white marble whereby they thynke that in tyme past some straungers haue come to those landes whiche haue dygged marble out of the mountaynes and lefte those fragmentes on the playne There our men learned that the ryuer Maragnonus descendeth from the mountaynes couered with snowe called Montes Niuales or Serra Neuata and the same to be encreased by many other ryuers whiche fall into it throughout all the lowe and waterly regions by the which it runneth with so long a tract from the sayd mountaynes into the sea and this to be the cause of the greatnesse thereof These thynges being thus brought to passe the gouernour commaunded the trumpeter to blowe a retraite Wheruppon they which were sent to lande beyng fiue hundred in number making a great shout for ioy of theyr victory set them selues in order of battayle and so keepyng theyr array returned to the shyppes laden with spoyle of those prouinces and shynyng in souldiers clokes of feathers with fayre plumes and crestes of variable colours In this meane tyme hauyng repaired theyr shyppes and furnyshed the same with all necessaries they loosed anker the .xvi day of the Calendes of Iuly directyng their course to the hauen of Carthagena in the whiche voyage they destroyed and wasted certaine Ilandes of the Canibales lying in the way accordyng as they were commaunded by the kyng But the swift course of the water deceiued both Iohannes Sarranus the chiefe Pilot of the gouernours shippe and all the other although they made their bost that they perfectly knewe the nature therof For they affyrme that in one night they were caried fourtie leagues beyond their estimation The syxte booke of the thyrde Decade HEere must we somewhat digresse frō Cosmography make a philosophical discourse to searche the secrete causes of nature For whereas they all affirme with one consent that y e sea runneth there from the east to the west as swiftely as it were a ryuer fallyng from hygh mountaynes I thought it not good to let suche matter slyppe vntouched The which whyle I consyder I am drawen into no small ambiguitie and doubt whyther those waters haue theyr course whiche flowe with so continuall a tract in circuite from the East as though they fledde to the west neuer to returne and yet neyther the west thereby any whit the more fylled nor the East emptied If we shall say that they fall to theyr centre as is the nature of heauie thynges and assigne the Equinoctiall line to bee the centre as some affyrme what centre shall we appoynt to be able to receiue so great abundance of water Or what circumference shall be founde wet They whiche haue searched those coastes haue yet founde no lyke reason to be true Many thynke that there shoulde bee certayne large straightes or entrances in the corner of that great lande whiche we described to be eyght tymes bygger then Italye and the corner thereof to be full of gulfes whereby they suppose that some strayghtes shoulde passe through the same lying on the west syde of the Ilande of Cuba and that the sayde strayghtes shoulde swalowe vp those waters and so conuey the same into the west and from thence agayne into our East Ocean or north seas as some thynke Other wyll that the gulfe of that great lande be closed vp and the lande to reache farre towarde the north on the backe syde of Cuba so that it embrace the north landes whiche the frosen sea encompasseth vnder the north pole and that all the lande of those coastes shoulde ioyne togeather as one firme lande Whereby they coniecture that those waters shoulde be turned about by the obiecte or resistaunce of that land so bendyng towarde the north as we see the waters turned about in the crooked bankes of certayne ryuers But this agreeth not in all poyntes For they also whiche haue searched the frosen sea and sayled from thence into the west do lykewyse affyrme that those north seas flowe continually towarde the west although nothyng so swiftely These north seas haue ben searched by one Sebastian Cabot a Uenetian borne whom beyng yet but in maner an infant his parentes caryed with them into Englande hauyng occasion to resort thither for trade of marchandize as is the maner of the Uenetians to leaue no part of the worlde vnsearched to obtaine rychesse He therfore furnished two shyppes in England at his owne charges And fyrst with three hundreth men directed his course so farre towarde the north pole that euen in the moneth of Iuly he founde monstrous heapes of Ise swymming on the sea and in maner continuall day lyght Yet sawe he the lande in that tract free from Ise whiche had ben moulten by heat of the Sonne Thus seeyng suche heapes of Ise before hym he was enforced to turne his sayles and folowe the west so coastyng styll by the shore that he was thereby brought so farre into the south by reason of the lande bendyng so muche southwarde that it was there almost equall in latitude with the sea called Fretum Herculeum hauyng the north pole eleuate in maner in the same degree He sayled lykewyse in this tract so farre towarde the west that he had the Ilande of Cuba on his left hande in maner in the same degree of longitude As he traueyled by the coastes of this great lande whiche he named Baccallaos he sayth that he founde the lyke course of the waters toward the west but the same to runne more softly and gentelly then the swifte waters whiche the Spanyardes founde in their nauigations southwarde Wherefore it is not onely more lyke to be true but ought also of necessitie to be concluded that betwene both the landes hitherto vnknowen there shoulde be certayne great open places wherby the waters should thus continually passe from the East into the west whiche waters I suppose to be dryuen about the globe of the earth by the vncessaunt mouyng and impulsion of the heauens and not to beswalowed vp and cast out agayne by the breathyng of Demogorgon as some haue imagined bycause they see the seas by increase decrease to flow reflow Sebastian Cabot hym selfe named those landes Baccallaos bycause that in the seas therabout he founde so great multitudes of certayne bygge fyshes muche like vnto Tunnies which thinhabitants cal Baccallaos that they somtymes stayed his shyppes He founde also the people of those regions couered with beastes skynnes yet not without the vse of reason He also sayth there is great plentie of Beares in those regions whiche vse to eate fyshe For plungeyng them selues into the water where they perceiue a multitude of these fyshes to lye they fasten theyr clawes in theyr scales and so drawe them to lande and eate them So that as he sayth the Beares beyng thus satisfied with fyshe are not noysome to men He declareth further that in many places of these regions he sawe great plentie of laton among the inhabitauntes
throughout al the valley within the earth as in a mine whiche they dygge and take out suche as they neede of al sortes The other marueylous thyng of this Ilande is this That farre from the sea there ishueth out of a mountayne a certayne lycour muche lyke the Cley of Babylon called Bitumen or lyke vnto pytche in great quantitie and suche as is very commodious for the calkyng of shyppes this falleth continually from the rocke and runneth into sea in suche aboundaunce that it is seene flotyng aboue the water on euerye syde of the sea there about as it is dryuen from place to place by the wynde or course of the water Quintus Cursius wryteth in his historie that great Alexander came to the citie of Memi where is a great Caue or Denne in the whiche is a spryng or fountayne that contynually auoydeth a great quantitie of Bitumen in suche sort that it is an easy thyng to beleeue that the stones of the walles of Babylon might be laid therewith according as the said auctour writeth I haue seene this myne of Bitumen not only in the Iland of Cuba but also such an other in new Spaine whiche was founde of late in the prouince of Panuco where it is much better then the other of Cuba as I haue seene by experience in calkyng of shyppes Of the lande of Baccalaos called Terra Baccalearum situate on the North syde of the firme lande SHortly after that your maiestie came to the citie of Toledo there arriued in the moneth of Nouember Steuen Gomes the pilot who the yeere before of .1524 by the commaundement of your maiestie sailed to y e North partes and founde a great part of lande continuate from that which is called Baccalaos discoursyng toward the West to the .xl. and .xli. degree from whence he brought certayne Indians for so call we all the nations of the newe found landes of the which he brought some with him from thence who are yet in Toledo at this present and of greater stature then other of the firme lande as they are commonly theyr coloure is muche lyke the other of the firme lande they are great archers and go couered with the skinnes of diuers beastes both wylde and tame In this lande are many excellent furres as Marterns Sables and such other ryche furres of the which the sayd pilot brought some with him into Spayne they haue syluer and copper certayne other metals they are Idolaters and honour the Sonne and Moone and are seduced with such superstition and errours as are they of the firme And to haue wryten thus much it may suffice of suche thynges as haue seemed to me most worthy to be noted in the Summarie of Gonzalus Ferdinandus wrytten to Themperours maiestie Particularly of newe Spayne called Noua Hispania or Mexico NEwe Spayne is that part of the continent or firme lande that lyeth West and South from the land of Florida this was subdued to thempire of Castile by the ryght noble gentelman Ferdinando Cortese y e marquesse of the vale of Quaraca In this lande are many prouinces conteynyng in them in maner innumerable cities among which that is the chiefe whiche the Indians cal Mexico or Temixtitan consystyng of more then fiue hundred thousand inhabitauntes It standeth in the middest of a lake of salte water as doth Uenece in the sea the lake conteyneth fourtie Persian miles called Parasange euery one consysting of .xxx. furlonges and more as some say In these regions is found great plentie of gold syluer pretious stones with innumerable other thynges both necessary for the lyfe of man pleasant as Silke Bombasine cotton Alame Safferne Woad with diuers other thinges wherwith cloth and Silke is dyed There is also such abundaunce of suger that certaine Spanishe shippes are yeerely fraighted therwith and bring the same into Smile from whence it is caryed in maner to al partes of Christendome Thinhabitantes of Mexico are subtile people and vse much craft in theyr bargaining they haue not the vse of gold and syluer mony but vse in the steade thereof the halfe shelles of Almonds which kind of Barbarous mony they cal Cacoa or Cacanguate In maner al kinds of corne are there very good cheape especially barly and wheate They haue great plentie of Hartes wylde Bores Lions Leopardes and Tigers whiche beastes wander in maner in euery place The region is most commodious for haukyng and huntyng for the great abundaunce it hath of beastes and foules But the people exercise al theyr cunnyng in makyng the images of their idolatry and in painting Theyr women are valiant and sumptuous in theyr apparell and other tyrementes for they so rychely frynge and beset the same with pearles precious stones and golde that nothyng can be more excellent they haue a kynde of paper greatly differyng from ours in this they expresse their mindes by certayne figures for they haue not otherwyse thuse of letters The nation is desyrous of warre and doth not long keepe the conditions of peace vnuiolated but delyteth rather in ciuile and most cruell battayle among them selues then to liue in peace and quietnesse Such as in the warres fal by any meanes into the handes of theyr enimies eyther by submyssion or otherwyse are partly sacryfised to the Idoles and the resydue geuen to the souldiers to be eaten in lyke maner as we rewarde dogges and haukes with part of theyr pray They haue innumerable Idoles whiche euery one maketh for his particuler god after the phantasie of his owne brayne and geueth therto diuine honour albeit at this day they do by litle and litle leaue of theyr barbarous fyercenesse with our religion imbrace better maners For they nowe professe the fayth of Christ and in his name pray vnto God the Father Of Peru. THe prouince called Peru was also named Noua Castilia by them that fyrst founde it This region is the West part of America and is situate in the longitude of .290 degrees proceeding from the West to the East and Southward begynneth fyue degrees beyonde the Equinoctiall line and is extended very farre into the South This is taken to be the rychest land in golde siluer pearles precious stones and spices that euer was founde yet to this day For gold is there in suche plentie that they make pyspots therof and other vessels applied to fylthy vses But this is more to be marueyled at that in a citie called Collâ—o was founde a house al couered with massie plates of gold In theyr warres also theyr harnesse is of gold and siluer Theyr weapons are bowes arrowes slyngs dartes and pykes The inhabitauntes are warrelyke people and of great agilitie They haue cities defended with lawes and armes The region is exceeding fruitfull and yeldeth corne twyse in the yeere It is so floryshyng with many fayre woods mountaynes ryuers and other both pleasaunt necessarie
vs. And M. Furbisher the further he trauayled in the former passage as he tolde me the deeper alwayes he founde sea Lay you now the sum hereof togeather The riuers runne where the Chanels are most hollow the sea in taking his course waxeth deeper the sea waters fall continuallye from the North Southward the Northeasterne currant striketh downe into the streict we speake of is there augmented with whole mountains of I se snow falling downe furiously out from y e land vnder y e North Pole Where store of water is there is it a thing impossible to want sea where sea not only doth not want but waxeth deeper ther can be discouered no land Finally whence I pray you came the contrary tyde that M. Furbisher met withal after that he had sayled no small way in that passage if there be any isthmos or streict of land betwixt the aforesaid Northweststerne gulfe and Mar del Zur to ioyne Asia and America togeather That conclusion frequented in scholes Quidquid preter c. was ment of the partes of the worlde then knowen and so is it of ryght to be vnderstoode The fifte obiection requireth for answere wysedome and policie in the trauailer to wyn the Barbares fauour by some good meanes and so to arme strengthen him selfe that when he shal haue the repulse in one coast he may safely trauaile to an other commodiously taking his conuenient times discretly making choyse of them with whom he wyl throughly deale To force a violent entrie would for vs Englishe men be very hard consyderyng the strength and valeour of so great a nation farre distaunt from vs and the attempt thereof myght bee most perillous vnto the doers vnlesse theyr part were verye good Touchyng theyr lawes agaynst strangers you shall reade neuerthelesse in the same relations of Galeotto Berara that the Cathaian kyng is woont to graunt free accesse vnto all forreiners that trade into his countrey for marchandyse and a place of lybertie for them to remaine in as the Mores had vntyll such time as they had brought the Loutea or Lieuetenaunt of that coaste to be a circumcised Saracene wherefore some of them were put to the sworde the rest were scattred abrode at Fuquien a great citie in China certayne of them are yet this day to be seen As for the Giapans they be most desyrous to be acquaynted with strangers The Portugals though they were straightly handled there at the fyrst yet in the ende they founde great fauoure at the prince his hands insomuch that the Loutea or president that misused them was therefore put to death The rude Indish Canoa halleth that seas the Portugalles the Saracenes Mores traueil continually vp downe that reache from Giapan to China from China to Malacca from Malacca to the Moluccaes and shal an Englishmā better appointed then any of them al that I say no more of our nauie feare to saile in that Ocean What seas at al doo want piracie what nauigation is there voyde of peril To the last argument Our traueylers neede not to seeke their returne by the northeast ne shall they be constrayned except they lyst ether to attempte Magellane streicte at the Southwest or to be in daunger of the Portugalles for the Southeast they may returne by the northwest that same way they do go foorth as experience hath shewed The reason alleaged for proofe of the contrary may be disproued after this maner And fyrst it may be called in controuersie whether any currant continually be forced by the motion of Primum mobile rounde about the worlde or no for learned men do diuersely handle that question The naturall course of all waters is downewarde wherfore of congruence they fall that way where they fynde the earth most lowe and deepe in respecte whereof it was erst sayde the seas to strike from the Northren landes Southerly Uiolently the seas are tossed and troubled diuerse wayes with the wyndes encreased and diminished by the course of the Moone hoysed vp and downe through the sundrye operations of the Sonne and the Starres finally some be of opinion that the seas be carried in part violently about y e world after the daily motion of the highest mouable heauen in lyke maner as y e elementes of ayre and fyre with the rest of the heauenly spheres are from the east vnto the west And this they do call theyr easterne currant or leuant streame Some suche currant may not be denied to be of great force in the hote Zone for the nearenes thereof vnto the centre of the Sonne and blustryng easterne wyndes violently dryuing the seas westwarde howbeit in the temperate climes the Sonne beyng farther of and the wyndes more diuerse blowyng as muche from the north the west and south as from the east this rule doth not effectually withholde vs from traueylyng eastwarde ne be we kepte euer backe by the aforesayde Leuante wyndes and streame But in Magellane streict we are violently driuen backe westwarde Ergo through the Northwesterne streicte or Anian fret shall we not be able to returne eastwarde it foloweth not The fyrst for that the northwesterne streict hath more sea rome at the least by one hundred Englyshe myles then Magellane fret hath the onely want wherof causeth all narrowe passages generally to be most violent So woulde I say in Anian gulfe if it were so narrowe as Don Diego and Zalterius haue paynted it out any returne that way to be ful of difficulties in respect of such streictnes therof not for the nearenes of the Sonne or easterne wyndes violently forceing that way any leuant streame But in that place there is more sea rome by many degrees if the cardes of Cabota and Gemma Frisius and that whiche Tramezine imprinted be true And hytherto reason see I none at all but that I may as well geue credyt vnto theyr doynges as to any of the rest It must be Peregrinationis historia that is true reportes of skilful trauailers as Ptolome writeth that in suche controuersies of Geographie must put vs out of double Ortelius in his vniuersall tables in his particuler Mappes of the west Indies of all Asia of the northren kyngdomes of the easte Indies Mercator in some of his globes and generall mappes of the worlde Moletius in his vniuersall table of the Globe diuided in his sea carde and particuler tables of the East Indies Zalterius and Don Diego with Fernando Bertely and others do so much dyffer both from Gemma Frisius and Cabota among them selues in diuers places from them selues concerning the diuers situation and sundrye limittes of America that one may not so rashly as truelye surmise these men either to be ignorant in those pointes touching the aforesayd region or that the mappes they haue geuen out vnto the world were collected only by them neuer of their owne drawyng M. Furbishers prosperous voyage and happie returne wyl absolutely decide these controuersies and certaynely determine where
thousande pounde of our money The starres about the south pole A similitude declaryng Antipodes The maner of of fyshyng for pearles Petrus Arias Wanton and superfluous pleasures The fyshyng place of kyng Chiapes Gold in maner in euery house The rych treasury of nature The golde mynes of Dariena King Teaocha enterteyneth Vaschus frendly Twenty pound weyght of wrought gold Desartes ful of wylde beastes Dryed fyshe Kyng Pacra a tyraunt Great heate in the moneth of Nouember Hurt by wylde beastes A Tyger Calidonia is a forrest in Scotlande Nemea is a wood in Greece Tigers whelpes Thus the Egiptians take Crocodiles The dogge tyger taken The roryng of the tyger Tigers flesh eaten The biâ—the tyger Tigers whelpes A straunge thyng Kyng Pacra Natural hatred of vice Foure Kynges deuoured of dogges The vse of dogges in warre against naked men The Canibales are expert archers Swoordes of wood Fiftie pound weight of gold Kyng Bononiama frend to the christians Wrought gold The oration of kyng Bononiama The sparke of the lawe of nature is the lawe written in the hartes of men Great plenty of golde A symilitude for the profe of plentye of golde Chaunge of dyet is daungerous Old souldiers A long lent Comogrus Two poore kynges Desartes Vessels of golde kyng Chiorisus sendeth Vaschus xxx dyshes of pure golde Axes of Iron more esteemed then any golde Plenty of gold and scarcenesse of meate A good policie The cause of vehement windes neere the Equinocciall Vaschus his Wordes to King Tumanama Oderuut quem metuunt Xxx. pounde weight of wrought gold Threescore poundes weight of gold They abhorrce labour The coloure of the golden earth and a triall of the same Tokens of great plentle of gold Feeblenesse of hunger and watching The riuer Comogrus Vaschus returneth to Dariena The good fortune of Vaschus O flatteryng fortune looke his death in the booke of the Iland lately found The earth is our generall mother The cout of infernal Pluto Manhuntees The fyersnessâ— of the Canibales Our duty to god and naturall loue to mankinde The office of Christian princes The haruest is great The fourth nauigation of Colonus the Admiral From Spaine to Hispaniola a thousande and two hundred leagues Simple people A great marchaunt Gentle people The regions of Tuia Maia Seuen kyndes of date trees Wilde vines Mirobalanes Byrdes and foules People of goodly stature They poynt theyr bodyes The swyft course of the sea from the East to the West Freshe water in the sea Fayre ryuers Great reedes Great Tortoyses Quatuor tempora The region of Quicuri The hauen of Cariai or Mirobalanus Ciuile and humane people Trees growing in the sea after a strange sort Plinie A strange kynd of Monkeys A Monkey fyghteth with a man A conflyct betwene a Monkey and a wyld Bore The bodyes of kynges dryed and reserued Crownes of beastes clawes Spytefull people Guns make peace Seuen golden ryuers Note wher the plentie of gold endeth Crocodiles of sweet sauour Alcayr or Babylon in Egypt Shyppes eaten with wormes Alexandria in Egypt Howe the kyng of Beragua entertayned the Lieuetenant Their reuereÌ„ce to their kyng Slynges and dartes Libertie more esteemed then ryches The Spanyardes are dryuen to flyght A miserable case Necessitie hath no lawe Howe farre life is to be estemed Sanctus Dominicus Landes founde by Colonus Themperat regions and holsome ayre Expert miners A godly nature in golde Golden haruest High and great mountaynes Tirrhenum is nowe called Tuscane The mouÌ„tayns of Beragua higher then the cloudes Mountaynes of fiftie myles heyght Ianus otherwase called Iaphet the son of Noe. By this coniecture the way shoulde open to Cathai by the Hiperboreans Looke the nauigation of Cabote Deca iii. lib. vi The great riuer Maragnonus The great riuer Dabaiba or sancti Iohannes The riuers haue theyr increase from the sprynges of the mountaynes The ryuer of Nilus in Egypt Maryshes and desolate wayes A superstitious opinion of the originall of the mountaynes of Dabaiba Dragons and Crocodiles in the maryshes The hauen Cerabaro Twentie golden ryuers Precious stones A precious Diamond of exceeding bignes Topasis The nauigation of Petrus Arias The Ilande of Canarie Prouision of freshe water and fuel The sea of hearbes These mountaines are called Montes Niuales or Serra Neuata Decade .ii. lib. 1. and .ii. Mountaynes couered with snowe The stoutnes of the Barbarians The Canibales fight in the water The vse of gunnes The generation of thunder and lyghtning Plentie of fysh Cunning fyshers Tapistrie This is he whom Cardanus praiseth Precious stones The Smaradge is the true Hâ—merode Another kynde of Amber is founde in Whales Golde and Brasile Marchasites are flowres of mettals by the colours whereof the kyndes of mettals are knowen These Locustes burne the corne with touching and deuoure the residue They are in India of three foote length Gardens Insubres are nowe called Lumbardes and Hetruci Tuscans One myriade is ten thousande The manner of plantyng the roote Iucca Earth turned into rootes Howe bread is made of rootes Panicum is a grayne somewhat lyke mil The Italians cal it Melica He meaneth the equal length of day and nyght which is continualy in regions vnder the Equinoctiall line Holsome ayre Gossampine Cotton Fethers Bowes and arrowes Dead bodies reserued Gonzalus Ouiâ—dus sayeth that they gylt marueylously with the iuce of a certayne hearbe White marble The great riuer Maragnonus This ioyneth with the mighty riuer called Flumen Amazonum founde of late Clokes of fethers The swift course of the water Fourtie leagues in one nyght Sundry opinions why the sea runneth with so swyft course from the East into the West The Equinoctial line Why al waters moue towarde the south or Equinoctial read Cardanus ae subtilit liber ii de elementis Strayghtes As by the strayght of Magelanus The north landes The frosen sea Sebastian Cabot The voyage of Sebastian Cabot from Englande to the frosen sea Demogorgon is the spirite of the earth People couered with beastes skynnes The Ilandes of the Canybales The Ilande Fortis Salte A strange thing Howe Vaschus receiued the newe gouernour Habitable regions vnder the Equinoctiall line Where the new gouernour planteth his habitation A passinger shyp Decurians are officers deuided into tennes c. The gold mines of Dabaiba An errour The region of Saturma The Ilande of Dominica Difficult saylyng agaynst the course of the sea The daungerous straightes of Scylla and Charibdis The vehement course of the sea from the east to the west By what meanes the Sonne beames are cause of feruent heate The pernitious ayre of Dariena Toades and Flees engendred of drops of water Necessitie hath no lawe A house set on fyre with lightnyng A dogge deuoured of a Crocodile Tanquam canis de Nilo The bytyng of Battes Lions and Tygers Beastes waxe higher in theyr kynde Note Broma or Bissa are wormes which destroy shyppes A venemous tree Perhaps their venemous arrows are made of this wood A preseruatiue against poison The Ilandes of the
consyder what newe landes and countreys what newe seas what sundry nations and tounges what golde mynes what treasuries of perles they haue lefte vnto your hyghnesse besyde other reuenues The whiche what they are and howe greate these three Decades shall declare Come therfore most noble Prince elected of God and enioye that hyghe estate of thinges not yet vnderstode to men We offer vnto you the Equinoctiall lyne hytherto vnknowen and burnte by the furious heate of the sonne and vnhabitable after the opinion of the olde wryters a fewe excepted but nowe founde to be most replenished with people faire fruiteful and most fortunate with a thousande Ilandes crowned with golde and bewtifull pearles besydes that greate portion of earth supposed to be parte of the firme lande excedyng in quantitie three Europes Come therfore and embrase this newe world and suffer vs no longer to consume in desyre of your presence From hence from hence I say most noble young Prince shal instrumentes be prepared for you wherby al the worlde shal be vnder your obeysance And thus I byd your maiestie farewell to whose taste if I shal perceaue the fruites of this my tyllage to be delectable I wyll heareafter do my endeuoure that you may receaue the same more abundauntly From Madrid the day before the Calendes of October In the yere of Christ M.D.XUI The fyrst Booke of the Decades of the Ocean written by Peter Martyr of Angleria Milenoes counsaylour to the king of Spayne and Protonotarie Apostolicall to Ascanius Sphorcia Vicount Cardinal c. THe reuerende and thankful antiquitie was accustomed to esteeme those men as gods by whose industrie and magnanimitie such landes and regions were discouered as were vnknowen to theyr predecessours But vnto vs hauyng only one God whom we honour in triplicitie of person this resteth that albeit we do not worship that kinde of men with diuine honour yet do we reuerence them and woorthyly marueyle at theyr noble actes and enterpryses Unto kynges and princes we geue due obeysaunce by whose gouernance and furtherance they haue ben aided to perfourme their attempts we commend both and for theyr iust desartes woorthyly extol them Wherefore as concerning the Ilandes of the west Ocean lately discouered and of the auctours of the same whiche thyng you desyre by your letters to knowe I wyl begyn at the fyrst aucthour thereof lest I be iniurious to any man Take it therefore as foloweth Christophorus Colonus otherwyse called Columbus a gentleman of Italie borne in the citie of Genua perswaded Fernando and Elizabeth catholike prynces that he doubted not to fynde certayne Ilandes of India nere vnto our Ocean sea if they woulde furnyshe hym with shyppes and other thynges apparteynyng affyrmyng that therby not onely the Christian religion myght be enlarged but Spayne also enryched by the great plentie of golde pearles precious stones and spices whiche myght be founde there At the length three shyppes were appoynted hym at the kinges charges of the whiche one was a great caracâ—e with deckes and the other two were light marchaunte shyppes without deckes whiche the Spaniardes call Carauelas Thus he departed from the costes of Spaine about the calendes of September in the yeere of Christe .1492 and set forwarde on his viage being accompanied with CC.xx. Spanyardes The fortunate Ilandes as manye thynke them to be whiche the Spaniardes call Canariae found but of late dayes are distaunte from the Ilandes of Gades a thousande and two hundreth myles accordyng to theyr accomptes for they say they are distant three hundred leagues whereas suche as are expert sea men affirme that euery league conteineth foure miles after theyr supputations These Ilandes were called fortunate for the temperate ayre whiche is in them For neyther the coldnesse of wynter is sharpe vnto them nor the heate of sommer intollerable Yet some men are of opinion that those were in olde tyme called the fortunate Ilandes whiche the Portugales call Capo Verde Colonus therfore sayled fyrst to the Ilandes of Canariae to the intente there to refreshe his shyppes with freshe water and fuell before he committed hym selfe to this so laborous a viage And because I haue heare made mention of the Ilandes of Canariae it shal not be muche from my purpose to declare howe of vnknowen they became knowen and of sauage and wilde better manured For by the long course of many yeeres they were forgotten and remayned as vnknowen These seuen Ilandes therefore called the Canaries were founde by chaunce by a frenche man called Betanchor by the permission of queene Katharine protectrixe of king Iohn her sonne while he was yet in his nonage about the yeere of Christe M. CCCC.U This Betanchor inuaded two of these Ilandes called Lancelotus and Fortisuentura which he inhabited brought to better culture He being dead his sonne and heire solde bothe the sayde Ilandes to certayne Spaniardes After this Farnandus Peraria and his wyfe inuaded Ferrea and Gomera The other three were subdued in our time Grancanaria by Petrus de Vera citizen of the noble citie of Xericium and Michael of Moxica Palma and Tenerifen by Alphonsus Lugo at the kings charges Gomera and Ferrea were easily subdued But the matter went harde with Alphonsus Lugo For that naked and wylde nation fyghtyng only with stones and clubbes droue his armie to flight at the first assaulte and slue about foure hundred of his men But at the length he ouercame them And thus all the Ilandes of Canariae were added to the dominion of Spayne From these Ilandes Colonus directyng his voyage towarde the west folowyng the falling of the sunne but declining somewhat towarde the left hande sayled on forwarde .xxxiii. dayes continually hauyng only the fruition of the heauen and the water Then the Spanyardes whiche were accompanyed with hym began fyrst to murmure secretely among them selues and shortly after with wordes of reproche spake euil of Colonus theyr gouernour and consulted with them selues eyther to rydde hym out of the way or els to cast hym into the sea ragyng that they were deceyued of a stranger an outlandyshe man a Ligurian a Genues and brought into suche daungerous places that they might neuer returne agayne And after .xxxiii. dayes were past they furiously cryed out against him and threatned him that he shoulde passe no further But he euer with gentle wordes and large promises appeased their furie and prolonged day after day some tyme desyryng them to beare with hym yet a whyle and some time putting them in remembrance that yf they shoulde attempt any thing against him or otherwyse disobey hym it would be reputed for treason Thus after a fewe dayes with cheareful harts they espied the lande long looked for In this fyrst nauigation he discouered .vi. ilandes wherof two were exceedyng great Of whiche the one he called Hispaniola and the other Iohanna But at that tyme he knewe not perfectly that Iohanna
great fertilitie of the same Thinhabitauntes of this mountaine brought to our shyp bread gossampine cotton cunnies sundry kyndes of wyldfoule demaundyng relygiously of thinterpretours if this nation descended not from heauen The kyng of this people and dyuers other sage men that stoode by him informed hym that that lande was no Ilande Shortly after entring into one of the ilandes being on the lefte hande of this lande they founde no body therin for they fledde al at the comming of our men Yet founde they there foure dogges of maruelous deformed shape suche as coulde not barke This kynd of doggs they eate as we do goates Here is great plentie of geese duckes and hearons Betwene these ilandes and the continent he entered into so narowe streyghtes that he coulde scarsely turne backe the shyppes and these also so shalowe that the keele of the shyppes somtyme rased on the sandes The water of these streyghtes for the space of fourtie myles was white and thycke lyke vnto mylke and as though meale had ben sparkeled throughout al that sea And when they had at the length escaped these strayghtes and were nowe come into a mayne and large sea and had sayled theron for the space of fourescore myles they espyed an other exceding hygh mountayne whyther the Admirall resorted to store his shyppes with freshe water and fuel Heare among certayne wooddes of Date trees pyneapple trees of excedyng height he founde two natiue sprynges of freshe water In the meane tyme whyle the woodde was cuttyng and the barrelles fyllyng one of our archers went into the wood to hunt where he espyed a certayne man with a whyte vesture so lyke a fryer of thorder of saynt Marye of Mercedis that at the fyrste sight he supposed it had ben the Admirals priest which he brought with hym beyng a man of the same order but two other folowed him immediatlye out of the same wooddes Shortly after he sawe a farre of a whole company of men clothed in apparel being about xxx in number Then turning his backe and crying out to his felowes he made haste to the shyppes with all that he myght dryue These apparelled men made sygnes and tokens to hym to tary and not to be afrayd but that notwithstandyng he ceassed not to flee The Admirall beyng aduertysed hereof and not a lytle reioycyng that he had founde a ciuile people incontinently sent foorth armed men with commaundement that yf neede should so requyre they shoulde enter fourtie myles into the ilande vntyl they myght fynde eyther those apparelled men or other inhabitauntes of that countrey When they had passed ouer the wood they came into a great playne ful of grasse and hearbes in whiche appeared no token of any pathway Here attemptyng to goe through the grasse and hearbes they were so entangled and bewrapt therein that they were scarselye able to passe a myle the grasse beyng there lytle lower then our ripe corne beyng therefore weeryed they were enforced to returne agayne finding no pathway The day folowyng he sent foorth xxv armed men another way commaundyng them to make diligent search and inquisition what manner of people inhabited the lande Who departyng when they had found not farre from the sea side certayne steps of wyld beastes of the which they suspected some to be of Lions feete beyng strycken with feare returturned backe agayne As they came they founde a wood in the whiche were many natiue vines here and there creepyng about hygh trees with many other trees bearyng aromatical fruites and spyces Of these vines they brought with them into Spaine many clusters of grapes very ponderous and ful of licour but of the other fruites they brought none because they putrified by the way in the shyp were cast into the sea They say also that in the landes or medowes of those wooddes they sawe flockes of great Cranes twyse as bygge as ours As he went forward and turned his sayles towarde certayne other mountaynes he espied two cotages on the shore in the whiche he sawe only one man who being brought to the shippe signified with head fyngers and by al other signes that he coulde deuise that the lande whiche lay beyonde those mountaynes was very full of people and as the Admiral drew neare the shore of the same there met him certayne Canoas hauyng in them many people of the countrey who made signes and tokens of peace and frendshyp But here Didacus the interpretour which vnderstoode the language of thinhabitantes of the beginning of Cuba vnderstode not them one whit whereby they consydered that in sundry prouinces of Cuba were sundry languages He had also intelligence that in the inlande of this region was a king of great power accustomed to weare apparell he sayde that all the tracte of this shore was drowned with water and ful of mudde besette with manye trees after the maner of our maryshes Yet whereas in this place they went alande for freshe water they founde many of the shelfyshes in the whiche pearles are geathered But that coulde not cause the Admirall to tracte the tyme there entending at this viage only to proue howe many landes seas he could discouer according to the kinges commaundement As they yet proceded forwarde they sawe here and there al the way along by the shore a great smoke rysing vntyll they came to an other mountayne foure score myles distant there was no rocke or hyll that coulde be seene but the same was all of a smoke But whether these fyres were made by thinhabitantes for their necessary busynes or as we are wont to sette beacons on fyre when we suspecte thapproche of our enimies thereby to geue warning to theyr neyghbours to be in a redines geather togeather if perhaps our men shoulde attempt any thyng against them or otherwyse as seemeth most lykely to cal them togeather as to a wonder to beholde our shyppes they knowe yet no certentie In this tracte the shores bended somtyme towarde the South and sometyme towarde the West and west southwest and the sea was euerye where entangled with Ilandes by reason whereof the keeles of the shyppes often times rased the sandes for shalownesse of the water So that the shyppes being very sore bruised and appayred the sayles cables and other tackelinges in maner rotten and the vytailes especially the biskette bread corrupted by takyng water at the ryftes euyll closed the Admirall was enforced to turne backe agayne This laste poynte where he touched of Cuba not yet being knowen to be an ilande he called Euangelista Thus turning his sayles towarde other ilandes lying not farre from the supposed continent he chaunced into a mayne sea where was suche a multitude of great Tortoyses that somtyme they stayed the shyppes Not long after he entred into a gulfe of whyte water lyke vnto that wherof we spake before At the length fearing the shelfes of the ilands he returned to the shore of
of .viii. dayes in the which he suffered these extremites onely the fyrst day was fayre but al the other clowdy and rayny yet neuerthelesse feruent hotte Wherefore it oftentymes repented hym not a litle that euer he tooke that way Being tossed in these dangers and vexations eyght continuall dayes at the lengthe an Eastsoutheast wynde arose and gaue a prosperous blaste to his sayles Whiche wynde folowing directly towarde the west he founde the starres ouer that paralell placed in other order and an other kynde of ayre as the Admirall hym selfe toilde me And they al affirme that within three dayes sayling they founde most temperate and pleasaunt ayre The Admiral also affirmeth that from the clime of the great heate and vnholsome ayre he euer ascended by the backe of the sea as it were by a hygh mountayne towarde heauen yet in all this tyme coulde he not once see any land But at the length the day before the Calendes of Iuly the watchman lookyng foorth of the toppe castel of the greatest shippe cried out aloude for ioy that he espied three exceding hygh mountaynes exhorting his felowes to be of good cheere and to put away al pensiuenes for they were very heauy and sorowfull as well for the greefe which they susteyned by reason of thintollerable heate as also that their freshe water fayled them whiche ranne out at the ryftes of the barels caused by extreme heate as we haue sayd Thus being wel comforted they drew to the land but at theyr fyrst approch they could not aryue by reason of the shalownes of the sea neere the shore Yet loking out of theyr shyppes they myght well perceiue that the Region was inhabyted and wel cultured for they sawe very fayre gardens and pleasaunt medowes from the trees and herbes wherof when the mornyng deawes beganne to ryse there proceaded manye sweete sauoures Twentie myles distant from hence they chaunced into a hauen very apte to harborowe shyppes but it had no ryuer running into it Sayling on yet somwhat further he founde at the length a commodious hauen wherin he might repayre his shyppes and make prouision of freshe water and fuel Arenalis calleth this land Puta They found no houses nere vnto the hauen but innumerable steppes of certeyn wilde beastes feete of the whiche they founde one dead muche lyke a goate The day folowyng they sawe a Canoa commyng a farre of hauyng in it foure and twentie young men of goodly corporature and high stature al armed with targets bowes arrowes the heare of theyr heades was long and playne and cutte on the forehead much after the manner of the Spanyards their pryuie partes were couered with fyllets of gossampine cotton of sundry colours enterlaced were beside al ouer naked Here the Admiral consydering with him selfe the corporature of this people and nature of the lande he beleeued the same to be so muche the nearer heauen then other regions of the same paralel and further remooued from the grosse vapours of the vales and maryshes howe muche the hyghest toppes of the byggest mountaynes are distant from the deepe vales For he earnestly affirmeth that in al that nauigation he neuer went out of the paralels of Ethiope So great difference is there betweene the nature of thinhabitauntes and of the soyles of diuers regions al vnder one clime or paralel as is to see betweene the people and regions beyng in the fyrme lande of Ethiope and them of the Ilandes vnder the same clime hauyng the pole starre eleuate in y e same degree For the Ethiopians are all blacke hauing theyr heare curled more like wool then heare but these people of the Iland of Puta beyng as I haue sayde vnder the clyme of Ethiope are white with long heare and of yelow colour Wherefore it is apparant the cause of this so great difference to be rather by the disposition of the earth then constitution of heauen For we knowe that snowe falleth on the mountaynes of the Equinoctial or burnt lyne and the same to endure there continuallye we knowe lykewyse that the inhabitauntes of the regions farre distant from that lyne towarde the north are molested with great heate The Admirall that he myght alure the young men to hym with gentlenesse shewed them lookyng glasses fayre and bryght vessels of copper haukes belles and suche other thynges vnknowen to them But the more they were called so muche the more they suspected craft and deceyte and fledde backewarde Yet dyd they with great admiration beholde our men and theyr thynges but styll hauyng theyr ores in theyr handes redy to flee When the Admirall sawe that he coulde by no meanes allure them by gyftes he thought to prooue what he coulde do with musicall instrumentes and therefore commaunded that they whiche were in the greatest shyp should play on theyr drummes and shawlmes But the young men supposing this to be a token of battayle left theyr ores in the twinclyng of an eye had theyr arrowes in theyr bowes and theyr targets on their armes and thus directing theyr arrowes towarde our men stoode in expectation to knowe what this noyse might meane Our men likewyse preparyng theyr bowes and arrowes approched towarde them by litle and litle But they departing from the Admirals shyppe and trusting to the dexteritie of theyr ores came so neare one of the lesse shyppes that one of them plucked the cloke from the gouernour of the shyppe and as wel as they coulde by signes required hym to come alande promisyng fayth that they woulde commune with him of peace But when they sawe him goe to the Admirals shyp whyther he went to aske leaue that he might commune with them suspecting hereby some further deceyt they leapt immediatlye into the Canoa and fleedde as swyft as the wynde so that to conclude they could by no meanes be allured to familiaritie Wherfore the Admiral thought it not conuenient to bestowe any long time there at this voyage No great space from this Ilande euer towarde the West the Admiral sayth he found so outragious a fal of water runnyng with suche a violence from the East to the West that it was nothyng inferior to a myghtie streame fallyng from hygh mountaynes He also confessed that synce the fyrst day that euer he knewe what the sea meant he was neuer in suche feare Proceedyng yet somewhat further in this daungerous voyage he founde certayne gulfes of eyght myles as it had ben the entraunce of some great hauen into the whiche the sayde violent streames dyd fall These gulfes or streyghtes he called Os Draconis that is the Dragons mouth and the Ilande directly oueragaynst the same he called Margarita Out of these strayghtes issued no lesse force of freshe water whiche encounteryng with the salte dyd stryue to passe foorth so that betweene both the waters was no small conflycte But entryng into the gulfe at the length he founde the water thereof verye freshe and good to drynke The Admirall
slayne of any wylde beast As many hartes or wylde bores as our men woulde desyre them to bryng they woulde kyll in the woodes with their arrowes and not to fayle to bryng them They lacke kyne goates and sheepe Theyr bread is made of rootes as is theyrs of the Ilands This nation hath blacke heare grosse and somwhat curlde yet long also They keepe theyr teeth very whyte and for that purpose vse to cary a certaine herbe betwene theyr lyppes for the most part of the day and to washe theyr mouthts when they cast it away The women doo all theyr busynes at home in theyr howses and haue also the cure of tyllage of the grounde but the men apply them selues to the warres and huntyng to playe syngyng and daunsyng They haue sundry kyndes of water pottes iugges and drinkyng cuppes made of earth in other places about them and brought thyther for exchaung of other thynges For they vse fayres and markettes for the same purpose and are greatly desyrous of such thynges as are not brought forth or made in theyr countrey as nature hath geuen a disposytion to al men to desyre and be delyted with newe and strang thynges Many of them had hangyng at theyr pearles the images of certeine beastes and birdes very artifitiously made of golde but not pure these also are brought them from other places for exchang of other thynges The golde wherof they are made is natiue and of much lyke finenes to that wherof the florens are coyned The men of this countrey inclose theyr priuie members in a gourde cutte after the fashioÌ„ of a coddepice or els couer the same with the shell of a tortoyse tyed about theyr loynes with laces of gossampine cotton In other places of that tract they thrust the synew within the sheeth therof and bynde the skinne fast with a string The great wylde beastes wherof we spake before and many other thynges which are not found in any of the Ilandes testifie that this region is parte of y e continet or firme lande But the chiefest coniecture wherby they argue the same is that by the coastes of that lande from Paria towarde the west they sayled about three M. myles findyng no signe or token of any ende These people of Curiana whiche some call Curtana being demaunded where they had such plentie of golde signified that it was brought them from a region called Canchieta or Cauchieta beyng distant from them sixe sunnes that is sixe dayes iourney westwarde and that theyr images of golde were made in the same region Whereupon our men directed theyr voyage thyther immediatly and aryued there at the Kalendes of Nouember in the yeere of Christe a thousande and fyue hundred The people of the countrey resorted to them without feare bryngyng with them of the golde whiche we sayde to be natiue in that region This people had also collers of pearles about theyr neckes which were brought them from Curiana for exchaunge of theyr marchandises None of them woulde exchaunge anye of those thynges whiche they had out of other countreys as neyther the Curians golde nor the Canchietans pearles yet among the Canchietans they founde but lytle golde redy geathered They toke with them from thence certayne very fayre Marmasets or Munkeyes and many Popyngayes of sundrye coloures In the moneth of Nouember the ayre was there most temperate and nothyng colde The guardens of the north pole were out of syght to both these people they are so neare the Equinoctial Of the degrees of the pole they can geue none other accompte These people are wel disposed men of honest conditions and nothyng suspitious for almost al the nyght long they resorted to the shyppe with theyr boates and went aboorde shyppe without feare as dyd the Curians They call pearles Corixas They are somewhat ielous for when anye straungers come among them they euer place theyr women behynde them In this region of Canchieta the gossampine trees growe of them selues commonly in many places as doo with vs elmes wyllowes and sallowes and therefore they vse to make breeches of cotton wherewith they couer theyr priuie partes in many other regions thereabout When they had yet sayled on forwarde by the same coastes there came forth against them about two thousande men armed after theyr manner forbyddyng them to come alande These people were so rude and sauage that our men coulde by no meanes allure them to familiaritie Our men therefore contented only with theyr pearles returned backe y e same way they came where they remained with the Curians continually for the space of .xx. dayes fylled theyr bellies wel with good meate And here it seemeth to me not farre from my purpose to declare what chaunced vnto them in theyr returne when they came now within the sight of the coast of Paria They happened therfore in the way at Os Draconis and the gulfes of Paria wherof we spake before to meete with a nauy of xviii Canoas of Canibales which went a rouing to hunt for men who assoone as they had espied our men assailed their ship fiercely without feare enclosed y e same disturbing our men on euery side with their arrowes but our men so feared them with theyr gunnes that they fled immediatly whoÌ„ our men folowing with the shyp boate tooke one of theyr Canoas and in it only one Canibal for the other had escaped and with him another man bounde who with teares runnyng downe his cheekes and with gesture of his handes eyes and head signified that sixe of his companions had ben cruelly cut in peeces and eaten of that mischeuous nation and that he shoulde haue ben likewyse handled the day folowyng wherefore they gaue hym power ouer the Canibal to do with him what he would Then with the Canibals owne clubbe he layde on hym al that he might dryue with hande and foote grinning and fâ—etting as it had ben a wyld bore thinkyng that he had not yet sufficiently reuenged the death of his companions when he had beaten out his braynes and guttes When he was demaunded after what sort the Canibales were woont to inuade other countreys he answered that they euer vsed to carye with them in theyr Canoas a great multitude of clubbes the whiche wheresoeuer they do lande they pytch in the grounde and encampe them selues within the compasse of the same to lye the more safely in the nyght season In Curiana they founde the head of a captayne of the Canibales nayled ouer the doore of a certayne gouernour for a token of victorye as it had ben the standerde or helmet taken from the enimie in battayle In these coastes of Paria is a region called Haraia in the which great plentie of salt is geathered after a strange sorte for the sea beyng there tossed with the power of the wyndes dryueth the salte waters into a large playne by the sea syde where afterwarde when the sea waxeth calme and the
sunne begynneth to shine the water is coniealed into most pure and whyte salte wherewith innumerable shyypes myght be laden yf men dyd resort thether for the same before there fale any rayne For the rayne melteth it and causeth it to synke into the sande and so by the poores of the earth to returne to the place from whence it was dryuen Other say that the playne is not fylled from the sea but of certeine sprynges whose water is more sharpe and salt then the water of the sea Thinhabitantes do greatlye esteeme this bay of salt whiche they vse not only for theyr owne commoditie but also woorking the same into a square forme lyke vnto brickes they sell it to strangers for exchaunge of other thynges whiche the lacke In this Region they stretche and drye the dead bodies of theyr kinges and noble men laying the same vpon a certayne frame of woodde muche lyke vnto a hurdle or grediren with a gentell fyre vnder the same by lyttle and lyttle consumyng the fleshe and keping the skynne hole with the bones inclosed therein These dryed carcases they haue in great reuerence and honour them for theyr houshoulde and famylier gods They say that in this place they sawe a man in an other place a woman thus dryed and reserued When they departed from Curiana the .viii. day of the Ides of February to returne to Spayne they had threescore and .xvi. poundes weight after .viii. vnces to the pounde of pearles which they bought for exchange of our thinges amounting to the value of fyue shillinges Departing therfore they consumed threescore dayes in theyr iourney although it were shorter then from Hispaniola by reason of the continuall course of the sea in the west which dyd not only greatly stey the shippe but also somtymes dryue it backe But at the length they came home so laden with pearles that they were with euery maryner in maner as common as chaffe But the master of the shyppe Petrus Alphonsus being accused of his companyons that he had stowlen a great multitude of pretious pearles and defrauded the kyng of his portion whiche was the fifth parte was taken of Fernando de Vega a man of great lerning and experience gouernour of Gallecia where they aryued and was there kept in pryson a long tyme. But he styll denyeth that euer he deteyned any part of the pearles Many of these pearles were as bygge as hasell nuttes and as oriente as we call it as they be of the East partes Yet not of so great pryce by reason that the holes thereof are not so perfecte When I my selfe was present with the right honorable duke of Methyna and was biddē to dynner with him in the citie of Ciuile they brought to hym aboue a hundred and twentie ounces of pearles to be solde whiche surely dyd greatly delyte me with their fayrenes and brightnes Some say that Alphonsus had not these pearles in Curiana being distant from Os Draconis more then a hundred twentie leagues but that they had them in the regions of Cumana and Manacapana nere vnto Os Draconis and the ilande of Margarita for they deny that there is any pearles founde in Curiana But sith the matter is yet in controuersie we wyl passe to other matters Thus muche you haue whereby you may coniecture what commoditie in tyme to come may bee looked for from these newe landes of the west Ocean whereas at the fyrst discouering they shewe suche tokens of great ryches Thus fare ye well ¶ The .ix. booke of the fyrst Decade to Cardinal Lodoutke VIncentiagnes Pinzonus also Aries Pinzonus his neuiew by his brother syde whiche accompanyed the Admiral Colonus in his fyrst vyage were by him appoynted to be maisters of two of the small shippes which the Spaniards call Carauelas being moued by the great ryches amplitude of the new landes furnyshed of theyr owne charges foure Carauels in the hauen of theyr owne countrey which the Spanyardes cal Palos bordering on the west Ocean Hauing therfore the kings licence passeport to depart they loosed from the hauen about the Calendes of December in the yeere .1499 This hauen of Palos is threescore twelue myles distant from Gades commonly called Cales and .lxiiii. myles from Ciuile All thinhabitantes of this towne not one excepted are greatly geuē to searching of the sea and continually exercised in sayling They also directed their viage fyrst to the iland of Canarie by the ilands of Hesperides now called Cabouerde which some cal Gorgodes Meducias Sayling therfore directly toward the south from that ilande of Hesperides whiche the Portugales beyng possessers of the same cal Sancti Iacobi and departing from thence at the Ides of Ianuary they folowed the southwest wynde beyng in the myddest betwene the south and the west When they supposed that they had sayled about three hundreth leagues by the same wynde they say that they lost the syght of the Northe starre and were shortely after tossed with excedyng tempestes bothe of wynde and sea and vexed with intollerable heate Yet sayled they on further not without great daunger for the space of two hundred fortie leagues folowing yet the same wynd by the lost pole Wherfore whether habitable regions be vnder the Equinoctiall lyne or not let these men and the oulde wryters aswel Philosophers as poetes and cosmographers discusse For these mē affirme it to be habitable and meruelously replenished with people and they that it is vnhabitable by reason of the sonne beames depending perpendicularly or directlye ouer the same Yet were there many of the olde wryters whiche attempted to proue it habitable These maryners being demaunded if they saw the south pole they answered that they knew no starre there like vnto this pole that might be decerued about the poynt but that they sawe an other order of starres and a certeyne thicke myst rysyng from the horizontall lyne whiche greatly hyndered theyr syght They contende also that there is a great heape or rysyng in the myddest of the earth whiche taketh away the syght of the south pole vntyll they haue vtterly passed ouer the same but they verely beleeue that they sawe other images of starres muche differing from the situation of the starres of our hemispherie or halfe circle of heauen Howe so euer the matter be as they informe vs we certifie you At the length the seuenth day of the calendes of Februarye the espied lande a farre of and seeing the water of the sea to be trobelous sounding with theyr plummet they founde it to be .xvi ▪ fathames deepe Going a lande and tarying there for the space of two dayes they departed bycause they sawe no people stering although they founde certeyne steppes of men by the sea syde Thus grauing on the trees the stones nere vnto the shore the kynges name and theyrs and the tyme of theyr commyng thether they departed Not farre from this station folowyng
the fyers on the land by nyght they founde a nation lying vnder the open fyrmament after the maner of warre Our men thought it not best to trouble them vntyll the mornyng There fore at the rysyng of the sonne fortie of our men well armed wente towarde them agaynst whom came forth .xxxii. of them with bowes slynges and dartes euen redy to fyght The other companye folowed them armed after the same maner Our men affirme that they were of hygher stature then eyther the Almaynes or Pannonians They beheld our men with frownyng threatenyng countenaunce but our men thought it not good to fal to bickering with them vncertayne whether it were for feare or bycause they would not dryue them to flight Wherfore they went about to allure them by faire meanes rewards but they refused all kynde of gentelnes and stoode euer in a redines to fight declaring the same by signes and tokens Thus our men resorted to theyr shyppes and they to the place from whence they came without any further busines The same nyght about mydnyght they fledde left the place voyde where they lay in the campe Our men suppose them to be a vagabund and wandering nation lyke vnto the Scythians without houses or certeyne dwelling places lyuing only with the fruites of the earth hauing theyr wyues and chyldren folowing them Suche as measured their footesteppes in the sande affirme with great othes that one of theyr feete is almost as long as two feete of our men of the meane sorte Sayling on yet further they founde an other riuer but not of deapth sufficient to beare the Carauels they sent therefore the foure shippe boates to lande full of armed men to search the countrey They espyed vppon a hygh hyll nere vnto the sea syde a greate multitude of people to whom our company sent foorth one man with certeyne of our thynges to allure them to exchange And when he had cast a haukes bell towarde them they cast downe a wedge of golde a cubit longe the which as he stoâ—ped to take vp they sodenly inclosed hym and caryed hym away But he was shortly after rescued by his companions to some of their paynes for they slue eyght of our men wounded many a farre of with theyr arrowes and dartes made of wood hardened at the endes with fyre After this they encompassed our shippe boates within the ryuer and came rashly within the reache of our men laying holde on the boates sydes where they were thrust through and hewen in peeces as it had ben sheepe by reason they were naked Yet woulde they not for al this geue ouer but tooke from our men one of their boates hauing no men in it for the gouernour thereof being slayne with an arrowe the other fledde and escaped And thus they lefte this fierce and warlyke people saylyng toward the northwest along by the same coastes with sorowfull hartes for the death of theyr companyons When they had sayled about .xl. leagues they chaunced into a sea of suche freshe water that they fylled theyr barelles and hoggesheades therewith Searching the cause hereof they vnderstoode that a vehement course of riuers discended with great viâ—â—â—nce from the toppes of certayne great hylles They say also that there lyeth within the sea manye fortunate and fruitfull Ilandes and well inhabited and that thinhabitantes of this tracte are men of meeke nature and suche as doo not refuse straungers yet lyttle profytable to them because they haue no marchandyes for their purpose as golde or precious stones for lacke whereof they brought from thence thyrtie captiues to sell for slaues Thinhabitantes call this region Mariatambal The region of the east part of that ryuer is called Camomorus and that of the west part Paricora in the midlande whereof thinhabitantes signifyed that there is great plentie of golde For folowing this riuer directly toward the North as the bending of the shore requyred they recouered againe the syght of the north pole All the coaste of this tracte parteyneth to Paria the which as we sayd before was fyrst found by Colonus hym selfe and hath in maner in euery place great abundaunce of pearles They say that these coastes are adioynyng vnto and all one with Os Draconis and also borderyng vppon the regions of Cumana Manacapana Curiana Cauchieta and Cuchibachoa Wherfore they thought it to be part of the firme lande of India beyonde the riuer of Ganges For the great large compasse therof doth not permit that it shoulde be an ilande albeit the whole earth vncouered with water largely taken may be called an Ilande From the poynt of that land where they lost the sight of the north pole saylyng by a continuall tracte about three hundred leagues towarde the west syde of Paria they say that almost in the mid way they chaunced into a riuer called Maragnonum whiche they affirme to be of suche exceedyng breadth that it might seeme incredible yf the antiques dyd not make mention of the lyke Beyng demaunded of me yf it were not salt water where it diuided the lande they answeared that the water therof was very freshe and sweete and that the further it ranne to be so muche the fresher also ful of Ilandes and wholsome fyshe they dare auouche the breadth therof to be more then thirtie leagues Yet yf we wel weigh and consyder the largenesse and widenesse of Boriostomea and Spiriostomea the mouthes of the famous riuer of Ister nowe called Danubius and howe farre they violate or corrupt the salt water with their freshnesse we shal ceasse to marueyle although this other riuer be greater for who can diminish the power of nature but that it may make this bigger then the other and another bygger then this And I suppose this to be the ryuer whereof Colonus the Admirall made mention in the description of his voyage in these coastes But we shal hereafter haue further knowledge hereof let vs nowe therefore returne to the commodities of these regions They found in many Ilands about Paria great wooddes of Brasile trees and brought away with them three thousande poundes weyght thereof They say that the Brasile of Hispaniola is muche better then this to dye cloth with a more fayre and durable colour From hence folowing the winds which the Spaniards cal Northuest and the Italians Graeco they passed by many Ilandes very fruiteful yet left desolate and wasted by reason of the crueltie of the Canibales for they went alande in many places they founde the ruines of many destroyed houses yet in some places they founde men but those exceedyng fearefull fleeyng to the mountaynes rockes and wooddes at the syght of euery straunger or shyppe wanderyng without houses or certayne abydyng places for feare of the Caniballes laying wayte and huntyng after them Here they found those great trees whiche of them selues in dyuers places bryng forth that fruite or spice which the Apothecaries cal Cassia Phistula
