taken Prisoner out of vexation and exceeding grief he cried Blood Succeeding him after his Death rais'd the Family Aocaillipanaca and was Succeeded by his eldest Son the wealthy Viracocha Inga Viracocha Inga his great Riches of whom when the Spaniards conquer'd Peru went a Report that great Riches lay buried in the Earth with him wherefore Gonzalus Pizarrus tortu'd the Natives after an inhumane manner to know of them where the Grave of the said Inga was at last obtaining his Desire he digg'd for the Body which he found so well Embalm'd that it seem'd to live but no Gold with it wherefore Pizarrus deceiv'd in his expectation burnt the Corps the Ashes whereof the Indians gathering in Urns worshipp'd though when he liv'd the Vulgar were much incens'd at him for taking upon him the Name of Viracocha who was their supream God and Creator of all things but he pacifi'd them saying That Viracocha appearing to him in a Dream had commanded him to take that Name upon him Yupangui's Policy to gain an Opinion amongst the People The fourth Inga call'd Pachacuto Yupangui succeeded in the Throne after the Death of his eldest Brother who was slain in a Field-Battel against the Changas inhabiting the Valley Andaguailas where the Peruan Army was utterly defeated few of them onely escaping by flight among whom was Yupangui who perswaded the rest to a subtile Design by alledging That the Almighty Creator angry at their Destruction had reveal'd many Secrets to him viz. That the Creator in Heaven was call'd Viracocha Pachayachachie That he resented it very ill That whereas he formerly made Heaven Sun Moon Stars and Men none worshipp'd him for it but in stead of him they reverenc'd the Sun Thunder and the Earth who had their Beings from him That he would shew his Power against the victorious Changas by an unexpected Assistance of an invisible Army This being believ'd of every one stirr'd up the Peruans far and near insomuch that in a short time a vast Army being rais'd presented themselves to Yupangui who made good use thereof and also told them that Viracocha had decreed in Heaven that he Yupangui should be his Vicegerent on Earth which the Army believing set the Peruan Crown which they had taken from his Father on his Head Thus promoted he march'd against the Changas whom in a bloody Battel he conquer'd and brought them all under his Obedience Moreover he made his Soldiers believe that they were not the Conquerors but invisible Men whom Viracocha had sent and who could be seen by none but himself and that after the Battel they were turn'd into Stones which they must seek for Whereupon they gathering a great number of Stones on the Mountains Gross Superstition Yupangui call'd them Pururancas and order'd that they should be worshipp'd and carried with them into the Field whensoe're they fought another Battel hoping thereby to stir up his Soldiers to be couragious who firmly believ'd that with the visible Stones walk'd invisible Heroes that would certainly assist them This Imagination wrought so much that Yupangui's Army assur'd of Victory with the help of the Stones went on undauntedly on all Designs insomuch that being fear'd by all the adjacent People he forc'd them all to submission This Yupangui rais'd the Family Yuaupococa and plac'd a great Golden Image call'd Indyllapa on a Golden Chariot which since was religiously worshipp'd and afterwards carried to Caxamalca for a Ransom of the Peruvian King Attabaliba whom the Spanish General Pizarrus kept Prisoner and at last Strangled The Councellor Polus opening Yupangui's Grave found the Body Embalm'd and no way defaced but the Eyes cover'd with thin Golden Plates and on his Head appear'd the Scar of a Stone which had been thrown at him and though the Body had lain eighty years in the Grave yet it seem'd rather living than dead being onely a little grey This Corps as also several other Inga's the Marquess Camette brought from Cusco to Lima so to prevent the Peruvians worshipping of them Yupangui after his Decease was succeeded by Sopa Inga and he by his Son of the same Name who rais'd the Family Ayoac Aillo The last for nothing worthy of memory was done by either of them was succeeded by Guaynacava The Greatness and Riches of Guayacava a wealthy and valiant young Man who was no sooner setled on the Throne but he manag'd all things with great prudence maintain'd War with several People and conquer'd the Kingdom of Quito four hundred Leagues beyond Cusco whither after his Death his Body was carried and buried in the famous Temple of the Sun but his Entrails were buried in Quito not without many bloody Offerings thousands of his Servants Sacrificing themselves at his Grave willingly that so they might serve their Prince in the other World The invaluable Treasures which he left behind him were carefully hid by the Peruvians till the Spaniards conquer'd that Countrey The pav'd Ways magnificent Buildings and strong Castles testifie as yet the Power of this Inga wherefore in his life-time he was honor'd as a God His Mother Mamaoclo liv'd to see above three hundred of her Children's Children all Extracted from her Son Guaynacava War between Huascar and his Brother Attabaliba The chief of the Family Tanebamba were Huascar and Attabaliba Sons to Guaynacava both by the Coya or lawful Queen however some have deliver'd to the contrary who falling at variance betwixt themselves resolv'd to decide the Quarrel by a Field-Battel in which Attabaliba being the youngest was Conqueror This Civil War was at the heighth when the Spaniards invaded Peru which they could never have conquer'd had not the Realm been so divided During Attabaliba's Imprisonment by Pizarrus his two Generals Quizaniz and Chilicuchima took the Inga Huascar formerly call'd Tito Cusi Gualpa Attabaliba's Brother in Cusco Huascar burnt alive and carrying him to the Valley Sacfahuana burnt him alive It is set down as remarkable that Huascar after his being vanquish'd made great Offerings to Viracocha thereby to gain his assistance in his extremity against Attabaliba when he was inform'd that a strange People which came from a remote Place over the Seas had defeated Attabaliba's Army and taken him Prisoner From which News Huascar taking courage call'd the Spaniards Viracochas and judg'd that they were come from Heaven to his Delivery and the more because his Brother had spilt so much Blood already for Attabaliba had not onely slain the Prince Atoco which led Huascar's Army with three thousand two hundred Men and drank out of Atoco's Skull tipt with Gold but had also pluck'd out the Harts of above a thousand Children which the Cannrites sent with Palm-Boughs to him to desire Peace Mango Inga Settles in the Mountain Vilcabamba After Attabaliba's and Huascar's Decease Mango Inga their Brother drove all the Spaniards out of Cusco whither they not long after coming with new Forces necessitated Mango not without the loss of many Men to take his
all places to pay their Devotions because they say the Sun and Moon came out of the said Cave to lighten the World Their absurd Opinion of the Deceased Much after the same absurd rate is their Opinion of the Deceased for they suppose that they range through Woods and Forrests in the Night eat of a Fruit call'd Guannaba and steal to the Embraces of Women in Moon-shiny Nights A Traveller say they if he be frighted at the appearance of a deceased Person great inconveniences will certainly attend him but if he goes stoutly towards it then the Goblin vanishes These Delusions are made great Mysteries amongst them and contain'd in Songs which their Priests Boiti Sing to a kind of Tabor made of a piece of hollow Wood pretending that they have familiar Conversation with the Zemes concerning future things Their Ceremonies about their Sick Their Ceremonies about their sick especially if Persons of Quality are likewise very remarkably odd and conceited First they chew a strong kind of Herb call'd Cohobba with which having sufficiently intoxicated their Brains they foam at the Mouth and run with a Stone and a piece of Flesh in their Mouths to the sick Person whose Family they drive all out of Doors except one or two whose presence the Patient requires then the Boiti walks four times about the sick Person 's Bed making strange Gestures pinching his Lips and Nose blowing upon his Forehead Throat and Temples and sucking several parts of his Body alledging that thereby he draws the Distemper out of the Veins after that he chafes and rubs his Shoulders Thighs and Legs and ties his Hands and Feet together then running to the Door proclaims That the Sick in a short time shall be restor'd to his former Health which said he returns with his Arms stretch'd out towards the sick Person takes the piece of Flesh out of his Mouth which he gives him backwards saying You shall rise and go forth in Health for I have taken away your Sickness But if he judges the Distemper not curable he makes the Sick believe that Zemes is displeas'd with him because he did not build a House for him or consecrate a Garden to him or in some respect or other did not worship him as he ought to have done When the Soul departs out of the Body they conjure the Body with many Adjurations to reveal whether it died according to God's decree or through neglect of the Boiti as not having sanctifi'd himself enough by Fasting when he went first to the Sick or not prescrib'd sufficient Medicines wherefore if as they say the Devil answers them from the Mouth of the Deceased that the Boiti did not perform his due Office then the nearest Friends revenge themselves on the Boiti but if otherwise then they are highly esteem'd amongst them The Women taking the Stones which the Boiti kept in his Mouth wrap them up in a fine Cloth as a holy Relique supposing that they will much facilitate their Child-birth Their manner of Consulting with their Zemes. The Casiques desirous to know future Events of War or whether the approaching Years will be fruitful go into a Chappel consecrated to the Zemes and snuff the intoxicating Herb Cohobba up their Nostrils whereupon they break out into loud Exclamations and some kind of strange extravagant Actions till the power of the Cohobba begins to decay and the Frenzie cease then coming again to their Senses they bow their Heads and lay their Elbows on their Knees in which posture they sit for a considerable time then lifting up their Eyes they yawn as if they they came from sleep then they mutter to themselves whilest their Retinue which stand about them for no common Person is suffer'd to be there thank them with a loud Voice for the pains they have been at in discoursing with the Zemes then the Casiques begin to declare what hath been reveal'd to them viz. whether they shall be fortunate in the Wars or not whether it will be a fruitful or unfruitful healthy or sickly Year Moreover Gossipping at the Birth of the Casique's Children the neighboring Governors visit the Women in Child-bed and every one gives the Child a peculiar Name from whence it happens that one Man hath oftentimes forty Names and is highly incens'd if any one of them chances to be forgot in any Writing directed to him Manner of Succession Their manner of Succession in Government is not unremarkable for not the eldest Heir-male of the Family but first the King or Casique's Brother if he have any and after his Decease the eldest of the Sisters Inherits the Realm or Seigniorie if the Sisters have no Male-issue then the Brothers Sons Inherit and in case they have no Male-heir then the next of Blood whether Male or Female but if the Prince or Casique dies without Children Nephews or other near Relations the next in Power in the Countrey Inherits and Marries as many Wives as he pleases of which she that he loves best is burn'd alive in her best Apparel with her Husband when he dies and near the Corps stands a Cup of Water and some of the Bread Cazabi There are several Languages in Hispaniola Languages but differing from each other for in the Province Bainoa they have a different both Pronunciation and Dialect from that in Caizimu In the said Province of Caizimu is a very remarkable Rock or vast Stone to be seen at the Foot of a high Mountain and underneath the said Stone is a great Cave into which they go through a large Passage not unlike a Temple Door near which conjoyn many deep Rivers with such a Noise and Foam that they lose both their Sight and Hearing whoever approach the same An Example of the Bainoan Language Of the Language of the Province Bainoa Peter Martyr gives us this Specimen The Wife of a Casique says he went to Prayers in a Chappel which was built by the Spaniards at her Return from whence her Husband desiring to enjoy her she refusing said Teitoca teitoca techeta Cynato guammechina that is to say Be contented Be contented God would be highly incens'd to which the Casique answer'd Gnaibba Cynato machabucha guamechyna that is What care I if God be angry Since the Spaniards had first possession of this Island The taking of St. Domingo by Sir Fran. Drake it hath been twice Invaded by the English the first time under the Conduct of Sir Francis Drake who took the Town of San Domingo staid in it a good while and could if he had pleas'd have totally dispossess'd the Spaniards the second time under Colonel Venables sent thither by Oliver Cromwell during his usurp'd Dominion at which time it might as easily have been taken as at first had not the Business been rashly and indiscreetly manag'd as shall presently be declar'd more at large The first Expedition of Sir Francis Drake hath been already hinted but for the memorableness of that
know not where another Here also is added by St. Jerom Hieron in c. 2. Ephes what an antient Writer saith Great care hath been taken in Computing the Age of this World and if there be another which Commenc'd not with ours as Clemens mentions in his Epistles where are scituate those Seas and Lands that make that second World Or is it a part of that in which Adam was Created Or may it not rather Metaphorically be taken for Worldly Affairs govern'd by the Prince of the Air ruling in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience The Antients opinion of an unknown world But Pliny Cicero and Virgil the best in their kind of Latin Writers concur That there may be a habitable World under our Horizon in the temperate Southern Zone beyond the extream heat and on this side of the Antartick colds But what signifies all this to the Discovery of America which lies not onely under the scorching Heats of the Equinox but under the Frosts and Snows of the Artick and Antartick-Poles In Comment super Obad. v. 19 20 21. And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau and they of the plain the Philistines and they shall possess the fields of Epharim and the fields of Samaria and Benjamin shall possess Gilead And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites even unto Zarepath and the captivity of Jerusalem which is in Sepharad shall possess the Cities of the south And saviors shall come upon mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau and the kingdom shall be the LORDS If America is known in the Scripture Yet less probable is that which Lodowick Leo an Augustine Frier takes out of Obadiah as if that Prophet in the three last Verses of his Prophecy should speak of the Spaniards which should not onely discover and Conquer America but also Convert the Inhabitants to the Christian Faith because those that are in Sepharad should Inherit and Possess the Cities of the South And Saviours shall arise from the Mountains of Zion to judge the Mount and Wealth of Esau But certainly Obadiah meant no other than the Restauration of the Jews from the Captivity of Babylon who after their return should grow more powerful than ever and they led by their Messias obtain the height of all felicity who would send his Evangelists and Apostles to declare Salvation to the utmost Borders of the Earth It is true that the Rabins Expound Sepharad to be Spain and therefore he concludes that Obadiah Prophesi'd of the Spaniard and their Conquests in America so they would prove that America was long known before Christ And lastly It signifies