mattes laid vpon the ground Their meat is made of great white rootes taken out of the earth called Iniamos very pleasant of taste like the spanish Baâ—at 〈…〉 or chesnuts They are both rosted and sodden with other rootes and sugar canes and Bananas which are a fruite of a tree like the Indian figges mentioned in this booke long like cucumbers with a tart sweetish but a pleasant taste sometimes likewise they eate both fish flesh which they lay al in one vessell togither and so sit round about it like a company of beastes and neuer drinke but after they haue done eating The gouernours eate alone out of a tin vessel the rest out of a filthie earthen vessel and sit vpon a mat spread vpon the ground The most worke that the women do is to fetch water and fruite and to dresse the meate they will by no meanes ease themselues vppon the ground esteeming that a great offence but haue great vessels made for the same purpose which are sette in the earth They vse no other weapons against their enemies but onely fistes and traues they that dwell by the mine are better appointed with bowes arrowes pikes and targets as long as a man made of barkes of trees and such like things Their Drums are broade aboue and narrow below they haue likewise Cornets of Elophants teeth of all these kindes of instruments and weapons I had some brought from thence Our men being in the Riuer of Gaban came vnto an Iland where they were carried on shore by a Moore that had a great tooth sticking in his vpper lip with a broade knife in his hand and all his body rased and pinked as I saide before where he brought them into a house among the Moores wherein were certaine couerlets made of the rinds or barkes of trees laide vppon the earth where they sate downe not making anie choyse and being sette he clapt them on the shoulders pointing vpwards with his fingers saying in his language Maâ—â—bam they not knowing what hee meant looked vp where they perceiued a blacke man sate vppon the top of a certaine paire of Staires like an image with many chaines of bones and rings hanging about him fearefull to beholde at his feete lay certaine blacke women with Elephants tailes in their handes to beare away the flies and to make winde whereby they vnderstood him to be the Lorde of the Island Wherupon they kneeled vpon one of their knees honouring him according to the custome of the lande clapping their hands vntill the Maâ—â— or Lord made signes vnto them clapping his handes which done they rose vp the Maâ—â— giuing them some of those mars made of barks as a princely present of the which with their linnen I can shew you others of the same ship taking their pinnace entred into another creeke in the same Riuer about two miles higher and there founde a great village lying on the same riuer so neere that they might throw a stone ouer the houses and being within two ships length or the shore they cast anker on the shore there stood at least 1000. Moores men women and children whereof some had pikes kniues and other wepons in thâ—ir hands crying with loude voyces 〈◊〉 and other wordes clapping their handes together which to them was strange both to heare and see Not long after a Moore that by them about foure or fiue miles froÌ„ thence had beene taken into their pinnace stepped into the water and went on shore where being on land the Moores specially the women hong about him in such numbers that he could hardly passe singing and throwing grasse vppon him that our men could neither heare nor see the man neuer ceasing to sing and make a noyse but still continuing dancing leaping and with their kniues cutting off al the grasse meane time there came one out of the village hauing a long staffe in his hand as â—f he were some officer willing them to leaue off theyr noyse driuing thâ—m from the shore but to no end 〈◊〉 reason of the great number of people that were there assembled at the last the Moore that went out of the pinace from our men with one of their Canuyten for so they called their boates came aboord bringing two men and an old woman that was one of the gouernors wiues hauing her breast painted greene and in each hande a branch of a tree shaking both her handes and the two men clapping with their hands giuing to vnderstand as our men conceiued according to their manner that they were welcome with them two of our men went on land whereat the Moores made great ioy with singing dancing leaping and such like pastimes and going vnto the gouernor diuers of them followed specially the women running both before and behinde them leaping and dancing like mad men most of them hauing of the great broade kniues in their handes striking them together in most feareful maner but it was no wonder to see them make so great ioy and shew so much pastime for that it was strange for them to see white men which they neuer had seene for that neuer any had beene or traffiked among them true it is that the Portingales had beene in the same Riuer but not so high for our men were at the least tenne or twelue miles from their shippe within the Riuer and the Riuer before that village called Crementun was about a mile broade hauing another village on the other side and 〈◊〉 with their pinnace before that village they shot off a peece whereat all the people â—ne backe being afraid but came presently againe and as our men went vnto the â—ouernour they led them by the armes singing and shewing great signes of ioy for the comming of these white men into their countrie and being at the Gouernours house which was made of reeds they stayed about halfe an howre before he came out meane time the people that followed theÌ„ neuer left singing making anoyseâ— and when hee came there were three mattes and two stools a great and a little brought with him by certain Moores that followed him All his body and his face was painted white either with chalk or some other painting a sacke of whiting bring likewise brought after him On his head he wore a cappe made of a skin stuck ful of feathers with chains made of bones aboue 100. times about his necke armes and legs being set vpon his stoole there came an old woman that gaue him some of the whiting wherewith hee made as if he had washt his hands the rest he threw vpon his face with that he held vp both his hands meane time his wise had whiting giuen her which done shee began to come forth of the house singing and dauncing al the other women following her doing the like with that the gouernour called the Moore that brought our meÌ„ with him from the place aforesaid saying vnto him that our men were welcome clapping his handes together and saying Fuio Fuio
not to bee credited but verie bolde and valiant in armes and in the warres wherein they vse bowes and arrowes whereof the shafts are made of hartes goates or skinnes finely painted and so cunningly wrought that in these countries they cannot be mended and in steede of heades they take fishes teeth or sharp peeces of wood they exercise their boyes in leaping shooting in bowes and playing with balles they haue great delight in hunting and fishing their kings holde continuall warres not sparing any of theyr enemies if they ouercome them but presently cutte off theyr heades to bee no more troubled with them which comming home they set vp in certaine places for a triumph and victory Women and children they will not hurt but keepe and nourish them among them and returning from theyr warres they call all theyr subiects together where for the space of three dayes they doo nothing but banket and make good cheere with singing and dauncing To the olde women that are among them they giue the skinne and the haire of the heades of their enemies that are cutte off compelling them to daunce and sing songs in prayse and thanksgiuing to the Sunne as hauing by his meanes obtained victorie They haue no Religion nor any knowledge of the true and liuing God but in steede of him as other Americans they honour the Sunne and the Moone They feare theyr Priestes and put great credite in them because they are great coniurers southsayers and inuocaters of Diuelles which by most feareful meanes they cause to appeare Their priestes are likewise theyr phisitions and surgeons for the which cause they vse continually to beare a sacke full of hearbes and salues to heale theyr sicke people with for the most parte haue the pocks as beeing verie hot of nature and much addicted to lecherie whereby often times they vse women maydes children and Boyes Euerie man hath but one wife onely the king to whome it is permitted to haue twoo or three but with this condition that the first hee marrieth shall bee honoured before the rest and onely holden for Quéene and her children to inherite his goods and to be heires of the crowne The women doo al the worke about their houses and when they are once with child their husbands neuer deale with them vntill they be deliuered and eate no meate of their dressing at such time as they haue their flowers Besides this al the countrey is ful of Flermophroditers which of nature are both man and woman those are kept to labour and to carrie their munition and weapons when they go to warres they paint their faces and put certaine birds feathers into their haires thereby to seeme the fairer and more fearful Their prouision of virtuals is bread and Meele of wheate and hony they rost their Meele of Maiz because it may continue the longer cause some broiled fish dried to be carried with theÌ„ In time of dearth they eate many bad things putting sande and coales among their meale When they go to warres the king goeth first hauing in one hand a staffe in the other a bow with arrowes in a case hanging on his shoulder the rest follow him with bowes and arrowes either in cases or else stucke in their haire at their meeting with the enemie and also in fight they vse great and fearefull cries like other Barbarians Turkes and Tartarians They neuer beginne war before they haue taken counsell together meeting about it in the morning in which their assemblies they vse a very strange custome which is to be noted for that being assembled they lette themselues downe on both sides of the king in maner of a half Moone the king sitting alone in the middle of them vppon a stoore made of nine peeces of round wood higher then the rest that hee may bee knowne which done they come and do him honour saluting him the oldest beginning first and lifting their handes aboue theyr heades speake and say Ha He. Ya Ha Ha the rest answering Ha. Ha which done each man sitteth downe And if there be any matter of great importance to bee handled the king causeth the priests by them called lauas and the auncients to be sent for asking their aduice meane time he causeth certain women to seethe Cacinam which is a certain drink prest out of leaues which being sodden and clarified the king being set with his Lords others each man in his place there commeth one in presence of them all and lifting vp his hands and blessing and wishing them al good lucke filleth a cuppe of mother of pearle ful of that hot drinke which he first presenteth to the king which hauing drunke he willeth him giue it to the rest This drinke they make great aâ—câ—at of and giue it not to any man that sitteth in councell before he hath shewed some valiant act in the fielde against the enemie which drinke is of such force that presently after they haue drunke it 〈◊〉 maketh them sweate and such as drinke it 〈◊〉 it vp againe are not imployed in an great affaires nor may not serue as Captaine or other officer in the fielde as being vnfit for such a place for that when they are in the field they must of force often times fast two or three dayes together to the which ende this drinke is verie good for that whosoeuer drinketh it may wel fast foure and twentie houres after and neither eate nor drinke wherefore when they go to warre they cause the Hern oâ— hrediter to carry diuers bottles of that drinke with them which sustaineth feedeth and strengthneth the body not once making their headesâ—le nor light They sow their wheate twice euerie yeare that is in the moneths of March and Iune all vpon our land in three moneths being ripe and readie to reape The other sixe moneths they let the earth he vntitled they haue very great Pumptans melons very good beanes they neuer dung their ground but burne off the Stubble which in the sixe monethes consumeth and with those ashes fatten the ground as they do us some places of Italy they plow and dig vp their ground with a woodden spit or shouel and throw two or three graines of wheate into one hole as wee vse to set beanes or pease when their corne is to be sowed the king sendeth one of his seruants to assemble the people that they may plow and dig the earth and then causeth much of the aforesaide drinke to be made to giue it to the labourers The wheate being reaped they carrie it into a common barne or place made for the purpose whereof euerie man according to his desert hath a parte They sow no more then necessarily wil serue keeping the rest to serue theÌ„ for the six months wherein they sow not and for longer time they prouide not also euerie yeare in winter time they withdraw themselues into the woods for three or foure moneths together continuing there in certaine places made of Palme tree branches meane time feeding
the rest and Bahama which lie al north from Câ—ba and saint Doâ—inicâ— The common opinion is that these Islandes were all one land and ioyned to the great Island and by the force of the sea seperated one from the other as it is thought of Iâ—aly and Ciciâ—ia They lie vnder seuenteene and eighteene degrees the people of those Islands are whiter and better proportioned then those of Cuba and Spaignuola specially the women that are verie faire for the which cause many of the firme land went thither to dwel as from Florida Cachora and Iucatan because there they founde more pleasure among the people then in other Islands and great difference in their speech whereupon hath risen the common opinion that in those Islands the Amazons did dwell beeing women that burnt their right breasts the better to shoote in bowes when they went to fight against their enemies and that there was a fountaine that made olde women yong The men go naked onely when they go to wars and when they keepe any feastes or vse to dance then they put on a certaine cotten garment and other garments of diuers coloured feathers finely wrought with a great plume of feathers on their heades Touching the women they haue verie strange customes for the married women or such as haue had the company of a man they couer their priuie members from the Nauel downe to the knees with certaine mantils of cotten made in manner of nets wherein they sticke certaine leaues otherwise they go naked vntil such time as they first perceiue their flowers and then they inuite al their friendes and make a great feast or banket as if they were married with great signes of ioy and then they beginne to hang that kinde of mantle before them wearing the same as long as they are vnmarried They are in great subiection to their maisters in such maner as that if they should command them to throw themselues headlong from off a hil or to do any other thing whatsoeuer they wil not refuse to do it what danger soeuer consisteth therin not once asking wherefore they should doo it but only because the master commandeth it Here also you must note wherein their kings gouernment consisteth which reacheth no further then only concerning sowing or planting the ground hunting fishing for that whatsoeuer is sowed or planted hunted or fished in any respect is onelie in the kings power and done by his commandement which diuideth those kindes of labours among the people directing euerie man what he should do The fruit that is reaped and gathered is brought all into a place appointed and from thence it is yearely deliuered vnto euerie man according as his houshold and necessarie vse requireth so that their Lords are nothing else but kings of Bees stuards distributers of the common goods of the countrey thinke then I beseech you what a golden time those people had where neither this is mine or this is thine was euer heard among them The only wel spring of strife contentioÌ„ Those in the east parts vsing nothing els but playing at the ball fishing and hunting where neither law nor processe was vsed nor decided where onely the kings will was a lawe and in all things were content to obey it They found certaine red stones in shels of fishes much esteemed and accounted of among theÌ„ which they weare at their cares and others more esteemed of which they took out of snakes Hersenen or snailes whereof the flesh is very good to eate of a fire red colour cleare and so like rubies that they could hardly be discerned from them whereof the Snakes in their speech are called Cohoâ—o and the stones Cohibici They gather likewise in the sande vppon the sea side certaine cleare shining stones yellow blacke and other colours whereof they make necklaces and such like Iewels to weare about their necks armes and legs in many places of those Islands they haue no flesh nor eate it not their meate is fish breda of wheate rootes and some fruites The people of these Islands being carried to saint Dominico or Cuba died there with eating flesh it beeing giuen them by the Spaniards In some of those Islands there are so many pigeons other birues which build their nestes in the