discription hereof then is sayde of the henne when she seeth her young chycken inwrapped in towe or flaxe The breadth of that lande from the North Ocean to the south sea is only sixe dayes iourney by relation of the inhabitauntes The multitude therfore and greatnesse of the riuers on the one syde and on the other syde the narownesse of the lande bryng me into suche doubt howe it can come to passe that in so lytle a space of three dayes iourney measuryng from the high toppes of those mountaynes I doo not vnderstande howe so many and so great ryuers may haue recourse vnto this North sea for it is to be thought that as many do flow toward thinhabitants of the south These riuers of Vraba are but small in comparison of many other in those coastes for the Spanyardes say that in the tyme of Colonus they found and passed by an other riuer after this whose gulfe fallyng into y e sea they affirme to be litle lesse then a hundred myles in the fyrst coastes of Paria as we haue sayde elsewhere for they say that it falleth from the toppes of high mountaynes with so swyft and furious a course that by the violence and greatnesse thereof it dryueth backe the sea although it be rough enforced with a contrary wynd They al affirme lykewyse that in al the large tracte therof they felt no sowre or salt water but that all the water was freeshe sweete and apt to be drunke Thinhabitauntes call this ryuer Maragnonum and the regions adiacent to the same Mariatambal Camamorus and Paricora besyde those riuers whiche I haue named before as Darien â–ª Grandis Dabaiba Beragua Sancti Mathei Boius gatti Delagartos Gaira they which of late haue searched those coastes haue founde many other Deliberatyng therefore with me selfe from whence these mountaynes beyng so narowe and neare vnto the sea on both sydes haue suche great holowe caues or dennes of such capacitie and from whence they are fylled to cast foorth suche abundance of water hereof also askyng them the opinions of the inhabitauntes they affirme them to be of diuers iudgementes herein alleaging fyrst the greatnes of the mountaynes to be the cause whiche they say to be verye high whiche thyng also Colonus the first fynder thereof affirmeth to be true addyng thereunto that the paradise of pleasure is in the tops of those mountaynes whiche appeare from the gulfe of Paria Os Draconis as he is fully perswaded They agree therefore that there are great caues within these mountaynes but it resteth to consyder from whence they are fylled If therfore al the riuers of freshe waters by the opinion of many do so flowe out of the sea as dryuen and compelled through the passages or pores of the earth by the ponderous weyght of the sea it selfe as we see them breake foorth of the sprynges and directe theyr course to the sea agayne then the thyng is lesse to be marueyled at here then in other places for we haue not read that in any other place two suche seas haue enuironed any lande with so narowe lymyttes for it hath on the ryght syde the great Ocean where the sunne goeth downe on the left hande and another on the other syde where the sunne ryseth nothyng inferiour to the fyrste in greatnesse for they suppose it to be myxte and ioyned as al one with the sea of East India This lande therfore beyng burdened with so great a weyght on the one syde on the other yf this opinion be of any value is enforced to swalowe vp such deuoured waters and agayne to cast foorth the same in open springes and streames But yf we shall denye that the earth draweth humours of the sea and agree that all fountaynes or sprynges are engendred of the conuersion or turnyng of ayre into water distilling within the holow places of the mountaines as the most part thinke we wyll geue place rather to thaucthoritie of them whiche stycke to those reasons then that our sense is satisfied of the ful trueth thereof Yet do I not repugne that in some caues of mountaynes water is turned into ayre for I mee selfe haue seene howe in the caues of manye mountaynes in Spayne in manner showres of rayne do fall continuallye and that the water geathered by this meanes doth sende foorth certayne riuers by the sydes of the mountaynes wherewith all suche trees as are planted on the steepe or foote of the mountaynes as vines oliue trees and suche other are watered and this especially in one place as the right honorable Lodouike the Cardinal of Aragonie most obsequious to your holynesse and two other bishops of Italy whereof the one is Siluius Pandonus and the other an Archbishop whose name and title I do not remember can beare me witnesse for when we were togeather at Granata lately deliuered from the dominion of the Moores and walked for our pastyme to certaine pleasant hilles by the whiche there ranne a fayre ryuer â–ª while Cardinal Lodouike occupied hym selfe in shootyng at byrdes whiche were in the bushes neere vnto the ryuer I thother two bishops determined to clime the mountaynes to searche the original and spryng of the ryuer for we were not farre from the toppes thereof Folowyng therfore the course of the ryuer we founde a great caue in which was a continual fal of water as it had ben a showre of rayne the water whereof fallyng into a trenche made with mans hande encreaseth to a ryuer and runneth downe by the sydes of the mountaynes The lyke is also seene in this famous towne of Valladoleto where we nowe soiourne in a certaine greene close not past a furlong distant from the walles of the towne I graunt therefore that in certayne places by conuersion of the ayrie deawe into water within the caues of suche mountaynes many springes and riuers are engendred but I suppose that nature was not sollicitate to bryng foorth suche great floods by this so small industrie Two reasons therfore do sounde best to my iudgement wherof the one is the often fal of rayne the other the continual autume or spryng tyme which is in those regions being so neere vnto the Equinoctial that the common people can perceiue no difference betweene the length of the day and the nyght throughout all the yeere where as these two seasons are more apt to engender abundance of rayne then eyther extreme wynter or feruent sommer An other reason in effect much like vnto the fyrst is this If the sea be ful of pores and that by the pores thereof being opened by the south wyndes we shal consent that vapours are lyfted vp whereof the watery cloudes are engendred this lande must needes be moysted with moe showres then anye other yf it be as narowe as they say and enuironed with two mayne seas collaterally beatyng on the same howsoeuer it be I can not but geue credite to the report of suche worthy men as haue
the woorkemen are but fewe As we haue sayde at the begynnyng your holynesse shal hereafter nouryshe many myriades of broodes of chyckens vnder your wynges But let vs nowe returne to speake of Beragua beyng the West syde of Vraba and first found by Colonus the Admiral then vnfortunately gouerned by Diego Nicuesa and nowe left in maner desolate with the other large regions of those prouinces brought from theyr wylde and beastly rudenesse to ciuilitie and true religion The fourth booke of the thyrde Decade I Was determined moste holy father to haue proceeded no further herein but y e one fyery sparke yet remaynyng in my minde would not suffer me to ceasse Whereas I haue therfore declared how Beragua was fyrst founde by Colonus me thynke I should commit a haynous crime if I shoulde defraud the man of the due commendations of his trauayles of his cares and troubles and finally of the daungers peryls whiche he susteyned in that nauigation Therfore in the yeere of Christ 1502. in the .6 day of the Ides of May he hoysed vp his sayles and departed from the Ilandes of Gades with foure shyppes of fyftie or threescore tunne a peece with a hundred threescore and ten men and came with prosperous wynde to the Ilandes of Canariae within fyue dayes folowyng From thence arryuyng the .16 day at the Ilande of Dominica being the cheefe habitation of the Canibales he saâ—led from Dominica to Hispaniola in fiue other dayes Thus within the space of .26 dayes with prosperous wynde and by the swyfte fall of the Ocean from the East to the West he sayled from Spayne to Hispaniola whiche course is counted of the mariners to be no lesse then a thousand and two hundred leagues He taryed but a whyle in Hispaniola whether it were wyllyngly or that he were so admonished of the Uice Roy. Directyng therefore his voyage from thence toward the west leauyng the Ilandes of Cuba and Iamaica on his ryght hand towarde the north he wryteth that he chaunced vppon an Ilande more southwarde then Iamaica whiche thinhabitantes call Guanassa so floryshyng and fruitefull that it might seeme an earthlye Paradyse Coastyng along by the shores of this Iland he mette two of the Canoas or boates of those prouinces whiche were drawne with two naked slaues agaynst the streame In these boates was caryed a ruler of the Iland with his wyfe and chyldren all naked The slaues seeyng our men a lande made signes to them with proud countenaunce in theyr maisters name to stand out of the way and threatned them if they woulde not geue place Their symplenes is such that they neyther feared the multitude or power of our men or the greatnes and straungenes of our shyppes They thought that our men woulde haue honoured theyr maister with lyke reuerence as they dyd Our men had entelligence at the length that this ruler was a great marchant which came to the marte from other coastes of the Ilande for they exercyse bying and sellyng by exchaunge with their confines He had also with hym good store of suche ware as they stand in neede of or take pleasure in as laton belles rasers knyues and hatchettes made of a certayne sharpe yellowe bryght stone with handles of a strong kinde of wood also many other necessary instrumentes with kytchen stuffe and vesselles for all necessary vses lykewyse sheetes of gossampine cotton wrought of sundrie colours Our men toke hym prysoner with al his family but Colonus commaunded hym to be loosed shortly after and the greatest part of his goodes to bee restored to wynne his frendshyppe Beyng here instructed of a land lying further toward the south he tooke his voyage thyther Therfore litle more then tenne myles distant from hence he founde a large land whiche thinhabitants called Quiriquetana but he named it Ciamba When he went a lande and commaunded his chaplaine to say masse on the sea bankes a great confluence of the naked inhabitantes flocked thither symply and without feare bringyng with them plenty of meate and freshe water marueylyng at our men as they had ben some straunge miracle When they had presentted theyr giftes they went somwhat backward and made lowe curtesy after theyr maner bowyng their heades and bodyes reuerently He recompensed their gentilnes rewardyng them with other of our thynges as counters braslettes and garlands of glasse and counterfet stones lookyng glasses needelles and pynnes with suche other trashe whiche seemed vnto them pretious marchandize In this great tracte there are two regions whereof the one is called Tuia and the other Maia He writeth that all that lande is very fayre and holsome by reason of the excellent temperatnesse of the ayre And that it is inferiour to no land in fruitefull ground beyng partly full of mountaynes and partly large playnes also replenyshed with many goodly trees holsome hearbes continuyng greene and floryshyng al the whole yeere It beareth also very many holly trees and pyneaple trees Also .vii. kyndes of date trees wherof some are fruitefull and some baren It bryngeth foorth likewyse of it selfe Pelgoras and wilde vines laden with grapes euen in the wooddes among other trees He sayth furthermore that there is such abundaunce of other pleasunt and profitable fruites that they passe not of vines Of one of those kindes of date trees they make certayne long and brode swoordes and dartes These regions beare also gossampyne trees here and there commonly in the woods Lykewise Mirobalanes of sundry kyndes as those which the phisitians call Emblicos and Chebulos Maizium also Iucca Ages and Battatas lyke vnto those which we haue sayd before to be founde in other regions in these coastes The same noorysheth also Lions Tygers Hartes Roes Goates and dyuers other beastes Lykewyse sundry kyndes of byrdes and foules among the whiche they keepe onely them to franke and feede which are in colour bygnes and tast muche lyke vnto our Pehennes He sayth that thinhabitantes are of hygh and goodly stature well lymmed and protioned both men and women coueryng theyr priuy partes with fyne breeches of gossampyne cotton wrought with diuers colours And that they may seeme the more comely and beautifull as they take it they paynt theyr bodies redde and blacke with the iuice of certayne apples whiche they plant in theyr gardens for the same purpose Some of them paynt theyr whole bodyes some but part and other some drawe the portitures of hearbes floures and knottes euery one as seemeth best to his owne phantasie Theyr language differeth vtterly from theyrs of the Ilandes neere about them From these regions the waters of the sea ran with as full a course towards the West as if it had byn the fail of a swift riuer Neuerthelesse he determined to searche the East partes of this land reuoluyng in his minde that the regions of Paria Os draconis with other coastes founde before towards the East shoulde be neere there about as
that they pronounce theyr aspirations more vehemently then we do the consonant f Yea all suche wordes as in theyr tongue are aspirate are pronounced with lyke breath and spirite as is f. sauyng that heerin the neather lippe is not moued to the vppermost teeth With open mouthes and shakyng theyr breastes they breath out these aspirations ha he hi ho hu as the Hebrues and Arabians are accustomed to pronounce theyrs I fynde also that the Spanyardes vse the lyke vehemencie in the aspirations of those wordes which they haue receyued of the Moores Arabians which possessed Spaine and continued there many yeeres as in these wordes Almohadda which signifieth a pyllow or boulster also Almohaza that is a horse combe with diuers such other wordes which they speake in maner w t panting breastes and vehement spirite I haue thought it good to rehearse these thyngs because among the Latines it oftentimes so chaunceth that only the accent or aspiration chaungeth the signification of the worde as hora for an houre and ora for the plurale number of this worde os whiche signifieth the mouth also ora whiche signifieth regions or coastes The lyke also chaunceth in y e diuersitie of y e accent as occido I kil occido I fal euen so in the language of these simple men there are many thynges to be obserued But let vs now returne to the discription In the prouince of Hubabo are these regions Xamana Canabacoa Cubabo with many other the names wherof I haue not yet learned The prouince of Cubabo conteyneth these regions Migua and Cacacubana The inhabitauntes of this region haue a peculier language much differing from the common language of the Iland and are called Maioriexes There is also an other region called Cubana whose language differeth from the other Lykewyse the region of Baiohagua hath a diuers tongue There are also other regions as Dahabon Cybaho and Manababo Cotoy is in the middle of the Iland By this runneth the riuer Nizaus and the mountaines called Mathaitin Hazua Neibaymao confine w t the same In the prouince of Bainoa are y e regions of Maguana Iagohaiucho Baurucco Dabaiagua Attibuni so named of the riuer also Caunoa Buiaici Dababonici Maiaguariti Atiei Maccazina Guahabba Anniuici Mariē Guaricco Amaguei Xaragua Yaguana Azuei Iacchi Honorucco Diaguo Camaie Neibaimao In Guaccaierima y e last prouince these regions are conteined Mauicarao Guabagua Taquenazabo Nimaca Baiona the lesse Cabaini Iamaici Manabaxao Zauana Habacoa and Ayquiora But let vs entreate somewhat of the particulers of the regions In the prouince of Caizcimu within the great gulfe of the beginning there is a great caue in a hollow rocke vnder the roote of a high moūtayne about two furlonges from the sea the entry of this caue is not muche vnlyke the doores of a great temple beyng very large and turning many wayes Andreas Moralis the shypmaister at the commaundement of the gouernour attempted to search the caue with the smalest vessels He sayeth that by certayne priuie waies many ryuers haue concourse to this caue as it were a syncke or chanel After thexperience hereof they ceassed to marueyle whither other riuers ranne which comming fourscore and ten miles were swalowed vp so that they appeered no more nor yet fell into the sea by any knowen wayes Nowe therefore they suppose that ryuers swalowed vp by the hollowe places of that stony mountayne fall into this caue As the shypmaister entred into the caue his shyp was almost swalowed For he sayth that there are many whyrlepooles and rysinges or boylynges of the water whiche make a violent conflict and horrible roryng one encounteryng the other also many huge holes and hollowe places so that what on the one syde with whirlpooles and on the other syde with the boylyng of the water his shyppe was long in maner tossed vp and downe like a ball It greatlye repented hym that he had entred yet knew he no way how to come foorth He now wandred in darknesse aswell for the obscurenesse of the caue into the which he was farre entred as also that in it were thicke clouds engendred of the moist vapours proceeding of the conflict of the waters which continually fal with great violence into the caue on euery syde He compareth the noyse of these waters to the fal of the famous ryuer Nilus from the mountains of Ethiope they were also deafe that one coulde not heare what an other saide But at the length with great daunger and feare he came foorth of the caue as it had been out of hell About threescore myles distant from the cheefe citie of sainct Dominicke there are certayne hygh mountaynes vpon the toppes whereof is a lake or standing poole inaccessible neuer yet seene of them which came latelye to the Ilande both by reason of the roughroughnesse of the mountaynes and also for that there is no pathe or open way to the toppes of the same But at the length the shypmaister beyng conducted thyther by one of the kynges ascended to the toppes of the mountaynes and came to the poole He sayth that the colde is there of some force and in token of wynter he founde fearne and bramble bushes whiche two growe only in colde regions These mountaines they call Ymizui Hibabaino This poole is of freshe water three myles in compasse and well replenyshed with diuers kyndes of fyshes Many small riuers or brookes fall into it It hath no passage out bycause it is on euery syde enclosed with the toppes of mountaynes But let vs nowe speake of an other poole whiche may well be called a sea in the mydlande and be compared to the Caspian or Hircanian sea in the fyrme lande of Asia with certayne other lakes and pooles of freshe water The eyght booke of the thyrde decade THe prouince of Bainoa beyng thrise as bigge as the three fyrst that is Caizcimu Vhabo and Caibabo includeth a valley named Caiouani in the whiche there is a lake of salt sower and bytter water as we reade of the sea called Caspium lying in the firme lande betwene Sarmatia and Hircania We haue therefore named it Caspium although it bee not in the region of Hircania It hath manye swalowyng gulfes by the whiche both the water of the sea spryngeth into it and also suche as fall into it from the mountaynes are swalowed vp They thynke that the caues thereof are so large and deepe that great fyshes of the sea passe by the same into the lake Among these fyshes there is one called Tiburonus whiche cutteth a man in sunder by the myddest at one snap with his teeth and deuoureth hym In the ryuer Hozama runnyng by the cheefe citie of saint Dominicke these Tiburoni do sometymes come from the sea and deuoure many of thinhabitauntes especially suche as do dayly ploonge them selues in the water to thintent to keepe their bodyes very cleane The ryuers whiche fall
into the lake are these From the North syde Guanicabon From the Southe Xaccoei from the East Guannabo And from the West Occoa They saye that these ryuers are great and continuall and that besyde these there are .xx. other small ryuers whiche fall into this Caspium Also on the North syde within a furlong of the lake there are aboue twoo hundreth springes occupying lykewyse about a furlong in circuite the water wherof is colde in sommer freshe also and holsome to be drunke These sprynges make a ryuer that can not bee waded ouer which neare at hande ioynyng with the other falleth into the lake Here must we staye a whyle The kyng of this region founde his wyfe praying in a Chapell buylded by the Christians within the precincte of his dominion and requyred her company to satisfie his fleshely lust His wyfe reproued him and put him in remembraunce to haue respecte to the holy place The wordes which she spake to him were these Teitoca Teitoca which is as muche to say as be quyet be quyet Techeta cynato guamechyna That is God will be greatly angry Guamechyna signifyeth God Techeta greatly Cynato angrye But the husbande halyng her by the arme sayde Guaibba that is goe Cynato macabuca guamechyna That is What is that to me if God be angry And with these wordes as he profered her violence sodeinly he became dumme and lame Yet by this myracle being stryken with repentaunce he euer after ledde a relygious lyfe insomuche that from thencefoorth he would neuer suffer the Chapell to bee swepte or decked with any other mans hande By the same myracle many of thinhabitauntes and all the Christians being moued resorted deuoutly to the Chapell They take it in good parte that the kyng suffered the reuenge of that reproche Let vs now returne to Caspium That salte lake is tossed with stormes and tempestes and oftentymes drowneth small shyppes or fyssher boates and swaloweth them vp with the maryners In so muche that it hath not been hearde of that any man drowned by shyppewracke euer plunged vp againe or was caste on the shore as commonly chaunceth of the dead bodyes of suche as are drowned in the sea These tempestes are the daintie banquets of the Tiburones This Caspium is called Hagueigabon In the myddest hereof lyeth an Iland named Guarizacca to the which they resort when they go a fishyng but it is now cultured There is in the same playne an other lake next vnto this whose water is myxte of salt and fresh and is therfore neyther apt to be drunke nor yet to be refused in vrgent necessitie This conteyneth in length twentie and fyue myles and in breadth eyght myles in some places also niene or ten It receyueth many ryuers which haue no passage out of the same but are swalowed vp as in the other Water spryngeth out of the sea into this also but in no great quantitie which is the cause that it is so commyxt In the same prouince towards the west syde there is an other lake of freshe water not farre distaunt from Caspius this the inhabitauntes call Iainagua The same salte lake hath on the North syde thereof an other named Guaccaa this is but lytle as not past three or foure myles in breadth and one in length the water of this may well be drunke On the South syde of the salt lake there lyeth an other named Babbareo of three myles in length and in maner rounde The water of this is freshe as of the two other This lake because it hath no passage out nor yet any swalowyng gulfes conueyeth the superfluous waters to the sea if it be encreased with y e streames which fal sometymes more abundantly from the mountaynes this is in the region of Xamana in the prouince of Bainoa There is an other called Guaniba lying betwene the East and the South neere vnto the syde of Caspius this is ten myles in length and almost round There are furthermore many other small standyng pooles or lakes disparsed here and there in the Iland whiche I wyll let passe lest I shoulde be tedious in remaynyng to long in one thyng I wyll therefore make an ende with this addition that in all these great plentie of fyshe and foule is nouryshed All these lakes lye in a large playne the whiche from the East reacheth into the West a hundreth and twentie miles being of breadth .xviii. miles where it is narowest and .xxv. where it is largest Lookyng toward the West it hath collaterally on the left hande the mountaines of Daiguani and on the ryght hande the mountaines of Gaigua so called of the name of y e vale it selfe At the rootes of the mountaynes of Caigua towarde the North syde there lyeth an other vale much longer and larger then that before named For it conteineth in length almost two hundreth myles and in breadth thirtie where it is largest and about .xx. where it is narowest This vale in some parte thereof is called Maguana in an other place Iguaniu and els where Hathathiei And forasmuch as we haue here made mention of this parte of the vale named Hathathiei we will somewhat digresse from the discourse of this description and entreate of a thing so straunge and marueilous that the lyke hath not been hearde of So it is therefore that the kyng of this region named Caramatexius taketh great pleasure in fyshing Into his nettes chaunced a young fyshe of the kynde of those huge monsters of the sea which thinhabitours call Manati not founde I suppose in our seas nor knowne to our men before this tyme. This fyshe is foure footed and in shape lyke vnto a Tortoyse although shee be not couered with a shell but with scales and those of such hardnesse couched in such order that no arrow can hurte her Her scales are beset defended with a thousande knobbes her backe is playne and her head vtterly lyke the head of an Oxe She lyueth both in the water on the lande shee is slowe of mouyng of condition meeke gentle associable and louing to mankynde and of a marueilous sense or memorie as are the Elephant and the Delphyn The kyng norished this fysh certeine dayes at home with the bread of the countrey made of the roote of Iucca Panycke with such other rootes as men are accustomed to eate For when shee was yet but young hee cast her into a poole or lake neare vnto his palace there to be fed with hande This lake also receiueth waters and casteth not the same foorth againe It was in tyme paste called Guaurabo but is now called the lake of Manati after the name of this fyshe which wandered safely in the same for the space of .xxv. yeeres and grewe exceeding byg Whatsoeuer is written of the Delphines of Baian or Arion are muche inferior to the dooinges of this fyshe whiche for her gentle nature they named Matum that
Christians vse in tyllyng of their grounde and geatheryng of golde as we haue sayde These places appointed vnto them they keepe as long as them lyst and if they perceyue tokens of little golde they requyre an other plot of grounde of twelue pases to be assigned them leauyng the first in common And this is thorder which the Spaniardes inhabiting Dariena obserue in geatheryng of golde I suppose also that they vse the lyke order in other places Howbeit I haue not yet enquired so farre It hath been prooued that these twelue pases of grounde haue yelded to their choosers the summe of fourescore Castellanes of golde And thus leade they theyr lyues in fulfillyng the holy hunger of golde But the more they fyll their handes with fyndyng the more increaseth theyr couetous desyre The more woodde is layde to the fyre the more furiously rageth the flame Unsaciable couetousnesse is no more diminished with increase of rychesse then is the drinesse of the dropsye satisfyed with drynke I let passe many thinges whereof I intende to wryte more largely in tyme conuenient if I shall in the meane season vnderstande these to bee acceptable vnto your holynesse my duetie and obseruaunce to whose aucthoritie hath caused mee the gladlier to take this labour in hande The prouidence of the eternall creatour of all thinges graunt your holynesse many prosperous yeeres Here endeth the three bookes of the Decades Of Cuba Hispaniola and other Ilands in the VVest Indies seas and of the maners of the inhabitauntes of the same I Haue partlye declared before in my Decades howe certaine fugitiues which came out of the large West landes arriued in the confines of Dariena and howe that marueiling at the bookes of our men they declared that they sometime dwelt in regions whose inhabitantes vsed such instruments were ruled by politike lawes Also that they had cities fortified with walles and faire pallaces with streates well paued common places whither marchauntes resorte as to the burse or streate These landes our men haue now founde Therefore who were thauctors hereof or what successe they had herein who so desireth to knowe with the conditions of straunge regions and the maners of the people let him giue diligent attendaunce to suche thinges as folow Of the Ilande of Cuba now called Fernandina lying next vnto Hispaniola on the West syde and yet somewhat so bending towarde the North that the circle called Propicus Cancri diuideth it in the myddest whereas Hispaniola is distant from the Tropike and declinyng certayne degrees towarde the Equinoctiall line we haue spoken somewhat before In this Iland of Fernandina there are now sixe townes erected wherof the chiefe is named Sanstiago of S. Iames the patrone of the Spaniards In this there is natiue gold found both in y e mountaines and ryuers by reason wherof they are dayly occupied in geathering digging the same But shortly after that I had finished my sayd bookes three Spaniards y t were the most auncient citizens of Cuba as Franciscus Fernandes of Corduba Lupus Ocho Christophorus Morantes determined to seeke new lands as the myndes of the Spaniards are euer vnquiet giuen to attempt great enterprises They furnished at their owne charges three of those shyppes which they call Carauels and hauing first lycence of Diegus Velasquen the gouernour of the Ilande they departed with a hundred and ten men from the West angle of Cuba For this angle is most commodious to relieue shippes to make prouision for freshe water fuell Thus they sayled continually sixe dayes and a halfe betwene the west the South contented onely with the sight of the heauen the water during which tyme they suppose that they sayled not past threescore and sixe myles For they lay at anker all nyght wheresoeuer the fallyng of the Sunne tooke the day lyght from them least by wanderyng in vnknowen seas they myght chaunce to bee cast vppâ—â— rockes or sandes But at the length they chaunced vppon a great Ilande named Iucatana whose beginnyng thinhabitauntâ—â— call Eccampi Our men went to the citie standyng on the sea syde the which for the bygnesse thereof they named Cayrus or Alcair thinhabitauntes wherof enterteined them very friendly When they were entred into the citie they marueyled to beholde the houses buylded lyke Towres magnificall temples streates well paued and great exercise of bying and sellyng by exchaunge of ware for ware Their houses are either built of stone or of bricke and lyme and artificially wrought To the first porches of theyr houses and fyrst habitations they ascend by ten or twelue stayres they are couered either with tyles slates reades or stalkes of certayne hearbes they gratified the one the other with mutuall gyftes The Barbarians gaue our men many brooches and iewelles of golde very fayre and of cunnyng workemanshyp our men recompensed them with vestures of sylke and wooll counterfeyte stones of coloured glasse and chrystall Haukes belles of laton and suche other rewardes whiche they greatly esteemed for the straungenesse of the same they set nought by lookyng glasses bycause they haue certayne stones muche bryghter This nation is apparelled after a thousande fashions with vestures made of gossampyne cotton or bombage of dyuers coloures The women are couered from the girdle to the heele hauyng dyuers fasshions of vailes about their heades and brestes with great cautell least any part of their legges or feete be seene they resorte muche to their temples vnto the whiche the chiefe rulers haue the wayes paued from their owne houses they are Idolatours and circumcised they occupie their maner of exchaunging with muche fidelitie they vse to adourne the heares of their heades Being demaunded by thinperpretours of whom they receyued theyr circumcision they answered that there once passed an exceedyng fayre man by their coastes who left them that in token to remember him Other say that a man brighter then the Sunne went among them and executed that offyce but there is no certayntie heereof When our men had remayned there certayne dayes they seemed to bee molestous to thinhabitantes accordyng to the common saying The longer a ghest taryeth the worse is his entertaynement The which thyng our men perceyuyng they made the more hast away Being therefore prouided of all thinges necessary they tooke theyr viage directly towarde the West by the prouince which thinhabitauntes call Comi and Maiam They ouerpassed these regions takyng onely freshe water and fuell in the same The Barbarians both men women and children flocked to the sea syde astonysshed greatly to beholde the huge bygnesse of the shyppes Our men marueyled in maner no lesse to view their buyldinges and especially their temples situate neare vnto the sea and erected after the maner of towres Thus at the length hauyng sayled about a hundred and ten myles they thought it good to lay Anker in a prouince named Campechium whose chiefe towne
had been that attempted the first voyage the yeere before At the fyrst they were gentlye receiued and required to resort to the towne but shortly after they repented that they had bydden them and thereupon willed them to stay about a stones cast from the towne and to proceede no further When our men desired that they myght make prouision for freshe water before theyr departure they assigned them to a certayne well whiche they had left behynde them declaring further that it shoulde be lawfull for them to take water there or els no where Our men rested that nyght in the feelde adioyning to the well the whiche thyng the Barbarians suspectyng assembled an army of three thousand men and encamped not farre from them Both partes passed a way the nyght without sleepe they fearyng lest our men shoulde breake into the towne and our men lest the Barbarians shoulde inuade them sodenly on the one part with Trumpettes and on the other syde with the noyse of Tymbrels kept them styll wakyng that were disposed to sleepe At the spryng of the day the Barbarians approched to our mens campe and called for the interpretours of Cuba whose language is much agreable vnto theirs They had deuised to lyght a Torche of franckensence and to place the same betweene both the armies to the intent that yf our men dyd not depart before the Torche were consumed to stand to theyr peryll The Torche was wasted and the matter came to hand strokes They slue only one of our men with an arrowe because his Target failed him but many were wounded After this conflict our men resorted to theyr ordinaunce whiche they had planted neere vnto the wel When they had discharged certayne peeces the Barbarians fled backe into the towne and our men were of fierse and greedie courrage to haue pursued them but that Grisalua the gouernour would not suffer them From thence they proceeded to the last ende of Iucatana which they founde to reach more then two hundred myles from the East to the West Here they founde a commodious hauen and named it Portus desideratus From hence they sailed to other landes came to the region next to Iucatana Westward which they doubt whether it be an Iland or part of the fyrme lande but thinke it rather to be annext to y e continēt in this there is a gulfe whiche they suppose to be incompassed with both the landes but of this there is no certentie The inhabitauntes call this region Caluacam or otherwise Oloan. They found here also a great riuer whiche by his violent course and fall driueth freshe water two myles into the sea this they called Grisalua after the name of the gouernour The Barbarians marueylyng at the huge greatnesse and mouing of our shyps came swarmyng on the bankes of both sydes the riuer to the number of syxe thousande men armed with targettes and brest plates of golde bowes and arrowes brode swoordes of heauie wood and long iauelyns hardened at the endes with fyre Thus standyng in battayle raye to defende theyr coastes and with proude countenaunces forbyddyng our men to come alande both parties watched all that nyght in armes In the dawne of they daye our men espyed about a hundred Canoas whiche we haue sayde to bee theyr boates full of armed men Here also the language of thinterpretours of Cuba agreed well yenough with theirs When they had admitted the peace profered them by thinterpretours al the Canoas staied except one which approched towarde the shyppes A certayne ruler that was in this Canoa demaunded of our men what they sought in other mens landes They answeared Gold and that for permutation of other ware and not of gift or violently The Canoa returned and the ruler certified the king hereof who came gladly to the shippes When he had saluted the gouernor he called his chamberlaine vnto him commaundyng hym to bryng his armur and other ornamentes of gold wherewith he armed Grisalua from the toppe of the head to the sole of the foote insomuche that what so euer any man of armes armed at all partes is among vs accustomed to weare of Iron or steele when he commeth into the fielde all such kynde of furnitures made of golde and wrought with woonderfull art the kyng gaue to the gouernour He recompenced hym with vestures of sycke cloth lynnen and other of our thynges In the begynnyng of this Iucatana when they sayled to Cozumella they chaunced vpon a Canoa of fishermen to the number of niene fyshyng with hookes of golde they tooke them all prysoners One of them was knowen to this kyng who promysed the day folowyng to send the gouernour as much gold for his raunsome as the man hym selfe waighed But the gouernour denied that he could release hym without the consent of his felowes and therefore kept hym styll to proue what he coulde further knowe of hym Departyng from hence and saylyng styll westwarde they founde a great gulfe in the which three small Ilandes were situate Of these they went to the byggest But oh abhominable crueltie oh most corrupted myndes of men and diuilyshe impietie Let euery godly man close y e mouth of his stomake lest he be disturbed They offer young chyldren of both kyndes to their Idoles of marble earth Among their Idoles of marble there standeth a Lion hauyng a hole through the necke into the whiche they poure the blood of the miserable sacrifyce that it may from thence runne downe into a syncke of marble Let vs nowe declare with what ceremonies they sacrifice the blood of these poore wretches They cut not theyr throtes but open the very brestes of these seelye soules and take out theyr hartes yet pantyng with the hot blood whereof they annoynt the lippes of theyr Idoles and suffer the resydue to fall into the syncke This doone they burne the harte and bowels supposyng the smoke thereof to be acceptable to theyr goddes Of theyr Idoles one is made to the shape of a man bowyng downe his head and lookyng towarde the syncke of blood as it were acceptyng the offeryng of the slayne sacrifyce They eate the fleshe of the armes thyghes and legges especially when they sacrifice an enimie taken in the warres They founde a streame of coniealed blood as though it had runne from a boochery For this mischeuous purpose they bring these wretches from the next Ilandes They sawe also innumerable heades and trunkes of bodies thus mangled besyde many other yet remainyng whole and couered with certayne mattes Al the tractes of these regions abound with gold and pretious stodes One of our men wandryng in the Ilande chaunced to fynde two water pottes of alabaster artificially wrought and full of litle stones of dyuers colours They say also that they founde a stone of the value of two thousande Castellans of golde which the sent to the gouernour This Iland they named the Iland of sacrifice Thinhabitauntes are circumcised There
to eate of the Serpentes fleshe Howe the Serpentes fleshe is prepared to be eaten and how delicate meate theyr egges are if they be sodden Howe queene Anacauchoa syster to kyng Beuchius Anacauchoa entertained y e Liefetenant gaue him much houshold stuffe and many vessels of Hebene wodd artifically wrought carued Howe kyng Anacauchoa and the queene his syster went aboorde the Lieuetenantes shyppe and howe greatly they were amased to beholde the furniture therof Howe Roldanus Xeminus a Spanyarde rebelled in the Lieuetenauntes absence by whose mysdemeanour also kyng Guarionexius was prouoked to a newe conspiracie and with hym Maiobanexius the kyng of the mountaynes The contentes of the syxt booke Foli 35. THe thyrd viage of Colonus howe he diuerted from his accustomed rase by the Ilandes of Canarie to the Iland of Madera for feare of certayne frenche pirates and rotters Of the .xiii. Ilandes whiche in olde tyme were called Hesperides and are nowe called the Ilandes of Caput Viride or Cabouerde Also of the Tortoyses of the Ilande of Bonauista wherewith the leper is healed Howe the Admiral found contagious ayre and extreme heate neere the Equinoctial where the north pole was eleuate onely fyue degrees and howe saylyng from thence westwarde he founde the starres placed in other order and the sea rysyng as it were the backe of a mountayne Howe the Admiral saylyng westwarde and neuer passyng out of the clyme or paralels of Ethiope founde a temperate Region and people of goodly corporature and what difference is betwene the natures of Regions beyng vnder one paralele and one eleuation of the pole Of the Ilandes of Puta and Margarita and of the swyfte course or fall of the Ocean from the East to the West Of the gulfe called Os Draconis and of the conflicte betwene the freshe water and the salte Of a sea of freshe water and a mountayne inhabited onely with Monkyes and Marmasettes Of the fayre ryche and large region of Paria and howe frendly thinhabitantes entreated the Admirall and his men Also of pleasaunt wyne made of dyuers fruites and of great abundaunce of pearles and golde Of the regions of Cumana Manacapana Curiana being regiōs of y e large prouince of Paria of y e sea of hearbes or weeds A certayne secrete as touchyng the pole starres and the eleuation of the same also of the roundnesse of the earth Of the mountaynes of Paria in the toppes wherof Colonus earnestly affirmeth the earthly paradise to be situate and whether Paria be parte of the firme land or continent of India The contentes of the .vii. booke Fol. 39. HOwe Roldanus Xeminus with his confederates accused the Admirall to the kyng and howe he pourged hym selfe and accused them Howe kyng Guarionexius rebelled agayne and with hym kyng Maiobannexius also howe they with other kynges came agaynst the Lieuetenaunt with an armie of eyght thousande naked and paynted Ciguauians also two rare examples of frendshyp and faythfulnesse in barbarous princes Howe Colonus the Admirall and the Lieuetenant his brother were sent bound into Spayne and newe officers appoynted in theyr places The contentes of the eight booke Fol. 43. THe nauigation of Petrus Alphonsus from Spayne to Paria where in the region of Curiana he had in short space .xv. ounces of pearles great plenty of victuals for haukes belles pinnes lokyng glasses and such other tryfles Of certayne coniectures whereby Paria is thought to be part of the fyrme land of the golden region of Cauchieta where in the moneth of Nouember the ayre is temperate and not colde How Alphonsus had a conflict with the Canibales and how they are accustomed to inuade other countreys Of great abundaunce of salt in the region of Haraia and how the dead bodies of theyr princes are dryed reserued and religiously honoured Howe Alphonsus at his returne to Spayne from Curiana brought with him threscore sixteene pounde weyght of pearles whiche he bought for our tryfles amountyng only to the value of fyue shillynges The contentes of the nienth booke Fol. 47. THe nauigation of Vincentius Pinzonus and Aries Pinzonus and howe they sayled beyond the Equinoctiall line lost the syght of the north starre and founde the starres in other order Howe Vincentius passing the Equinoctial toward the South pole founde fierce and warlyke people of great stature and of the sea of freshe water Howe Vincentius directing his course towarde the Northwest from the Equinoctiall recouered the syght of the North-pole and by the regions of Mariatambal Camomorus and Pericora came to the fayre and rych prouince of Paria and to the regions of Os draconis Cumana Manacapana Curiana c. A coniecture that Paria wherby is ment that mayne lande nowe called America shoulde be part of the fyrme lande or continent of India beyonde the riuer of Ganges no Iland and of the exceeding great riuer Maragnonus replenished with Ilandes Of Boriostomea and Spiriostomea the mouthes of the famous ryuer of Dunabius called in old tyme Ister and of the commodities of the regions and Ilandes about Paria also of the woods of Brasile trees Of many fruitfull Ilandes wasted and left desolate by reason of the Canibales crueltie and of the trees of Cassia Fistula also of other trees of exceeding bygnesse The discription of a certayne monstruous beast and howe Vincentius lost two of his shyps by tempest Howe Vincentius at his returne to Spaine brought with hym Cinamome Ginger and certayne precious stones called Topases And of the nauigations of certayne other inhabitantes of the towne of Palos Of the precious medicine called Animae Album and of the diuers superstitions of the inhabitauntes of Hispniola also of theyr Idolatrie and howe they honour the Images of deuylles whiche they call Zemes. The Contentes of the tenth booke Fol. 54. OF great plentie of gold pearles and frankensence founde in the regions of Paria and of innumerable beastes in shape differyng from ours Howe the Spaniardes proffered them selues to conquere the new founde landes beyng in largenesse thryse as great as Europe besyde the South landes parteynyng to the Portingales and howe the nature of the place altereth the fourmes and qualities of thynges Of the Ilande of Cuba and of the golde mynes of the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis otherwyse called Burichena or Buchena Also of the ryche gold mynes of Hispaniola and of the order of workyng in the same Of the two chiefe golde mynes of Hispaniola and of a peece of golde weighing three thousande three hundred and ten pounde weyght How the gold is fined and distributed ▪ and howe that only in the melting shops of the two golden mines of Hispaniola is molten yeerely aboue three hundred thousand pounde weight of gold Howe thenterpryses of the Spanyardes are not inferiour to thactes of Saturnus or Hercules and howe the Admirall discouered the lande ouer agaynst the West corner of Cuba and the Ilande of Guanassa The Contentes of the bookes of the seconde Decade The
sentence against him and how apt the Barbarous nations are to embrase the Christian fayth The contentes of the seuenth booke Fol. 81. HOwe Quicedus and Colmenaris the procuratours of Dariena were honourably enterteyned at the court and brought to the kynges presence and howe theyr complexion was chaunged by alteration of the ayre Howe Petrus Arias a noble man was elected gouernour and Lieuetenaunt of Dariena and howe other of the court laboured for the same office also howe the bishop of Burges spake to the kyng in his behalfe Howe Petrus Arias had a thousande and two hundred souldyers appoynted him at the kynges charges and of the kynges custome house in the citie of Ciuile called the house of the contractes of India Howe a great number of Spanyardes profered them selues to goe at theyr owne charges and of a restraint made that no straunger myght passe without the kyngs licence also how the aucthour reproueth Aloisius Cadamustus a wryter of the Portugales viages Howe Petrus Arias shortly after his departure from Ciuile lost two of his shyppes and was dryuen backe agayne by tempest and howe beyng newly furnyshed he passed the Ocean with more prosperous wyndes The thyrd viage of Vincentius Pinzonus and howe he came to the regions of Paria where encountryng with thinhabitauntes he put them fyrst to flyght but after fallyng to intreatie of peace they gaue him great plentie of golde and abundaunce of masculine frankensence with dyuers other princely presentes Of the great multitude of Popingiayes whiche are in the region of Paria and howe thinhabitours are apparelled also of the fyue kynges that made a league of friendshyp with Vincentius Howe Vincentius sayled Eastwarde by the tracte of the region of Paria vntyl he came to the poynt of that long lande which the aucthour supposeth to be the great Ilande Atlantike wherof the olde wryters make mention The contentes of the .viii. booke Fol. 86. A Contention betweene the Castilians and Portugales as concernyng the diuision of the new founde landes and howe the controuersie was fynished by the bishop of Rome Howe Don Christopher the gouernour of the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis was slayne by the Caniballes and the bishop put to flyght also of the other bishops of the Ilandes Howe the Caniballes of the Ilande of Sancta Crux slue and ate a kyng with certayne of his men beyng friendes to the Christians and made faggottes of theyr bones and howe quarellyng with our men they put them to silence The contentes of the .ix. booke Fol. 87. OF the marueylous fruitfulnesse of the regions of Beragua Vraba and Dariena and of the dyuers kyndes of trees and fruites also of the pleasaunt taste of swynes fleshe beyng fedde with the fruites of Mirobalane trees Of Lions and Tygers and other wylde beastes and of a beast of straunge fourme Of the ryuers of the gulfe of Vraba as the ryuer of Dariena and Rio Grandis and howe the great serpentes called Crocodiles are founde in other ryuers besyde Nilus in Egypt also howe thaucthour of this booke was sent Ambassadour to the Soldane of Alcayr in Egypt Of the Portugales nauigations and of the ryuer Senega found by them to bee a chanell of Nilus also of the multitude of byrds and foules being in the maryshes of Dariena A phylosophicall discourse of thoriginall and generation of sprynges and ryuers and of the breadth of the lande diuydyng the North and South Ocean Of the great ryuer Maragnonus and of the earthly Paradyse and how springs are engendred by cōuertion of ayre into water Of the often fall of rayne vnder the Equinoctiall line and of the pores of the sea opened by the South wyndes Of the great ryuers of Tanais Ganges Danubius and Eridanus famous to the olde wryters and howe certayne ryuers runnyng through the caues of the earth breake foorth into spryngs a farre of The contentes of the .x. booke Fol. 91. HOwe the newe founde landes discouered by the Spanyards in the West Ocean are eyght tymes bygger then Italie besyde that which the Portugales possesse and of the cardes of the sea drawen by Colonus and Americus Vesputius The order of measuryng the lande and howe a league conteyneth foure myles by sea and but three by lande The Nauigation of Iohannes Dias and of the sundry eleuations of the pole starre Of the Ilande of Boiuca or Agnaneo and of the spryng whose water being drunke causeth olde men to looke young How Nicuesa and his souldyers were so oppressed with famine that they were driuen to eate mangie dogges Toades and dead men and howe a broth made of a dogge skynne was solde for many peeces of golde The Contentes of the bookes of the thyrd Decade The contentes of the fyrst booke Fol. 94. OF the desperate aduenture and good fortune of Vaschus and howe with a hundred fourescore and ten men hee brought that to passe for the which Petrus Arias was sent with a thousand and two hundred freshe souldyers Howe Iron serueth for more necessary vses then golde and howe superfluities hynder libertie Howe Vaschus in one conflicte slue sixe hundred Barbarians with theyr kynges and howe he founde the house of kyng Quarequa infected with vnnaturall lechery commaundyng that the kyng and fourtie such as he kept for that purpose should bee gyuen for a pray to his dogges which he vsed to serue in the warres agaynst these naked people Of a region of blacke Moores and howe Vaschus came to the toppes of the mountaynes where gyuyng thankes to God hee behelde the newe South Ocean neuer before seene nor knowne to men of our world Howe Vaschus put kyng Chiapes to flyght and after made a league of friendshyp with him and how the kyng gaue him .iiii. hundred poundes weyght of wrought golde Howe kyng Coquera was put to flyght who also being receyued to friendshyp gaue Vaschus sixe hundred and fyftie poundes weyght of wrought golde Of the gulfe called Sinus S. Michaelis beyng full of inhabited Ilandes and of the manly courage and godly zeale of Vaschus also of the rysyng and fallyng of the South sea Howe kyng Tumacchus beyng dryuen to flyght and afterwarde reconciled gaue Vaschus sixe hundred and fourtiene peeses of golde and two hundred and fourtie of the greatest and fayrest pearles and howe the kyng caused his men to fyshe for pearles Of the Ilande called Margaritea Diues and of the abundance of fayre and great pearles founde therein Of habitable regions vnder the Equinoctiall line and of the Portugales nauigations to the Antipodes inhabityng the fyue and fyftie degree of the South pole also a declaration of Antipodes and of the starres about the South pole The contentes of the seconde booke Fol. 101. OF the maner of fyshyng for pearles and of the three kyndes thereof also dyuers other questions concernyng pearles Of the multitude of the shell fyshes wherein pearles are ingendred and founde in maner in all places in the South sea and of abundaunce of golde founde almost in
way the Beares could haue no suche power to hurte them as aboue at the sayde ryftes as I haue sayde There is an other strange beast whiche by a name of contrary effecte the Spanyardes call Cagnuolo leggiero that is the lyght dogge whereas it is one of the slowest beastes in the world and so heauy and dull in mouyng that it can scarsety goe fyftie pases in a whole day these beastes are in the firme lande and are very strange to beholde for the disproportion that they haue to all other beastes they are about two spannes in length when they are growne to theyr full byggenesse but when they are very young they are somewhat more grosse then long they haue foure subtile feete and in euery of them foure clawes lyke vnto byrdes and ioyned togeather yet are nother theyr clawes or their feete able to susteyne theyr bodyes from the grounde by reason whereof and by the heauynesse of theyr bodyes they drawe theyr bellyes on the grounde theyr neckes are hygh and streyght and all equall lyke the pestle of a morter which is altogeather equall euen vnto the toppe without makyng any proportion or similitude of a head or any dyfference except in the noddle and in the toppes of theyr neckes they haue very rounde faces muche lyke vnto Owles and haue a marke of theyr owne heare after the maner of a cyrcle which maketh theyr faces seeme somewhat more long then large they haue small eyes and rounde and nostrylles lyke vnto Munkeys they haue litle mouthes and moue theyr â—eckes from one syde to an other as though they were astonyshed theyr chiefe desyre and delyghte is to cleaue and sticke fast vnto trees or some other thyng whereby they may clyme aloft and therefore for the most parte these beastes are founde vppon trees wherevnto cleauyng fast they mount vp by litle and litle staying them selues by theyr long clawes the colour of theyr heare is betweene russet and whyte and of the proper colour of the heare of a Wesell they haue no tayles and theyr voyce is much differyng from other beastes for they syng onely in the nyght and that continually from tyme to tyme syngyng euer syxe notes one hygher then an other so fallyng with the same that the first note is the hyghest and the other in a baser tune as if a man shoulde say La sol fa mi re vt so this beast sayeth Ha ha ha ha ha ha And doubtlesse it seemeth vnto mee that as I haue sayde in the Chapter of the beast called Bardati that those beastes myght bee the original and document to imbarbe horses euen so the fyrst inuention of musycke myght seeme by the hearyng of this beast to haue the fyrst principles of that science rather then by any other thyng in the worlde But now to returne to the hystorie I say that in a shorte space after this beast hath song and hath paused a whyle shee returneth agayne to the selfe same song and doeth this onely in the nyght and not in the day By reason whereof and also because of her euyll sight I thynke her to bee a nyght beast and the friende of darkenesse Sometymes the Christian men fynde these beastes and bryng them home to theyr houses where also they creepe all about with theyr naturall slownesse insomuch that nother for threatnyng or pryckyng they will moue any faster then theyr naturall and accustomed pase And if they fynde any trees they creepe thither immediatly and mount to the toppe of the hyghest braunche thereof where they remayne continually for the space of eyght or tenne or twentie dayes without eatyng of any thyng as farre as any man can iudge And whereas I my selfe haue kept them in my house I coulde neuer perceyue other but that they lyue onely of ayre and of the same opinion are in maner all men of those regions because they haue neuer seene them eate any thyng but euer turne theyr heades and mouthes towarde that parte where the wynde bloweth most whereby may be consydered that they take most pleasure in the ayre They byte not nor yet can byte hauyng very litle mouthes they are not venomous or noyous any way but altogeather brutyshe and vtterly vnprofitable and without commoditie yet knowen to men sauyng onely to moue theyr myndes to contemplate the infynite power of God who delyghteth in the varietie of creatures wherby appeareth the power of his incomprehensible wysedome and maiestie so farre to exceede the capacitie of mans vnderstanding In these regions there are lykewyse founde certayne foules or byrdes which the Indians call Alcatraz these are muche bygger then Geese the greatest parte of theyr feathers are of russet colour and in some partes yelowe theyr bylles or beakes are of two spannes in length and very large neare to the head and growyng small towarde the poynte they haue great and large throtes and are muche lyke to a foule which I sawe in Flaunders in Brusselles in your maiesties pallace whiche the Flemynges call Haina And I remember that when your maiestie dyned one day in your great hall there was brought to your maiesties presence a Cauderne of water with certayne fyshes alyue whiche the sayde foule dyd eate vp whole and I thynke veryly that that foule was a foule of the sea because shee had feete lyke foules of the water as haue also these Alcatrazi which are lykewyse foules of the sea and of suche greatnesse that I haue seene a whole coate of a man put into the throates of one of them in Panama in the yeere .1521 And forasmuche as in that coast of Panama there passeth and fleeth a great multitude of these Alcatrazi beyng a thyng very notable I wyll declare the maner heereof as not onely I but also dyuers other nowe present in your maiesties courte haue often tymes seene Your maiestie shall therefore vnderstande that in this place as I haue sayde before the sea of Sur ryseth and falleth two leagues and more from syxe houres to syxe houres so that when it increaseth the water of the sea arryueth so neare to the houses of Panama as doeth our sea called Mare Mediteraneum in Barzalona or in Naples and when the sayd increasing of the sea commeth there commeth also therewith suche a multitude of the smal fishes called Sardines that it is so marueilous a thing to beholde that no man would beleeue it that hath not seene it Insomuch that the Cacique that is the kyng of that lande at such tyme as I dwelt there was bounde dayly as he was commaunded by your maiesties gouernour to bryng ordinarily three canoas or barkes full of the sayde Sardynes and to vnlade the same in the market place whiche were afterwarde by the ruler of the citie diuided among the Christian men without any coste or charge to any of them Insomuche that if the people had been a much greater multitude then they were and as many as are at this present in Toledo or more