as little what Pineda and Levinus Lemnius drive at That Solomon first finding the use of the Compass Solomon's Fleet sail'd not to Peru. Rigg'd a Navy at Ezion-Geber which from the Red-Sea had no indirect Course to the Straights of Magellan from whence he might Lade his Vessels with the Gold of Peru. In whose Description it shall be manifested that Peru is not Ophir as some without any shew of Reason or Truth would make us believe Solomon did not find the Compass But as concerning King Solomon's finding out the use of the Magnet it is soon said but not easily prov'd for though that Prince exceeded all Man-kind in Wisdom and Learning and was perfect in the Operations and knew the Occultest Secrets of Nature understanding what e're belong'd to Plants from the Cedar of Libanus to Hysop and the meanest Shrub that grows upon the Wall yet it nothing makes out that he knew the Mystery of the Navigable use of the Load-Stone But suppose he did know there is no where any mention of it and if this excellent thing the Compass had been found in Solomon's time how came it afterwards so utterly to be lost Albertus Magnus mistakes when he ascribes the knowledge of the Compass to Aristotle of which he himself makes not the least mention neither Galen Alexander Aphrodisiensis Pliny Lucretius nor any of the Roman Greek Arabian or other Countrey Writers whatsoever Load-stone by whom found Some give the honor thereof to an Indian others to a Shepherd in Mount Ida whose Clouted Shooes being full of Hob-Nails the Iron sticking fast to the Stones on which he stood stopt his motion And although the Antients found but many Secrets of Nature amongst which this of the Load-Stone Attracing Iron as being its proper Food and the three sorts of the Magnet of which some will not draw Steel found by Theamedes a Greek Author and other since well known Properties Yet they never attain'd that knowledge that the Load-Stone would ease Pain Strange operations of the Loadstone and stop the effusion of Blood though the edge piercing the Skin open'd the Vein as Hieronimus Cardanus experienc'd on himself and others De subtilitate l. 7. which he had from Laurentius Guascus a great Chyrurgeon Much less that the Needle of the Compass being touch'd by the Load-Stone on the Northside of the Equinox respects the North but depressing the Artick and raising the Antartick Pole it looks as stedfastly towards the South But far less dreamt they of its several variations Variance of the Compass according to the Coasts that are nearest as when you come from the Island del Cuervo the Point varies more West but Sailing towards the Equinox it varies Eastward by which we may absolutely conclude that without this use of the Load-Stone first found by Flavius Melvius a Neapolitan Genebrad Chron. in the Year 1303. it was altogether impossible to reach America So that Joseph de Acosta mistakes When and by whom the Compass was found who gives the honor of the finding so great a benefit to Navigation to some Mahumetan Sea-men which Vasques de Gama met with near Mosambique who had Sail'd those Seas by the use thereof whereas Gama's Expedition was above a hundred years after Melfius who liv'd in such a juncture of time for Mathematical Learning that few Ages boasted the like For then flourish'd in England and were Contemporaries besides others abroad Richard Wallingford Nicolas de Lynna John Halifax Walter Britte John Duns and John de Lignarijs all eminent in Astronomical Arts belonging to Navigation and doubtless no small helps to Melfius in this his happy Invention Lastly We will relate what hath been held as a seeming Testimony that America was known to the Europeans before the Birth of our Saviour by an antique Meddal of the Emperor Augustus digg'd out of the Ground in Peru and sent to his Holiness at Rome which may well be reckon'd with the like Cheat contriv'd by Hermicus Cajadus Anno 1505. near Syntra a Town in Portugal where three Marbles Ingraven with antient Characters concerning a Prophecy of discovering the East-Indies by the Portuguese in the Reign of King Emanuel were privately bury'd under Ground and not long after by a pretended accident digg'd out which made
soon after breaking out into Factions amongst themselves Muchumet Subictigenes Imbrael's Son establish'd his Throne on their Ruines and incourag'd by such success Arm'd himself against the Indians Melchior Soiterus de Reb. Turc and made use of the Turks assistance with which he subdu'd the Babylonian Arabians After which the Turks not without great slaughter set the Persian Crown on their Head which immediately totter'd by bloudy Commotions for Tangrolipix being King of Persia clashing with his Brother Cutlumuses made Persia swim in the Blood of a Civil-War till at last Zengis Chan brought from Tartary so great an Army Anno 1200. that none durst stay to make opposition for the Turks forsook Persia after a Conquest of six Ages and made their own way for new Quarters into Carmania Phrygia and Bithynia whence they made such incursions on the Greek Empire that at last they became sole Masters thereof Who cannot but easily judge by this how little opportunity the ten Tribes had to be assembled together from remote Countreys and to go long Journeys through untrack'd ways and full of Enemies to travel to America Mora's opinion concerning the Americans Extract Immanuel de Moraes who had gotten peculiar knowledge of the Americans by his long Conversation with them judgeth that they are not deriv'd from one People but from the Carthaginians and Jews and that at several times and places they Landed in this New World for the Carthaginians Sailing thither found the Soyl so fertile that many forsook their Native Countrey to dwell there Whereupon it was forbidden upon pain of Death to send no more thither left if Carthage should be invaded by a foraign Enemy it should want People for a Home-defence From this occasion it happen'd that those that were already Transported became rude and of a Salvage Disposition and spreading their Families planted the desolate Countreys in a ranging manner without acknowledging any Supreme Head or Governor Thus being scatter'd up and down every one invented to himself a new Language which should neither agree with the Carthaginians or any other But this Opinion is before at large contradicted Customs and Constitutions of the Brasilians are several Moreover Moraes endeavors to shew that the Brasilians are of a Hebrew Extract because that according to the example or the Jews they might not Marry but in their own Tribes they also call their Unkles Fathers and their Aunts Mothers both mourn for the Dead a Moneth together and wear long Garments down to their Ankles But these Arguments seem to us of small consequence for indeed the Brasilians differ in their Marriages from the Jews for they not onely Marry in their own Tribes but frequently commix with their Sisters and Daughters or other their nearest Relations Moreover the Jews call'd them Fathers from whose Loyns they sprang many Ages before as well as their Unkles which the Americans do not The Mourning for the Dead hath been an old Custom and is not observ'd by many People but the time of a Moneth was not setled amongst them but was observ'd after a more unusual manner seventy days as in the Fields of Moab for Moses and elsewhere for the Patriarch Jacob. Lastly all people know that the Romans and Persians girt themselves about with long Clothes Besides the Jews were strictly bound to observe Circumcision without which they were not accounted Jews which the Brasilians use not as neither their Language or Letters How is it possible that in America they should at once have forgotten their Extract Laws Circumcision Language and other Ceremonies when the rest of them observ'd nothing more strictly in all parts of the Earth Grotius is of opinion that the Americans belongâ—d to Norway The Learned Hugo Grotius in his Enquiry after the original of the Americans brings them with many Circumstances to belong to Panama situate opposite to the Northern Parts of Norway because something of their Languages agrees and the Way thither easie and nearest to be found for first they travell'd from Norway to Ysland over which the Norwegians Rul'd above a thousand years since so from Ysland through Friezland to Groenland and from thence to Estotiland being a part of the Main Continent of America From Friezland some Fishers went thither as he says two Centuries before the Spaniards touch'd that Shore This Opinion is largely contradicted which John de Laet contradicts And indeed what Reasons can be given Why the Americans of the Straights between Panama and Nombre de Dios lying Northerly should have another original than those that live to the South seeing the same Straights are neither divided by Mountains nor Rivers and the Spaniards found no alteration in the Customs and Languages betwixt them that liv'd above or below these Straights And who will believe that Norway which was but indifferently peopled could afford such numerous Colonies as could plant the Northern America which far exceeds the South and chiefly when the great Islands that lie near the East and West are added to it Moreover it is certain if the Yslander Angrim Jonas is to be credited that some Families fled out of Norway from their enraged King to Ysland in the Year 874. which at that time was but meanly inhabited Isaac Pontanus de Reb. Danicis Forty years before Lewis the Just put the Yslanders under the protection of Pope Gregory the fourth who gave the Government of the Ysland Church to Ansgar Archbishop of Hamburgh But how comes it that there is not the least spark of Christianity found amongst the Northern Americans if they are deriv'd from the Ysland Christians and why did the Yslanders remove to colder Countreys than Groenland and Friezland or their own native Soil and for the most part not inhabited Concerning Groenland and Friezland it is known by our English Navigators that they are joyn'd together and both to the Northern America but not without vast Bays and Inlets which betwixt Groenland and America are obstructed with floating Castles of Ice so that the Passage is very dangerous And full as troublesom if not altogether impossible would the Journey be by Land because the Earth lies so thick cover'd with Ice and Snow especially the Valleys that no Traveller is able to get through The voyage of two Zeno's Moreover that which Grotius says farther of the Fishers which first discover'd Estotiland is grounded on the Relation of the Venetian Knights Nicholas and Marcus Zeno two Brothers Anno 1380. Nicholas Zeno suffer'd Shipwrack on the Friezland Coast Marcus inform'd thereof steer'd his Course thither fourteen years they spent before they came to Estotiland at last they return'd again to Friezland where Nicholas died But Marcus returning home publish'd his Journal Relatio Marc. Zenonis wherein he relates That Estotiland is above a thousand Leagues distant from Friezland and was discover'd by Friezland Fisher-men that were driven thither by Storm But he hath set down many things that have little resemblance of truth according to what is
Canada denominated as the Province from the River Hochelai and Hochchelaga giving Name to a Territory about it which Geographers either take no notice of or make some question of the being of such Towns however a late Describer of the West-Indies not mentioning the other two gives this description of the last viz. Hocbchelaga This City saith he said to be the Seat and Residence of a King of this Country whom the Natives at least some of them acknowledge and reverence carrying him sometimes in great pomp upon their Shoulders sitting upon a Carpet of Beasts Skins is situate far within Land at a distance of six or seven Leagues from the River Canada and is a kind of fortifi'd place encompass'd about with a threefold Range of Timber Ramparts one within another of about two Rods high from the Ground with cross Planks or pieces of Timber jutting out on purpose to hinder an Enemy's Scaling or getting up towards the top there is as it were a Scaffold or Gallery fram'd from whence they may throw down Stones of which there is always good store ready or what else to annoy the Assailants It hath one onely Gate for Entrance and that likewise well fortifi'd after their manner There are guess'd to be in it fifty or sixty great Houses built as the maner of the Americans that live in Houses usually is in a square Figure each side being about fifty Foot long or more and sixteen or twenty broad but not many Stories high and in the midst of the Court or void space a place to make their Fire and do other necessary work about it Moreover the Territory round about this Town is both rich in Soil and pleasant in Prospect Besides these three above-mention'd Towns there are several others which are not untaken notice of in the most modern Descriptions and Maps viz. 1. Stadac or Stadacone somewhat Westward of a small Isle call'd The Isle d' Orleance 2. Quebeque which being made a Colony of the French and the Natives expell'd came to be Entituled St. Croix 3. Tadoussac which lies in that part of the Countrey denominated from the River Saguenay and by some call'd at this day Nouvelle Biscaye a delightful place and full of stately Trees and hath likewise a good and safe Haven capable of receiving twenty Ships 4. Trois Rivieris or three Rivers 5. Monreal 6. Sillery 7. Richelieu besides two strong Castles or Forts Franceroy and St. Lewis the First built by Monsieur Robeval at his Landing here about the Year 1540. the other design'd for a Colony in the Year 1611. by Monsieur Champlany but hinder'd by the Invasion of the Iroquois The smaller Rivers that run out of the Gulph of St. Lawrence and the grand River Canada towards the North on which side chiefly lies this Province are 1. Chichesedec 2. St. Margarite 3. Lesquemin 4. Saquenay before-mention'd 5. Montonne and on the South side the River Mary The principal Tribes of the ancient Natives of this Countrey were on the North side of Canada the Canadans the Betisiamites the Hurons the Algoniquins the Quenongebins the Algoingequins the Attagopantans the Atticameques the Nipisiriniens and on the South side the Etechemins and the chief Heads or Princes of these Tribes were call'd Sagamores Jaques Quartier Complementing their King Agouthanna took up his Quarters a whole Winter at St. Croix a Sandy Promontory overflow'd by the River Canada into which falls the Lake de Champlain grown round about with Chestnut Trees in it breeds the strange Fish call'd Chaousarou generally ten Foot long Strange Fish nam'd Chaousaron with Heads like Sharks and two rows of Teeth-in their Mouths their Skins full of strong Scales which are sufficient Shields against Swords and Lances are great devourers of other Fish and Fowls which they take after this manner viz. they swim amongst Reeds or Canes and lie still with their Mouths open whereat the Birds sitting down upon them are immediately swallow'd The Natives of Nova Francia anoint their bodies with Oil in the Summer they go naked and in the Winter mantle themselves in Furs Their Warlike Accoutrements are Darts and Clubs but chiefly great Shields They are revengeful cruel and fraudulent their Women common to all Men from fifteen to twenty after which Marrying they become very Chaste Their Diet is Indian Corn fresh and salt Fish Venison Buffalo's and Beavers flesh wiping their Fingers when greasie on their Heads or their Dogs backs which wait for the Scraps At that season when the Corn covers the ground to any heighth they eat Cockles Dogs dead Caryon and the Skins wherewith they Clothe themselves When they have eaten their fill they tabering on their Bellies cry Tapoue Mikispoun that is Verily I am satisfi'd They give their Sick a speedy Cure either immediately killing them or inhumanely exposing them to the Woods to be devour'd by ravenous Beasts but if they die suddenly they in howling tone pronounce Ove Ove thereby to chase the Souls of the Deceas'd out of their Huts they stick the bodies on Woodden Prongs cover them with Bark and lay their Clothes and Arms by them all what remains of the Funeral Feasts is burnt whereas at other times what e're is brought on their Table they eat though ready to burst They make the first Proofs of their Valour by undergoing a most prodigious Torment in this manner Strange proof of Valor Two by consent tie their naked Arms together on which they suffer burning Sulphur to be pour'd till the flesh starts from the bone if either of them shrink or pull back his Arm he is accounted by them ever after as an ignominious and base Coward They call God Atahocan and believe that one Messou first drowning the world by a general Deluge restor'd it again after a wonderful manner Wonderful opinion of God viz. Messou hunting with Wolves they scented a Deer which being closely pursu'd leap'd into a neighboring Pool the Wolves following it were drown'd Flood Messou coming thither stood amaz'd at a Bird which inform'd him that the Wolves were pluck'd down and held fast in the bottom by horrible Monsters whereupon he diving the Pool immediately began to swell and at last the whole surface of the Earth to be overflow'd Messou afterwards let a Raven flie to fetch a Clod of Earth but in vain for all the Land lay drown'd in Water at last a Rat diving to the bottom brought a lump of Earth out of which Messou restor'd the World shot Arrows into Trees which became fruitful Branches Here also reside an innumerable many Sorcerers Sorcerers call'd Pillotoa's which sometimes being possess'd with a Frenzy scourge themselves in a terrible manner insomuch that the Blood runs down by their sides These People are held in great esteem for they boast themselves to have their Original from Heaven upon this occasion They boast their Extract from Heaven Their strange Relation concerning it viz. Ataensic a certain great Queen or Goddess residing above
