassa tasting like Ginger and exceeding good against a Lask or the Head-ache Before the Mouth of Cajani appears the high Island Mattoory surrounded by the lesser Isles Sannawony Epenesari and Eponeregemerae Between the Rivers Cajani and Maccaria lies the low Island Muccumbro out of whose Center rise two Mountains and which is inhabited as the Main Coast by Caribbeeans whose General Arrawicary shew'd great friendship to the Netherlanders They observe no certain Laws for Government Adultery and Murder they punish with Death they are very tyrannical towards their Wives who for the least act of incivility have their Brains beat out they esteem one another according to the number of their Wives the eldest of which performs all Houshold-Offices Caribbeeans the Inhabitants of Guiana The Caribbeeans are accounted to have been the first Inhabitants of this Countrey for the Jaos Sappaios Arowaccas and Paragotos were driven hither by the Spaniards from Trinidad or Oronoque The wild Caribbeeans live farther up into the Countrey and often fall with great rage upon the other but since the Netherlanders have furnish'd them with Arms they have not been so much molested by them Beyond Macavia lies the River Caurora which is very narrow and deep Rivers and next in order the Rivers Manamonary Sinamary Cunanama Juraca Mawary Amana and Marawyny full of Isles and four Leagues broad at the Mouth along the Shore grow little Trees whose Leaves wither as soon as touch'd by Mankind but revives again within half an hour Next follow the Rivers Sorrenam Sorrenamme Copanama Marateca and Curetiny where the Netherlanders by virtue of a Patent granted by the States General drove a Trade for several years Somewhat farther the Berbice Apari Maycawini Mabeyca Mirara and Essekebe discharge their Waters into the Ocean twenty days Journey from their Spring-Head where a great Lake by the Jaos call'd The Roponowini and by the Caribbeeans Parime spreads it self a great way and on its Northern Shore hath the Town Manoa Along the River Essebeke is an excellent sort of Wood the Dye call'd Orellano and abundance of Cassavi In the Mouth of the River also lies the Isle Ottoma Lastly between Essebeke and the great River Orinoque glide the lesser Streams Iwapoi Pauroma Gayni Moruga Ammacoura and Parima before which lie several nameless Isles The Discovery of these Parts begun by Columbus Christopher Columbus in his third Voyage to the West-Indies discover'd the great Island Trinidad where before the Mouth of the Bay Vallena he was in great danger as also the Ship Commanded by Alonso de Ojeda by reason of the Waves with which the great River Yuyapar otherwise call'd Orinoque coming out of the High-lands of Paria falls into the Sea which made him call the said Mouth Bocca del Drago so that Columbus Anno 1599. discover'd the Main Coast of America to the Northward of Guiana as far as the Promontory De la Vela before Americus Vesputius whither Diego de Ordas Steer'd with three Ships Mann'd with four hundred Castilians Diego de Ordas his Expedition in the Year 1231. and before Guiana took four Caribbeeans Prisoners in a Canoo and finding an Emerauld about them as big as a Man's Hand they inform'd him that up the River was a Rock all of such Stones and a Mountain on which grew high Trees yielding store of Myrrh but the strong contrary Tides and Water-falls prevented Ordas from going thither and being troubled at the loss of one of his Ships he ran along the Shore to Paria and took the Fort which Antonio Sedenno Governor of Trinidad had cast up there and left the Command thereof to Juan Gonsalvez Ordas pretending that Sedenno had built it contrary to the Emperor's Order and that he had made Slaves of the Natives Martin Jannez Tafur stay'd in the
Ground about the City St. Jago del Estero formerly call'd Vares being the Bishop's See and Residence of the Governors is brackish and sandy The Citizens are most of them Weavers the Natives go Cloth'd and are of an affable Temper and Disposition The River Estera yearly overflows the Countrey which being dung'd with Mud produces abundance of Maiz Barley Wheat and all manner of Fruits The Stream Salado runs the same Course as the Estera from the West to the East through a Plain-Countrey but hath brackish Water and abundance of Fish Between The Expedition of Garcias Loaysa Alcazova and others Magaglianus was follow'd Anno 1525. by Garcias Loaysa who Sailing into the