and had none other thyng to lyue by they myght haue been sufficiently susteyned by these Sardynes besyde the ouerplus which should haue remayned But to returne to the foules whereof we haue spoken As the sea commeth and the Sardynes with the same euen so lykewyse come the sayde Alcatrazzi therewith and flee continually ouer it in such a multytude that they appeare to couer the vpper parte or floore of the water and thus continue in mountyng and fallyng from the ayre to the water and from the water to the ayre duryng all the tyme of their fishing and assoone as they haue taken any of these Sardines they flee aboue the waters and eate them incontinently and sodeynly returne agayne to the water for more continuing thus course by course without ceassyng â–ª in lyke maner when the sea falleth they folowe theyr fyshyng as I haue sayde There goeth also in the company of these foules an other kynde of foules called Coda inforcata that is the forked tayle whereof I haue made mention before assoone as the Alcatraz mounteth from the water with her pray of the Sardynes sodeynly this Coda inforcata gyueth her so many strokes and so persecuteth her that shee causeth her to let fall the Sardynes which shee hath in her mouth the which assoone as they are falne and before they yet touche the water the Coda inforcata catcheth them euen in the fall in suche sorte that it is a great pleasure to beholde the combat betweene them all the day long The number of these Alcatrazzi is suche that the Christian men are accustomed to sende to certayne Ilandes and rockes which are neare about Panama with theyr boates or barkes to take these Alcatrazzi whyle they are yet young and can not flee and kyll as many of them with staues as they will vntyll they haue therewith laden theyr Barkes or Canoas these young ones are so fat and well fedde that they can not bee eaten and are taken for none other intent but onely to make grease for candles to burne in the nyght for the whiche purpose it serueth very well and gyueth a cleare lyght and burneth easily After this maner and for this purpose innumerable of them are kyld yet it seemeth that the number of them that fyshe for Sardynes doe dayly increase There are other foules called Passere sempie that is simple sparowes these are somewhat lesse then Seamewes and haue theyr feete lyke vnto great Malardes and stande in the water sometymes and when the shyppes sayle fyftie or a hundred leagues about the Ilandes these foules beholdyng the shyppes commyng towarde them breake theyr flyght and fall downe vpon the sayle yardes mastes and cables thereof and are so simple and folyshe that they tary vntyll they may easily bee taken with mens handes and were therfore called of the maryners simple sparowes they are blacke and vppon theyr blacke haue theyr head and shoulders of feathers of a darke russet colour they are not good to bee eaten although the maryners haue sometymes been inforced to eate them There is an other kynde of byrdes in the firme land which the Christians call Picuti because they haue very great beakes in respecte of the litlenesse of theyr bodyes for theyr beakes are very heauy and waye more then theyr whole bodyes besyde these byrdes are no bygger then Quayles but haue a muche greater bushement of feathers insomuche that theyr feathers are more then theyr bodyes theyr feathers are very fayre and of many variable coloures theyr beakes are a quarter of a yarde in length or more and bendyng downe toward the earth and three fyngers brode neare vnto the head theyr tongues are very quylles wherewith they make a great hyssyng they make holes in trees with theyr beakes in the which they make their neastes And surely these byrdes are marueylous to beholde for the great dyfference whiche they haue from all other byrdes that I haue seene aswell for theyr tongues which are quylles as I haue sayd as also for the strangenesse of their sight disproportion of their great beasteâ— in respect of the rest of their bodies There are no byrdes found that prouide better for the safegard of theyr young in the tyme of theyr breedyng to be without daunger of wylde cattes that they enter not into theyr neastes to destroy their egges or young and this aswell by the strange maner of buyldyng their nestes as also by theyr owne defence and therfore when they perceyue that the cattes approche towarde them they enter into theyr nestes and holdyng theyr beakes towarde the entraunce of the same stande at theyr defence and so vexe the cattes that they cause them to leaue their enterpryse There are also other byrdes or sparowes which the Christians by contrary effecte call Matti that is fooles Whereas neuerthelesse there is no byrde that sheweth more wyt and crafte in defendyng her young from peryl These byrdes are litle in maner blacke and somewhat bygger then our Thrushes they haue certayne whyte feathers in theyr neckes and the lyke sagasitie or sharpenesse of sense as haue the byrdes or Pyes called Gazzuole they sildome tymes lyght vppon the earth they make theyr nestes in trees separated from other because the wylde cattes called Mammoni are accustomed to leape from tree to tree not discendyng to the grounde for feare of other beastes except when they are enforced by thirst to come downe to drinke at such times as they are sure not to bee molested and for this cause doe not these byrdes make theyr nestes but in trees farre diuided from other they make them of a cubite in length or more after the maner of bagges or litle sackes large at the bottome and growyng narower and narower towarde the mouth whereby they are fastened hauyng the hole whereat they enter into the sacke of suche byggenesse as may onely suffyce to receyue them And to the ende that the cattes may not deuour theyr young if they chaunce to mount vppon the trees where they haue theyr nestes they vse an other craft which is to make theyr nestes in thicke braunches of trees and to defende the same with sharpe and strong thornes implicate and set in suche order that no maâ— is able to make the lyke so that the cattes can by no meanes put theyr legges into the hole of the neaste to take out the young byrdes as well for the sharpenesse of the thornes as also for the deapth of the nestes in the bottome wherof the young birds rest without daunger of their enimie for some of theyr nestes beyng three or foure spannes in length the legge of the catte can not reache to the bottome thereof They vse also an other pollicie which is to make many of theyr neastes in one tree the which they doe for one of these two causes that is that eyther of theyr owne naturall disposition they are accustomed to goe in great multitudes and reioyce in the company of theyr owne
litle these are called Volatori that is fleeyng fyshes they ryse by great companies and flockes in suche multitudes that it is an astonyshment to behold them Sometimes they ryse but litle from the water as it chaunceth continue one flyght for the space of an hundred paces and sometimes more or lesse before they fall agayne into the sea sometymes also they fall into the shyppes And I remember that on an euenyng when al the company in the shyp were on theyr knees syngyng Salue regina in the hyghest part of the Castell of the poupe and sayled with a full wynde there passed by vs a flocke of these fleeyng fyshes and came so neare vs that many of them fell into the shyppe among the whiche two or three fel hard by me whiche I tooke alyue in my hand so that I myght well perceyue that they were as bygge as Sardines and of the same quantitie hauyng two wynges or quilles growing out of theyr synnes lyke vnto those wherewith all fyshes swym in ryuers these wynges are as long as the fyshes them selues As long as theyr wynges are moyst they beare them vp in the ayre but assoone as they are drye they can contynue theyr flyght no further then as I haue sayde before but fall immediatlye into the sea and so ryse agayne and flee as before from place to place In the yeere a thousand fyue hundred and fyfteene when I came fyrst to enfourme your Maiestie of the state of the thynges in India and was the yeere folowyng in Flaunders in the tyme of your most fortunate successe in these your kyngdomes of Aragonie and Castyle whereas at that viage I sayled aboue the Ilande Bermuda otherwyse called Garza beyng the furthest of all the Ilandes that are founde at this daye in the worlde and arryuyng there at the deapth of eyght yardes of water and distaunt from the lande as farre as the shotte of a peece of Ordinaunce I determyned to sende some of the shyp to lande aswell to make searche of suche thynges as were there as also to leaue in the Iland certayne Hogges for encrease But the tyme not seruing my purpose by reason of contrary wynde I coulde bryng my shyppes no nearer the Ilande beyng twelue leagues in length and syxe in breadth and about thyrtie in circuite lying in the three and thyrtieth degree of the North syde Whyle I remayned heere I saw a stryfe and combat betweene these fleeing fyshes and the fyshes named Gylt heades the foules called Seamewes and Cormorantes which surely seemed vnto me a thyng of as great pleasure and solace as coulde be deuised while the Gylt heades swam on the brymme of the water and sometymes lyfted theyr shoulders aboue the same to rayse the fleeyng fyshes out of the water to dryue them to flyght and folowe them swymmyng to the place where they fal to take and eate them sodenly Againe on the other side the Seamewes and Cormorantes take many of these fleeyng fyshes so that by this meanes they are neyther safe in the ayre nor in the water In the selfe same peryll and danger doo men lyue in this mortall lyfe wherein is no certayne securitie neyther in hyghe estate nor in lowe Which thyng surely ought to put vs in remembraunce of that blessed and safe restyng place whiche God hath prepared for suche as loue hym who shall acquiete and fynishe the trauailes of this troublous worlde wherein are so many dangers and bryng them to that eternall lyfe where they shall fynde eternall securitie and rest But to returne to the hystorye these byrdes and foules whiche I sawe were of the Ilande of Bermuda neere vnto the whiche I sawe these fleeyng fyshes for they coulde be of no other lande forasmuche as they are not accustomed to wander farre from the coastes where they are bredde Of thincrease and decrease that is rysyng and fallyng of our Ocean sea and South sea called the sea of Sur. I Wyll nowe speake of certayne thynges whiche are seene in the Prouince or at the least in the citie of golden Castyle otherwyse called Beragua and in the coastes of the North sea of the South sea called the sea of Sur not omitting to note one synguler and marueylous thyng whiche I haue consydered of the Ocean sea wherof hytherto no Cosmographer Pilot or Maryner or any other haue satisfyed me I say therefore as it is well knowen to your maiestie and all such as haue knowledge of the Ocean sea that this great Ocean casteth from it selfe the sea Mediterraneum by the mouth of the strayght of Gibilterra in the which the water from th end furthest part of that sea euen vnto the mouth of the sayde strayght eyther in the East toward the coaste commonly called Leuante or in any other part of the sayde sea Mediterraneum the sea doth not so fall nor increase as reason woulde iudge for so great a sea but increaseth very litâ—e and a small space Neuerthelesse without the mouth of the â—trayght in the mayne Ocean it increaseth and falleth very muche and a great space of grounde from syxe houres to syxe houres as in all the coastes of Spayne Britanâ—â— Flaunders Garmanie and England The selfe same Oâ—ean sâ—a in the firme lande newly founde in the coastes of the same lying towarde the North doth neyther ryse nor fall nor lykewyse in the Ilandes of Hispaniola and Cuba and al the other Ilandes of the same lying towarde the north for the space of three thousande leagues but onely in lyke maner as dooth the sea Mediterraneum in Italy which is in maner nothyng in respecte to that increase and decrease whiche the sayde Ocean hath in the coastes of Spayne and Flaunders But this is yet a greater thyng that also the selfe same Ocean in the coastes of the sayde fyrme lande lying towarde the South in the citie of Panama and also in the coast of that lande whiche lyeth towarde the East and West from that citie as in the Ilande of pearles or Margaritea whiche the Indians call Tarrarequi and also in Taboga and Otoque and in all other Ilandes of the south sea of Sur the water ryseth and falleth so muche that when it falleth it goeth in maner out of syght whiche thyng I my selfe haue seene oftentymes And here your maiestie may note an other thing that from the north sea to the south sea being of such difference the one from the other in rysyng and fallyng yet is the lande that deuideth them not past eyghteene or twentie leagues in breadth from coaste to coaste So that both the sayde seas beyng all one Ocean this strange effecte is a thyng worthy greatly to be consydered of all suche as haue inclination and desyre to knowe the secrete woorkes of nature wherein the infinite power and wysedome of God is seene to be suche as may allure al good natures to reuerence and loue so diuine a maiestie And whereas by y e demonstrations of
splintes on their armes Lykewyse other peeces which they put on theyr heades and other partes of theyr bodies For they esteeme nothyng so muche as to appeare galant in the warres and to goe in most comely order that they can deuyse glysteryng with precious stones Iewels golde and feathers Of the least of these welkes or perewincles they make certayne litle beades of dyuers sortes and colours they make also litle bracelets which they myngle with gaudies of golde these they rowle about theyr armes from the elbowe to the wrest of the hande The lyke also doe they on theyr legges from the knee to the soles of theyr feete in token of nobilitie especially theyr noble women in dyuers prouinces are accustomed to weare suche Iewelles and haue theyr neckes in maner laden therewith these beades and Iewelles and suche other trynkets they call Caquiras Besyde these also they weare certaine rynges of golde at theyr eares and nostrelles whiche they bore full of holes on both sydes so that the rynges hang vppon theyr lyppes Some of these Indians are poulde and rounded albeit commonly both the men and women take it for a decent thyng to weare long heare whiche the women weare to the myddest of theyr shoulders cut it equally especially aboue their browes this doe they with certayne harde stones whiche they keepe for the same purpose The pryncipall women when theyr teates fall or become loose beare them vp with barres of gold of the length of a spanne and a halfe well wrought and of suche byggenesse that some of them weygh more then twoo hundred Castelans or Ducades of golde these barres haue holes at both the endes whereat they tye two small cordes made of cotton at euery ende of the barres One of these cordes goeth ouer the shoulder and the other vnder the arme holes where they tye both togeather so that by this meanes the barre beareth vp theyr teates Some of these chiefe women goe to the battayle with theyr husbandes or when they them selues are regentes in any prouinces in the whiche they haue all thinges at commaundement and execute the office of generall captaines and cause them selues to bee caryed on mens backes in lyke maner as doe the Caciques of whom I haue spoken before These Indians of the firme lande are muche of the same stature and colour as are they of the Ilands they are for the most part of the colour of an olyue if there be any other difference it is more in bignesse then otherwise especially they that are called Coronati are stronger and bygger then any other that I haue seene in these parties except those of the Ilande of Giantes which are on the South side of the Ilande of Hispaniola neare vnto the coastes of the firme land and likewise certaine other which they call Iucatos which are on the North syde All which chiefly although they bee no Giantes yet are they doubtlesse the byggest of the Indians that are knowen to this day commonly bygger then the Flemynges and especially many of them aswell women as men are of very hygh stature and are all archers both men and women These Coronati inhabite thyrtie leagues in length by these coastes from the poynt of Canoa to the great ryuer which they call Guadalchiber neere vnto Sancta Maria de gratia As I trauersed by those coastes I fylled a butte of freshe water of that ryuer syxe leagues in the sea from the mouth thereof where it falleth into the sea They are called Coronati that is crowned because theyr heare is cutte rounde by theyr eares and poulde lower a great compase about the crowne much lyke the fryers of saint Augustines order And because I haue spoken of theyr maner of wearyng theyr heare heere commeth to my remembraunce a thyng which I haue oftentymes noted in these Indians and this is that they haue the bones of the sculles of theyr heades foure tymes thycker and much stronger then ours so that in commyng to handstrokes with them it shal be requisite not to strike them on the heads with swoords for so haue many swoordes been broken on theyr heades with litle hurte doone And to haue sayde thus much of theyr customes and maners it shall suffise for this tyme because I haue more largly intreated herof in my general historie of the Indies Yet haue I neyther there nor here spoken muche of that part of the firme lande whiche is called Noua Hispania that is newe Spayne whereof the Iland of Iucatana is part forasmuche as Ferdinando Cortesie hath written a large booke therof Of the houses of these Indies I haue spoken sufficiently els where Yet haue I thought good to infourme your maiestie of y e building and houses which the Christians haue made in diuers places in the firme lande They buylde them nowe therefore with two solars or loftes and with loopes and wyndowes to open and shutte also with strong tymber and very fayre boordes in suche sorte that any noble man may well and pleasauntly be lodged in some of them And among other I my selfe caused one to be builded in the citie of Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariena which cost me more then a thousand and fiue hundred Castelans beyng of such sort that I may well entertayne and commodiously lodge any Lord or noble man reseruing also part for my selfe and my famylie for in this may many householdes be kept both aboue and beneath It hath also a fayre garden with many Orange trees both sweete and sowre Cedars also and Limons of the which there is nowe great plentie in the houses of the Christians On one syde of the garden there runneth a fayre riuer The situation is very pleasaunt with a good and holsome ayre and a fayre prospecte about the ryuer In fine our trust is that in fewe yeeres al thinges in these regions shal growe to a better state accordyng to the holy intention of your maiestie Of the chiefe Ilandes Hispaniola and Cuba THe Indians which at this present inhabite the Ilande of Hispaniola are but fewe in number and the Christians not so many as they ought to be forasmuche as many of them that were in this Iland are gone to other Ilandes and to the fyrme lande For beyng for the most parte young men vnmaried and desirous daily to see newe things wherin mans nature deliteth they were not willing to continue long in one place especially seeing daily other newe landes discouered where they thought they might sooner fill their purses by being present at the fyrst spoyle Wherin neuerthelesse their hope deceiued many of them and especially such as had houses habitations in this Ilande For I certainly beleeue confyrming my selfe herein with the iudgement of many other that if any one Prince had no more seignories then only this Ilande it shoulde in short tyme be such as not to geue place either to Sicilie or England wheras
al their merchandise and wares for India Ethiope and Arabie as appeareth by the wrytyng first of Strabo who wryteth that he was in Egypt and then by Plinie who was in the tyme of Domitian Strabo also speaking of the saide fosse or trenche whiche was made towarde the redde sea wryteth thus There is a trenche that goeth towarde the red sea the gulfe of Arabie and to the citie of Arsinoe whiche some call Cleopatrida and passeth by the lakes named Amari that is bytter because in deede they were fyrste bytter but after that this trenche was made and the ryuer entred in they became sweete and are at this present ful of foules of the water by reason of their pleasantnesse This trenche was fyrste begunne by king Sesostre before the battaile of Troy Some say that it was begunne by king Psammiticus while he was a childe and that by reason of his death it was left imperfect also that afterwarde king Darius succeeded in the same enterprise who woulde haue finished it but yet brought it not to the ende because he was enfourmed that the redde sea was higher then Egypt and that if this lande diuiding both the seas were opened all Egypt shoulde be drowned thereby King Ptolomeus woulde in deede haue finished it but yet left it shut at the head that he myght when he woulde sayle to the other sea and returne without peryll Here is the citie of Arsinoe and neare vnto that the citie called Heroum in the vttermost parte of the gulfe of Arabie towarde Egypt with many portes and habitations Plinie likewise speaking of this trenche sayth In the furthest part of the gulfe of Arabie is a porte called Danco from whence they determined to bryng a nauigable trenche vnto the riuer of Nilus whereas is the firste Delta Betweene the saide sea and Nilus there is a streict of lande of the length of .lxii. miles The firste that attempted this thing was Sesostre king of Egypt after him Darius king of the Persians whom Ptolomeus folowed who made a trenche a hundred foote large and thirtie foote deepe being CCC miles in length vnto the lakes named Amari and durst proceede no further for feare of inundation hauing knowledge that the red sea was higher by three cubites then all the countrey of Egypt Other say that this was not the cause but that he doubted that yf he shoulde haue let the sea come any further all the water of Nilus shoulde haue been thereby corrupted whiche onely ministreth drynke to all Egypt But notwithstanding all these thinges aforesayde all this viage is frequented by lande from Egypt to the redde sea in whiche passage are three Causeyes or hygh wayes The fyrst begynneth at the mouth of Nilus named Pelutio All whiche way is by the sandes insomuche that if there were not certayne hygh Reedes fyxt in the earth to shew the ryght way the Causey could not be found by reason the wynde euer couereth it with sand The seconde Causey is two myles from the mountayne Cassius And this also in the ende of threescore myles commeth vpon the way or Causey of Pelusius inhabited with certayne Arabians called Antei The thyrde begynneth at Gerro named Adipson and passeth by the same Arabians for the space of threescore miles somewhat shortter but full of rough mountaynes and great scarcenesse of water Al these Causeyes leade the way to the citie of Arsinoe builded by Ptolomeus Philadelphus in the gulfe Carandra by the redde sea This Ptolomeus was the fyrst that searched all that part of the red sea whiche is called Trogloditica Of this trench described of Strabo and Plinie there are seene certeyne tokens remaynyng at this present as they do affyrme whiche haue been at Sues beyonde the citie of Alcayr otherwyse called Babylon in Egypt But the merchauntes that of later dayes trauayle this viage by lande ryde through the drye and barren desartes on Camels both by day and by nyght directyng theyr waye by the starres and compasse as do mariners on the sea and carying with them water sufficient for many dayes iorneys The places of Arabie and India named of Strabo and Plinie are the selfe same where the Portugales practyse theyr trade at this day as the maners and customes of the Indians doo yet declare for euen at this present their women vse to burne them selues alyue with the dead bodyes of their husbandes Whiche thyng as wryteth Strabo in his .xv. booke they dyd in olde time by a lawe for this consyderation that sometyme being in loue with other they forsooke or poysoned their husbandes And for as muche as accordyng to this custome the olde Poet Propertius who lyued about an hundred yeeres before the incarnation of Christ hath in his booke made mention of the contention that was among the Indian women whiche of them shoulde be burned aliue with theyr husbandes I haue thought good to subscribe his verses whiche are these Faelix Eois lex funeris vna maritis Quos aurora suis rubra colorat equis Namque vbi mortifero iacta est fax vltima lecto Vxorum fusis stat pia turba comis Et certamen habent lethi quae viua sequatur Coniugium pudor est non licuisse mori Ardent victrices flammae pectora praebent Imponuntque suis ora perusta viris As touchyng these viages both by sea and by lande to East India and Cathay many thinges are wrytten very largly by diuers autours which I omit because they parteyne not so much vnto vs as doth the viage attempted to Cathay by the north seas and the coastes of Moscouia discouered in our tyme by the viage of that excellent young man Rychard Chaunceller no lesse learned in al mathematicall sciences then an expert pilotte in the yeere of our Lorde .1554 As concernyng this viage I haue thought good to declare y e communication which was betweene the sayd learned man Galeatius Butrigarius and that great philosopher and noble gentleman of Italie named Hieronimus Fracastor as I fynd written in the Italian histories of nauigations As they were therefore conferryng in matters of learnyng and reasoning of the science of Cosmographie the saide learned man hauyng in his hand an instrument of Astronomie declared with a large oration howe much the worlde was bound to the kinges of Portugale rehearsing the noble factes done by them in India and what landes and Ilandes they had discouered and howe by theyr nauigations they made the whole worlde to hang in the ayre He further declared of what partes of the ball the earth remayned yet vndiscouered and sayde that of the landes of the inferior hemispherie or halfe compase of the ball towarde the pole Antartike there was nothyng knowen but that litle of the coaste of Brasilia vnto the streyght of Magellanus also a part of Peru also a litle aboue Affrike towarde the cape of Bona Speranza Also
dominion remayned whiche opened licentiousnesse to thiniurie of the subiectes this folowed thereof that whereas the Danes by this occasion had no further trust or ayde in the loue of the people they prouided for thindempnitie of theyr owne estate by forcible extenuatyng the goods and power of them whom they desired to keepe in subiection This is the fortune of Norway whose edefices townes and cities can not defende theyr auncient amplitude and dignitie neyther is there any hope of repayryng theyr state For there are no consultations admitted for the redresse of the common welth No man dare shewe his aduice or attempte any thyng vncertayne of the myndes and consent of other To this difficultie is added the qualitie of the place For the Danes haue in theyr power al the nauigations of Norway wherby it may exercise no trade by sea neyther cary forth wares to other places So that in fine it may seeme most vnfortunate as lackyng the fauoure of heauen the sea and the lande From hence is brought into all Europe a fyshe of the kyndes of them whiche we call haddockes or hakes indurate and dried with cold and beaten with clubbes or stockes by reason whereof the Germans call them stockefyshe The takyng of these is most commended in Ianuarie that they may be sufficiently dryed and hardened with colde For suche as are taken in the more temperate monethes do corrupt and putrifie and are not meete to be caryed forth The description of the west coaste with the part thereof lying most towarde the north Wardhus that is the watche house or watche towre 54.70.30 It is a stronge Castell or fortresse appoynted to the Lapones The coaste folowyng .48.50.70 Matthkur c. All the coast from hence and the places neere about vnto the degree .45.69 beyng sometyme lefte desolate by the sedition and destruction of Norway the Lapones chose for their habitations as comming to amore beneficial heauen From y e castel of Wardhus vnto the degree .40.30.64.10 al the coast in the spring tyme is daungerous to passe by reason of whales of such huge byggenesse that some of them growe to an hundred cubites for these fyshes at that tyme of the yeere resort togeather for generation Such shyppes as chaunce to fall eyther vppon theyr bodies or into suche whyrlepooles as they make by theyr vehement motions are in great peryll The remedie to auoyde this daunger is to power into the sea Castoreum that is oyle made of the stones of the beaste called the Beuor myngeled with water For with this the whole hearde of whales vanysheth suddeynely to the bottome of the sea They make a terrible roryng and haue two breathyng places in the hyghest part of theyr forheads standyng foorth ryght a cubite in length and are brode at the endes beyng couered with a skynne through the whiche they blowe waters lyke showers or stormes of raine The prickes of theyr backes are founde conteynyng three els in circuite and euery knotte betwene them of one ell They are at the leaste of .lx. cubites in length and are salted and kept in store houses The greatest are vnprofitable to bee eaten by reason of theyr ranke and vnsauery taste whiche can not be qualified Nidrosia standyng vppon the south syde of the sea banke was the chiefe citie and Metropolitane churche throughout all Norway Iselande Gronlande and the Ilandes there about This citie was noble at the fyrst vnder the floryshyng Empire of Norway conteynyng in circuite .xxiiii. paryshes but it is now brought in maner to a village and is called in the Germane tongue Truthaim as the house of the Dryides There remayneth at this day a Cathedrall churche in token of the auncient felicitie beyng such that in bygnesse and workmanshyp of wrought stone the lyke is not in all Christendome The greeses or compasse about the Altar was destroyed by fyre and repared at the same time that we wrote this historie The charge of the reparation was esteemed to be seuen thousand crownes by which small portion an estimate may be made of the excellencie of the whole Churche The tract of all the sea coastes of Norway is very quiet and meeke the sea is not frosen the snowes endure not long This lande hath also a peculiar pestilence which they call Leem or Lemmer This is a litle foure footed beaste about the byggenesse of a Ratte with a spotted skynne these fall vppon the grounde at certayne tempestes and soddeyne showres not yet knowen from whence they come as whether they are brought by the wyndes from remote Ilandes or otherwyse engendred of thycke and feculent clowdes But this is well knowen that as soone as they fall downe greene grasse and hearbes are found in theyr bowels not yet digested They consume al greene thyngs as do Locustes and such as they only byte wyther and dye This pestilence lyueth as long as it doth not tast of the grasse newely sproong They come togeather by flockes as do Swalows and at an ordinarie time either die by heapes with great infection of the land as by whose corruption y e aire is made pestiferous and molesteth the Noruegians with swymmyng in the head and the Iaundies or are consumed of other beastes named Lefrat Towards the East it is included within the lyne that is drawen by the mountaynes whose endes or vttermoste boundes they are that lye toward the South aboue the mouthes of the riuer Trolhetta but that part that lieth toward the North passeth by the castel of Wardhus and is extended to the vnknowen lande of the Lapones The Lake called Mos and the Ilande of Hosfuen in the myddest therof is in the degree .45 30 61. In this Lake appeareth a straunge monster whiche is a serpent of huge byggenesse And as to all other places of the worlde blasing starres do portend thalteration and chaunge of thynges so doth this to Norway It was seene of late in the yeere of Christ .1522 appearyng farre aboue the water rowlyng lyke a great pyller and was by coniecture farre of esteemed to be of fyftie cubites in length Shortly after folowed the reiectyng of Christiernus kyng of Denmarke Suche other monstrous thyngs are sayd to be seene in diuers places of the world And doubtlesse except we should thynke that the diuine prouidence hauyng mercy vpon mortall men and hereby warnyng them of theyr offences doth send such strange thynges as also blasing starres and armies fyghtyng in the ayre with suche other portentous monsters whereof no causes can be founde by naturall thynges we myght els suspect that such syghtes were but imaginations of the sense of man deceyued On the East syde are exceedyng rough mountaynes which admit no passage to Suetia The sea betweene Norway and the Ilandes is called Tialleslund Euripus or the streyghtes The Iland of Lofoth whose middest .42 67 10. Langanas whose middest .41 67 Vastrall whose middest .41 30 67 30. The sea betwene these
three Ilands is called Muscostrom that is boyling At the flowing of the sea it is swalowed into the Caues and is blowne out agayne at the reflowing with no lesse violence then the streames of ryuers fall from mountaines This sea is nauigable vntyl it be lower then the mouthes of the rockes Such as chaunce into it out of due time are caried headlong into Whyrpooles The fragmentes of the lost shyps are seldome cast vp agayne But when they are cast vp they are so brused and fretted against the rockes that they seeme to be ouergrowne with hoare This is the power of nature passing the fabilous Simpleiades the fearful Malea with the dangerous places of Silla and Caribdis and all other miracles that nature hath wrought in any other sea hytherto knowen to man The Ilands about Norway are of such fruitful pasture that they bryng not theyr beastes into the stables before the moneth of Nouember and do in many places wynter them abrode Suecia or Suethlande SVecia is a kyngdome ryche in Golde Syluer Copper Leade Iron fruite cattayle and exceedyng increase of fyshe of the ryuers lakes and the sea and hath no lesse plentie of such wylde beastes as are taken with huntyng Towarde the West it is ended with the mountaynes of Norway from the Castel of Wardhus vnto th ende .51.63.40 Towarde the South with the line from this ende vnto the degrees 53.30.61 And from thence vnto the degrees 61.60.30 Aboue the gulfe of Suecia towarde the north with the south end of Lapponia from the castel of Wardhus vnto the ende .62.70 Towarde the East it is ended with the line from this ende vnto the degree .63.69 c. Stokholme the chiefe citie .64.61 This is the chiefe mart towne of Suecia and is strongly defended by art and nature It is situate in maryshes after the maner of Uenice and was therfore called Stokholme forasmuch as beyng placed in the water the fundation is fortified with stockes or piles The sea entreth inâ—o it with two armes or branches of such largenesse and depth that shyps of great burden and with maine sayles may enter by the same with theyr ful fraight This suffered of late yeeres greeuous spoile and destruction to the singular exemple of cruel hostilitie and such as the lyke hath not been lyghtly shewed to any other citie receiued by league and composion In al the tract from Stokholme to the lake aboue the ryuer of Dalekarle whiche is in the degree .56 30 63 50. are mountaynes fruiteful of good syluer copper and lead They get great ryches by the salmons and plentie of other fyshes whiche they take in certayne great lakes The dukedome of Agermannia occupieth the north syde to the confines of Laponia This tract is ful of wods in the which they hunt the beastes called Vros or Bisontes which in theyr tongue they call Elg that is wylde Asses These are of such heyght that the hyghest part of theyr backes are equal with the measure of a man holdyng vp his armes as hygh as he may reach c. Vpsalia the chiefe citie .62.62.30 here is buryed the body of saint Henricus kyng and martyr Copperdalia that is the copper valley is a Dukedome southwarde from the Dukedom of Iemptia Under this is the valyant nation of the people called Dalekarly Oplandia is a Dukedome and the nauil or myddest of Scondia The citie of Pircho on the North syde of the lake of Meler â–ª was once a great citie and able to arme .xiiii. thousande men to the warres but is nowe brought to a vyllage All the tracte of Oplandia hath mynes of Syluer Copper and Steele Of the Ilandes and rockes that lye about Suecia the myddest is .67.30.61.30 These were called of the olde writers Done the reason of which name remayneth vnto this daye For there are in these innumerable multitudes of byrdes insomuch that thinhabitauntes of the next coast sayle thyther in the moneth of May whyle the byrdes syt on theyr egges which they steale and reserue them in salt for a long tyme. Bothnia BOthnia is so named of the pretious furres of all sortes that are caryed from thence into foraigne regions For by these and theyr fyshyng they haue great commoditie Salmons of the best sort are taken in these seas are great riches among these nations Bothnia is diuided into two partes as Northbothnia South Bothnia called Ostrobothhia Northbothnia is termined with the South ende of the Lapones vnto the ende .78.30.69 Towarde the East it is termined with this ende and vnto the degree .78.30.68.20 Towarde the West with the line terminyng the East syde of Suecia And towarde the South with the residue of the gulfe of Suecia from th ende that hath degrees .63.69 Ostrobothnia towarde the East is termined from the sayde ende of the most East coast And towarde the South with a line extended by the mountaynes from this ende vnto the degree .71 66 Towarde the North and West with part of the gulfe of Suecia c. Gothia or Gothlande GOthia is by interpretation good For the holy name of God is in the Germane tongue Goth that is Good At what tyme the Gothes vpon a generall consent sent foorth theyr ofspring or sucession to seeke new seates or countreys to inhabite and when they possessed the coastes of Meotis and Asia none of the olde wryters haue made mention as farre as I know But they haue been knowen since the tyme that the Romanes dilated theyr Empire by Illirium now called Slauonie vnto the ryuer of Danubius and were also famous from the time of Cesar Dictator and Octauianus Augustus by reason of their great warres at Danubius being the vtermost bound of Thempire Neuerthelesse in that renowme what Gothia was vnder what part of heauen it was scituate or of whom the Gothes tooke their original it hath been vnknowen almost to this age This is termined toward the North with the South ende of Suetia and towarde the West with the other mountaynes of Norway whiche continue from the boundes of Suetia to the mouthes of the ryuers of Trolheta c. It hath many goodly Townes Cities Castles Mines c. The citie of Visba being in the degree .61.30.54.15 was an ancient and famous mart Towne as is Genua in Italie at this day but afterward being afflicted by y e incursions of the Pirates of the Danes and Moscouites it was left desolate There remayne to this day certayne ruines whiche testifie the auncient nobilitie In this place were the firste stations of the Gothes that possessed Meotis It is at this day of fruiteful soyle and famous by many goodly and strong Castles Monasteries There is among other a Monasterie of the order of Saint Benedict in the whiche is a librarie of about two thousande bookes of old auctors About the yeere of Christe fourescore and eyght the Gothes vnto whom resorted
in the midde waye I founde an exceedyng hygh and large mountayne where is great pentie of wylde beastes and especially of Monkeys whiche runne about the mountayne euery where There are also many Lions very noysome to men and therefore it is not safe to iorney that way but when a multitude of men goe togeather at the least to the number of a hundred I passed this way with a great companie and yet were we in daunger of the Lions and other wylde beastes which folowed vs for we were sometimes constrayned to fyght with them with dartes slyngs and bowes vsyng also the helpe of dogges and yet escaped hardly When I came to the citie I fayned my selfe sicke and in the day tyme lurked in the temple and went foorth only in the night to speake with the pilot of the shyp of whom I haue made mention before and obteyned of hym a foist or barke to depart thence secretly Of certayne places of Ethiopia Cap. 14. IN the syxt chapter here before I haue made mention howe departing from the queene I went to the citie of Aden where I couenaunted with a certayne pilot to goe with hym into India and that he woulde not go thyther before he had fyrst made a viage into Persia and that at my fyrst beyng in the citie of Aden he coulde not yet for the space of a moneth depart from thence Duryng whiche tyme I traueyled the regions and cityes whereof I haue spoken vnto this my returne to Aden Nowe therfore accordyng to our agreement to trauayle diuers countreys and regions committing our selues to the sea we were by inconstant fortune and sundry tempestes deterred from that viage for whereas we were nowe syxe dayes sailyng on our waye to Persia a sodayne contrary tempeste droue vs out of our waye and cast vs on the coast of Ethiope Our barkes were laden with rubricke that is a certayne redde earth which is vsed to dye cloth for yeerely from the citie of Aden departe fyfteene or twentie shyps laden with rubricke which is brought out of Arabia Faelix Beyng therefore thus tossed with stormes we were dryuen into a port named Zeila where we remayned fyue dayes to see the citie and tarrye vntyll the sea were more quiet Of the citie Zeila in Ethiopia and the great fruitfulnesse therof and of certayne straunge beastes seene there Cap. 15. IN this citie is great freequentation of merchandies as in a most famous mart There is marueylous abundance of gold and Iuerye and an innumerable number of blacke slaues solde for a small pryce these are taken in warre by the Mahumetan Mores out of Ethyopia of the kyngdome of Presbiter Iohannes or Preciosus Iohannes whiche some also call the kyng of Iacobins or Abyssins beyng a Christian and are caried away from thence into Persia Arabia Faelix Babylonia of Nilus or Alcair and Mecha In this citie iustice and good lawes are obserued the soyle beareth Wheate and hath abundaunce of flesh and diuers other commodious thynges It hath also Oyle not of Olyues but of some other thyng I knowe not what There is also plentie of Hony and Waxe there are lykewyse certayne sheepe hauyng theyr tayles of the weyght of syxeteene pounde and exceedyng fatte the head and necke are blacke and all the rest whyte There are also sheepe altogeather whyte hauyng tayles of a cubite long hangyng downe lyke a great cluster of grapes and haue also great lappes of skynne hangyng from theyr throtes as haue Bulles and Oxen hangyng downe almost to the grounde There are also certaine Kyne with hornes lyke vnto Hartes hornes these are wylde and when they bee taken are geuen to the Soltan of that citie as a kyngly present I sawe there also certayne Kyne hauyng only one horne in the middest of the forehead as hath the Unicorne and about a spanne of length but the horne bendeth backwarde they are of bryght shynyng red colour But they that haue Hartes hornes are enclynyng to blacke colour Conye is there good cheepe The citie hath an innumerable multitude of merchants the walles are greatly decayed and the hauen rude and despicable The kyng or Soltan of the citie is a Mahumetan and entertayneth in wages a great multitude of foote men and horsemen They are greatly geuen to warres and weare onlye one loose syngle vesture as we haue sayde before of other They are of darke ashye colour enclining to blacke In the warres they are vnarmed and are of the sect of Mahumet Of Barbara an Ilande of Ethiope Cap. 16. AFter that the tempestes were appeased wee gaue wynde to our sayles and in shorte tyme arryued at an Ilande named Barbara the Prince whereof is a Mahumetan The Ilande is not great but fruitfull and well peopled it hath abundance of flesh The inhabitants are of colour enclynyng to blacke Al theyr ryches is in heardes of cattayle We remayned here but one day and departyng from hence sayled into Persia. The thyrde booke entreateth of Persia and of certayne townes and partes of Persia. Cap. 1. WHen we had sayled the space of twelue dayes we aryued at a citie called Diuobanderrumi that is to say the holy porte of Turkes It is but a litle way from the continent when the sea ryseth with hye tydes it is an Iland enuironed with water but at a lowe fludde or decrease of the sea one may go thyther by land it is subiect to the Soltan of Cambaia The Gouernour is named Menacheas It is a marte of great merchandies There dwell about it foure hundred merchants of Turky it is well walled round about and defended with al sorts of engins They haue barkes and brygantines somewhat lesse then ours we remained here two daies Departyng from hence we came to an other citie named Goa in the space of three dayes iorney this also aboundeth with merchandies and is a mart greatly frequented The soyle is fruitefull with plentie of all thynges necessary the inhabitantes are Mahumetans Neare vnto this are two other fayre cities and portes named Giulfar and Meschet Of the Iland and citie of Ormus or Armusium and of an Iland of Persia where pearles are found Cap. 2. PRoceedyng on our viage we came to a citie named Ormus verye fayre This is seconde to none in goodlye situation and plentie of pearles it is in an Ilande dystaunt from the continent twelue myles It hathe great scarcenesse of freshe water and corne From other regions is brought thyther all victualles that nouryshe the inhabitauntes Three dayes saylyng from thence are geathered those muscles which bryng foorth the fayrest and byggest pearles they are taken as I will nowe declare There are certayne men that get theyr lyuing by fyshyng These hauing small Boates cast into the sea a great stone fastened to a corde and this on both sydes of the Boate to make it as stedfast and immoueable as a shyppe lying at an Anker The Boate
which were youngest and beste made He tooke them by a deceite in this maner that giuing them knyues sheares looking glasses belles beades of Crystall suche other trifles he so filled theyr handes that they coulde holde no more then caused two payre of shackels of Iron to be put on theyr legges makyng signes that he would also giue them those chaynes which they lyked very wel bycause they were made of bright and shining metall And wheras they could not carry them bycause theyr handes were full the other Giantes would haue caryed them but the captaine would not suffer them When they felte the shackels faste about theyr legges they began to doubt but the Captayne dyd put them in comfort and bad them stande still In fine when they sawe howe they were deceiued they roared lyke bulles cryed vppon theyr great deuill Setebos to helpe them Being thus taken they were immediately seperate and put in sundry shippes They could neuer bynde the handes of the other two yet was one of them with much difficultie ouerthrowen by .ix. of our men his hands boūd but he sodeinly loosed him selfe and fled as did also the other that came with them In their fleeing they shot of their arrowes and slue one of our men They say that when any of them dye there appeare x. or .xii deuils leaping and daunsing about the bodie of the dead and seeme to haue their bodies paynted with diuers colours and that among other there is one seene bigger then the residue who maketh great mirth reioysing This great deuyll they call Setebos and call the lesse Cheleule One of these Giantes which they tooke declared by signes that he had seene deuylles with two hornes aboue their heades with long heare downe to theyr feete and that they caste foorth fyre at theyr throates both before and behynde The Captayne named these people Patagoni The most parte of them weare the skynnes of such beastes whereof I haue spoken before and haue no houses of continuance but make certayne cotages which they couer with the sayd skynnes and carry them from place to place They lyue of raw fleshe and a certayne sweete roote which they call Capar One of these whiche they had in theyr shyppes dyd eate at one meale a baskette of Bysket and droonke a bowle of water at a draught They remayned fyue monethes in this porte of Sainct Iulian where certayne of the vnder captaynes conspiryng the death of theyr Generall were hanged and quartered among whom the Treasurer Luigo of Mendozza was one Certayne of the other conspiratours he lefte in the sayde lande of Patogoni Departyng from hence to the .52 degree towarde the pole Antartike lackyng a thirde parte they founde a ryuer of freshe water and good fyshe Theyr shyppes were here in great daunger They remayned two monethes in this porte where they made newe prouision of freshe water fuell and fyshe Here the Captayne caused all his men to bee confessed Approching to the .52 degrees they found the straight now called the straight of Magellanus beyng in some place a hundred and ten leagues in length and in breadth somewhere very large and in other places little more then halfe a league in breadth On both the sides of this straight are great and hygh mountaynes couered with snowe beyonde the which is the enteraunce into the sea of Sur. This enteraunce the Captayne named Mare Pacificum Heere one of the shippes stole away priuilie and returned into Spaine In this was one of the Giantes who dyed assoone as he felte the heate that is about the Equinoctiall lyne When the Captaine Magalianes was paste the straight and sawe the way open to the other mayne sea he was so glad thereof that for ioye the teares fell from his eyes and named the poynt of the lande from whence he first sawe that sea Capo Desiderato Supposing that the shyppe which stole away had been lost they erected a crosse vpon the top of a hygh hil to directe their course in the straight if it were theyr chaunce to come that way They founde that in this straight in the moneth of October the nyght was not past foure houres long They founde in this straight at euery three myles a safe hauen and excellent water to drynke wood also and fyshe and great plentie of good hearbes They thinke that there is not a fayrer straight in the worlde Here also they sawe certaine fleeing fyshes The other Giant which remayned with them in the shyppe named breade Capar water Oli redde cloth Cherecai red colour Cheiche blacke colour Amel And spoke all his wordes in the throate On a tyme as one made a crosse before him and kyssed it shewyng it vnto him he sodaynely cryed Setebos and declared by signes that if they made any more crosses Setebos would enter into his bodie and make him brust But when in fine he sawe no hurte come thereof he tooke the crosse and imbrased and kyssed it oftentymes desiryng that he myght be a Christian before his death He was therefore baptysed and named Paule Departyng out of this straight into the sea called Mare Pac ficum the .xxviii. day of Nouember in the yeere .1520 they sayled three monethes and twentie dayes before they sawe any land and hauyng in this tyme consumed all theyr Bysket and other victualles they fell into suche necessitie that they were inforced to eate the pouder that remayned thereof beyng nowe full of woormes and stynkyng lyke pysse by reason of the salte water Theyr freshe water was also putrified and become yelowe They dyd eate skynnes and peeces of leather whiche were foulded about certayne great ropes of the shyppes but these skynnes beyng made very harde by reason of the Sunne rayne and wynde they hung them by a corde in the sea for the space of foure or fiue dayes to mollifie them and sodde them and ate them By reason of this famyne and vncleane feedyng some of their gummes grewe so ouer theyr teethe that they dyed miserably for hunger And by this occasion dyed menetiene men and also the Giaunt with an Indian of the lande of Brasile otherwyse called Terra de papagalli that is the lande of Popingayes Beside these that dyed .xxv or .xxx. were so sicke that they were not able to doe any seruice with theyr handes or armes for feeblenesse So that there was in maner none without some disease In these three monethes and xx dayes they sayled foure thousande leagues in one gulfe by the sayde sea called Pacificum that is peaceable which may well be so called forasmuch as in all this tyme hauyng no sight of any lande they had no misfortune of wynde or any other tempest During this tyme also they discouered only two little Ilandes vnhabited where they sawe nothing but birdes trees and therefore named them infortunate Ilandes being one from the other about two
magnanimitte to sende to the sayde fyrme landes and Ilandes honest vertuous and learned men suche as feare GOD and are able to instruct thinhabitantes in the Catholyke fayth and good maners applying all theyr possible deligence in the premisses We furthermore streightly inhibite all maner of persons of what state degree order or condition soeuer they be although of Imperiall and regall dignitie vnder the payne of the sentence of excommunicatiō which they shal incurre if they do to the contrary that they in no case presume without speciall lycence of you your heyres and successours to trauayle for merchaundies or for any other cause to the sayde landes or Ilandes founde or to be founde discouered or to be discouered towarde the West and South drawyng a lyne from the pole Artyke to the pole Antartike whether the firme landes and Ilandes founde and to be founde be situate toward India or toward any other part beyng distant from the line drawen a hundred leagues toward the west from any of the Ilands commonly called De los Azores and Capo Verde Notwithstandyng constitutions decrees and Apostolycall ordinaunces whatsoeuer they are to the contrary In hym from whom Empyres dominions and all good thynges do proceede Trustyng that almyghtie GOD directyng your enterprices if you folowe your Godly and laudable attemptes your labours and trauayles herein shall in shorte tyme obtayne a happie ende with felicitie and glory of all Christian people But forasmuche as it shoulde be a thyng of great difficultie these letlers to be caryed to all suche places as shoulde be expedient we wyll and of lyke motion and knowledge do decree that whyther so euer the same shal be sent or wheresoeuer they shal be receiued with the subscription of a common notarie thereunto requyred with the seale of any person constitute in ecclesiasticall dignitie or suche as are aucthorised by the Eclesiasticall court the same fayth and credite to be geuen thereunto in iudgement ▪ or els where as shoulde be exhibyted to these presentes It shal therefore be lawefull for no man to infrynge or rashly to contrary this letter of our commendation exhortation request donation graunt assignation constitution deputation decreee commaundement inhibition and determination And if any shall presume to attempte the same he ought to know that he shal therby incurre the indignation of almyghty God and his holy Apostles Peter and Paule Geuen at Rome at saint Peters In the yeere of thincarnation of our lorde M. CCCC.lxxxxiii The fourth day of the nones of Maye the fyrst yeere of our seate An Abridgement of P. Martyr his .5.6.7 and .8 Decades and particulerly of Ferd. Cortesius conquest of Mexico by R. VV. THe fyrst foure Decades of P. Martyr you haue already seene done into Englyshe by R. Eden as also certayne parcelles of the foure last P. Martir made eight decades of the west Indish newes in lesse labour these may be run ouer speciall regarde being had vnto that Decade wherein the more principall matter is expressed I meane the fyrst and that chiefly for the famous conquest of the citie Themistitan in Mexico prouince yea of all that great region we doe nowe vsually call newe Spaine As for the sixte Decade it conteyneth very little matter woorth the rehearsal except it be certeine reportes of the Spaniards how they found where they traueyled in the West Indies plough stuffe of gold that the prince of Nicoragua with his family became christian that certaine beardles Indians greatly feare suche men as haue beardes that they vse to sacrifice lyue men vnto their Idolles eyther taken in the warres or fatted vp at home bountefully for that purpose that Nicoragua Mere for the greatnesse and vnknowen length thereof for the ebbes and fluddes and many Ilandes therin myght woorthely be called a freshe water sea This freshet hath ben thought to run into the Northwesterne streicte rather of ignorance the course therof being not throughly knowen than that it so falleth out in deede as P. Martyr wryteth Finally in the .9 .10 bookes of the sixt Decade newes is sent to Rome of the controuersie betwixt the Spaniardes Portugales concernyng the Moluccaes handled more effectually in more ample maner by R. Eden Fol. 448. than P. Martyr in this place penned it Wherfore it were a needlesse woorke and actum agere in deede to trouble the reader therewith any further especially whereas in this volume mention hath ben made therof euen by P. Martyr him selfe as you haue already seene The lyke opinion am I also of touching the .vii. .viii. decades some parcels wherof the Aucthour doth repeate out of his former writinges as Dec. 7. c. 2. the ruine of the Ilandes Iucaies out of his fourth Dec. c. 3. Item out of the second Decade c. 10. the nature of that spring in the Ilande Boiuca otherwyse called Agnaneo the water whereof who so drinketh by reporte of an old man becommeth young agayne is in many woordes repeated by P. Martyr Dec. 7. c. 7. the whole summe of whose seconde discourse thereof is expressed in the former place by R. Edens addition of this clause Perhappes with some diet the which woordes are not in P. Martyr his texte to be shorte the two kindes of breade the Indians doe make of the rootes Iucca and a kynd of graine called Maiz suffitiently declared Dec. 1. lib. 1. Dec. 3. lib. 5. lib. 9. Dec. 3. be repeated againe Dec. 8. c. 3. Other parcelles of these aforesayd Decades wherein the subtelties of theyr Magicians and Coniurers Peaces or Pages are discribed their Tigres crueltie their sundry kindes of wylde beastes foule Serpents their diuers sortes of trees and fruites partly may you reade of in the breuiarie of Gonzal Ferd. Ouiedus historie as of the fountayne of pytch the stone pellets naturally made for Gunnes Fol. 224. out of the .7 Decade c. 7. and the Glowoormes out of the same c. 9. partly in R. Eden his notes of newe Spayne Peru Rio de la Plata Baccaleos and Florida set downe in this volume Fol. 225. as particulerly of the Nutshelles vsed in steede of money taken out of P. Mart. Dec. 8. c. 4. Partly in Theuetus woorkes of the newe founde worlde Englished long since and finally in those bookes which sundry learned Simplicistes haue lately written principally to ayde the Phisitians of our tyme. Some other curiosities there be conteyned in P. Martyr his two last Decades namely the Iucaien women to be so fayre that for theyr loue other countrey Barbares seeke to inhabite those Ilandes Dec. 7. c. 1. The Spanyardes well vsed of the Iucaiens contrary to all curtesie to haue carried away many of those Ilanders into slauery and misery Agayne certayne traueylers to haue ben seene there that had tayles lyke fyshe Dec. 7. c. 2. Fonde fantasies of mens soules departed Dec. 7. c. 3. wandring first North and than South about the worlde afterwarde to growe young agayne in iolitie Agayne other to imagine that the departed
the people Kyng Caunaboa in captiuitie Caunaboa his brother rebelleth A conflict betwene the Cibanians and the Spaniards A greate tempest in the moneth of Iune Whirle windes Furacanes The death of king Caunaboa and his brother The golde mines of Salomon Gold in the superficiall partes of the earth The golden tower Lacke of vitayles Vittualles brought from Spayne Saint Domiâ—ikes towre Isabella The Riuer of Naiba Wooddes of Brasile trees Mountaynes without golde The kinges wiues Well fauored women Driades A pretie pastyme Foure men slayne in sport Prouision for diseased men The castels or towers of hispaniola The golden mountaynes of Cibana The kinges rebell An army of xv thousand Barbarians The kinges are taken prisoners king Guarionexius is pardoned Lacke of vytayles xxxii kinges Serpentes eaten The dressing of serpentes to be eaten Serpentes egges eaten Gossopine cotton Queene Anacaona The treasurie of Queene Anacaona Hebene wood The Ilande of Guanabba Cunnyng Artificers A stone in the steede of Iron Gunnes Musical instrumentes Ignorance causeth admiration The intemperancie malice of a seruile wit aduaunced Ciguanians Licenciousnesse in libertie Hercules pyllers A violent perswasion The furie of Guarionexius The thyrd voyage of Colonus the Admiral Frenche men pyrates The iland of Madera Healing of the leper Contagious ayre and extreeme heate The iland of Puta People of comly corporature and long heare neere the Equinoctial The higher the colder Musical instrumentes The violent course of the water from the East to the West The gulfe called Os Draconis A sea of fresh water Marmasets Monkeyes The fayre and large region of Paria Humane people Chayers and stooles of Hebene Whyte men neere the Equinoctiall Shalownesse of the sea The vse of Carauels or Brigandines A riuer of marueylous deapth and breadth The eleuation of the Pole aâ— Paria Note a secrete as concernyng the Pole starre An experience A marueylous secrete Time reuealeth â—l thynges The Spaniardes rebell in the Admiralles absence The Spaniardes accuse the Admiral The Admiralâ— answere These had the custodies of the temples A cruel deuillyshe pastyme Heare made long blacke by arte Kyng Maiobanexius An army of eight thousand Ciguauians Kyng Guarionexius Naturall hatred of vyce The Lieuetenaunts gentelnesse toward Maiobanexius A rare faithfulnesse in a barbarous kyng The Lieuetenauntes messengers are slayne The Spaniardes are painfull in the warres A desperate aduenture with thirtie men A pollicie A beautifull woman The kynges submit them selues to the Lieuetenaunt A newe gouernour of the Ilande The Ocean sea heretofore vnknowen The nauigation of Petrus Alphonsus Pearles for tryfles Great plentie of pearles Shel fyshes in which pearles are engendred Theyr manner of bargayning The vse of pynnes Haukes belles in great estimation Roring of wild beastes Hartes and wylde bores Cunnyng artificers Base golde Tokens of the continent or firme lande The golden region of Canchieta The Equinoctial line Gossampine trees Canibales in the gulfes of Paria Death for death Howe the Canibales fortifie their campe Haraia Springes of salt water The bodyes of prynces dryed and reserued Orient pearles â—s bygge as â—asel nuts The Ilande of Margarita The nauigation of Vincentius and Aries Pinzonus The Ilandes of Canarie Cabouerde S. Iames Ilande The north pole out of sight Habitable regions vnder the Equinoctial lyne People of high stature A vagabounde kynde of men Giantes Desperate â—oldnesse A sea of freshe water Many fruitful Ilandes Humane people Regions of Paria Gold pearles The commodities of the regions Ilands about Paria Brasile Canibales Trees of Cassia fistula A monstrous beast Extreme remedie in a desperate case Cinamome and Ginger Topases Men of noble courage Another voyage Animae album The superstitions of Hispaniola The errours of the olde gentilitie Idolatrie and idolles Illusions of euil spirites Images of gossampine catton Young deuyls Fables muche lyke Ouide his transformations The Nyghtyngale The Ilande of Mathinino Children turned into Frogs A special grace Holy reliques A holy caue The original of the sunne and moone Walkyng spirites A remedie agayest walking spirites Priestes and diuines Phisitions Ignorance is norished with superstition A powder of marueylous effect A strange maner of curyng Angry gods They make the dead to speake Fayries or spirites of the gentiles much like to the papistes The pouder of the herbe Cohobba Secrete mysteries Reuelations The spirite of Apollo The Sibylles Children with two crownes Wandering images A woman Zemes of great power Mediatours A marueylous illusion of the deuyll The idolles abolyshed Millane in the handes of the french men The history folowyng conteyneth the actes of ten yeeres Paria part of the fyrme lande of East India Golde Frankencense The fiercenesse of the naked people A man deuoured of a monster of the sea Note the largenesse of the new Ilandes Antipodes The nature of the place altereth the formes and qualities of thynges Plentie of beastes and foule Cuba is an Ilande The 〈◊〉 of Cuba The Ilande of Burichema of S. Iohannis Golde mynes Tyllage They abhorre labour They are docible The kynges chyldren The two cheefe golde mynes of Hispaniola A costly shypwracke Pesus The fynyng and distributing of gold Three hundred thousaÌ„d weight of gold molten yeerely in Hispaniola The newe landes Enlargyng of the Christian religion The original of true nobilitie The Ilande of Guanassa The voyage of Iohannes Diaz West Antipodes The encrease of the Christian congregation Of landes distant from the Equinoctiall from fyue degrees to ten The death of Colonus A generall licence The nauigation of Alphonsus Fogeda The region of Caramairi Apples whiche turne into wormes A tree whose shadowe is hurtful Warlyke people Arrowes infected with poyson The nauigation of Diego Nicuesa The regions of Vraba and Beragua The Spanyardes reuenge the death of theyr companions A great slaughter Canibales The hunger of golde The Ilande Fortis Wrought gold Nicuesa The gulfe Coiba Barnardino de Calauera Fogeda returneth to Hispaniola Famine A Brigandine drowned with the stroke of a fyshe The region of Cuchibacoa Serra Neuata Os Draconis Riche in golde and poore in bread The vse of targets agaynst venemous arrowes The barbarians haue respect to iustice Salted fyshe Wine of fruites and seedes Artyllerie Ancisus shypwracke A groue of date trees Wylde bores Apples of a strange kyndâ— Cedars of Libanus Men of desperate boldenesse The gulfe of Vraba The great riuer of Darien The souldiers make an othe The barbarians are dryuen to flyght The riuer of Darien but vii degrees from the Equinoctial lyne Golde founde in a thycket of reedes Brest plates of golde The golden regions are for the most part barren Lupus Olanus Petrus de Vmbria The ryuer Lagartos The golden ryuer of Beragua The enterpryse death of Petrus de Vmbria The daungerous place of Scilla in the sea of Cicile The miserable case of Nicuesa The riuer of S. Matthei The rigocousnesse of Nicuesa Corne waxeth rype euerye fourth moneth The commendation of a young man brought vp with Colonus Portus Bellus