after a miserable manner evacuated their Seed that so they might curb all fleshly Desires and met every Night in a spacious place where sitting down they wounded themselves with Lances in their Legs and Arms so long till the Blood gush'd out of the same which gathering in a Cup they anointed their Temples therewith and dipt the Lances in the same and then hung them up before the Temple in Bundles of Straw Of these were a great number and the more because they never us'd their Lances but once But on these Days which were Consecrated to the Idol Tezcatlipuca every one besides the Priests wore a new Rope made of the Hemp Mangey of a Fathom long and a thick Knot at the end with which they beat themselves so miserably on their Backs as if they intended to have broken them After which the Priests stay'd five days in the Temple in which they us'd the like cruelty eating scarce once in twenty four hours Their Prisoners they us'd after a most horrid manner viz. in their Temples stood a round Stage of Stone to the top of which they ascended by a Square Scaffold supported by twenty eight Pillars behind which appear'd thousands of Mens Heads and amongst them the Prisoners that were to be Offer'd sat stark naked and guarded by several Armed Men three Foot from the Steps which led up to the top of the Scaffold stood a pyramidical Stone by the Indians call'd Quauxi-calli and behind it two round Chappels cover'd on the top like Mitres each had four Holes in a large Gate in which sat a horrid Representation worshipp'd by six Priests call'd Chackalmua whereof one call'd Papas or Topilzin whose Office was to pluck out the Hearts of the Prisoners being in greatest esteem wore a red Mantle about his Body not unlike a long Coat with broad Fringe which trail'd after him upon the Ground and also a Crown of green and yellow Plumes on his Head his Ears and under Lip were likewise adorn'd with Precious Stones The other five appear'd in like manner with their Hands and Faces painted red but having Leathern Fascia's about their Heads and white Coats stitch'd with Black on their Bodies they might easily be distinguish'd from the Topilzin who on a sudden ran down the Stairs to the Prisoners and shew'd each of them an Image saying This is your God made of Bledo Paste Maiz and Honey green Beads for Eyes and Grains of Maiz for Teeth whereupon the Prisoners were led up and laid with their Backs on the sharp Stone Quauxicalli then the five Priests took hold of their Leggs Arms and Head put woodden Collars about the Sufferer's Necks whilst the Topilzin shew'd Reverence to the Idol which done with a sharp Stone he cut open the Breasts of the Prisoners who in a deplorable condition lay on the pyramidical Stone and pulling their Hearts out of their Bodies shew'd the same reeking to the Sun and at last threw them toward the Idol and the dead Bodies down the Stairs where some appointed for that purpose carried the same away but every one taking his own Prisoner and roasting and boyling him serv'd him up to his Friends as a great Dainty This kind of Murdering was not onely us'd amongst the Mexicans but also by all the other neighboring Indians and especially in the City Chulula which as we have said before signifies The Sanctity of all the Gods for in this Town six thousand Children were yearly Offer'd The Citizens hereof us'd to drive a great Trade especially in Cochinele Their Habits were several for Persons of Note wore Cotton Coats about the Edges of which hung Feathers and pieces of Cony-skins the meaner sort went in Nequons or a sort of Linnen Coats made of the hairy Leaves of the Tree Maguey 3. The City Tezuco full of handsom Streets and fair Houses is built near the salt Mexican Lake yet hath no want of fresh Water with which it is supply'd by Gutters from the Mountains under Ground according to Anthony Herrera it twice exceedeth in bigness the famous City Sivill in Spain 4. Quitlavaca by the Spaniards call'd Venezuela because it is like Venice surrounded with Water and divided into several Isles boasted formerly above two thousand Families From the Town a Cawsey of twenty Foot broad and half a League long leads through the Lake to the Main Continent 5. Yztacpalapa a very populous Place and lying part of it in the salt Lake and partly on the Main Land where several fresh-water Pools afford store of Fish two Leagues distant from Mexico to which leads a broad Way in the middle of which stands a Fountain surrounded with high Trees which produces excellent Water 6. Mexicaltzingo situate upon the Lake Laguna a Town consisting of four thousand stately Houses 7. Cayocan in a fruitful Plain containing six thousand being but a League and a half from Yztacpalapa to which the neighboring Village Houcilopucho was not much inferior These three Places before they were subdu'd by the Spaniards boasted many brave Temples and high Towers whose lustre appear'd at a great distance but now being turn'd into Cloysters they are inhabited by Monks and Nuns The Salt made here of Earth though not white and onely fit to make Pickle of is Transported to many Places Towns and pleasant Villages about Mexico About Mexico there are also several Villages the chiefest of which are 1. Mastitlan a Town pleasantly seated upon the top of an huge Mountain in the midst of most delicate Groves and shady Woods and reckon'd to contain no less than thirty thousand Inhabitants in all dwelling either in the City or upon the sides of the Mountain 2. Antepecque this is a Town belonging to the Marquess de Valle who is of the Posterity of Cortez and said to be seated in the most delicious place of all New Spain 3. Acapulco a Town seated upon the South-Sea or Mare del Zur yet belonging to this Province It is a haven-Town and one of the most frequented upon the South-Sea situate upon a large and capacious Bay of about a League broad at the Entrance and affording many convenient Stations and Docks for Shipping At the bottom of the Bay Westward lieth the Town with a strong Castle very opportunely built both for the command and security of the Port well wall'd and fortifi'd with Bulwarks and having a constant Garrison of four hundred Soldiers in it or thereabouts The reason whereof I supposâ— may be chiefly this viz. that from this Port there is the greatest Traffick and Entercourse held betwixt the East and West-Indies together with the Philippine Islands Silver Mynes The Countrey hath many rich Mynes of Silver in it and some of Gold the chief of which are by Herera reported to be these viz. 1. Those of Puchuca fourteen Leagues distant from Mexico 2. Of Tasco 3. Talpuiana 4. Cultepeque 5. Zacualpa 6. Zupanguo and divers others The rest of the Villages are Guatitlan Tenyauca Escapusalco Tacuba and Suchimilco Strange
Enemy by Water whilst himself falling upon them by Land put the Lord of Tlatellulco with his whole Army to flight which was so closely pursu'd that they forc'd their way into the City with them put the Governor to Death and laid the Town in Ashes those which went by Water having had no less success Autzol succeeds him Axayaca after eleven years Reign Deceasing bequeath'd his Crown to Autzol who sought to promote his Election by ingaging with the mighty Province Quaxutatlan whose Inhabitants though but a little before they had been so bold as to demand Tribute of the Mexicans yet terrifi'd at the approach of Autzol's Army fled over an Arm of the Sea where they had been secure had not Autzol invented a floating Isle of Planks by which he got over his whole Army upon which the amaz'd Quaxututlans immediately submitted themselves to the Mexicans who pursuing their Victory extended their Dominions to Guatimala over a Tract of three hundred Leagues Autzol's Generosity and Mrgnificence The new King having now subdu'd all his Enemies and made himself glorious by his Victories was also ambitious to be as much extoll'd for his Generosity and Magnificence to which purpose he distributed all the Wealth which was brought unto him from the neighboring Countreys amongst the Poor and the Nobility to the first he gave Clothes and Provisions to the last Plumes of Feathers and Arms. Moreover he caus'd all mean Houses to be pull'd down and new ones to be built in their places Lastly he consulted how to bring fresh Water into Mexico which was plac'd in a brackish Soil Upon this Design he was so bent that when one of his Sages disswaded him from it alledging That the Water would drown the City he in stead of following his Advice banish'd him his Presence and upon his flying to Cuyaocun caus'd him to be fetch'd from thence and Executed Then prosecuting his Design he cut the Ditch before Cuyaocun by which means great store of fresh Water came flowing into the Lake Laguna which the Priests welcom'd with strange Ceremonies for some perfum'd the Water others Offer'd Quails Blood whilst others play'd on several Musical Instruments with many other Ceremonies which are at large describ'd in the ancient Mexican Chronicles kept in the Vatican Library at Rome But the Prophecy of the Executed Sorcerer was in a manner fulfill'd for the Water overwhelm'd a great part of Mexico and divided the City into Isles But to prevent farther Mischief Autzoll caus'd Banks to be rais'd and Channels digg'd and not long after in the eleventh Year of his Reign he deceas'd After which the Mexican Kingdom tended towards its period as the ensuing Story will declare Amongst the Mexican Nobility Mutexuma a melancholy Man yet very prudent who resided in a stately Apartment near the great Temple Cu that there he might the better converse with Viztlipuztli was elected King which he no sooner heard but fled from hence but being found out he was against his will led to the Grand Assembly and from thence to the holy Hearth where for an Offering he drew Blood out of his Cheeks Ears and Legs and according to an ancient Custom the Council of State boring a Hole in his Nose hung an Emerauld in the same after which the Lord of Tescuco saluted him with a Speech which since it is mention'd by Joseph d' Acosta together with several other Speeches of Congratulation to their Kings which were taught to Schollars to make them expert in their Language it will not be amiss to be annexed here that of many this one may serve for a pattern of the Mexicans Eloquence which is as followeth The Lord of Tescuco his Speech to Muteczuma THe great happiness most noble Muteczuma which is befall'n this Realm by your Election may easily be conjectur'd from the general joy none besides your self being able to undergo an Office in the management whereof so much Prudence is requir'd It is a most certain testimony that God loves Mexico that he hath given its Inhabitants understanding to make such a Choice Who can doubt but that you who have expatiated through the Heavens and convers'd with Viztlipuztli may easily Govern us Mortals on Earth Who can despair but that the Vertue inclos'd within your Breast will extend to the Widows and Orphans Therefore rejoyce O Mexico the Heavens have granted us a Prince without Vice Merciful and not a Violator of the Laws Affable not despising common Conversation And you O King let not this great Preferment occasion any alteration in your so long known Vertues The Crown breeds care for the publick good the troubles thereof must extend over the whole Realm and every one in the Realm Preparationâ— for the Coronation of Muteczuma Muteczuma having heard out the Speech would willingly have answer'd the same but could not utter a word for Tears which gush'd from his Eyes Before he went out to fetch Prisoners for Offerings at his Coronation he first setled his Houshold Affairs And whereas till this time the Kings had been serv'd in their Palaces by ordinary Citizens he took Knights and the chiefest of the Nobility intending thereby to make a distinction between the Nobility and the common People and add more Majesty to the Royal Dignity This done Muteczuma marching against a certain rebellious Province fetch'd a considerable number of People to be Offer'd to Viztupuztli At his Return the Coronation Day was appointed against which thousands of People came to Mexico even their very Enemies of Tlascala Mechoacan and Tepeaca which were never conquer'd by the Mexicans flock'd thither in great numbers All those Countreys which were under Tribute bringing unvaluable Treasures came in vast Multitudes which so throng'd the City that the very tops of the Houses were fill'd with Spectators no King in Mexico ever going to the Throne in such splendor His Grandeur nor was ever any King so much fear'd by his Subjects none of the common People daring to look in his Face neither did he ever set Foot on the Ground but was always carried in a Chair on the Shoulders of his prime Nobility he never wore a Suit of Clothes but once nor ever us'd a Cup or Dish after it was once foul'd he strictly maintain'd the Laws which he had made and often went himself in a Disguise to make a strict enquiry after all Affairs whatsoever by which means the Mexican Power was now arriv'd to the highest top but as other Realms grown top-heavy with good Fortune turn at last topsie-turvy just such a Misfortune befell Mexico but not without several fore-running signs of its destruction The ruine of the Mexican Empire prognosticated for in the City Cholola their God Quezalcoalt inform'd them that a strange People were coming to take possession of the Mexican Dominions and their Soothsayers prognosticated the same for which Muteczuma committed them all to Prison and doubtless had put them all to death had not they escap'd with