Straights near the Promontory Virgines endur'd great Colds in the Haven St. George he found store of green Cinamon The People he reported to be of so monstrous a stature that they might well be accounted Giants some of whom went naked others wore a Net of Feathers made fast about their Wastes and others a loose Garment all over their Bodies Loaysa gave this Countrey inhabited by Giants the Denomination of Terra del Patagoni He judg'd the Straights of Magellan to be a hundred and ten Spanish Miles long between the two Promontories Virgines at the North Sea and Deseado at the Southern Ocean Within lie three Inlets which have seven Leagues in breadth Simon Alcazova Sailing hither nine years after Loaysa shunn'd the Land on the left-side of the Straights because it lay most under Water and was forc'd by his Men to return to the Haven Leones where he and all his Seamen were put to death Not long after the Bishop of Placentia fitted out three Sail which entring the Straights Anno 1540. lost their Admiral the Vice-Admiral Wintering at the Inlet Las Zorras so call'd because they took many Foxes on a Champain Countrey without Trees return'd to Spain without any farther success the third Ship with much ado arriv'd also at Arequipa The Voyages of Hawkins Drake and Candish The English Captain Richard Hawkins also Sailing hither found the Land on the South side of the Straights most broken and in some places a few Huts Anno 1578. Sir Francis Drake Sailing hither along the Coast of Brasile Landing on an Island in the Mouth of the Straights kill'd above three thousand Birds Sailing from hence he was miserably toss'd in the South Sea and discover'd about the middle of the Straights that the Current out of the Southern and Northern Ocean met at the place where a great Bay bends Southwardly To three Isles he gave the Name of Elizabeth Bartholomew and George and drove three Weeks without making any Sail in snowy misty and rainy Weather falling amongst dangerous Rocks and at last Anchor'd in the Haven Health which he so call'd because his sick and wearied Men being refresh'd there he set Sail from thence and return'd home Captain Thomas Candish following Sir Francis Drake eight years after found near a Creek within the City Philip-stadt built there by the Spaniards to secure the Passage out of the Northern to the Southern Ocean for themselves to which purpose they held four hundred Men in Garrison in the said City which lying near a pleasant Wood was defended by four Bulwarks each fortifi'd with a Brass Gun But the Spaniards not being able to endure the Cold nor get in their Harvest which was continually spoil'd by the Natives were so pinch'd with Hunger that after three years stay many of them dy'd in their Houses which caus'd a filthy Stink and consequently a vile Distemper not unlike the Small-pox at last twenty three of them amongst whom were two Women judg'd it convenient to bury their great Guns and march away with their Musquets a whole Year they travell'd in great want feeding on the Leaves of Trees wild Roots and Fowls which they now and then kill'd at last they resolv'd to travel by Land to Rio de la Plata but never any news was heard what became of them onely one Spaniard call'd Ferdinand being stray'd from the rest was taken by Candish to whom he gave the foremention'd Relation Candish entring Philip-stadt found a Gibbet on which hung a Malefactor in Chains a Church the Houses full of famish'd Bodies and four Brass Guns which he digg'd out of the Ground From hence he ran to a fresh-water River which disembogues into the Straights whose Banks are inhabited by cruel Cannibals and the Countrey all about plain Pasture Grounds whereas most part of the Shore in the Straights is very mountainous Candish Landing found Spanish Knives and Stilletto's amongst the Man-eaters and lay a whole Moneth at Anchor in the western Mouth of Magellanica by reason of great Storms feeding on Mussles Cockles and Fowl and from thence Sail'd about the World returning home at last with a Booty of twenty Tun of Gold Anno 1599. Simon de Cordes Commanding five Netherland Vessels entring the Straights of Magellan found in the green Bay Mussles of a Span long abundance of Ducks and Geese and a great many Trees not unlike Laurel they being onely bigger and had a sharp biting Shell The Wind blew exceeding hard here over the Rocks insomuch that they were sometimes driven from four Anchors A few