Trees that many out of the firme land and also from the other Islands come thither and load whole scutes ful and take them with them the trees wherein they breed are like Youngarnet trees the barke hauing a certaine taste like Cinamon and somwhat better and hot like ginger smelling like cloues yet are they not accounted for spices among other fruites they haue a certaine kind by them called Iaâ—â—ma both sauorie and holsome about a span and a halfe long like a fig when it is greene the leafe likewise not much differing from the fig leafe and of the bignesse of a willow tree not close like other trees nor hollow like reedes but fast like Elders the leaues beeing excellent good to heale wounds as the Spaniards haue wel tryed To speake more hereof is needelesse those Islandes of Lucaya are more desolate and not inhabited for because they haue no gold The Spaniards carried many thousandes of them into other places and in seeking for Golde spoyled and destroyed them Hereafter followeth other Islands lying about that coast and first Cuba being one of the principal Islands vnder the Antillas CVba another verie great Islande accounted among the Antillas was by Columbus first foundout and discouered in An. 1492. which he called Fernandinam and Iâ—hannam as also Alpha and Omega as Peter Martin saith and by others the Island is called saint Iacob after the name of the cheefest towne therein which by reason of the great hauen as also the situation therof hath a verie great traffike as hauing on the East side the Islande of Saint Domingo on the West Iucatan on the North the great Cape of Florida and on the South the Island Iamaica all set downe in this Carde It is in forme like vnto a willow leafe because it is longer theÌ„ broad being in length from east to west three hundred miles and from north to south seuenty miles in breadth in some places but fifteene and in some nineteene miles The middle of the Island lieth in longitude 19. degrees and in latitude or height twentie degrees It was long time accounted for firme land because of the greatnesse which is no maruaile for the inhabitants themselues knew no other but that it had no ende and also long after the Spaniards comming thither because the people are poore and naked contented with a little and with their own not seeking any further neither caring what their neighbours did and therefore knew not if there were any other lande vnder the heauens then that wherein they dwelt The ground is high rough and sharpe of hils the sea in many places being white and the riuers small and good water rich of golde and good copper the aire temperate
some weare such stones that are sharpe and of a finger long when they take out the stones they play with their tongues in the hole which is most vgly to beholde for that it seemeth they haue twoo mouthes some of them weare not onely this stone through theyr lips but also through both their cheekes touching their noses they are flat which they cause to grow so by force when they are yong coÌ„trary to vs which desire straite noses but they esteeme their flat noses for a beauty they paint their bodies with manie colours specially aboue al others their legs with a blacke colour with the sap of a certaine hearbe by them called Genipat so that a farre off they seeme to haue blacke bootes or straight hose like the priests in our countries the blacknesse of this sap cleaueth so fast on that if they wash themselues for the space of ten or fifteene daies together yet it will hardly come off They haue likewise necklaces of eight fingers long made of bones as white as Alablaster which they call Iaci according to theyr forme which they putte vppon cotten strings and weare them about theyr armes as also other flatte and rounde bones like stiuers certaine peeces of money in Holland which beeing bored through the middle and hanged one by one vpon strings they weare them in such sort as wee weare chaines of gold which they call Bouze Besides this they make certaine rounde beades of blacke shining wood which they tie together vpon strings and weare them likewise about theyr neckes which shine as blacke and glistering as if they were Iet They haue likewise many Hennes of our countreyes which the Portingales brought thither from the which they pull the small white fethers which with irons they hacke and make soft and then colour them redde which done they annoint their bodies with gum and strow the feathers therein wherby they looke like new hatched birds wherof this opinion hath risen by some men that haue first gone into those Countries and séeing them drest in that manner that they wereso by nature They dresse theyr foreheades with feathers of diuers colours verie cunningly placed together like the French gentlewomen that ware periwigs of strange haire these apparrels and ornaments of feathers and stones as also the rattles wherewith they make a noyse with their woodden halberdes and many other things to them belonging you may see at Doctor Paludanus house those crownes on theyr heades they call Iempenambi in theyr eares likewise they weare certaine white bones not much vnlike those which the children weare in theyr lips In Brasilia there are certaine blacke Birdes like Crowes by them called Toucan which haue certaine rings about theyr neckes of yellow and red feathers which they flea and drie the skinnes and beeing drie are likewise called Toucan which they weare vppon each Cheeke sticking them on with ware and when they goe to warres or to a banket when they meane to kill a man and to eate him according to their manner because they will bee after the finest sort they putte on that kinde of apparrell made of feathers with hoodes vppon their heades and thinges made of greene redde blewe and other colours of feathers about their armes verie cunningly sette together which by vs coulde not bee mended shewing as if they were of wrought Veluet as Paludanus can shewe you Such feathers likewise they binde vppon theyr Halberdes which are likewise almost like a blacke Spitte Lappe of harde woodde made redde or blacke They wearelikewise on their shoulders certain mantles of Eastrige feathers which is a signe that they haue Eastriges that are verie cunningly set together and hang long about them by them called Aâ—aroy such as wil among them be accounted manly and stout haue the report to haue killed eaten many men they cut great slashes in their breasts hips and thighs wherby they make the flesh to rise which they couer with a certain pouder and make them looke blacke which colour neuer goeth off during theyr liues wherby a farre off they seeme to haue cutte leather Ierkins on their bodies such as the Switsers vse to weare When they will holde any drunken feast or dauncing wherunto they are much giuen to increase their mirth besides the great noyse and crie which they ordinarily make they haue a certaine kind of hollow fruit which Theretus calleth Ahonay the pith whereof being taken out some of them are filled with stones and some without and so are put vpon strings of cotten wooll which they tie about their legs dauncing therewith as our iuglers and morice dauncers in these countreyes dance with belles likewise they carrie in their hands certaine dryed goords which they fil with stones hauing a sticke in the ende make a noyse therewith as our children doo with a blather full of stones which instrument with them is called Maraca the women go naked like the men and pul away their haire from the eyebrowes and eyelids but weare it on theyr heades like our women which they wash and comb derie often and tie it vp with redde cotten hairelaces as our country women vse to do but most parte of them vse to lette it hang downe about theyr shoulders wherin they take great pleasure the women neyther bore lips nor cheekes but onely their eares with so wide holes that a man may thrust his finger through in theÌ„ they hang certain long things which reach vnto their breasts or shoulders like bloudhoundes or water spanels eares They paint their faces with all kinds of colours which their neighbors and other women do for them in the middle of the cheeke they make a rounde circle drawing lines from it of diuers colours vntill theyr face is ful not leauing so much vndone as the eye liddes they weare bracelets of white bones cut thin like plates very cunningly ioyned together with wax and gum also white necklaces which they cal Bonze weare them not about their necks like the men but onely their armes for the which cause they are verie desirous of the glasse beades of all colours such as we haue here in these countries by them caled Maurobi it is to be wondered at that if any apparrel be giuen vnto theÌ„ they wil not weare it excusing themselues saying that it is not their custome but had rather weare stones other things vppon their bodies then such cloathes they haue a custome that in euery riuer where they come they steepe vnto the water and wash their hands many times they duck into the water at y t least ten times a day to wash themselues like birds and if they were apparrelled should put it off as often as they do so it would be ouer troublesome vnto them likewise the women slaues being compelled to weare cloathes many euenings to pleasure themselues doo put off theyr cloathes smock and all and so runne naked about the countrey I must speake somewhat of their little children of the
the womans body and with their téeth bite off the childes nauill string and then presse downe the nose esteeming it a great beautifying vnto them the child being borne is presently washed by the father and painted with red and blacke colour it is neuer swadled nor lapped in cloathes but onely laide in a little cotten bed and being a boy the father presently giueth him a woddeÌ„ knife a bow and a little arrow which are laide by him in his bed and therewith he kisseth the childe saying vnto him My sonne when thou art great thou must be strong and reuenge thy selfe vpon thine enemies as touching their names they giue them the names of such things as they know as Orapacen that is bow and arrow Sarigoy foure footed beast Arignan henne Arabouten a Brasill tree Pindo a great hearbe c. The childrens meate besids their mothers milke is chawed meale some sowst meat the womaÌ„ that is deliuered lieth 2. or 3. daies at the most vpon her cotten bed after that shée putteth a cotten cappe vppon the childes head and either goeth into the garden or els about the house to doo some worke which our women cannot do as being of weaker complections and liuing in an vntemperate aire besides this we would thinke if our children should not be wond or swadled they would grow crooked whereof not any such are founde to be among them but rather goe vprighter then any other people in the world which is also by meanes of the temperatenesse of the aire The children growing great and to mans state are taught no other thing then onely to be reuenged of their enemies and to eate them also they are bounde as right followers of Lamech Nimrod and Esau to hunting and to go to the warres to kill and eate both men and beasts What lawes and pollicies are vsed among the Brasilians also howe friendly they entertaine strangers together with their weepings and words vsed by the women vnto strangers at their first comming into their houses THe policie of the Brasilians is hardly to be beleeued howe reasonably and naturally they behaue themselues therein I mean among themselues for commoÌ„ quarrels for that as touching their warlike affaires against their enemies it is sufficiently declared but if there riseth any strife or quarrel among themselues such as are present will not seeke to pacifie the matter but rather lette them fight or deale together as they thinke good yea although they should plucke each others eyes out of their heads but if one of them chaunceth to hurte the other and being taken he is likewise wounded in the same place where he wounded the other and if it fortune that by the wounde the partie dieth he that killed him shall by the kindred of the dead man bee likewise flame so that with them they pay life for life eye for eye and tooth for tooth Theyr goods are houses and lande which they haue farre greater then their necessities requireth as touching their houses you must vnderstande that euerie village hath at the least â—00 houses wherby many of theÌ„ must of force dwell in a house yet euerie family hath a seuerall place although without any distance as beeing nothing betweene the houses to let them from seeing from the one ende of all their houses to the other although many times they are at the least 60. paces long yet euerie man hath his wiues children seuerall to himself and it is to be wondered at that they neuer dwell aboue fiue or sixe moneths in one house but taking the trees and the hearbe Pâ—â—â—o wherof their houses are made they carrie them oftentimes at the léast 1000. paces off yet the villages keepe their ancient names whereby it may easily bee gathered what great houses they build séeing it oftentimes happeneth that one man in his life time doth remoue his house twentie times at the least and if any man asketh them why they so often remoue their houses they make answer that changing of place is holsome also that their predecessors did the like which if they should leaue they should not liue long touching their grounds euerie Moussacat that is housholder hath certaine gardens and orchardes to himselfe which hee vseth as he tihnketh good but as touching the tilling and dressing of their groundes as wee do ours it is not vsed among them as concerning their houshold worke the women spin and work cotten wooll therof to make ropes and hanging beds which beddes they cal Iâ—â—s they are about six or seuen foot long made like a net but somewhat thicker like our thin cloath with strong ropes at the head and foote to tie them at but because such beds are broughâ— hither and so well knowne it is not necessarie to speake anie more of them neither of the manner howe they vse to spinne the wooll but touching these things you may reade Lerius my desire being onely to set down their cheefe and principall customes When the men go to warre hunting or fishing they take such beds with them and making them fast to two trees they sleepe therein which beddes being foule either with dust smoke or otherwise are by the women made cleane which is done in this manner they goe into the wooddes to seeke a certaine fruite not much vnlike our pumpcons but greater for that most parte of them are so great that a man can hardly beare them in his hand this fruite they slampe verie small and put it in an earthen potte steeping it in water which doone they stirre it with a sticke in such sort that it yeeldeth forth a thicke scumme which scumme they vse in steede of Sope wherewith they make their beddes as white and cleane as anie Fuller doth his cloath and in summer time or in the wars it is better sleeping on those beddes then vppon ours as touching their housholde stuffe the women make great earthen Pottes therein to put theyr drinke Coaâ—in They make pottes likewise of many fashions smal and indifferent great cups broad dishes and such like vessels the outward parte not much polished but inwardly so cleane white with a certaine colour layde vpon them that they far surpasse our pot makers they likewise make certaine mixture of blacke and white colour together wherewith they paint and stripe their earthen vessels specially those wherein they keepe their meate their manner of earthen worke is much pleasanter and better then our wodden dishes onely the women which paint their pots haue this fault they cannot paint one thing twice because they do it not by art but onely according to their fantasies These Barbarians also haue certaine pumpeons and other fruits which they diuide into two partes and cutting the meate out of them they vse them for drinking cuppes which they call Cobi they haue also great and small baskets made of whole Rushes not much vnlike wheate straw cunningly wrought and folded togither which they cal Panacon wherin they keepe their meale and other things theyr