there Captain Francis Drake set Sail from Plymouth Anno 1577. and after much hardship getting through the Straights of Magellan arriv'd in the Haven Guatulco having before his coming thither taken as many rich Spanish Ships in the Southern Ocean as he could possibly have wish'd for so that his onely care now needed to have been how to get safe home yet he put on a Resolution not to come short of Ferdinandus Magellanus who Saild about the World Which brave Resolution of Drake's was approv'd of by all his Sea-men whereupon he set Sail along the North of California the fifth of June being gotten into forty two Degrees which was the farthest that Cabrillo went he came on a sudden out of a warm Air into so frigid a Climate that the Sea-men were almost kill'd with Cold and the farther they went the colder it grew wherefore falling down three Degrees more Southerly they got into a convenient Haven where the Natives who liv'd along the Shore brought them Presents which Drake left not unrequited by returning them others that were to them more novel and not unuseful Nature and Habit of the People These People are exceeding hardy for notwithstanding the extraordinary coldness of the Climate the Men go naked but the Women wear Garments of pleited Flags or Rushes which being put about their Middle hang down to their Ancles on their Stomachs hang the ends of a hairy Skin ty'd together which hanging also over their Shoulders cover their hinder Parts They shew great Respect and Obedience to their Husbands Each House is surrounded with an Earthen Wall and all the Corners thereof being close stopp'd and Fires made in the midst of them they are very warm Rushes and Flags strow'd thick on the Ground near the Walls serve them in stead of Beds Drake's Entertainment by the King of the Countrey The rumour of these Strangers arrival spreading all over the Countrey made the Inhabitants far and near desirous to see them the King himself sending Ambassadors to Drake to inform him that he was on the Way coming to see him all which the Agents related at large and desir'd some Presents as a testimony that their King should be welcome which he being assur'd of came with a Retinue of above twelve thousand Men before whom walk'd one of a Gygantick size carrying a costly Scepter on which by three long Chains made of Bones hung a great and a small Crown made of Feathers next follow'd the King himself in a Sute of Cony-Skins then came a great confus'd company of People each of them carrying a Present whereupon Drake putting his Men into good order march'd to meet the King at which the Mace-bearer made a long Preamble and when he had done Danc'd to the Tune of a Song which he Sung himself then the King and his whole Retinue also fell a Singing and Dancing so long till being weary the King went to Drake and humbly desir'd of him that he would accept of the Realm assuring him that all the People should be under his Obedience which said he put the fore-mention'd Crown on his Head and hanging three double Chains about his Neck call'd him Hioh whereupon Drake took possession of the Countrey in Queen Elizabeths Name The King staying alone with Drake his Retinue went amongst the English every one looking very earnestly upon them and to those whom they lik'd best being the youngest they falling down and crying proffer'd Offerings as to Gods and held their Cheeks to draw Blood out of them which the English refusing they desisted but shew'd them great Wounds and desir'd some Plaisters of them which they suppli'd them with The English going up into the Countrey found the same well grown with Woods which abounded with Coneys whose Heads differ'd little from the European but having Feet like Moles long Tails like Rats and in their Sides a Bag wherein when they had fill'd their Bellies they put the remainder They also saw numerous Herds of Deer with whose Flesh having been courteously Entertain'd in several Villages they return'd to the Fleet. Drake just before he weighed Anchor caus'd a Pillar to be set in the Ground with a Silver Plate on the same A Monument erected by Drake before his departure with an Inscription mentioning the Day of his Arrival Name and Arms of Queen Elizabeth and free delivering of that Realm to him by the Indians he also nail'd a Sixpence with the Queens Effigies on the Plate under which he caus'd his own Name to be Engraven THE ISLANDS OF Northern America CHAP. XI Terra Nova or New-found Land with the Island of Assumption HAving treated at large of all the several Regions and Provinces of the North part of the Continent of America we come now to those Islands that lie within the same Degrees of Northern Latitude with that part of the Continent The first is Terre Neuve or New-found Land discover'd together with several other Parts upon the Continent before mention'd by Sir Sebastian Cabott by the Countenance and Charge of King Henry the Seventh of England whereupon a rightful Claim thereunto and Interest therein hath been own'd by the succeeding Kings of England as hereafter shall be more particularly related Situation and bound of New-found Land New-found Land is situated betwixt the Degrees of forty six and fifty three of Northern Latitude and is divided from the Continent of America by an Arm of the Sea in like distance as England is from France The Island is as large as England in length greater in breadth and lies near the Course that Ships usually hold in their Return from the West-Indies and is near the mid-way between Ireland and Virginia INSULAE AMERICANAE IN OCEANO SEPTENTRIONALI cum Terris adiacentibus We shall not much need to commend the wholsom temperature of this Countrey Temperature seeing the greatest part thereof lieth above three Degrees nearer to the South than any part of England doth so that even in the Winter it is pleasant and healthful as England is Nature of the Inhabitants The natural Inhabitants of the Countrey as they are but few in number so are they something a rude and salvage People having neither knowledge of God nor living under any kind of Civil Government In their Habits Customs and Manners they resemble the Indians of the Continent from whence it is to be suppos'd they come they live altogether in the North and West part of the Countrey which is seldom frequented by the English but the French and Biscainers who resort thither yearly for the Whale-fishing and also for the Cod-fish report them to be an ingenuous and tractable People being well us'd and very ready to assist them with great labour and patience in the killing cutting and boyling of Whales and making the Trayn-Oyl without expectation of other Reward than a little Bread or some such small Hire It hath the most commodious Harbours in the World Commodious Harbors and the most safe
Stone like that of a Plumb The Acajou bearing for Fruit a kind of Chesnut in form of a Hares Kidney which serves for a Crest to a very fair Apple that by degrees grows under it of which the Islanders make a Drink very much in esteem amongst them being of an excellent taste The Icaco a kind of small Plumb-Tree so much coveted and held for a Delicacy by some People that live near the Gulf of Hondures that they are from thence call'd Icacos The Monbain which Fruit being a kind of yellowish Plumb is chiefly made use of to mix in the Drinks of Ouicon and Maby to make them taste the better The Courbury is by some reckon'd to be but a species of the Monbain onely more full of Leaves and growing higher and bigger but the Fruit of the Courbury is sufficiently different from that of the Monbain The Indian Fig-Tree differing in Leaf from the common Fig-Tree but whose Fruit both in figure and taste is not much unlike the Fig growing in these Parts This Tree is commonly of such a vast Bulk that the Branches of some of them have been seen to afford shelter to two hundred Men. A kind of Service-Tree differing from ours by its exceeding heighth fair Leaves and pleasant Fruit. The Prickly or Thorny Palm so call'd from its being arm'd all over with Prickles both Trunk and Leaves by incision into its Branches a sort of Wine is made and it is conjectur'd to be the same Tree which the Brasilians call Ayry The Franc-Palm an exceeding high and streight Tree bearing on the top of its Trunk a whitish marrowy substance by the French call'd Choude Palmiste or Palm-Cabbage for being boyl'd with the thin Leaves that incircle it and well season'd it is reckon'd amongst the Delicacies of the Caribbees Latanier another kind of Palm and Cocoa which is also reckon'd amongst the several sorts of Palms this last is a Fruit-Tree famous all over America and hath been at large describ'd elsewhere There are also many other Trees fit for Dying Joyners Work and Building besides the Acajou before mention'd of the single Trunks whereof are made those long Shallops call'd Pyrages which are able to carry fifty Men as The Acomas of the same bulk and heighth with the Acajon and equally esteem'd by Joyners and Carpenters and of the Fruit whereof the Woodquists grow fat at a certain time of the year The Rose-wood to be rank'd amongst the chiefest of those Trees that are made use of by Work-men Indian Wood a very precious and useful Tree for several sorts of Materials and of a very fine scent The Iron-Wood so call'd from its hardness weight and solidity above all that have hitherto been spoken of and beyond either Cypress or Cedar for incorruptibility Brasile-Wood so call'd as growing most plentifully in Brasile Yellow-Wood denominated from its Colour and much esteem'd for its usefulness in Dying green Ebony easily taking the lustre of the true Ebony and being very useful for the making of Cabinets and other curious Pieces of Work It also Dyes of a very fair Grass-green The Roncon by the Brasilians call'd Urnex in the Husks succeeding the Flowers whereof which grow in little Bushes at the end of the Branches is enclos'd a most rich Vermilion Dye of a very soft and viscous Matter Here are also many other Trees either useful in Medicine or other ways advantageous as the Cassia-Tree of the bigness and figure of a Peach-Tree the long Pipes or Cods whereof containing the Medicinal Fruit are well known amongst us by the Name of Cassia-Fistula and to be had at every Apothecaries Medicinal Nuts each Nut containing three or four Stones in so many Cells every one of which is inclos'd within a thin white Pellicle pleasant enough to the taste and out of which is extracted an Oyl us'd by the Portuguese in several both Culinarie and Physical occasions The Cinamon-Tree so noted for its aromatick Bark also Sandal-Wood Guaiacum and Sassafras Cotton-Tree and Soap-Tree whose Uses the very Names imply and which Trees have been touch'd upon elsewhere The arch'd Indian Fig-Tree the Bodies of which Trees have been antiently the sculking Holes and Retreats of the Inhabitants from their Enemies the Bark is useful for Tanners The Gourd-Tree of the bigness and heighth of a great Apple-Tree and of which are made most of the Houshold Vessels and Utensils which are in common use at present amongst the Inhabitants The Mahot-Tree of the Bark of which are made Laces and Points The Manyoc or Mandioque of whose Root the Cassava Bread is made and which growing in several places of America hath been already taken notice of as likewise the Banana-Tree and that call'd The Apple-Tree of Paradice otherwise Adam's Fig-Tree the Fruit being reported to be of a very delicious taste Other Trees not known in Europe are the Maposu divers kinds of Thorny Wood the Milky Tree being of a venomous quality the Mancenilier and that whose Root beaten to Powder and thrown into Rivers intoxicates the Fish with several others of less note Innumerable sorts of Shrubs might here in like manner be reckon'd up but the chiefest are That remarkable Plant anciently known by the Name of Ricinus and commended for its Vertues by Galen and Dioscorides Coral-Wood so call'd from its little Seeds which being as red as any Coral are us'd for Bracelets The Jasmin bearing a Flower of an admirable sweet scent The Candle-Wood so call'd from its combustibleness by reason of an aromatick Gum which is within The Herbs Flowers Roots and Pulse which grow here are some of them common in all parts of Europe as Cabbages Onions Chibols Melons all sorts of Millets Cucumbers Citruls Parsnips c. Others if not peculiar to this Island yet growing chiefly there and in some few parts of America besides as the Raquettes so call'd from the resemblance its Leaves have with a Racket a thorny-spreading Bush whose Fruit being of a Vermilion colour makes the Urine of those that eat of it as red as Blood Some liken this Plant to the Tunas already describ'd which yields that rich Scarlet Dye call'd Cochinele The Torch so call'd by the European Inhabitants by the Native Islanders Akoulerou a great Thistle or thorny Bush putting forth from the middle of it long streight Stalks like Torches and bearing Fruit like a great Fig not unpleasing to the taste The Lienes creeping upon the Earth and spreading up and down like Ropes and bearing brown Husks of a Foot long wherein are enclos'd a Fruit call'd Sea-Chestnuts of which are made Boxes to keep Snush Tobacco or the like A sort of Sempervivum which runs twisting upon Rocks Trunks of old Trees like Misseltoe and sometimes on the Ground A sort of sensitive Plant call'd by the Inhabitants Haestiel or The Living Herb of which kind of Plant something hath been already touch'd upon and which being transplanted is kept in several Gardens of the Curiosi as a Rarity The Sweet-Rush whose small Root dry'd
from antient times the Arovages did to the Caribbeeans and that in the last Engagement so many valiant Men were slain and afterwards devour'd by them therefore it would be a shame not to take Revenge which being seconded by the Ouboutu put Valor into the Hearts of all that were present Whereupon the following day Messengers were sent to the other Islands to acquaint them with their Intentions that they might prepare their Clubs make sharp and poyson their Arrows String their Bowes prepare Provisions and fit out their Canoos They poyson'd their Arrows with the Juice of Manchenillo's which made the least Wound mortal Their Provisions and Arms they laid up in their Canoos so to preserve their Periaguo's which are Boats that can carry fifty Men if they should chance to over-set which often happen'd though they were soon turn'd up again They went from one Island to another where they not onely stor'd themselves with fresh Provisions but increas'd their Fleet with new Assistants with which approaching the Main they hal'd their Boats ashore in the Evening and driving four Stakes into the Ground under the Trees made fast their Hammocks to the same in which they slept till Mid-night and then fell on their Enemies but if discover'd by them they retreaâ—ed to their Boats and return'd home but if they were not discover'd they fell upon the Huts of the Arovages who resisting they shot Arrows with burning Cotton into them and so setting them on fire forc'd the Arovages to venture a Battel in the open Field where having spent all their Arrows they Engag'd one another with great Clubs with which at one Blow they broke either Arms or Legs or knock'd out their Brains If the Caribbeeans chanc'd to be defeated then those that remain'd of their Party made a lamentable noise howling for those that were kill'd and mix'd their Tears with the Blood of their slain Friends whom not without the greatest danger they fetch'd from amongst their Enemies and carried them aboard of their Boats But returning Victors they were wont to insult over their Prisoners with all the bitter Taunts imaginable and then taking advantage of those sharp Upbraidings which their cruel usage extorted from them to put them to death with most inhumane Tortures and then to Feast themselves upon their mangled Bodies all claiming a Right to their several Prisoners as to so many Beasts appointed to the Slaughter But of late Ages they have contented themselves to dispatch them speedily with their Clubs and so assign them to their Shambles Their Enmity to the Spaniard As the Arovages had been formerly so the Spaniards at length became the Object of the Caribbeeans irreconcilable Hatred insomuch that oft-times being Invaded by them they gave them such rough Entertainment that they were glad to save themselves by flight for the Caribbeeans not regarding their Guns press'd upon them and many times took Vessels richly laden from them till of late years that a Peace hath been concluded between them wherein nevertheless those of the Caribbeeans refuse to be concern'd that inhabit St. Dominico and St. Vincent who cannot to this day forget the cruel Outrages committed by the Spaniards To come to their Marriages Their Marriages they were allow'd as many Wives as they pleas'd to have insomuch that their Governors were in esteem according to the number of their Wives nor were degrees of Consanguinity so regarded but that an Uncle might take his Neece whom he no