south sea The rich Iland called Dites Cap. sancti Augustini Of the euill successe of these viages reade decade 3. Liber 9. An expedition to destroy the Canibales Looke decade .3 Lib. 9. The nauigations of Andreas Moralis A perticular description of the Ilande of Hispaniola Nereides are nymphes of the sea he meaneth Ilandes Tethis the wyfe of Neptunus goddesse of the sea Great pearles Hispaniola like vnto the earthy paradise The fyrst inhabitours of Hispaniola Hierusalem Mecha The Ilandes of Canarie Betanchor a frenchman The first names of Hispaniola Their maner of learnyng Ballets and rhymes Singyng and daunceyng Songes of loue and mournyng Prophesses Note Their familiaritie with spirites The deuyl is driuen away by baptisme Surueyers Serpentes A Crocodile is muche lyke to our Ewte or Lyserte Cipanga Italy called Latium Isabella The fourme of the Ilande of Hispaniola A particuler carde of Hispaniola Hispaniola compared to Itaâ—ie The temprature of Hispaniola The Equinoctiall Cold accidental and not by the situation of the region Perpetuall spring and sommer Maruelous fruitfullnesse Beastes Oxen and swine of exceeding bignesse Swine fed with Mirobalanes An eare of wheat as bigge as a mans arme in the brawne Great plentie of cattayle Incommodities of intemperate regions Holsome ayre and water Golde euery where The citie of S. Dominick Of prouinces diuided into regions The pronunciation of the Hebrues and Arabians The Moores and Arabians possessed Spayne How the aspiration chaungeth the signification of woords Diuers languages in the Iland Riuers denoured of caues Whirlepooles and conflict of waters Cloudes in the caue The Cataracts of Nilus A standing poole in the top of a high mountayne Fearne and bramble bushes growe only in colde regions The Caspian and Hircanian sea A great lake of soure and salte water Sea Fysshes in lakes of the midlande The deuouring Fyshe called Tiburonus The ryuers that fall into the lake Caspium CC. springeâ— within the space of a furlong A myracle The Indian language A kyng striken dumme and lame by a myracle Such as are drowned in the lake are not cast vp againe A lake of salt freshe water A lake of freshe water A lake of ten myles in length A playne of a hundred and twenty myles A plaine of two hundred myles in length The marueylous fyshe Manati A monster of the sea fedde with mans hande Matum A fyshe caryeth men ouer the lake A marueilous thing The ryuer Attibunicus The great vale of Guarionexius Golde in all mountaynes â–ª and golde and fyshe in all ryuers Salte bayes The ryuers haue their increase from the caues of the mountaynes No hurtfull or rauening beast in the Ilande The aucthours excuse By what meanes the people of the Ilande are greatly consumed The pleasures of Hispaniola The region of Cotobi situate in the cloudes A plaine in the toppes of mountaynes The hygher the colder Moderate colde in the mountaynes Golde Thinhabitantes of Hispaniola can abyde no labour nor colde The Ilande of Creta or Candie vnder the dominion of the Uenetians Pure and massie golde in the region of Cotoby The vaine of golde is a lyuyng tree These colours of floures are called Marchasites The roote of the golden tree The branches of the golden tree Caues susteyned with yyllers of golde The stones of the golde mynes What golde is brought yerely from Hispaniola into Spayn Salt of the mountaynes very harde and cleare Salt as harde as stones Springes of salt freshe and sower water Hollow caues in the grounde Certaine wyld men lyuing in caues and dennes Men without a certayne language Men as swift as Grehounds A wylde man runnech away with a chylde Pitch of the rocke Pitch of two kyndes of trees The Pyne tree The tree Copeia The leafe of a tree in the stedâ— of paper They beleeue that leaues do speake A pretie storie Ignorance causeth admiration The leafe wherein they wryte A stronge coloure of the iuice of an apple An hearbe whose smoke is poyson The kyndes of fruites wherewith thinhabitauntes lyued fyrst Necessitie the mother of al artes The fyne bread Cazabbi made of the rootes of Iucca How Ceres fyrst founde wheate and barly in Egypt The rootes of Ages The aucthours excuse Plinie By what names they salute the kyngs children when they are borne The names and tytles of the Romane Emperours Howe they make theyr testamentes So dyd great Alexander The kynges wyues concubines are buryed with him They burye theyr iewels with them A dreame of an other lyfe after this Where it rayneth but seldome Where it rayneth much Variable motions of the Elementes The colonies and villages whiche the Spaniardes haue builded The other Ilandes about Hispaniola The Iland of Arethusa A spring runnyng vnder the sea from Hispaniola to Arethusa The Iland of Sancti Iohannis The Ilande of Cuba Habitable regions vnder the Equinoctial The riche golde mineâ— of Cuba The Iland of Iamaica The Iland of Guadalupea England and Scotland The gum called Anime album Dates Pine trees The Canibales Whereby it was thought that there were Ilandes of women Hony in trees and rockes The Ilande Desiderata The Ilande Galanta The Ilandes of Todos Sanctos or Barbata The Ilande Monsserratus The Ilande Antiqua The Ilande Portus Bellus Great Tortoyses The generation of Tortoyses The Egges of Tortoyses Innumerable Ilandes Troyans Tyrians Greekes Phenitians The North Ilandes The Ilandes of the south sea The Ilande of pearles Wylde beastes must be tamed with the rod. An expedition to the Ilande of Dites in the south sea The Ilande of Margaritea Os Draconis Paria A conflict The kyng of the Ilande of Dites submitteth him selfe The kynges pallace A hundreth and ten pounde weight of pearles Axes and hatchets more esteemed then golde The kynges wordes Ilandes rych in golde and pearles C. pounde weyght of pearles yeerely for a tribute Plentie of Hartes and Cunnies Wyne of fruits and seeds The kyng is baptised The fyft part of pearles due to the kyng Byg pearles A pearle for a Pope An other pearle of great price Nyse and superfluous pleasures Dyuers opinions of the generation of pearles Hearbes in the bottome of the sea A hundred pearles in one shell fyshe The matrice of the pearle fyshe The byrth of pearles Where the biggest meane and least pearls are engendred Sea crabbes The sea muscles wherein pearles are engendred The regions of the East syde of the gulfe of Vraba The region of Caribana The original of the Canibales The villages of Caribana Manhunters Bookes Loke in the begynnyng of the booke of the landes lately founde Circumcised people What chaunced to the Capitaynes whiche the gouernour sent dyuers wayes Looke decade iii. liber vi The vioage of Iohannes Solisius Cab. S. Augustini Iohn Solisius is slayne of the Canibales The fyrcenes of the Canibales Brasyle Iohannes Pontius is repulsed by the Canibales The voyage of Iohannes Aiora Looke Decade iii. liber vi The lewde behauiour of Iohn Aiora The variable fortune of Gonsalus Badaiocius
to the I le of Palmes Grancanaria Fortisuentura The Iland of Gomera Teneriffa Snowe The coast of Barbarie Cape blanke The ryuer of de Oro. The Crosâ—ers or crosse sâ—arres â–ª Rio Grande Cape Mensurado The ryuer of Sesto The ryuer of Sesto Rio Dulce Cape de monte Cape de las Palmas The land of Cakeado Shauo Croke Sainct Vincentes harborowe The riuer Dulce Cape de las Palmas The coast of Guinea The castell of Arra The towne of Samma The pledge was syr Iohn yoâ—k his neuew Cape Corea The castell of mina parteynyng to the kyng of Portugale Perecowe Perecowe grands Monte rodondâ— The currantes From Mina homewarde Rio de los Potos Iuerye Cabe de las Palmes Currantes The Ilede Flora. The I le of Coruo Where they lost the sight of the North starre Howe the compasse doeth varie The Primrose The towne of Samma Golde Golde foure hundred weight Graynes Eleuantes teeth The head of an Elephant The contemplations of Gods workes The description and properties of the Elephant Debate betweene the Elephant and the Dragon Sanguis Draconis Cinnabaris Three kyndes of Elephantes Woorkes of Iuery The people of Africa Libia Interior Getulia Ethiopes Nigrite The ryuer Nigritis or Senega A straÌ„ge thyng Garamantes People of Libia Prester Iohn Regnum Orguene Gambra Guinea or Cap. Perde The Portugales nauigations to Brasile Ethiopia The Ilande of Meroe The queene of Saba Prester Iohn Emperour of Ethiopia People of the east syde of Africa Ephiophagi People without heades Myrre Azania Regnum Melinde Ethiopia Interior Whyte Elephantes Habasia Ichthiophagi An thropophagi Montes Lunae Gazatia Cape bonae Spei Aphrica without cold The wynter of Africa Flames of fyre noyse in the ayre The myddle region of the ayre is cold The stryfe of elementes Wynde The heate of the Moone The nature of the starres Spoutes of water falling out of the aire Carractes of heauen Vehement motions in the sea A straunge thyng The power of nature They rase theyr skynnes Fyne iewelles A braslet Shackels Rynges Dogs chaines of golde A musk cat Their houses Their feeding Fleyng fyshes A strange thyng Their bread Theyr wheats The Sunne Theyr drynke Graynes â–ª Shelles that cleaue to shyps Barnacles Bromas A secrete The death of our men Colde may be better abiden then heate The same was also called Memphis in tyme past Mamalukes Mahumetans Ienezzari Syria Phoenicia Sainct George and the Dragon Tripoli Alepo or Antioch The mount Taurus The mount Olympus Azamia Mesapotamia Persia Damasco Sainct Helene the mother of Constantine the Emperour Christians Greekes Hexarchatus is a principate or gouerment The Soltan of Syrya A strange maner to demaund a subside Theyr churches The bodie of the Prophet Zacharias The place of the conuersion of Sainct Paule The prison of Sainct Paule The place wher Cain slue Abel The Mamalukes wages Howe the Mamalukes abuse women The women of Damasco Chaunge of husbandes and wyues The Mahumetans wiues Gotes mylke Mussheromes Asia the lesse nowe named Natolia or Turchia Christians of Damasco Carauana a companie of Cameles Mamaluchi renegadi Mezaris The prince Zambei in Arabia The Prince of Ierusalem A Prince a theefe Mares The Arabians lyue by robbery Houses 〈◊〉 on Camels backs Tentes and pauilions â–ª This for feare of the Arabians From Damasco to Mecha Perhaps with the sounde of a Horne of Trumpet Water The Burden of the Camelles The feeblenesse of the Arabians Pagans The actiuitie of the Mamalukes Manna turned in bitter plagues Lacke of water Water deerely bought So did Abraham with the Philistians So doeth the Turke his army Iewes Pigmet The citie of Medinathalhabi The Toombe or Sepulchre of Mahumet Mahumet was not buried in Mecha Mahumets Librarie Nomothetae Turcarum This Hali our men that haue been in Persia call Mortus Hali That is Saint Hali. Discorde and sectes of religion among the Mahumetans Turkes and Persians Note Such come such câ—affe Not only among Turkes and 〈◊〉 Sed. Nabi â–ª iâ— the 〈◊〉 of Mahumet A great price for vilâ— marchandies Suche people suche priest My lorde bishop of Mecha It semeth that they know not where he was buryed The deuyll he was Thriâ—â— at the feete of Mahumet Mahumet shal ryse â–ª c. with Iuda False miracles to confirme false religion Neophiti Sic ne respondes pontifiâ—i The â—able that Mahumets Toombe hangeth in the ayre Iourney on the lande by carde and compasse as on the sea The fountaine of Sainct Marke the Euangelist The sea of sande Mare fabulosum Momia Momia of kynges bodies embalmed Mont Sinai The den where Mahumet liued in contemplation Mecha The kingdome of Mecha Mecha whiche Abraham Oâ—telius calleth Mecca The Soltan of Mecha Sacrifice to Abraham and Isaac Mecha cursed of god Water very deare The ryuer Nilus The red sea Arabia Faelix Many pylgrymes and strangers at Mecha Why so many nations 〈◊〉 to Mecha The temple of Mecha A Turret in the Temple of Mecha A gate of siluer Balsame or balme A chappel with a well in it in the Temple A straunge baptisme for remission of synnes Good meaning sufficeth not The house of Abraham Sacrifice to Abraham Sacrifice of sheepe Religion for pouertie Cadi a preacher A goodly sermon Soldiers trouble the word of God Where Abraham sacrifyced his sonne Isaac The Diuell appeareth to Isaac Isaac wounded the Deuyll in the forehead Stocke doues of the progenie of the Doue whiche spake in Mahumets eare Monoceros The Vnicornes The Vnicorns horne Why Mecha is not so much frequented as in tyme paste The dominion of the Kyng of Portugale in the East partes Hipocrisie Paying of custome to the Soltan The realme of Decham in India Affliction cooleth lechery The citie of Zida Poore Pilgryms that came from Mecha From Arabia to Persia. The red sea The citie of Gezan Of the citie of Aden looke Cap. 13. Bying and sellyng by nyght The Aucthour taken and put in prison Picade the Moonke writeth that Christians are founde in all regions sauing in Arabia and Egypt where they are most hated 〈◊〉 â—oordes of them that profâ—sse the religion of Mahumet Soldiers horsemen of Christian Ethiopians of the dominioÌ„ of Presbiter Iohannes Abbyssini vnder Prester Iohn A gard of fourescore thousand blacke men Targettes Slynges Counterfet madnesse Sheepe with exceedyng great tayles A Sheepe made a mahumetan Hunger maketh appetite Madnesse taken for holynesse Heremytes Mahumetans A holy vowe A holy saint The fleete of India Strife and hatred for religioÌ„ and all worth nought Mortus Hali as the Persians call hym As muche gold as wyll lade a hundred Camels A sheepes tayle of .44 pounde weyght Grapes without graynes Men of long lyfe in temperate ayre An armye of fourescore thousand men Strong walles Anthopophagus Roses Suger The Soltan of Arabia felix A pitiful pagan A great familye Of Aden reade the fourth cap. Monkeys and Lions Danger of wilde beasts Tempest The viage to Persia. Ethiope Rubricke Golde Iuery Blacke slaues Presbiter Iohannes kyng of Iacobins
reade them ouer to your Honours recreation as one of the principall causes wherefore at this tyme they were set foorth If varietie of matter occurrents out of forraigne countryes newes of newe founde landes the sundry sortes of gouernement the different manners fashions of diuers nations the wonderfull workes of nature the sightes of straunge trees fruites foule and beastes the infinite treasure of Pearle Golde Siluer ioyes may recreate and delight a mynde trauelled in weighty matters weeried with great affayres credit me good Madam in listning vnto this worke shall you haue recreation you shall finde delight in reading ouer these relations wherein so newe so straunge so diuers so many recreations and delightes of the mynd are expressed Your Honours good lykyng thereof wyll be to me no small contentation for this worke paynefully doone a good occasion spedyly to finish the rest of my owne labours concerning this faculty a great encouragement and comfort to bestow my whole time hereafter only in that study wherewith all my former knowledge in Philosophy and Geography may ende The whiche conueniently now I am in good hope to perfourme with my Lorde and your Ladyshyps good leaue and continuance of my duety and effectuall desire to doe your Honours the better seruice At London the 4. day of Iuly 1577. Your Honors seruaunt humbly at commaundement Richarde VVilles R. VVilles Preface vnto the Reader wherein is set downe a generall summe as it were of the whole worke THis greate and large bolume consisteth principally of foure partes agreeable vnto those foure corners of the worlde whereunto the skilfull seamen and merchauntes aduenturers of late yeeres haue chiefely traueiled and yet specially are wont to resorte The first part conteyneth foure Decades written by P. Martyr a learned graue counseller of Charles the Emperour fifte of that name concernyng the Spanyardes voyages Southwestwarde theyr famous exploites doone in these newly discouered partes of the worlde the whiche vsually wee now call the west Indies Hereunto haue we added Gonzalus Eerdinandus Ouiedus breefe historie touching the same matter so that the first part of our volume hath fiue particular bookes In the first whereof cap 1.2.3 4 and 5. P. Martir describeth Columbus first and second nauigations and discoueries of certaine Ilandes made by hym specially and his brother In the 6. chapter or booke thereof for both names we finde is set foorth Columbus third voiage and the discouery of Peru in the maigne west Indish lande In the seuenth his troubles both in the west Indies and retourne into Spaigne with his brother being both prisoners The 8. is of P. Alfonsus voyages that same way In the 9. are declared the trauailes of Vincent and Peter Pinzoni and other Spaniards likewise thither from Palos The 10. is a conclusion of the whole Decade with particuler mention of some special nouelties Colūbus fourth voiage beganne So that in the first Decade you haue historically set downe the discouerye of the west Indies taken in hande about the yeere of our Lorde .1492 by Columbus and his companions vntill the yeere 1510. as P. Martir witnesseth fol. 8. 43 47. and 54. This worthy trauayler and skilfull seaman died at Validolid in Spaigne An. dom 1506. as Lopez reporteth cap. 25. in his generall historie de las Indias The second Decade conteyneth Peru matters entituled by P. Martir Creditus Cortinens that is a continent or maigne lande as in deede it is of it selfe with the rest of America in lyke maner as Europe Affryk Asia be one continent or maigne lande vnited togeather In the fyrst and seconde chapters of this Decade shall you reade the voyages of Fogeda and Nicuesa to Dariena In the thyrd Colmenaris trauayles Nicuesa his death and the Indishe kyng Comogrus beneuolence In the fourth Vasquez Nunnez doynges in Vraba gulfe His conquest of rebellious Barbarian kyngs in the fifte In the syxt Quicedus Colmenaris ambassage out of Dariena to Hispaniola and the religion of king Commendator in Cuba The seuenth booke conteineth Petrus Arias iorney to Paria in Peru. The .8 the dissention betwixt the Spaniardes and Portugales for theyr boundes and makyng of fyue Bishops in these newely founde partes of the worlde In the 9 are shewed the ryuers of Darien and philosophically the causes of so great waters there That countrey is described in the .10 and the extreme hunger abydden by the companions of Nicuesa set forth In the fyrst second and thyrd chapters of the thyrde Decade is conteyned an abridgement of Vascus Nunnez relations concerning his voyage to the south sea for it lyeth south from Darien vsually termed nowe a dayes Mar del zur and may also be called the wyde east Indyshe Ocean The discouery thereof made by Nunnez the kyng subdued by hym especially kyng Commogrus christenyng by the name of Charles and the wynnyng of kyng Tumanama or Tubanama and his countrey In the fourth chapter shal you fynd Columbus fourth vyage began An. do 1502 to the mayne west Indyshe lande with the description of some part therof lying betwyxt our Atlantike or westerne Ocean and the aforesayde Mar del zur as Vraba and Beragua In respecte of the history and course of yeeres this booke myght haue been placed before the seconde Decade but it shoulde seeme that these reportes came no sooner to P. Martyr his handes wherefore he began this fourth booke ryght well thus I was determined c. The fyfth booke conteyneth P. Arias iorney mentioned dec 2 lib. 7. to the north syde of Peru wherein Carthagena and S. Martha two famous hauens do stande with a description of the countrey and people thereof In the syxt you haue a disputation touchyng the Leuant streame or easterne surge of the sea the discouery of Baccalaos done by Cabot P. Arias arriuall in Darien the buildyng of S. Maria antiqua there with other fortresses finally the commodities and vnwholesomnesse of Darien In the .7 8. .9 bookes shal you haue a description of Hispaniola Cuba and other Ilandes thereabout done by Andreas Moralis And in the .10 shall you reade of the Ilande Diues in Mar del zur of the kyng therof subdued by Andreas Moralis of Pearles the finding therof of Petrus Arias Captaynes doinges agaynst the Caniballes of the Barbares fowlyng the manner of the geatheryng of gold in Dariena The fourth Decade for so was it named in the Spanyards edition of P. Martyr his woorkes set forth at Alcala in Spayne An. do 1530. though the Basile and Cullen printers haue entituled it De insulis nuper inuentis that is of Ilandes lately found out to wyt after Columbus voyages this booke I say was by P. Mar. culled out of the Indian registers conteynyng speciall notes that seemed vnto hym most meete to be publyshed as the discouery of certayne Ilandes and creekes namely Iucatan done by Fernandes of Corduba his companions Cozumella the Ilands of Sacrifice the Ilandes of women the prouince Coluacan
otherwyse called Cuba was an ilande As they coasted along by the shore of certayne of these ilandes they hearde Nyghtyngales syng in the thycke wooddes in the moneth of Nouember They founde also great ryuers of freshe water and naturall hauens of capacitie to harbour great nauies of shippes Sayling by the coastes of Iohanna from the north poynt to the west he rode litle lesse then eight hundred miles for they cal it a hundred and fourescore leagues supposing that it had ben the continent or fyrme lande because he coulde neither fynde the landes ende nor any token of the ende as farre as he could iudge with his eye wherfore he determined to turne backe agayne beyng partly thereto enforced by the roughnesse of the sea for the sea bankes of the ilande of Iohanna by sundrye wyndynges and turnynges bende them selues so muche towarde the north that the northnortheast winde roughly tossed the shyps by reason of the winter Turning therfore the stemmes of his shyppes towarde the East he affyrmed that he had found the ilande of Ophir whither Solomons shippes sayled for golde But the discription of the Cosmographers well considered it seemeth that both these and the other ilandes adioynyng are the ilands of Antilia This ilande he called Hispaniola on whose north syde as he approched neare to the lande the keele or bottome of the biggest vessell ranne vpon a blynde rocke couered with water and cloue in sunder but the playnenesse of the rocke was a helpe to them that they were not drowned Makyng haste therfore with the other two shyps to helpe them they brought awaye al the men without hurte Here comming fyrst a land they sawe certayne men of the Ilande who perceiuyng an vnknowen nation comming toward them flocked togeather and ranne al into the thycke woods as it had ben hares coursed with grehoundes Our men pursuing them tooke onely one woman whom they brought to the ships where fylling her with meate and wyne and appareling her they let her depart to her companye Shortly after a greate multitude of them came runnyng to the shore to behold this newe nation whom they thought to haue discended from heauen They cast them selues by heapes into the sea came swimming to the shyppes brynging gold with them whiche they chaunged with our men for earthen pottes drinking glasses poyntes pinnes hawkes bels looking glasses such other trifles Thus growing to further familiaritie our men were honorably entertained of the king of that part of the iland whose name was Guaccâ—narillus for it hath many kyngs as when Eneas arriued in Italy he found Latium diuided into many kingdoms and prouinces as Latium Mezeutium Turnum and Tarchontem which were separated with narowe boundes as shal more largly appeare hereafter At the euen tide about the falling of the sonne when our men went to prayer and kneeled on their knees after the maner of y e Christians they dyd the lyke also And after what maner so euer they sawe them pray to the crosse they folowed them in al poyntes as wel as they coulde They shewed much humanitie towards our men and helped them with theyr lyghters or smal boates which they cal Canoas to vnlade their broken shyppe and that with suche celeritie and cherefulnesse that no frende for frende or kynseman for kynseman in such case moued with pitie coulde do more Theyr boates are made only of one tree made holowe with a certaine sharpe stone for they haue no yron and are very long and narowe Many affirme that they haue seene some of them with fortie ores The wilde and myscheuous people called Canibales or Caribes whiche were accustomed to eate mans fleshe called of the olde writers Anthropophagi molest them exceedyngly inuading their countrey takyng them captiue kyllyng eatyng them As our men sayled to the ilandes of these meke and humane people they left the ilands of the Canibales in maner in the middest of theyr viage toward the south They complayned that theyr ilands were no lesse vexed with the incursions of these manhuntyng Canibales when they goe forth a rouyng to seeke theyr pray then are other tame beastes of Lions and Tigers Such chyldren as they take they geld to make them fat as we do cocke chickens and young hogges and eate them when they are wel fedde of suche as they eate they fyrst eate the intralles and extreme partes as handes feete armes necke and head The other most fleshye partes they pouder for store as we do pestels of porke and gammondes of bakon yet do they absteyne from eatyng of women and counte it vyle Therfore suche young women as they take they kepe for increase as we do hennes to leye egges the olde women they make theyr drudges They of the ilandes which we may nowe cal ours bothe the men and y e women when they perceiue the Canibales commyng haue none other shyft but onely to flee for although they vse very sharpe arrowes made of reedes yet are they of small force to represse y e furie of the Canibales for euen they them selues confesse that ten of the Canibales are able to ouercome a hundred of them if they encountre with them Theyr meate is a certayne roote which they cal Ages muche lyke a nauewe roote in fourme and greatnesse but of sweete tast much lyke a greene chestnutte They haue also an other kynde of rootes which they call Iucca whereof they make bread in kyke maner They vse Ages more often rosted or sodden then to make bread thereof But they neuer eate Iucca except it be first sliced and pressed for it is full of lycoure and then baked or sodden But this is to be marueyled at that the iuice of this roote is a poyson as strong as Aconitum so that if it be drunke it causeth present death and yet the bread made of the masse thereof is of good taste and holsome as they all haue prooued They make also another kynde of bread of a certayne pulse called Panicum muche like vnto wheate whereof is great plentie in the Dukedome of Millane Spayne and Cranatum But that of this Countrey is longer by a spanne somewhat sharpe towarde the ende and as bygge as a mans arme in y e brawne the graynes wherof are set in a marueylous order are in fourme somewhat lyke a Pease Whyle they be soure and vnripe they are whyte but when they are ripe they be very blacke when they are broken they be whiter then snowe this kynde of grayne they call Maizium Golde is of some estimation among them for some of them hang certayne small peeces thereof at theyr eares and nosethrylles A litle beyonde this place our men went a lande for freshe water where they chaunced vpon a riuer whose sande was myxed with muche golde They founde there no kindes of foure footed beastes except three kindes of litle conies These ilandes also nouryshe
serpentes but suche as are without hurt Likewise wilde geese turtle doues and duckes muche greater then ours and as white as swannes with heades of purple colour Also Popiniayes of the whiche some are greene some yelowe some lyke them of India with yelowe rynges about theyr neckes as Plinie describeth them Of these they brought fourtie with them of moste lyuely and dilectable colours hauyng theyr feathers entermingled with greene yelowe and purple whiche varietie delyghteth the sense not a litle Thus muche thought I good to speake of Popyniayes ryght noble prince specially to this intent that albeit the opinion of Christophorus Colonus who affyrmeth these ilandes to be part of India doth not in all poyntes agree with the iudgement of auncient wryters as touchyng the bygnesse of the Sphere and compasse of the Globe as concernyng the nauigable portion of the same being vnder vs yet the Popiniayes and many other thynges brought from thence doo declare that these Ilandes sauour somewhat of India eyther beyng neare vnto it or els of the same nature forasmuche as Aristole also about the ende of his booke de Caelo Mundo and likewyse Seneca â–ª with diuers other aucthours not ignoraunt in Cosmographie do taffirme that India is no long tracte by sea distant from Spaine by the west Ocean for the soyle of these ilandes bryngeth foorth Mastyx Aloes and sundry other sweete gummes and spyces as doth India Cotton also of the Gossampine tree as in India in the countrey of the people called Seres The languages of all the nations of these ilandes may well be wrytten with our Latine letters For they cal heauen Turei A house Boa Golde Cauni A good man Taino Nothing Mayani Al other words of theyr language they pronounce as plainly as we do the Latine tongue In these ilandes they founde no trees knowen vnto them but Pine apple trees and Date trees and those of marueylous heyght and exceedyng harde by reason of the great moystnesse and fatnesse of the grounde with continual and temperate heate of the sunne whiche endureth so al the whole yere They playnely affirme the ilande of Hispaniola to be the moste fruitefull lande that the heauen compasseth about as shall more largely appeare hereafter in the particuler description of the same which we entende to set foorth when we shal be better instructed Thus makyng a league of frendshyp with the king and leauing with hym .xxxviii. men to searche the ilande he deparâ—ed to Spayne takyng with hym tenne of the inhabitauntes to learne the Spanishe tongue to the intent to vse them afterward for interpretours Colonus therfore at his returne was honourably receiued of the kyng and queene who caused hym to syt in theyr presence whiche is a token of great loue and honour among the Spanyardes He was also made Admiral of the Ocean and his brother gouernour of the ilande Toward the second voyage he was furnished with .xvii. ships wherof three were great caractes of a thousande tunne .xii. were of that sort which the Spaniards cal Carauelas without deckes and two other of the same sorte somewhat bygger and more apt to beare deckes by reason of the greatnesse of theyr mastes He had also a thousande and two hundred armed footemen well appoynted among which were many artificers as smythes Carpenters myners and suche other certayne horsmen also well armed Lykewyse mares sheepe heyghfers and suche other of both kindes for encrease Lykewise al kinde of pulse or grayne and corne as wheate barley rye beanes and pease and suche other aswel for foode as to sowe besyde vines plantes and seedes of suche trees fruites and hearbes as those countreyes lacke and not to be forgotten sundry kyndes of artyllerie and iron tooles as bowes arrowes crosbowes bylles hargabusses brode swoordes large targettes pykes mattockes shouelles hammers nayles sawes axes and suche other Thus beyng furnished accordyngly they set forward from the Ilandes of Gades nowe called Cales the seuenth day before the Calendes of October in the yeere of Christ .1493 and ariued at the ilandes of Canarie at the Calendes of October Of these ilandes the last is called Ferrea in whiche there is no other water that may be drunke but only that is geathered of the deawe which continually distylleth from one only tree growyng on the hyghest bancke of the ilande and falleth into a rounde trenche made with mans hande we were enfourmed of these thynges within fewe dayes after his departure What shall succeede we wyl certifie you hereafter Thus fare ye well from the courte at the Ides of Nouember .1493 The seconde booke of the first Decade to Ascanius Sphorcia Vicount Cardinal c. YOu repeate ryght honourable prince that you are desyrous to knowe what newes we haue in Spayne from the newe worlde and that those things haue greatly delyted you whiche I wrote vnto your hyghnesse of the fyrst Nauigation You shal nowe therefore receiue what hath succeeded Methymna Campi is a famous towne in high Spayne in respect from you and is in that parte of Spayne whiche is called Castella Vetus beyng distant from Gades about .xl. myles Here the courte remayned when about the .ix. of the Calendes of Apryll in this yeere of ninetie and foure there were postes sent to the king and queene certifiyng them that there were twelue shyppes come from the newe ilandes and ariued at Gades but the gouernour of the shyppes sent woorde to the kyng and queene that he had none other matter to certifie them of by the postes but only that the Admiral with fiue shyppes and fourescore and ten men remayned styll in Hispaniola to searche the secretes of the ilande and that as touchyng other matters he hym selfe would shortly make relation in theyr presence by woorde of mouth therefore the day before the Nones of Apryl he came to the Courte hym selfe What I learned of hym and other faythfull and credible men whiche came with hym from the Admirall I wil rehearse vnto you in suche order as they declared the same to me when I demaunded them take it therefore as foloweth The third day of the Ides of October departyng from Ferrea the laste of the ilandes of Canariae and from the coastes of Spayne with a Nauie of seuenteene shippes they sayled .xxi. dayes before they came to any ilande inclining of purpose more towarde the left hand then at the fyrst voyage folowing the north northeast winde and arriued fyrst at the ilandes of the Canibales or Caribes of whiche only the fame was knowen to our men Among these they chaunced fyrst vpon one so beset with trees that they coulde not see so muche as an elle space of bare earth or stonie grounde this they called Dominica because they found it on the Sunday They taried here no time because they saw it to be desart In the space of these .xxi. dayes they thynke that they sayled eyght
to the west they iudged to be a hundred fyftie myle They affirme all these ilandes to be maruelous fayre and fruitefull This last they called Sancta Maria Antiqua Saylyng forwarde and leauyng many other ilandes after they had sayled about fourtie myles they chaunced vpon an other much bygger then any of the rest which thinhabitans call Ay Ay but they named it Insula crucis Here they cast anker to fetche freshe water The Admiral also commaunded .xxx. men to goe a lande out of his owne shyp and to search the ilande Here they founde foure dogges on the shore The Inhabitants are Canibales and maruelous experte in shooting as wel women as men and vse to infect their arrowes with poyson When they had taried there two dayes they sawe a farre of a Canoa in the whiche were eight men and as many women hauyng with them bowes and arrowes They fiercely assayled our men without all feare and hurt some of them with theyr venemous arrowes Among these there was a certayne woman to whom the other gaue reuerence and obeyed as though she were theyr queene Her sonne wayted vppon her beyng a young man strongly made of terrible and frownyng countenance and a Lions face Our men leaste they shoulde take the more hurte by beyng wounded a farre of thought it beste to ioyne with them Therfore with al speede setting forward with their ores the brigandine in whiche they were sette alande they ouerturned their Canoa with a great violence whiche being ouerwhelmed they notwithstanding as wel the women as the men swymming caste theyr dartes at our men thicke and threefolde At the length geatheryng them selues togeather vpon a rocke couered with the water they fought manfully vntyll they were ouercome and taken one beyng slayne and the queenes sonne sore wounded When they were brought into the Admirals shippe they dyd no more put of their fiercenes and cruel countenaunces then do the Lions of Lybia when they perceiue them selues to be bounde in chaynes There is no man able to beholde them but he shall feele his bowels grate with a certayne horrour nature hath endued them with so terrible menacing and cruell aspect This coniecture I make of mee selfe other which oftentymes went with me to see them at Methymna Campi but nowe to returne to the voyage Proceeding thus further and further more then fyue hundred myles fyrste towarde the west southwest then towarde the southwest and at the length towarde the west northwest they entred into a mayne large sea hauyng in it innumerable ilandes marueylously dyfferyng one from another for some of them were very fruitefull and full of hearbes and trees other some very drye barren and rough with high rockye mountaynes of stone whereof some were of bryght blewe or asurine colour and other glysteryng whyte wherefore they supposed them by good reason to be the mâ—nes of mettalles and precious stones but the roughnesse of the sea and multitude of ilandes standyng so thycke togeather hyndered them so that they coulde cast no anker lest the bigger vesselles shoulde runne vppon the rockes therefore they deferred the searchyng of these ilandes vntyll another tyme they were so manye and stoode so thycke that they coulde not number them yet the smaller vesselles whiche drewe no great deapth entred among them and numbred fourtie and syxe ilandes but the bygger vessels kept aloofe in the mayne sea â–ª for feare of the rockes They call the sea where this multitude of ilandes are situate Archipelagus From this tracte proceding forward in the midde way there lyeth an ilande whiche thinhabitantes call Burichina or Buchena but they named it Insula S. Iohannis Dyuers of them whom we had delyuered from the Canibales sayde that they were borne in this ilande affirming it to be verye populous and frutefull hauing also many faire wooddes and hauens Ther is deadly hatred and continual battayle betwene them and the Canibales They haue no boates to passe from their owne coastes to the Canibales but if it be their chaunce to ouercome them when they make incursion into theyr countrey to seeke their praye as it sometyme happeneth the fortune of warre being vncertayne they serue them with like sause requiting death for death For one of them mangeleth an other in pieces and roste them and eate them euen before their eyes They taryed not in this ilande Yet in the west angle therof a fewe of them went a lande for freshe water and founde a great and high house after the maner of their buyldyng hauing .xii. other of their vulgare cotages placed about the same but were all lefte desolate whether it were that they resorted to the mountaynes by reason of the heate which was that tyme of the yeere and to returne to the playne when the ayre waxeth coulder or els for feare of the Canibales whiche make incursion into the ilande at certayne seasons In al this ilande is only one kyng The south syde hereof extendeth about two hundreth myles Shortly after they came to the ilande of Hispaniola being distante from the firste ilande of the Canibales fyue hundreth leagues Here they founde al thinges out of order and theyr felowes slayne whiche they lefte here at their fyrst voyage In the begynnyng of Hispaniola hauing in it many regions and kyngdomes as we haue sayde is the region of Xamana whose kyng is named Guaccanarillus This Guaccanarillus ioyned frendship with our men at the fyrst voyage and made a league with them but in the absence of the Admirall he rebelled and was the cause of our mens destruction although he dissimuled the same and pretended frendship at the Admirales returne As our men sayled on yet a litle further they espied a long Canoa with many ores in whiche was the brother of Guaccanarillus with only one man wayting on hym He brought with him two images of golde whiche he gaue the Admyrall in the name of his brother and tolde a tale in his language as concernyng the death of our men as they prooued afterwarde but at this tyme had no regarde to his communication for lacke of interpretours whiche were eyther all dead or escaped and stolne away when they drewe neare the ilandes But of the ten seuen dyed by chaunge of ayre and dyet The inhabitauntes of these ilandes haue ben euer so vsed to lyue at libertie in play and pastyme that they can hardly away with the yoke of seruitude which they attempte to shake of by all meanes they may And surely yf they had receiued our religion I woulde thynke theyr lyfe moste happie of all men yf they myght therewith enioye theyr auncient libertie A fewe thinges contente them hauyng no delyte in suche superfluities for the whiche in other places men take infinite paynes and commit manye vnlawfull actes and yet are neuer satisfied whereas manye haue to muche and none yenough But among these symple
vp sande with theyr left handes from the bottome of the same they pycked out graynes of golde with theyr ryght handes without any more art or cunnyng and so deliuered it to our men who affirme that many of them thus geathered were as bygge as tares or fytches And I mee selfe sawe a masse of rude golde that is to say suche as was neuer moulten lyke vnto suche stones as are founde in the bottomes of ryuers weighyng niene ounces whiche Hoieda hym selfe founde Beyng contented with these signes they returned to the Admirall to certifie hym hereof For the Admirall had commaunded vnder payne of punyshment that they shoulde meddle no further then theyr commission whiche was only to searche the places with theyr signes For the fame went that there was a certayne kyng of the mountaynes from whence those ryuers had theyr fall whom they cal Cacicus Caunaboa that is the lord of the house of golde for they cal a house Boa golde Cauni and a kyng or lorde Cacicus as we haue sayde before They affirme that there can no where be founde better fyshe nor of more pleasant taste or more holsome then in these riuers also the waters of the same to be moste holsome to drynke Melchior him selfe tolde me that in the moneth of December the dayes nyghtes be of equal length among the Canibales but the sphere or circles of the heauen agreeth not thereunto albeit that in the same moneth some byrdes make theyr nestes and some haue alredye hatched theyr egges by reason of the heate beyng rather continuall then extreme He tolde me also when I questioned with him as concerning y e eleuation of the pole frō the horizontal line that al the starres called Plastrum or charles wayne are hyd vnder the North pole to the Canibales And surely there returned none from thence at this vioage to whom there is more credit to be geuen then to this man But if he had byn skilfull in Astronomie he shoulde haue sayde that the day was almoste equall with the night For in no place towarde the stay of the sonne called Solsticium can the night be equall with the day And as for them they neuer came vnder the Equinoctial forasmuch as they had euer the North pole theyr guyde and euer eleuate in sight aboue the Horizontal Thus haue I briefely written vnto your honour as muche as I thought sufficient at this tyme and shall shortly hereafter by Gods fauoure wryte vnto you more largely of such matters as shal be dayly better knowen For the Admiral hym selfe whom I vse famyerly as my very frende hath promised me by his letters that he wyl geue me knowledge of al such thinges as shall chaunce He hath nowe chosen a strong place where he may build a citie neare vnto a cōmodious hauen and hath alredy buylded many houses and a chapel in the which as in a newe worlde heretofore voyde of all religion God is dayly serued with .xiii. priestes accordyng to the maner of our churches When the tyme nowe approched that he promysed to sende to the king and queene and hauyng prosperous winde for that purpose sent backe the .xii. Carauelles wherof we made mention before which was no smal hynderance and greefe vnto hym especially consyderyng the death of his men whom he lefte in the ilande at the fyrst voyage wherby we are yet ignorant of many places and other secretes wherof we myght otherwyse haue had further knowledge but as tyme shall reueale them agayne so wyll I aduertyse you of the same And that you may the better knowe by conference had with the Apothecaries and marchaunt strangers Sirophenicians what this Regions beare how hot theyr ground is I haue sent you all kyndes of graines with the barke and inner partes of that tree whiche they suppose to be the Cinamome tree And yf it be your pleasure to taste eyther of the graynes or of the smal seedes the whiche you shoulde perceaue to haue fallen from these graynes or of the wood it selfe touch them fyrst softly moouyng them to your lyppes for although they be not hurtfull yet for theyr excesse of heate they are sharpe and byte the tongue yf they remayne any while thereon but yf the tongue be blystered by tastyng of them the same is taken away by drynkyng of water Of the corne also whereof they make theyr bread this brynger shall deliuer some graynes to your lordshyp both whyte and blacke and therwith also a trunke of the tree of Aloes the whiche yf you cut in peeces you shall feele a sweete sauour to proceede from the same Thus fare you hartily well from the Court of Methymna Campi the thyrde day before the Calendes of May. Anno Dom. 1494. The thyrde booke of the first Decade to Lodouike Cardinall of Aragonie and Neuiewe to the kyng YOu desyre that foolyshe Phaeton shoulde agayne rule the chariots of the Sunne and contende to drawe sweete licours out of the harde flynt wheras you require me to discribe vnto you the newe world found in the west by the good fortune and gouernaunce of the Catholique princes Ferdinandus and Elizabeth your Uncle and Aunte shewyng me also the letters of kyng Frederike your Uncle written to me in that behalfe But syth you haue layde this burden on my backe in whose power it is to commaunde me to take vppon me more then I am well able ye both shall receiue this precious stone rudely closed in lead after my manner of workemanshyp Wherefore when you shal perceiue the learned sort frendly the malitious enuiously and the backbyters furiously to bende theyr slaunderous dartes agaynst our fayre Nimphes of the Ocean you shall freely protest in howe short tyme and in the myddest of what troubles and calamities you haue enforced me to wryte of the same Thus fare you wel from Granata the nienth day before the Calendes of May. We haue declared in the booke herebefore how the Admiral passed by the coastes of the Canibales to the ilande of Hispaniola with his whole nauie But nowe we entende further to shewe what he founde as concernyng the nature of this ilande after that he had better searched the secretes of the same Lykewyse of the ilande of Cuba neare vnto it whiche he supposed to be the fyrme lande Hispaniola therefore whiche he affirmeth to be Ophir whereof we reade in the thyrde booke of the kynges is of latitude fyue south degrees hauyng the north pole eleuate on the north syde .xxvii. degrees and on the south syde as they say xxii degrees it reacheth in length from East to West seuen hundred and fourescore myles it is distant from the ilandes of Gades called Cales xlix degrees and more as some say the fourme of the ilande resembleth the leaffe of a Chesnutte tree Upon a hygh hyll on the North syde of the ilande he buylded a citie because this place was most apt for
they fel to theyr meate and ate the fyshe taken with other mens trauayle but they absteyned from the serpentes which they affirme to differ nothing from the Crocodiles of Egypt but only in bygnesse for as Plinie sayth Crocodiles haue sometymes ben found of .xviii. cubits long but of these the biggest were but of eyght foote Thus being wel refreshed they entred into the next wood where they found many of the same kynde of serpentes hanging vpon boughes of trees of the whiche some had theyr mouthes tyed with strynges and some theyr teeth taken out And as they searched the places neare vnto the hauen they sawe about .lxx. men in the top of a hygh rocke whiche fled as soone as they had espyed our men who by signes and tokens of peace callyng them agayne there was one which came neare them and stoode on the toppe of a rocke seemyng as though he were yet fearefull but the Admiral sent one Didacus to hym a man of the same countrey whom he had at his fyrste voyage taken in the ilande of Guanahaini being neare vnto Cuba wyllyng hym to come neare and not to be afraide When he hearde Didacus speake to hym in his owne tongue he came boldly to hym and shortly after resorted to his company perswading them to come without al feare After this message was done there dessended from the rockes to the shyps about threescore and ten of the inhabitantes profering frendship and gentlenesse to our men whiche the Admiral accepted thankfully and gaue them diuers rewardes and that the rather for that he had intelligence by Didacus the interpreter that they were the kynges fyshers sent of theyr lorde to take fyshe agaynst a solemne feast whiche he prepared for another kyng And whereas the Admiralles men had eaten the fyshe whiche they lefte at the fyre they were the gladder therof because they had lefte the serpentes for there is nothing among theyr delicate dysshes that they esteeme so muche as these serpentes in so muche that it is no more lawfull for common people to eate of them then Peacockes or Phesantes among vs as for the fyshes they doubted not to take as many more the same nyght Beyng asked why they fyrste rosted the fyshe whiche they entended to beare to theyr kyng they answeared that they myght be the fresher and vncorrupted Thus ioynyng handes for a token of further frendshyp euerye man resorted to his owne The Admirall went forwarde as he had appoynted folowyng the fallyng of the sunne from the beginning of Cuba called Alpha and O the shores or sea bankes euen vnto this hauen albeit they be full of trees yet are they rough with mountaines of these trees some were full of blossomes and flowres and other laden with fruites Beyonde the hauen the lande is more fertile and populus whose inhabitantes are more gentle and more desyrous of our thynges for as soone as they had espied our shyppes they flocked all to the shore bryngyng with them suche bread as they are accustomed to eate and gourdes ful of water offeryng them vnto our men and further desyryng them to come alande In al these Ilandes is a certaine kinde of trees as bigge as Elmes whiche beare Gourdes in the steade of fruites these they vse only for drynkyng pottes and to fetche water in but not for meate for the inner substance of them is sowrer then gall and the barke as harde as any shell At the Ides of May the watchmen lookyng out of the top castle of the shyp towarde the South sawe a multitude of Ilandes standyng thycke togeather being al wel replenished with trees grasse and hearbes and well inhabited in the shore of the continent he chaunced into a nauigable riuer whose water was so hot that no man might endure to abyde his hande therein anye time The day folowing espying a farre of a Canoa of fyshermen of the inhabitantes fearyng lest they shoulde flee at the syght of our men he commaunded certayne to assayle them priuily with the ship boates but they fearing nothing taryed the commyng of our men Nowe shall you heare a newe kynde of fyshyng Lyke as we with Greyhoundes do hunt Hares in the playne feeldes so doo they as it were with a hunting fishe take other fishes this fyshe was of shape or fourme vnknowen vnto vs but the bodye thereof not muche vnlyke a great yee le hauyng on the hynder parte of the head a very tough skynne lyke vnto a great bagge or purse this fyshe is tyed by the syde of the boate with a corde let downe so farre into the water that the fishe may lye close hid by the keele or bottome of the same for she may in no case abyde the syght of the ayre Thus when they espye any great fyshe or Tortoyse wherof there is great abundance bygger then great targettes they let the corde at length but when she feeleth her selfe loosed she inuadeth the fyshe or Tortoyse as swiftly as an arrowe and where she hath once fastened her holde she casteth the purse of skynne whereof we spake before and by drawyng the same togeather so graspeleth her pray that no mans strength is suffycient to vnloose the same excepte by lytle and lytle drawyng the lyne she be lyfted somwhat aboue the brymme of the water for then as sone as she seeth the brightnesse of the ayre she letteth goe her holde The praye therfore beyng nowe drawen nere to the brymme of the water there leapeth sodenly out of the boate into the sea so manye fyshers as may suffice to holde fast the praye vntyll the rest of the company haue taken it into the boate Whiche thyng doone they loose so muche of the corde that the huntyng fyshe may agayne returne to her place within the water where by an other corde they let downe to her a peece of the pray as we vse to rewarde greyhoundes after they haue kylled theyr game This fyshe they cal Guaicanum but our men cal it Reuersum They gaue our men foure Tortoyses taken by this meanes and those of suche byggenesse that they almost fylled theyr fyshyng boate for these fyshes are esteemed among them for delycate meate Our men recompensed them agayne with other rewardes and so let them depart Beyng asked of the compasse of that lande they aunsweared that it had no ende westwarde Most instantly they desyred the Admirall to come a lande or in his name to sende one with them to salute theyr Cazicus that is their kyng affirmyng that he woulde geue our men many presentes yf they would goe to hym But the Admirall lest he shoulde be hindered of the voyage whiche he had begunne refused to goe with them Then they desyred to knowe his name and tolde our men lykewise the name of theyr king Thus sayling on yet further euer towarde the West within fewe dayes he came nere vnto a certayne excedyng high mountayne wel inhabyted by reason of the
mynde agaynst hym departed into Spayne Wherefore aswel to purge hym selfe of suche crimes as they should lay to his charge as also to make a supply of other men in the place of them whiche were returned and especiallye to prouide for vyttualles as wheate wine oyle and suche other whiche the Spanyardes are accustomed to eate because they coulde not yet well agree with such meates as they founde in the Ilandes determined shortly to take his voyage into Spayne but what he dyd before his departure I wyll breefely rehearse The kynges of the Ilandes which had hytherto lyued quietly and content with theyr lytle whiche they thought aboundant wheras they nowe perceiued that our men began to fasten foote within theyr regions to beare rule among them they toke the matter so greeuously that they thought nothyng els but by what meanes they myght vtterlye destroy them and for euer abolyshe the memory of theyr name for that kinde of men the Spanyardes I meane which folowed the Admiral in that nauigation were for the moste part vnruly regarding nothyng but idlenesse play and libertie and woulde by no meanes absteyne from iniuries rauishing of the women of the Ilandes before the faces of their husbandes fathers and brethren by which theyr abominable mysdemeanour they disquieted the myndes of all the inhabitantes insomuche that wheresoeuer they founde any of our men vnprepared they slue them with such fiercenesse and gladnesse as though they had offered sacrifice to God Intendyng therfore to pacifie theyr troubled myndes and to punyshe them that slue his men before he departed from thence he sent for the king of that vale whiche in the booke before we described to be at the foote of the mountaynes of the region of Cibana this kynges name was Guarionexius who the more strayghtly to concyle vnto hym the frendshyp of the Admirall gaue his syster to wyfe to Didacus a man from his chyldes age brought vp with the Admirall whom he vsed for his interpreter in the prouinces of Cuba After this he sent for Caunaboa called the lorde of the house of golde that is of the mountaynes of Cibana For this Caunaboa he sent one Captayne Hoieda whom the ditionaries of Caunaboa had enforced to keepe his holde besieging for the space of thirtie dayes the fortresse of saint Thomas in the whiche Hoieda with his fyftie souldiers stoode at theyr defence vntyll the comming of the Admirall Whyle Hoieda remayned with Caunaboa manye ambassadours of the kynges of diuers regions were sent to Caunaboa perswading him in no condition to permit the Christians to inhabite the Ilande except he had rather serue then rule On the other partie Hoieda aduertised Caunaboa to goe to the Admiral and to make a league of frendshyp with hym but the ambassadours on the contrary part threatned hym that if he woulde so doo the other kynges woulde inuade his region But Hoieda aunswered them agayne that whereas they conspired to maynteyne theyr libertie they should by that meanes be brought to seruitude destruction if they entended to resist or kepe warre against the Christians Thus Caunaboa on the one side and the other beyng troubled as it were a rocke in the sea beaten with contrary flooddes and muche more vexed with the stormes of his gyltie conscience for that he had priuily slayne .xx. of our men vnder pretence of peace feared to come to the Admirall but at the length hauyng excogitated his deceyt to haue slayne the Admirall and his companye vnder the colour of frendshyp yf oportunitie would so haue serued he repayred to y e Admiral with his whole familie and many other wayting on him armed after theyr manner Beyng demaunded why he brought so great a rout of men with him he aunswered that it was not decent for so great a prince as he was to goe out of his house without suche a bande of men but the thyng chaunced muche otherwyse then he looked for for he fell into the snares whiche he had prepared for other for whereas by the way he began to repent hym that he came foorth of his house Hoieda with many fayre woordes promises brought him to the Admiral at whose commaundement he was immediatly taken and put in prison so that the soules of our men were not long from theyr bodyes vnreuenged Thus Caunaboa with al his familie beyng taken the Admirall was determined to runne ouer the Ilande but he was certified that there was suche famine among the inhabitauntes that there was alredy fyftie thousande men dead thereof and that they dyed yet dayly as it were rotten sheepe the cause whereof was wel knowen to be theyr owne obstinacie and frowardnesse for wheras they sawe that our men entended to choose them a dwelling place in the Ilande supposing that they myght haue dryuen them from thence if the vittualles of the Ilande should fayle they determined with them selues not only to leaue sowyng and plantyng but also to destroy and plucke vp by the rootes euery man in his owne region that whiche they had alredy sowen of both kyndes of bread whereof we made mention in the firste booke but especially among the mountaynes of Cibana otherwyse called Cipanga forasmuche as they had knowledge that the golde whiche aboundeth in that region was the chiefe cause that deteyned our men in the Iland In the meane tyme he sent foorth a Captayne with a bande of men to searche the South syde of the Ilande who at his returne reported that throughout all the regions that he trauayled there was suche scarcenesse of bread that for the space of .xvi. dayes he ate nothyng but the rootes of hearbes and of young date trees or the fruites of other wylde trees but Guarionexius the kyng of the vale lying beneath the mountaynes of Cibana whose kyngdome was not so wasted as the other gaue our men certayne vyttualles Within a fewe dayes after both that the iourneys myght be the shorter and also that our men myght haue more safe places of refuge if the inhabitauntes shoulde hereafter rebell in lyke manner he buylded another fortresse whiche he called the Towre of Conception betweene the Citie of Isabella and Saint Thomas fortresse in the marches of the kyngdome of this Guarionexius within the precincte of Cibana vpon the syde of a hyll hauyng a fayre riuer of holsome water runnyng harde by the same Thus when the inhabitantes sawe newe buyldinges to be dayly erected and our shippes lying in the hauen rotten and halfe broken they began to dispayre of any hope of libertie and wandred vp and downe with heauie cheare From the Towre of Conception searchyng diligentlye the inner partes of the mountaynes of Cibana there was a certayne kyng whiche gaue them a masse of rude golde as bigge as a mans fyst weighing .xx. ounces this golde was not founde in the banke of that riuer but in a heape of drye earth and was lyke vnto the stone called Tophus whiche is soone
many as abode the ende of the fight the residue beyng strycken with feare disparcled and fledde to the mountaynes and rockes from whence they made a pitifull howlyng to our men desyryng them to spare them protestyng that they woulde neuer more rebell but doo what so euer they woulde commaund them yf they woulde suffer them to lyue in theyr owne countrey Thus the brother of Caunaboa beyng taken the Admiral licenced the people to resort euerye man to his owne these thynges thus fortunately atchiued this region was pacified Among these mountaynes the vale whiche Caunaboa inhabited is called Magâ—na and is exceeding fruitful hauing in it many goodly springes and riuers in the sande whereof is founde great plentie of golde The same yeere in the moneth of Iune they say there arose such a boystous tempest of winde from the Southwest as hath not lightly ben heard of the violence wherof was such that it plucked vp by the rootes whatsoeuer great trees were within the reache of the force therof When this whyrlewynde came to the hauen of the citie it beat downe to the bottome of the sea three shyppes whiche lay at anker and broke the cables in sunder and that whiche is the greater marueyle without any storme or roughnesse of the sea only turnyng them three or foure tymes about The inhabitauntes also affyrme that the same yeere the sea extended it selfe further into the lande and rose hygher then euer it dyd before by the memorie of man by the space of a cubit The people therefore muttered among them selues that our nation had troubled the elementes caused suche portentous signes These tempestes of the ayre whiche the Grecians call Tiphones that is whyrlewyndes they call Furacanes whiche they say doo often tymes chaunce in this Ilande but that neyther they nor theyr great graundfathers euer sawe suche violent and furious Furacanes that plucked vp great trees by the rootes neyther yet such surges and vehement mocions on the sea that so wasted the land as in deede it may appeare forasmuche as wheresoeuer the sea bankes are neere to any playne there are in maner euery where floryshyng medowes reaching euen vnto the shore but nowe let vs returne to Caunaboa As kyng Caunaboa therefore and his brother shoulde haue ben brought into Spayne they dyed by the way for very pensiuenesse and anguish of minde The Admiral whose shippes were drowned in the foresayd tempest perceiuing him selfe to be nowe enclosed commaunded forthwith two other shyppes whiche the Spaniardes cal Carauelas to be made for he had with hym all manner of Artificers parteyning thereunto Whyle these thynges were dooyng he sent foorth Bartholomeus Colonus his brother beyng Lieuetenant of the Ilande with an armie of men to searche the golde mynes beyng distant threescore leagues from the citie of Isabella whiche were founde by the conducte of certayne people of the Ilande before the mynes of Cipanga or Cibana were knowen In these mynes they founde certayne deepe pittes which had ben dygged in old time out of these pyttes the Admiral who affirmeth this Ilande of Hispaniola to be Ophir as we sayde before supposeth that Solomon the kyng of Hierusalem had his great ryches of golde whereof we reade in the olde Testament and that his shyppes sayled to this Ophir by the gulfe of Persia called Sinus Persicus But whether it be so or not it lyeth not in me to iudge but in my opinion it is farre of As the myners dygged the superficial or vppermost part of the earth of y e mynes duryng for the space of sixe myles in dyuers places syfted the same on the drye lande they founde suche plentie of golde that euery hyred labourer could easily finde euery day the weight of three drammes These mynes beyng thus searched founde the Lieuetenant certified the Admirall hereof by his letters the which when he had receiued the fifth day of the Ides of March Anno. 1495. he entred into his newe shyppes and tooke his voyage directly to Spayne to aduertise the kyng of all his affayres leauyng the whole regiment of the Ilande with his brother the Lieuetenant The fift booke of the fyrst Decade to Lodouike Cardinall of Aragonie AFter the Admirals departing into Spaine his brother the Lieuetenaunt buylded a fortresse in the golde mines as he had commaunded hym this he called the golden towre because the labourers founde golde in the earth and stone wherof they made the walles of the fortresse He consumed three monethes in makyng the instrumentes wherewith the golde shoulde be geathered washed tryed and moulten yet was he at this tyme by reason of wante of vittualles enforced to leaue al thynges imperfecte and to goe seeke for meate Thus as he with a bande of armed men had entred threescore myles further within the land the people of the countrey here and there resortyng to hym gaue hym a certayne portion of theyr bread in exchaunge for other of our thynges but he coulde not long tary here because they lacked meate in the fortresse whyther he hasted with such as he had now gotten Leauyng therefore in the fortresse a garrison of ten men with that portion of the Ilande bread whiche yet remayned leauyng also with them a Hounde to take those kyndes of lytle beastes whiche they call Vsias not muche vnlyke our Conies he returned to the fortresse of Conception This also was the moneth wherein the kyng Guarionexius and also Manicautexius borderer vnto hym shoulde haue brought in theyr tributes Remaynyng there the whole moneth of Iune he exacted the whole tribute of these two kynges vyttualles necessary for hym and such as he brought with hym whiche were about foure hundred in number Shortly after about the Kalendes of Iuly there came three Carauels from Spayne bringing with them sundrye kyndes of vyttualles as wheate oyle wine bakon Martelinas beefe whiche were diuided to euery man accordyng as neede required some also was lost in the caryage for lacke of good lookyng to At the aryual of these shyppes the Lieutenaunt receiued commaundement from the kyng and the Admiral his brother that he with his men should remoue their habitation to the south syde of the Ilande because it was nearer to the golde mynes Also that he shoulde make diligent searche for those kinges whiche had slayne the Christian men and to sende them with theyr confederates bounde into Spayne At the next voyage therefore he sent three hundred captiues with three kynges and when he had diligently searched the coastes of the south syde he transported his habitation and buylded a fortresse there vpon the toppe of a hyll neare vnto a sure hauen this fortresse he called saint Dominikes towre Into this hauen runneth a riuer of wholsome water replenished with sundry kyndes of good fyshes they affyrme this ryuer to haue many benefites of nature for where so euer it runneth all thinges are exceedyng pleasaunt and fruitefull hauyng on euery syde groues of