Moneths after Oliver van Noord follow'd Cordes and Anchor'd near the Pinguyn Isles the biggest whereof is calll'd Castemme and the least Talke the Inhabitants thereof dwell in Caverns under Ground and feed on the Birds Pinguyns of whose Skins they make Mantles These Birds weigh generally fifteen or sixteen Pound have black Backs white Bellies very thick Skins long Bills like Ravens The Bird Pinguyn short thick Necks two plum'd Fins in stead of Wings black Feet like a Goose and delicate Flesh notwithstanding they feed on Fish after which they swim very swift with the fore-mention'd Fins which hang down on each side along their Bodies when they walk upright on the Shore they sit generally four together in their Holes made after such a manner that a Man which knows not of them may ere he be aware sink up to the Knees in the same and be bitten terribly by the Legs Cordes his Seamen got in two hours time above nine hundred of these Birds whilest he discover'd the salvage People Enoo which inhabit the Countrey Cossi and are divided into the Families Kemenetes Kennekas and Caraike the first inhabited the Territory Carray the second Caramay and the third Morine all of them Paint their Cheeks and Forehead Farther into the Countrey dwell the Trimenes a gigantick sort of People eleven Foot high who maintain continual Wars with their Neighbors Great Discoveries of Netherlanders about the Magellan Straights Moreover Noord discover'd several Inlets full of Ice and fresh Water in the Straights of Magellan whither the United Netherlands have since sent the Admirals William Schouten Joris Spilbergen and Jaques le Heremite The common opinion that the Countrey on the South side of Magellan is of the Main Continent Experience hath manifested for
brown others white and others sallow some had long and lank others short and curl'd Hair They acknowledg'd no King or supream Governor nor were Govern'd by any Laws neither had they any Wall'd Towns or Forts but being divided amongst themselves they continually Encountred one another with Darts Clubs and Staves Their Houses built of Wood were cover'd with the Leaves of Palm-Trees Their Housholdstuff consisted in Earthen Dishes Pots Ropes Fish-nets Flutes Drums and varnish'd Spoons Their Gardens were neatly kept Near their Temples were Burying-places They Row'd very swift in little Boats Their Bread well tasted was made of long thick Roots either roasted or boyl'd Fertility Plenty and Riches of the Countrey Here also grow six sorts of Platano's great abundance of Almonds Oranges Cittrons thick Sugar-Canes Palm-Trees which yield Wine Cocoa's and Obos in taste not much unlike Quinces but the greatest benefit which they receive is from the Cocoa Nuts the Pulp whereof is delicious Meat and Drink the outermost Shells whereof serve for Cups or Dishes the inner for Ropes and Cordage of the Leaves they make Sails and Mats and cover their Houses with the same of the Body Oars Clubs Pikes and Props for their Houses Besides several sorts of Pot-herbs here grow very high Coleworts and Bledo's The Countrey also abounds with Pigeons Partridges Ducks Goats Hogs and other ordinary Cattel and Fowls The Rivers afford them Souls Salmon Thornback Sea-Cocks Eels Gurnets and several other unknown Fishes very delicate and wholsom This Countrey also produces Nutmegs Mastick Peppers Ginger Cinamon Gold Silver Pearls Silk Sugar Anniseed Honey Wax Ebony-wood Turpentine Lime-pits and Marble Philips-Bay bends twenty Leagues into the Countrey hath a safe Harbor and excellent Ground consisting of black Sand. Two great Rivers discharge their Waters into the said Bay round about which are pleasant Woods full of Quails Parrakito's Parrots Nightingales and Bulfinches which Sing very sweetly The Blossoms especially of Orange-Trees and the Herb Alvaca yield an odoriferous smell The wholsom Air adds vigor to aged People Fernandes de Quir delivering the fore-mention'd Account to Philip the Second King of Spain mov'd him to Plant the unknown South-Land and the rather because he had not found any snowy Mountains drown'd Land Crocodiles Muschito's or any hurtful Creature yet was not regarded so that no Spaniard hath since that time set Foot on the unknown South-Land Abel Tasman 's Expedition to Terra Australis Incognita But the East-India Company undertaking the Design with great eagerness sent thither two Ships viz. the Hemskerk and Sea-Cock under the Command of Abel