sooner had carried to his House but the Marriage was finish'd They seldom Divorc'd their Wives after they had bore them Children but otherwise the Man would break the Bond of Matrimony when he pleas'd A young Man that had no Relation might court a Stranger and if her Parents allow'd of it the Match was made One that had behav'd himself valiantly against the Arovages was sure of several good Matches for he was refus'd by none whom he Courted and the abundance of Wives was the greatest testimony of their Valor Each Wife had a peculiar Dwelling so to prevent all Dissentions So soon as one of them was with Child her Husband Lay not with her till after Delivery If any Woman committed Adultery her Husband was permitted to knock out her Brains or rip open her Belly which done he acquainted her Father with the Deed who return'd him thanks for the same Murderers were either burnt or cut in pieces Children were born here with little trouble for the Women were no sooner Deliver'd but they carried the Infant to wash at the next Brook which done they return'd home to their Houshold Labor whilest the Man on the contrary kept his Bed and ate nothing but a piece of Cassava Bread which he hollow'd out in the middle and left the edges till the Feast which was kept at the Naming of the Child Moreover he fed on all manner of Dainties for a whole year after But this Custom was observ'd onely at the Birth of the first Son at which time they scratch'd the Father's Shoulder with a sharp Curry-combe at which if he flinch'd not it was accounted a good Omen of the Child 's future Valor At fifteen days old they made Holes in the Childs Ears Lips and Nostrils through which they put a String for the tying on of what-ever Ornamentals With the like Ceremonies the Child receiv'd a Name taken from his Predecessors Trees Fishes or some remarkable Passages during the Mothers bearing of the Infant in her Womb or of the Father's Lying-in But this Name was chang'd so soon as they went to War or kill'd a Commander of the Arovages whose Name they exchang'd for their own After which the Mothers took special care in bringing them up and at six Moneths the Children were able to run alone When they attain'd to the age of two years they cut off their Hair at a great Feast made for that purpose from which time forward they exercis'd them in Shooting with Bowes and Arrows to which purpose they hung up pieces of Meat for them to shoot at which they must either hit down or Fast Initiation of Soldiers Their Ceremonies to make Soldiers were very strange viz. The Father conducted his Son to the Carbet where he told him the Duties of a Soldier beat him with a Bird of prey call'd Mans-fenis till he had bruis'd the Head of the Bird and scratch'd his whole Body all over with a Curry-combe till the Blood came and then put Lemmon Juice into the Wounds afterwards put him in a Hammock and hung him up for several days without giving him any Meat all which Torments and Trials if he endur'd with patience then he was accounted a good and approved Soldier Of their Priests Few bred up their Children to be Boyez or Priests yet those that were brought up to it abstain'd from certain Food from their Infancy and before they could be receiv'd into the Order of Priesthood they were forc'd to draw Blood from every part of their Bodies
the two following Moneths a Fire being made about the Tree causeth the Bark to crack whereby it yields abundance of Gum chiefly us'd in Medicine for its opening and loosening Quality Likewise the Paretuve-Tree which grows along by the Sea-side and by Pools The Paretuve-Tree sufficiently remarkable for the Boughs thereof grow downwards twin'd and pleited together so thick that in time of War they serve for Bulwarks and are the Recesses of wild Swine Moreover on this Island as on all the other hereabouts grow Calabash-Trees The Calabash-Tree which have thick Boughs and oval Leaves joyn'd one to another and bear every Moneth fresh Flowers and Fruit grey Flowers mark'd with green Streaks and black Spots and Fruit with hard Shells full of juicy Meat and flat Seeds which being taken out serve for Boxes Cups or little Dishes Along the Shore is also found a sort of Fish call'd the Sea-Star Sea-Star which is a yellowish Fish whose hard Skin full of little Knots shoot forth five Darts or Beams in stormy Weather they fasten themselves to the Rocks No less wonderful is the Fish call'd the Sea-Apple Sea-Apple whose brown Skin is full of Prickles which when the Fish dies fall off nothing remaining but a white Shell curiously embroider'd with little Holes On the Banks and near the Rocks grow also Sea-Trees whose thickest Boughs putting forth still lesser and lesser Branches are pleited together very wonderfully and being all glaz'd as it were with Salt-petre seem greyish SECT IX Barboude Situation of Barbouthos BArbouthos which some call Barboude others Barbada being five Leagues in length lies at seventeen Degrees and thirty Minutes and North-East from Monserrat in a shallow Sea English molested by the Caribbeeans Here the English Planting have from their first Arrival been much molested by the Caribbeeans of Dominico who for a great while us'd twice a year to Invade them in the Night killing and destroying whom and whatsoe're they met with onely Women and Children with some other Booty they carried to Dominico SECT X. Rotonda Situation of Rotonda THe Isle Rotonda which is much lesser hath receiv'd that Denomination from its round Form for it rises in the middle into a Hill which at a distance appears like a Steeple It lies at seventeen Degrees and ten Minutes The Sea about the same being very deep makes a good coming to the Island with Ships SECT XI Nevis Situation of Nevis IN sight of Rotonda at seventeen Degrees and nineteen Minutes lies Nevis which hath six Leagues in circumference Out of the middle of the Island rises a Mountain all over wooddy round about which the English who Setled there Anno 1628. have their Plantations and have increased from a small number to above three thousand and make a good Advantage of their Sugar Ginger Cotton and Tobacco which they Plant there Good Government of the English there They are Govern'd by a peculiar Governor and a Council who punish Thieves and all manner of Deboshes very severely There are also three Churches which on the Sabbath-Day are all throng'd with People who resort thither for the Worship and Service of God The Harbor call'd Bath-Bay and the Store-house built about the same are secured by a great Fort full of great Guns Several Springs on this Island afford the Inhabitants good Water Here is also a Mineral Spring a place to Bathe in which hath been found to cure the same Distempers which the Waters at Bourbon have done Moreover this Island abounds with the Pistacie or Pistick-Nuts The Pistick-Nut which grow on small Trees with soft long Leaves round at bottom and ending in three Points These Trees being commonly full of thick Boughs serve commodiously for Hedges the Wood and Leaves sweat a milky Juice dropping out of the same with the Rain the yellow Flowers which grow on the same are like glittering Stars and the taste of the Nuts like a Hazle but if the Skin which covers the Kernel be not pull'd off before they are eaten they purge to Death But the great Profit which Nevis receives by Nature is attended with some Inconveniences The Musticho which trouble this and all the other Islands amongst many may be reckon'd the Musticho's a sort of little Bugs whose poysonous Sting causes such intolerable Itching that those who are stung by them cannot forbear to scratch themselves till the Blood comes by which their Sores festering prove often very dangerous Also the Muringoins who are so much the less dangerous The Muringoins because they make always a great noise before they sting Wasps likewise are here very troublesom but their Stings are cur'd with Rue as the Stings of Scorpions are with the Juice press'd out of the same Animal The Wood-Lice which are here in great abundance Wood-Lice have a soft and white Body onely the Head which is mark'd with a black Speck their Mouthes are so very hard that in two hours time they eat through thick Chests And no less damage do the Banettos But the Chigos are a kind of small Fleas that breed in Dust Ashes and the like Chigos and are of all the most pernicious they first get in under the Nails of the Toes and from thence run over all the Body but especially the bottoms of the Feet where they first occasion an Itching and then eat Holes through the Skin they make Blisters as big as Pease in the Flesh wherein a swarm of young ones breeding cause Ulcers and rotten Flesh which must be eaten away with Aqua-fortis and burnt Allom. SECT XII Eustathius Situation of Eustathius EUstathius which is rather a Mountain rising out of the Ocean like a Sugar-Loaf than an Island lies at seventeen Degrees and forty Minutes It hath scarce five Leagues in circumference yet receiv'd some while since a Colony of above sixteen hundred People sent thither from the States of the United Netherlands under the Command of the Lords Lampsen and Ree Besides the natural Strength of the Place whereby a few are able to keep off a great number it is fortifi'd with a strong Fort which Commands the Harbor The Inhabitants are very industrious and make great profit of the Tobacco which they Plant. In the midst of this Island is a Mountain over-grown with Trees which seems to end in a Point and hath about it a pleasant Plain The abundance of Fowls Hogs and Goats afford the Inhabitants store of Provisions for their Store-houses are never so empty but that they can supply their Neighbors Wants The want of fresh-water Brooks they supply with Rain-water which they preserve in Cisterns Though the Air of the Island be wholsom and the Soil fruitful yet it is subject to many great Inconveniences for besides the terrible Thunder-claps and Earthquakes that rend the Ground Terrible Hurricanes the Inhabitants are exceedingly troubled in August and September with the Winds which in twenty four hours blow from all Points of
flight up into the Mountain Vilcabamba where he Setling his Successors Reign to this day secur'd from any Invasion by the natural strength of the Place But the Inga Saritopa coming from the fore-mention'd Mountain submitted himself to the Spaniards who allow'd him the Valley Yucay to dwell peaceably in but the rest of the Family of the Inga's that fell into the Hands of the Spaniards were all of them kill'd in Cusco not without great grief of the old Inhabitants to see so antient and noble a Family by which they had been Govern'd in great State for three hundred years together put to death by common Executioners Cusco the Residence of the Peruvian Kings The City Cusco which was the Royal Seat of all the Peruvian Kings was made more splendid than ever before by Guayanacava of whom Augustine de Tarrate describing his Magnificence relates That when his Queen was Deliver'd of a Son who was to succeed in the Throne Guayanacava kept a great Feast for twenty days together and on that day when the Child was to be Nam'd a Golden Chain each Link of which was as big as a Hand and contain'd in all seven hundred Foot in length was carried by twenty Peruvians to the Temple The Manner of the Succession of their Kings The Succession of the Inga's was after this manner The Inga's keeping many Concubines had many Children by them none of which could lay claim to the Peruvian Crown but onely the Son begotten on the Coya or Queen being generally the Kings own Sister whom they accounted lawful for them to Marry as in antient times did the Egyptian Kings Inherited the Realm unless the Inga had a lawful Brother who Inherited before the Son though born of a Coya or if the said Brother had a Son he obtain'd the deceased Uncles Crown before him who in apparence was the elder Heir The same Succession was also observ'd by other Governors which the Peruvians call Curaca's Their Burials and disposal of their Treasure The Burials of their Kings were perform'd with great solemnity and the Treasures which they left behind were bestow'd in building of magnificent Guaha's which were Temples or religious Houses where a kind of solemn Worship was to be perform'd to celebrate the Memory of the Deceased Some part of the Treasure was also distributed amongst the Inga's Servants but the Successor inherited not the least Mite of what his Predecessor had gotten but was forc'd according to an antient Law to build himself a new Palace and purchas'd anew every thing else belonging to it Their Crown Their Crown or Diadem was onely a fine red woollen Coif with a Tassel that hung down over their Foreheads which other meaner Princes wore hanging on their right Ear. Their Coronations Their Coronations were also kept in great Pomp and State the Nobility and Priests coming from all parts of the Countrey to Cusco besides an innumerable multitude of common People The Noblemens Presents to the Inga's consisted chiefly of Gold and Silver Vessels fine Cloth call'd Cumbi all sorts of Sea-shells and stately Plumes of Feathers of inestimable value Thousands of Sheep differing in colour serv'd for Offerings moreover the Chief Priest sacrific'd a Child before the Image of Viracocha on whom with great Reverence he cry'd O great God Viracocha we Offer you this Child that you may keep our Realm in Peace aid us in time of War prosper our Inga in all his Undertakings make him more powerful and greater than any of his Predecessors and grant him wisdom to Govern this vast Countrey Their exact Form of Government No People in the World can be more respective and shew greater Reverence to their Kings than the Peruvians for there were never any heard of in this Countrey that ever Rebell'd against their Prince the reason of which was chiefly because they always Govern'd with great Justice and Mildness placing Governors over the respective Countreys and Provinces according to their several Divisions greater or lesser with subordinate Power one under another so that they Rul'd with great strictness punishing with Death both Drunkenness and Theft Moreover the Ingas observ'd a prudent way in Government viz. They kept their Subjects continually employ'd The ordinary sort of Persons of subdu'd Provinces were sent to remote Countreys and the Governors thereof kept at the Court in Cusco and Princes Descended of the Royal Blood sent in their Places to Govern the new gotten Dominions they divided the Inhabitants into Companies plac'd one to Command over ten another over a hundred and a greater Officer over a thousand and at last a Prefect or Major-General over ten thousand every one of which Officers were to bring in an Account every Week to the supream Governor who was always of the Inga's Family what Men dy'd of their number or how many were born a present Estimate of every ones Stock in Cattel or otherwise and all remarkable Transactions that hapned On the high Feast-day they were all to appear at Court and to bring in the Revenues gather'd out of their Substitute Countreys The main Division of the Countrey was into four grand Provinces call'd Tahucantinsuyos according to the four Ways that went from Cusco through the whole Realm viz. Chinchasuyo towards the North Coclasuyo towards the South Andesuyo towards the East and Condesuyo towards the West The Collectors were divided into Hanansayos Upper-Collectors and Urinsayos or Under-Collectors The Quipocomayos or Accomptants could â—ast up exactly with Buttons not onely what every Province but also what each Man was to pay and that according to the ability of the Countrey and Person Their stately Structures Many were the stately Temples invincible Castles magnificent Palaces and other wonderful Structures built by the Ingas the chiefest whereof stood in Cusco Tiaguanaco and Tambo the Builders whereof were sent for by turns out of the adjacent Countreys from which they brought exceeding great Stones most of them thirty eight Foot long eighteen broad and six thick which were so neatly joyn'd together with Mortar or Iron-work that a whole Edifice seem'd to be one entire Stone Their Bridges that led cross the Rivers were made of Flags and Rushes fastned to each Shore with great Ropes The like Bridge lay cross the deep Mouth of the Lake Chicuito on which great Bundles of the Rushes Toto being ty'd together and cover'd with Straw so strengthen'd the Bridge that great Loads were safely carried over the same The great Riches of the Ingas No Prince ever possess'd so much Riches and Splendor as an Inga of Peru each Countrey presenting him with what was most esteem'd amongst them the Chiches bringing Sweet-woods the Lucanas strong Sedan-Carriers the Chumbibilcas brave Dancers and so accordingly every Countrey provided him with what they best esteem'd besides the usual Tributes which they paid Those which digg'd the Gold and Silver out of the Mines had Meat Drink and Clothing from the Inga though at other times he enjoy'd