fynde hym there They sayled therefore towarde Beragua where they founde within .xvi. myles distant a ryuer whiche Colonus named Lagartos because it nourysheth great Lysards whiche in the Spanishe tongue are called Lagartos These Lysards are hurtful both vnto man and beast and in shape much like vnto the Crocodiles of the ryuer Nilus in Egypt In this ryuer they founde theyr companions and felowes of theyr errour lying at anker with the great shyppes whiche folowed behynde by the gouernours commaundement Here the whole assemblie beyng careful and disquieted by reason of the gouernours errour after consultation by the aduice of the captaynes of the Brigandines who had rased neere vnto the coastes of Beragua they sayled directly thyther Beragua in the language of the inhabitants of the same prouince is as much to say as the golden riuer The region it selfe is also called by the same name takyng name of the ryuer In the mouth of this ryuer the greatest vesselles cast anker and conueyghed all theyr victuales and other necessaries to lande with theyr shyp boates and elected Lupus Olanus to be theyr gouernour in steede of Nicuesa whom they had loste By thaduyce therfore of Olanus and the other vnder capytaines that all hope of departure myght be taken from the souldyers which they had now brought thyther and to make them the more wylling to inhabite that lande they vtterly forsooke and caste of those shyppes beyng nowe rotten for age and suffered them to be shaken and broosed of the surges of the sea Yet of theyr soundeste plankes wyth other newe made of the trees of that Region which they saye to be exceeding bigge and hygh they framed a new carauell shortelye after whiche they myght vse to serue for theyr necessitie But Beragua was founde by the vnfortunate destenye of Petrus de Vmbria For hee beyng a man of prompt wit and apt forwardnesse to attempte thinges in which sometyme fortune will beare a stroke notwithstanding our prouidence tooke vppon hym thaduenture to searche the shore to thintent to fynde a way for his felowes where they myght beste come aland For this purpose he chose hym .xii. maryners and went aboorde the shyp boate whiche serued the greatest shyppes The flowyng of the sea raged and rored there with a horryble whurling as we reade of the daungerous place of Scylla in the sea of Cicilie by reason of the houge ragged rockes reaching into the sea from whiche the waues rebounding with vyolence make a great noyse and roughnesse on the water which roughnesse or reflowing the Spaniardes call Resacca In these daungers wretched Vmbria wresteled a while but in short space a waue of the sea almoste as bygge as a mountayne reboundyng from the rockes ouerwhelmed the boate and deuoured the same with the men euen in the sight of their felowes So that of them all only one escaped by reason he was expert in swimming For getting holde of the corner of a rocke and susteyning the rage of the sea vntyll the next day when it waxed caulme and the shore was drye by the fall of the water he escaped and resorted to his companye But Vmbria with the other eleuen were vtterlye caste awaye The resydue of the companye durst not committe them selues to the shyppe boates but went alande with theyr brygantines Where remayning a fewe dayes and saylyng along by the ryuer they founde certayne vyllages of the inhabitauntes which they call Mumu. Here they began to builde a fortresse and to sowe seedes after the manner of theyr countrey in a certayne vale of fruiteful grounde because in other places the region is barren As these thyngs were thus doing in Beragua one of theyr companye standing vpon the top of a high rocke of especiall and lyftyng his eyes towarde the West began to crye Lynnen sayles lynnen sayles And the neerer it drewe towarde hym he perceiued it to be a shyp boate commyng with a lytle sayle yet receiued they it with muche reioycing for it was the fysher boate of Nicuesa his Carauel and of capacitie to cary only fyue men and had nowe but three in it whiche had stolne it from Nicuesa because he refused to geue credite to them that he had passed Beragua and left it behinde him Eastwarde For they seeyng Nicuesa and his felowes to consume daylye by famine thought that they would prooue fortune with that boate yf theyr chaunce myght be to fynde Beragua as in deede it was Debatyng therefore with theyr felowes of these matters they declared how Nicuesa erred and lost the Carauel by tempest and that he was nowe wanderyng among the maryshes of vnknowen coastes full of miserie and in extreme penurie of all thynges hauyng nowe lyued for the space of threescore and tenne dayes only with herbes and rootes seldome with fruites of the countrey contented to drynke water and yet that oftentymes faylyng because he was instant to trauayle Westwarde by foote supposyng by that meanes to come to Beragua Colonus the fyrst fynder of this mayne lande had coasted along by this tracte and named it Gracia Dei but thinhabitantes cal it Cerabaro Through this region there runneth a riuer whiche our men named Sancti Matthei distant from the West syde of Beragua about an hundred and thyrtie myles Here I let passe the name of this riuer and of manye other places by the names whiche thinhabitantes vse because our men are ignoraunt thereof Thus Lupus Olanus the conductor of one of the shyps of Nicuesa and nowe also vice Lieuetenaunt in his steede after that he had receyued this information of the Maryners sent thyther a Brigandine vnder theyr guydyng These Maryners therefore whiche came in the fyssher boate founde Nicuesa and brought hym to the place where Olanus lay whom at his comming he cast in prison and accused hym of treason because he vsurped the aucthoritie of the Lieuetenauntshyp and that for the desyre he had to beare rule and be in aucthoritie he tooke no care of his errours also that he behaued him selfe negligently demaundyng furthermore of hym what was the cause of his so long delay Lykewyse he spake to al the vnder officers sharpely and with a troubled mind and within fewe dayes after commaunded them to trusse vp theyr packes and make them redy to depart They desyred him to quyet hym selfe and to forbeare them a whyle vntyl they had reaped the corne that they had sowen whiche woulde shortly be rype for all kynde of corne waxeth rype there euery fourth moneth after it is sowen But he vtterly denyed to tarye anye whyt but that he woulde foorthwith depart from that vnfortunate lande and plucked vp by the rootes all that euer was brought into the gulfe of Beragua and commaunded them to direct theyr course towarde the East After they had sayled about the space of sixteene myles a certaine young man whose name was Gregorie a Genues borne and of a chylde brought vp with Colonus called to remembraunce that
there was a hauen not farre from thence and to prooue his sayinges true he gaue his felowes these tokens that is that they shoulde fynde vpon the shore an anker of a lost shyppe halfe couered with sande and vnder a tree next vnto the hauen a spryng of cleare water They came to the lande founde the anker and the spryng and commended the wytte and memorie of the young man that he onlye among manye of the Maryners which had searched those coastes with Colonus bore the thyng so well in mynde This hauen Colonus called Portus Bellus Where as in this voyage for lacke of vyttualles they were sometymes enforced to goe alande they were euyl entreated of thinhabitantes by reason whereof theyr strengthes were so weakened with hunger that they were not able to keepe warre against naked men or scarcely to beare their harnesse on theyr backes and therefore our men lost twentie of theyr companions which were slayne with venemous arrowes They consulted to leaue the one halfe of theyr felowes in the hauen of Portus Bellus the other part Nicuesa toke with hym towarde the East where about twentie and eyght myles from Portus Bellus he entended to buylde a fortresse harde by the sea syde vpon the poynt or cape whiche in tyme past Colonus named Marmor but they were so feeble by reason of long hunger that theyr strength serued them not to susteyne suche labour yet he erected a lytle towre able to resyst the fyrst assaulte of the inhabitauntes this towre he called Nomen Dei From the tyme that he left Beragua what in the iourney among the sandie playnes then also for hunger while he builded the towre of the fewe whiche remayned alyue he lost two hundred And thus by litle and lytle the multitude of seuen hundred fourescore and fyue men was brought nowe to scarcelye one hundred Whyle Nicuesa lyued with these fewe miserable men there arose a contention among them of Vraba as concernyng the Lieuetenantshyppe for one Vascus Nunnez by the iudgement of al men trustyng more to his strength then wit styrred vp certayne light felowes agaynst Ancisus saying that Ancisus had not the kyngs letters patentes for that office and that it was not sufficient that he was aucthorised by Fogeda and therefore forbode that he should execute the office of the Lieuetenauntshyp and wylled them to choose certayne of theyr owne companye by whose counsayle and aucthoritie they myght be gouerned Thus being diuided into factions by reason that Fogeda theyr captayne came not agayne whom they supposed to be nowe dead of his venemous wound they contended whether it were best to substitute Nicuesa in his place The wysest sort suche as were familier with Nicuesa could not beare the insolencie of Vascus Nunnez thought it good that Nicuesa shoulde be sought out throughout all those coastes for they had knowledge that he departed from Beragua because of the barrennesse of the grounde and that by the example of Ancisus and suche other as had made shypwracke it were possible that he myght wander in some secrete place and that they coulde not be quiet in theyr myndes vntyl they knewe the certayntie whether he with his felowes were aliue or dead But Vascus Nunnez fearyng lest at the commyng of Nicuesa he shoulde not be had in aucthoritie among his felowes sayd they were mad men to thynke that Nicuesa lyued and although he were alyue yet that they had no neede of his helpe for he auouched that there was none of his felowes that were not as meete to rule as Nicuesa Whyle they were thus reasonyng to and fro one Rodericus Colmenaris aryued in those coastes with two great shyppes hauyng in them threescore freshe men with great plentie of vyttualles and apparell Of the nauigation of this Colmenaris I entend to speake somewhat more He therfore departed from the hauen of Hispaniola called Beata where they prepare and furnyshe them selues whiche make any voyage into these landes about the Ides of October in the yeere .1510 and landed the .ix. of Nouember in a region in the large prouince of Paria founde by Colonus betwene the hauen Carthago and the region of Cuchibachoa In this voyage what by the roughnesse of the sea and fiercenesse of the barbarians he suffered many incommodities for when his freshe water fayled he sayled to the mouth of a certayne riuer which thinhabitantes cal Gaira beyng apt to receiue shippes This riuer had his course from the toppe of an exceedyng hygh mountayne couered with snowe hygher then the whiche al the companions of this captayne Rodericus say that they neuer sawe And that by good reason yf it were couered with snowe in that region which is not past ten degrees distant from the Equinoctial lyne As they began to draw water out of theyr shyp boate a certayne kyng made towarde them apparelled with vestures of gossampine cotton hauyng twentie noble men in his company apparelled also which thyng seemed straunge to our men and not seene before in those parties The kynges apparell hong loose from his shoulders to his elbowes and from the gyrdle downewarde it was much lyke a womans kyrtle reaching euen to his heeles As he drewe neere towarde our men he seemed freendly to admonyshe them to take none of the water of that ryuer affyrmyng it to be vnwholsome for men and shewed them that not farre from thence there was a ryuer of good water They came to the ryuer and endeuouryng to come neere the shore they were driuen backe by tempest Also the burbuling of the sand declared the sea to be but shalow there They were therefore enforced to returne to the fyrste ryuer where they myght safely cast anker This kyng layde wayte for our men for as they were fyllyng theyr barrelles he set on them with about seuen hundred men as our men iudged armed after theyr manner although they were naked for only the kyng and his noble men were apparelled They tooke away the shypboate and broke it in manner to chips so fiercely assaylyng our men with theyr venemous arrowes that they slue of them fourtie and seuen before they coulde couer them selues with their targets For that poyson is of such force that albeit the woundes were not great yet they dyed therof immediatly for they yet knewe no remedie agaynst this kynde of poyson as they after learned of the inhabitauntes of Hispaniola for this Ilande bryngeth foorth an hearbe which quencheth and mortifieth the violent poyson of the hearbe wherwith theyr arrowes are infected so that it be ministred in tyme. Yet of our companye whiche went for water seuen escaped that conflycte and hydde them selues in a hollowe tree lurkyng there vntyll nyght yet escaped they not the handes of theyr enimies for the shyppe departed from thence in the nyght season and left them there supposyng that they had ben slayne Thus by manye suche peryls and daungers which I lyghtly ouerpasse because I wyll
thyrde day of the Ides of Ianuary in the yeere of Christe M.D.XI. What chaunced to hym in this voyage we wyll declare in place conuenient But let vs now returne to them whiche remayned in Vraba After the dismissyng of Valdiuia beyng pricked forwarde with outragious hunger they determined to searche the inner partes of that gulfe in sundry places The extreeme angle or poynt of the same gulfe is distant from the enterance thereof about fourescore myles This angle or corner the Spaniardes call Culata Vaschus hym selfe came to this poynt with a hundred men coasting along by the gulfe with one brygandine and certayne of the boates of those regions whiche the Urabians call Vru lyke vnto them whiche thinhabitauntes of Hispaniola call Canoas From this poynt there falleth aryuer from the East into the gulfe ten times bigger then the ryuer of Dariena which also so falleth into the same Saylyng along by the ryuer about the space of thyrtie myles for they cal it niene leagues and somewhat enclynyng towarde the ryght hande Southwarde they founde certayne vyllages of thinhabitauntes the kyng whereof was called Dabaiba Our men also were certified before that Cemacchus the kyng of Dariena whom they put to flyght in the battayle fledde to this Dabaiba but at the commyng of our men Dabaiba also fledde It is thought that he was admonyshed by Cemacchus that he shoulde not abyde the brunte of our men He folowed his counsayle forsooke his villages and left all thynges desolate yet our men founde heapes of bowes and arrowes also muche housholde stuffe and many fyshyng boates But those maryshe groundes were neyther apt for sowyng of seedes or plantyng of trees by reason whereof they founde there fewe suche thynges as they desyred that is plentie of vyttualles for the inhabitauntes of this region haue no bread but such as they geat in other countreys neare about them by exchange for their fyshe onlye to serue theyr owne necessitie yet founde they in the houses of those whiche fledde golde wrought and grauen amountyng to the summe of seuen thousande of those peeces whiche we sayde to be called Castellani also certaine Canoas of the whiche they brought away two with them and great plentie of theyr houshold stuffe with certaine bundels of bowes arrowes They say that from the maryshes of that riuer there come certayne battes in the nyght season as bygge as turtle doues inuadyng men and bytyng them with a deadly wounde as some of them testifie whiche haue ben bytten of the same I mee selfe communing with Ancisus the Lieuetenant whom they reiected and among other thynges askyng hym of the venemous byting of these battes he tolde me that he hym selfe was bytten by one of them on the heele his foote lying vncouered in the nyght by reason of the heate in sommer season but that it hurte hym no more then if he had ben bitten by any other beast not venemous Other say that the byting of some of them is venemous yet that the same is healed incontinently yf it be washed with water of the sea Ancisus tolde me also that the venemous woundes made by the Canibales arrowes infected with poyson are healed by washing with water of the sea and also by cauterisyng with whot irons and that he had experience thereof in the region of Caribana where many of his men were so wounded They departed therefore from the poynt of the gulfe of Vraba not wel contented because they were not saden with victualles In this theyr returne there arose so great a tempest in that wyde gulfe that they were enforced to cast into the sea al the houshold stuffe whiche they tooke from the poore wretches whiche liued only by fyshyng The sea also swalowed vp the two boates that they tooke from them wherewith the men were lykewyse drowned The same tyme that Vaschus Nunnez attempted to searche the poynt of the gulfe towarde the south euen then by agreement dyd Rodericus Colmenaris take his voyage toward y e mountaines by the east with threescore men by the riuer of the other gulfe About fourtie myles distant from the mouth of the other ryuer for they cal it twelue leagues he founde certayne vyllages situate vpon the bankes of the ryuer whose Chiui that is kyng they cal Turui With this kyng dyd Colmenaris yet remayne when Vaschus after his returne to Dariena saylyng by the same ryuer came to hym Here refreshyng theyr whole companye with the vittuals of this Turui they departed from thence togeather Other fourtie myles from hence the ryuer encompasseth an Iland inhabited with fyshermen In this because they sawe great plentie of trees whiche beare Cassia fistula they named the Ilande Cannafistula They found in it .lx. villages of ten cotages apeece On the ryght syde of the Ilande there runneth another riuer whose chanel is of deapth sufficient to beare Brigandines This riuer they called Riuum Nigrum frō the mouth wherof about .xv miles distant they found a towne of fiue C. houses seuered whose Chebi that is kyng was called Abenamachei They al forsooke theyr houses as soone as they heard of our mens commyng but when they saw that our men pursued them they turned againe ran vpon them with desperate mindes as men driuen from their owne possessions Theyr weapons are swoords of wood long staues lyke iauelins hardened at the ende with fyre but they vse neyther bowes nor arrowes nor any other of the inhabitauntes of the West syde of the gulfe The poore naked wretches were easyly dryuen to flyght with our weapons As our men folowed them in the chase they tooke the kyng Abenamachei and certaine of his noble men A common souldier of ours whom the kyng had wounded commyng to hym when he was taken cut of his arme at one stroke with his swoorde but this was done vnawares to the captaynes The number of the Christian men whiche were here was about an hundred and fyftie the one halfe whereof the captaynes left here and they with the residue rowed vp the riuer agayne with twelue of the boates of those regions whiche they cal Vru as they of Hispaniola cal them Canoas as we haue sayde From the ryuer of Riuus Niger and the Ilande of Cannafistula for the space of threescore and ten myles leauyng both on the right hande and on the left many riuers falling into it bygger then it selfe they entred into one by the conductyng of one of the naked inhabitauntes beyng appoynted a guyde for that purpose Uppon the banke of this ryuer next vnto the mouth of the same there was a kyng called Abibeiba who because the region was ful of maryshes had his pallace buylded in the toppe of a hygh tree a new kind of buildyng and seldome seene but that lande bryngeth forth trees of such exceeding height that among theyr branches a man may frame large houses as we reade the lyke in diuers auctours howe in many regions where the Ocean
two of his ships and so tossed the other that they were enforced to heaue ouerboorde part of theyr vyttualles to lyghten them All suche as escaped sayled backe agayne to the coastes of Spayne where beyng newly furnyshed and refreshed by the kyngs officers they went forward on theyr voyage The master Pylote of the gouernours shyp was Iohannes Vesputius a Florentine the neuiew of Americus Vesputius who left him as it were by discent of inheritance thexperience of the Maryners facultie and knowledge of the sea carde and compasse But we were aduertised of late by certayne whiche came from Hispaniola that they had passed the Ocean with more prosperous winde for this marchaunt shyppe commyng from Hispaniola founde them landing at certaine Ilands neere therabout But in the meane time whyle my importunate callers on Galeaceus Butrigarius and Iohannes Cursius men studious by al meanes to gratifie your holynesse ceassed not to put me in remembrance that they had one in a redines to depart into Italy taried only to cary with him vnto your holines these my fayre Nereides although rudely decked lest I shoulde bestow much tyme in vayne I haue let passe many things wil reherse only such as seeme in my iudgement moste worthy memory although somwhat disordered as occasion hath serued So it is therefore that this Petrus Arias hath a wife named Helisabetha Boadilla beyng niese by the brothers syde to the marques of Boadilla whiche rendred the citie of Segouia to Fernando and Helisabeth princes of Spayne at suche time as the Portugales inuaded the kingdome of Castile by reason wherof they were encouraged fyrst to resyst and then with open warre to assayle and expulse the Portugales for the great treasure whiche kyng Henry brother to queene Helisabeth had geathered togeather there This marquesse while she liued did euer shewe a manly and stoute mynde both in peace and warre so that by her counsayle many noble thinges were brought to good effecte in Castile vnto this noble woman the wyfe of Petrus Arias was niese by her brothers syde She folowyng the magnanimitie of her aunt perceiuyng her husband nowe furnyshyng hym selfe to depart to the vnknowen coastes of the newe worlde and those large tractes of lande and sea spake these wordes vnto hym My most deare and welbeloued husbande we ought not nowe to forgeat that from our young yeeres we haue ben ioyned togeather with the yoke of holy matrimonie to thintent that we shoulde so lyue togeather and not asunder duryng the tyme of our natural lyfe wherefore for my part to declare my affection herein you shal vnderstande that whither soeuer your fatall destenie shall dryue you eyther by the furious waues of the great Ocean or by the manyfolde and horrible daungers of the lande I wyl surely beare you company there can no peryll chaunce to me so terrible nor any kynde of death so cruell that shal not be muche easyer for me to abyde then to liue so farre separate from you It were muche better for me to dye and eyther to be cast into the sea to be deuoured of the fyshes or on the lande to the Canibales then with continual mournyng and bewaylyng to liue in death and dye lyuyng whyle I consume in lookyng rather for my husbandes letters then for hym selfe This is my ful determination not rashly nor presently excogitate nor conceiued by the lyght phantasie of womans brayne but with long deliberation and good aduisement Nowe therefore choose to whether of these two you wyll assent eyther to thruste your swoorde in my throte or to graunt me my request As for the children which god hath geuen vs as pledges of our inseparable loue for they had foure sonnes and as many daughters shall not stay me a moment let vs leaue vnto them such goodes and possessions as haue ben left vs by our parentes and freendes whereby they may lyue among the woorshypfull of theyr order for other thynges I take no care When this noble matrone of manly vertue had finished these woordes her husbande seeyng the constant mynde of his wyfe and her in a redynesse to do accordyng to her woordes had no hart to denye her louyng petition but embracing her in his armes commended her intent and consented to her request She folowed hym therfore as did Ipsicratea her Mithridates with her heare hangyng loose about her shoulders for she loued her husband as dyd Halicarnassea of Caria hers being dead and as dyd Artemisia her Mausolus We haue also had aduertisment since theyr departure that she beyng brought vp as it were amōg soft fethers hath with no lesse stoute courage susteyned the roringes and rages of the Ocean then dyd eyther her husbande or any of the Maryners brought vp euen among the sourges of the sea But to haue sayde thus muche hereof this shall suffise let vs nowe speake of other thynges no lesse worthy memorie Therfore wheras in the first Decade we haue made mention of Vincentius Annez Pinzonus ye shal vnderstand ▪ that he accōpanied Christophorus Colonus the Admiral in his first voyage and afterwarde made an other voyage of his owne charges with only one shyppe Agayne the fyrst yeere after the departyng of the Captayne 's Nicuesa and Fogeda he ran ouer those coastes from Hispaniola and searched al the South syde of Cuba from the East to the West and sayled rounde about that Iland whiche to that day for the great length thereof was thought to haue ben part of the continent or firme land although some other say that they dyd the lyke Vincentius Annez therefore knowyng nowe by experience that Cuba was an Ilande sayled on further and found other landes Westwarde from Cuba but suche as the Admiral had first touched Wherfore beyng in manner encompassed with this newe lande turning his course towarde the left hande and rasing the coastes of that lande by the East ouerpassing also the mouthes of the gulfes of Beragua Vraba and Cuchibachoa he arryued at the region whiche in the first Decade we called Paria and Os Draconis and entred into the great gulfe of freshe water which Colonus discouered beyng replenyshed with great abundance of fyshe and famous by reason of the multitude of Ilandes lying in the same beyng distant Eastwarde from Curiana about an hundred and thirtie myles in the which tracte are the regions of Cumana and Manacapana whiche also in the sixt booke of the fyrst Decade we sayd to be regions of the large prouince of Paria where many affyrme to be the greatest plentie of the best pearles and not in Curiana The kynges of these regions whom they cal Chiacones as they of Hispaniola cal them Cacici beyng certified of the comming of our men sent certayne spyes to enquire what new nation was arryued in theyr coastes what they brought and what they would haue and in the meane tyme furnyshed a number of theyr Canoas whiche they call Chichos with men armed after theyr manner for they were
recourse to those regions and can no lesse then declare the same albeit it may seeme incredible to some ignorant persons not knowing the power of nature to whom Plinie was perswaded that nothing was impossible We haue therefore thought it good to make this discourse by the way of argument lest on the one syde men of good learnyng and iudgement and on the other syde suche as are studious to finde occasions of quarellyng in other mens wrytynges shoulde iudge vs to be so vndiscrete lightly to geue credite to euery tale not being consonant to reason but of the force and great violence of those freshe waters whiche repulsyng the sea make so great a gulfe as we haue sayde I thynke the cause thereof to be the great multitude of floods and riuers whiche beyng geathered togeather make so great a poole and not one ryuer as they suppose And forasmuch as the mountaines are exceeding high and steepe I thinke the violence of the fall of the waters to be of suche force that this conflict betweene the waters is caused by thimpulsion of the poole that the salt water can not enter into the gulfe But here perhaps some wyll marueyle at me why I should marueyle so muche hereat speakyng vnto me scornefully after this manner Why doth he so marueyle at the great riuers of those regions Hath not Italie his Eridanus named the kyng of ryuers of the old wryters Haue not other regions also the lyke as we reade of Tanais Ganges and Danubius which are sayde so to ouercome the sea that freshe water may be drawen fourtie myles within the same These men I would satisfie with this aunswere The famous ryuer of Padus in Italie whiche they nowe call Po and was of the Greekes called Eridanus hath the great mountaynes called Alpes diuiding Fraunce Germanie and Pannonie from Italie lying at the backe therof as it were bulwarkes agger full of moysture and with a long tracte receiuyng Ticinam with innumerable other great ryuers falleth into the sea Adriatike The lyke is also to be vnderstoode of the other But these ryuers as our men were enfourmed by the kynges fall into the Ocean sea with larger and fuller channels neere hande and some there are whiche affirme this lande to be very large in other places although it be but narowe here There commeth also to my remembraunce another cause the whiche although it be of no great force yet do I entende to wryte it Perhaps therefore the length of the lande reachyng farre from the East to the West if it be narowe may be a helpe hereunto for as we reade that the ryuer Alpheus passeth through the holowe places vnder the sea from the citie of Elis in Peloponeso and breaketh forth at the fountayne or spryng Arethusa in the Iland of Sicillia so is it possible that these mountaines may haue such long caues parteynyng vnto them that they may be the receptacles of the water passing through the landes beyng farre distant and that the same waters commyng by so long a tracte may in the way be greatly encreased by the conuersion of ayre into water as we haue sayde Thus much haue I spoken freely permitting both to them which do frendly interprete other mens dooyngs and also to the malitious scorners to take the thing euen as them lysteth for hytherto I can make no further declaration hereof but when the trueth shal be better knowen I wil do my diligence to commit the same to wrytyng Nowe therfore forasmuch as we haue spoken thus muche of the breadth of this lande we entende to describe the length and fourme of the same The tenth booke of the seconde Decade of the supposed continent THat lande reacheth foorth into the sea euen as doth Italy although not lyke the legge of a man as it doth But nowe I compare a Pigmean or a dwarfe to a Giant for that part thereof whiche the Spanyardes haue ouer runne from the sayd East poynt which reacheth towarde the sea Atlantike the ende not beyng yet founde towarde the West is more then eyght tymes longer then Italie And by what reason I am moued to say eyght tymes your holynesse shall vnderstande From the tyme therefore that I fyrste determined to obeye theyr requestes who wylled me fyrst in your name to wryte these thinges in the Latine tongue I did my endeuour that al things myght come foorth with due tryal and experience whereupon I repayred to the Bishop of Burges beyng the cheefe refuge of this nauigation As we were therfore secretely togeather in one chamber we had many instruments parteining to these affaires as globes and many of those maps whiche are commonly called the shipmans cardes or cardes of the sea Of the which one was drawen by the Portugales wherunto Americus Vesputius is said to haue put to his hande beyng a man most expert in this facultie and a Florentine borne who also vnder the stipende of the Portugales had sayled towarde the South pole many degrees beyonde the Equinoctiall In this carde we founde the first front of this lande to be broder then the kynges of Vraba had perswaded our men of theyr mountaynes To another Colonus the Admiral while he yet lyued and searched those places had geuen the beginning with his owne handes whereunto Bartholomeus Colonus his brother and Lieuetenaunt had added his iudgement for he also had sayled about those coastes Of the Spanyardes lykewyse as many as thought them selues to haue anye knowledge what parteyned to measure the land the sea drewe certayne cardes in parchment as concernyng these nauigations Of all other they moste esteeme them whiche Iohannes de la Cossa the companion of Fogeda whom we sayde to be slayne of the people of Caramairi in the hauen of Carthago and another expert pylote called Andreas Moralis had set foorth And this aswel for the great experience which they both had to whom these tractes were aswel knowen as the chambers of theyr owne houses as also that they were thought to be cunninger in that part of Cosmographie which teacheth the discription and measuring of the sea Conferring therfore al these cardes togeather in euery of the whiche was drawen a lyue expressing not the myles but leagues after the maner of the Spanyardes we tooke our compasses began to measure the sea coastes after this order From that poynt or fronte whiche we sayde to be included within the lyue parteynyng to the Portugales iurisdiction beyng drawen by the paralelles of the Ilandes of Cabouerde but a hundred leagues further towarde the West whiche they haue nowe also searched on euery syde we founde three hundred leagues to the entraunce of the riuer Maragnonum and from thence to Os Draconis seuen hundred leagues but somwhat lesse by the discription of some for they doo not agree in al poyntes exquisitely The Spanyards wyl that a league conteyne foure myles by sea and but three by lande From Os Draconis
before hauyng also with him the same companye of fourescore whole men he went forwarde on his purpose although he were greatly disswaded by Chiapes who earnestly desyred him not to attempt that voyage at that tyme affirming y e gulfe to be so tempestious and stormie three monethes in the yeere that the sea was there by no meanes nauigable and that he had seene many Culchas deuoured of whirlepooles euen before his eyes But inuincible Vaschus impacient of idlenesse and voyde of all feare in Gods cause aunswered that God and his holy saintes would prosper his enterpryses in this case forasmuche as the matter touched God and the defence of the Christian religion for the mayntenance wherof it shoulde be necessarie to haue abundance of ryches and treasure as the sinewes of warre against the enimies of the fayth Thus vsyng also the office both of an oratour and preacher and hauyng perswaded his companions he lanched from the lande But Chyapes lest Vaschus shoulde any thyng doubt of his faythfulnesse towarde him profered hym selfe to goe with hym whyther soeuer he went and woulde by no meanes assent that Vaschus shoulde depart from his palace but that he woulde bryng hym on the way and take part of his fortune Therfore assoone as they were now entred into the maine sea such sourges conflyctes of water arose agaynst them that they were at theyr wittes endes whither to turne them or where to rest Thus being tossed and amased with feare the one looked on the other with pale vnchearefull countenances but especially Chiapes and his company who had before tyme with theyr eyes seene the experience of those ieopardies were greatly discomforted yet as God woulde they escaped all and landed at the next Ilande where makyng fast theyr boates they rested there that nyght Here the water so encreased that it almost ouerflowed the Ilande They say also that the South sea doth so in manner boyle and swel that when it is at the hyghest it doth couer many great rockes whiche at the fal thereof are seene farre aboue the water But on the contrarye parte all suche as inhabite the North sea affyrme with one voyce that it scarcelye ryseth at any tyme a cubite aboue the bankes as they also confesse whiche inhabite the Ilande of Hispaniola and other Ilandes situate in the same The Ilande therefore being nowe drye by the fall of the water they resorted to theyr boates which they founde al ouerwhelmed ful of sande and some sore bruised with great ryftes and almost lost by reason theyr cables were broken suche as were bruised they tyed faste with theyr gyrdles with slyppes of the barkes of trees and with tough and long stalkes of certayne hearbes of the sea stoppyng the ryftes or chynkes with grasse according to the present necessitie Thus were they enforced to returne backe agayne lyke vnto men that came from shypwracke beyng almost consumed with hunger because theyr vyttualles were vtterly destroyed by tempest The inhabitauntes declared that there is hearde all the yeere horrible roring of the sea among those Ilandes as often as it ryseth or falleth but this most especially in those three monethes in the whiche it is most boystous as Chiapes tolde Vaschus before meanyng as they coulde coniecture by his wordes October Nouember and December for he signified the present moone the two moones folowyng countyng the monethes by the moones whereas it was nowe October Here therefore refreshing him selfe and his souldiers a whyle and passyng by one vnprofitable kyng he came to another whose name was Tumaccus after the name of the region beyng situate on that syde of the gulfe This Tumaccus came foorth agaynst our men as dyd the other and with lyke fortune for he was ouercome dryuen to flyght and many of his men slayne He him selfe was also sore wounded but yet escaped Vaschus sent certayne messengers of the Chiapians to hym to returne and not to be afrayde but he coulde be nothing moued neyther by promises nor threatninges yet when the messengers were instant and ceassed not to threaten death to him and his familie with the vtter desolation of his kyngdome if he persisted in that obstinacie at the length he sent his sonne with them whom Vaschus honourably enterteynyng apparellyng hym gorgiously and geuyng him many gyftes sent him to his father wyllyng hym to perswade hym of the puissaunce munificence liberalitie humanitie and clemencie of our men Tumaccus beyng mooued by this gentlenesse declared towarde his sonne came with hym the thyrde day bryngyng nothyng with hym at that tyme. But after that he knewe that our men desyred golde and pearles he sent for syxe hundred and fourteene Pesos of golde and two hundred and fourtie of the byggest and fayrest pearles besyde a great number of the smallest sort Our men marueyled at the byggenes and fayrenes of these pearles although they were not perfectly whyte because they take them not out of the sea muscles except they fyrst rost them that they may the easelyer open them selfe and also that the fysshe may haue the better tast whiche they esteeme for a delicate and princely dysshe and set more therby then by the pearles them selues Of these thynges I was enfourmed of one Arbolantius beyng one of Vaschus companions whom he sent to the kyng with many pearles and certayne of those sea muscles But when Tumaccus sawe that our men so greatly regarded the beautie of the pearles he commaunded certayne of his men to prepare them selues to go a fysshyng for pearles Who departing came agayne within foure dayes bringyng with them twelue pounde weight of orient pearles after eight ounces to the pounde Thus reioycing on both parties they embrased and made a league of continual frendshyp Tumaccus thought hym selfe happie that he had presented our men with such thankefull gyftes and was admitted to theyr frendshyp and our men thinkyng them selues happie and blessed that they had founde such tokens of great ryches swalowed downe theyr spyttle for thyrst At all these dooinges kyng Chiapes was present as a wytnes and companion He also reioyced not a litle aswell that by his conductyng he sawe that our men shoulde bee satisfied of theyr desyre as also that by this meanes he had declared to the next kyng his borderer and enimie what frendes he had of our men by whose ayde he myght lyue in quietnes and be reuenged of his aduersarie if neede shoulde so requyre For as we haue sayde these naked kynges infest them selues with greeuous warres onely for ambition and desyre to rule Vaschus bosteth in his epistle that he learned certayne maruelous secretes of Tumaccus hym selfe as concernyng the great ryches of this lande wherof as he sayth he would vtter nothyng at this present forasmuche as Tumaccus tolde it hym in his eare But he was enfourmed of both the kynges that there is an Ilande in that gulfe greater then any of the
other hauyng in it but onely one kyng and hym of so great power that at suche tymes of the yeere as the sea is calme he inuadeth theyr dominions with a great nauie of Culchas spoylyng and cariyng away for a praye all that he meeteth This Ilande is distant from these coastes only twentie myles So that the promontories or poyntes thereof reachyng into the sea may be seene from the hylles of this continent In the sea neere about this Ilande sea muscles are engendred of such quantitie that many of them are as brode as bucklers In these are pearles founde beyng the hartes of those shell fysshes oftentymes as bygge as beanes somtymes bygger then Olyues and suche as sumptuous Cleopatra myght haue desyred Although this Ilande be so neere to the shore of this firme lande yet is the begynnyng thereof in the mayne sea without the mouth of the gulfe Vaschus beyng ioyful and mery with this rych communication fantasyng nowe in maner nothing but princes treasures beganne to speake fierce and cruell woordes against the tyrant of that Ilande meanyng hereby to wynne the myndes of the other kynges and bynde them to hym with a neerer bonde of frendeshyp Yet therefore raylyng further on hym with spytefull and approbrious woords he swore great othes that he woulde forthwith inuade the Ilande spoylyng destroying burnyng drownyng and hangyng sparyng neyther swoorde nor fyre vntyll he had reuenged theyr iniuries and therewith commaunded his Culchas to be in a redynes But the two kynges Chiapes and Tumaccus â–ª exhorted hym frendly to deferre this enterprise vntil a more quiet season bycause that sea was nor nauigable without great danger beyng nowe the begynnyng of Nouember Wherein the kynges seemed to saye true For as Vaschus hym selfe wryteth great roring of the sea was heard among the Ilands of the gulfe by reason of the ragyng and conflict of the water Great ryuers also descendyng from the toppes of the mountaynes the same tyme of the yeere and ouerflowyng theyr bankes dryuyng downe with theyr violence great rockes and trees make a marueylous noyse Lykewise the furie of the South and Northeast wyndes associate with thunder and lyghtnyng at the same season dyd greatly molest them Whyle the wether was fayre they were vexed in the night with colde and in the day tyme the heat of the Sonne troubled them wherof it is no marueyle forasmuche as they were neere vnto the Equinoctial line although they make no mention of the eleuation of the pole for in suche regions in the nyght the Moone and other colde planettes but in the day the Sonne and other hotte planettes doo cheefely exercyse theyr influence although the antiquitie were of an other opinion supposyng the Equinoctiall circle to bee vnhatable and desolate by reason of the heate of the Sonne hauyng his course perpendiculerly or directly ouer the same except a fewe of the contrary opinion whose assertions the Portugales haue at these dayes by experience proued to be true for they sayle yeerely to thinhabitantes of the south pole beyng in maner Antâ—podes to the people called Hyperborei vnder the North pole and exercise marchaundize with them And here haue I named Antipodes forasmuche as I am not ignorant that there hath ben men of singuler witte and great learnyng whiche haue denyed that there is Antipodes that is suche as walke feete to feete But it is most certaine that it is not geuen to any one man to knowe all thynges for euen they also were men whose propertie is to erre and be deceiued in many thynges Neuerthelesse the Portugales of our tyme haue sayled to the fyue and fyftie degree of the south pole where compassyng about the poynt therof they myght see throughout all the heauen about the same certeyne shynnyng whyte cloudes here and there among the starres lyke vnto them which are seene in the tract of heauen called Lactea via that is the mylke whyte way They say there is no notable starre neare about that pole lyke vnto this of oures which the common people thynke to be the pole of it selfe called of the Italians Tramontana and of the Spanyardes Nortes but that the same falleth beneath the Ocean WheÌ„ the Sonne descendeth from the myddest of the exiltree of the worlde from vs it ryseth to them as a payre of ballances whose weyght enclinyng from the equall payse in the myddest towarde eyther of the sydes causeth the one ende to ryse as much as the other falleth When therfore it is Autumne with vs it is spring tyme with them and sommer with vs when it is wynter with them But it suffiseth to haue sayde thus much of strange matters Let vs nowe therefore returne to the historie and to our men The seconde booke of the thyrde Decade VAschus by thaduice of king Chiapes and Tumaccus determined to deferre his voyage to the sayde Ilande vntyll the next spryng or sommer at which tyme Chiapes offered him selfe to accompany our men and ayde them therin al that he myght In this meane tyme Vaschus had knowledge that these kynges had nettes and fysshyng places in certeyne stations of that sea neare vnto the shore where they were accustomed to fyshe for sea muscles in the which pearles are engendred and that for this purpose they had certeyne dyuers or fysshers exercised from theyr youth in swimmyng vnder the water But they doo this onely at certeine tymes when the sea is calme that they may the eassier come to y e place where these shel fishes are wont to lye for the bygger that they are so much lye they the deeper neerer to y e bottome but the lesser as it were daughters to thother are neerer the brimme of the water likewise the least of al as it were their nieses are yet neerer to the superficial part therof To them of the byggest fort whiche lye lowest the fysâ—hers descende the depth of three mens heyght and somtyme foure but to the daughters or nieses as their succession they descende only to the mydde thygh Somtimes also after that the sea hath ben disquieted with vehement tempestes they fynde a great multitude of these fishes on the sandes beyng dryuen to the shore by the violence of the water The pearles of these which are founde on the sande are but lytle the fyshe it selfe is more pleasaunt in eatyng then are our oysters as our men report But perhaps hunger the sweete sause of all meates caused our men so to thynke Whether pearles be the hartes of sea muscles as Aristotle supposed or the byrth or spawne of their intrals as Plinie thought or whether they cleaue continually to the rockes or wander by companies in the sea by the guyding of the eldest whether euery fysshe bryng foorth one pearle or more at one byrth or at dyuers also whether they be fyled from the rockes wherunto they cleaue or may be easely pulled away or otherwyse fall of by them selues when they are come to theyr full
in deede they were Departyng therfore from the large region of Quiriquetana the .xiii. day of the calendes of September when he had sayled thyrtie leagues he found a ryuer within the mouth wherof he drewe freshe water in the sea where also the shore was so cleane without rockes that he founde grounde euery where where he myght aptly cast anker He writeth that the swift course of the Ocean was so vehement and contrary that in the space of fourtie dayes he coulde scarcely sayle threescore and tenne leagues and that with much dyfficultie with many fetches and compassynges fyndyng him selfe to be some tymes repulsed and dryuen farre backe by the violent course of the sea when he woulde haue taken lande towarde the euening leaste perhaps wanderyng in vnknowen coastes in the darcknesse of the nyght he myght be in daunger of shypwracke He wryteth that in the space of eyght leagues he found three great and fayre ryuers vpon the banckes whereof there grewe reedes bygger then a mannes thygh In these riuers was also great plenty of fyshe and great Tortoyses Lykewyse in many places multitudes of Crocodyles lying in the sande and yanyng to take the heate of the sonne besyde dyuers other kyndes of beastes wherunto he gaue no names He sayeth also that the soyle of that lande is verye diuers and variable beyng somewhere stonye and full of rough and craggie promontories or poyntes reachyng into the sea and in other places as fruitefull as may be They haue also diuers kynges and rulers In some places they call a kyng Cacicus in other places they call hym Quebi and somewhere Tiba Such as haue behaued them selues valyantlye in the warres agaynst theyr enemies and haue theyr faces full of scarres they call Cupras and honour them as the antiquitie dyd the gods whiche they called Heroes supposed to be the soules of suche men as in theyr lyfe tyme excelled in vertue and noble actes The common people they call Chiui and a man they call Homem When they say in theyr language take man they say Hoppa home After this he came to an other ryuer apt to beare great shippes before the mouth whereof lye foure small Ilandes full of floryshyng and fruitfull trees these Ilandes he named Quatuor tempora From hence sayling toward the East for the space of .xiii. leagues styl against the violent course of the water he found twelue other small Ilandes in the which because he founde a new kind of fruites much like vnto our Lemonds he called them Limonarâ—s Wanderyng yet further the same way for the space of .xii. leagues he founde a great hauen entryng into the lande after the maner of a gulfe the space of three leagues and in maner as brode into y e which fel a great riuer Here was Nicuesa lost afterward when he sought Beragua by reason whereof they called it Rio de los perdidos that is the ryuer of the lost men Thus Colonus the Admiral yet further continuyng his course agaynst the furye of the sea founde manye hygh mountaynes and horrible valleys with dyuers ryuers and hauens from all the which as he sayth proceeded sweete sauours greatly recreatyng and comfortyng nature Insomuche that in al this long tract there was not one of his men diseased vntyll he came to a region whiche thinhabitantes call Quicuris in the whiche is the hauen called Cariai named Mirobalanus by the Admirall bycause the Mirobalane trees are natiue in the regions thereabout In this hauen of Cariai there came about two hundred of thinhabitantes to the sea syde with euerye of them three or foure dartes in theyr handes yet of condition gentle yenough and not refusyng straungers Their commyng was for none other purpose then to knowe what this newe nation meant or what they brought with them When our men had geuen them sygnes of peace they came swymmyng to the shyppes and desyred to barter with them by exchaunge The Admiral to allure them to frendshyppe geue them many of our thynges But they refused them suspecting some disceyt thereby bycause he would not receiue theirs They wrought all by sygnes for one vnderstoode not a woord of the others language Suche gyftes as were sent them they left on the shore and woulde take no part thereof They are of suche ciuilitie and humanitie that they esteeme it more honorable to geue then to take They sent our men two young women beyng virgines of commendable fauour and goodly stature sygnifying vnto them that they myght take them away with them if it were their pleasure These women after the maner of their countrey were couered from their ancles somwhat aboue their priuye partes with a certayne cloth made of gossampine cotton but the men are all naked The women vse to cut their heare but the men let it growe on the hynder part of their heades and cut it on the fore part Their long heare they bynde vp with fyllettes and wynde it in sundry rowles as our maydes are accustomed to do The virgines whiche were sent to the Admirall he decked in fayre apparell and gaue them many gyftes and sent them home agayne But lykewyse all these rewardes and apparel they left vppon the shore bycause our men had refused their giftes Yet tooke he two men away with hym and those very wyllyngly that by learnyng the Spanyshe tongue he myght afterward vse them for interpretours He considered that the tractes of these coastes were not greatly troubled with vehement motions or ouerflowynges of the sea forasmuche as trees growe in the sea not farre from the shore euen as they doo vppon the bankes of ryuers the whiche thyng also other do affirme whiche haue latelyer searched those coastes declaryng that the sea ryseth and falleth but litle therabout He sayth furthermore that in the prospect of this land there are trees engendred euen in the sea which after that they are growen to any height bend downe the toppes of theyr braunches into the ground whiche embrasyng them causeth other braunches to spring out of the same and take roote in the earth bryngyng foorth trees in theyr kynd successiuely as dyd the fyrst root from whence they had theyr oryginall as do also the settes of vines when onely both the endes thereof are put into the grounde Plinie in the twelfth booke of his natural historie maketh mention of suche trees describyng them to be on the lande but not in the sea The Admiral wryteth also that the lyke beastes are engendred in the coastes of Cariai as in other prouinces of these regions and such as we haue spoken of before Yet that there is one founde here in nature muche differyng from the other This beast is of the bygnesse of a great Monkey but with a tayle much longer and bygger it lyueth in the wooddes and remoueth from tree to tree in this maner Hangyng by the tayle vppon the braunche of a tree and geatheryng strength by swaying her body twyse
or thryse to and fro she casteth her selfe from branche to branche and so from tree to tree as though she flewe An archer of ours hurt one of them who perceiuyng her selfe to be wounded leapt downe from the tree and fiercely set on him whiche gaue her the wound in so much that he was fayne to defend hym selfe with his swoorde And thus by chaunce cuttyng of one of her armes he tooke her and with much a do brought her to the shyppes where within a while she waxed tame Whyle she was thus kept and bounde with cheynes certayne other of our hunters had chased a wylde Bore out of the maryshes neere vnto the sea syde for hunger and desyre of fleshe caused them to take double pleasure in huntyng In this meane tyme other which remayned in the shyppes goyng a lande to recreate them selues tooke this Monkie with them who assoone as she had espyed the Bore set vp her brystels and made towarde him The Bore lykewyse shooke his bristels and whet his teeth The Monkie furiously inuaded the Bore wrappyng her tayle about his body with her arme reserued of her victourer helde him so fast about the throte that he was suffocate These people of Cariai vse to drie the dead bodyes of theyr princes vppon hurdels and so reserue them inuolued in the leaues of trees As he went forwarde about twentie leagues from Cariai he founde a gulfe of suche largenes that it contayned .xii. leagues in compasse in the mouth of this gulfe was foure litle Ilandes so neere togeather that they made a safe hauen to enter into the gulfe This gulfe is the hauen whiche we sayde before to be called Cerabaro of thinhabitantes But they haue nowe learned that only the land of the one syde therof lying on the ryght hande at the enteryng of the gulfe is called by that name but that on the left syde is called Aburema He sayth that all this gulfe is full of fruitefull Ilandes wel replenished with goodly trees and the grounde of the sea to be very cleane without rockes and commodious to cast anker lykewyse the sea of the gulfe to haue great abundance of fyshe and the lande on both the sydes to bee inferyor to none in fruitfulnes At his fyrst arryuyng he espyed two of thinhabitantes hauyng cheynes about theyr neckes made of ouches whiche they call Guauines of base golde artificially wrought in the fourmes of Eagles and Lions with dyuers other beastes and foules Of the two Cariaians whiche he brought with hym from Cariai he was enfourmed that the regions of Cerabaro and Aburema were rych in golde and that the people of Cariai haue al theyr gold from thence for exchaunge of other of theyr thynges They tolde hym also that in the same regions there are fiue villages not farre from the sea syde whose inhabitants apply them selues onely to the geathering of gold The names of these villages are these Chirara Puren Chitaza Iureche Aâ—amea All the men of the prouince of Cerabaro go naked are painted with diuers colours They take great pleasure in wearing garlandes of floures and crownes made of the clawes of Lions Tygers The women couer only theyr priuie partes with a fyllet of gossampine cotton Departing from hence coasting styll by the same shore for the space of xviii leagues he came to another ryuer where he espyed about three hundred naked men in a company When they sawe the shyppes drawe neare the lande they cryed out aloude with cruel countenaunces shakyng theyr woodden swoordes and hurlyng dartes takyng also water in theyr mouthes and spouting the same agaynst our men whereby they seemed to insinuate that they woulde receiue no condition of peace or haue ought to do with them Here he commaunded certayne pieces of ordinaunce to be shot of cowarde them yet so to ouershoote them that none myght be hurt thereby For he euer determined to deale quietly peaceably with these newe nations At the noyse therefore of the gunnes and syght of the fyre they fel downe to the grounde and desyred peace Thus enteryng into further frendshyp they exchaunged theyr cheynes and ouches of golde for glasses and haukes belles and suche other marchandies They vse drummes or tymbrels made of the shelles of certaine sea fyshes wherewith they encorage them selues in the warres In this tract are these seuen ryuers Acateba Quareba Zobroba Aiaguitin Vrida Duribha Beragua in all the whiche golde is founde They defende them selues agaynst rayne and heat with certayne great leaues of trees in the steade of clokes Departyng from hence he searched the coastes of Ebetere and Embigar into the whiche fall the goodly ryuers of Zohoran and Cubigar And here ceasseth the plentie and fruitfulnes of gold in the tract of fiftie leagues or there about From hence only three leagues distant is the rocke whiche in the vnfortunat discourse of Nicuesa we sayde was called of our men Pignonem but of thinhabitantes the Region is called Vibba In this tract also about fyre leagues from thence is the hauen whiche Colonus called Portus Bellus wherof we haue spoken before in the region which thinhabitants cal Xaguaguara This region is very populous but they goe all naked The kyng is paynted with blacke colours but all the people with redde The kyng and seuen of his noble men had euery of them a litle plate of golde hangyng at theyr nosethrylles downe vnto theyr lyppes and this they take for a comely ornament The men inclose theyr priuie members in a shell and the women couer theyrs with a fyllet of gossampine cotton tyed about theyr loynes In theyr gardens they noryshe a fruite muche lyke the nut of a pine tree the which as we haue sayde in an other place groweth on a shrubbe muche lyke vnto an hartichoke but the fruite is much softer and meate for a kyng also certayne trees whiche beare gourdes whereof we haue spoken before this tree they call Hibuero In these coastes they met sometymes with Crocodiles lying on the sandes the whiche when they fled or tooke the water they left a very sweete sauoure behynde them sweeter then muske or Castoreum When I was sent ambassadoure for the catholyke kyng of Castile to the Soltane of Babylon or Alcayre in Egypt thinhabitantes neere vnto the ryuer of Nilus tolde me the lyke of theyr female Crocodiles affyrmyng furthermore that the fat or shewet of them is equall in sweetnes with the pleasaunt gummes of Arabie But the Admirall was nowe at the length enforced of necessitie to depart from hence aswell for that he was no longer able to abyde the contrarie and violent course of the water as also that his shyppes were dayly more and more putrified and eaten through with certayne wormes which are engendred of the warmenesse of the water in al those tractes neere vnto the Equinoctiall line The Uenetians call these wormes Bissas The same are also engendred in two hauens of the
beyng enfourmed of the matter appoynted hym two shyppes wherewith he returned to his maister and companions As he founde them so came they to Hispaniola very feeble and in maner naked What chaunced of them afterwarde I knowe not as yet Let vs now therefore leaue these particulers and speake somwhat more of generals In al those tracts whiche we sayd here before to haue been founde by Colonus the Admiral both he hym selfe writeth and all his companions of that voyage confesse that the trees hearbes and fruites are floryshyng and greene all the whole yeere and the ayre so temperate holesome that of al his companie there neuer fel one man sycke nor yet were vexed eyther with extreme colde or heate for the space of fyftie leagues from the great hauen of Cerabaro to the ryuers of Hiebra and Beragua Thinhabitantes of Cerabaro and the nations whiche are betwyxt that the sayde ryuers applie not them selues to the geatheryng of gold but only at certayne tymes of the yeere and are very expert and cunnyng herein as are our myners of syluer and Iron They knowe by long experience in what places golde is most abundantly engendred as by the colour of the water of the ryuers and such as fall from the mountaynes and also by the colour of the earth and stones They beleeue a certayne godly nature to be in golde forasmuche as they neuer geather it except they vse certayne religious expiations or purgyng as to absteyne from women and all kyndes of pleasures and delicate meates and drinkes during all the tyme that their golden haruest lasteth They suppose that men do naturally liue and die as other beastes do and therfore honour none other thyng as God Yet do they pray to the Sonne and honour it when it ryseth But let vs nowe speake of the mountains and situation of these landes From all the sea bankes of these regions exceedyng great and hygh mountaynes are seene towarde the South yet reaching by a continual tract from the East into the west by reason wherof I suppose that the two great seas wherof I haue spoken largely before are deuided with these mountaynes as it were with bulwarkes least they shoulde ioyne and repugne as Italie diuideth the sea called Tirrhenum from the sea Adriatike whiche is nowe commonly called the gulfe of Uenice For whiche way so euer they sayled from the poynt called Promontorium S. Augustini whiche parteyneth to the Portugales and prospecteth against the sea Atlantike euen vnto Vraba and the hauen Cerabaro and to the furthest landes founde hitherto westward they had euer great mountaynes in syght both neere hande and also farre of in all that long rase These mountaynes were in some place smooth pleasaunt and fruitfull full of goodly trees and hearbes and somwhere hygh rough ful of rockes and barren as chaunceth in the famous mountayne of Taurus in Asia and also in dyuers coastes of our mountaynes of Apennini such other of like bygnesse The rydgies also of these mountaynes are diuided with goodly and fayre valleys That part of the mountaynes which includeth the limittes of Beragua is thought to be hygher then the cloudes insomuch that as they say the tops of them can seldome be seene for the multitude of thicke cloudes whiche are beneath the same Colanus the Admiral the fyrst fynder of these regions affirmeth that the toppes of the mountaines of Beragua are more then fiftie myles in heyght He sayth furthermore that in the same region at the rootes of the mountaynes the way is open to the south sea compareth it as it were betwene Uenice and Genua or Ianua as the Genues wyl haue it called whiche fable that theyr citie was builded of Ianus He affirmeth also that this land reacheth forth toward the south and that from hence it taketh the begynning of breadth lyke as from the Alpes out of the narowe thygh of Italie we see the large and mayne landes of Fraunce Germanie and Pannonie to the Sarmatians and Scithians euen vnto the mountaynes and rockes of Riphea and the frosen sea and embrase therewith as with a continuall bonde al Thracia and Grecia with all that is included within the promontorie or poynt of Malea and Hellespontus southwarde and the sea Euzinus and the marysshes of Meotis in Scithia northwarde The Admiral supposeth that on the left hande in saylyng towarde the west this lande is ioyned to India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges and that on the ryght hande towarde the North it is extended to the frosen sea beyonde the Hyperboreans and the North pole So that both the seas that is to meane that south sea which we sayd to bee founde by Vaschus and our Ocean shoulde ioyne and meete in the corners of that lande and that the waters of these seas do not onely inclose and compasse the same without diuision as Europe is inclosed with the seas of Hellespontus and Tanais with the frosen Ocean and our sea of Tyrrhenum with the Spanyshe seas But in my opinion the vehement course of the Ocean toward the west doth signifie the let that the sayd two seas shoulde not so ioyne togeather but rather that that lande is adherent to the firme landes towarde the North as we haue sayde before It shall suffice to haue sayde thus muche of the length hereof Let vs nowe therefore speake somwhat of the breadth of the same We haue made mention before howe the south sea is diuided by narowe limittes from our Ocean as it was proued by thexperience of Vaschus Nunnez and his companions which fyrst made open the way thyther But as dyuersly the mountaynes of our Alpes in Europe are somwhere narowe and in some place brode euen so by the lyke prouidence of nature this land in some part therof reacheth farre in breadth and is in other places coarcted with narowe limittes from sea to sea with valleys also in some places whereby men may passe from the one syde to the other Where we haue described the regions of Vraba and Beragua to be situate these seas are diuided by small distaunce Yet ought we to thynke the region whiche the great ryuer of Maragnonus runneth through to be very large if we shall graunt Maragnonum to be a ryuer and no sea as the freshe waters of the same ought to perswade vs. For in suche narowe caues of the earth there can be no swalowyng gulfes of suche bygnesse as to receiue or nooryshe so great abundance of water The lyke is also to be supposed of the great ryuer of Dabaiba whiche we sayde to be from the corner of the gulfe of Vraba in some place of fourtie fathomes depth and somwhere fiftie also three myles in breadth and so to fall into the sea We must needes graunt that the earth is brode there by the which the ryuer passeth from the high mountaines of Dabaiba from the East and not from the west They