Tasman to make a farther Discovery of the said south-South-Land Anno 1642. on the twelfth of August they weigh'd Anchor from Batavia Sail'd through the Straights of Sunda to Maurice-Island where they Anchor'd in the north-North-West Haven before the Castle Frederick-Henrick on the fifth of September in the fore-mention'd Year On the eighth of Octob. Tasman stood over to the South-Land near which he was surpris'd by a violent Storm afterwards on the twenty fifth of November he discover'd a barren Shore against which the Sea beat very furiously and Steering along this Coast he found a convenient Inlet but was forc'd by the hard Weather to stand off to Sea again yet not long after approaching the Shore he saw great hollow Trees and round about them abundance of Mussle-shells and from the Wood heard a shrill noise of People Singing Going to the same place again he put the Orange Flag on a Pole Carv'd with the East-India Companies Arms and call'd the Inlet Frederick-Henrick 〈…〉 the whole Coast Anthony van Diemen Sailing from thence Eastward he on the eighteenth of December discover'd a convenient Haven where sending his Sloop to discover the Shore he came back in the Evening being follow'd by a Boat which approach'd nearer and nearer but Night coming upon him he could not well discern what they were that pursu'd him but heard the cry of hoarse Voices and a shrill noise like that of a Trumpet which the Netherland Seamen answer'd by hollowing and blowing on their Trumpets and at last firing a Gun the Southlanders made a hideous noise and blowing their Horns return'd ashore Tasman hereupon call'd his Watch laid Hangers Pikes and Musquets ready Charg'd upon the Decks The next day the Southlanders came in several Boats two and two ty'd together and cover'd with Planks towards the Ships The Southlanders desperate Attemp upon Tasman's Ships the Gunner of the Hemskerk going with six Men in a Boat to help mount some Guns in the Sea-Cock were betwixt both Ships set upon by the Southlanders who approacht with a hideous noise kill'd four of the Hollanders with long Poles and forc'd the other three to save themselves by swimming which they had no sooner done but they Row'd with incredible swiftness towards the Shore insomuch that they were out of the reach of their Guns before they could make ready to fire at them Tasman finding that there was no good to be done here since he hazarded the Lives of his Seamen against a company of wild People he set Sail but was follow'd by divers Boats at which he fir'd his After-Guns with pieces of Iron and Stones which killing some of them made the rest return In the midst of the Boats which were ty'd two and two together sat the Commander who encourag'd the Rowers they all us'd Clubs without Points These People were gross of Body undaunted strong and of a tawny colour the Hair of their Heads stroak'd up round was ty'd up on their Crown on which stuck a stiff white Feather about their Necks hung a square Plate they wore in stead of Cloaks square pieces of Cloth made fast before on their Breasts Tasman by reason of his rough Entertainment call'd this Harbor Murderers-Bay and afterwards Sail'd along the Shore till the fifth of January 1643. on which Day he dropt Anchor near a little Rocky Island from which fell two Streams with a great noise into the Sea The Inhabitants a strong People beckned to the Seamen to come on Shore some lean'd on thick Clubs others Fenc'd one with another Tasman sending his Sloop ashore for Water with two Drakes return'd without any not being able to Land by reason of the hollow Sea near the Shore wherefore Sailing from thence he discover'd two low Isles which were full of Woods of very tall Trees from the biggest whereof came a little Boat sharp before and behind in which three sallow Men sitting behind one another Row'd with great swiftness towards the Hemskerk whereupon Tasman commanded all his Men to go under the Hatches that the three Southlanders might not be afraid to come aboard he also threw a piece of Linnen out of his Cabbin Window which one of them leaping into the Sea took up and as a sign of thankfulness laid the same on his Head and being hereby emboldned they came nearer the Rudder where they took up a Knife ty'd to a piece of