in the Plain of Chupas the Dispute was long and resolute on both sides and the Night coming on made the Fight the more terrible in which the Victory inclin'd to Castro however the Almagrians stood to it stoutly for a great while and that chiefly through the valor of the Captains Balboa and Christopher Losa who breaking in amongst the Castreans hack'd and hew'd down all they came near till at last they were forc'd to betake themselves to flight and had not many of them exchang'd their white Scarfs with the red of the slain Castreans scarce any of them had escap'd from being kill'd in the pursuit and most of them that did escape were slain the next Morning by the Peruvians Deliver'd up Prisâ—ner by Salazar and Beheaded Rodrigo Salazar Almagro's Deputy deliver'd up his Lord to Castro who condemn'd him to death whereupon he was immediately Beheaded with a Sword This Battel hapned on the twenty sixth of September Anno 1542. when it Froze so hard the following Night that most of those that were left wounded upon the place were frozen to death Thus Castro began his Government with Blood and made it his first Business to make a Discovery by several of his Captains whom he sent for that purpose of the Countreys lying Eastward from Peru lying upon the great River De la Plata and the River Marannon where in most places they met onely with salvage People and for the most part Man-eaters and in one place where they Landed a great Fish resembling a Dog came ashore and kill'd several Arm'd Soldiers A year and a half Castro had liv'd in Cusco when at the arrival of the Vice-Roy Blascus Nunnez Vela all things were turn'd topsie-turvy he being sent thither by the Emperor Charles the Fifth accompanied by four Councellors Diego Sepada Lison Tejada Juan Alvarez and Peter Ortiz to curb the Spaniards Villanies and Outrages committed against the Peruvians entred Tumbez Anno 1544. where he immediately publish'd the Emperor's Edicts which were to this effect The Emperor's Proclamation in behalf of the Indians All Peruvians are to be releas'd from Slavery no Spaniard shall in the least oppress them nor make use of their Service without rewarding them for the same nor take any Provisions of them without paying for it This Proclamation was like to put the Spaniards into an uproar for at that time a Peruvian Lord was forc'd to allow every Foot-Soldier three Slaves Ill resented by the Spaniards and a Horseman five besides Hens Rabbets Eggs the Wine Azun and other Provisions for nothing The general Complaints were Is this the Reward for our Service which we have shewn to the Emperor Is not this mighty Kingdom of Peru by our Blood and Labor joyn'd to the Imperial Crown Our Shoulders are grown sore under our Arms our Bodies made useless with Wounds and our Limbs lame'd with Bruises Who shall maintain our Wives and Children if the Peruvians who according to the Law of Arms are become our Slaves should not be forc'd to fish for Pearls in the Sea and dig us Silver out of the Mines and do us other Service for to maintain us But Vela being deaf to these Complaints resolv'd that the Emperor's Commands should be fulfill'd and that those that spake against them should lose their Lives and that he might terrifie the generality with the punishment of a few he caus'd Fryer Peter of the Order of the Virgin Mary to be Executed in Truxillo Castro to be committed to Prison at Lima because he had put Almagro to death without Examination and shut the Gates of Cusco when his Agent came before the same But do what he could the Spaniards generally making Head utterly refus'd to obey the Emperor's Edicts and chose Gonsalvo Pizarro for their General who rais'd five hundred Men in compleat Arms in Cusco from whence he march'd directly with them to Los Reyos Pizarro marches against the Vice-Roy Vela under pretence to deliver a Petition there to the Vice-Roy's Council about deferring to put the new Edicts in force till the Emperor was better inform'd of the present Condition of the Peruvian State twenty great Field-pieces being also order'd to follow Pizarro's Army were carried by the Peruvians over craggy Mountains to each Gun without the Carriage were order'd three hundred Men of whom twelve at a time carried it in their turns a hundred Paces a piece though several eminent Persons considering the weightiness of the Affair forsook Pizarro's Party and went privately to the Vice-Roy as on the other side many deserting the Vice-Roy joyn'd with Pizarro who being not a little supply'd by Peter Puelles Governor of Guanaca took several of those that had deserted him Prisoners and put them all to death whilest the Vice-Roy made what Preparations possibly he could Hanging many innocent Persons onely on suspicion of holding Correspondency with Pizarro insomuch that there was no end of Murdering on both sides But Vela clashing with his Councellors Vela clashing with the Commissioners is seiz'd upon because they would not consent that he should ruine Los Reyos resolv'd to do it without them and to that end to remove the Emperor's Seal Staple of Trade and Courts of Judicature to Truxillo and to spoil the Countrey all about which as he was about to put in Execution they privately got Captain Martin Robles and Vela's Lifeguard consisting of a hundred Men on their side whilest the common People mutinying broke into the Palace took Vela and carried him to the chief Church in Los Reyos where the four Councellors were assembled who order'd that the Prisoner should be Shipt and sent away to Spain when Alvares Cueto lying in the Harbor with ten Sail threatned to fall upon the Inhabitants if they would not release the Vice-Roy whereupon the Councellors well provided with Guns rais'd several Batteries against his Ships so that Cueto finding himself too weak set four of his Vessels on fire and Sail'd with the rest to the Haven Guavara where being set upon by Diego Garzias he was forc'd to deliver the remaining part of his Fleet up to the Councellors who sent Vela away with the same under the Command of Didaco Alvaradez But Pizarro who till this time had pretended that he sought nothing else but Vela's Departure march'd close to the Walls of Los Reyos with twelve hundred Men Hang'd three Citizens upon a Tree requir'd the Councellors to grant him Letters Patents by which he might be acknowledg'd for the Supream Governor of Peru which if they refus'd he threatned to put all that were in the City to the Sword and upon Consultation it was judg'd convenient to grant his Demands the rather because they had not above fifty fighting Men in the City Mean while Didaco Alvaradez making an Agreement with the Vice-Roy Being Shipt for Spain is brought back by Alvaradez they return'd back with their Ships and Landed in the Haven Mouth of the River Tumbez rais'd what Forces they
Cosmus built like a flat-roof'd House had a fair Entrance before which stood two Turrets and in them hung Bells That the Franciscan Cloyster was inclos'd within a great Wall in the middle of a pleasant Garden and had on each side a Tower That most of the People who kept the Feast of St. Philip and St. Jacob were at Mass when the Hollanders came thither and though they saw the Soldiers out of their Windows judg'd them to be Portugueses who as it was reported had a Design upon Tamarica The Governor of Reciffa marching with his Booty from Garusa set several Houses on fire and march'd towards the Fort Orange on the Island Tamarica Albuquerque inform'd thereof dispatch'd a Spanish Regiment Commanded by Colonel Ferdinand Ludovico Barbalho and Paulo de Perado with a considerable Body of Volunteers but they all came too late Whereupon the Portugueses being thus kept in continual Alarms ashore and sustaining every day more and more Losses at Sea began to desire Peace and the rather because they could not hear of any Fleet coming from Spain to their assistance and hearing a Report that the West-India Company were making great Preparations To which purpose Peter Alvares acquainted with the Dutch Commanders as having been their Prisoner was sent by Duarte de Albuquerque to whom the Lordship of Pernambuco properly belong'd and by his Brother being General of all the Forces in Brasile to Reciffa to Treat about the deciding of the Differences between them and the Netherland West-India Company But the Council in Reciffa weighing the many Disadvantages that would ensue if they should upon easie Terms patch up a Peace with the Portugueses return'd Alvares this Answer That the West-India Company was resolv'd to the utmost of their power to keep all those Places which they had taken by force of Arms but that if he could move Albuquerque to deliver up the Countrey to them he should be bountifully rewarded After this the Hollanders Landing at Barra Grande took great quantities of Wine and Tobacco and burnt two Villages as also the Sugar-Cane Fields and Sugar-Mills on Catuwanha also one at Barra Grande and three at Porto Francisco At the same time the Hollanders also scatter'd Letters amongst the Portuguese signifying their trouble for the great effusion of Blood in those Parts which was occasion'd by their own stubborn and unreasonable Proceedings likewise intimating the great Preparations that were making on their own part and on the other side the great unlikelihood and indeed impossibility as things then stood of receiving farther Succors from Spain The Hollanders Councels betray'd to the Portuguese by Leonard van Lom These things bieng powerfully urg'd had perhaps taken greater effect with the Portugueses had not the secret Counsels of the Netherlanders been betray'd by Leonard van Lom Overseer of the Prizes and Translater of the Portuguese Letters who confess'd that he was perswaded to that villanous Action in Amsterdam by a Portuguese Merchant call'd Duarte Rodrigues Delves with whom he had made some Agreement and for the better confirmation had receiv'd the Sacrament upon it of an Amsterdam Priest His Agreement was That he should go to Reciffa enquire after all Concerns and give speedy advice thereof to Rocque de Barros which he did by a Mulatto who carry'd Letters between them This Villain the Council judging worthy of Death first caus'd his two fore-Fingers to be cut off next his Head and afterwards his Body to be divided into four Quarters The Mulatto was likewise Beheaded About this time the Treasurer Ceulen viewing the Isle Mayo found the same to be surrounded with steep Rocks abounding with Horses Asses Partridges and Goats besides two Salt-pans The Inhabitants which go Arm'd with Half-pikes and rusty Hangers are said to be a sort of out-law'd Portugueses to the number of thirty amongst whom was one Woman They had a Governor call'd Amaro to whom they gave yearly eight thousand Goat-skins Ceulen Sailing from hence Steer'd by the Island Del Fogo known by a great Mountain whose high top vomits Fire Not far from which he took the Ship St. Peter laden with Wine with which he return'd safe to Reciffa where a while after Gysselling arriv'd also and was no sooner Landed but four Ships two Sloops six Cock-boats a Barque and a Hoy set Sail under the Conduct of John Mast with four or five Companies of choice Musquetteers Commanded by Colonel Schuppe who Landed behind the stonie Bank of the River Alexio surpris'd some Portuguese and Negro's in their Houses and march'd in the Night so fast that by Day-break they were got to the Shore of the River Formosa where they took two rich laden Fly-boats and a Carvel and afterwards Landing in the Road Camarigibi they took fifty Portuguese in a Village as also a Store-house full of Chests with Sugar and Tobacco burnt all the Buildings thereabouts and amongst others a brave Sugar-Mill Captain Byma burnt also an eminent Sugar-Mill near the Brook Maria Farinha Martin Thyszoon lay a long time under the Line but at last getting to the Isle Vacca he gave each Captain his Orders and divided the Fleet which joyn'd again before Havana pass'd through the Straights Bahama where he met with great Storms and many other Inconveniences to Holland But Galeyn van Stapels who parted with a Frigat from Thyszoons Fleet near Bonaire Steer'd by the Promontory Cotoche to Sisab which Village having plunder'd he set it on fire fetch'd a Barque in the Night from the Road of Campeche whose City is seen at a great distance off at Sea by the white Cloyster Francisco and so set Sail for Zealand Houte-been arriv'd also about the middle of June with a rich Booty in the Texel Schuppe and Lichthart take the Fort Formosa Not long after Houte-been weighing Anchor with the Otter Frigat return'd to Reciffa and in his Way thither took a Ship laden with Wine Colonel Schuppe immediately upon his arrival had a Command given him of five hundred Men and John Lichthart of three Sail of Ships a Pinnace and five Sloops with which they set Sail to the River Formosa Schuppe Landing his Men there march'd up to the Fort Formosa fortifi'd with Moats steep high Walls and four Guns Storm'd and took the same killing all those that were in the Garrison except the Governor Peter Albuquerque In which Victory nevertheless the Hollanders lost the valiant Captain Philbert du Basson who being shot in at the Throat with a Bullet which came out behind the Ear dy'd of the same the Wound immediately festering to which all Wounds are very subject in Brasile The Hollanders also burnt four laden Barques a Store-house full of Sugar and pull'd down the Fort they had taken Setting Sail again they Landed to the Northward of the River Antonio Grande where they gain'd a Platform with five Guns destroy'd six Ships and took two more in the Haven Camarigibi from whence they return'd to Reciffa after having spoil'd and taken thirteen of