to be his assystantes as Alfonsus de Ponte Diegus Marques and Iohannes de Tauira confyrmed the same letters and subscribed them with theyr names The nauigation therefore of Petrus Arias was in this maner The day before the Ides of Apryl in the yeere of Christe .1514 he hoysed vp his sayles in the towne of saint Lucar de Barrameda situate in the mouth of the ryuer Baetis which the Spanyardes nowe cal Guadalchebir The seuen Ilandes of Canaria are about foure hundred myles distant from the place where this riuer falleth into the sea Some thynke that these are the Ilandes whiche the olde wryters dyd call the fortunate Ilandes but other thynke the contrary The name of these Ilandes are these The two that appeare fyrst in sight are named Lanzelota and Fortisuentura On the backhalfe of these lyeth Magna Canaria or Grancanaria Beyond that is Teuerif and Gomera somewhat towarde the north from that Palma and Ferrea lye behynde as it were a bulwarke to al the other Petrus Arias therfore arriued at Gomera the eyght day after his departure with a nauie of seuenteene ships a thousand and fiue hundred men although there were only a thousand and two hundred assigned hym by the kynges letters It is sayd furthermore that he left behynde hym more then two thousande very pensiue and sighing that they also myght not be receiued proferyng them selues to goe at theyr owne charges He taryed xvi dayes in Gomera to the intent to make prouision of fuel and freshe water but cheefely to repayre his shyppes beyng sore broosed with tempestes and especially the gouernours shyppe which had lost the rudder For these Ilandes are a commodious restyng place for al suche as intende to attempt any nauigations in that maine sea Departing from hence in the Nones of May he sawe no more lande vntyll the thyrde day of Iune at the whiche he arryued at Dominica an Ilande of the Canibales being distant from Gomera about eight hundred leagues Here he remained foure dayes makyng newe prouision of freshe water and fuell duryng whiche tyme he sawe no man nor yet anye steppes of men but founde plenty of sea Crabbes and great Lisarts From hence he sayled by the Ilandes of Matinina otherwyse called Madanino Guadalupea and Galanta otherwyse called Galana of al which we haue spoken in the fyrst Decade He passed also through the sea of hearbes or weedes continuing a long tract Yet neyther he nor Colonus the Admiral who fyrst found these Ilandes and sayled through this sea of weedes haue declared any reason how these weedes should come Some thynke the sea to be verye muddye there and that these weedes are engendred in the bottome thereof and so beyng loosed to ascende to the vppermost part of the water as we see oftentymes chaunce in certayne standyng pooles and sometymes also in great ryuers Other suppose that they are not engendred there but to be beaten from certayne rockes by the violence of the water in tempestes And thus they leaue the matter in doubt Neyther haue they yet any certayne experience whether they stycke fast and geue place to the shyppes or wander loose vpon the water But it is to be thought that they are engendred there for otherwyse they shoulde be dryuen togeather on heapes by the impulsion of the shyppes euen as a beasome geathereth the sweepynges of a house and shoulde also let the course of the shyppes The fourth day after that he departed from Dominica the hyghe mountaynes couered with snowe whereof we haue spoken in the seconde Decade appeared vnto hym They say that there the seas runne as swyftly towarde the west as it were a ryuer fallyng from the toppes of hygh mountaynes although they fayled not directly toward the west but inclined somewhat to the south From these mountaynes falleth the ryuer of Gaira famous by the slaughter of our men at such tyme as Rodericus Colmenares passed by those coastes as we haue sayde before Lykewyse many other fayre ryuers haue theyr original from the same mountaynes This prouince in the which is also the region of Caramairi hath in it two notable hauens of y e which our men named the one Carthago or Carthagena and thother Sancta Martha the region wherof thinhabitants call Saturma The port of Sancta Martha is nerer to the mountaynes couered with snow called Montes Niuales for it is at the rootes of the same mountaines but y e hauen of Carthago is more westward about fyftie leagues He wryteth marueylous things of the hauen of Sancta Martha whiche they also confirme that came lately from thence Of the which young Vesputius is one to whom Americus Vesputius his vncle beyng a florentine borne left the exact knowledge of the mariners facultie as it were by inheritance after his death for he was a very expert maister in the knowledge of his carde his compasse and the eleuation of the pole starre with all that parteyneth therto This young Vesputius was assigned by the kyng to be one of the maisters of the gouernours shyp because he was cunnyng in iudging the degrees of the eleuation of the pole starre by the quadrant For the charge of gouerning the rudder was cheefly committed to one Iohannes Serranus a Spaniard who had oftentymes ouerrunne those coastes Vesputius is my very familier frende and a wittie young man in whose company I take great pleasure and therfore vse hym oftentymes for my ghest He hath also made many voyages into these coastes and diligentlye noted suche thynges as he hath seene Petrus Arias therfore wryteth and he confirmeth the same that thinhabitantes of these regions tooke theyr originall of the Caribbes or Canibales as appeared by the desperat fyersnesse and crueltie which they oftentimes shewed to our men when they passed by theyr coastes Suche stoutnesse and fortitude of mynde is naturallie engendred in these naked Barbarians that they feared not to assayle our whole nauy and to forbyd them to come a lande They fyght with venemous arowes as we haue sayde before Parceyuyng that our men contemned theyr threatnynges they ranne furyously into the sea euen vp to the breastes nothyng fearyng eyther the bygnesse or multitude of our shyppes but ceased not contynuallie beyng thus in the water to cast dartes and to shoote theyr venemous arrowes as thycke as hayle Insomuch that our men had byn in great daunger yf they had not bin defended by the cages or pauisses of the shippes and their targettes Yet were two of them wounded which died shortely after But this conflict continued so sharp that at the length our men were enforced to shoote of theyr greatest pieces of ordinaunce with hayleshoote at the slaughter and terrible noyse wherof the Barbarians beyng sore discomfited and shaken with feare thynkyng the same to be thunder and lyghtnyng turned theyr backes and fledde amayne They greatly feare thunder because these regions are oftentimes vexed with thunder and lyghtnynges by reason
of the hyghe mountaynes and nearenesse of the same to the region of the ayre wherein such fierie tempestes are engendred whiche the philosophers call Meteora And albeit that our men had nowe dryuen theyr enimies to flyght and sawe them disparcled and out of order yet doubted they and were of diuers opinions whether they shoulde pursue them or not On the one partie shame prycked them forwarde and on the other syde feare caused them to caste manye perylles especially consyderyng the venemous arrowes whiche these Barbarians can direct so certaynely To depart from them with a drye foote as sayth the prouerbe with so great a nauie and suche an armye they reputed it as a thyng greatly soundyng to theyr reproche and dishonour At the length therefore shame ouercommyng feare they pursued them and came to land with theyr ship boates The gouernour of the nauie also Vesputius do wryte that the hauen is no lesse then three leagues in compasse beyng also safe without rockes and the water therof so cleare that a man may see pybble stones in the bottome twentie cubits deepe They say lykewyse that there falleth two fayre ryuers of freshe water into the hauen but the same to be meeter to beare the Canoas of these prouinces then any bygger vessels It is a delectable thyng to heare what they tel of the plentie and varietie and also of the pleasaunt tast of the fyshes aswell of these ryuers as of the sea therabout By reason wherof they found here manye fysher boates and nettes woonderfully wrought of the stalkes of certayne hearbes or weedes dryed and tawed and wreathed with cords of spunne gossampyne cotton For the people of Caramairi Gaira and Saturma are very cunnyng in fisheyng and vse to sel fyshe to theyr borderers for exchaunge of such thynges as they lacke When our men had thus chased the Barbarians from the sea coastes and had now entred into theyr houses they assayled them with newe skyrmishes espetially when they sawe them fall to sacking and spoylyng and theyr wyues and chyldren taken captyue Their householde stuffe was made of great reedes whiche growe on the sea bankes and the stalkes of certayne hearbes beaten and afterwarde made harde The floores thereof were strewed with hearbes of sundry colours and the walles hanged with a kynde of tapstry artificially made of gossampine cotton and wrought with pictures of Lions Tygers and Eagles The doores of theyr houses and chambers were full of dyuers kyndes of shelles hangyng loose by small cordes that beyng shaken by the wynde they myght make a certayne rattelyng and also a whystelyng noyse by geatheryng the wynde in theyr holowe places for herein they haue great delyght and impute this for a goodly ornament Dyuers haue shewed me many wonderfull thynges of these regions especially one Conzalus Fernandus Ouiedus beyng one of the magistrates appoynted in that office which the Spanyardes call Veedor who hath also hytherto entred further into the lande then any other He affirmeth that he chaunced vppon the fragment of a Saphire bygger then the egge of a goose and that in certayne hylles where he trauayled with thirtie men he founde many of the pretious stones called Smaragdes Calcidones and Iaspers besyde great peeces of Amber of the mountaines He also with diuers other do affirme that in the houses of some of the Canibales of these regions they found the like precious stones set in gold and inclosed in tapstry or arras if it may so be called wherewith they hang theyr houses The same land bryngeth foorth also many wooddes of brasile trees and great plentie of golde in so much that in maner in al places they founde on the sea bankes on the shores certayne marchasites in token of golde Fernandus Ouiedus declareth furthermore that in a certayne region called Zenu lying fourescore and tenne myles from Dariena Eastwarde they exercise a straunge kynde of marchaundize For in the houses of the inhabitantes they founde great chestes and baskets made of the twigges and leaues of certayne trees apte for that purpose being all ful of Grassehoppers Grylles Crabbes or Crefyshes Snayles also and Locustes whiche destroye the fieldes of corne al well dryed and salted Beyng demaunded why they reserued suche a multitude of these beastes they answeared that they kept them to be solde to theyr borderers whiche dwell further within the lande and that for the exchange of these pretious byrdes and salted fyshes they receiued of them certayne strange thynges wherein partly they take pleasure and partly vse them for theyr necessary affayres These people dwell not togeather but scattered here and there Thinhabitantes of Caramairi seeme to dwel in an earthly Paradise theyr region is so fayre and fruitefull without outragious heate or sharpe colde with litle difference of the length of day and nyght throughout all the yeere After that our men had thus dryuen the Barbarians to flyght they entred into a valley of two leagues in breadth and three in length extendyng to certayne fruitefull mountaynes full of grasse hearbes and trees at the rootes whereof lye two other valleis towarde the ryght hande and the leaft through eyther of the whiche runneth a fayre ryuer wherof the ryuer of Caira is one but vnto the other they haue yet geuen no name In these valleys they found many fayre gardens and pleasaunt feeldes watered with trenches distributed in marueylous order with no lesse art then our Insubrians and Hetrurians vse to water their feeldes Theyr common meate is Ages Iucca Maizium Battata with suche other rootes and fruites of trees and also such fyshe as they vse in the Ilandes and other regions of these prouinces They eate mans fleshe but seldome because they meete not oftentymes with strangers except they goe foorth of theyr one dominions with a mayne army of purpose to hunt for men when theyr rauenyng appetite pricketh them forwarde For they abstayne from them selues and eate none but suche as they take in the warres or otherwyse by chaunce But suerly it is a miserable thyng to heare howe many myriades of men these fylthy and vnnaturall deuourers of mens fleshe haue consumed and lefte thousandes of most fayre and fruitefull Ilandes and regions desolate without men by reason whereof our men founde so manye Ilandes whiche for theyr fayrenes and fruitefulnesse myght seeme to be certayne earthly Paradyses and yet were vtterly voyde of men Hereby your holynesse may consider howe pernitious a kynde of men this is We haue sayde before that the Ilande named Sancti Iohannis which thinhabitants cal Burichena is next to Hispaniola It is sayde that only the Canibales which dwel in the other Ilandes neere about this as in the Ilande called Hayhay or Sansta Crucis and in Guadalupea otherwyse called Queraqueiera or Carucuiera haue in our tyme violently taken out of the sayde Ilande of Sancti Iohannis more then fyue thousande men to be eaten But let it suffice thus muche to haue wandered
of the corner of the gulfe of Vraba as we haue largely declared before The common report is that all the land of his dominions is ryche in gold The pallace of kyng Dabaiba is fyftie leagues distant from Dariena The inhabitantes saye that from the pallace the gold mynes reache to the borders on euery syde Albeit our men haue also golde mynes not to be contemned euen within three leagues of Dariena in the whiche they geather golde in many places at this present Yet do they affirme greater plentye to be in the mynes of Dabaiba In the bookes of our fyrst fruites written to your holynesse we made mention of this Dabaiba wherein our men were deceyued and mystooke the matter For where they founde the fyshermen of kyng Dabaiba in the marishes they thought his region had been there also They determined therfore to send to kyng Dabaiba three hundred choyse young men to be chosen out of the whole army as most apt to the warres and well furnyshed with all kyndes of armour and artyllerie to the intent to go vnto hym and wyll hym eyther frendly and peaceably to permit them to inhabite part of his kyngdome with the fruition of the golde mynes or els to byd hym battayle and dryue hym out of his countrey In theyr letters they oftentymes repeate this for an argument of great ryches to come that they in a maner dygged the ground in no place but found the earth myxt with sparkes and small graynes of golde They haue also aduertised the kyng that it shal be commodious to place inhabitours in the hauen of Sancta Martha in the region of Saturma that it may be a place of refuge for them that sayle from the Ilande of Dominica from the whiche as they saye it is but foure or fyue dayes saylyng to that hauen of the region of Saturma and from the hauen but three dayes saylyng to Dariena But this is to be vnderstoode in goyng and not in returnyng For the returnyng from thence is so laborious and difficulte by reason of the contrary course of the water that they seeme as it were to ascende hyghe mountaynes and stryue agaynste the power of Neptunus This swyft course of the sea towards the west is not so violent to them whiche returne to Spayne from the Ilandes of Hispaniola and Cuba although they also do labour agaynst the fall of the Ocean The cause whereof is that the sea is heere very large so that the waters haue theyr full scope But in the tract of Paria the waters are constrayned togeather by the bendyng sydes of that great land and by the multitude of Ilandes lying agaynst it as the lyke is seene in the strayghtes or narrow seas of Scicile where the violent course of the waters cause the daungerous places of Scilla and Caribdis by reason of those narrowe seas which conteyne Ionium Libicum and Tirrhenum Colonus the fyrste fynder of these regions hath left in wrytyng that saylyng from the Ilande of Guanassa and the prouinces of Iaia Maia and Cerabaro beyng regions of the west marches of Beragua he founde the course of the water so vehement and furious agaynst the foreparte of his shyp whyle he sayled from those coastes towarde the East that he coulde at no time touche the grounde with his soundyng plummet but that the contrary violence of the water woulde beare it vp from the bottome He affyrmeth also that he coulde neuer in one whole day with a meetely good wynde wynne one myle of the course of the water And this is the cause why they are oftentymes enforced to saile fyrst by the Ilandes of Cuba and Hispaniola and so into the mayne sea towarde the North when they returne to Spayne that the North wyndes may further theyr voyage whiche they can not bryng to passe by a direct course But of the motions of the Ocean sea to and fro this shal suffise Let vs nowe therefore rehearse what they wryte of Dariena and of theyr habitation there whiche they cal Sancta Maria Antiqua planted on the sea bankes of Dariena The situation of the place hath no natural munition or defence and the ayre is more pestiferous then in Sardus The Spanishe inhabitours are al pale and yelowe lyke vnto them whiche haue the yelowe iaundies which neuerthelesse commeth not of the nature of the region as it is situate vnder the heauen For in many regions beyng vnder the selfe same degree of latitude hauing the pole of the same eleuation they fynd holsome temperate ayre in such places where as the earth bryngeth foorth fayre sprynges of water or where holsome riuers runne by bankes of pure earth without mudde but most especially where they inhabite the sides of the hyls and not the valleys But that habitation whiche is on the bankes of the ryuer of Dariena is situate in a deepe valley and enuironed on euery syde with hygh hylles By reason wherof it receyueth the Sonne beames at noonetyde dyrectly parpendicular ouer theyr heades and are therefore sore vexed by reflection of the beames both before behynde and from the sydes For it is the reflection of the sonne beames whiche causeth feruent heate and not theyr accesse or neerenesse to the earth forasmuche as they are not passyble in themselues as doth manifestly appeare by the snowe lying contynually vnmoulten vpon certayne hygh mountaynes as your holynesse knoweth ryght well The sonne beames therfore fallyng on the mountaynes are reflected downwarde into the valley by reason of the obiect of the declining sydes of the hylles as it were the fall of a great round stone rowled from the toppe of a mountayne The valley therefore receyueth both those beames whiche fall directly thereon and also those whiche are reflected downewarde from euery syde of the mountaynes Theyr habitation therefore in Driena is pernicious and vnholsome onely of the particuler nature of the place and not by the situation of the region as it is plased vnder the heauen or neare to the sonne The place is also contagious by the nature of the soyle by reason it is compassed about with muddy and stynkyng marishes the infection whereof is not a lytle encreased by the heate The vyllage is selfe is in a marishe and in maner a standyng puddle where of the droppes fallyng from the handes of the bondemen whyle they water the pauementes of theyr houses Toades are engendred immediately as I my selfe saw in an other place the droppes of that water turne into flees in the sommer season Furthermore wheresoeuer they dygge the grounde the deapth of a handful and a halfe there spryngeth out vnholsome and corrupt water of the nature of the ryuer whiche runneth through the deepe and muddye chanell of the valley and so falleth into the sea Nowe therfore they consult of remouyng theyr inhabitations Necessitie caused them fyrst to fasten theyr foote heere because that they whiche fyrst arryued in those landes were oppressed with suche
is gentle or noble Therefore whensoeuer any of the kynges familyers especially such as are knowne to her resorte to the bankes of the lake and call Matum Matum then she as myndefull of such benefites as shee hath receyued of men lifteth vp her head and commeth to the place whither shee is called and there receyueth meate at the handes of such as feede her If any desirous to passe ouer the lake make signes and tokens of theyr intent shee boweth her selfe to them therewith as it were gentelly inuityng them to amount vppon her and conueyeth them safely ouer It hath been seene that this monstrous fyshe hath at one tyme safely caryed ouer tenne men singing and playing But if by chaunce when she lyfted vp her head shee espyed any of the Christian men she would immediatly plunge downe againe into the water and refuse to obey bycause shee had once receyued iniury at the handes of a certayne wanton young man among the Christians who had cast a sharpe darte at her although shee were not huâ—te by reason of the hardenesse of her skynne being rough and full of scales and knobbes as we haue sayde Yet dyd shee beare in memorie thiniurie shee susteyned with so gentle a reuenge requityng thingratitude of him which had delt with her so vngentelly From that day whensoeuer shee was called by any of her familiers she would fyrst looke circumspectly about her least any were present apparelled after the maner of the Christians She would oftentymes play and wrestle vppon the banke with the kynges chamberlens and especially with a young man whom the kyng fauoured well being also accustomed to feede her Shee would bee sometymes as pleasaunt and full of play as it had been a moonkey or marmaset and was of long tyme a great comfort and solace to the whole Iland For no small confluence aswell of the Christians as of thinhabitantes had dayly concourse to beholde so straunge a myracle of nature the contemplation whereof was no lesse pleasaunt then wonderfull They say that the meate of this kynde of fyshe is of good taste and that many of them are engendred in the seas thereabout But at the length this pleasaunt playfelowe was loste and caryed into the sea by the great ryuer Attibunicus one of the foure which diuide the Ilande For at that tyme there chauncâ—d so terrible a tempest of wynde and rayne with suche floods ensuing that the lyke hath not lightly been heard of By reason of this tempest the ryuer Attibunicus so ouerflowed the bankes that it filled the whole vale and myxt it self with all the other lakes at which tyme also this gentle Matum pleasaunt companyon folowing the vehement course and fall of the floods was thereby restored to his olde moother and natyue waters and since that tyme neuer seene agayne Thus hauyng digressed sufficiently let vs now come to the situation of the vale It hath collateraâ—ly the mountaynes of Cibaua and Caiguam which bryng it to the South sea There is an other vale beyonde the mountaynes of Cibaua towarde the North this is called the vale of Guarionexius bycause that before the memorie of man the predicessours auncestours of kyng Guarionexius to whom it is descended by ryght of inheritaunce were euer the Lordes of the whole vale Of this kyng wee haue spoken largely in the fyrst narration of the Ilande in the fyrst Decade This vale is of length from the East to the West a hundred and fourescore myles and of breadth from the South to the North thirtie myles where it is narowest and fiftie where it is brodest It beginneth from the region Canobocoa by the prouinces of Huhabo and Caiabo and endeth in the prouince of Bainoa and the region of Mariena it lyeth in the myddest betweene the mountaynes of Cibaua and the mountaynes of Cahonai Caxacubuna There is no prouince nor any region which is not notable by the maiestie of mountaynes fruitfulnesse of vales pleasauntnesse of hylles and delectablenesse of playnes with abundance of faire ryuers running through the same There are no sides of mountaynes or hylles no ryuers which abound not with golde and delycate fyshes except only one ryuer which from thoriginal thereof with the sprynges of the same breakyng foorth of the mountaynes commeth out salt and so continueth vntill it perysh This ryuer is called Babuan and runneth through the myddle of the region Maguana in the prouince of Bainoa They suppose that this ryuer hath made it selfe a way vnder the grounde by some passages of playster or salte earth for there are in the Ilande manye notable salte bayes whereof we will speake more heereafter Wee haue declared howe the Ilande is diuided by foure ryuers and fyue prouinces There is also an other particion which is this The whole Ilande consisteth of the toppes of foure mountaynes whiche diuide it by the myddest from the East to the West in all these is abundaunce of nooryshyng moysture and great plentie of golde of the caues also of the which the waters of all the riuers into the which the caues emptie them selues haue theyr originall and increase There are lykewyse in them horryble dennes obscure and darke vales and myghtie rockes of stone There was neuer any noysome beast founde in it nor yet any rauenyng foure footed beast no Lion no Beare no fierce Tigers no crafâ—ie Foxes nor deuouring Woolfes All thinges are blessed and fortunate and now more fortunate for that so many thousandes of men are receyued to bee the sheepe of Christes flocke all theyr zemes and Images of deuylles being reiected and vtterly out of memorie If I chaunce now and then in the discourse of this narration to repeate one thing dyuers tymes or otherwyse to make digression I must desyre your holynesse therewith not to bee offended For whyle I see heare and wryte these thinges mee seemeth that I am heerewith so affected that for very ioy I feele my mynde stirred as it were with the spirite of Apollo as were the Sibilles whereby I am enforced to repeate the same agayne especially when I consider howe farre the amplitude of our religion spreadeth her wynges Yet among these so many blessed and fortunate thinges this one greeueth mee not a lyttle that these simple poore men neuer brought vp in labour doe dayly peryshe with intollerabe trauayle in the golde mynes and are thereby brought to suche desperation that many of them kyll them selues hauyng no regarde to the procreation of chyldren insomuche that women with chylde perceyuing that they shall bryng foorth suche as shal be slaues to the Christians vse medecines to destroy theyr conception And albeit that by the kynges letters patentes it was decreed that they should be set at libertie yet are they constrayned to serue more then seemeth conuenient for free men The number of the poore wretches is wonderfully extenuate they were once reckened to bee aboue twelue hundred thousand heades but what they
the superficiall or vppermost parte freshe in the myddest myxte of salte and freshe and in the lowest parte salte and soure They thincke that the salt water of the sea issueth out softly and the freshe to spryng out of the mountaynes The one falleth downe and the other ryseth and are not therefore so vniuersally myxte whereby the one may vtterly corrupte thother If any man laye his eare to the grounde neere to any of these sprynges hee shall perceyue the grounde there to bee so hollow that the reboundyng noyse of a horseman commyng may bee hearde for the space of three myles and a footeman one myle In the last region toward the South named Guaccaiarima in the lordship of Zauana they say there are certaine wylde men which lyue in the caues and dennes of the mountaynes contented onely with wylde fruites these men neuer vse the company of any other nor will by any meanes become tame They lyue without any certayne dwellyng places and without tyllage or culturyng of the grounde as wee reade of them which in olde tyme lyued in the golden age They say also that these men are without any certayne language They are sometymes seene but our men haue yet layde handes on none of them If at anye tyme they come to the syght of men and perceyue any makyng towarde them they flee swifter then a Harte Yea they affyrme them to bee swifter then Grehoundes What one of these solitarie wanderers dyd it is worth the hearyng So it is that our men hauyng granges adioyning neere vnto the thicke woods certaine of them repaired thither in the moneth of September in the yeere M.D.xiiii in the meane tyme one of these wylde men came leapyng out of the wood approchyng somewhat towarde them with smyling countenaunce sodeinly snatched vp a chylde of theyrs being the sonne of the owner of the grange which he begot of a woman of the Ilande Hee ranne away with the chylde and made signes to our men to folowe hym Many folowed aswell of our men as of the naked inhabitantes but all in vayne Thus when the pleasaunt wanderer perceyued that the Christians ceassed to pursue hym hee left the chylde in a crosse way by the which the swyneheardes were accustomed to dryue the swyne to theyr pasture Shortly after a swynehearde founde the chylde and brought him home to his father yet tormenting him selfe for sorowe supposing that wylde man to haue been one of the kynde of the Canibales and that his sonne was now deuoured In the same Ilande they geather pytch which sweateth out of the rockes being muche harder and sourer then the pytche of the tree and is therefore more commodious to calke or defende shyppes agaynst the woormes called Bromas whereof wee haue spoken largelye before This Ilande also bryngeth foorth pytche in two kyndes of trees as in the Pyne tree and an other named Copeia I neede not speake of the Pyne tree bycause it is engendred and knowne in maner euery where Let vs therefore speake somewhat of the other tree called Copeia Pitche is lykewyse geathered of it as of the Pyne tree although some say that it is geathered by distyllyng or droppyng of the wood when it is burnt It is a straunge thyng to heareof the leafe thereof and howe necessary prouision of nature is shewed in the same It is to be thought that it is the tree in the leaues whereof the Chaldeans beyng the fyrst fynders of letters expressed theyr myndes before the vse of paper was knowen This leafe is a spanne in breadth and almost rounde Our men wryte in them with pynnes or nedles or any suche instrumentes made of metall or wood in maner as well as on paper It is to be laughed at what our men haue perswaded the people of the Ilande as touchyng this leafe The symple soules beleeue that at the commaundement of our men leaues do speake and disclose secretes They were brought to this credulitie by this meanes One of our men dwellyng in the citie of Dominica the cheife of the Ilande delyuered to his seruaunt beyng a man borne in the Ilande certayne rosted Connies whiche they call Vtias beyng no bygger then myse wyllyng him to cary the same to his frende whiche dwelt further within the Ilande This messenger whether it were that he was thereto constrayned through hunger or entysed by appetite deuoured three of the Connies by the way He to whom they were sent wrote to his freende in a leafe howe many he receyued When the maister had looked a whyle on the leafe in the presence of the seruaunt he sayde thus vnto hym Ah sonne where is thy fayth Coulde thy greedie appetite preuayle so muche with thee as to cause thee to eate the Connies committed to thy fidelitie The poore wretche tremblyng and greatly amased confessed his faulte and therewith desyred his maister to tell hym howe he knewe the trueth thereof This leafe quod he whiche thou broughtest me hath tolde me all Then he further rehearsed vnto hym the houre of his commyng to his frende and lykewyse of his departyng when he retourned And thus they meryly deceyue these seely soules and keepe them vnder obedience insomuche that they take our men for Goddes at whose commaundement leaues do disclose suche thynges as they thynke most hyd and secrete Both the sydes of the leafe receyueth the fourmes of letters euen as dooth our paper It is thycker then double parchement and marueylous tough Whyle it is yet floryshyng and newe it sheweth the letters whyte in greene and when it is drye it becommeth whyte and harde lyke a table of wood but the letters wexe yelowe It dooth not corrupt or putrify nor yet looseth the letters though it bee wet nor by any other meanes except it be burnt There is an other tree named Xagua the iuice of whose soure apple beyng of a darke redde coloure stayneth and coloureth whatsoeuer is touched therewith and that so fyrmely that no washyng can take it away for the space of twentie dayes When the apple is full rype the iuice looseth that strength The apple is eaten and of good tast There is an hearbe also whose smoke as we haue rehearsed the lyke before of a certayne wood is deadly poyson On a tyme when the kynges assembled togeather and conspired the destruction of our men where as they durst not attempt thinterprise by open warre theyr deuise was priuilye to lay many bundels of those hearbes in a certayne house whiche shortly after they intended to set on fyre to thintent that our men makyng hast to quench the same myght take theyr death with the smoke thereof But theyr purposed practyse beyng bewrayed the aucthours of the deuise were punyshed accordyngly Nowe most holy father forasmuche as your holynesse wryteth that whatsoeuer we haue wrytten of the newe worlde dooth please you ryght well we wyll rehearse certayne thynges out of order but not greatly from
companions diligently numbred For it pleased the kyng at theyr beyng there and in their presence to commaunde his dyuers to goe a fyshyng for those kynde of fyshes They compare the matrices of these fyshes to the places of conception in Hennes in the whiche theyr egges are engendred in great multitudes and clusters and beleue that these fyshes bryng foorth theyr byrth in lyke maner For the better proofe whereof they say that they founde certayne pearles commyng foorth of their matrices as beyng nowe come to the tyme of theyr full rypenesse and moued by nature to come out of theyr moothers wombe openyng it selfe in tyme conuenient lykewyse that within a whyle after they sawe other succeede in lyke maner So that to conclude they sawe some commyng foorth and other some yet abydyng the tyme of theyr perfection which beyng complete they also became loose and opened the matrice They perceyued the pearles to bee inclosed in the myddest of theyr bellyes there to bee nourished and increase as an infant sucking his moothers pappes within her wombe before hee moue to come foorth of her priuie places And if it chaunce any of these shelfyshes to bee founde scattered in the sande of the sea as I my selfe haue seene Oysters disparcled on the shores in dyuers places of the Ocean they affyrme that they haue been violently dryuen thither from the bottome of the sea by force of tempestes and not to haue wandered thither of them selues But that they become whyte by the clearenesse of the mornyng deawe or waxe yelowe in troubled weather or otherwyse that they seeme to reioyce in fayre weather and cleare ayre or contrarywyse to bee as it were astonyshed and dymme in thunder and tempestes with suche other the perfect knowledge hereof is not to bee looked for at the handes of these vnlearned men whiche handle the matter but grossely and enquyre no further then occasion serueth Yet doe they affyrme by thexperience and industrie of the dyuers that the greatest pearles lye in the deepest places they of the meane sort hygher and the least hyghest of all and neerer to the brymme of the water And say therfore that the greatest doe not wander but that they are created nouryshed and increase in the deepest places of the sea whyther fewe dyuers and that but seeldome dare aduenture to diue so deepe to geather them aswell for feare of the sea crabbes whiche wander among these pearle fyshes to feede of them and for feare of other monsters of the sea as also least their breath should fayle them in to long remayning in the water And this they say to bee the cause why the oldest therfore byggest sea muscles inhabite y e deepest places from whence they are not lightly moued by tempestes Furthermore how much the bygger older these fyshes are they say that in their larger matrices the greater number bigger pearles are founde that for this cause there are fewer founde of the byggest sort They thinke also that when they first fall from their fyshes in the deepe places they are deuoured of other fyshes bycause they are not yet hearde Againe the smallest differ from the byggest in a certaine swelling or impostumation which y e Spaniardes call a tympany For they deny that to be a pearle which in olde muscles cleaueth faste to the shell but that it is a wart which being rased from the shell with a fyle is rounde bryght but onely of one syde and not precious being rather of the nature of the fyshe it selfe then of a pearle They confesse that they haue seene certayne of these muscles cleauyng on rockes yet these but fewe and nothyng woorth It is also to bee thought that the pearle fyshes or sea muscles which are founde in India Arabia the redde sea or Taprobana are ruled in suche order as the aforenamed famous aucthours haue written For their opinion herein is not vtterly to bee reiected forasmuch as they were learned men and trauayled long in the searchyng of these thinges But wee haue nowe spoken sufficiently of these sea fyshes and of their egges which the fonde nysenesse and wantonnesse of men haue made deerer then the egges of hennes or geese Let vs therefore entreate somewhat of other perticular thinges which are come to our knowledge of late Wee haue elswhere largely described the mouthes of the gulfe of Vraba with sundry and variable regions diuided with the manifolde gulfes of that sea But as concernyng the West coastes in the which our men haue buylded houses and planted their habitations on the bankes of Dariena I haue no newe matter to wryte Yet as touchyng the East partes of the gulfe I haue learned as foloweth They say that the vniuersall lande of the East region of the gulfe from the corner thereof farre reachyng into the sea and from the extreme or vttermoste mouth of the same receyuyng the waters of the sea whiche fall into it euen vnto Os Draconis and Paria is by one generall name called Caribana of the Caribes or Canibales whiche are founde in euery region in this tract But from whence they had theyr perticuler originall and howe leauyng theyr natiue soyle they haue spredde theyr generation so farre lyke a pestiferous contagion we wyll nowe declare Therefore from the fyrst front reachyng foorth into the sea in whose tract we sayde that Fogeda fastened his foote towarde the corner about niene myles distant there lyeth a village of Caribana named Futcraca three myles distant from this is the village of Vraba of the whiche it is thought that the whole gulfe toke his name bycause this village was once the head of the kyngdome About syxe myles from this is Feti Niene myles from Feti is Zerema And about twelue myles from this Sorache Our men founde all these villages full of people al the whiche gyue them selues onely to manhuntyng Insomuche that if they lacke enimies agaynst whom they may keepe warre they exercise crueltie agaynst them selues and eyther slaye the one the other or els dryue the vanquyshed to flyght Whereby it is apparant that by these theyr continuall warres and dryuyng the one the other out of theyr countreys this infection hath gone so farre not onely on the fyrme lande but also into the Ilandes I was also aduertised of an other thyng the whiche to my iudgement seemeth woorthy to be put in memorye One Coruales a iudge in causes of lawe among the Spanyardes of Dariena sayth that on a tyme walkyng abrode with his booke in his hande he met by the way with a fugityue whiche had fledde from the great landes lying farre towarde the west and remayned here with a Kyng with whom he was entertayned When this man perceyued the lawyer lookyng on his booke marueylyng thereat he came runnyng vnto hym and by interpretours of the kyng whom he serued spake thus vnto hym Haue you also bookes wherein you may reserue thynges in
is the nature of this blynde goddesse that she oftentymes delyteth in the ouerthrowe of them whom she hath exalted and taketh pleasure in confounding hygh thynges with lowe and the contrary We see this order to be impermutable that who so wyl apply hym selfe to geather rootes shal sometymes meete with sweete Lyqueresse and other whyles with sowre Cockle Yet wo vnto Pariza for he shall not long sleepe in rest The gouernour him selfe was of late determined with three hunndred fiftie choise souldiers to reuenge the death of our men but where as he by chaunce fel sicke his power went forwarde vnder the conducting of his Lieuetenaunt Gaspar Spinosa a Iudge in cases of lawe in Dariena At the same tyme other were sent foorth to the Iland of Dites to exact the portion of pearles limited to the kyng for his tribute What shal succeede time wyl bring to our knowledge The other two attempted thinhabitauntes beyond the gulfe Franciscus Bezerra passyng ouer the corner of the gulfe the mouthes of the riuer of Dabaiba with two other captaines and a hundred and fiftie souldiers wel appoynted went to make warre vpon the Canibales euen in Caribana theyr owne cheefest dominion towards the village of Turufy wherof we haue made mention before in the commyng of Fogeda They brought also with them diuers engins of warre as three peeces of ordinaunce whose shot were bygger then egges lykewyse fourtie archers and .xxv. hagbutters to the entent to reach the Canibales a farre of to preuent theyr venomed arrowes But what became of him his company or where they arriued we haue yet no perfect knoweledge Certayne which came of late from Dariena to Spaine reported that at theyr departure they of Dariena stoode in great feare lest they also were tossed with some misfortune The other captaine Valleius obteyned the fore part of the gulfe but he passed ouer by an other way then did Bezerra for he tooke the beginning of Caribana Bezarra the end Valleius returned againe But of the threescore and ten men which he conueighed ouer with hym he left fourtie and eight slayne among the Canibales These are the newes which they bryng that came last from Dariena There came to me the day before the Ides of October in this yeere 1516. Rodericus Colmenares of whom we haue made mention before one Franciscus Delapuente This Franciscus was one of the vnder captaines of this band whose cheefe captaine was Gonsalus Badaiocius who hardly escaped the handes of king Pariza These two captaines therfore Rodericus Franciscus who departed from Dariena immediatly after y e misfortune which befel to Badaiocius his company do both affirme the one that he hath hard the other that he hath seene that in the South sea there are diuers Ilandes lying westward from the Iland of Dites and Sainct Michaels gulfe in many of the which are trees engendred noorished which bring foorth y e same arromatical fruites as doeth the region of Collacutea This lande of Collacutea with the regions of Cochinus and Camemorus are the chiefe marte places from whence the Portugales haue their spices And hereby doe they coniecture that the lande where the fruitfulnesse of spice beginneth should not be farre from thence insomuche that many of them which haue ouerrunne those coastes do onely desire that leaue may be graunted them to searche further and that they will of their owne charges frame and furnysh shyppes and aduenture the vyage to seeke those Ilandes and regions They thinke it best that these shippes should be made and prepared euen in sainct Michaels gulfe and not to attempt this vyage by sainct Augustines point which way were both long and difficult and full of a thousande daungers and is sayde to reache beyonde the fourtieth degree of the pole Antartike The same Franciscus being partener of the trauayles and daungers of Gonsalus saith that in ouerrunning those landes he founde great heardes of Hartes and wylde Bores and that he tooke many of them by an arte which thinhabitantes taught him which was to make pittes or trenches in their walkes and to couer the same with boughes By this meanes also they deceyue all other kyndes of wylde foure footed beastes But they take foules after y e same maner that we do As stocke doues w t an other tame stocke doue brought vp in their houses These they tye by a stryng and suffer them to flee a litle among the trees to the which as other birdes of their kynde resort they kill them with their arrowes Otherwyse they take them with nettes in a bare place purged from trees bushes scattering certayne seedes round about y t place in y e middest wherof they tye a tame foule or byrd of the kynde of them which they desyre to take In lyke maner doe they take Popingiayes and other foules But they say that Popingiayes are so simple that a great multitude of them wyll flee euen into the tree in whose boughes the fouler sitteth and swarme about the tame chatteryng Popingiay sufferyng them selues to bee easily taken For they are so without feare of the sight of the fouler that they tary whyle he cast the snare about their neckes the other beyng nothyng feared heereby though they see him drawe them to him with the snare and put them in the bagge which hee hath about him for the same purpose There is an other kynde of foulyng heeretofore neuer hearde of and pleasant to consider Wee haue declared before howe that in certayne of the Ilandes and especially in Hispaniola there are dyuers lakes or standyng pooles In some of these being no deeper then men may wade ouer them are seene great multitudes of water foules as well for that in the bottome of these lakes there growe many hearbes and weedes as also that by reason of the heate of the Sunne pearsyng to the naturall place of generation and conception where being doubled in force by reflection and preserued by moyster there are engendred of the slyminesse of the earth and water and by the prouidence of the vniuersall creator innumerable little fyshes with a thousand sundry kyndes of frogges wormes gnattes flyes and such other The foules which vse these lakes are of dyuers kyndes as Duckes Geese Swannes sea Newes Gulles and such other We haue sayde also that in theyr Orchardes they noryshe a tree which beareth a kynde of great Gourdes Of these Gourdes therfore well stopped least any water should enter in at theyr ryftes cause them to sinke they cast many in the shalowe pooles where by theyr continuall wanderyng and waueryng with the motions of the wynde and water they put the foules out of suspection feare the fouler in the meane tyme disguising him selfe as it were with a visour putteth a great gourde on his head much lyke to a helmet with two holes neere about his eyes his face
and whole head besyde being couered therewith and thus entreth hee into the poole euen vnto the chynne For being from theyr infancie exercised in swymmyng and accustomed to the waters they refuse not to continue therein a long space the foules thynking this Gourde to bee one of the other that swymme vppon the water the fouler goeth softly to the place where hee seeth the greatest flocke of foules and with waggyng his head counterfeyting the mouyng of the waueryng Gourdes draweth neare to the foules where softly puttyng foorth his ryght hande he sodainly snatcheth one by the legges and plungeth her into the water where hee putteth her into a bagge whiche hee hath with hym of purpose The other foules supposyng that this dyued into the water of her owne motion to seeke for foode as is theyr maner are nothyng moued heereby but goe forwarde on their way as before vntyll they also fall into the same snare I haue heere for this cause entred into the declaration of theyr maner of huntyng and foulyng that by these more pleasaunt narrations I may somewhat mittigate and asswage the horrour conceyued in your stomake by the former rehearsal of theyr blooddy actes and cruell maners Let vs nowe therefore speake somewhat agayne of the newe and later opinions as concernyng the swyft course of the sea towarde the West about the coastes of Paria also of the maner of geatheryng of golde in the golde myne of Dariena as I was aduertised of late and with these two quiet and peaceable thinges we will make an ende of the tragicall affayres of the Ocean and therewith byd your holynesse farewell So it is therfore that Andreas Moralis the pilot and Ouiedus of whom wee haue made mention before repayred to mee at my house in the towne of Matrite As we met thus togeather there arose a contention betweene them two as concernyng this course of the Ocean They both agree that these landes and regions parteynyng to the dominion of Castile doe with one continual tract perpetual bond embrase as one whole firme lande or continent all the mayne lande lying on the North side of Cuba the other Ilands being also Northwest both from Cuba Hispaniola Yet as touching the course of the water they varry in opinion For Andreas wil that this violent course of water be receiued in the lappe of the supposed continent which bendeth so much and extendeth so farre towarde the North as wee haue sayde and that by the obiect or resistance of the lande so bending and crookyng the water should as it were rebounde in compasse and by force thereof bee driuen about the North syde of Cuba and the other Ilands excluded without y e circle called Tropicus Cancri where the largenes of y e sea may receiue the waters falling from the narow streames therby represse that inordinate course by reason that the sea is there very large and great I can compare his meanyng to nothing more aptely then to the swyft streame commyng foorth of a myll and fallyng into the myll poole For in all such places where waters runne with a violent fall through narowe chanelles and are then receyued in large pooles they are sodeynly disparcled and theyr violence broken So that whereas before they seemed of suche force as to ouerthrowe all thinges beyng in theyr way it can not then be perceyued which way they runne The Admirall him selfe Diegus Colonus sonne and heyre to Christiphorus Colonus the fyrst fynder of these landes who had nowe in commyng and going foure tymes passed through these seas being demaunded of me what he founde or perceyued in saylyng too and fro answered that there was muche difficultie in returnyng the same way by the which they goe But whereas they fyrst take the way by the mayne sea towarde the North before they directe theyr course to Spayne he sayth that in that tract hee felt the shyppe sometymes a lyttle dryuen backe by the contrary course of the water Yet supposeth that this chaunceth onely by the ordinary flowyng and reflowyng of the sea and the same not to bee enforced by the circumflection or course of the water reboundyng in compasse as wee haue sayde But thinketh rather that this mayne lande or supposed continent should somewhere bee open and that the sayde open place should bee as it were a gate entrie or streyght diuyding the North partes of that lande from the South by the which also the Ocean runnyng towarde the West may by the rotation or impulsion of the heauens bee dryuen about the whole earth Ouiedus agreeth with Andreas Moralis as touchyng the continuall adherence and closenesse of the sayde continent Yet neyther that the waters should so beate agaynst the bendyng backe of the West lande or bee in such sort repulsed and driuen into the mayne sea But sayth that he hath diligently considered that the waters runne from the deepest and myddest of the mayne sea towarde the West Also that saylyng neere vnto the shore with small vessels hee founde the same waters to returne againe towarde the East so that in the same place they runne togeather with contrary course as we oftentymes see the lyke to chaunce in ryuers where by the obiect of the bankes dyuers whirlepooles and turnynges aryse in the water By reason whereof if any chaffe strawe wood or any other thyng of lyght substance be cast in any such places in ryuers it foloweth that all suche as runne with the water in the myddest of the chanell proceede well forwarde but suche as fall into the bendyng gulfes and indented margentes of the crooked bankes are caryed ouerthwart the chanell and so wander about vntyll they meete with the full and directe course of the ryuer Thus haue we made you partener of suche thinges as they haue giuen vs and written their dyuers opinions We will then giue more certayne reason when more certayne trueth shal be knowne We must in the meane tyme leane to opinions vntill the day come appointed of God to reueale this secrete of nature with the perfect knowledge of the pointe of the pole starre Hauyng sayde thus muche of the course of the Ocean a briefe declaration of the golde mynes of Dariena shall close vp our Decades and make an ende of our trauayles Wee haue sayde that niene myles distant from Dariena are the sydes of the hylles and the drye playnes in the whiche golde is geathered both on the drye lande and also on the bankes and in the chanelles of ryuers Therefore to all suche as are wyllyng to geather golde there is of ordinarie custome appointed to euery man by the suruoyers of the mynes a square plotte of grounde conteynyng twelue pases at the arbitrement of the chooser so that it be not grounde alredy occupyed or left of other The portion of grounde being thus chosen as it were assigned of the augures to buylde a temple they inclose their slaues within the same whose helpe the
consisteth of three thousande houses Thinhabitantes came swimmyng to the shippes marueylyng exceedingly at the maner of saylyng and at the sayles and other tackelynges But when they hearde the thunder of the gunnes sawe the smoke and smelte the sauour of brimstone and fyre they supposed that thunderbolts and lyghtnynges had been sent from God The kyng receyued our men honourably and brought them into his pallace where hee feasted them well after his maner They are accustomed to eate fleshe and haue great plentie of beastes and foules as Peacockes and other whiche they francke and feede in theyr houses also dyuers kyndes of wylde foules of the mountaynes wooddes and waters lykewyse Partriches Quailes Turtle dooues Duckes and Geese Of beastes they haue Connies Woolues Lions Tigers Foxes wylde Boores Hartes and Hares After this banquet the kyng with his trayne and famylie brought our men into a brode crosse way where many streates do meete In this they shewed them as it were a great and high alter buylded foure square of marble compacte togeather partly with the tough cleye of Babilon called Bitumem and partly with small stones it had on euery syde foure stayres Upon the altare was an Image of a man made of marble and fast by it the images of two beastes of vnknowen shape which seemed as though they woulde with yanyng mouth haue torne in sunder the belly of the mans Image On the other syde stoode a great Serpent compact of the sayde tough cleye and small stones This Serpent beyng in length .xlvii. foote and of the bygnesse of a large Oxe seemed to deuour a Lion of marble and was al besparcled with freshe blood Harde by the altare were three postes fastnes in the grounde the which three other trauersed and were susteyned with stones In this place offenders were put to death in token wherof they sawe innumerable arrowes stayned with blood some scattred some lying on heapes some broken also a great number of mens bones lying in a court or yarde neere vnto this funestal place their houses are here also buylded of lyme and stone They named this kyng Lazarus because they arriued at this lande on saint Lazarus day Departing from hence and directing their course stil toward the West for the space of .xv. myles they came to a prouince named Aquanil whose chiefe towne is called Mosco and the king therof Cupoton He behelde our men with a frowarde countenaunce and sought occasion to do thē some priuy mischiefe while they sought for freshe water For he made signes vnto them that on the further syde of the next hyl they should fynde sprynges of water entending to haue assailed them in that narowe passage But by the colouring of theyr forheades as they are accustomed in theyr warres and by the bearing of theyr bowes other weapons our men perceyued theyr wylynes and refused to go any further Yet a thousande of the Barbarians assayled them vnwares and vnprepared by reason whereof they were put to flyght and dyuers of them slayne in the chase Many that fledde towarde the shyppes were entangled in the mudde and maryshes neere vnto the shore Twentie and two were slayne with arrowes and the resydue for the most part wounded Franciscus Fernandes the gouernour of the nauie receyued in this conflicte three and thirtie woundes and in maner none escaped without hurt If they had gone to the hylles whiche were appoynted them they had ben slaine euery man They therfore that escaped returned to the Ilande of Fernardina from whence they came where they were receyued of theyr felowes with heauie cheare But when Diegus Velasquen the gouernour of the Ilande had intelligence hereof he immediatly furnyshed a newe nauie of foure Caraueles with three hundreth men Of this nauie he appointed Iohn Grisalua his nephue to be y e gouernour assigned for vnder captaynes Alphons Auila Frannces Montegio and Peter Aluarado For the pylot he assigned Antonie Alamino who had the regiment of the fyrst nauie They attempted the same viage agayne but declined somwhat more towarde the South about threescore and tenne myles Before they sawe any lande they espyed a towre a farre of by the viewe whereof they came to an Ilande named Cozumella from the whiche they smelt sweete sauours proceedyng with the wynde before they approched to the lande by the space of three myles They founde the Ilande to be xlv myles in circuitie it is playne and of maruelous fruitefull soyle there is also golde in it but it is not engendred there but brought thither from other regions It aboundeth with hony fruites and hearbes and hath also great plentie of foules and foure footed beastes Theyr order and maner of lyuyng is in al thynges lyke vnto theyrs of Iucatana lykewyse theyr houses temples streates and apparell In many of theyr houses are great poastes of marble after the maner of our buyldyng They found there the fundations of certayne olde towres ruinate and one especially with .xviii. stayres ascendyng to it after the maner of solemne temples They marueyled greatly at our shyppes and maner of saylyng At the fyrst they woulde admit no straungers but shortly after receiued them gentlye Theyr cheife ruler whom our men supposed to bee a priest led them vp to the toppe of the towre where they erected a banner and addicted the Ilande to the dominion of the kyng of Castyle namyng it Sancta Crux because they entred into the same in the nones of Maye being then the feast of the holye crosse They saye that it was called Cozumella ▪ of kyng Cozumellaus whose auncestours were the fyrst that inhabited the Ilande In the towre they found many chambers furnished with Images made both of earth and marble to the similitude of Beares these they cal vpon with a houling and lamentable songue perfuming them with sweete odours and otherwyse honouring them as theyr domesticall goddes they are also circumcised The kyng was in fayre apparell made of gossampine cotton curiously wrought he was lame on the one foote by reason that as he once exercised hym selfe in swymmyng a deuouryng fyshe called Tuberon byt of all the toes of one of his feete he entreated our men very frendly and made them great cheare After they had been heere three dayes they departed and saylyng styll towards the West they espied great mountaynes a farre of but as they drewe neare they perceyued it to be the Ilande of Iucatana being distant from Cozumella only fyue myles Directyng therfore theyr course towards the south syde of Iucatana they compassed it on that syde which lyeth nearest to be supposed continent yet coulde they not saile round about it by reason of the multitude of rocks shalowe places and shelfes of sande Then Alaminus the pilot turned his sayles to the North syde whereof he had better knowledge Thus at the length they came to the towne Campechium and kyng Lazarus with whom they