Description of the Countrey Extracted from the Iseland Chronicle is look'd upon by a late French Writer of note as the most particular and faithful however the Danish Chronicle differs in many things and amongst others in this that not the hundredth part of Groenland is possess'd by the Norwegians but that there inhabit several different sorts of People of different Fashions and Governments altogether unknown to the Norwegians Temperature of Groenland Groenland notwithstanding its Northerly Situation is reported to be a Countrey not unfertile of Corn and other Productions of the Earth and in respect of its verdant Aspect at some Seasons of the Year above the rest of those Septentrional Regions it is concluded to have merited the Name of Groenland i. e. Greenland nay so great is the Heat that is said to be there during the Moneths of June July and August by reason of the reverberation of the Sun-beams from the Rocks that many times there is but six Weeks space betwixt Seed-time and Harvest What sort of Animals breed there The Beasts which are said to breed here in great numbers are Horses Deer Foxes Hares Bears both black and white common Wolves and a sort of Beast between a Deer and a Wolf besides great store of Beavers and Martins as the Iseland Chronicle testifies whose Furr in fineness may compare with the Sables of Russia There are also Gerfalcons in abundance both white and grey of so delicate a kind that they were in ancient times sent to the Kings of Denmark as Presents of great rarity The Seas about Greenland abound in very many sorts of Fish as Sea-Wolves Sea-Dogs Sea-Calves and above all incredible numbers of Whales of a vast bigness Strange kind of Horn found there But the most remarkable Commodity of this Countrey is a kind of Horn commonly call'd the Licornes or Unicorns-Horn which is found there in great quantities and great store of it is to be seen in Denmark some whole some in great pieces sometimes onely the Ends or Stumps but since it appears very different from all other kind of Horn there is great Question made amongst Naturalists whether it be Horn or Tooth and if Horn whether the Horn of a Beast or Fish but it is discover'd of late to be the Horn or rather Tusk of a certain Fish which the Islanders call Narhual being indeed a kind of Whale as the Name seems to imply signifying a Whale which feeds upon Carcases The chief Voyagers thither This Countrey is call'd by the Natives Secanunga who was the first Discoverer thereof is not certainly known but the first chief Voyagers thither were of the Dutch William Barents or Barentson of Amsterdam who set forth towards those Parts in the Year 1594. and before him Dithmar Blefkens in the Year 1563. of the English Mr. James Hall who set out from Copenhagen in Denmark Anno 1605. and in a second Voyage was slain by a Salvage of the Countrey The Coastings Havens and Creeks of Groenland The Coastings Courses Havens and Creeks of Groenland according as Barentson receiv'd an Account of them from Iver Boty a Groenlander written in the Norsh Language as it is call'd are as followeth From Stad in Norway to Hornness the East part of Groenland it is seven days Sailing Between Iseland and Groenland lieth a Riff call'd Gombornse-skare the Ice lying upon which hindreth the Passage Those that Sail from Bergen in Norway South of Rokeness in Iseland come under Swafster a Promontory or high Land in the East part of Groenland and within sight of the high Mount Whitsark between which and Groenland lieth a Headland call'd Hernoldus Hook not far from Sound-Haven formerly much frequented by the Norway Merchants Those that Sail from Iseland to Groenland Steer to Snoffness West of Rokeness and after South-West East of Hernoldus Hook lieth the Village of Skagenford the most Easterly Village of the Island East of Skagenford the Haven Bearford inaccessible by Ships by reason of a great Riff lying at the Mouth thereof This Place is chiefly remarkable for the Whale-fishing the Whales upon the going back of the Tide running into a great Swalth as they call it which is in the Haven East of Bearford is the Haven call'd Allabong-Sound full of little Isles East from the Icy Mountain the aforemention'd Haven Fendobothes Farther East is the Highland Corse Hought where they Hunt white Bears West from Hernoldus Hook is the Village Codosford and hard by the Sea-Coast a fair Church which we conceive to be the same with Korsekirk above spoken of as Codosford may also probably be the same with Kindelfiord A little farther West lieth the Boy or Town of Wartsdale for in the Norsh Language Boy