Mossambique Being at Mossambique wee were foure of our Fléete in company together only wanting the Saint Phillip which had holden her course so nere the coast of Guinea the better to shun the Flats of Bracillia that are called Abrollios whereon the yere before she had once fallen that she was so much becalmed that she could not passe the Equinoctiall line in long time after vs neyther yet the cape de Bona Speranza without great storms foule weather as it ordinarilie happeneth to such as come late thether whereby shee was compelled to compasse about came vnto Cochin about two months after we were al ariued at Goa hauing passed and endured much misery and foule weather with sicknes and diseases as swellings of the legs and the scorbuicke and paine in their bellies c. The 4. Chapter The description of Mossambique which lieth vnder 15. degrees on the South side of the Equinoctiall line vppon the coast of Melinde otherwise called Abex or Abexim MOssambique is a Towne in the Iland of Prasio with a safe although a small hauen on the right side towardes the cape they haue the golden mines called Sofala on the left side the rich towne of Quiloa and by reason of the foggie mistes incident to the same the place is both barren vnholsome yet the people are rich by reason of the situation In time past it was inhabited by people that beleeued in Mahoomet being ouercom kept in subiection by the tirant of Quiloa his lieftenant which the Arabians called Zequen that gouerned them Mossambique is a little Iland distant about halfe a mile from the firme land in a corner of the said firme land for that y e firme land on the north side stretcheth further into y e sea theÌ„ it doth before it there lie two smal Ilands named S. George S. Iacob which are euen w t the corner of the firme land and betwéene those two Ilands not inhabited the firme land the ships doe sayle to Mossambique leauing the Ilands southward on the left hand and the firm land â—n the north and so without a Pilot compasse about a mile into the sea to Mossambique for it is déepe enough and men may easily shun the sands that lie vpon the firme land because they are openly séene The ships harbour so neare to the Iland and the â—ortresse of Mossambique that they may throw a stone out of their ship vppon the land and sometimes farther and lie betwéene the Iland and the firme land which are distant halfe a mile from each other so that the ships lie there as safely as in a riuer or hauen The Iland of Mossambique is about halfe a mile in compasse flat land and bordered about with a white sand Therein growe many Indian palmes or nut trées some Orange Apple Lemmon Citron and Indian Figge trées but other kindes of fruit which are common in India are there verie scarce Corne and other graine with Rice and such necessarie marchandizes are brought thether out of India but for beasts and foule as Oâ—en shéep Goats Swine Hennes c. there are great aboundance and very good and cheape In the same Iland are found shéepe of fiue quarters in quantitie for that their tayles are so broad and thicke that there is as much flesh vpon them as vpon a quarter of their body and they are so fatte that men can hardlie brooke them There are certaine Hennes that are so blacke both of feathers flesh and bones that being sodden they séeme as black as inke yet of very swéet taste and are accounted better then the other whereof some are likewise found in India but not so many as in Mossambique Porke is there a very costly dish and excellent faire and swéete flesh and as by experience it is found it farre surpasseth all other flesh so that the sicke are forbidden to eate any kinde of flesh but onely Porke because of the excellency thereof MOssambique signifieth two places one which is a whole kingdome lying in Africa behinde the cape of Bona Speranza betweene Monomotapa Quiloa the other certaine Ilands herafter drawne and described lying on the south side of the Equinoctiall line vnder 14. degrees and a halfe whereof the greatest is called Mossambique the other two Saint Iacob and Saint George These Ilands lie almost in the mouth of a riuer which in Africa is called Moghincats About Mossambique is a verie great a safe hauen fit to receiue and harbour all ships that come and goe both to from Portingal the Indies and although both the Kingdome and the Iland are not very great yet are they very rich and abundant in all kinde of thinges as appeareth in the description of the same Mossambique the chiefe greatest of them is inhabited by two maner of people Christians and Mahometanes the Christians are Portingales or of the Portingales race there is also a castle wherin the Portingales keepe garrison from whence also all other castles and fortes thereabouts are supplied with their necessaries speciallie Sofala where the rich mine of Gold lieth there the Portingale ships doe vse to harbour in winter time when of wind or by meanes of foule weather they cannot accoÌ„plish their voiage The Indian ships doe likewise in that place take in new victuals and fresh water This Iland beeing first discouered by the Portingales was the only meanes that they found the Indies for that froÌ„ thence they vsed to take Pilots which taught them the way touching the manner and customes of these people read the Authors description at large they are good shooters in musket and caliuer and expert Fishermen Sayling along further by the coast towardes the Indies you passe by Quiloa which in times past was called Rapta not great but verie faire by reason of the great trees that grow there which are alwaies fresh and greene as also for the diuersities of victuals it is also an Ilande lying about the mouth of the great Riuer Coauo which hath her head or spring out of the same lake from whence Nilus doth issue This Iland is inhabited by Mahometans and they are all most white apparelled in silk and clothes of cotton wooll their women weare bracelets of gold and precious stones about their neckes and armes they haue great quantitie of siluer workes are not so browne as the men well membered their houses are commonly made of stone chalke and wood with pleasant gardens of all kind of fruit and sweet flowers from this Iland the kingdome taketh his name This point asketh a larger discourse which you shal finde in the leafe following They haue no swéet water in this Iland to drinke but they fetch it from the firme land out of a place called by the Portingales Cabaser and they vse in their houses great pots which come out of India to kéepe their water in The Portingales haue therein a verie faire and strong castle which now about 10. or 12. yeares past was fullie
is called Venetianders some of Venice and some of Turkish coine and are commonly 2. Pardawes Xeraphins There is yet another kind of golde called S. Thomas because Saint Thomas is figured theron is worth about 7. eight Tangas There are likewise Rialles of 8. which are brought from Portingal and are called Paâ—dawes de Reales Other money of Portingall is not currant there They are worth at their first comming out of Portingall 436. Reyes of Portingall and after are raysed by exchaunge as they are sought for when men trauell for China but they are worth neither more nor lesse They vse in Goa in their buying and selling a certaine maner of reckoning or telling There are Pardawes Xeraphins and these are siluer They name likewise Pardawes of Gold and those are not in kinde or in coyne but onely so named in telling and reckoning for when they buy and sell Pearles stones golde siluer and horses they name but so many Pardawes and then you must vnderstand that one Pardaw is sixe Tangas but in other ware when you make not your bargaine before hand but plainely name Pardawes they are Pardawes Xeraphins of 5. Tangas the péece They vse also to say a Pardaw of Lariinâ— and are fiue Lariins for euery Pardaw This is the money and reckoning of Goa wherewith they buy sell receiue and pay Many of them know wel how to gaine by these kinds of moneys by exchanging buying and selling of them There is great falshoode in the Pardawes Xeraphins which is the principallest and currantest money wherefore there are in euery stréete and corner of the Cittie Iewes that are Christians called Xaraffes who for verie small profit looke vppon the moneyes are so perfect therein that as they let the money passe through their handes in telling they knowe the false peeces without once looking vpon them or taking them vp yea although it lay among a thousande peeces and if another should take it in their handes and tell it a thousande times yet coulde they neuer perceiue it but in ringing it a man may know it very well These are coyned in the firme lande by the Heathenish Indians to deceyue the Portingalles withall wherefore no man dares receiue money were it but halfe a Pardaw except he shew it to those Xaraffes They tell money very readily and swiftly and telling it do looke vpon it to sée if it be good and do giue their promise that if it be found too short or any false money therein after they haue tolde it they will make it good howe much soeuer it be They are also very ready to exchange money or to doe whatsoeuer men néede touching the same They sitte at the corners of the stréetes and before mens houses and a table with heapes of money standing before them euery heape being a Tanga which is â—5 Bazarucos when any man will change a Pardaw they giue him two or thrée sometimes 8. or 10. Bazarucos more then the 375. Bazarucos for they know how to make it vp againe and so do they with all other money according to the rate The waight of Goa is also in diuers kinds as in Portingal with Quintales Arrobas and poundes They haue likewise another wayght called Mao which is a Hand and is twelue pounds with the which they weigh Butter Hony Sugar and all kind of wares to be solde by waight They haue likewise a waight wherewith they weigh Pepper other spices called a Bhar and is as much as thrée Quintales a halfe Portingal waight They haue a measure called Medâ—da that is to say euen waight It is about a spanne high and halfe a finger broade whereof 24. measures are a Hand and 20. Handes are one Candâ—il and one Candâ—l is little more or lesse theÌ„ 14. bushels wherewith they measure Ryce Corne all graine or other commodities to be sold by measure and the ships are fraighted after the same rate for they say a shippe or sente of so many Candâ—ls or so many Pâ—lâ—râ— There is Rice which they sell by the â—rden it is broght in round bundels wrapped in strawe and bounde about with cordes Euerie Fardo is commonly thrée â—nd and a halfe This Rice is better then that which commeth not in Fardens and is called Gâ—rasall Ryce which is the best and beareth the highest price and there is another sorte which is of a lesse price slighter called Chambasal Ther are also diuers other sorts of Rice of a lesse price slighter then the other Ryce and is called Batte and is almost like Barley it hath but little huske This is commonly the dayly foode of the countreymen in the villages called Canariins of the common and poorer sort which stampe and beate it themselues It serueth also for Hennes and Doues to eate in stead of Barley There are diuers particular sortes of moneyes in many places of India and inwardes in the lande among the heathens which are currant onely among them euery coine in their seueral places For by Bengala they haue in place of Bâ—â—aruâ—os a small kinde of money called Amandeles wherewith they get their liuings and buy and sell therewith and diuers other such like coines in seuerall places of the Orientall countries but the money waights and measures aforesaid are those which they doe generally and ordinarily vse throughout all 〈◊〉 and principally in Goa being the heade towne and stapell of all the Orientall countries The 36 Chapter Of the Indians called Bramenes which are the ministers of the Pagodes Indian Idoles and of their manner of life THe Bramenes are the honestest and most estéemed nation amonge all the Indian heathens for they doe alwaies serue in y e chiefest places about the King as Receyuers Stewards Ambassadors and such like offices They are likewise the priestes and ministers of the Pagodes or diuelish Idoles They are of great authoritie among the Indian people for that the King doth nothing without their counsell and consent and that they may be knowne from other men they weare vppon their naked body from the shoulder crosse vnder the arme ouer their body downe to the girdle or the cloth that is wrapped about their middle â— or 4. strings like sealing thréede whereby they are knowne which they neuer put off although it shoulde cost them their liues for their profession religion will not permit it They go naked sauing onely that they haue a cloth bounde about their middles to hide their priuie members They wear sometimes when they go abroad a thinne cotton linnen gowne called Cabaâ—a lightly cast ouer their sholders and hanging downe to the grounde like some other Indians as Benianes Gusarates and Decaniins Vpon their heads they weare a white cloth wounde twice or thryce about therewith to hide their haires which they neuer cut off but weare it long turned vp as the women do They haue most commonly rounde rings of golde hanging at their ears as most of y e Indians haue They eat
not any thing that hath life but féed them selues with hearbes and Ryce neyther yet when they are sicke will for any thing bee let blood but heale themselues by hearbes ointmentes and by rubbing their bodies with Sanders and such like swéet woods In Goa and on the sea coasts there are many Bramenes which commonly doe maintaine themselues with selling of spices and other Apothecarie ware but it is not so cleane as others but full of garbish and dust They are very subtil in writing and casting accounts wherby they make other simple Indians beleeue what they will Touching the pointes of their religion wherein the common people beléeue them to be Prophetes whatsoeuer they first meete withal in the streets at their going forth that doe they all the day after pray vnto The women when they goe forth haue but one cloth about their bodies which couereth their heades and hangeth downe vnto their knées all the rest of the body is naked They haue ringes through their noses about their legs toes neckes and armes and vpon each hand seuen or eight ringes or bracelettes some of siluer and gilt if they be of wealth and ability but the common people of glasse which is the common wearing of all the Indian women When the woman is seuen yeares olde and the man nine years they do marrie but they come not together before the woman bee strong enough to beare children When the Bramenes die all their friends assemble together and make a hole in the ground wherein they throw much wood and other things and if the maÌ„ be of any accompt they cast in swéet Sanders other Spices with Rice Corne and such like and much oyle because the fire should burne the stronger Which done they lay the dead Bramenes in it then cometh his wife with Musike many of her néerest freÌ„ds all singing certain prayses in commendation of her husbands life putting her in comfort encouraging her to follow her husband goe with him into the other world Then she taketh al her Iewels and parteth them among her frends so with a chéerefull countenance she leapeth into the fire and is presently couered with wood and oyle so she is quickly dead w t her husbands bodie burned to ashes and iâ— it chance as not very often it doth that any womaÌ„ refuseth to be burnt with her husband then they cut the haire cleane off from her head and while she liueth she must neuer after wear any Iewels more from that time she is dispised and accounted for a dishonest woman This manner and custome of burning is vsed also by the Nobles and principallest of the Countrey and also by some Marchantes notwithstanding all their dead bodies in generall are burnt to ashes and the women after their husbands deathes doe cut their haire short weare no Iewels whereby they are knowne for widowes The first cause and occasion why the women are burnt with their husbandes was as the Indians themselues do say that in time past the women as they are very leacherous and inconstant both by nature and complexion did poyson many of their husbands when they thought good as they are likewise very expert therein thereby to haue the better means to fulfill their lusts Which the king perceiuing that thereby his principal Lords Captains and Souldiers which vphelde his estate and kingdome were so consumed and brought vnto their endes by the wicked practises of women sought as much as hee might to hinder the same and therevpon he made a law and ordayned that when the dead bodies of men were buried they shold also burne their wiues with them thereby to put them in feare and so make them abstaine froÌ„ poysoning of their husbands which at the first was very sharply executed onely vpon the nobles gentlemen and souldiers wiues as also the Bramenes for that the common people must beare no armes but are in a manner like slaues So that in the ende it became a custome among them and so continueth whereby at this day they obserue it for a part of their law and ceremonies of their diuelish Idoles now they do it willingly being hartened and strengthened thereunto by their friendes These Bramenes obserue certain fasting daies in y e year and that with so great abstineÌ„ce that they eat nothing all that day and sometimes in 3. or 4. daies together They haue their Pagodes and Idoles whose ministers they are whereof they tell and shew many miracles and say that those Pagodes haue béen men liuing vpon earth and because of their holy liues and good workes done here in this world are for a reward therof become holy meÌ„ in the other world as by their miracles by the Diuel performed hath béene manifested vnto them and by their commandementes their formes and shapes are made in the most vgly deformed manner that possible may bee deuised Such they pray and offer vnto with many diuilish superstitions stedfastly beléeue y t they are their aduocates intercessors vnto God They beléeue also that there is a supreame God aboue which ruleth all things and that mens soules are immortall and that they goe out of this worlde into the other both beastes men and receyue reward according to their workes as Pythagoras teacheth whose disciples they are The 37. Chapter Of the Gusarates Banianes of Cambaia THe Gusarates and Banianes are of the country of Cambaia many of them dwel in Goa Diu Chaul Cochin other places of India because of their trade and traffick in marchaÌ„dise which they vse much with all kindes of wares as corne cotton linnen anil Rice and other wares specially all kinde of precious stones wherein they haue great skill They are most subtill and expert in casting of accounts and writing so that they do not onely surpasse and goe beyond all Iewes and other nations thereabouts but also the Portingals in this respect they haue no aduantage for that they are very perfect in the trade of marchandise very ready to deceiue men They eate not any thing that hath life or blood in it neither would they kil it for all the goods in y e worlde how small or vnnecessarie soeuer it were for that they stedfastly beléeue y e euery liuing thing hath a soule are next after men to be accounted of according to Pythagoras law know it must die and sometimes they do buy certain fowles or other beastes of the Christians or Portingals which they meant to haue killed wheÌ„ they haue bought them they let them flée and run away They haue a custome in Cambaia in the high wayes woods to set pots w t water and to cast corne other graine vpon the ground to féed birds beastes withal throughout Cambaia they haue hospitals to cure and heale all maner of beasts birds therein whatsoeuer they aâ—le receiue them thether as if they were men and wheÌ„ they are healed they let them flie