thither after him Maurice cross'd to the Shore on which Openeda lay with Boats and got great Booty and the more because the Natives had not secur'd any thing Bagnola assuring them that the Castle Povacon could endure at least a Siege of four Moneths Maurice advising Prince Frederick Henrick of his Transactions desir'd that he would send over Planters thither whether they were banish'd Germans or Vagabonds out of their Houses of Correction for without them the fruitful Countrey of Brasile would render but a slender Account to the West-India Company nor be able to prevent the Invasions of the Spaniards The fruitfulness of this Tract of Land was not inferior to any Countrey in the whole World Cattel grazing up and down in Herds of five six and seven thousand Moreover Maurice advis'd them about the scarcity of Provisions without which they were not able to maintain War Grave Maurice begins his Government with the making of good Laws He also setled the Traders in a good Order dividing all those free People which bore no Offices into four Companies under Captains Ensigns and Lieutenants The Customs and Tributes were Farm'd Marriages were order'd to be perform'd by the Netherland Priests the Jews had leave not to Watch on their Sabbath all manner of Debosheries were strictly forbid from being acted on the Lords-Day and Punishments ordain'd for Drunkards and other Deboshees several Schools were also erected for Youth and for the instruction of the Brasilians in the Christian Religion an lastly it was permitted to any that would to build in the ruin'd City Olinda or else to repair those Houses that were fall'n to ruine About this time there went a Report as if the West-India Company were inclin'd to remove their Seat from Reciffa to the Island Tamarica but Maurice advising them that it would not be so convenient for them they chang'd their Resolution Isleos taken by Lichthart Whilest Lichthart Cruis'd a considerable time before the Haven Todos los Sanctos he Crain'd his Ship in the Bay of Camaniu took the Town Isleos with a hundred and fifty Men. In the Town which is built on a Promontory he took but little Booty and sav'd the Houses which were built most of Stone as also the four Churches and Jesuits Cloyster and return'd to Reciffa About this time the invincible Castle Mina afterwards call'd St. Joris was taken by the Hollanders upon the Advice of Nicholas van Yperen Commander of Guinee who sent word to Grave Maurice that the said Castle might easily be conquer'd if any Forces could be sent him front Reciffa Whereupon Maurice immediately sent sent John Coin thither with nine Ships which set Sail on the twenty fifth of June Anno 1637. who in the Road Commendo joining with Yperen soon after he was set down before it and was preparing to Storm had it surrendred to him upon Terms no less advantageous to the Hollanders than dishonorable to the Besieged yet not without the loss of many Men for in their March thither they were fiercely set upon by the Negro's inhabiting the Village near the Castle in which Conflict Colonel Latan amongst others was slain Colonel Latan slain The Fort might very well have endur'd a longer Siege it being surrounded with double Moats each twenty five Foot deep and high Bulwarks which could not be undermin'd because of the Rocky Ground on which they were built and to make it yet more stronger Coin after he had taken it rais'd a Fort on the Hill from whence he had fir'd on the Castle in which he found thirty Brass Demi-Culverins and leaving Walraeven Malburg as Governor he return'd to Reciffa During these Proceedings of the Dutch in Guinee the Duke of Bagnola ransack'd the Countrey about Seregippa del Rey Maurice not able to go himself having had a Feaver three Moneths sent Schuppe and Gyseling with two thousand three hundred Soldiers four hundred Brasilians and two hundred and fifty Seamen whilest Lichthart Steer'd to Todos los Sanctos that so he naught draw the Enemy down to the Sea-Coast Bagnola flying to Terra Gratia d' Avila Schuppe demolish'd the Town Seregippa the Sugar-Mills and all manner of Fruit-Trees and march'd with incredible speed to the Stream Francisco where Encamping on the Southern Shore he drove three thousand Head of Cattel before him that so he might starve the Enemy The Brasilians offer their assistance to the Dutch for the taking the Fort Siara In the interim the Brasilians in Siara desir'd Aid against the Portuguese offering That if the Hollanders could conquer the Fort there they would soon destroy all the Portuguese that the Charges of the Siege might easily be made good the Countrey producing abundance of Amber-greece Crystal Cotton Pearls Salt and other Merchandise In confirmation of this their Resolution the Brafilians left two eminent Persons Children of Siara in Reciffa Whereupon George Garstman being sent thither was no sooner Landed but he made his Arrival known to the Brasilian Governor Algodoi who came to meet him with two hundred Men bearing white Flags in token of Peace Thus assisted he set upon Siara which is a square Fort built at the foot of a Hill hath within its Walls six Houses two Redoubts full of Port-holes one on the North and the other on the South jutting half way out from the Wall as also two Gates secur'd with large Portcullises without the Fort appears the Governor's House about which were several Huts for Portugueses This Lordship already spoken of is reckon'd amongst the Northern parts of Brasile and hath onely twelve Leagues in circumference The Haven before the Castle which the River Hacu makes is of little consequence The Ground in some places rises with high Mountains in others especially on one side it is overgrown with Wood hath also several brave Pastures especially along the River The Fort taken by Gartsman Garstman approaching the Castle Siara found little resistance so that he took it with small expence of Blood most of the Portuguese being taken Prisoners a few onely escaping by flight After this Grave Maurice took great care of the Civil Affairs building a Guild-Hall at his own Cost and Charge sent all manner of Minerals digg'd out of the Brasilian Mines to the Netherland laid great Penalties on those that stole the Custom of Goods and punish'd with Death Murders Robberies and such like Capital Offences besides several wholsom Laws relating both to the Civil and Ecclesiastical Government and as soon as he was recover'd from his tedious Sickness he march'd up into the Countrey to the Rivers Grande and Parayba to take care to furnish the Forts with Provision and Ammunition Near the Castle Ceulen he was receiv'd by the Tapuyan Agents and Presented by them with Bowes Arrows and brave Ostrich Feathers us'd by them when they go to the Wars in return for which they receiv'd Linnen Shirts Knives Shells Bugles Fishhooks and Nails Maurice caus'd a deeper and wider Moat to be digg'd about the decay'd
That Portugal was to pay to the United Netherlands eighty Tun of Gold either in ready Money Sugar Tobacco or Salt or deduct the same out of the Customs payable in the Portuguese Harbors II. That the Guns on Reciffa were to be restor'd to the West-India Company III. That the Salt-Trade at St. Uves and other Places under the Portuguese Jurisdiction whether in Africa or Brasile should be granted to the Netherlands paying the Customs as the Portuguese do themselves IV. That the conquer'd Places gotten on both sides should remain in the hands of the present Possessors V. That the King of Portugal should not lay an Embargo on any Netherland Vessel on any pretence whatsoever though they should carry all manner of Ammunition to his Enemies provided it were not out of any of the Portuguese Havens VI. That no Netherlander should ever be call'd before any Judge about any Difference in Religion but should have freedom thereof granted him either in his House or Ship and also a convenient Burying-place VII That if any Difference should chance to arise between Portugal and the Netherlands they should not extend it to prejudice the Trade but every Merchant should be free to call in his Debts and send Ships without hinderance VIII That this present Agreement should not be broken by any Misdemeanors acted by any Subjects either in the East or West-Indies Who were to be punish'd by their lawful Judges IX That the Havens belonging to both Parties were to be free for either Men of War or Merchant-Men X. That the Netherlanders Trading in Portugal might go Arm'd take Houses and Store-houses XI That the Goods laden in an Enemy's Ship might he declar'd free Prize XII That the Portuguese in Brasile should pay their Debts which they ow'd to the West-India Company or any other Person or Persons to which purpose three appointed Commissioners were to Sit at Lisbon to hear and determine the Causes that should be brought before them and without the usual Circumstances pass their Sentence which was to be Executed by a higher Power A few days after this Agreement was concluded the Portuguese Ambassador Henrico Sousa Tovares went for Lisbon where he arriv'd on the last day of September The States of Groningen and others disapprove the Peace with Portugal and condemn Schulenbergh Not onely Guelderland and Zealand were much dissatisfi'd with this Agreement but also Groningen accus'd their Deputy Schulenbergh that contrary to Orders he had been too forward in concluding the Peace with Portugal and that he had consented to that which the States of Groningen had not permitted him for they resolv'd to make Peace on no other account but that Portugal should pay the eighty Tun of Gold in ready Money and that in a short time whenas on the contrary he had allow'd of the payment in Merchandise and that in a long time Wherefore the States of Groningen who for this Fact and several Accusations brought against Schulenbergh condemn'd him to be Beheaded which Sentence had been Executed upon him had he not made his Escape together with those of Omeland and others who disapprov'd of the Peace concluded with Portugal drew up many Reasons why they dissented and look'd upon it as both dishonorable and disadvantageous however the Articles being Sign'd and the States General taking into consideration how impossible a Work it would have been to have gone about to renew a War with the Portuguese in Brasile being at that time in firm possession of all and that for the Interest of a few in respect of the whole Common-wealth they were forc'd to rest satisfi'd and together with the West-India Company to sit down with the loss of those Places in Brasile which had cost so much Blood and Treasure to gain The West-India Companies Memorial deliver'd in to the States Nevertheless the West-India Company put in a Memorial at the Hague of all that had been done by them from time to time wherein they themselves had been great Sufferers and the Common-wealth very much advantag'd as namely That at first they put in a Stock of seventy four Tun of Gold sent out divers Fleets under the Admirals Willekens John Dirkszoon Lam Boudewyn Henrickszoon Peter Hein Adrian Pater Henrick Lonk Dirk Uitgeest Peter Ita Loos Cornelis Houte-been Lichthart Bankert and others at several times which had much weakned the Spanish Power to the great advantage of the United Netherlands because the Spaniard was not onely forc'd to disperce his Power to defend America but also lost great Riches on the Coast thereof which being the Sinews of his War prevented him from oppressing that State That to their loss they suffer'd their Forces to stop the Enemy when he broke into the Veluwe at that time when the United Netherlands seem'd to hang by a silken Thred That it would probably have been the ruine of Holland if the mighty Spanish Fleet which Engag'd with Martin Tromp in the Downs had been assisted by sixty six Sail which La Torre was forc'd to send to the Coast of Brasile against the West-India Company That this Companies Concern was so great a Nursery of Mariners in the Year 1629. that they had above a hundred Ships at Sea and fifteen thousand Men in their Service which the United Netherlands considering and judging that Charge too great for the Company to maintain had resolv'd to contribute a certain Sum towards it yearly which had not yet been paid which made them take up Money upon Interest and put in a Supply of thirty Tun of Gold for the payment of the same That the Expedition of Henrick Brewer to Chili had put them very much behind-hand because the Enemy having notice of it secur'd himself yet was often terrifi'd with it for Brewer having found out a Way to go from Reciffa to the Province of Chili in two Moneths and accordingly to do great mischief to the Spanish Power whose Riches lay bare all along the South Sea this and many other things forc'd to make that honorable Peace with the Netherlands concluded on in Munster Anno 1648 That their Losses computed and deliver'd in to the States General amounted to sixty six Tun of Gold and forty three thousand two hundred and ninety Guilders which forc'd them to take up Money to pay Interest for what they had before yet that they still kept fifty great Ships at Sea and were resolv'd to prosecute their Trade with fresh vigor as soon as Satisfaction should be given from the Portuguese Crown as was promis'd them in the Articles of Agreement and they could obtain of their Lordships to have their Patent prolong'd for a considerable time That they were still indebted to those Orphans and Widows who furnish'd them with Money to set out their Forces which in the first twelve years did the Spaniard so much hurt that the Damage is reckon'd to amount to one thousand one hundred and eighty Tun of Gold These things being taken into consideration by the States General they
black and blue by them The Peeaios also profess themselves to be Chirurgeons and Doctors but if they cure not their Patients they go in danger of their Lives unless they speedily get away They burn their dead Bodies together with those things the Deceased affected most in his Life-time A Prince or Governor also hath his Slaves put to to death at the time when he is burn'd that they may serve him in the other World Their Bread-Corn The Cassavi-Root press'd boyl'd with Pepper dry'd and bak'd on hot Stones serves the Natives for Bread Each Grain that is Sow'n here produces in Harvest above fifteen hundred Their Corn makes wholsom and well tasted Beer call'd Passiaw and of their stamp'd Cassavi they make the Liquor Parranow In hollow Trees and Caves under Ground they find abundance of Honey and their Vines afford them excellent Grapes twice a year No Plant is ever seen here without either Leaf Blossom or Fruit except the European Apple-Tree which never changes its nature but blossoms and bears Fruit at the same time of the year as in Europe The wild Hogs Pokkiero whose Navels grow on their Backs and the Pangio not unlike our Swine afford the Inhabitants excellent Food Here are also Water-hogs of a very delicious taste but because they are very apprehensive and dive at the least noise they are seldom taken The Woods are full of Baboons and Apes as also the sloththful Beast Ai. The Hares here being of a brown Colour with white Specks and the red Rabbets are accounted great Delicacies There is no Countrey in America which breeds greater Armadillo's than Guiana some of them weighing eighty Pound Here are also Bears which live on nothing but Pismires they have long hairy Tails with which they cover their Bodies in rainy Weather they put their Tongues a Foot deep into the Pismires Nests and so pulls them out The Tygers here are either black spotted or red but the black exceed the other in cruelty yet are seldom seen near inhabited places the spotted and red devour abundance of Cattel but will seldom set upon a Man especially in the day-time The Woods are also full of Land-Turtles which the Inhabitants take and keep till they have occasion to make use of their Flesh The Eagles that are here with their Claws Engage with those that go about to take them The Catamountains make such an exceeding noise at a certain hour both in the Night and in the Day that it is heard two Leagues off The Marmozets a little Beast biting the Catamountains and Apes in the Ears forces them to leap from one Tree to another The black Beast Quotto hath a Face like an old Woman and hanging by the Tail swings from one Tree to another The Cuscary is a brown four-footed Creature about the bigness of a little Dog but hath the shape of a Lyon Moreover Birds Guiana produces Teal Geese Crains Phesants Partridges Pigeons Marlins Snipes Falcons Plovers and Parrots of all sorts besides many other strange Fowls amongst which the chiefest are a sort whose Feathers glitter like Scarlet and walk along in Rank and Fyle like Soldiers The Sea produces abundance of Turbots Fise Soals Thornback yellow Salmon Sturgeon Black-fish Gurnets Crabs and Oysters Amongst other Fishes the Cassoorwa which is somewhat bigger than an Eel is very strange having two Sights in each Eye of which it always holds one above and the other underneath the Water when it swims Here are also the great Fishes call'd Manati and Num-eel by which if any part of a Man be touch'd it immediately becomes stiff There are likewise divers Vermine Vermin which trouble the Countrey Guiana among which are Serpents of thirty Foot long that come out of the Water and feed on the Land they do little hurt as not being poysonous but there are many of a lesser size whose biting is so venomous that it causes the Flesh of a Man to rot in twenty four hours time others there are which have forked Tails and Tusks in the Roof of their Mouthes The Crocodiles here also devour abundance of Cattel Strange kind of Scorpions The Scorpions which are black and resemble a Lobster breed under dry Wood or Corn their Stings are hid in their Tails with which if any one be touch'd he is sure to endure an intolerable pain but