signifies a Town belonging to Petresuik or Peterswike Church Near this Boy or Town standeth a Cloyster or Abbey of Canons Regular dedicated to St. Olafe and St. Augustine Next to Codosford is Rompnesford the same questionless with the above-mention'd Rumpesinfiord where there is a Cloyster of Nuns of the Order of St. Benedict In this Ford lie many small Isles Between Rompness and the next Sound lieth a great Garden call'd Vose belonging to the King of the Countrey as also St. Nicholas Church before mention'd At the entrance into Emnestnesford is the Inlet Southwoderswike and somewhat higher on the same side the little Cape Bloming beyond the Inlet Granwike above that the Garden call'd Daleth belonging to the Cathedral Church and on the right-hand to those that Sail out of the said Sound a great Wood belonging to the same Church where they feed their Oxen Kine and Horses The Highland lying by Emestnesford is call'd The Ramas Hayth from the Rain-Deer which use to be there Hunted And hereabouts is that sort of Stone of which they make large Fat 's or Cisterns as hath been before intimated it is by some call'd the Zevell-Stone being a sort of Marble or as some will have it Load-stone of all colours West from this lieth another Highland call'd Long-Highland The next Sound is call'd Swalterford having a Church belongining to it of the same Name and where there is also a Garden belonging to the King call'd St. Hentelstad Next to that lieth Erricksford and at the entrance thereof the Highland Erricks Hought belonging to Deverskirk the first Parochial Church in Groenland North-West from Erricksford is Megdenford Farther out is a Church call'd Scogelkirk and farther in the Sound Leadenkirk Beyond Erricksford is another Ford or Sound by the Name of Fossa belonging to the Cathedral Church and to the North of it two Villages Ever-boy and Forther-boy From thence farther North lieth Bredaford and after that Lormontford and from thence Westward Icedeep To the North of the Westland lieth a spacious Wilderness call'd Hemel Hatsfelt and Edg'd with massie Rocks and Cliffs towards the Sea side beyond which the Sea is innavigable by reason of the many Swalgen or Whirlpools thereabouts In Groenland there are divers Hills wherein are Silver-Mines multitudes of
both great and small yielding good Harbors and store of Whales and Sea-Horses The Voyages of Jonas Pool and others to Greenland In the Year 1610. Jonas Pool Master of the Amity fell in with this Land in May and continu'd upon the Coast discovering of Harbors and killing of Morses till June following and he is said to have been the first that gave this Countrey the Name of Greenland The next year he set out again accompany'd with Thomas Edge Commander of the Mary Margaret And since many other Voyages have been made as to a Place known and a great Trade driven in catching of Whales not without several Contests with the Dutch and Danes but nothing of late discover'd considerable more than in the first Voyages The Harbors Sounds and Coastings most taken notice of are Fair Foreland Cape Cold Black-Point Horn-Sound Knotty-Point Bell-Sound Lowness Cross-Road Deer-Sound Fowl-Sound Close-Cove Gurnet-Nose Ice-Sound and Green-Haven There are few that have Sail'd to Greenland Cherry-Island but make great mention of Cherry Island so call'd as having been first discover'd at the Charges of Sir Francis Cherry an eminent Merchant by others Bear-Island from the multitude of Bears found there it lies in the Latitude of seventy four Degrees and is noted for store of Fowl Foxes like Dogs and upon the Coasts great store of Whales Sea-Horses and Morses It is also said to be furnish'd with Lead-Mines and Pits of Sea-Coal Situation and first Discovery of Iseland Iseland so call'd from the continual Ice which is upon it is a craggy mountainous Countrey and not onely the Hills but a great part of the low-Low-land cover'd with perpetual Snow It is of a Form somewhat oblong lying between the fifty fourth and fifty ninth Degree of Northern Latitude having Norway on the East the Orcades and Scotland on the South Grenland on the West and the Hyperborean or frozen Sea on the North. It is by Olaus Magnus suppos'd to be twice as big as Sicily that is to say about a hundred Leagues in length It is the most known and most througly discover'd of all the Countreys of the Artick Region and is said to have been first found out and peopled in the Year of our