rents of the Portingales the Kings reuenewes in the land of Bardes Salsette and the Island of Goa so that often times for any question or strife they must appeare in law where they alwaies come without Counsellor or Atturney and knowe so well how to place their words according to the lawes of Portingall not onely temporall but spirituall that they are able to set downe and shew where it standeth written as well as any Counsellor could doe make their petitions requests without any mans aduise that the Portingales doe wonder at their readie wits as I haue oftentimes found in them When they are to take their othes to beare witnes with any man they are set within a circle made of ashes vpon the pauement where they stand still laying a fewe ashes on their bare heades holding one hand on their heads the other on their breasts and then in their own spéech sweare by their Pagode that they wil tell the truth without dissimulation whatsoeuer shall bee asked them for that they certainely beleeue they should be damned for euer if as then they should not say the truth but conceale it These are their principall customes and ceremonies yet are there many others which for breuity I omit The 39. Chapter Of the Canarijns and Corumbijns of India THe Canarijns Corumbjins are the Countrimen and such as deale with tilling the land fishing such like labors to get their liuings look vnto the IndiaÌ„ Palme trées whereon the Cocos doe grow There are some among them that doe nothing els but wash cloathes which is there vsed like another occupation they are called Maynattos there are others that are called Patamares which serue onlie for Messengers or Posts to carie letters from place to place by land in winter time when men can not trauaile by sea These Canarjins and Corumbjins are the most contemptible and the miserablest people of al India and liue very poorely maintaining theÌ„selues with little meate They eate all kinde of things except Kine Oxen Buffels Hogs and Hens flesh their religion is like the Decanijns and Canâ—ras for they are all of one Countrie and custome little differing they goe naked their priuie members onely couered with a cloth The womeÌ„ go with a cloth bound about their middles beneath their nauels and hanging downe to the middle of their thighes and the other end thereof they cast ouer their shoulders wherby halfe their breasts are couered They are in a manner blacke or of a darke browne colour many of them are Christians because their chiefe habitation and dwelling places are on the Sea side in the countries bordering vpon Goa for that the palme trées doe grow vpon the Sea coasts or vpon y e bankes by riuer sides The rice is sowed vppon low ground which in winter time is couered with water wherewith those Canarijns doe maintaine themselues these bring hennes fruit milke egges and other such like wares into the towne to sell They dwell in little straw houses the dores whereof are so low that men must créepe in and out their houshold stuffe is a mat vpon the ground to sléepe vpon and a pit or hole in the ground to heate their rice in with a pot or two to féeth it in and so they liue and gaine so much as it is a wonder For commonly their houses are full of small children which crall and créepe about all naked vntill they are 7. or eight yeares old then they couer their priuie members When the Women are readie to trauaile with Childe they are commonly deliuered when they are all alone and their husbands in the fieldes as it fortuned vppon a time as I and some other of my friends went to walke in the fieldes into the villages where the Canarijns dwell and hauing thirst I went to one of the Canarijns houses to aske some water therewith to refresh vs which they commonly drinke out of a Copper Canne with a spout thereat to drinke without touching it with their mouthes which is all the mettell they haue within their houses because I was verie thirstie I stooped downe and thrust my head in at the doore asking for some water where I espied a woman alone within the house tying her cloth fast about her middle before her hauing a woodden trough by the Portingales called Gamello full of water where she stood and washed a childe whereof as then she had newly bin deliuered without any help which hauing washt she laid it naked on the ground vpon a great Indian figge leafe and desired mee to stay and shee would presently giue mee water When I vnderstood by her that she had as then newly béene deliuered of that Child without any help I had no desire to drink of her water but went vnto another to aske water and perceiued the same woman not long after going about her house as if there had bin no such matter and the children are brought vp in that manner cleane naked nothing done vnto them but onely washed and made cleane in a little cold water and doe in that sort prosper and come vp as well as man would wish or as any child within these countries can do with all the tending they haue liue many times vntill they be a hundreth yeares old without any headach or toothach or loosing any of their téeth They weare onley a tuske of haire on the toppes of their heads which they suffer to grow long the rest of their haire is cut short they are very expert in swimming and diuing they row vp and downe the Riuers in boates called Almadias whereof some of theÌ„ are hewen out of a péece of wood and so narrow that a man can hardly sit in them and it chanceth oftentimes that they turne ouer ouer twice or thrice before they passe the riuer and then they leape out into the water and turne them vp and so powring out the water they get into them again They are so miserable that for a penny they would indure to be whipped and they eate so little that it séemeth they liue by the aire they are likewise most of them leane and weake of limmes of little strength very cowardes whereby the Portingales doe them great outrage and villanie vsing them like dogges and beasts In their mariages and deathes they obserue the manner of the Decanâ—ins Canaras as also in their religion ceremonies When the man is dead his body is burnt and the woman cuts her haire off and breaketh all her Iewels although they be but few small for they are most of glasse By the pictures following you may see the Decanijns or Canaras or the Marchantes of Goa also the Banianes or Gusurates of Cambaia with the Bramenes his wife in what sort all the women doe goe as wel Benianes as Decaniins Moores Indian women that inhabite the countrie How those of Goa and Ballagate kéepe their weddings among the Decaniins and Canaras with the manner how the
for thrée or foure Ducats the péece and some came with their wiues and children to offer themselues to bee slaues so that they might haue meate and drinke to nourish their bodies And because the Portingales haue traffique in all places as we haue béene in many it is the cause why so many are brought out of all countries to be solde for the Portingales doe make a liuing by buying and selling of them as they doe with other wares What concerneth the Caffares in Mosambique I haue in an other place declared in the description of Mosambique Hereafter followeth the pictures of the Arabians and Abexijns with their wiues as they goe in India also the pictures and manners of the Caffares both men and women as they goe in Mosambique all liuely portracted The 42. Chapter Of the Malabares and Nayros in India with their manners and customes THe Malabares are those that dwel on the Sea caost betwéene Goa the Cape de Comorijn Southward from Goa where the Pepper groweth They haue a spéech by themselues and their countrie is diuided into many kingdomes as in the description of the country we haue already declared these are the greatest and worst enemies that the Portingales haue and by Sea doe them great mischiefe they are strong and very couragious they goe all naked onely their priuie members couered the women likewise haue but a cloth from their Nauell downe to their knées all the rest is naked they are strong of limmes and verie arrogant and proude of colour altogether blacke yet verie smoth both of haire and skin which commonly they annoint with Oyle to make it shine they weare their haire as long as it will grow tyed on the top or crowne of their heads with a Lace both men and women the lappes of their eares are open and are so long that they hang downe to their shoulders and the longer wider they are the more they are estéemed among them and it is thought to bee a beautie in them Of face body and limmes they are altogether like men of Europ without any difference but onely in colour the men are commonly verie hayrie and rough vpon the breast and on their bodies and are the most leacherous and vnchast nation in all the Orient so that there are verie few women children among them of seuen or eight yeares olde that haue their maiden-heades They are verie readie to catch one from an other though it bee but for a small penie In their houses they are not verie curious their houses and houshold stuffe differeth not much from the Canarijns Corumbijns of Goa Their Idolatrie ceremonies and superstitions are like the other Heathens Of these Malabares there are two manner of people the one is Noblemen or Gentlemen called Nayros which are souldiers that doe onely weare and handle armes the other is the common people called Polias and they may weare no weapons nor beare any armes the Nayros must in all places where they goe or stand weare such armes as are appointed for them and alwaies bee readie at the Kings commaundement to doe him seruice some of them doe alwaies beare a naked Rapier or Courtelas in their right hands and a great Target in their left hand those Targets are verie great and made of light wood so that when they wil they can couer their whole bodies therewith they are so well vsed thereunto that they esteme it nothing to beare them and when they trauell on the way they may be heard a great way off for that they commonly make a great knocking with the Hilt of their Rapier against the Target because they would bee heard There are some that carrie a bow and a venimous arrow vppon their shoulder wherein they are verie expert others carrie long Pikes some Péeces with the Match readie lighted and wound about their armes and haue the best lockes that possible may bee found in all Europe which they know so well how to vse that the Portingales can haue no aduantage against them Wheresoeuer they goe they must alwaies haue their armes with them both night and day Not any of them are married nor may not marrie during their liues but they may freely lie with the Nayros daughters or with any other that liketh them what women soeuer they bee yea though they be married women When the Nayro hath a desire thereunto hee entreth into a house where he thinketh good and setteth his armes in the stréete without the doore and goeth in and dispatcheth his businesse with the good wife or the daughter the doore standing wide open not fearing that any man should come in to let him for whosoeuer passeth by and séeth the Nayros armes standing at the doore although it be the goodman himselfe hee goeth by and letteth him make an end and hauing done he taketh his armes and departeth thence and then the husband may come to the house without making any words or once moouing question about it In that manner they goe where they will and no man may denie them As these Nayros goe in the streetes they vse to crie Po Po which is to say take héede looke to your selues or I come stand out of the way for that the other sort of people called Polyas that are no Nayros may not once touch or trouble one of them and therefore they alwaies crie because they should make them roome and know that they come for if any of the Polyas should stand still and not giue them place whereby hee should chaunce to touch their bodies hee may fréely thrust him through and no man aske him why he did it And when they are once touched by any Polya◠or by any other nation except Nayros they must before they eate or conuerse with other Nayro◠wash and clense their bodies with great ceremonies and superstitions Likewise they must not bee touched by any Christian or any other man And when the Portingales came first into India and made league and composition with the King of Cochin the Nayros desired that men shold giue them place and turne out of the way when they mette in the stréetes as the Polyas and others vsed to doe which the Portingales would not consent vnto thinking it to be against their credits and honors for them to be compared to the Polyas and vnprofitable sort of people whereas they estéemed themselues better then the Nayros both in person and armes therefore they would haue the Nayros to giue them place whereby they could not agrée in the end it was concluded to pacifie the matter and to kéepe peace and quietnes among them that two men should be chosen one for the Nayros and the other for the Portingales that should fight body to body and he that should be ouerthrowne that nation should giue place vnto the other this was done in the presence of both nations and the Portingall ouercame the Nayro whome hee slew whereupon it was agréed that the Nayros should giue place vnto the Portingall and
grow in India many Iniamos and Batatas These Iniamos are as bigge as a yelow roote but somewhat thicker and suller of knots and as thicke on the one place as in the other they grow vnder the earth like earth Nuts and of a Dun colour and white within like earth Nuts but not so swéete Iniamos were this yeare brought hethâ— out of Guinea as bigge as a mans legge and all of a like thicknesse the outward part is Dun coloured within verie white rosted or sodden they are verie pleasant of taste and one of the principal meates of the Black-Moores The Batatas are somewhat red of colour and of fashion almost like the Iniamos but swéeter of taste like an earth Nut. These two fruits are verie plentifull specially Iniamos which is as common and necessarie a meate as the Figges they eate them for the most part rosted and vse them commonly for the last seruice on the boorde they â—eth them likewise in an other sort for â—orrage and sâ—eth them with flesh like Colwortes or Turnops the like doe they with Batatas The 56. Chapter Of the Palme trees whereon the Indian Nuts called Cocus doe grow THese Trées are commonlie called by most of the Indians Persians and Arabians Maro the nuts Nareâ— The Malabares call the Trees Tenga Maran and the fruite being ripe Tenga but vnripe and being as yet greene 〈◊〉 In Goa â—anha the Portingalls call this fruit Coquo by reason of the thrée holes that are therein like to a Munkies head Auicenna calleth these Iaâ—ial-Indi that is Indian nuts The Malayans of Malacca call the trees Trican and the fruit Nihor This is the most profitable tree of all India as in order I will declare vnto you the profit that ariseth thereby they grow most in the Islands of Maldiua and in Goa and the countries round about them as also through the whole coast of Malabar whereby they traffique with them into all places as to Cambaia Ormus c. The tree wareth very high and straight of the thickenes of a small spanne little more or lesse it hath no branches but in the vppermost part thereof in the top grow the leaues which spread like vnto Date trées and vnder the leaues close to the tree grow the Coquos together commonly ten or twelue one close by another but you shall seldome finde one of them growing alone by it self The blossome of this fruite is very like the blossome of a Chestnut The wood of the tree is very sappy like a spunge and is not firme they doe not grow but on the sea sides or bankes of riuers close by the strand and in sandie grounds for there groweth none within the land They haue no great rootes so that a man would thinke it were impossible for them to haue any fast hold within the earth and yet they stand so fast and grow so high that it maketh men scare to see men clime vppon them least they should fall downe The Canarijns clime as nimbly and as fast vpon them as if they were Apes for they make small steppes in the trées like staires whereon they step and so clime vp which the Portingales dare not veÌ„ter their planting is