nauie of ten Carauelles and fyue hundred men with two small brigantines as it were in the steade of lyght horsemen or forerunners whose ayde they myght vse as scoutes to search the wayes for daunger of rockes and shalow sandes or shelfes They shipte also certayne horses as fyue stoned horses and .xxvi. mares apt for the warres For theyr generall gouernour and Admirall of the nauy they elected Fernando Cortesius who at y t tyme was y e chief ruler of the citie of Sanctiago For vnder Capitaynes they appoynted Alfons Portucareius Francis Montegius Alfons Auila Aluerado Spatense Iohn Velasquen and Diegus Ordassus They styll folowed the same wynde from the last angle of Cuba towarde the West Assoone as Francis Fernandes of Corduba and then Iohn Grisalua came within prospecte of the Ilande of Sacrifyces whereof wee haue made mention before sodeinly a tempest of contrary wynde prohibited them to take lande and droue them backewarde to Cozumella lying on the East syde of Iucatana this Ilande hath onely one hauen named sainct Iohns porte and hath in it onely syxe townes also none other water then in welles and cesternes bycause it lacketh ryuers and sprynges by reason it is playne conteynyng onely .xlv. myles in circuite At the commyng of our men thinhabitauntes fledde to the thicke woods and forsooke theyr townes for feare Our men entred into theyr houses where they founde plentie of vittayles and many ornamentes parteynyng to the furnyshyng of theyr houses as hanginges and carpettes of dyuers colours sheetes also of gossampine cotton whiche they call Amaccas and muche apparell They haue furthermore innumerable bookes of the which with many other thinges sent to our newe Emperour wee will speake more largely heereafter The souldiers wandered about the Ilande and viewed all thinges diligently keepyng them selues styll in battayle raye least they myght bee sodeinly inuaded They founde but a fewe of thinhabitauntes and onely one woman in theyr company By thinterpretours of Cuba and other which the Spaniardes tooke first from Iucatana they perswaded the woman to call the kynges that were absent They came gladly and made a league of friendshyp with our men whereby they were restored to theyr houses and a great parte of their stuffe They are circumcised Idolatours and sacrifyce children of both kyndes to their Zemes which are the Images of their familiar and domesticall spirites whiche they honour as goddes When I enquired of Alaminus the pilot also of Francis Montegius and Portucarerius from whence they had the children they offered in sacrifyce they answered that they bought them in the Ilandes thereabout by exchaunge for golde and other of their trafycke For in all this so large a space of land the deuilyshe anxietie for the desyre of wicked money hath not yet oppressed thinhabitauntes They say the same also of the Ilandes lately founde whereof two are named Destam and Sestam whose inhabitants go naked and for scarcenesse of children sacrifice dogges which they nouryshe aswell for that purpose as also to eate as wee doe Cunnies these dogges are dumme can not barke hauing snoutes lyke vnto Foxes Suche as they destinate to eate they gelde while they are whelpes whereby they waxe very fat in the space of foure monethes They reserue all the bytches for increase and but fewe dogges Our men diswaded them from these superstitions declaryng howe they were abhominable and detested of God They were soone perswaded and desyred a lawe which they myght folowe Our men therfore declared vnto them that there was onely one God which made heauen and earth the giuer of all good thinges beyng of one incomprehensyble substaunce vnder triplicitie of person Assoone as they heard these wordes they broke their Zemes and pared scraped and washed the pauements and walles of their temples Our men gaue them a paynted picture of the blessed virgine which they placed reuerently in their temple about it a crosse to be honoured in the remembraunce of God and man and the saluation of mankynde They erected also an other great crosse of wood in the toppe of the temple whyther they oftentymes resorte togeather to honour the Image of the virgine Thinhabitauntes signifyed by thinterpretours that in the Ilande of Iucatana not farre from them there were seuen Christians captiues which in tyme past were driuen thither by tempest The Ilande of Cozumella is onely fyue myles distant from Iucatana The gouernour Cortesius being aduertised hereof furnished two Carauels with fiftie men willing them incōtinent to direct their viage thither to make search for these mē They tooke w t them iii. interpretors of Cozumella whose lāguage agreeth w t theirs with letters to the Christians if any might be founde He further declared vnto them howe goodly a matter they should bryng to passe if they coulde bryng away any of them For hee no wayes doubted but that by their information he should be fully certified of the commodities of all those tractes the maners of thinhabitauntes Thus they departed with commaundement to returne within the space of six dayes But when they had remayned there now .viii. dayes heard no word of their Cozumellane interpretours whom they had sent alande with the message and letters our men returned to Cozumella without them suspectyng that they were either slaine or deteyned And where as the whole nauie was now determined to depart from Cozumella but that they were hyndered by contrary wynde they sodeinly espied towarde the west a Canoa commyng from Iucatana and in it one of the Christian captiues named Hieronimus Aquillaris who had lyued seuen yeeres in that Ilande With what ioye they embrased the one the other the chaunce may declare They were no lesse desyrous to heare then he to tell of the mysfortune which befell to him and his companions And heere it shall not bee greatly from my purpose briefely to rehearse howe the thing chaunced In my Decades I haue made mention of a certayne noble man named Valdiuia whom the Spanyardes which inhabited Dariena in the supposed continent of the gulf of Vraba sent to the Iland of Hispaniola to Colonus the Admirall and viceroy with the residue of the Senate and counsaile there to whom parteyneth the redresse and orderyng of all thinges in these new landes to signifie vnto them in what extreme necessitie and penurie they lyued Unhappy Valdiuia therefore takyng this matter in hande in an euyll houre was with a sodeine and violent whirle wynde dryuen vppon certayne quickesandes in the prospecte of the Ilande of Iamaica lying on the South syde of Hispaniola and Cuba These blynde and swalowyng sandes the Spaniardes call vypers and that by good reason bycause in them many shyppes are entangled as the Lisertes are implycate in the tayles of the vypers While the Carauell thus wresteled with the water it was so burst in sunder that Valdiuia with thirtie of his felowes could scarcely with
much difficultie discende into the shyp boate where without ores and without sayles they were caryed away by the violence of the water For as we haue sayd before in our Decades the seas doe runne there continually with a violent course toward the West They wandered thus .xiii. dayes not knowing whither they went nor yet fyndyng any thing to eate Famine consumed seuen of them which were cast into the sea to feede the fyshes The residue lykewyse in maner consumed by famyne and fallyng from one calamitie into an other were dryuen to Iucatana and fell into the handes of a cruell kyng who slue Valdiuia the gouernour with certayne of his felowes and when he had fyrst sacrifyced them to his Zemes shortly after hee ate them with his friendes of that conspiracie For they eate onely their enemies straungers doe otherwise absteyne from mans fleshe In this meane tyme while Hieronimus Aquillaris with syxe of his felowes were reserued to be sacrifyced the thyrde day they brake theyr bandes escaped the handes of that cruell Tyrant and fledde to an other kyng beyng his enimy who receyued them yet onely as bondmen It is a straunge thyng to heare of the moother of this Aquillaris For as soone as shee hearde that her sonne was fallen into the handes of the nations that eate mans fleshe shee fell madde incontinent so that whensoeuer after shee sawe any meate roastyng at the fyre or onely redy spytted to laye to the fyre shee ceassed not to crye out in this maner O mee most wretched moother beholde the members of my sonne But to returne to our purpose When Aquillaris had now receyued the gouernours letter sent by the Cozumellane messengers hee declared to the kyng his maister whose name was Taxmarus what was theyr errande thither and wherefore they were sent vsyng in the meane tyme many large discourses in expressyng the great power and magnificence of theyr kyng who had of late arryued in those coastes also of theyr humanitie and gentlenesse towarde theyr friendes and such as submitted them selues to them againe their rigour and fiercenesse agaynst suche as stubbernly eyther contemned them or denyed their requestes With these wordes he brought Taxmarus into such feare that the maister was now fayne to desyre his seruaunt so to handle the matter that they myght quietly enter into his dominion as his friendes and not as his enemies Aquillaris promised in their behalfe y t they should not onely come in peace but also to ayde him against his enemies if neede should so require Whervppon he dismissed Aquillaris with him three of his familiers and companions Thus they sayled togeather from Cozumella to Iucatana to the ryuer which they had founde before in the fyrst viage thither by the gouernance of Alaminus the pilot They founde the mouth of the ryuer stopped with sand as we reade of the ryuer of Nilus in Egypte when the wyndes called Etesti blow in summer and especially in the canicular dayes Therefore where as they could not enter into the ryuer with the biggest vesselles although it be otherwyse apte to receyue great shyppes the gouernour caused two hundred men to bee set alande with the Brigantines and shyppe boates wyllyng Aquillaris to offer peace to thinhabitauntes They demaunded what our men requyred Aquillaris aunsweared vittayles There was a longe space of sande by the syde of the towne whyther they wylled them to resort promysyng to bryng them vittayles thyther the day folowyng Our men went and they came accordyng to theyr promisse and brought with them eyght of theyr Hennes beyng as bygge as Peacockes of brownyshe coloure and not inferiour to Peacockes in pleasaunt tast They brought also as muche bread made of Maizium whiche is a grayne not muche vnlyke vnto panyke as woulde scarcely serue tenne hungry men and herewith desyred them to depart But when they perceyued that our men made no hast away immediately there came a great company of armed men towarde them demaundyng what they had to do thus to wander in other mens landes Our men made answeare by Aquillaris that they desyred peace vittayles and golde for exchange of other thynges They answeared againe that they woulde nother peace nor warre with them but threatned them to auoyde the land except they would be destroyed euery man Our men sayd that they woulde not depart without sufficient vittayles to mayntayne their souldyers They appoynted the day folowyng to bryng them more vittayles but they broke promise Yet perceyuing the seconde day that our men were encamped on the sande and had reposed there that nyght they brought them as much more vittayles and commaunded them in the name of theyr kyng to departe Our men sayde that they were desyrous to see the towne and to haue yet more store of vittayles The Barbarians denyed theyr request and therewith departed whisperyng and mutteryng among them selues In the meane tyme our men were styll so oppressed with hunger that they were enforced to seeke for meate The gouernour therefore sent his vnder captaynes to lande with a hundred and fyftie men As they went dispersed in dyuers companyes about the villages of the countrey the Barbarians met with one of theyr bandes and put them to great distresse But when theyr felowes being not farre from them hearde the noyse of theyr alarome they came with al possible haste to theyr rescue The gouernour on the other syde placing his ordinaunce in the brygantines shippe boates approched to the shorre with the resydue of his souldiers The Barbarians lykewyse beyng redy furnyshed to the battayle came runnyng to the sea syde to disturbe them that they shoulde not come alande and with theyr arrowes wounded many a farre of vnprepared The gouernoure discharged about .xx. peeces of ordinaunce agaynst them With the slaughter and terrible thunder wherof and with the flame of the fyre and smell of the brimstone they were so astonied and put to such feare that they fled and disparcled lyke wylde beastes whom our men pursuing entred into the towne which thinhabitantes forsoke in maner for feare of their owne men whō they sawe so dismaide On the banke of this ryuer there is a towne of such portentous biggnes as I dare not speake but Alanimus the pilot sayth that it contayneth in circuite fyue hundred myles and that it consisteth of .xxv. thousande houses Some make it somwhat lesse but they all agree that it is exceedyng great and notable The houses are diuided with gardens and are buylded of lyme and stone very artificiall and of cunnyng woorkemanship To theyr haules chambers parlers or other places of habitation they ascend by tenne or twelue stayres and haue certayne spaces betwene euery house so that it is not lawfull for any to lade his neyghbours wales with rafters or beames Theyr houses are separate one from an other by the space of three houses and are for the most parte couered with reede and thatche
and many also with slate or other stone The Barbarians them selues confessed that they were that day fourtie thousande men at the battayle which were vanquished of a fewe by reason of the newe and vnknowen kynde of feyght with gunnes and horses For the gouernour had vnbarked .xvi. horses which were also at the battayle and so fyercely assayled the Barbarians on the backehalfe that they brake theyr array and scattered them as it had ben flockes of sheepe ouerthrowing woūding killing them on euery syde Which thing the seely wretches so imputed to a miracle that they had not y e power to occupie their weapones For wheras before they had neuer seene any horses they thought that y e man on horsebacke and the horse had ben all one beaste as the antiquitie dyd fable of the monster Centaurus Our men possessed the towne .xxii. dayes where they made good cheare vnder couert whyle the owners of the houses lay vnder the fyrmament and durst not assayle our men who had placed them selues in the stroungest part of the towne where some kept contynual watch lest the Barbarians shoulde sodenly inuade them whyle other gaue them selues to rest and sleepe The inhabitauntes call this towne Potanchana but our men for the victorie which they obteyned here named it Victoria It is a marueilous thyng to consider the greatnesse magnificence finenesse of the building of certayne palaces they haue in the countrey to the which they resort somtymes for theyr solace and pastyme These are curiously builded with many pleasaunt diuises as galeries solars turrettes portals gutters with chambers boorded after the maner of our waynescot and well floored Foure of our Spaniardes went into one of them of such greatnesse that they wandred in the same for the space of foure houres before they coulde fynde the way out At the length by the interpretours and certayne captiues our men sent for the kyng and suche rulers as were next vnder hym in aucthoritie wyllyng them to submyt them selues and to come into the towne vnarmed geuyng the messengers further in commaundement to certifie them that in theyr so doyng they woulde commune with them as concerning conditions of peace and restore them theyr towne They came gladly and entred euery man into his owne house vpon condition that they shoulde euer thereafter absteyne from such ceremonies and horrible sacrifices of mans fleshe to deuils the mortal enemies to mankinde whose Images they honoured to direct the eyes of theyr myndes to Christ our God y e maker of heauen and earth who was borne into this worlde of a virgin and suffred death on the crosse for the redemption of mankynde and finally to professe them selues subiectes to the Christian kyng of Spayne They promised both and were instructed as farre as the shortnesse of tyme woulde permit Beyng thus restored they recompensed our men with many rewardes supposyng suche men to be sent from heauen whiche beyng so fewe in number durst attempt battayle agaynst so great a multitude They gaue our men also certayne golde and twentie slaues Departyng therefore from hence and coasting styll along by the same shore they came agayne to the gulfe whiche Alaminus the pilot founde before vnder Grisalua This they named Bian Sancti Iohannis that is Saint Iohns gulfe for Bian in the Spanishe tounge signifieth a gulfe Heere the inhabitantes resorted to them peaceably About a myle from the shore was a towne of a thousand and fyue hundred houses situate vpon a hyll They profered our men halfe the towne if they would dwel with them for euer This perhaps they dyd the rather eyther fearyng the example of the inhabitantes of Potanchana the fame whereof myght haue come to theyr eares or els hopyng that vnder the shadowe of suche valiaunt men they myght obteyne ayde and succour agaynst theyr enemies and borderers For as I haue sayde before they destroy one an other with contynuall warre for the desire to enlarge theyr dominions Our men refused parpetuall habitation and accepted theyr frendly proffer for a tyme. As they came alande the people folowed them on euerye syde with bowes in theyr handes whiche they helde ouer our mens heades to defend them from the rayne as though they had walked in a continuall arbour Heere they encamped And lest the residue left in the shyps shoulde in the meane tyme waxe slouthfull with Idlenesse the gouernour gaue commaundement to Alaminus the pilot and Francis Montegius to searche the West partes of that land while he releeued the weeried souldiers and healed such as were wounded To them that went forward on this viage he assigned two brigantines with fyftie men Unto this gulfe the course of the water was gentle enough and moderate but when they had sailed a litle further toward the West they founde the sea running with so swift a course as if it were a great riuer fallyng from the toppes of hygh mountaynes insomuch that in a short space of tyme it caried them fiftie myles from theyr felowes When they were now entred into this violent streame of water they saw on their left hande a large plaine sea which met with the course of the other waters falling from the West And lyke as two great riuers that runne contrarye waies make a vehement conflict where they meete so seemed the waters comming from the South to resyst these waters as enemies that had entred into the ryght or possession of an other On the contrary part they sawe the lande reachyng farre both on the left hande and on the ryght In this stryfe betwene the waters they were so tossed on both sydes and entangled with whirlepoles that they long wrestled without hope of lyfe At the length with muche difficultie turnyng the stemmes or forpartes of theyr shyppes agaynst the streame from whence they came and labouryng all that they myght with theyr ores and sayles they coulde scarsely ouercome the rage of the water insomuche that were as they thought that they had in one nyght sayled two myles they founde that they were dryuen backe foure myles Yet at the length with gods helpe they ouercame this daungerours conflycte They spent xxii dayes in this litle space of sea And when they were nowe returned to theyr felowes declared vnto them that that ende was the lande of Coluacana whiche they adiudged to be part of the supposed continent The lande whiche they sawe a farre of before theyr face they suppose eyther to be annexed to our continent ▪ or to be ioyned to the large North regions called Baccalaos whereof we haue made mention in our Decades in the voiage of Sebastian Cabote This matter is yet doubtefull but we trust it shall once be better knowen While Alaminus and Montegius searched these secretes the kyng of the prouince whose name was Multoxumam sent our men by one of his chiefe officers beyng also his Lieuetenaunt of the sayde towne many ryche and goodly presentes of golde
the recordation of such pleasaunt thynges And yet do not such thinges as are sauerie engender tediousnesse so that a pretious matter be adiourned with a pretious vesture A breefe rehearsal of the contentes of the bookes of the fyrst Decade and so folowyng of all the other Decades Folio 8. IN the fyrst booke is declared howe Christophorus Colonus otherwyse called Columbus persuaded Fernando and Elizabeth princes of Spayne to further his attempt in searchyng newe and vnknowen landes in the West Ocean Also of the .vii. Ilandes of Canaria by whom they were found and conquered Howe Colonus founde the Ilandes of Hispaniola and Cuba and of the fierce people called Canibales or Caribes which are accustomed to eate mans fleshe Of the rootes called Ages Iucca and the grayne Maizìum whereof the people of the Ilandes made theyr bread Of the golde found in the sandes of ryuers of the Serpents which are without hurt also of turtle doues ducks popingaies Of Mastix and Aloe with dyuers fruites and trees vnknowen to vs and of the fruitefulnesse of the Ilande of Hispaniola which the Spanyardes call Spagnuola Of the seconde viage of Colonus into these regions and howe he was furnished with .xvii. shyppes and a thousande and two hundred souldiers with all kynde of artillarie artificers and grayne to sowe and of the tree from the which water droppeth continually into a trenche made by mans hande The contentes of the seconde booke Fol. 12. HOwe Colonus departing from the Ilandes of Canarie sayled viii hundred twentie leagues in .xxi. daies came to Dominica an Iland of the Canibales of the fragrant sauoure of spices whiche proceded from the Ilandes Of the Ilandes of Galanta or Galana and Guadalupea and of the trees which beare that kynd of cotton which the Italians call Bombasine and the Spanyardes Algadon Of dyuers kyndes of Popingiayes and of the Ilande of Matinino or Madanino beyng inhabited onely with women also of dyuers other fruitefull Ilandes and of a conflicte whiche the Spanyardes had with the Canibales Of certayne Ilandes in the whiche are seene the mynes of metals and precious stones and of the fruitfull and populous Iland called Burichena or Boriquen or Insula S. Iohannis Howe all the Admirals men whiche at his fyrst viage he left in Hispaniola were slaine in his absence by the rebellion of Guaccanarillus kyng of the region of Xamana and of the free kynde of lyfe whiche they leade that haue not the vse of money Of the seuen maydens which swam three miles in the sea and of the maner of geathering of gold in the sands of riuers The contentes of the thyrd booke Fol. 17. A Particuler discription of the Iland of Hispaniola whiche Colonus thynketh to be Ophir from whence kyng Salomon had his great ryches of golde Of the marueylous fruitfulnesse of Hispaniola and of the suger canes growyng there Of the golden regions of Cipanga or Cibaua of the ryuers in whose sandes is founde great plentie of golde Of certayne graynes of gold of exceeding great quantitie Of wilde vines of plesaunt taste and of grasse which in foure dayes groweth as hygh as wheate Of the Ilande of Iohanna or Cuba being the end of the East and the West and of the fruitfull populous Iland of Iamaica How the Admirall thought that he had sayled about the lowest Hemisphere or half circle of the earth and of a secrete of Astronomie touching the same matter Howe the Admirall gaue names to seuen hundred Ilandes and passed by three thousand vnnamed Of certaine serpentes like vnto Crocodiles of eight foote long whose flesh is delicate to be eaten and of certayne trees whiche beare Gourdes Of the riuer whose water is very hotte and of the huntyng fyshe which taketh other fyshes Of great abundaunce of Tortoyses as bygge as targets and of a fruitfull mountayne well inhabited Of dogges of deformed shape and dumbe and of white and thicke water Of woods of Date trees and Pyneapple trees and of certayne people apparelled lyke whyte fryers Of certaine trees which beare spices and of Cranes of exceedyng bygnesse Of stocke doues of more pleasaunt taste then partriches An oration of a barbarous gouernour as touching the immortalitie of the soule Also of the rewarde of vertue and punishment of vice A similitude of the golden worlde and of prouision without care Howe the Admirall fell sicke by reason of to muche watcheyng and of a sediâ—ion whiche rose among the Spaniardes in the Ilande of Hispaniola The Contentes of the fourth booke Fol. 25. HOw the Kynges of the Ilande of Hispaniola were by the Spaniardes mysbehauiour prouoked to rebellion and howe the Admirall sent for them Howe kyng Counaboa the Lorde of the house of gold that is of the mountaines of Cibaua conspired the Admirals death and how he with his familie were taken prisoners Of a great famine that chaunced in the Ilande of Hispaniola and howe the Admirall builded certayne fortresses Of a peece of rude gold wayghing twentie vnces and of the myne of the rich metall called Elestrum Of the mountayne in the whiche is founde great plentie of Amber and Orpement and of the woodes of Brasyle trees Howe the inhabitantes are put to theyr tribute and how the nature of y e Region disposeth the maners of the people How the brother of kyng Caunaboa came agaynst the Admirall with an armie of fyue thousand naked men and howe he was taken and his armie put to flyght Of the fruitfull vale Magona in the sandes of whose ryuers is founde great plentie of golde and of certayne whirlewindes and tempests How the Admirall sent foorth his brother Bartholomeus Colonus with an armie of men to searche the golde mynes and of the Fosses which he founde to haue been dygged in old tyme. The Contentes of the .v. booke Fol. 27. for 29. HOwe the Lieuetenaunt builded a fortresse in the golde mines and prepared instrumentes for the purging and finyng of the golde Howe certayne shyppes laden with vittayles came from Spayne And howe the Lieuetenaunt sent the kynges whiche rebelled with three hundred captiues into Spayne Howe the Liefetenaunt remoued his habitation and buylded a fortresse whiche he called saint Dominickes towre also howe he passed ouer the ryuer Naiba and entred into the wooddes of Brasyle trees Howe the great kyng Beuchius Anacauchoa frendelye entertayned the Lieuetenaunt and brought hym to his pallace where the kynges wyues and concubines receyued hym honorably with pompes and triumphes Of the fortresses whiche were erected in Hispaniola and howe the Lieuetenaunt exacted tribute of the kynges whiche rebelled agayne Howe the Lieuetenaunt set vppon the kynges vnwares in the nyght season and tooke .xiiii. of them prysoners Howe kyng Guarionexius captayne of the conspiracie was pardoned and howe he persuaded the people to obedience Howe kyng Beuchius Anacauchoa sent messengers to the Lieuetenaunt to repayre to his pallace where he founde .xxxii. kyngs redy with theyr tributes And howe the queene Anacaona entysed hym
contentes of the fyrst booke Fol. 57. HOw after the death of Colonus the Admirall the kyng gaue free lycence to all such as would attempt any vyages and of the nauigations of Diego Nicuesa and Alphonsus Fogeda Of the Ilande Codego and the region of Caramairi and of certayne sweete apples which turne into woormes when they are eaten whose trees are also contagious How Alphonsus Fogeda the Lieuetenaunt of Vraba encouÌ„tring with the Barbarians had the ouerthrowe and howe in this conflicte fyftie of his men were slayne with Iohannes de la Cossa their captayne Howe Fogeda and Nicuesa the Lieuetenaunt of Beragua reuenged the death of theyr companyons and howe Fogeda came to the Ilande Fortis and the region of Caribana where he was repulsed from the golde mynes by the fiercenesse of the Barbarians vsyng arrowes infected with poyson Howe Fogeda was wounded in the thygh with a venemous arrowe and his men almost consumed with famyne Howe a Brigantyne was drowned with the stroke of a Fyshe and of the nauigation of Ancisus from Hispaniola to Vraba Of the lamentable shypwracke of Ancisus and of the Date trees and wylde Bores which he founde Of the fruites or apples of the trees called Cedars of Libane which beare olde fruites and new all the yeere Howe onely three of the Caniballes with their bowes and inuenomed arrowes assayled Ancisus with a hundred of his men in which conflict they wounded and slue manyâ—alsâ— of their swiftnesse of foote Of the great ryuer of Dariena and howe Ancisus encountred with fyue hundred of thinhabitauntes of the gulfe of Vraba and put them to flyght also how he founde great plentie of wrought golde and housholde stuffe in a thycket of reedes The contentes of the second booke Fol. 63. HOwe Nicuesa lost his felowes in the darke nyght and went past the mouth of the ryuer Beragua which he sought howe the captaynes of the other shyppes consulted howe to fynde him also of the ryuer Lagartos in the which great Lisartes are found much lyke vnto the Crocodiles of Nilus Howe the captaynes forsooke theyr shyppes that the souldyers myght bee without hope of departure and of the miserable chaunce of Petrus de Vmbria and his felowes By what chaunce Nicuesa was founde and of the calamities which he and his company susteyned also of the region of Gracia Dei or Cerabaro and of the ryuer of Sansti Matthei Howe Nicuesa caused them to remoue theyr habitation from Beragua to point Marmor where he buylded a fortresse and how his men by warre and famyne were consumed from seuen hundred and odde to scarsely one hundred Howe one Vaschus Nunnez vsurped thaucthoritie of the Lieuetenauntshyp of Vraba in thabsence of Fogeda and of the nauigation of Rodericus Colmenaris from Hispaniola to Vraba Of the ryuer Baira discendyng from the toppe of a high mountayne couered with snow and how Rodericus Colmenaris in a conflicte agaynst the Barbarians lost .xlvii. of his men by reason of theyr inuenomed arrowes Of the force of the poyson wherewith the Barbarians infecte theyr arrowes and a remedie for the same also howe Colmenaris by gunshot and kyndlyng fyers on the high toppes of the rockes came to the Spanyardes left desolate in Dariena The contentes of the thyrd booke Fol. 67. HOwe Nicuesa was sought foorth to acquict the contentions of Vraba and howe he was agayne reiected Howe Vaschus Nunnez inuaded tooke prysoners and spoyled the kynges borderyng about the region of Vraba and howe Ancisus Lieuetenaunt for Fogeda was cast in pryson and afterwarde set at libertie Howe Ancisus tooke his viage from Vraba to Spayne to accuse Vaschus who also at the same tyme sent Valdiuia aswell to speake in his defence as also to certifie the kyng of their doyngs Howe kyng Careta conspired with the Spanyardes agaynst kyng Poncha whom they put to flyght and spoyled his village Howe kyng Comogrus friendly enterteyned the Spanyardes and brought them to his pallace where he shewed them the dryed carkases of his auncestours reserued and sumptuously apparelled and how the kynges elder sonne gaue Vaschus and Colmenaris foure thousande ounces of wrought golde and fyftie slaues also a wyttie oration which he made to the Spanyardes wherin he certifyed them of a countrey exceedyng rych in golde c. The contentes of the fourth booke Fol. 72. OF horryble thunder lyghtnyng in the moneth of Nouember and of grayne which waxeth rype thryse a yeere also howe digestion is strengthened by outwarde colde Howe Valdiuia is sent agayne into Hispaniola to moue the gouernour and counsayle there to sende into Spayne to the kyng for a supplie of a thousande souldyers to make way to the golden mountaynes and howe he caryed with him the kynges portion that is the fyft part of golde and other thinges Howe Vaschus inuaded the kynges inhabytyng the regions about the gulfe of Vraba and howe he put kyng Dabaiba to flyght in whose village hee founde wrought golde amountyng to the weyght of seuen thousande Castellans Of Battes as byg as Turtle dooues which sometyme byte men in the nyght in theyr sleepe whose byting is also venomous but is healed with water of the sea or by cauterization as are also the woundes of venomous arrowes Of the Ilande of Cannafistula and a towne of fyue hundred houses whose kyng Abenamachei was taken and his arme cutte of in the fyght Of trees of exceedyng bygnesse and heyght and howe kyng Abibeiba had his pallace in the toppe of a tree from the which he was inforced to discend and entreate of peace The contentes of the fyfth booke Fol. 75. HOwe kyng Abraiba slue a captayne of the Spanyardes and caused the kynges to rebell also how they were put to flight and many of theyr men slayne Of fyue kynges which attempted a newe conspiracie with a hundred great Canoas and fyue thousande men and howe theyr intent was bewrayed by a woman and preuented also howe Rodericus Colmenaris sacked the village of Tichiri hung the kyng thereof with foure of his chiefe rulers and commaunded them to be shotte through with arrowes The contentes of the sixt booke Fol. 77. HOwe Vaschus with his confederates sent Iohannes Quicedus and Colmenaris from Dariena to Hispaniola and from thence to Spayne to the kyng for a thousand men to passe ouer the mountaynes to the golden regions and what miseries they susteyned in that viage also of the death of Valdiuia Zamudius and Fogeda Of the prosperous viage of Ancisus and howe God wrought miracles by the simple fayth of a mariner also how God respecteth thinfancie of fayth for zeales sake and howe one religion turned into another holdeth styll many thinges of the fyrst Howe many of the Barbarians were baptised by reason of the miracles and howe they rewarded the priestes by whom they were baptised Howe Ancisus shortly after his arryuall in Spayne resorted to the court and made his complaynt to the kyng of thinsolencie of Vaschus wherevppon the kyng gaue
euery house also howe the treasurie of nature is in those coastes and of the golde mynes of Dariena Howe kyng Teaocha gaue Vaschus .xx. poundes weyght of wrought golde and two hundred pearles also of desartes full of wylde beastes and howe Vaschus was troubled with great heate in the moneth of Nouember Howe a dogge Tyger was taken and his whelpes tyed in cheynes and torne in peeces also how Vaschus gaue .iiii. kynges to his dogges to be deuoured Of the vse of dogges in theyr warres and of the fiercenesse of the Caniballes How kyng Bononiana fauoured the Christians gaue Vaschus xx pound weyght of wrought golde also his oration to Vaschus A similitude prouyng great plentie of golde in the regions of the South sea and of the trauayles which olde souldyers are able to susteyne The contentes of the thyrd booke Fol. 105. HOwe kyng Buchibuea submitted him selfe to Vaschus sent him certayne vesselles of golde also how kyng Chiorisus sent him .xxx. dyshes of pure golde Howe Iron serueth for more necessary vses then golde also an example of the lyfe of our fyrst parentes Howe kyng Pocchorrosa submitted hym selfe and gaue Vaschus fyftiene pounde weyght of wrought golde also how Tumanama the great kyng of the golden regions towarde the South sea is taken prysoner lykewyse howe he gaue Vaschus .xxx. pounde weyght of pure and wrought golde and his noble men .lx. pounds weyght of golde Of the cause of vehement wyndes neere vnto the Equinoctiall lyne and of the coloure of the earth of the golden mynes Of the large and fruitefull playne of Zauana and of the ryuer Comogrus also howe kyng Comogrus baptised by the name of Charles gaue Vaschus .xx. pounde weyght of wrought golde Of the good fortune of Vaschus and howe he was turned from Goliath to Elizeus from Anteus to Hercules with what facilitie the Spaniardes shall hereafter obtayne great plentie of golde and pearles Of the Spanyardes conquestes and fiercenesse of the Canibales also an exhortation to Christian princes to set forwarde Christes religion The contentes of the fourth booke Fol. 110. THe fourth viage of Colonus the Admiral from Spayne to Hispaniola and to the other Ilandes and coastes of the firme lande also of the floryshyng Ilande Guanassa Of the seuen kyndes of Date trees wylde vines and Mirobalanes also of byrdes and foules Of people of goodly stature whiche vse to paynt theyr bodyes and of the swyfte course of the sea from the east to the west also of freshe water in the sea Of the large regions of Paria Os Draconis and Quiriquetana and of great Tortoyses and reedes also of the foure fruitefull Ilands called Quatuor Tempora and .xii. Ilands called Limonares Of sweete sauoures and holsome ayre and of the region Quicuri and the hauen Cariai or Mirobalanus also of certayne ciuil people Of trees growyng in the sea after a straunge sort and of a straunge kynde of Monkyes whiche inuade men and feyght with wylde Bores Of the great gulfe of Cerabaro replenished with many fruitefull Ilandes and of the people whiche weare cheynes of golde made of ouches wrought to the similitude of dyuers wylde beastes and foules Of fyue villages whose inhabitauntes geue them selues onely to geatheryng of golde and are paynted vsyng to weare garlandes of Lions and Tygers clawes also of seuen ryuers in al the which is founde great plentie of golde and where the plentie of gold ceasseth Of certayne people whiche paynt theyr bodyes and couer theyr priuie members with shelles hauyng also plates of gold hangyng at theyr nosethrylles Of certayne woormes whiche beyng engendred in the seas neere about the Equinoctial eate holes in the shyppes and howe the Admirals shyppes were destroyed by them Howe the king of Beragua entertayned the Lieuetenaunt and of the great plentie of golde in the ryuer of Duraba and in al the regions there about also in rootes of trees and stones and in maner in al ryuers Howe the Lieuetenaunt and his company woulde haue erected a colonie besyde the ryuer of Beragua was repulsed by thinhabitauntes Howe the Admiral fel into the handes of the Barbarians of the Iland of Iamaica where he liued miserably the space of tenne monethes and by what chaunce he was saued and came to the Ilande of Hispaniola Of holsome regions temperate ayre and continual spryng al the whole yeere also of certayne people which honour golde religiously duryng theyr golden haruest Of the mountaynes of Beragua beyng fyftie myles in length and higher then the cloudes also the discription of other mountaynes and regions thereabout comparyng the same to Italy Colonus his opinion as touchyng the supposed continent and ioynyng of the north and south Ocean also of the breadth of the sayde continent or firme lande Of the regions of Vraba Beragua and the great ryuer Maragnonus and the ryuer of Dabaiba or Sancti Iohannis also of certayne maryshes and desolate wayes and of Dragons and Crocodiles engendred in the same Of .xx. golden ryuers about Dariena and of certayne precious stones especially a Diamonde of marueylous byggnesse bought in the prouince of Paria Of the heroical factes of the Spanyardes and howe they contemne effeminate pleasures also a similitude prouing great plentie of golde and precious stones The contentes of the fyft booke Fol. 119. THe nauigation of Petrus Arias from Spayne to Hispaniola and Dariena and of the Ilandes of Canarie also of the Ilands of Madanino Guadalupea and Galanta Of the sea of hearbes mountaynes couered with snow also of the swyft course of the sea towards the West Of the ryuer Gaira the region Caramairi and the port Carthago and Sancta Martha also of Americus Vesputius and his expert cunnyng in the knowledge of the carde compasse and quadrant How the Canibales assayled Petrus Arias with his whole nauie and shot of theyr venomous arrowes euen in the sea also of theyr houses and housholde stuffe How Gonsalus Ouiedus founde a Saphire bygger then a goose egge also Emerodes Calcidonies Iaspers and Amber of the mountaynes Of woods of Brasyle trees plentie of gold and marchasites of metals founde in the regions of Caramairi Gaira and Saturma also of a straunge kynde of marchaundies exercised among the people of Zunu That the region of Caramairi is lyke to an earthy Paradise of the fruitfull mountaynes and pleasaunt gardens of the same Of many goodly countreis made desolate by the fiercenesse of the Canibales and of diuers kyndes of bread made of rootes also of the maner of plantyng the roote of Iucca whose iuise is deadly poyson in the Ilandes and without hurt in the continent or fyrme lande Of certayne golden ryuers Hartes wylde Boores foules gossampine whyte marble and holsome ayre also of the great ryuer Maragnonus discending from the mountaynes couered with snowe called Serra Neuata How Petrus Arias wasted certaine Ilands of the Canibales how by the swyft course of the sea his shyps were caried in one night fourtie
leagues beyonde thestimation of the best pilotes The contentes of the sixt booke Fol. 124. OF sundry opinions why the sea runnneth with so swyft a course from the East to the West and of the great gulfe of the North part of the fyrme lande The viage of Sebastian Cabot from England to the frosen sea â–ª and howe beyng repulsed with Ise in the moneth of Iuly he sayled farre Westwarde Of people apparelled with beastes skinnes and how Beares take fyshes in the sea and eate them How Sebastian Cabot after that he had discouered the lande of Baccallaos or Baccallearum was called out of Englande into Spayne where he was made one of the assistaunce of the counsayle of the affayres of India and of his second viage Of the Ilande Fortis and howe a great foule as bygge as a Storke lyghted in the gouernours shyp also howe he arryued at Dariena with the kinges nauie Howe Vaschus receyued the new gouernour and of habitable regions vnder the Equinoctiall How Petrus Arias the new gouernour distributed his armie to conquere the South regions ryche in golde and to erect new colonies in the same Of the ryche golde mynes of Dabaiba and of the expedition agaynst the kyng of that region Of the violent course of the sea from the East to the West and of the difficult saylyng agaynst the same Of the pestiferous and vnholsome ayre of Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariena and how the Spaniardes were of necessitie enforced to plant theyr fyrst colonie and habitation there The cause of the varietie of regions lying all vnder one degree or paralel and by what meanes the Sonne beames are cause of feruent heate Of toades and flees engendred of droppes of water and of a house set on fyre with lyghtnyng Of a Dogge deuoured of a Crocodyle and of venemous byting of great Bats also of Lions Tigers other wilde beasts How in these regions all foure footed beastes growe to a bigger quantitie then they which were of y e fyrst broode also of certayne trees of whose planckes if shyps be made they are safe from the wormes called Broma or Bissas Of a tree whose wood is present poyson yf it be only borne about and of an hearbe that is a preseruatiue agaynst the same Of the ryche Ilandes of the south sea and of certayne expeditions agaynst the Canibales The contentes of the .vii. booke Fol. 130. THe particuler description of the Ilande of Hispaniola and of the ryche Iland called Margaritea Diues lying in the South sea also of the great abundaunce of bygge pearles founde in the same Howe the auctoure compareth Hispaniola to the earthly Paradyse and howe it farre excelleth Italy in fertilitie and temperate ayre Of the fyrst inhabitours of Hispaniola and of the Ilandes of Canarie Howe thinhabitauntes of Hispaniola in theyr songues and rhymes had certayne prophesies that apparelled men shoulde come to theyr countrey and bryng them into seruitude and of theyr familiaritie with spirites also howe those spirites haue no more appeared to them since they were baptised Of theyr expertenesse in swymmyng and of theyr delicate Serpentes byrdes foules and Popingiays Of the fourme and situation of Hispaniola neere the Equinoctiall and howe colde is in some place thereof accidentall and not by the situation of the region Of the Oxen and Swyne of exceedyng bygnesse and of eares of wheat as bygge as a mans arme in the brawne also howe the Swyne are fedde with Mirobalanes c. Of plentie of golde Brasyle Mastix Gossampyne Electurum of thincommodities of intemperate regions Of dyuers languages in the Ilande and howe the prouinces are diuided into regions Howe Andreas Moralis sayled into a daungerous and darke caue within the rocke of a mountayne and of whole ryuers deuoured of suche caues also of the conflyct of the waters Of a standyng poole in the toppe of an hygh mountayne how fearne and bramble bushes growe onely in colde regions The Contentes of the .viii. booke Fol. 135. OF a great lake or standyng poole of sowre and salte water and of the sea fyshes in the same in the myd lande of the Ilande also of deuouryng fyshes called Tiburoâ—i Of the ryuers fallyng into the lakes and of CC. sprynges in the space of a furlong A marueylous hystorye of a kyng stryken dumbe and lame by a myracle and of the Indian language Howe suche as are drowned in the lake are neuer cast vp agayne and of the Ilande Guarizacca in the myddest of a standyng lake also of a lake of freshe water and an other of salte and freshe water Of a large playne of two hundred myles in length and an other of an hundred and twentie Of the marueilous fyshe or monster of the sea called Manati or Matum fedde with mans handes and howe she caryeth men ouer the lake Of the mountaynes vales hylles playnes and ryuers of Hispaniola and howe golde is founde in all mountaynes and golde and fyshe in all ryuers Of salte bayes and howe the ryuers haue theyr increase from the caues of the mountaynes also howe there is no hurtefull beast in the Ilande Of the pleasures of Hispaniola and of the region of Cotohi wel inhabited situate in a plaine in the toppes of mountaynes reachyng to the cloudes Of moderate colde in the mountaynes and of fearne of marueylous bygnesse Howe pure and massie golde is founde in the region of Cotoy or Cotohi and that the vaine of gold is a lyuyng tree also of the rootes branches and floures of the same and howe certayne caues are susteyned with pyllers of golde What gold is brought yeerely from Hispaniola into Spaine and of the salte of the mountaines being as hard as stones and cleare as crystall also sprynges of salte freshe sowre water Of certayne wylde men lyuing in caues and dennes without any certaine language and of their marueylous swiftnes a foote Of pytche of the rocke and two kyndes of trees and of the leafe of a tree vsed in the steede of paper also howe thinhabitants thynke that the Christians can make those leaues speake and disclose all secretes Of a strong coloure made of the iuice of a certayne apple and of the hearbe whose smoke is poyson The contentes of the nienth booke Fol. 142. OF the kindes of fruites wherewith the inhabitauntes of Hispaniola lyued fyrst and how they came to the knowledge of Iucca also how Ceres fyrst founde Wheate and Barley in Egypt Why theyr kynges are called by diuers names and by what names they salute the kynges chyldren when they are borne How they make theyr testamentes and how certayne of the kynges wyues and concubines are buried with them Of the variable motions of the elementes in Hispaniola and where it rayneth but litle and where muche Of the colonies and villages that the Spaniardes haue builded in Hispaniola and of the other Ilandes about the same Of a spryng whiche runnyng vnder the sea from Hispaniola breaketh foorth in the Iland of Arethusa also
crude and of a baser alay and caract and doth wast so muche the more in meltyng and remayneth more brickle Sometymes there are founde graines of golde of great quantitie and of great weyght aboue the earth and sometymes also vnder the earth And the greatest of all other that was founde to this day in the Indies was that whiche was lost in the sea about the Ilande Beata whiche weyghed three thousande and two hundred Castellans of gold which are in value foure thousand a hundred thyrtie and eyght ducades of golde whiche weigh one Arroua and seuen pounde or thyrtie and two pounde after twelue ounces to the pounde whiche make threescore and foure markes of golde And I sawe in the yeere .1515 in the handes of Mychel Passamonte treasurer to your maiestie two graines of the whiche one wayed seuen poundes which are .xiiii. markes and are in value about threescore and fyue ducades of golde euery marke the other was of .x. markes whiche are fyue poundes of lyke value and of very good golde of .xxii. caractes and better There are also founde many other great graynes although not equall vnto these in bygnesse And forasmuch as I haue spoken of gold I haue thought good to declare somewhat howe the Indians can very excellently gylte suche vesselles of copper and base golde as they make for they can geue them so fayre and floryshyng a coloure that al the masse which they gylt appeareth as though it were golde of .xxii. caractes and better This colour they geue with a certayne hearbe as though it were wrought by y e art of any goldsmith of Spayne or Italie and woulde of them bee esteemed as a thyng of great ryches and a secrete maner of gyldyng And for as muche as I haue spoken sufficiently of the mynes of golde I wyl nowe speake somewhat of copper because I haue made mention thereof This metal is founde in many of the Ilandes of the Indies and also in the firme lande and is founde dayly in great quantitie holdyng somewhat of golde But for the desyre that our men haue to golde they nothyng esteeme the copper although there myght great commoditie and profyt be had thereby and also by other metals whiche they nothyng regarde except syluer which is founde abundantly in that parte of the firme lande whiche is called newe Spaine But of this it shal suffise to haue saide thus muche because I haue more particulerly entreated of these thynges in my generall hystory of India Of the maner of fyshyng for pearles THe Indians exercise this kynde of fyshyng for the most part in y e coastes of the North in Cubagua and Cumana and many of them which dwell in the houses of certayne particular lords in the Ilandes of San Dominico and Sancti Iohannis resort to the Ilande of Cubagua for this purpose Theyr custome is to go fyue syxe or seuen or more in one of theyr Canoas or barkes earely in the mornyng to some place in the sea thereabout where it appeareth vnto them that there should be great plentie of those shell fyshes which some call Muscles and some Oysters wherein pearles are engendred there they plunge them selues vnder the water euen vnto the bottome sauyng one that remayneth in the Canoa or boate which he keepeth styll in one place as neare as he can lookyng for theyr returne out of the water And when one of them hath ben a good whyle vnder the water he ryseth vp and commeth swymmyng to the boate entryng into the same and leauyng there al the Oysters which he hath taken and brought with hym for in these are the pearles found and when he hath there rested hym selfe a whyle and eaten part of the Oysters he returneth agayne to the water where he remayneth as long as he can endure and then ryseth agayne and swymmeth to the boate with his pray where he resteth hym as before and thus continueth course by course as do all the other in lyke maner beyng al most expert swymmers and dyuers and when the night draweth neare they returne to the Ilande to theyr houses and present all the Oysters to the maister or stewarde of the house of theyr lorde who hath the charge of the sayde Indians and when he hath geuen them somewhat to eate he layeth vp the Oysters in safe custodie vntyll he haue a great quantitie therof then he causeth the same fysher men to open them and they fynd in euery of them pearles other great or small two or three or foure and sometymes fyue or syxe and many small graines accordyng to the liberalitie of nature They saue the pearles both smal and great whiche they haue founde and eyther eate the Oysters if they wyl or cast them away hauyng so great quantitie thereof that they in maner abhorre them These Oysters are of harde fleshe and not so pleasaunt in eatyng as are ours of Spayne This Iland of Cubagua where this maner of fyshing is exercised is in the North coaste and is no bygger then the Ilande of Zeland Oftentymes the sea increaseth greatly and much more then y e fishers for pearles would because where as the place is very deepe a man can not naturally rest at the bottome by reason of the abundaunce of ayry substaunce whiche is in hym as I haue oftentymes prooued For although he may by violence and force discende to the bottome yet are his feete lyfted vp agayne so that he can contynue no tyme there and therefore where the sea is very deepe these Indian fyshers vse to tye two great stones about them with a cord on euery syde one by the weyght whereof they discende to the bottome and remayne there vntyll them lysteth to ryse agayne at whiche tyme they vnlose the stones and ryse vp at theyr pleasure But this theyr aptenesse and agilitie in swymmyng is not the thyng that causeth men most to marueyle but rather to consyder howe many of them can stande in the botome of the water for the space of one whole houre and some more or lesse accordyng as one is more apt heereunto then an other An other thyng there is whiche seemeth to me very straunge and this is that where as I haue oftentimes demaunded of some of these Lordes of the Indians yf the place where they are accustomed to fyshe for pearles beyng but litle and narrowe wyll not in short tyme be vtterly without Oysters yf they consume them so fast They all answered me that although they be consumed in one part yet if they goe a fyshyng in an other part or an other coaste of the Ilande or at an other contrary wynde and contynue fyshyng there also vntyll the Oysters be lykewyse consumed and then returne agayne to the first place or any other place where they fished before and emptied the same in lyke maner they finde them agayne as full of Oysters as though they had neuer been fyshed Wherby we may iudge that these Oysters eyther remoue from one place to an other
and calleth the spirite with loude voyce by certayne names whiche no man vnderstandeth but hee and his disciples After he hath done thus a whyle if the spirite yet deferre his commyng hee drynketh of the sayde water and therewith waxeth hotte and furious and inuerteth and turneth his inchauntment and letteth him selfe blood with a thorne marueilously turmoylyng him selfe as wee reade of the furious Sybilles not ceassyng vntyl the spirit be come who at his comming entreth into him and ouerthroweth him as it were a greyhound should ouerturne a Squerell then for a space hee seemeth to lye as though hee were in great payne or in a rapte woonderfully tormentyng him selfe duryng whiche agonie the other disciple shaketh the siluer bell continually Thus when the agonie is past and he lyeth quietly yet without any sense or feelyng the kyng or some other in his stead demaundeth of him what he desireth to know and the spirit answereth by the mouth of the rapte Piaces with a directe and perfecte answere to all poyntes Insomuche that on a tyme certayne Spanyardes beyng present at these mysteries with one of the kynges and in the Spanyshe tounge demaundyng the Piaces of their shyppes which they looked for out of Spayne the spirite answered in the Indian tounge and tolde them what day and houre the shyppes departed from Spayne how many they were and what they brought without fayling in any poynte If he be also demaunded of the eclypse of the Sunne or Moone which they greatly feare and abhorre he giueth a perfect answere and the lyke of tempestes famin plentie warre or peace and such other thinges When all the demaundes are finished his disciples call him aloude ryngyng the siluer bell at his eare and blowyng a certayne powder into his nosethrilles whereby he is raysed as it were from a dead sâ—eape beyng yet somewhat heauy headed and faynte a good whyle after Thus beyng agayne rewarded of the kyng with more bread hee departeth agayne to the desartes with his disciples But since the Christian fayth hath been dispearsed throughout the Ilande these deuyllyshe practises haue ceassed and they of the members of the deuyll are made the members of Christ by baptisme forsakyng the deuyll and his workes with the vayne curiositie of desyre of knowledge of thinges to come whereof for the most parte it is better to be ignorant then with vexation to know that which can not be auoyded Furthermore in many places of the firme lande when any of the kynges dye all his householde seruauntes aswell women as men whiche haue continually serued him kyll them selues beleeuyng as they are taught by the deuyll Tuyra that they whiche kyll them selues when the kyng dyeth goe with him to heauen and serue him in the same place and offyce as they dyd before on the earth whyle hee lyued and that all that refuse so to doe when after they dye by theyr naturall death or otherwyse theyr soules to dye with theyr bodyes and to bee dissolued into ayre and become nothyng as doe the soules of Hogges Byrdes Fyshes or other bruite beastes and that only the other may enioy the priuiledge of immortalitie for euer to serue the kyng in heauen And of this false opinion commeth it that they which sowe corne or set rootes for the kynges bread and geather the same are accustomed to kyll them selues that they may enioy this priuiledge in heauen and for the same purpose cause a portion of the graine of Maizium and a bundle of Iucca whereof theyr bread is made to be buryed with them in their graues that the same may serue them in heauen if perhappes there should lacke seedes to sowe and therefore they take this with them to begyn withall vntil Tuyra who maketh them all these fayre promises prouyde them of greater quantitie This haue I my selfe seene in the toppe of the mountaynes of Guaturo where hauing in pryson the kyng of that prouince who rebelled from thâ—bedience of your maiestie and demaundyng of him to whom parteyned those sepultures or graues which I sawe in his house hee answered that they were of certayne Indians which slue them selues at the death of his father And because they are oftentimes accustomed to bury great quantities of wrought gold with them I caused twoo graues to be opened wherein was nothyng founde but a vessell full of the graine of Maizium a bundle of Iucca as I haue sayde And demaundyng the cause hereof of the kyng and the other Indians they answered that they that were buryed there were the labourers of the grounde and men skylfull in sowyng of seedes and makyng of bread and seruauntes to the kynges father and to the ende that their soules should not dye with theyr bodyes they slue them selues at the death of the kyng theyr maister to lyue with hym in heauen and to the intent that they myght serue him there in the same offyce they reserued that Maizium and Iucca to sowe it in heauen Wherevnto I aunswered them in this maner Beholde howe your Tuyra deceyueth you and howe all that hee teacheth you is false You see howe in so long a tyme since they are dead they haue not yet taken away this Maizium and Iucca which is nowe putrified and woorth nothyng and not lyke to bee sowen in heauen To this the kyng replyed saying in that they haue not taken it away nor sowen it in heauen the cause is that they chaunced to fynde enough there by reason whereof they had no neede of this To this errour many thinges were sayd which seemed of litle force to remoue him from his false opinion and especially any such as at that age are occupyed of the deuyl whom they paynt of the selfe same fourme and colour as hee appeareth vnto them in dyuers shapes and fourmes They make also Images of golde copper and wood to the same similitudes in terrible shapes and so variable as the paynters are accustomed to paynt them at the feete of sainct Michaell tharchangell or in any other place where they paynte them of most horrible portiture Lykewyse when the deuyll greatly intendeth to feare them hee threatneth to sende them great tempestes whiche they call Furacanas or Haurachanas and are so vehement that they ouerthrow many houses and great trees And I haue seene in mountaynes full of many and great trees that for the space of three quarters of a league the mountayne hath been subuerted and the trees ouerthrowen and plucked out of the earth with the rootes a thing doubtlesse so fearefull and terrible to beholde that it may veryly appeare to bee done by the hande of the deuyll And in this case the Christian men ought to consider with good reason that in all places where the holy sacrament is reserued the sayde tempestes are no more so outragious or so perilous as they were wont to bee Of the temperature of the regions vnder or neare to the burnt lyne called Torrida Zona or the Equinoctiall and of the dyuers seasons of
therewith vntyl the yeere next folowyng when the rayne and moysture encrease at whiche tyme they are seene agayne Neuerthelesse at this present there is no such quantitie of them as was wont to be by reason that as the lande is better cultured by the Christians aswell by the fellyng of wooddes and shrubbes as also by the pasture of Kyne Horses and other beastes so is it apparent that this poyson diminisheth daylye whereby that region becommeth more holsome and pleasaunt these Toades syng after three or foure sortes for some of them syng pleasauntly other lyke ours of Spayne some also whystle and other some make an other maner of noyse they are lykewyse of diuers coloures as some greene some russet or gray and some almost blacke but of all sortes they are great and fylthy and noyous by reason of theyr great multitude yet are they not venemous as I haue sayde There are also a straunge kynde of Crabbes whiche come foorth of certayne holes of the earth that they them selues make the head and bodie of these make one rounde thyng muche lyke vnto the hood of a Faulkon hauyng foure feete commyng out of the one syde as many out of the other they haue also two mouthes like vnto a payre of small Pinsers the one bygger then the other wherewith they byte but doo no great hurt because they are not venomous theyr skynne and bodie is smooth and thynne as is the skynne of a man sauyng that it is somewhat harder theyr coloure is russet or whyte or blewe and walke sydelong they are very good to be eaten insomuche that the Christians trauaylyng by the fyrme lande haue been greatly nouryshed by them because they are founde in maner euery where in shape and fourme they are muche like vnto the Crabbe whiche we paynt for the signe Cancer and like vnto those whiche are founde in Spayne in Andalusia in the ryuer Guadalchiber where it entreth into the sea and in the sea coastes there about sauyng that these are of the water and the other of the lande they are sometymes hurtfull so that they that eate of them dye but this chaunceth only when they haue eaten any venomous thyng or of the venomous apples wherewith the Canible archers poyson theyr arrowes whereof I wyll speake hereafter and for this cause the Christians take heede how they eate of these Crabbes yf they fynde them neare vnto the sayd apple trees Furthermore in these Indies aswel in the fyrme lande as in the Ilandes there is founde a kynde of Serpentes whiche they call Y. V. anas whiche some cal Iuannas these are terrible and feareful to syght and yet not hurtful they are very delicate to be eaten and it is not yet knowen whether they be beastes of the lande or fyshes because they lyue in the water and wander in the wooddes and on the lande they haue foure feete and are commonly bygger then Connies and in some places bygger then Otters with tayles lyke Lysartes or Eutes theyr skynne is spotted and of the same kynde of smothnesse or barenesse although of dyuers colours vpon the rydge of theyr backes they haue many long prickes theyr teeth are very sharpe and especially theyr fanges or dogge teeth theyr throtes are long and large reachyng from theyr beardes to theyr breastes of the lyke skynne to the resydue of theyr bodyes they are dumbe and haue no voyce or make any noyse or crye although they bee kept tyed to the foote of a cheste or any other thyng for the space of .xx. or .xxv. dayes without any thyng to eate or drynke except they geue them nowe and then a litle of the bread of Cazabbi or some suche other thyng they haue foure feete and theyr fore feete as long as a mans fynger with clawes lyke the clawes of a byrde but weaker and suche as can not grasple or take holde of any thyng they are muche better to bee eaten then to beholde for fewe that see them wyll haue desyre to eate of them by reason of theyr horrible shape except suche as haue ben accustomed to the beastes of these regions whiche are more horrible and feareful as this is not but onely in apparence theyr fleshe is of muche better tast then the fleshe of Connies and more holsome for it hurteth none but onely suche as haue had the frenche poxe insomuche that if they haue been touched of that infirmitie although they haue ben whole of long tyme neuerthelesse they feele hurte and complayne of the earyng of these Iuannas as hath been oftentimes prooued by experience There are founde in the fyrme lande certayne byrdes so litle that the whole body of one of them is no bygger then the toppe of the byggest fynger of a mans hande and yet is the bare body without the feathers not halfe so bygge This byrde besyde her litlenesse is of suche velocitie and swyftnesse in fleeyng that who so seeth her fleeyng in the ayre can not see her flap or beate her winges after any other sort then do the Dorres or humble bees or Beetels so that there is no man that seeth her flee that would thynke her to be any other then a Dorre they make their nestes accordyng to the proportion of their bygnes and I haue seene that one of these byrdes with her nest put in a payre of golde weights altogeather hath waide no more then .2 Tomini which are in poise .24 graines with the feathers with out the which she shoulde haue wayed somwhat lesse And doubtlesse when I consider the fynenesse of the clawes feete of these byrdes I knowe not whereunto I may better lyken them then to the litle byrdes whiche the lymners of bookes are accustomed to paynte on the margent of churche bookes and other bookes of diuine seruice Theyr feathers are of many fayre colours as golden yelowe and greene besyde other variable colours theyr beake is very long for the proportion of theyr bodies and as fyne and subtile as a sowyng nedle they are very hardy so that when they see a man clime y e tree where they haue their nests they flee at his face stryke hym in the eyes commyng goyng and returnyng with such swyftnes that no man woulde lyghtly beleeue it that hath not seene it and certaynly these byrdes are so litle that I durst not haue made mention hereof if it were not that diuers other which haue seene them as wel as I can beare witnes of my saying they make their nestes of flockes and heare of cotton wherof there is great plentie in these regions and serueth wel for theyr purpose But as touchyng the byrdes foules and beastes of these Indies because they are innumerable both litle and great I intende not to speake muche heere because I haue spoken more largely hereof in my generall hystorye of the Indies There is an other kynde of beastes seene in the firme lande whiche seemeth very strange and marueylous to the Christian men to beholde and much