Lord 900. by certain of the Nobility of East-Frisia in the Countrey of Breme in the time of Alebrand Bishop of that Countrey but whether or no utterly unpeopled till that time is a Question not easie to be determin'd though in all probability so obvious a Place to be found out could not lie so long totally uninhabited Not long after several Colonies of Norwegians Setled themselves some in Hitland some in Ferow others following the Example of these Bremers in Iseland The Countrey is full of Rocks and Stones and as is credibly reported not a cultivated Field or Garden in the whole Island and by consequence no sort of Corn yet the People living without either Bread or Salt are very strong and of a good Complexion Neither is there a Tree to be seen except the Birch which likewise grows but in one place and exceeds not the heighth of a Man by reason of the violence of the Winds yet there is said to be great plenty of Butter the Grass being so fat that the Oxen are not suffer'd to stay long at a time in the Pastures for fear of bursting Till of late there was neither Town nor any thing that could be call'd a Village in the whole Island but stragling Cottages here and there not above three or four together in a place most by the Sea side for the convenience of Fishing they were built pretty deep in the Ground but artificially fram'd of Whales Bones with Seats Benches and other Utensils of the same now sometimes they use Fir to the same purpose which is cast upon the Coast by the force of the Sea from Tartary or elsewhere For want of Vessels they lay their Butter in Heaps in the Corners of their Houses like Mortar In the Winter wanting Fodder they feed their Cattel with Fish Besides these Cattel which are Kine without Horns Horses onely fit for carrying of Burthens and very large Sheep there are store of white Foxes and huge Bears of the same colour and a sort of rough Dogs very well known and frequent amongst us by the Name of Shocks which the Islanders esteem not a little and will part with their Children at a far easier rate They keep neither Hogs nor Poultrey for want of Grain to feed them Many Rivers in Iseland The Rivers belonging to this Island are many and those not unpleasant affording to the Inhabitants plenty of Fish especially Sturgeon Trouts and Salmons and one is especially remarkable for a Bridge made over it which being the onely Bridge of the Countrey is made of the great Bones of a Whale The whole Island is one continu'd Desart without any trodden Path or Road from one end to the other so that all that have occasion to travel to any part thereof by Land make use of the Compass as if they were Voyaging by Sea Strange Fish on the Coast of Iseland The Coast of Iseland hath many strange and monstrous Fish worth observation as first the Orca which though nothing near so big as the Whale yet is able to be the death of it for being of the shape of a Ship turn'd upside-down and having sharp long Fins on its Back it pricks the Belly of the Whale therewith till it kills The next is the Hackfall which is very fat and about twelve Inches long Then the Dog-Fish which lifting up its Head out of the Sea Barks and letting forth its young ones receives them into her Belly again when they have sported a while in the Sea Lastly another Monster of a most frightful shape mention'd by Olaus Magnus but not by any particular Name Strange Fountains In divers parts of the Island are Fountains of scalding Water which as soon as taken from the Fountain begins to cool and when cold hath a sulphury Substance swimming on the top At the West end is a smoaky Fountain very cold and turning all that is cast into it into Stone At the place upon the Sea call'd Turlocks Haven are two Fountains of different quality the one hot the other cold which by Pipes being brought together into one place make a Bath of an excellent temperature and of a medicinal Vertue Not far from Haven Halneford is a Cliff in a Rock of an unknown depth and no Water to be discern'd by those that look down into it but if a Stone be cast in it shall make a noise for half an hour together as if it were striking against a Brazen Vessel and all this while the Water will be rising till it comes up to the brim and then will be so long sinking again as the Stone was falling Mountains of Iseland There are also three Mountains in Iseland not to be left unmention'd the Mountain of the Cross the Moutain Snenelstockel