in this manner They first plant the Coquos or Nuts whereof the trees doe spring and when they are about the height of a man in winter time they plant them againe and dung them with ashes and in summer time water them They growe well about houses because commonlie there they haue good earth and beeing well looked vnto and husbanded they yeeld fruit in fewe yeares which is the Canarijns liuinges that dwell here and there among those trees and haue no other occupation but onely to dresse those trees which they farme of the Landlords and by the fruite thereof doe get their liuinges Those trees are more aboundant with them then Oliue trées in Spaine or willow trées in the Low countries The profits they reape thereby are these First the wood is very good for many things although it be spungious and â—appy by reason of the length of it for in the Islandes of Maldiua they make whole ships thereof without any iron nayles in them for they sow them together with the cordes that are made of the said Cocus or Nut the ropes and cables beeing likewise of the same tree as also the sayles which they make of the leaues which leaues are called Olas They serue likewise to make the Canarijns houses and for hattes which they vse to carrie ouer their heades for the sunne or the raine they make also mattes or Tents that lie ouer the Palamkins when it raineth to couer the women when they are caried abroad and such like thinges they likewise make thereof very fine Hattes that are much esteemed and cost three or foure Pardawes the péece which they weare in Summer for lightnes They farme or hire those trées for two causes one for the Coquos or fruit to eate it the other to presse wine out of them thereof to drinke The nuts are as great as an estrige egge some smaller and some greater and are outwardly couered with a Huske or Shell which as long as it groweth on the trée is gréene with out like an Acorne with his huske or cup. The Indian nuts are couered ouer with two sortes of huskes or shels whereof the vttermost is hayrie and of it they make Cairo that is all their cables and ropes and stop and make their ships close with it in stead of Ocam or tow for that it keepeth the ships closer in saltwater then our Ocam or Tow because in salt water it closeth and shutteth it selfe closer together Of the other they make not onelie drinking cups in India but here with vs also for that the common people beleeue there is a certaine vertue in them against stirring of the body but it is not so This Huske beeing drie and pulled off is haire like hempe whereof all the cordes and Cables that are vsed throughout al India are made as well vppon the land as in the ships it is of colour verie like the ropes of Sparta in Spaine they are very good but they must be kept in salt water whereby they continue very long but in fresh or raine water they doe presently rot because they are not drest with pitch and tarre as our ships are The ship wherein I came out of India into Portingall had no other ropes nor cables nor any such kinde of stuffe but such as were made of the Indian Cocus called Cayro which continued very good sauing only y t we were forced euery fourtéene dayes to wash our cables in the Sea whereby they serued vs as well as cables of hemp The fruit when it is almost ripe is called Lanha and within is full of water and then it is white of colour thin and soft and the longer the Cocus is on the tree the more the water groweth and changeth into white which is the meat of the nut within
eateth a dozen or two of the same leaues or more not that they vse them for foode but after their meale tides in the morning and all the day long as likewise by night and as they goe abroad in the stréetes wheresoeuer they be you shal sée them with some of these leaues in their handes which continually they are chawing These leaues are not vsed to bee eaten alone but because of their bitternesse they are eaten with a certaine kinde of fruit which the Malabares and Portingales call Arecca the Gusurates and Decanijns Supariâ— and the Arabians Fauffel This fruite groweth on trees like the Palme trées that beare the Nut Cocus in India but they are somewhat thinner with the leaues somewhat longer and smaller The fruit is much like the fruit that groweth on Cipresse trees or like a Nutmeg though some of them are on the one side flat on the other side thicker some being somewhat greater and very hard They cut them in the middle with a knife and so chaw them with Bettele they are within ful of veines white and somwhat reddish There is a kinde of Arecca called Cechaniin which are lesse blacker and very hard yet are likewise vsed with Bettele and haue no taste but onlie of the wood and yet it moysteneth the mouth and coloureth it both red and blacke whereby it séemeth that the lips and the teeth are painted with blacke blood which happeneth when the Arecca is not well dried There is another sort which in the eating or chawing beeing swallowed downe maketh men light in the heade as if they had drunke wine all the day long but that is soone past They vse yet another mixture which they eate withall that is to say a cake or role made of a certaine wood or tree called Kaate and then they annoint the Bettele leaues with chalke made of burnt oyster shelles which can doe no hurt in their bodies by reason of the small quantitie of it all this being chawed togeather and the Iuice swallowed downe into their bodies for all the rest they spit forth they say it is very good for the maw and against a stinking breath a soueraigne medecine for the teeth and fastning of gummes and very good against the Schorbucke and it is most true that in India verie few men are found with stinking breathes or tooth aches or troubled with the Scorbuch or any such diseases and although they be neuer so old they alwaies haue their teeth whole and sound but their mouthes and teeth are still as if they were painted with black blood as I said before and neuer leaue spitting reddish spittle like blood The Portingale women haue the like custome of eating these Bettele leaues so that if they were but one day without eating their Bettele they perswade themselues they could not liue Yea they set it in the night times by their Beddes heades and when they cannot sleepe they doe nothing els but chaw Bettele and spit it out againe In the day time wheresoeuer they doe sit goe or stand they are continually chawing thereof like Oxen or Kine chawing their cud for the whole exercise of many Portingale women is onely all the day long to wash themselues and then fal to the chawing of their Bettele There are some Portingales that by the common custome of their wiues eating of Bettele doe likewise vse it When the Indian women go to visit one an other the Bettele goeth with them and the greatest pleasure or entertainement they can shew one to the other is presently to present them with some Bettele Arecca and chalke in a woodden dish which they kéepe onely for that purpose This Bettele is to bee sold in euery corner and streete and shoppe of the towne as also in euery high way for trauellers and passengers and is ready prepared that is to say so many Bettele leaues one Arecca some chalke and many times some Cate for such as desire to haue it which they commonly keepe in their houses or beare in their hands in a woodden painted dish and so eate in this sort first a peece of Arecca and Cate which they chaw after that a leafe of Bettele and with the naile of their thumbe which they purposely weare sharpe and long not round as wee doe they pull the veines or stringes out of the leafe and so smeare it with chalke and rowling it together they thrust it in their mouthes and chaw it The first â—ap thereof they spit forth and say that thereby they purge the head and the maw of all euill and flegmaticke humors and their spittle being as fowle as blacke blood which colour proceedeth from the Arecca the rest of the Iuice they swallow downe The Indians goe continually in the stréetes and waies with Bettele and the other mixtures chawing in their handes specially wheÌ„ they go to speake with any man or come before a great Lord therby to retaine a good smell and to keepe their breathes swéet and if they should not haue it in that sort with them whensoeuer they meete or speake with any man of account it were a great shame for them The women likewise when they accompany secretly with their husbands doe first eat a little Bettele which they think maketh them apter to the game All the Indians eate it after their meales saying that otherwise their meate wold vpbraide them and rise in their stomakes and that such as haue vsed to eate it and leaue it doe presently get a stincking breath They doe at certaine times forbeare the eating of Bettele as when any of their neerest friends die and also on certain fasting daies as likewise some Arabians and the followers of Ali Mahomets brother in lawe doe vpon their fasting dayes In Malabar this leafe is called Bettele in Decam Gusurate and Canam it is called Pam in Malaion Siri by Auicenna Tambul but better by others Tambul Auicenna sayeth that Bettele strengthneth the maw and fastneth the flesh of the Gummes for which purpose the Indians doe vse it but where he affirmeth those leaues to be cold in the first degree and drying in the second it is not so for either his Booke is false printed for hee was deceiued therein for those leaues are hotte and drie in the end of the second degree as Garcius ab Horto himself hath found out likewise the taste and smell therof doe affirme it to be so This Bettele is like a Citron leafe but somewhat longer sharpe at the ende hauing certaine veines that runne along the leafe The rypest are holden to bee the best and are of colour yellowish although some women chuse the vnripe because they are pleasanter in the chawing The leaues doe wither by much handling The Bettele in Malacca beareth a fruit like the tayle of an Efte which because it tasteth well is eaten it is planted like a Vine vpon stickes as Hoppes with vs. Some for their greater benefit Plant it among Pepper and among Arecca and there of doe make a
this Snake-woode whereof there is much in Seylon where also are many of those beastes and great store of Snakes so that if it be neuer so sore bitten hauing eaten of this wood it is presently healed as if it had neuer béene hurt By this means the inhabitants haue found it out begun to make account of it since that time it is proued and found to be good for many â—iseases as aforesaid wherefore nowe it is much traffiqued withall and carryed into all countries as also into Portingall from thence hether Garcius ab horto writeth of three sorts of this wood whereof you may there reade two of these sortes of Snake-wood I haue in my house to be shewen one is that which Iohn Hughen writeth to bee the root of a tree white and bitter of taste with a rough Ash colouâ— barke the other was sent me â—u◠〈…〉 from the learned Doctor Simon 〈◊〉 Tonar which is as thicke as a maâ— arâ—e with a barke besprinckled spotted like a Snake which inwardlie is white and bitter of taste The 76 Chapter Of the wood Caiamba or â—num Aloes THe â—ignuÌ„ Aloes which in India is called Calamba and Palo Dâ—guilla is most in Malacca in the Islande of Sumatra Camboia Sion and the Countries bordering on the same the trees are like Oliue trees and somewhat greater when it is cut off it smelleth not so well because it is gréene for the dryer it is the better it smelleth the best and that which smelleth most is the innermost part of the wood some of it is better then the rest which the Indians doe presently knowe howe to finde out the best and finest is called Calamba and y e other Palo Daguilla Now to know which is the best you must vnderstand that the wood that is very heauie with black and brown veynes and which yéeldeth much Oyle or moystnesse which is founde by the fire is the best and the greater and thicker that it is the better it is and hath the more vertue Of this wood they make many costly thinges and it hath a speciall and precious smell so that it is greatly estéemed specially the Calamba which if it be good is solde by weight against siluer and gold The Palo Daguilla next after the Calamba is much accounted of There is another kind of Palo Daguilla which is called Aquilla Braua or wild Aquilla and is also much esteemed for the Indians vse it therewith to burne the bodies of their Bramenes and other men of account when they are dead and because it is costly therefore it is a great honour to those that are burnt therewith as it is to those that with vs are buried in Tombes of marble stones but it is not comparable to the other Palo Daguilla nor the Calamba The wilde Aguilla groweth most in the Island of Seylon and on the coast of Choramandel and the best Palo Daguilla and Calamba groweth in Malacca These costly woods are much vsed in India for Beades and Crucifixes which are holden in great reuerence and in truth is very much to be esteemed for without all doubt it hath an excellent smel which surpasseth all other woods and the like can not bee founde but onely in the soresaide places from whence it commeth Lignum Aloes Agallochum Xylo alias Paradise-woode by the Arabians called Agalugen and Haud by the inhabitantes of Gusurate and Decan Vd in Malacca Garro and the best Calamba Of this wood I haue many sortes all very pleasant of smell speckled with veines and full of moysture and withall close and very heauie this wood being taken inwardly is good for a stinking breath it is also very good against a watrish and moyst stomacke which can receyue no meate but casteth it forth it is also good for one that hath a weake liuer that is sick of the red Melison or of the Plurisie The 77. Chapter Of the root China THe root China came into India and was there first knowne in Anno 1535. for before that time they knewe it not for that as then they cured the Pore which in India is a common disease with the woode called Guaiacum that is brought out of the Spanish Indies and was at that time in a manner weyghed against Gold and as the land of China is much subiect to the disease of the Pore it seemeth that God hath giuen them this roote to cure and help the same and since it was knowne and found out in India they would neuer vse any other remedy because there is great store of it and the best in all the world wherby men in those countries doe not once make any account of the Poxe or feare the healing therof for that it is more easilier healed then any other disease also it is no shame with them although they haue had it at y e least 3 or 4. times this root is now with them in so great abundance and common vse that it is very good cheape for that it is not worth at the most aboue halfe a Pardaw the pound which in Portingall money is a Teston and a halfe The sicke persons do vse it in this manner following they take of the root cut it in smalll peeces or slyces the wayght of an ounce which they seeth in foure pottes or quartes of water letting it séeth till it be halfe consumed whereof they séeth fresh euery day this water they must drink alone eat bisket with nothing els but smal rosted Chickens without any Butter suet salt or any other sauce but onely drie with the Bisket and this must bee their dinner at night some Reasons and tosted breade with Hony and nothing els euery day twice they must lie on their beddes wel couered to make them sweat euery time an hower or an hower and a halfe which they must continue for the space of thirtie dayes alwaies kéeping themselues out of the ayre and from the wind and lapping their heads and their eares very close staying continually within the house and aboue all thinges abstayning from the carnall company of women These pointes aforesaid being obserued without all doubt they shall find great profite and if the roote doth worke within them they shall know it by this meanes for that the paine in their lims and specially in their ioyntes will grieue them more and more which is a good signe that it worketh in their bodies and thoroughly searcheth the same and this paine will still increase for the space of 15. or 20. dayes yea and sometimes vntill 25. dayes and therefore he that will vse it must not dispaire for without faile it wil be so as I haue said within a day two or thrée more or lesse The 25. dayes at the furthest being passed then their paine will begin to deminish with so great a lightnes and ease that within the other fiue dayes whereby the 30. dayes will bee accomplished the whole paine will be gone so that the body and all the members