without danger of losing his Life for the present yet nothing can perfectly cure the same except the Scorpion kill'd and laid on the Wound The Bats here are as big as Pigeons and they suck the Blood of Men and Beasts so gently that they seldom perceive the same The Pismires also do great mischief especially in sandy Grounds and likewise the Musketo's whose Stings cause painful Swellings but these most of all trouble them that inhabit near the Sea side on low Lands insomuch that the Fisher-men bury themselves in the Night in Sand leaving onely Holes to breathe at Frogs and Toads also make a terrible noise here and especially after Rain Commodities of the Countrey The Soil is inferior to none in the World for the production of Sugar but the general Commodities of the Countrey are Flax Cotton Hemp the Berry Annoto which Dyes an excellent Orange colour another Berry which Dyes a deep Blue a Tree whose Leaves Dye a Red and the Wood of another Tree whose Juice Dyes a Purple and Crimson Moreover Guiana produces the Gums Lemnia Barattu and Carriman which being black and prickly smells very pleasantly and cures the Head-ache Bruises Pains in the Limbs Gouts and green Wounds The same operation hath the Gum Baratta Here are also good Sena Bolus Armenius Cassia-Fistula Terra-Lemnia the Berry Kelette very effectual against the Bloody-flux the Juice of the Leaf Upee which cures the Wounds of poyson'd Arrows and a sort of somniferous Apples whereof the least bite occasions a deadly Sleep There is also a Tree generally growing about the Houses of the Natives the Boughs whereof bruis'd between two Stones and thrown into the Creeks of deep Water full of Fish cause them to swim above Water upon their Backs The Letter-Wood call'd Pira timinere turns also to a good account much more the excellent Stones Jasper and Porphyr Nor are there wanting Gold and Silver-Mines which doubtless would yield great profit were they open'd The Grain of the Countrey grows on Stalks seven Foot long on the tops whereof hang two Ears full of Kernels as big as Pease which ripens in four Moneths The Sugar-Canes being of the bigness of a Man's Arm and about six Foot long are at the years end cut off broken and press'd in a Mill after which the Juice boyl'd in Copper Kettles to a certain Substance is put into woodden Tunnels square at the top and narrow at bottom with a small Hole which is open'd as soon as the Sugar is sufficiently hardned to let out the Syrrup after which it is put into Hogsheads and so Transported The Negro's which are brought from Angola
Great age of the Caribbeeans The Caribbeeans attain to an exceeding great Age Charles de Rotchfort witnesseth That in his time there liv'd Men who remembred the first Arrival of the Spaniards under the Command of Christopher Columbus which consider'd they could not be less than each of them a hundred and sixty years old Many Women also were found thcre who bare Children after they were eighty years of age yet nevertheless they are not free from Sicknesses and Distempers which cannot justly be attributed to the Climate that being extraordinary healthful but to their ill Diet. Besides the troublesom Disease call'd Pyans which makes their Bodies swell full of great Knobs they have been much troubled with pestilential Sores occasion'd by the eating of Crabs and poysonous Tortoises Lamantins and Hedg-hogs Against which Evils they wanted not Medicines consisting of Herbs Roots Gums and Oyl The bitter Bark of the Chipiou-Tree steep'd in Water and mix'd with Lanbys hath a soveraign operation The like vertue is in the Juyce of the Myby-Tree which they us'd to take inwardly and for outward Means they us'd a Salve made of burnt Caneashes temper'd with a Water press'd out of a certain Tree To draw the Matter out of the Sores they us'd the Juice of Junipa Letting Blood was never customary amongst them but to cut and scratch the sore part was to them in stead of Phlebotomy But if all the fore-mention'd Medicines would not help them they fled for aid to the Boyez who immediately order'd the Hut wherein the Patient lay to be made clean the Table call'd Matoutou to be over-spread with Cassave Ouycou and Garden Fruits for an Offering to the evil Spirit Maboya and as many Stools to be plac'd about the same as there were People to be present at the Ceremony and after that all the Fire and Candles were put out the Boye enter'd into the Hut about Midnight with a Lighted Roll of Tobacco then muttering some words to himself stamp'd with his left Foot and blew the Smoak of the Tobacco up into the Air which done and tearing the Tobacco in pieces he threw the same over the Hut and call'd up his Spirit who shaking the Roof of the House made a terrible noise then the Boye drew near to the Patient suck'd his Sores and anointed them with the Juice of Junipa after which if the sick Person recover'd he made a great Feast and an Offering to the aforesaid Spirit But if the Distemper were mortal then the Boye inform'd the Patient's Relations That his Spirit had compassion upon the Sick and was resolv'd to carry him above the Stars to accompany the other Gods which reside there Thus much in general of the Inhabitants of the Isles that lie before Northern America it will next be requisite to give you an Account of them in particular The number of the Caribbee Island There are generally reckon'd of these Islands twenty eight by Name though there are many more in number for besides that there are a multitude of small obscure Islands that are not nam'd there are of the more considerable sometimes two or three that go under one Name Their several Names the twenty eight are these following Anegada Sombrero Las Virgines Anguilla Saba St. Crux St. Martin St. Bartholomew Barbouthos or Barboude Rotonda Nevis Eustathius Antego Montserrat Guadalupe Deseado Marigalanta Todos Sanctos De Aves Dominco Martinego St. Lucia Barbados St. Vincent Bekia Granada Tabago St. Christopher SECT II. Anegada and Sombrero Situation of Anegada and Sombrero TOwards the North-East of Porto Rico at eighteen Degrees and thirteen Minutes lies Anegada seven Leagues long surrounded with Shoals and Banks as also the neighboring Sombrero being in the same Latitude with the other and so call'd by the Spaniard because it appears like a Hat Both of them being uninhabited The Mansfeny harbor abundance of Birds amongst which is the Mansfeny a little Eagle and the remarkable Colibry whose Body being a little bigger than a Wren The Colibry is adorn'd with divers colour'd Feathers resembling a Rain-bowe about its Neck is a Carbuncle red Circle the Belly and ends of the Feathers are of a Golden colour the Sides of an Emerauld green the Bill and Legs black like polish'd Ebony the Eyes glittering like Diamonds on the Head a curious green tuft of Feathers the Cocks far exceed the Hens in beauty they flie swifter than any Bird whatsoever and the fluttering of their Wings makes a noise like a Whirlwind they live upon the Juice of Flowers and especially of Cotton-Flowers they smell like Amber and build their Nests amongst the thick Leaves of a little Bough where they cannot easily be found the Nest it self open towards the South is curiously made of the fine Fibres of the Plant Pite surrounded with pieces of Bark and within fill'd with Cotton douny Feathers and Silk the Eggs oval are somewhat bigger than an ordinary Pearl In the Moneth of May that sort of Crabs call'd Painted Crabs for some have Violet-colour'd Shells others yellow full of purple Specks and others tawny Painted Crabs with red Streaks come creeping down the Hills in good order eat up all the Herbs and Plants and go four times one after another into the Water to wash themselves which done they return to the Woods but the Females at a set-time betake themselves to the Sea in which they Lay their Eggs which afterwards being cast on the sandy Shore and warm'd by the Beams of the Sun produce young Crabs in a short time which no sooner come out of the Shell but creep towards the Woods when grown somewhat bigger they climb up the Rocks where the old ones keep in vast multitudes and stop up the Entrance of their Holes in such a manner that they cannot be found out whilest they cast off their Shell creeping out backward through an opening at the Tail scarce discernable thus for a certain time they lie bare and stript of their Shells being onely cover'd with a thin Skin which growing harder and harder becomes at last a firm Shell like the former These Crabs are a wholsom Meat unless they feed under the Mancheneel Trees which commonly are poysonous SECT III. Las Virgines Situation of Las Virgines NEar Sombrero at eighteen Degrees lie also the two Isles Las Virgines surrounded by ten others and flat Shelves without Trees or fresh Water but the Sea thereabouts abounds with Fish and chiefly with the Perroket which hath Scales like a Carp but greenish the Eyes surrounded with Silver Circles shine very bright in stead of Teeth they have strong Jaw-bones wherewith they Grind all manner of Shell-fish which are their Prey These Fish have an excellent Rellish and weigh generally twenty Pound The Fish Dorade Here is likewise great plenty of the Dorade which is a very large Fish and about five Foot long full of little Scales with a prickly Back two Fins at the parting of the Head and as many under the
long they drive a great Trade with Thred spun out of the Herb Pita and also with Sweet-meats Fruits Preserv'd with Honey and Sugar and especially a Kernel not unlike an Almond In their Gardens they Plant the Herb Cocoa which they chew constantly for the strengthning of their Hearts Near Pita is a Mountain with Load-stones and somewhat farther the Habitations of the valiant Yalcones in the Valley Aquirya the Paezes Pixaos and Manipos which so molested the Spaniards that they forc'd them to forsake the Towns Neyra St. Vincent and Ville de los Angelos 12. Guadalajara de Buga and 13. Sebastian de la Plata built on a Plain near the River Guali the Countrey about which is exceedingly troubled with Earthquakes and the Inhabitants with their Neighbors the Nineres who bring the Flesh of their Prisoners to Sale in the publick Shambles 14. Almague built on a high Mountain and lying under a cool Climate is surrounded with fruitful Fields which feed store of Cattel and enrich'd with several Gold-Mines 15. Juan de Truxillo which the Indians call Yscance 16. Madrigall 17. Chapanchipa 18. Malaga and 19. Agreda the Mountains about which inclose store of Gold Between the Promontory De Corrientes and the Island Palmas are the Rivers Salinas and Balsas which fall into the Southern Ocean St. Juan whose Banks are inhabited by a salvage People which dwell in the tops of the Trees because the River oftentimes overflows the Countrey They sowe Pease and Beans and catch Fish but buy other Provisions with Gold The Isle Gorgona Against the Mouth of this River St. Juan lies the Isle Gorgona three Leagues in circumference which is compar'd to Hell because of the dismal Woods which are upon it barren Mountains Millions of Musticho's whose Stings are intolerable and never-ceasing Rain insomuch that the Sun never shines upon it The Isle Del Gallo West-South-West from Gorgona lies the round Island Del Gallo about a League in circumference it is divided by several Rivers and round about Planted with Trees on which the Indians dwell as at the River St. Juan CHAP. IV. Peru. The Description and Division of Peru. PEru so call'd as some think from the River Beru afore mention'd in the Southern part of America was antiently a great and mighty Kingdom as Mexico in the Northern and fell under the Power of the Spaniards much after the same manner that the Kingdom of Mexico did viz. through the Dissentions and Differences amongst the People themselves as in the History of this considerable part of the New World will be related at large hereafter PERV The Customs and Habits of the antient Natives The antient Natives though differing in Language and Customs yet went all Apparell'd after the same fashion the Men cover'd themselves with a shirt which came down below their Knees and over that a Cotton Cloak the Women wore woollen Coats down to their Ancles Their Head-Ornaments were different according to an inviolable Compact between the Natives of several Provinces for some were wrought some plain some divers colour'd Caps with two three or no Feathers according to the Custom of the Place They were generally of a middle Stature but those that were near the Equinoctial Line lesser Giants antiently in St. Helenâ— Their Histories make mention also of Gyants who formerly inhabited the Promontory St. Helena were each four times bigger than an ordinary Man and fed not onely on the greatest Sea-Monsters but devour'd each of them thirty Peruvians at a Meal The Stone Images of these Gyants are at this day to be seen not far from Puerto Viejo They likewise kept for a long time Annual Feast-Days on which they lamented the loss of the Gyants which as they say was as followeth A Youth glittering in glory like the Sun descended from Heaven and breath'd Fire which rending the Rocks so terrifi'd the Giants that they fled into a deep Cave where they were all kill'd Helvius finds the Bones of the Giants Cornelius Whitefleet relates That Helvius Governor of Puerto Viejo being stirr'd up by the Report of the fore-mention'd Images caus'd all the Graves to be broke open in some of which he found Bones which they suppos'd to be Whale-Bones had not the Sculls manifested the contrary The original of the Kingdom of Peru. Concerning the original of the Kingdom of Peru the Natives give this Account of it That the most antient Inhabitants flock'd together like wild Beasts without constant Abodes Customs Laws or Governors which salvageness is still retain'd in many Parts amongst the Brasilians Chunches Chiruguanes Yscayungus Piloconens most of the Floridans Chinchemeco's and others which degenerate from all Humanity In time when some kind of Government began to be observ'd it was rather Popular than Monarchical yet generally those that were most powerful valiant and subtile bore the greatest sway Amongst whom the first that five Ages since Commanded over the Inhabitants of the Valley Cusco was Ingaroca a subtile and politick Person who built the Fort Pucora Eastward near the Foot of the Mountain Andes that so he might bridle the People which inhabited in those Parts between the Rivers Moors and Lakes where the remainders of the Fort are to be seen at this day Moreover he conquer'd all the Countrey along the Southern Ocean towards the North and South giving out that he was extracted from one of the seven Ingas by which Name the Peruan Kings have been styl'd ever since which came out of the Cave Pacaritambo The original of the Ingas where they were preserv'd against the Deluge of which the Heathens in America had long since an obscure knowledge and restor'd the drowned Families wherefore every one not onely obey'd but paid him Tribute and bound themselves to receive of him the true Religion which they desir'd he would teach them as none knowing the same better than he whom they look'd upon as Extracted from the Ingas Amongst these Ingas the chiefest was said to be Mangocapa who according to their fabulous Tradition climb'd through the Window Tambo out of the Cave Pacaritambo and produc'd two Families viz. Hunan Cusco and Urin Cusco from the first whereof Ingaroca affirm'd himself Descended and having first made himself Master of all the Countreys about Cusco rais'd the Family Vicaquiquirao and laid out a great part of his Revenues upon Gold and Silver Utensils and Ornaments for his Person and House which he in his last Will charg'd that none of his Successors should inherit nor dwell in his Palace but that every one should build a new Habitation for themselves He also erected divers Golden Idols Some Authors begin this Dynastie of the Kings of Peru in a very different manner making Mango Capa to be the first thereof and to have been Succeeded by his Son Chincaroca which cannot but be the same with this Ingaroca here mention'd Yaguarguoqu that is Yaguarguoqu the second Inga Crier of Blood because on a time being Commander and