passeth not one yeare ouer their heades but that in India there are at the least twentie or thirtie men poysoned and murthered by their wiues onely to accomplish their filthie desires Likewise there are yearely many women killed by their husbands being taken in adulterie but they care not a haire for it saying with great boldnes that there is no pleasanter death then to die in that manner for thereby they say they do shew that they die for pure loue And to shew that this honest woman was not of this badde inclination alone you shall vnderstande that a brother of hers being but fourtéene or fiftéene yeares of age was openly burnt in Goa for sodome or buggery which was done when Francis King and his father in lawe were liuing yet could not Frauncis thereby bee warned to take héede of his wife and that kindred for as it séemeth it was Gods will he should end his dayes in that manner The 16. of September 1588. there ariued in Goa a shippe of Portingall called the S. Thomas bringing newes of 4. shippes more that were in Mosambique all come from Portingall which not long after came likewise to Goa their names were Saint Christopher being Admirall S. Marie S. Anthony and our Lady of Conseprao By those shippes we receyued newes of the death of my Lord the Archbishoppe called Don Frey Vincente da Fonseca who died in his voyage to Portingall vpon the 4. day of August An. 1587. betwéene the Flemmish Islandes and Portingall eight daies before the ship came to land It was thought that he dyed of some poyson that he brought out of India or els of some impostume that sodainely brake within him for that an houre before his death he séemed to be as well as euer he was in all his life and sodainly he was taken so sick y t he had not the leasure to make his will but dyed presently and voyded at the least a quart of poyson out of his body To be short he was cloathed in his Bishops apparell with his Myter on his heade and rings vpon his fingers and put into a coffin and so throwne into the sea These newes made many sorrowfull hartes in India of such as were his welwillers and frindes and to the contrarie such as hated him were glad and reioyced because he had béene earnest to reprehend and correct them for their faultes but none lost more by it then wee that were his seruantes which looked for great preferment by him as without doubt hee ment to haue obtained it of the King as being one of the principallest occasions of his going into Portingal but death altred all And although at that time my meaning and intent was to stay the comming of my Lord Archbishop to continue longer there yea possible while I liued yet vpon those newes I was wholly altered in my purpose and a horrible feare came vpon me when I called to mind what I had passed touching the things I was desirous to bring to passe And although I had means enough there to get my liuing in good sort being as it were one of those countrimeÌ„ and so in all places well estéemed and accounted of yet those perswasions were not of force inough once to disswade mee froÌ„ the pretence and desire I had to sée my natiue countrey so that it séemed my God had opened mine eies and by my Lords death made me more cleare of sight to call my natiue soile vnto remeÌ„brance which before was so darkened that I had almost forgotten it and stood in hazarde neuer to see it more if my Lord had liued and returned home again But to auoide all occasions and inconueniences that might happen dayly offred themselues vnto me I resolutely determined to depart wherevnto I sought al the meanes necessary occasions I could find to bring it to passe that which perswaded me most thereunto was the losse of my brother William Tin that had béene with me in India who sailing from Seâ—ubal in Portingal towards Hamborough taking their course on the back side of England was cast away and neuer could be heard of neyther ship nor men Being in this resolution it chaunced that a shippe by authoritie of the Viceroy and at the request of the Farmers of Pepper was appointed to saile for Portingall because there was so great quantitie of Pepper to be laden that the Portingall ships at that time being there could not take it in and although the ships are purposely sent to lade Pepper with licence from the King that there may no more but fiue ships lade euerie yeare wherevnto the Factors do bind themselues yet if there bee any goods in India as Pepper other wares which the other ships can not take in then the Farmers of Pepper and the kinges officers may buy one or two ships and make them ready for the purpose to take it in so that there be ships found that bee sufficient which if the Factors refuse then the Viceroy and the kings officers may â—raight as many ships as they thinke good and as they find fit to take it in and lade theÌ„ with the Farmers pepper or any other goods that are there to be laden so it bee after the fiue shippes are laden by the farmers and all this for the profit of the King without let or hinderance of the said farmers In this sorte as I said before there was a shippe called the Santa Crus that was built in Cochijn by the King of the Malabares and called after the name of the towne of Cochiin that was likewise by y e Portingals called Santa Crus which the King of Malabares made in honor of the Portingalles because he hath brotherly allyance with them and is by the King of Portingall called our brother in armes The same ship he had sold vnto a Portingal that therwith had made a voiage into China and Iapan being of 1600. tunnes and because it was strong and good so fit to make a voiage into Portingall and because as I said before there was more pepper then the Portingall ships could take in the farmers of pepper were desirous to buy it besought the Viceroy to let them haue it according to the contentes of their composition and the Kings ordinance Wherevpon the Viceroy caused the farmers of the ships to be called together signified vnto theÌ„ what the request of the farmers of pepper was that is to say that the shippe should be bought according to the Kings ordinance for as much as necessity did so require it they had refused to vse it said that it was not fit for them so desired y e in respect of the Kings interest in the pepper the shippe might be bought accordingly Alwaies prouided y t the kings ordinance who granted theÌ„ their Priuiledge might be kept obserued viz. that their ships might first haue their lading and bee first dispatched And although they that had bought it of the owners for
great wood in a very vnwholesome place specially in winter time by reason of the greate heate and moystnesse of the earth as also because of the moorish ground that lieth on the west side of the towne whereby many of the Indians die the houses are built after the Spanish maner as also those of Panama wherein many Merchants dwel that sell their wares by the great the rest of the houses are for strangers like Innes as also for Grocers handicraftsmen and such like most part of the merchants of Nombre de Dios haue houses likewise in Panama for that the traffique out of Peru commeth to Panama and out of Spaine to Nombre de Dios and there they are continually resident vntill they become rich and then they goe to other places or else returne into Spaine On the north side of this towne lieth the hauen wherein many ships may aâ—ker touching such fruits as they bring 〈◊〉 of Spaine into those countries there gâ—â—â—eth some in that vntemperate and vnâ—some ayre as lemons oranges re 〈…〉 hes coleworts and lettuce but very small few not very good other victuals are brought thither out of Hispaniola Cuba and the prouince of Nicaragua as India wheat or maiz bread called Cazabâ— salt fish hogges batatas and from Panama kine and flesh vnsalted all other kind of wares are broght out of Spaine thither for that euery yeere there commeth shippes out of Spaine laden with wine meale bread bisket oliues oile figs reasins silks woollen and linnen cloth and such wares necessary for the sustenance of man which wares being arriued in that country are carried in little scutes through the riuer Chiara to a place called Ciuâ—ce fifteene miles distant from Panama where it is deliuered to a Spanish Factor which registreth all the wares and kéepeth them vntill they be carried by beasts vnto Panama a Towne lying on the other side of the Lake from whence by ships they are conueyed into other places thorow the whole country of Peâ—â— Câ—aâ—câ—s and Chila as also northward in the out places of the Spaniards The breadth of the country betweene Nâ—mbre de Dioâ— and Panama from the one side to the other is not aboue seuenteene miles whereby Peru is no Island The Spaniards compare this towne to Venice but I think they nere saw it for if they had doubtles they would be of another opinion But letting Panamâ— rest til another time I will proceede with the description of the coast from Nombre de Dios to Farallones del Darien lying vnder eight degrées are seuentie miles touching the towne of Dariene til you come to the old virgine Mary it heth in an vnwholesome place therefore all the inhabitants are of a pale yellow collour like those that haue the yellow iandise yet it proceedeth not from the nature of the land for that in places of the same height there is wholsome dwelling that is where they haue fresh water and cleere fountains and where vnder the same height they dwel vpon hilles and not as Dariene which lieth in a valley the sides of the riuer being compassed with high hilles and by that means they haue the sunne but at noone time only right ouer them and on both sides both before and behinde they are no lesse troubled with the reflexion of the sunne beams causing a most vnsupportable heat in such sort that the dwelling in Dariene is not hurtful by reason of the nature of the land but because of the situation thereof it is likewise deadly by reason of the moorishnesse of the ground beeing wholly compassed about with moorish stincking water the Towne it selfe being a very pitte or moorish plotte of ground and when they throwe water vpon the floores of their houses it doth presently ingender toades and when they do digge but a spanne and a halfe deepe in the earth presently there appeareth Adders out of the poysoned water that are within the filthy earth of the riuer which floweth with filth and full of durt Out of this deepe valley euen vnto the sea in Dariene are Tygars Lions and Crocadiles Oxen Hogges and Horses in great abundaunce and greater than those that are brought thither out of Spaine many great trees and fruit and all kindes of fruits and hearbs that are to be eaten the people are of colour betweene darke and red yellow of good proportion with little haire or beardes onely vpon the head and the eie-browes specially the women which with a certaine hearb make it fall off they goe all naked specially vpon their heades they haue their members hidden eyther in a shell or in a case or else they couer it with a cotten linnen the women are couered from the middle to the knees all the rest is naked and bare in that countrey there is no winter for that the mouth of the riuer Dariene lieth lesse than eight degrees from the equinoctiall so that day and night is there of a length from the furthest point that reacheth into the sea lieth a village in the Prouince of Caribana nine miles from Dariene called Futeraca and from thence about three miles lieth Vraba wherof the whole stream hath her name and in time past was the chiefe Towne of the kingdome sixe miles off lieth Feâ— from thence to Zereme are 9. miles from Zereme to Sorache are twelue miles These places were all full of Camballes and when they had no ennemies to fight withall they fought one against the other that they might deuoure the men The gulfe of Vraba is 14. miles long and in the entrie sixe miles broade and the nearer it runneth to the firme land the narrower it is into this riuer runne many waters and one that is muche more prosperous then the Riuer Nilus whatsoeuer is sowed or planted in Vraba it springeth very speedily for that within 28. daies they haue ripe Cucumbers Goardes Melons c. In Dariene and Vraba there groweth much fruit that is verie pleasant and sweete of taste much aboue our fruits whereof whosoeuer is desirous to know more let him reade the histories thereof as Peter Martir in his ninth book of the descriptioÌ„ of the firme land In the mouth of the gulfe of Vraba lyeth a small Island called Tortuga that is the Island of Torteaux because it is formed like a Torteaux or because there are many Torteauxes therein and further on the same coast lyeth the Island l. Fuerte which is in the middle betweene Vraba and Carthago wherein also are Canibals most cruell villaines and from thence you come to Puerto de Caribana the hauen of Caribana or of Cambals whereof the Caribes haue receiued their name From thence you come to the riuer de Guerra and then to the riuer of Zenu which is a great hauen the town being about seuen or eight spanish miles and a half from the sea wherin is great traffike of fish fine gold siluer works They gather gold out of the riuers in great floods rains placing great nettes in the
is made of Quinces and cakes with other such kinds of deuises At this time there are many of them in Spaine whence they are likewise brought into our countries Those that are desirous to reade more hereof let them peruse the Writers of the new World or the bookes of the learned doctor Carolus Clusius which writeth therof at large from whence this is taken In S. Martha is great traffike for fish cotten feathers their houses are of earth hanged with mattes made of â—esen and of diuers colours they haue many couerlets of cotten wherin are wouen the figures of Tigers Lions Eagles and such like From Saint Martha to the Cape de la Vela that is the cape of the saile are 50. miles this cape lieth vnder 12. degrees is 100. miles from S. Dominico betweene S. Martha and the cape de la Vela lie these places Cape de la Guia the point of the needle or of the compasse Ancon de Gacha an open hauen of Gacha Rio de Palominas the riuer of Palominas Rio de la Hacha the riuer of the Tocrtse Rio de Pâ—edras the riuer of Stones Laguna de S. Iuan the lake of S. Iohn From the Cape de la Vela to Coquiâ—ocoa are fortie miles in our Carde it is placed with twoo words diuided which should be but one Thâ—s is another point lying on the same corner behinde the which beginneth the gulte of Venâ—zâ—elâ— which in compasse and breadth is from the cape of S. Roman eightie miles Porete Venezuela little Venice THe whole coast from the Cape de la Vela to the gulfe of â—arâ—â— was discouered by Christophero Coâ—anâ—o in An. 149â— and the first gouernour of Venezuela was a hâ—gh Duchman called Andâ—â— sius Aâ—mgâ— who in the name of Welâ—ren trauaâ—â—ed into those countries the Emperour hauing besieged their towne in the yeare of our Lorde 1518. and died of a wound giuen him by a poysoned arrow and most of his men dyed for hunger after they had eaten dogs and some Indians flesh it is a Bâ—shoprâ—cite the towne being called Venezuela because it is binlded in the water vpon an euen rocke which water and lake is called Mâ—â—acaâ—â—o and by the Spaniards Lagâ— di Nostra Dâ—nna the women of this place are preuder better mannered then others of the prouâ—ces thereabouts they painte their brests and armes al the rest of their bodies are naked only their priuities which they couer with certain deaths which to leaue off were great shame vnto theÌ„ likewise if any man should lift it vp he shuld do them great 〈◊〉 dishouor The maides are knowne by their colour the greatnes of their girdles that they weare which is a certaine signe oâ— their maidenhead The men carrte theyr members in a shell they prâ—â— to Idols and to the diuel whom they paint in such a â—riue as he instructeth them or as hee the â—â—d himselfe vnto them In warres they vse poysoned arrowes pikes of fiue and 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—ful long kniues of reedes great tâ—â—â—â—s made of barks of trees and also of 〈◊〉 Their priests which also are Phâ—â—â—tions aske the sicke person by whom they are sent for if they certainly beleeue that they 〈◊〉 help them and then lay their hands vpon the place where they say theyr paines â—â—postumes or swellings are crying or calling out and if it fortune that they heale not they put the fault either in the sicke person or in their gods and in thâ—s sort their Phâ—â—tions deale with them In the â—â—â—ht time they mourne for theyr Lords which is singing certaine songs in their commendations that done they roast them and beate them to smal pouder which them drink in wine which among them is a great honour From Venezuela to Câ—â— S. Roman is eighty miles and from S. Roâ—â—n to Golfo Triste are fiftie miles wherein lyeth Curiana Curiana CVriana hath a hauen like that of Callice in Spaine where on the shore there are about eight houses but not farre from thence within the land there was a vâ—llage full of people that went naked but very friendly for ple innocent and familar and receiued the Spaniards wâ—th great ioy and for pinnes néedles Lels glasses and beads they gaue them many strings of pearles receiuing them into their houses seruing them with al kinds of meates and for foure pinnes gaue them a peacocke for two pins a phesant for one pinne a turtle doue or house pigeon for a stone gâ—â—sse or a pin or two a gooâ—â— they asking them what they would do with the pinnes seeing they were naked they said they were good to pick their teeth and for the belles they tooke great delight to heare them ring the country is very ful of the birdes before rehearsed also of hartes wilde swine and cennies of colour and greatnesse like our hares which birdes and deeres flesh is their meate as also the pearle oysters whereof thereabouts are great aboundance and much eaten they are al very sâ—â—ful in shooting at wild beasts and birds their beates are hewed out of a peece of hard wood but not so well proportioned as those of the Canniballes and in Hâ—spaniâ—lâ— which they call Gallâ—â—s their houses are made of wood and couered with palme 〈◊〉 â—â—ues wherein when they are at resâ— thâ—â— may easily heare the fearefull cries of wilde beasts which hurt not any man for 〈◊〉 inhabitants go al naked and without campany into the wooddes onely with their beâ—â—s and arrowes and not it was neuer heard that any of them was euer slaine or deuoured by wild beasts They likewise brought the Spaniardes as many hartes and wilde swine as they desired all killed with theyr arrowes their breade is of rootes or Maiz like other Indians the people haue blacke and halfe curled hayre and somewhat long they make their teeth white with an hearb which all the day they chawe in their mouthes which hauing chawed they spâ—tte out againe washing their mouthes The women are better for keeping of a house than to labour in the fieldes and the men vse to worke in the groundes and to hunt also to goe to warres to dance and to play In their houses they haue many earthen vessels as cups pots such like which are brought them from other places They keepe certayne yéerely fayres euery one carrying to ech other such things as they want They weare strings of pearles about their necks as common as the countrey women in Italie weare cristall beades whereon hangeth many beastes and birdes made of base gold like Rheins gold which is brought vnto them from Carichieta sixe dayes iourney from thence towardes the south and when the Spaniardes asked of them where they had the golde they made signes which way shewing them it was in an other countrey beyond them but counselled them not to go thither saying they were Canniballes and such as eate mans flesh The men bore a goard which they weare for a codpeece and tie about their middles with a
with fish and wine made of Maâ—z which is with them in â—eede of corne and also with other fruits and rootes as all the rest of the Caribes do and some eate Lice Apes Meerecats Frogs Wormes and such vnprofitable things as those of Cumana they vse a kinde of salue to make their teeth black like those of Cumana which is made in this maner they take shels wherein the pearles are sound with the leaues of the trée called Axis the fruit of the which tree they eate continually al the yeare like sauce or pepper which they burne together and beeing burnt they put a little water vnto it wherwith the white looketh like chalke with the which salue they make their teeth as black as coles and therewith preserue them from ach their bodyes are painted red and blacke with colours made of the iuice of Hearbes and the filthier it sheweth the fairer they estéeme it to bee Their beddes are like nettes made of cotten which they make fast to twoo bordes and therein they sleepe Sleeping in the fields they haue on the one side of their beddes a fire to warme them in the night their weapons are arcowes made either of reeds or palme wood whereon they putte sharpe stones or bones in place of iron which they smeere with pitch which is a most cruel poyson made of rootes hearbs Antes fruites and certaine stinking iuice which the olde women do verie diligently seethe with snakes bloud with the venimous aire whereof many of them die while they seethe it if any man be strucken with an arrow that is new dipt therein theyr bodye presently swelleth and they die with al speede in a manner rauing and when the poyson is olde it looseth the greatest parte of the strength the remedie against such poyson is to thrust a hot burning iron into the wound all the slaues that the Spaniards take out of this country they carrie them into the countrey of Cubagâ—a burning them in the foreheades with a letter C. whom they keepe for fishers or pearles by which meanes many of them are carried out of the Island whereby at this present it is almost desolate for that the fishing for pearle is there almost clean done and the gold consumed which maketh the Spaniards not to esteeme of that place Hereafter followeth the description of the coast of Paria to the straights of Magellanes FRom Punto Anegado which lyeth vnder eight degrees are fiftie miles to Rio Dulce which lieth vnder sixe degrees from Rio Dulce that is the sweet riuer to Râ—ode Oâ—ellana which is called Rio de la Amazones is 110. miles so that there is accounted eight hundred Spanish miles or 3200. Italian from Nombre de Dios along to the coast of the Riuer Orellana which cunneth into the sea as it is saide hauing fiftéene miles in the breadth of the entrie and most vnder the Equinoctial line From this Riuer I will shew the coast as it lieth yet first I must tel you the riuers their names that lie betweene it and Punâ—o Anegado first Rio Grando the great Riuer then Rio Dulce the sweete riuer Rio de Canoas the Riuer of Canos Canoas are scutes by the Indians made out of peeces of wood which they make hollow and therewith they fish in the riuers Capo de Corrientes the point of the streame Aldea the village Capo de los Farillonâ—z the point of the cliffes Rio de Ancones the riuer of the open hauens Rio de Lagaâ—tos the riuer of y e Crocadiles Rio de vincente Pâ—â—zon Rio de Cacique the K. riuer for Cacici in Indian speech is Kings Costa Braua the wild poynt Capo de Corrientes Rio de Caribes the riuer of Caribes or eaters of men Rio de Canoas Rio de Arboledas the riuer of bowes Rio de Montanna the riuer of the hill Rio Apercellado the riuer of the Bankes Bayha de Canoas the bay of Canaos or Scutes Atalaya sentinel or watch Rio dos Fumos y e riuer of Smoke Rio de Pracellet y e riuer of banks Capo de North the North point And there being past that point the great riuer Oregliana in Spanish Orellana runneth forth which 〈◊〉 the greatest riuer in India or in all the world some called this riuer the sweete sea it is at the mouth or entrie fifteene Spanish miles broade there are some that said this riuer and the Riuer of Maragnon which hereafter shall follow haue all one head or spring from Quito by Mullubamba then this riuer runneth vnder the Equinoctial line at the least 1500. spanish miles as Orellian his companions recite that came out of Peru from the south sea cleane ouerwhart the countrey through this riuer with great hunger much trouble and so entred into the north sea not that it runneth straight outright but crooking and compassing in and out which maketh it so long a iourney for that from the head of this riuer to the sea it is but seuen hundred Spanish miles to trauaile right forth ouer the country This Riuer within the land is in some places foure and some fiue miles broade making many Islands The common opinion is that vpon this riuer there dwelleth women that burne off their right breasts that they be not hundred therby to shoote in bowes which they vse in the warres by the ancient writers they were called Amazons and had a great parte of Asia vnder theyr subiection from the riuer Orellana to the Riuer Marannon or Maragnon are 100. miles which in the mouth or entry is 15. miles broad lyeth vnder 3 degrees on the southside of the Equinoctial line in it also are many Island thereabouts likewise there groweth good Frankensence which is esteemed better then that of Arabia there also were founde certain Emeralds and tokens of gold with other riches They make wine of diuers kinds of fruit specially of great dates in quantity as big as spanish Quinces which is verie good may be kept the men weare iewels at their eares and thrée or foure rings through their lips which they likewise sâ—t as a beautifying vnto them they sleep in beds stretched abroad and made fast to trees a good height from the ground without any couerlets as all the Indians from Nombre de Dios so to the straights of Magellana vse to do There are in this riuer filthy flies which make men lame being bitten or stinged by them vnlesse they doo presently pul out the stings there are many of opinion that this Riuer Mâ—ragnon and the aforesaide Riuer of Orellana doo both spring out of the countrey of Peru but no man knoweth the certaintie thereof From Maranhon to tetra de Humos or Fumous that is the country of Smoke where the line parteth is 100. miles from thence to Angla di S. Lucar are 100. miles and from thence to Cabo de S. Augustin lying vnder 8. degrées and a halfe on the South side of the Equinoctial line are 70. miles the length of the
coast from the riuer of Maragnon to Cabo de S. Augustin is as followeth first an Island called Isla de S. Sebastian Acencâ—o Ascension P. de Pracell the hauen of Bankes P. de Corrientes the hauen of the Streame Rio de Ilâ—ieo the riuer of y e Islands Costa Branca the white coast Rio de Coroa the riuer of the Crowne Cabo del este the Easter coast Rio des Lixos the riuer of filth Rio dos Reciffes the riuer of cliffes Rio S. Miguel the riuer of saint Michael Bahya dos â—ortugos the Riuer of Torteeux Grand Bahya the great Bay Cabo de S. Roque the point of S. Roche Cabo de S. Raphael the poynt of S. Raphael Baya de Traicam the Bay of Treason Paraiba os Petiguares Pernambuco the Cape of S. Augustin was discouered in An. 1500. by Vincentio Ianes Pinzon in the first month of the yeare Brasilia NOw followeth the East prouince of America or of Peruana commonly called Brasil the which was most discouered by the Portingales and by them subdued and brought vnder subiection they had therein from North to south 40. miles and from East to West 160. miles which stretching along by the coast is more then 700. miles This country hath the name of Brasilia by reason of the great aboundance of red brasil wood which from thence is brought into these countryes in this countrey are manie prouinces and sundrie people some subiect to the Portingales some to the Frenchmen as Margaâ—atan Tabaâ—arren Ouetaâ—aten Tououpiâ—ambaultiem and Morpions all cruel Indians and most of them Canibals whereof in the description of the coast we make mention not far from the Cape S. Augustin lyeth Pernambuco a place where the Portingales haue great traffike for sugar and Brasil wood This cape lyeth vnder eight degrees and a halfe on the south side of the Equinoctiall line and was discouered by Vincente Ianes Pinzon in the yeare of our Lord 1500. in the moneth of Ianuary and is the neerest place to Affrica or Spain of al the country of America for y t it is accounted but 500. miles from this pointe to Cabo Verde in Affrica the common reckoning of the sea Cards yet some esteeme it to be lesse From this cape to Baia de todos Sanctos lying vnder 13. degrees are 100. miles between the which two places I let passe S. Alexio S. Miguel Rio de Aguada that is the riuer of watering Rio di Francisco Rio de cana Fistola because in that place there groweth much Cassia such as is in Egypt Rio Real the kings riuer Rio de Tapuan A. Pouoacam the village or commom assemblie c. after the which followeth the Baya de todos Sanctos From this bay to the Cape dos Abrollios or dos Baixos that is the Cape of the droughts which lieth vnder 18. degrees are 100. miles and between them lieth these places Rio de S. Giano that is the riuer of S. Iulian os Ilhos the Islands Rio de S. Antonio Rio de S. Crus P. Seguro the sure hauen Rio de Brasil Rio de Caruelas c. Margaiates MArgaiates are certaine people mingled with the Portingales are Canibals the country wherin they dwel is gran both in winter and summer as it is with vs in May and Iune both men and women go naked as they come out of their mothers wombes painting themselues with blacke strikes like the Tartarians The men shaue themselues like Friers they make holes in their nether lippes wherein they weare certaine greene polished Iasper stones wherewith they shutte and open the holes which stones they weare for a great ornament which notwithstanding being taken out of the holes maketh them shew most vgly as it they had two mouthes one ouer the other the women lette their haires grow long like our women and bore not their lippes but make holes in theyr eares wherein they hang certaine white bones which hang as low as their shoulders This countrey yeeldeth much Brasill wood from the Cape dos Baixos to Cape Frio which lyeth like an Island are an hundred miles betweene these two places lye many riuers and hauens specially these P. del Agnado Rio Dulce Reâ—os Magos Spirito Sancto where the Portingales haue a Castle which the Margarites or Barbarians call Moab from Moab you come to Tapenury where there lieth certaine Islands friends vnto the Frenchmen from thence you come to Paraiba people that dwell in cottages made like ouens From thence passing along the coast you come to certaine running sandes whereabouts also are certaine cliffes that iutte into the sea whereunto the sailors are to take great regard Right against those shalowes or flattes there lyeth an euen or flat land about twentie miles great inhabited by the Ouetacaters most cruel Barbarians Ouetacates THis people make warres not onely against their neighbours but also one against the other as likewise agaâ—nst al strangers They suffer no man to deale or traffike with them and being hardly besette by the enemies although neuer ouercome they can runne so fast away that they seeme in a manner to surpasse the wild Hart as it is seene by their hunting of wild beasts They go naked like other Brasilians and let their haire grow long downe to the middle of their bodies coÌ„trary to al other Brasilians yet they cut it away on the fore part of their heades and behinde in their neckes as the rest doo These cruel Canibals dwel in a smal but an inuincible countrey they eate raw flesh like dogs and wolues they haue a seueral speech different from their neighbours and because of their cruelty they haue but little of our wares brought vnto them and that they haue they get it in exchange for certaine gréene feathers This exchange is done one standing distant from the other at the least an hundred paces shewing each other their wares without speaking one word and each of them laying their wares in a certaine place appointed they take it away giuing no longer credite one to the other then for the time that they haue exchanged their wares after that beeing returned to their places they to then best to rob each other of his marchandise wherein the Ouetacaters running faster then the other and faster then hounds do oftentimes win the prise Being past this countrey of the Ouetacaters you come to another prouince called Maq-He which is likewise inhabited by cruel Barbarians which neuerthelesse cannot sleepe nor rest in peace for their bad neighbours the Ouetacaterâ— Vpon this coast lyeth a great high sienie rocke made like a tower whereon when the sun shineth it glisters like Sinaragâ—uâ— whereby many haue thought it to be a recke of Sinaragdus stones and therefore by the Frenchmen and Spaniards it is called Mâ—nsis that is Sinaragduâ— It is not possible neither by ship nor on foote to get vnto that reck because of the cliffes wherewith it is compassed and being by it there is no wayes or meanes to get vpon it About this country lyeth three
age of foure or fiue yeares old which being fat of body with white bones in theyr lips their haire shorne and their bodyes painted runne playing in great numbers about the countrey leaping and dauncing most wonderfull and verie pleasant to behold lastly it is to be noted that many are of opinion that the nakednesse of their women should be an occasion to prouoke them vnto lust which notwithstanding is found contrary for that by reason of their vnseemly nakednesse the men rather haue a loathing then a lust and to the contrarie the great and costly apparrell as gownes and peticoates counterfeit haire the sumptuous dressing of the head the chaines and bracelets of gold which our women vse do more prouoke and intice men vnto lust then simple nakednes although it is against the ordinance of God and therfore not to be commended as not beeing conuenient but as therein they goe beyonde the limits of Gods worde our women also doo passe the boundes of godly matrones and sinne no lesse then they in such he athenish customes Of the meate and drinke of the Brasilians THe Brasilians haue twoo sorts of rootes called Aypi and Maniot which béeing planted in three or foure Moneths become a foote and a halfe long and as bigge as a mans thigh which beeing taken out of the earth are by the women dryed by the fire vppon a Boucano and then grated vppon sharpe stones as wee doo Nutmegs whereof proceedeth a certaine white meale and being moyst is of taste like our newe starch which to prepare they haue great earthen Pots wherein they seethe it stirring it continually vntill it bee as thicke as pappe yet they make twoo kindes of meale one sodden till it bee harde which they call Ouyentan that is hard meale which because it will continue long is carried with them into the warres the other is lesse sodden and somewhat softer called Ouypou that is soft meale which tasteth like white bread bran specially when it is eaten fresh and although both these kindes of meale beeing fresh are of a verie good taste and strong meate yet are they not fit to make bread they may well knead it as wée doo wheats or rie and it will bee verie white but being baked it wil on the out side burne and become drie and inwardly continue meals as it was at the first with the broth of fat flesh They make good pappe thereof verie pleasant of taste seeming like sodden ryce by them called Mingant with their hands they presse certaine iuice out of this roote which is as white as milke which being putte in earthen pots and set in the sunne it runneth together like curds which they put into earthen dishes frie them as we do egs The roote Aypi is much vsed to be rosted and eaten as being soft and tasteth like chesnuts the other must be made into meale and sodden otherwise it is dangerous to be eaten both the steeles of the rootes are not much vnlike each other being as great as a small iuniper tree and leaues like Poenie the strangenesse of these rootes consisteth in the great numbers for that the branches that are as brickle as the stalkes of hemp beeing broke into diuers peeces and so thrust déepe into the earth without any other vsage within three or foure months after do bring forth great quantities of those rootes they haue likewise much Indian wheate by theÌ„ called Anati and by others Maiz whereof they make meale which they bake and eat Touching their drinke which they make of those two rootes and also of Maiz it is made in this sort by their women being of opinion that if it should wee done by men that it would haue no taste They cut the rootes in smal peeces as we do turnops which they seeth in yellow pots vntil they be soft which done they set them from the fire and then set themselues round about the pots chawing the sodden rootes which they throw into another pot made ready for the purpose and set vpon the fire wherein they are sodden once againe and continually stirred vntil they thinke them to be inough which done they are poured into other fattes made of reedes not being clarifyed and a third time sodden and skimmed they couer the reedes and keepe it to drinke as their maner is and as hereafter I will shew you in the same manner the women make a drinke of Maiz or Indian wheate which they call Câ—ou-in thicke and troubled in a manner tasteth like milke and because this Maiz and rootes are there in great aboundance they make as much drinke as they wil which is by them likewise done kéeping it til they come altogether to drink and wheÌ„ they come to the drunken feasts and that they meane to kil a man and eate him theÌ„ the women make fiers about the vesseles wherby the drink becommeth warme and then it is first drawne and the women filling a goord halfe ful giue it to the men as they are dauncing which they drink at one draught and that so often and so long that they emptie al theyr vessels as Letio himselfe hath seene from whom I gathered this discourse that for the space of three dayes they haue done nothing but drinke and neuer ceased and being so ful that they coulde beare no more yet would they not leaue off but still kéepe companie at those drinkings they are merrie singing leaping dancing and exhorting each other to be valiant in armes and to kill many of their enemies That done they runne one after the other like cranes in their flight leaping vntill al theyr vesselles are emptie at the which feasts especially when they meane to kill and eate a man they are dressed in fine feathers and w t necklaces and bracelets in theyr daunces there are no women coupled with them but euery one daunceth by himselfe and these drinkings are obserued wheÌ„ those of one village meete together and neighbours drinke one with the other sitting in theyr hanging beds but with more good fellowship wherewith there are twoo things to be considered first that the Brasilians do neuer drinke when they eate as we do nor when they drinke they neuer eate secondly that they eat without word speaking and if they haue any thing to say each vnto other they do it after their meat they vse likewise no certaine houre to eate in but when they are hungrie they fall to their meate as well by night as by day yet they are verie sober in eating washing hands and mouthes both before and after meate which I thinke they doo to take the clamines of the meat off from their fingers Of certain great beasts and Crocadiles in Brasilia FIrst you must vnderstand that in al Brasilia there is not any foure footed beasts like these in our countries they haue great numbers of one kind which they cal Tapirouslou of a midle stature between a cow an asse this beast hath reddish long haire like a cow but hath no
which they vsed both with sailes and oares wherein they are very expert It chaunced on a time that the Peruuians bare certaine Spaniardes vpon one of those driftes and that they vntied the cordes that bound the wood thereof together whereby the Spaniardes were all drowned and the Indians saued themselues vpon the peeces of wood and many without them swamme to land as being very expert therein Their weapons are slings bowes clubbes and billes of siluer and copper also launces and pikes with heades of base golde both the menne and womeÌ„ weare many iewels their drinking cuppes and vesselles being of gold and siluer the Lorde of the Island was much honoured by his subiects and was so ielous that he cut off both the noses and priuy meÌ„bers of his seruaunts that attended on his wiues In this Island Pizarius and the Spaniards were very friendly entertained But the Gouernour perceiuing their great auarice and couetous desire in seeking for gold as also their lechery with the women fell vpon them with great numbers of Indians but in the end not being able to resist the Spaniardes he was forced to flie and keepe himselfe in the wooddes which victory was after by Pizarius most cruelly vsed and therewith passed ouer vnto the prouince of â—umbez which is about 12. miles distant but the inhabitants hauing heard of their cruelty vsed among those of Puna fled into a Castle lying somewhat inward from the sea but Pizarius to the contrary sent vnto the Gouernour making as thogh he would be friends with him whervpon the Gouernour came not alone but prepared himselfe very strong to go meete him thinking thereby to ouerthrowe him but the spaniards setting forward towards him in the night time passing ouer the riuer with their men being guided by such as were well acquainted with the way and going through sharp and rough waies they surprised the Peruuians by night as they lay sleeping and so ouercame them and after the ouerthrow entred the town of Tumbez which they robbed and spoiled the rich church taking away the same and in that towne hee was informed of the great riches in Perâ— Touching the Island Puna it is a common opinion both of the Indians Spaniards that in time past there was much golde and siluer hidden within theyr Temple Also the inhabitants at this present liuing do affirme that their forefathers were very religious and much addicted to soothsayings and other abuses very couetous and aboue all other things they vsed the accursed sin of Sâ—dome lying with their own sisters committing many other greeuous sinnes Into this Island fled brother Vincentius de Vaile viridi a Friar that was the chiefe cause of the warres against the Peruuians and after that first Bishop of Peru with two and fortie Spaniardes seeking to shunne the wrath of Didaci Almagâ—â— and hauing hidden himselfe in the night time the Ilanders with clubbes slew both him and his companye where hee receiued a very iust rewarde for his good workes In Puna and in the countries of Guaiaquil and Porto Veâ—o groweth the roote with vs called Zarzapeâ—â—â—a which is vsed against the por and other diseases In that Island they bruise it betweene two peeces of wood so presse out the iuyce which done they mixe it with warme water and giue it to the patient whereupon they sweate as much as possible they may which drincke they vse for certaine dayes eating onely a little bisket with a rosted henne in our country we vse to cut the roote in small peeces and seethe it causing the sicke person to drinke it certain dayes by this Island there lieth another but somwhat further into the sea called S Clara not that it is at this present neither was in time past inhabited as hauing neither woodde nor fresh water but onely because the predecessors of the Islanders of Puna vsed therein to bury their forefathers there offered their sacrifices y e place wherin they buried their dead was very high with whome they buried greate treasures of golde siluer other iewels as offered and layde vp for the vse and behoofe of their Gods which at the enterance of the Spaniards they caused to bee hidden no man knowing where it is become This riuer of Tumbez is greatly inhabited and in time past was much more populous by it there stoode a verie strong and beautifull Castle built by the Iugas or kings of Casco who ruled ouer all the countrey of Peru and therein kept a great treasor where there was a temple of the sunne and a couent of Maâ—aconas which is as much to say as cheefe or principall women and maides that were consecrated and appoynted for the seruice of the Temple which liued almost after the manner and custome of the Vastale virgins in Rome and were therein maintained but because these women with their seruices and works are spoken of hereafter I will for this present leaue them Touching the building of this castle it was long since destroyed yet not so wholly but that men may yet perceiue the greatnes and magnificence thereof The mouth of the Riuer Tumbez lyeth vnder foure degrees on the south side in the firme land Right ouer against Pana there are people that haue fiue or sixe of their foreteeth in the vpper gumme pulled forth some say they do it of pride and think it a beautie others say that they had their teeth pulled out as a punishment for certaine iniurie they hadde in times past doone and committed against the kings or Iugan of Pâ—ru and others say they offer theÌ„ vnto their Idols From the riuer Tumbez the coast runneth southwest to Cabo Blanco or the white Cape being distant full 11. miles and lyeth vnder three degrees and from whence it runneth west to the Island de Lobos or of â—olues betweene Cabo Blanco and the Isle de Lobos lyeth a poynt called Depaâ—na and in our Carde Pariana which reacheth almost as farre into the sea as Cabo Blanco from this pointe the coast reacheth againe southwest til you come to Parta betweene Cabo Blanco and Parta lyeth the towne of S. Michael which was the first town that the Spaniards built within Peru called Noua Castillia and was begun by Pâ—zâ—rius in the yeare of our Lord 1531. wherein also was the first Christian Church although at this time of small importance and so I wil leaue to speake thereof The whole coast from Tumbez is without hils or daies and where there are any dales they are bare only full of sand and stones and but fewe riuers issue from the coast the hauen of Pâ— lyeth beyond the Cape somwhat more then sixe miles and is a good hauen wherein they rig their ships newe tarre them being the principall staple of all Peru and of al the ships that sayle for those parts This hauen of Parta lyeth vnder fiue degrees from the Island of Wolues aforesaid thither you run east and by west which are distant three Spanish miles or
many riuers by bridges whereabouts are greate houses and strange things to be seene and to conclude at this present the Spaniards by them maintaine their cattaile The description of Quito AMong the towns that lie in the hills of Peru and at this time inhabited by the Spaniards Quito is one of the chiefest it lyeth in the valley Annaquito about fiue miles beyonde the south side of the Equinoctial line in time past it was a very faire rich and pleasant towne specially in the yeares of our Lorde 1544. and 1545. then it florished because the gold mines which euerie man regardeth were first found out but by the warres that Pizarro made it is almost destroyed the earth thereabouts seemeth to be vnfruitful yet it is found contrary for in it are many catell as also al other prouision of corne fruit and foule the situation of the countrie is very holesome and pleasant not much vnlike Spaine both for hearbes and seasons of the yeere for that summer beginneth there in the moneths of March and Aprill and continueth til halfe Nouember although there is much cold yet they haue no lesse seede then in Spaine there is likewise much spanish fruite those people are coÌ„monly friendlyer and ciuiler then those of Pasto and of a meane stature and go apparrelled at this time like other Peruuians About Quito there vsed to be great numbers of sheepe y t were not much vnlike camelles but not so great only in forme fit both to carry men and other burdens but not aboue three or foure miles a day and being wearie they lie downe so that they can hardly be forced to rise again there are likewise many hogs and hennes that are bred of our countrie hens great abundance of connies very plesant of taste and no lesse quantity of goates partridges pidgions turtle doues and such like foule among other things which are by the Peruuians laid vp for prouisioÌ„ besides maiz one is Papas which is rounde like a turnup which being sodden or rosted are altogether like chesnuttes another is a kinde of fruit called Quinua y e truncke of the tree or sprig being as high as a man with leaues like beetes whereon grow certaine seeds some red some white wherof they make their drinke and eate it likewise as wee do rice the people are very skilful in tilling the land but not after our manner for there the women do it the men spinne weaue make clothes and looke to their armes From Quito you come to another town caled FraÌ„cisco del quito it lieth on y e north side in the lowest prouince of Peru this town is much colder then warme and hath but few fields about it lieing in a smal valley like a pit al compassed with hills from S. Francisco you go to y e pallaces of Tomebamba being about 30 miles distant and from thence to Panzaleo the inhabitants of this countrie differ something from their neighbours as touching the binding of their heades where by the Indians of all places are knowne they had likewise another speech differing from their neighbours yet al of theÌ„ learned the Cuscan speech which if the fathers did not teach their childreÌ„ they were punished the men weare long haire tied vp with a hairelace they go in shirts without hands or sleeues and close all about them onely where they must put forth their heads and armes ouer the which they weare long wollen mantles and some of cotten the Lords wear such as be verie fine and painted of diuerse coulours their shooes were made of leaues the women goe in long gownes couering all their bodies tyed about them with a wollen bande going many times about their bodies and therewith make themselues a long body ouer the which they weare a fine wollen gowne pinned about their neckes with certaine golden and siluer pinnes which they call Topos hauing great flat heads and very sharp pointes about their heads they tie a faire fillet or headband by them called Ninâ—iâ— to conclude the manner of their apparrel and also that of Cusco is the fairest and best in al America They are verie careful to combe their haire which they weare long they are white of face of good complection and manners wherein they differ much from the women of the plaine country two miles from Pancalco lyeth Mulahallo in times past also verie populous but at this present most consumed on the right side of this villag lyeth a hill of brimstone which wheÌ„ it bursteth out it casts forth many great stones with feareful sights a little further lyeth I'acunga in time past not lesse then Quito as well for houses as other things as by the ruines may yet bee seene From Tacunga you come to Muliambato and from thence to the riuer Ambato and two miles further to Mocia and froÌ„ thence to Rio Bamba lying in the Prouince of Puruaes where there are goodly fields and good hearbes and flowers altogether like Spaine from Rio Bamba you come to Caiambi and then to Tumbâ—z or Teocallas and Ticiquiambi and from thence to Thomebamba in the Prouince of Canares there were likewise great houses of ammunition as also throughout the whole countrey at euery eight ten or twelue miles wherein was al things that belonged to the wars and thereabouts likewise were certaine of the Kings garrisons and captaines hauing commandement of the countries thereby to hold the countrey in peace and to punish such as rebelled though they were their owne sons Thomebamba lay in a plaine countrey where twoo riuers met together and ranne into the sea being nine miles compasse in a colde place where notwithstanding were many wilde beastes as Goates Conies c. there likewise was a Temple of the Sunne made of browne greene and blacke stones like Iasper stones The gates of the Kings Pallace were brauely guilded wherein were set certaine Emeraulds platted in golde From Thomebamba you goe to Bracamoros in our Carde Boamoâ—aces founde out and discouered by Iohn Porzel and Captaine Vergara who therein hadde made two or three fortes thereby to ouerrunne and subdue the places lying about it The Prouince of Bracamoros is about sixtie miles from Quito trauailing along the hill about fiue and fortie miles further lyeth the Prouince of Chichapoyas or Cachapoâ—as wherein the Spaniardes haue a towne called Frontiera on Leuanto where the countrey is verie fruitfull of all kinde of Spices and of rich Golde mynes Leuanto by reason of the scituation of the place is verie strong and well kept as being almost compassed about with a deepe vallie wherein for the most part there runneth a certaine riuer whereby the towne of Frontier builded vppon Leuanto is not easie to bee woonne if the bridges be once broken downe This prouince was built with houses and peopled with inhabitants of the Spanish nation by Alonzo de Aluarado in the yeare of our Lord 1536. Therin are faire and white women fairer then in any other parte of Peru also very gracious and