generation as doe the byrdes whiche wee call Stares or els to the intent that if it should so chaunce that the cattes shoulde clyme the trees where they make theyr neastes they myght bee a greater company to resyst and molest the cattes at whose approch they make a fearefull and terrible crye whereby the cattes are put to flight Furthermore in the fyrme lande and in the Ilandes there are certayne byrdes called Piche or Gazzuole somewhat lyke vnto those which we call Woodwalles or Woodpeckes beyng lesse then ours of Spayne these are altogeather blacke and goe hoppyng and leapyng theyr beakes are also blacke and of the same fashion as are the Popingiays beakes they haue long tayles and are somewhat bygger then Stares There are other byrdes called Pintadelli which are lyke vnto certayne greene byrdes which the Italyans call Fringuelli and are of seuen colours these byrdes for feare of the cattes are euer wont to make theyr neastes ouer the bankes of ryuers or the sea where the braunches of trees so reache ouer the water that with a litle weyght they may bowe downe to the water theyr neastes are made so neare the toppes of the braunches that when the cattes come thereon the braunches bende towarde the water and the cattes turne backe agayne for feare of fallyng For although no beast in the worlde bee more malicious then this yet whereas the most parte of beastes are naturally inclyned to swymme this catte hath no maner of aptenesse therevnto and is therefore soone drowned or strangeled in the water and by a priuie sense of nature feareth the danger which he can not escape These byrdes make their nestes in such sort that although they be weâ—te and filled with water yet doe they so sodeynly ryse vp agayne that the young byrdes are not thereby hurt or drowned There are also many Nyghtyngales and other byrdes which syng marueylouslye with great melodie and dyfference in syngyng these byrdes are of marueylous dyuers coloures the one from the other some are altogeather yelow and some other of so excellent delectable and hygh a colour as it were a Rubye other are also of dyuers and variable coloures some of fewe coloures and other some all of one colour beyng all so fayre and beautifull that in bryghtnesse and shynyng they excell all that are seene in Spayne or Italy or other prouinces of Europe Many of these are taken with nettes lyme twygges and sprynges of dyuers sortes Dyuers other sortes of great foules lyke vnto Eagles and suche other as lyue of pray are founde in the firme lande of suche diuersitie that it is in maner impossible to describe them all particulerly and forasmuche as I haue more largely intreated hereof in my generall hystorie of the Indies I thynke it not requysite heere to make anye further mention of the same Of trees fruites and plantes THere is both in the firme lande and the Ilands a certayne tree called Cocus beyng a kynde of Date trees hauyng their leaues of the selfe same greatnesse as haue the date trees which beare dates but dyffer much in their growing for the leaues of this Cocus growe out of the trunkes of the tree as doe the fingers out of the hand wreathing them selues one within an other so spreading abrode these trees are hygh are founde in great plentie in the coast of the sea of Sur in the prouince of Cacique Chiman These date trees bring foorth a fruit after this sorte being altogeather vnite as it groweth on the tree it is of greater circumference then the head of a man from the superficial part to y e middest which is the fruit it is inuolued couered with many webs much lyke vnto those hirds of tow which they vse in Andalusia Of this towe or web the East Indians make a certayne kynd of cloth of three or foure sortes and cordes for the sayles of shyppes but in these Indies of your maiestie they passe not for these cordes or this cloth that may be made of the fruite of Cocus by reason of the great plentie that they haue of the bombage or cotton of the gossampine trees The fruite which is in the myddest of the sayde towe is as I haue sayde as bygge as a mans fyst and sometymes twyse as bygge and more It is in fourme lyke vnto a walnutte or some other rounde thyng somewhat more long then large and very harde the rynde or barke hereof is as thycke as the cyrcle of letters of a ryall of plate and within there cleaueth fast to the rynde of the nutte a carnositie or substaunce of coornel of the thyckenesse of halfe a fynger or of the least fynger of the hande and is very whyte lyke vnto a fayre Almonde and of better taste and more pleasaunt When this fruite is chewed there remayne certayne crummes as do the lyke of Almondes Yet if it be swalowed downe it is not vnpleasaunt For although that after the iuice or moysture be gone downe the throte before the saide crummes be swalowed the rest whiche is eaten seeme somwhat sharpe or sower yet doth it not so greatly offende y e tast as to be cast away Whyle this Cocus is yet freshe and newly taken from the tree they vse not to eate of the said carnositie fruite but fyrst beating it very muche and then straynyng it they drawe a mylke thereof much better and sweeter then is the mylke of beastes and of much substaunce the whiche the Christian men of those regions put in the tortes or cakes which they make of the graine of Maizium wherof they make theyr bread or in other bread as we put bread in porrage so that by reason of the sayde mylke of Cocus the tortes are more excellent to be eaten without offence to the stomake they are so pleasaunt to the taste and leaue it aswell satisfyed as though it had been delyted with many delycate dyshes But to proceede further your maiestie shal vnderstande that in the place of the stone or coornell there is in the myddest of the sayde carnositie a voyde place which neuerthelesse is full of a most cleare and excellent water in suche quantitie as may fyll a great egge shell or more or lesse accordyng to the byggenesse of the Cacus the whiche water suerly is the most substantiall excellent and precious to be drunke that may be founde in the worlde insomuch that in the moment when it passeth the palate of the mouth and begynneth to go downe the throte it seemeth that from the sole of the foote to the crowne of the head there is no parte of the bodye but that feeleth great comforte thereby as it is doutlesse one of the most excellent thynges that may be tasted vppon the earth and suche as I am not able by wrytyng or tongue to expresse And to proceede yet further I say that when the meate of this fruite is taken from the vessell thereof the vessell remayneth as fayre and neate
opened and the rynde taken of there are founde within it many good drye Fygges whiche beyng rosted or stewed in an Ouen in a close pot or some suche other thyng are of pleasaunt tast much lyke to the conserue of Hony they putrifie not on the sea so soone as some other fruites do but contynue fyfteene dayes and more yf they be geathered somewhat greene they seeme more delicate on the sea then on the land not for that they any thing encrease in goodnesse on the sea but because that whereas on the sea other thynges are lackyng whereof is plentie on the land those meates seeme of best tast whiche satisfie present necessitie This trunke or spryg which bryngeth foorth the sayd cluster is a whole yeere in growing and brynging foorth fruite in which tyme it hath put foorth rounde about it ten or twelue sprygges as bygge as the fyrst or principall and multiplieth no lesse then the principall in bringing foorth of clusters with fruites lykewyse at theyr tyme and also in bryngyng foorth other and many sprygges as is sayde before From the whiche sprygges or trunkes as soone as the cluster of the fruite is taken away the plant beginneth to drye and wyther whiche then they take out of the grounde because it doth none other then occupie it in vayne and without profyte They are so many and do so marueylously encrease and multiplie that it is a thyng in maner encredible They are exceeding moyst insomuch that when they are plucked vp from the place where they grow there ishueth foorth a great quantitie of water aswel out of the plant as out of the place where it grewe in suche sort that al the moysture of the earth farre about myght seeme to be geathered togeather about the truncke or blocke of the sayd plant with the fruites whereof the Antes are so farre in loue that they are seene in great multitudes in the braunches of the plantes so that for the multitude thereof it sometyme so chaunceth that men are enforced to take away the plantes from theyr possession these fruites are founde at al tymes of the yeere There is also an other kinde of wilde plants that groweth in the feeldes whiche I haue not seene but in the Ilande of Hispaniola although they be founde in other Ilandes of the Indies these they call Tunas They growe of a Thistle full of thornes and bryng foorth a fruite muche lyke vnto great Figges whiche haue a crowne lyke Medlers and are within of a hygh colour with graynes and the rynde lyke vnto a fygge they are of good taste and grow abundantly in the fieldes in many places They worke a strange effecte in suche as eate them for if a man eate two or three or more they cause his vrine to bee of the very colour of blood which thyng chaunced once to my selfe For on a tyme as I made water and sawe the colour of my vrine I entred into a great suspition of my lyfe beyng so astonyshed for feare that I thought the same had chaunced to mee vpon some other cause insomuche that surely my imagination myght haue done mee hurte but that they which were with mee dyd comforte mee immediatly declaryng the cause thereof as they knew by experience beyng auncient inhabitours in those regions There groweth also an other plant which the people of the countrey call Bihaos this putteth foorth certayne streight branches and very brode leaues which the Indians vse for dyuers purposes For in some places they couer theyr houses with the leaues thereof couched and layde after the maner of thetche wherevnto it serueth very well Sometymes also when it rayneth they cast these ouer theyr heades to defende them from the water They make also certayne chestes which they call Hauas weaued after a strange sorte and intermyxt with the leaues of this Bihaos These chestes are wrought in such sorte that although it rayne vpon them or they chaunce to fall into the water yet are not suche thinges wet as are within them they are made of the branches of the sayde Bihaos with the leaues weaued togeather therewith In these they keepe salte and other subtile thinges They vse them also for an other purpose which is this that fyndyng them in the fieldes at such tyme as they haue scarsenesse of vittayles they dyg vp the rootes of these plantes while they are yet young or eate the plant it selfe in that parte where it is most tender which is from a foote vnder the grounde where it is as tender and whyte as a reede or bulrushe And forasmuche as wee are nowe come to the ende of this narration it commeth to my remembraunce to make mention of an other thyng which is not farre from my purpose and this is howe the Indians doe slayne or dye cloath of bombage cotton or any other thyng whiche they inâ—ende to dye of dyuers colours as blacke tawny greene blewe yelow and redde which they doe with the barkes or ryndes and leaues of certayne trees which they know by experience to be good for this practise and by this arte they make colours in suche perfection and excellencie that no better can bee deuysed But this seemeth a strange thyng that they doe all this in one selfe same vessell So that when they haue caused the sayde ryndes and leaues to boyle togeather they make in the same vessell without any chaunge as I haue sayde as many colours as them lysteth Whiche thing I suppose to come to passe by the disposition of the colour which they haue fyrst gyuen to the thyng that they intende to dye or colour whether it bee threed webbe or cloth or any thing that they intende to colour Of venomous Apples wherewith they poyson theyr arrowes THe Apples wherewith the Indian Caniballes inuenome theyr arrowes growe on certaine trees couered with many branches and leaues being very greene and growing thicke They are laden with abundance of these euyll fruites and haue their leaues lyke the leaues of a peare tree but that they are lesse and rounder the fruit is much lyke the muscadel peares of the Ilande of Sicilie or Naples in fourme and bygnesse and are in some partes steyned with redde spottes and of very sweet sauour these trees for the most parte growe euer by the sea coastes and neere vnto the water and are so fayre and of pleasaunt sauour that there is no man that seeth them but will desyre to eate thereof insomuche that if it may bee spoken of any fruite yet growyng on the earth I woulde say that this was the vnhappy fruite whereof our fyrst parentes Adam and Eue tasted whereby they both lost theyr felicitie and procured death to them and theyr posteritie Of these fruites and of the great Antes whose byting causeth swellyng whereof I haue spoken elsewhere and of the Eutes or Lysartes and vypers and such other venomous thinges the Canibals which are the cheefe archers among the Indians are accustomed
to poyson theyr arrowes wherewith they kyll all that they wounde These venomes they mingle togeather and make thereof a blacke masse or composition whiche appeareth lyke vnto very blacke pytch Of this poyson I caused a great quantitie to be burnt in Sancta Maria Antiqua in a place two leagues and more within the lande with a great multitude of theyr inuenomed arrowes and other munition with also the house wherein they were reserued This was in the yeere .1514 at suche tyme as the army arryued there with captayne Pedrarias da villa at the commaundement of the Catholyke kyng Don Ferdinando But to returne to the hystory These Apples as I haue sayde growe neare vnto the sea And whereas the Christians whiche serue your maiestie in these parties suppose that there is no remedy so profytable for such as are wounded with these arrowes as is the water of the sea if the wound be much washed therwith by which meanes some haue escaped although but fewe yet to say the trueth albeit the water of the sea haue a certaine caustike quality against poyson it is not a sufficient remedy in this case nor yet to this day haue the Christians perceyued that of fyftie that haue been wounded three haue recouered But that your maiestie may the better consider the force of the venome of these trees you shal further vnderstand that if a man doe but repose him selfe to sleepe a litle whyle vnder the shadow of the same he hath his head eyes so swolne when he ryseth that the eye lyddes are ioyned with the cheekes and if it chaunce one droppe or more of the deawe of the sayde tree to fall into the eye it vtterly destroyeth the syght The pestilent nature of this tree is suche that it can not be declared in fewe wordes Of these there groweth great plentie in the gulfe of Vraba towarde the North coast on the West and East syde The wood of these trees when it burneth maketh so great a stynke that no man is able to abyde it by reason it causeth so great a payne in the head Among other trees whiche are in these Indies aswell in the Ilandes as in the firme lande there is an other kynde whiche they call Xagua whereof there is great plentie they are very hygh and streyght and fayre to beholde Of these they vse to make â—ykes and Iauelyns of dyuers lengthes and bygnesse they are of a fayre colour betweene russet and whyte this tree bryngeth foorth a great fruit as bygge as Papauer or Poppie and muche lyke therevnto it is very good to bee eaten when it is rype Out of this they get a very cleare water wherewith they washe their legges and sometymes all theyr bodyes when they feele theyr fleshe weery faynt or loose the which water besyde that it hath a byndyng qualitie it hath also this propertie that whatsoeuer it toucheth it steyneth it blacke by litle and litle vntyll it bee as blacke as gete which colour can not bee taken away in lesse space then tenne or twelue dayes And if the nayle bee but touched therewith it is so steyned that it can by no meanes bee taken away vntyll it eyther fall of or grow out and bee clypped away by litle litle as I my selfe haue oftentymes seene by experience There is an other kynde of trees which they call Hohi these are very great and fayre and cause holesome ayre where they growe and a pleasaunt shadowe and are founde in great aboundaunce theyr fruit is very good and of good tast and sauour and much lyke vnto certayne damsons or prunes beyng litle and yelowe but theyr stone is very great by reason whereof they haue but litle meate theyr barke or rynde boyled in water maketh a holesome bathe for the legges because it byndeth and stayeth the loosenesse of the fleshe so sensibly that it is a marueyle to consider It is surely a holesome and excellent bathe agaynst suche fayntnesse and is the best tree that may be founde in those parties to sleepe vnder For it causeth no heauinesse of the head as doe dyuers other trees which thyng I speake because the Christians are muche accustomed in those regions to lye in the fieldes It is therefore a common practise among them that wheresoeuer they fynde these trees there they spreade theyr mattresses and beddes wherein they sleepe There are also a kynde of hygh Date trees and full of thornes the woodde of these is most excellent beyng very blacke and shynyng and so heauye that no parte thereof can swymme aboue the water but synketh immediatly to the bottome Of this woodde they make theyr arrowes and dartes also Iauelyns speares and pykes and I say pykes because that in the coastes of the sea of Sur beyonde Esquegua and Vracha the Indians vse great and long pykes made of the wood of these Date trees Of the same lykewyse they make clubbes and swoordes and dyuers other weapons Also vesselles and housholde stuffe of dyuers sortes very fayre and commodious Furthermore of this wood the Christians vse to make dyuers musicall instrumentes as Claricymballes Lutes Gitterns and suche other the which besyde theyr fayre shynyng colour lyke vnto gete are also of a good sounde and very durable by reason of the hardnesse of the wood After that I haue sayde thus much of trees and plants I haue thought good also to speake somewhat of hearbes You shal therfore vnderstand that in these Indies there is an hearbe much like vnto a yelow Lilie about whose leaues there growe and creepe certayne cordes or lases as the lyke is partly seene in the hearbe which we call lased sauery but these of the Indies are much bigger and longer and so strong that they tye theyr hangyng beds thereby whiche they call Hamacas whereof we haue spoken elsewhere these cordes they call Cabuia and Henequen whiche are all one thyng sauyng that Henequen is lesse and of a fyner substance as it were line and the other is grosser lyke the weeke or twyst of hempe and is imperfect in comparison to the other they are of colour betweene whyte and yelow lyke vnto abarne and some also whyte With Henequen whiche is the most subtyle and fyne threede the Indians sawe in sunder fetters cheynes or barres of Iron in this maner They moue the threed of Henequen vppon the Iron which they intende to sawe or cutte drawyng the one hande after the other as doe they that sawe puttyng euer nowe and then a portion of fyne sande vppon the threede or on the place or parte of the Iron where they continue rubbyng the sayde threed so that if the threed be worne they take an other and continue in theyr worke as before vntyll they haue cutte in sunder the Iron although it be neuer so bygge and cut it as if it were a tender thyng and easy to be sawne And forasmuche as the leaues of trees may bee counted among
hearbes I will heere speake somewhat of the qualitie of the leaues of certayne trees whiche are founde in the Ilande of Hispaniola These trees are so full of thornes that there is no tree or plant that seemeth more wylde and deformed so that I can not well determyne whether they be trees or plantes they haue certayne branches full of large and deformed leaues which branches were fyrst leaues lyke vnto the other As the branches made of these leaues grow foorth in length there commeth other leaues of them so that in fine it is a difficult thing to describe the fourme of these trees except the same should be done by a paynter wherby the eye might conceyue that wherein the tongue fayleth in this behalfe The leaues of this tree are of suche vertue that beyng well beaten and spred vppon a cloth after the maner of a playster and so layde to a legge or arme that is broken in many peeces it healeth it in fyftiene dayes maketh it as whole as though it had neuer been broken Duryng the tyme of this operation it cleaueth so fast to the fleshe that it can not without much difficultie be taken away but assoone as it hath healed the sore and wrought his operation it looseth it selfe from the place where it was layde as I my selfe and dyuers other which haue proued it know by experience Of fyshes and of the maner of fyshyng IN the sea coastes of the firme lande there are dyuers sundry kyndes of fishes muche differing in shape fourme And although it be impossible to speake of all yet will I make mention of some And first to begin at Sardines you shall vnderstand that there is found a kinde of these fishes very large and with red tayles being a very delicate fyshe The best kyndes of other fishes are these Moxarre Diahace Brettes Dahaos Thorne-backes Salmons All these and dyuers other which I doe not now remember are taken in great quantitie in ryuers There are likewise taken very good Creuyshes There are also found in the sea certayne other fishes as Soles Mackerels Turbuts Palamite Lizze Polpi Chieppe Xaibas Locustes Oysters exceedyng great Tortoyses Tiburoni of marueilous bygnesse also Manates and Murene and many other fyshes which haue no nâ—mes in our language and these of suche diuersitie and quantitie as can not be expressed without large wrytyng and long tyme. But to let passe to intreate particulerly of the multitude of fyshes I intende to speake chiefely and somewhat largely of three sortes of most notable fyshes whereof the fyrst is the great Tortoyses the seconde is called Tiburon and the thyrd Manate And to begin at the fyrst I say that in the Ilande of Cuba are found great Tortoyses which are certayne shell fyshes of suche byggenesse that tenne or fyfteene men are scarsely able to lyfte one of them out of the water as I haue been infourmed of credible persons dwellyng in the same Iland But of that which I my selfe haue seene I can testifie that in the fyrme lande in the village of Acla there are of this sort some taken and kylled of suche byggenesse that syxe men with muche difficultie coulde scarsely drawe them out of the water and commonly the least sort of them are as much as two men may carry at a burden that whiche I sawe lyfted vp by syxe men had her shell a yarde and a quarter in length and in breadth more then fyue yardes The maner of takyng them is this It sometymes chaunceth that in theyr great nettes whiche they call shoote nettes there are founde certayne Tortoyses of the common sort in great quantities and when they come out of the sea and bryng foorth theyr egges and goe togeather by companyes from the sea to feede on the lande the Christians or Indians folowe theyr steppes which they fynde in the sande and soone ouertake them because they are very heauy and slowe in goyng although they make all the hast they can to returne to the sea assoone as they espie any bodie When they that pursue them haue ouertaken them they put a stake or staffe vnder theyr legges and ouerturne them on theyr backes as they are yet runnyng so that they can goe no further nor yet ryse agayne or turne and thus they suffer them to lye styll whyle they folowe after the rest which they ouerturne in lyke maner and by this meanes take very many at suche tymes as they come foorth of the sea as I haue sayde This fyshe is very excellent and holsome to be eaten and of good tast The seconde of the three fyshes wherof I haue spoken is the Tiburon this is a very great fyshe and very quycke and swyft in the water and a cruell deuourer these are oftentymes taken aswell when the shippes are vnder sayle in the Ocean as also when they lye at anker or at any other tyme and especially the leaste kynde of these fyshes When the shyppes are vnder sayle the byggest sorte are taken after this maner When the Tiburon seeth the shyppe saylyng he foloweth it swymmyng behynde the whiche thinges the mariners seeyng cast foorth all the fylth of the shyppe into the sea for the fyshe to eate who neuerthelesse foloweth them with equall pase although they make neuer suche haste with full wynde and sayles and waloweth on euery syde and about the shyp and thus foloweth it sometyme for the space of a hundred fyftie leagues and more and when the mariners are disposed to take them they cast downe by the sterne of the shyppe a hooke of Iron as bygge as the byggest fynger of a mans hande of three spannes in length and crooked lyke a fyshehooke with beardes accordyng to the bygnesse thereof and fastened to an Iron cheyne of fyue or syxe lynkes neare vnto the ende and from thence tyed with a great rope fastnyng also on the hooke for a bayte a peece of some fyshe or hogges fleshe or some other flesh or the bowels and intralles of an other Tiburon which they haue taken before whiche may easily be done for I haue seene niene taken in one day and if they would haue taken more they myght also Thus when the Tiburon hath pleasauntly folowed the shyppe a long viage at the length he swaloweth the bayte with the hooke and aswell by his stryuyng to flee or escape as also by the swyft passage of the shyppe the hooke ouerthwarteth and catcheth holde of his chappes the whiche fyshe when it is taken it is of such huge byggenesse that twelue or fyfteene men are scarsely able to drawe it out of the water and lyft it into the shyppe where one of the mariners gyueth it many knockes on the head with a club or beetle vntyll hee haue slayne it they are sometymes founde of tenne or twelue foote long and of fyue sixe or seuen spannes in breadth where they are brodest they haue very great and wyde mouthes to the proportion of the rest of theyr
bodyes and haue two rowes of teeth the one somewhat separate from the other of cruell shape and standyng very thycke When they haue slayne this fyshe they cut the body thereof in small peeces and put it to drye hangyng it three or foure dayes at the cordes of the sayle clothes to drye in the wynde and then eate it It is doubtlesse a good fyshe and of great commoditie to serue the shyppes for vitalles for many dayes the leaste of these fyshes are most holesome and tender it hath a skynne muche lyke to the skynne of a Sole whereunto the sayd Tiburon is like in shape Whiche I saye because Plinie hath made mention of none of these three fyshes among the number of them wherof he writeth in his natural hystorie These Tiburons come foorth of the sea and enter into the ryuers where they are no lesse perylous then great Lisartes or Crocodiles wherof I haue spoken largely before For they deuoure men kyne and horses euen as do the Crocodiles they are very daungerous in certayne washyng places or pooles by the ryuers sydes and where they haue deuoured at other tymes Dyuers other fyshes both great and small of sundry sortes and kyndes are accustomed to folowe the shyppes goyng vnder sayle of the whiche I wyll speake somwhat when I haue written of Manate whiche is the thyrde of the three wherof I haue promised to entreate Manate therefore is a fyshe of the sea of the byggest sorte and muche greater then the Tiburon in length and breadth and is very bruityshe and vyle so that it appeareth in fourme lyke vnto one of those great vesselles made of goates skynnes wherin they vse to cary newe wyne in Medina de Campo or in Areualo the head of this beast is lyke the head of an Oxe with also like eyes and hath in the place of armes two great stumpes wherwith he swymmeth It is a very gentle and tame beast and commeth oftentimes out of the water to the next shore where if he fynd any hearbes or grasse he feedeth therof Our men are accustomed to kyl many of these and diuers other good fyshes with their crosbowes pursuing them in barkes or Canoas because they swim in maner aboue the water the which thyng when they see they drawe them with a hooke tyde at a small corde but somewhat strong As the fyshe fleeth away the archer letteth go and prolongeth the corde by litle and litle vntyll he haue let it go many fathams at the ende of the corde there is tyde a corke or a peece of lyght woodde and when the fyshe is gone a litle way and hath coloured the water with his blood and feeleth hym selfe to faynt and drawe towarde the ende of his lyfe he resorteth to the shore and the archer foloweth geatheryng vp his corde wherof whyle there yet remayne syxe or eyght fathams or somewhat more or lesse he draweth it towarde the lande and draweth the fyshe therewith by litle and litle as the waues of the sea helpe hym to do it the more easly then with the helpe of the rest of his companie he lyfteth this great beaste out of the water to the lande beyng of suche byggenesse that to conuey it from thence to the citie it shal be requisite to haue a carte with a good yoke of Oxen and sometymes more accordyng as these fyshes are of byggenesse some being much greater then other some in the same kinde as is seene of other beastes Somtymes they lyft these fyshes into the Canoa or barke without drawyng them to the lande as before for as soone as they are slayne they flote aboue the water And I beleeue veryly that this fyshe is one of the best in the worlde to the tast and the lykeest vnto fleshe especially so lyke vnto beefe that who so hath not seene it whole can iudge it to be none other when he seeth it in peeces then very beefe or veale and is certaynly so lyke vnto fleshe that all the men in the world may herein be deceyued the tast likewise is like vnto the tast of very good veale and lasteth long yf it be powdred so that in fine the Base of these parts is by no meanes lyke vnto this This Manate hath a certayne stone or rather bone in his head within the brayne whiche is of qualitie greatly appropriate agaynst the disease of the stone if it be burnt and grounde into small powder and taken fastyng in the morning when the paine is felte in such quantitie as may lye vppon a peny with a draught of good whyte wyne For being thus taken three or foure mornings it acquieteth the greefe as dyuers haue tolde me whiche haue proued it true and I my selfe by testimonie of syght do wytnesse that I haue seene this stone sought of dyuers for this effecte There are also dyuers other fyshes as bygge as this Manate among the whiche there is one called Vihuella This fyshe beareth in the toppe of his head a swoorde beyng on euery syde full of many sharpe teeth this swoorde is naturally very harde and strong of foure or fyue spannes in length and of proportion accordyng to the same byggenesse and for this cause is this fyshe called Spada that is the swoorde fyshe Of this kynde some are founde as litle as Sardines and other so great that two yokes of Oxen are scarsely able to drawe them on a Cart. But whereas before I haue promised to speake of other fyshes whiche are taken in these seas whyle the shyppes are vnder sayle I wyll not forgeat to speake of the Tunnye whiche is a great and good fyshe and is oftentymes taken and kylde with trout speares and hookes cast in the water when they play and swym about the shyppes In lyke maner also are taken many Turbuts whiche are very good fyshes as are lyghtly in all the sea And here is to be noted that in the great Ocean sea there is a strange thyng to be consydered whiche all that haue been in the Indies affirme to be true And this is that lyke as on the lande there are some prouinces fertyle and fruitfull and some barren euen so doth the lyke chaunce in the sea So that at some wyndes the shyppes sayle fyftie or a hundred or two hundred leagues and more without takyng or seeyng of one fyshe and agayne in the selfe same Ocean in some places all the water is seene tremble by the mouyng of the fyshes where they are taken abundantly It commeth further to my remembraunce to speake somewhat of the fleeyng of fyshes whiche is doubtlesse a strange thyng to beholde and is after this maner When the shyppes sayle by the great Ocean folowyng theyr viage there ryseth sometymes on the one syde or on the other many companies of certayne litle fyshes of the whiche the byggest is no greater then a Sardyne and so diminishe lesse and lesse from that quantitie that â—ome of them are very
learned men I am not satisfyed of the naturall cause hereof I content my selfe to knowe and beleeue that he whiche hath made these thynges dooth knowe this and many other which he hath not graunted to the reason of man to comprehende muche lesse to so base a wyt as myne is They therefore that are of greater vnderstandyng shall search the cause hereof for them and for me forasmuche as I haue onely put the matter in question as a wytnesse that haue seene thexperience of the thyng Of the strayght or narrowe passage of the land lying betweene the North and South sea by the which spyces may much sooner and easlyer be brought from the Ilandes of Molucca into Spaine by the VVest Ocean then by that way whereby the Portugales sayle into the East India IT hath been an opinion among the Cosmographers and Pilottes of late tyme and other whiche haue had practyse in thynges touchyng the sea that there shoulde be a strayght of water passing from the North sea of the fyrme into the South sea of Sur which neuerthelesse hath not been seene nor founde to this day And surely yf there be any such strayght we that inhabite those partes do thynke the same should be rather of land then of water For the fyrme land in some partes thereof is so strayght and narrowe that the Indians say that from the mountaynes of the prouince of Esquegua or Vrraca which are betweene the one sea and the other if a man ascend to the top of the mountaines and looke toward the North he may see the water of the North sea of the prouince of Beragua againe looking the contrary way may on the other syde towards the South see the sea of Sur and the prouinces which confine with it as do the territories of the two Lordes or kynges of the sayde prouinces of Vrraca and Esquegua And I beleeue that yf it be as the Indians say of all that is hytherto knowen this is the narrowest strayght of the fyrme land whiche some affirme to be full of rough mountaynes Yet do I take it for a better way or soo short as is that whiche is made from the port called Nomen Dei whiche is in the North sea vnto the newe citie of Panama beyng in the coast and on the bancke of the sea of Sur whiche way is lykewyse very rough full of thycke wooddes mountaynes ryuers valleyes and very difficult to passe through and can not be done without great labour trauaile Some measure this way in this part to be from sea to sea eighteene leagues whiche I suppose to be rather twentie not for that it is any more by measure but because it is rough and difficult as I haue sayde and as I haue founde it by experience hauyng now twise passed that way by foote countyng from the port and village of Nomen Dei vnto the dominion of the Cacique of Iuanaga otherwyse called Capira eyght leagues and from thence to the ryuer of Chagre other eyght leagues So that at this riuer beyng sixteene leagues from the sayde port endeth the roughnesse of the way then from hence to the marueilous brydge are two leagues and beyonde that other two vnto the port of Panama So that altogeather in my iudgement make twentie leagues And yf therefore this nauigation may be founde in the South sea for the trade of spyces as we trust in God to be brought from thence to the sayde port of Panama as is possible enough they maye afterwarde easely passe to the North sea notwithstandyng the difficultie of the way of the twentie leagues aforesayde Which thyng I affirme as a man wel trauayled in these regions hauyng twyse on my feete passed ouer this strayght in the yeere 1521. as I haue said It is furthermore to be vnderstoode that it is a marueilous facilitie to bryng spices by this way which I wil now declare From Panama to the ryuer of Chagre are foure leagues of good and fayre way by the which cartes may passe at pleasure by reason that the mountaines are but few and litle and that the greatest part of these foure leagues is a playne grounde voyde of trees and when the cartes are come to the sayde ryuer â–ª the spyces may be caried in Barkes and pynnesses For this riuer entreth into the North sea fyue or syxe leagues lower then the port of Nomen Dei and emptieth it selfe in the sea neere vnto an Iland called Bastimento where is a verye good and safe port Your maiestie may now therfore consyder howe great a thyng â–ª and what commoditie it may be to conuey spices this way forasmuch as y e riuer of Chagre hauing his originall only two leagues from the South sea continueth his course and emptieth it selfe into the other North sea This riuer runneth fast and is verye great and so commodious for this purpose as may be thought or desired the marueylous brydge made by the worke of nature beyng two leagues beyond the sayde ryuer other two leagues on this syde the port of Panama so lying in the mydde waye betweene them both as framed naturally in suche sort that none which passe by this viage doth see any such brydge or thinke that there is any such buyldyng in that place vntyll they be in the top thereof in the way towarde Panama But assoone as they are on the brydge lookyng towarde the ryght hande they see a litle ryuer vnder them whiche hath his chanell distant from the feete of them that walke ouer it the space of two speares length or more The water of this ryuer is very shalowe not passyng the deapth of a mans legge to the knee and is in breadth betweene thyrtie and fourtie pases and falleth into the ryuer of Chagre Towarde the ryght hand standyng on this brydge there is nothing seene but great trees The largenesse of the brydge conteyneth fyfteene pases and the length thereof about threescore or fourescore pases The arche is so made of most harde stone that no man can beholde it without admiration beyng made by the hygh and omnipotent creatour of all thinges But to returne to speake somewhat more of the conueying of spices I say that when it shall please almyghtie God that this nauigation aforesayde shall be founde by the good fortune of your maiestie and that the spyces of the Ilandes of the South sea whiche may also be otherwyse called the Ocean of the East India in the which are the Ilandes of Molucca shal be brought to the sayd coast and the port of Panama and be conueyed from thence as we haue sayde by the fyrme lande with cartes vnto the ryuer of Chagre and from thence into this our other sea of the North from whence they may afterwarde be brought into Spayne I say that by this meanes the viage shal be shortned more then seuen thousand leagues with muche lesse daunger then is by the viage nowe vsed by the
and the citie then the walles and this is about fiftie pases where it is furthest of On this syde the waters of the sea beate vpon the natural stones and fayre coast On the other part hard by the side and at the foote of the houses passeth the riuer Ozama which is a marueilous port wherin laden shippes rise very neere to the land and in maner vnder the house windowes and no further from the mouth of the riuer where it entreth into y e sea then is from the foote of the hil of Monyuia to the monastery of saint Fraunces or to the lodge of Barsalona In the myddest of this space in the citie is the fortresse and castle vnder the which and twentie pases distant from the same passe the shyppes to aryse somewhat further in the same riuer From the entraunce of the shippes vntyl they cast anker they sayle no further from the houses of the citie then thyrtie or fourtie pases because of this side of the citie the habitation is nere to the riuer The port or hauen also is so fayre and commodious to defraight or vnlade shippes as the like is founde but in fewe places of the worlde The chymneis that are in this citie are about syxe hundred in number and such houses as I haue spoken of before Of the which some are so fayre large that they may well receiue and lodge any lorde or noble man of Spaine with his traine familie and especially that which Don Diego Colon viceroy vnder your maiestie hath in this citie is such that I knowe no man in Spayne that hath the lyke by a quarter in goodnesse consydering all the commodities of the same Lykewyse the situation thereof as beyng aboue the sayde porte and altogeather of stone and hauyng many fayre and large roomes with as goodly a prospect of the lande and sea as may be deuised seemeth vnto me so magnificall and princelyke that your maiestie may be as well lodged therin as in any of the most exquisite buylded houses of Spayne There is also a Cathedral church builded of late where aswel y e Bishop accordyng to his dignitie as also the Canons are wel endewed This church is wel builded of stone and lime and of good woorkmanshyp There are furthermore three monasteries bearyng the name of saint Dominike saint Fraunces and saint Marie of Mercedes the which are all well buylded although not so curiously as they of Spaine But speakyng without preiudice of any other religious monasterie your maiestie may be wel assured that in these three monasteries god is as wel serued as in any other religious house with men of holy lyuyng vertuous example There is also a very good hospitall for the ayde and succour of poore people which was founde by Michael Passamont treasurer to your maiestie To conclude this citie from day to day increaseth in wealth and good order aswel for that the saide Admiral viceroy with the lorde Chauncelour and counsayle appoynted there by your maiestie haue theyr continuall abydyng heere as also that the rychest men of the Ilande resort hyther for theyr most commodious habitation and trade of suche marchaundies as are eyther brought out of Spayne or sent thyther from this Ilande whiche nowe so aboundeth in many thynges that it serueth Spayne with many commodities as it were with vsury requityng suche benefytes as it fyrst receyued from thence The people of this Ilande are commonly of somewhat lesse stature then are the Spaniardes and of a shynyng or cleare browne coloure they haue wyues of theyr owne and absteyne from theyr daughters systers and mothers they haue large foreheades long blacke heare and no beardes or heare in anye other partes of theyr bodies aswell men as women except very fewe as perhaps scarsly one among a thousand They goe as naked as they were borne except that on the partes whiche may not with honestie be seene they weare a certayne leafe as brode as a mans hande which neuerthelesse is not kept close with such diligence but that sometymes a man may see that they thynke sufficiently hyd In this Iland are certayne Glowormes that shyne in the nyght as do ours but are much bygger and geue a greater lyght Insomuch that when the men of the Ilande goo any iorneys in the night they beare some of these wormes made fast about theyr feete and head in such sort that he that should see them a farre ignorant of the thing would be greatly astonished thereat By the lyght of these also the women worke in theyr houses in the nyght These wormes they cal Cieuas Their light lasteth for the space of three dayes and diminisheth as they begin to drye vp There is also a kynde of Crowes whose breath stynketh in the mornyng and is sweete in the after noone the excrement which they auoyde is a lyuing worme As touching other thynges of this Iland whereof Peter Martyr hath more largely intreated in his Decades I haue thought it superfluous to repeate the same agayne out of this historie of Gonzalus Ferdinandus but haue heere gâ—athered only such thynges as eyther are not touched of Peter Martir or not so largely declared as I haue done the lyke in all other notable thynges which I haue collected out of this Summarie of Gonzalus Of the Ilande of Cuba and other OF the Ilande of Cuba and other as the Ilandes of Sancti Iohannis and Iamaica the same way be sayde in maner in all thinges as before of Hispaniola although not so largely Yet in lesse quantitie do they bring foorth the lyke thynges as golde copper cattayle trees plantes fyshes and suche other of the whiche we haue spoken there In Cuba is a certayne kynde of Partriches beyng verye litle with theyr feathers muche of the coloure of Turtle Dooues but are of muche better tast to be eaten they are taken in great number and beyng brought wylde into the houses they become as tame within the space of three or foure dayes as though they had been hatched there they become exceedyng fat in short space and are doubtlesse the most delicate and pleasaunt meate that euer I haue eaten But to let passe many other thynges that myght be heere sayd and to speake of two marueylous thynges whiche are in this Ilande of Cuba whereof the on is that a valleye conteynyng two or three leagues in length betweene two mountaynes is full of a kynde of verye harde stones of suche perfect roundenesse and lyke vnto Pellettes of Gunnes that no art can make better or more exactly pullished Of these some are as small as Pellettes for Handgunnes and other so encreasyng bygger and bygger from that quantitie that they maye serue for all sortes of Artyllarie although they bee of byggenesse to receyue one or two or more Quintales of pouder euery Quyntale conteynyng one hundred weyght or of what other quantitie so euer they be These Pellettes are founde
commodities that it seemeth in a maner an earthly Paradise it hath diuers kynds of beastes and yet none hurtful or of rauenyng kynde Theyr sheepe are of suche heyght that they vse them in steede of Horses some write that they are as bygge as the young Foles of Camelles and that theyr wooll is verye softe and fyne also that the Ewes bryng foorth Lambes twyse a yeere The people are wyttie and of gentle behauiour cunnyng also in artes faythfull of promise and of maners not greatly to be discommended saue only that they are ignorant of Christ who neuerthelesse is now knowen vnto them in many places as our hope is he shal be daylie more and more yf all Princes wyll herein put theyr helpyng handes to the plowe of our Lorde and send labourers into his vineyarde Of the great ryuer called Rio de la Plata that is the ryuer of siluer THis ryuer reacheth very farre in length breadth and is called Vruai in the Indian tongue Into this falleth an other riuer named Paraue The first that sayled into the riuer of Plata was Iohn Dias Solis whom the ryght noble kyng of Spaine Ferdinandus made Admirall of these seas In the ryuer lyeth an Ilande whiche Iohn Dias named Martinus Gratias because a pilot of his so called was buried there This Ilande is situate in the myddest of the ryuer and is distant from the mouth of the same about fourtie leagues As the sayde Admyrall attempted to expugne the Ilande he was sodenly oppressed and slayne of the Indians that priuylye assayled hym Wherewith neuerthelesse theyr barbarous crueltie was not satisfied vntyll they had torne hym in peeces and deuoured hym But many yeeres after the Emperours Maiestie and Kyng of Spayne Charles the fyfte sent foorth Sebastian Cabot a man of great courage skylful in Cosmographie and of no lesse experience as concernyng the Starres of the sea with commaundement to discouer and subdue the Indians of Tharsis Ophir Cipango and Coi Cathai Receyuyng therefore his commission and proceedyng forwardes on his viage he arriued by chaunce at this Ilande the cause whereof was that the principall vessell was lost by shypwracke and the men that saued theyr lyues by swymmyng were receyued into our shyppes Perceyuyng therefore that by reason of this chaunce he coulde by no meanes perfourme his viage attempted he entended to expugne the sayde Ilande and thereupon to conueygh his victuals to land to prepare his souldiers to the inuasion to plant colonies to erect fortresses by the riuers side wherby the Spaniards might be defended from the violence of the Barbarians But before he attempted this he was aduertised that the Ilande was rich in gold siluer Which thing did so encorage him that without respecte of peryl he thought best to expugne it by one meanes or other wherein his boldenesse tooke good effecte as often tymes chaunceth in great affayres Furthermore as touchyng the ryuer Sebastian Cabote made relation that he neuer sawe any comparable vnto this in breadth and deapth For whereas it falleth into the sea it conteyneth .xxv. leagues in breadth From the mouth of the ryuer Cabote sailed vp the same into the lande for the space of three hundred and fiftie leagues as he wryteth in his owne carde That it is of great deapth may hereby be consydered that many great ryuers fall into it so that the chanell can not be shalowe that conteyneth such aboundance of water and suche plentie of good and great fyshes For there is in maner no fyshe in the sea that is not founde in this ryuer Assoone as the Spanyardes were set alande they made a proofe if the soyle were fruitefull to beare corne Takyng therefore fyftie graynes of wheate and committyng the same to the earth in the moneth of September they geathered thereof two thousand and fiftie at December next folowyng wherin some being deceyued and mistakyng the thyng haue written in the steade of two thousande and fiftie fiftie thousande and two the lyke fertilitie is there of all other grayne and pulse Furthermore thinhabitauntes declared that not farre from that place there are great and hygh mountaines in the which is founde great plentie of golde and no great distance from the same to be other mountaynes no lesse fruitefull of syluer and many other thinges long to rehearse Thinhabitauntes are paynefull men and tyll the grounde diligently wherein they take great pleasure and haue therefore great plentie of bread of Maizium There are sheepe of such byggenesse that they compare them to young Camels or Asses as some say theyr wooll is very fine and nearest vnto the fynenesse of sylke There are also beastes of diuers kyndes Among men there is this difference that such as liue in the mountaynes are whyte and for the most part lyke vnto the men of our regions but they that dwell aboue the ryuer as though they tooke theyr colour thereof are blackyshe or purple of the coloure of fine Iron or Steele This also chaunceth to many of them that theyr feete and legges are lyke the legges and feete of the foule called the Oystreche Of the landes of Laborador and Baccalaos lying west and northwest from England and being part of the firme lande of the VVest Indies MAny haue traueyled to search the coaste of the lande of Laborador aswell to thintent to knowe howe farre or whyther it reacheth as also whether there be any passage by sea through the same into the sea of Sur and the Ilandes of Molucca whiche are vnder the Equinoctiall lyne thynkyng that the way thyther should greatly be shortened by this viage The Spanyardes as to whose ryght the sayde Ilandes of spices parteyne dyd fyrst seeke to fynde the same by this way The Portugales also hauyng the trade of spices in theyr handes dyd trauayle to fynde the same although hytherto neyther any suche passage is founde or the ende of that lande In the yeere a thousande and fiue hundreth Gasper Cortesreales made a viage thyther with two Carauelles but found not the streight or passage he sought At his being there he named the Ilands that lye in the mouth of y e gulfe Quadrado after his name Cortesreales lying in the fyftie degree and more brought from that land about threescore men for slaues He greatly marueyled to behold the huge quantitie of snowe Ise for the sea is there frosen exceedingly Thinhabitantes are men of good corporature although tawny lyke the Indies and laborious They paynt theyr bodyes and weare braselettes and hoopes of syluer and copper theyr apparell is made of the skynnes of Marternes dyuers other beastes whiche they weare with the heare inwarde in winter and outwarde in sommer This apparell they gyrde to theyr bodyes with gyrdels made of cotton or the fynewes of fyshes and beastes They eate fyshe more then any other thyng and especially Salmons although
We therefore asked the cause of this answered it was that in euery citie there is a great circuit wherein be many houses for poore people for blinde lame old folke not able to traueyle for age nor hauyng any other meanes to lyue These folke haue in the aforesayde houses euer plentie of rice duryng theyr lyues but nothyng els Such as be receyued into these houses come in after this maner Whan one is sicke blinde or lame he maketh a supplication to the Ponchiassi and prouyng that to be true he wryteth he remayneth in the aforesayde great lodgyng as long as he lyueth besides this they keepe in these places Swyne and Hennes whereby the poore be releeued without goyng a beggyng I sayd before that China was full of ryuers but now I mynde to confyrme the same anewe for the farther we went into the countrey the greater we found the ryuers Sometymes we were so farre of from the sea that where we came no sea fyshe had been seene and salt was there very deere of freshe water fyshe yet was there great aboundance that fysh very good they keepe it good after this maner Where the ryuers doe meete and so passe into the sea there lyeth great store of Boates specially where no salte water commeth and that in Marche and Apryll These Boates are so many that it seemeth wonderfull ne serue they for other than to take small fyshe By the ryuers sydes they make leyres of fine and strong nettes that lye three handfulles vnder water and one aboue to keepe and nourysh their fyshe in vntyll suche tyme as other fyshers doe come with Boates bryngyng for that purpose certayne great chestes lyned with paper able to holde water wherein they carry theyr fyshe vp and downe the ryuer euery day renuyng the chest with freshe water and sellyng theyr fyshe in euery citie towne and village where they passe vnto the people as they neede it most of them haue nette leyres to keepe fyshe in alwayes for theyr prouision Where the greater Boates can not passe any farther forwarde they take lesser and bycause the whole countrey is very well watred there is so great plentie of dyuers sortes of fyshe that it is wonderfull to see assuredly we were amazed to beholde the maner of their prouision Theyr fyshe is chiefly nourished with the dung of Bufles and Oxen that greatly fatteth it Although I sayde theyr fyshyng to be in March and Aprill at what tyme we sawe them doe it neuerthelesse they tolde vs that they fyshed at all tymes for that vsually they doe feede on fyshe wherfore it behoueth them to make theyr prouision continually Whan we had passed Fuquien wee went into Quicin shyre where the fine claye vessell is made as I sayde before and we came to a citie the one syde whereof is built vppon the foote of a hyll wherby passeth a ryuer nauigable there we tooke Boate and went by water towarde the sea on ech syde of the ryuer we found many cities townes and villages wherein we sawe great store of marchandyse but specially of fine clay there dyd wee lande by the way to buye victualles and other necessaryes Goyng downe this ryuer Southwarde we were glad that we drewe neare vnto a warmer countrey from whence wee had been farre distant this countrey we passed through in eyght dayes for our iourney laye downe the streame Before that I doe say any thyng of that shyre we came into I will fyrst speake of the great citie of Quicin wherin alwayes remaineth a Tutan that is a gouernour as you haue seene though some Tutans doe gouerne two or three shyres That Tutan that was condempned for our cause of whom I spake before was borne in this countrey but he gouerned Foquien shyre nothing it auayled him to bee so great an officer This countrey is so great that in many places where we went there had ben as yet no talke of his death although he were executed a whole yeere before At the citie Quanche whyther we came the riuer was so great that it seemed a sea though it were so litle where we tooke water that we needed smal boates One day about .ix. of y e clocke beginning to row neare the walles with the streame we came at noone to a bridge made of many barges ouerlinked all togeather with two mighty cheyns There stayed we vntil it was late but we saw not one go either vp theron or downe except two Louteas y t about the going downe of y e sun came set them downe there the one in one side the other in the other side Than was the bridge opened in many places barges both great smal to the number of .600 began to passe those that went vp the streame at one place such as came downe at an other Whā al had thus shot the bridge than was it shut vp againe We heare say that euery day they take this order in all principall places of merchandyse for paying of y e custome vnto the king specially for salt wherof the greatest reuenews are made that the king hath in this countrey The passages of the bridge where it is opened bee so neare the shore that nothing can passe without touching the same To stay the barges at their pleasure that they go no farther forward are vsed certayne yron instrumentes The bridge consisteth of .112 barges there stayed wee vntyll the euenyng that they were opened lothesomely oppressed by the multitude of people that came to see vs so many in number that we were enforced to goe asyde from the banke vntyl such tyme as the bridge was opened howbeit we were neuerthelesse thronged about w t many boates full of people And though in other cities and places where wee went the people came so importunate vpon vs that it was needfull to withdraw our selues yet were we heere much more molested for the number of people and this bridge the principal way out of the citie vnto an other place so well inhabited that were it walled about it myght bee compared to the citie Whan we had shot the bridge we kept along the citie vntill that it was nyght than met we with an other ryuer that ioyned with this we rowed vp that by the walles vntyll we came to an other bridge gallantly made of barges but lesser a great deale than that other bridge ouer the greater streame heere stayed we that nyght and other two dayes with more quiet being out of the prease of the people These riuers do meet without at one corner point of the citie In either of them were so many barges great and small that we all thought them at the least to be aboue three thousande the greater number therof was in the lesser ryuer where we were Amongst the rest here lay certayne greater vessels called in their language Parai that serue for the Tutan whan he taketh his voyage by other ryuers that ioyne with this towards Pachin where the king maketh
in maner vnder the same qualitie of heauen persysted wyllyngly in the same opinion with more confidence then consideration of the thynges whereof we nowe intreate so lyghtly was that opinion receyued as touchyng the vnhabitable clime vnder the poles But we with better confidence and faith forasmuche as we are not instructed with coniectures intend to stande against the sentence of the olde autours affirmyng the North regions within the colde clime to be inhabited with herrynges coddes haddockes and brettes tunnyes and other great fyshes with thinfinite number whereof tables are furnyshed through a great parte of Europe All whiche are taken in the North sea extended beyonde our knoweledge This sea at certayne tymes of the yeere poureth foorth his plentifulnes or rather driueth foorth his increase to seeke newe mansions and are here taken in theyr passage Furthermore also euen the mouthes of the riuer of Tiber receiued a fyshe as a newe gest sent from the north sea this swamme twise through Fraunce and twise through Spayne ouerpassed the Ligurion and Tuscan sea to communicate her selfe to the citie of Rome The lakes also and ryuers of those regions are replenyshed with fyshe insomuch that no power of colde is able to extinguyshe thincrease of the yeere folowing and the succession reparable so many hundred yeeres And I plainely thinke that if it should of necessitie folowe that one of these two elementes the earth and the water should be destructiue to lyuyng creatures the water shoulde chiefely haue wrought this effecte But this is founde so tractable that in the depe wynter both that increase is brought foorth and fyshing is also exercised The lande is lykewise inhabited with like plentifulnesse But that we wander not to farre let the fayth hereof rest in thexposition folowing wherin we intend to declare howe by the power of nature and industry of man this commoditie may come to passe Therefore as touchyng nature we suppose that the diuine prouidence hath made nothyng vncommunicable but to haue geuen suche order to all thynges wherby euery thyng may be tollerable to the next The extremities of the elementes consent with theyr next The ayre is grosse about the earth and water but thynne and hot about the fyre By this prouidence of nature the vttermost sea is very salt And salt as witnesseth Plinie yeldeth the fattnesse of Oyle But Oyle by a certayne natyue heate is of propertie agreeable to fyre The sea then beyng al of such qualitie powreth foorth it selfe farre vpon thextreeme landes whereby by reason of the saltnesse thereof it moueth and stirreth vp generatiue heate as by fatnesse it norisheth the fecunditie of thynges generate It geueth this fruitefulnesse to the earth at certayne floods although the earth also it selfe haue in his inner bowels the same lyuely and norishing heate wherby not only the Dennes Caues and hollow places but also spryngs of water are made warme this so much the more in how muche the wynter is more vehement This thyng doth more appeare by this example that the mountaines of Norway and Swethlande are fruitfull of metales in the which siluer and copper are concoct and molten into veines â–ª which can scarcely by done in fornaces By this reason also the vapoures and hot exhalations pearsyng the earth and the waters and through both those natures breathyng foorth into the ayre temperateth the qualitie of heauen maketh it tollerable to beasts as witnesseth the huge bygnesse of the Whales in those seas with the strength of body and long lyfe of such beastes as lyue on the land which thyng coulde not be except all thyngs were there commodiously norished by the benefite of the heauen and the ayre For nothyng that in the tyme of encrease is hyndred by any iniurie or that is euyl fedde al the tyme it lyueth can prosper wel Neyther are such thynges as liue there offended with theyr natural wynter as though an Egiptian or Ethiopian were sodenly conueighed into those cold regions For they were in long tyme by litle and litle brought fyrst acquaynted with the nature of that heauen as maye be prooued both by the lyfe of man and by the hystorie of holy scripture They that were led from Mesopatamia and that famous Tower of Babilon towards the North partes of the worlde in the fyrst dispertion of nations did not immediately passe to the extreme boundes but planted theyr habitations first vnder a myddle heauen between both as in Thracia and Pontus where theyr posteritie was accustomed the better to susteyne the rigour of Scythia and Tanais as he that commeth from winter to sommer may the better after abyde yse and snow beyng fyrst hardened thereto by the frostes of Autumne In lyke maner mortal men accustomed to beare the hardnesse of places next vnto them were thereby at the length more confirmed to sustayne the extremities And here also if any sharpnesse remaine that may seeme intollerable nature hath so prouided for the same with other remedies For the land and sea hath geuen vnto beastes deepe and large Caues Dennes and other hollowe places and secreete corners in mountaynes and rockes both on the land and by sea banckes in the which are euer conteyned warme vapoures so muche the more intent and vehement in how much they are the more constrayned by extreeme cold Nature hath also geuen valleyes diuerted and defended from the North windes She hath lykewyse couered beastes with heare so muche the thycker in how much the vehemencie of cold is greater by reason wherof the best and richest furres are brought from those regions as Sables whose pryce is growne to great excesse next vnto gold and precious stones and are esteemed princely ornamentes The beasts that beare these furres are hunted cheefelye in winter whiche thyng is more strange because their heare is then thicker and cleaueth faster to the skin How greeuous then shal we thinke the wynter to be there where this litle beast liueth so wel and where the hunters may search the Dennes and hauntes of such beastes through the woods and snow But such beastes the condition of whose bodies is so tender that they are not able to abide thiniurie of the cold either lye hyd in winter or change their habitation as do certaine beasts also in our clime Nature hath furthermore geuen remedie to man both by art and industry to defende him selfe both abrode and at home Abrode with a thicke vesture and the same well dowbeled At home with large fyers on Harthes Chymneyes and in Stooues for the daye with close Chaumbers and Couches soft and warme Beddes for the nyght by whiche remedies they mittigate the wynters which seeme rigorous to straungers although they are to thinhabitantes more tollerable then our opinion as in deede by the fyrst naturall mixture or composition of theyr bodies such thyngs are agreeable to them as seeme very hard to other The Lion
of the Iland of Hispaniola aboue Cuba an Ilande of the Canibales Which narration hath geuen me occasion to extende Groneland beyond the promontorie or cape of Huitsarch to the contynent or fyrme lande of Lapponia aboue the castell of Wardhus whiche thyng I dyd the rather for that the reuerende Archebyshop of Nidrosia constantly affirmed that the sea bendeth there into the fourme of a crooked Elbowe It agreeth herewith also that the Lapones consent with them in the lyke Magicall practises and do neyther embrace the Christian religion nor refuse it wherby I haue thought this lykenesse of customes to be betweene them because they ioyne togeather in one continent The distance lykewyse seemeth not to disagree For beetweene both these people the distance is not full two hundred Schoeni euery one beyng a space of ground conteining threescore furlonges which make seauen myles a halfe It furthermore agreeth with this coniecture that Cabot chaunced into such yse And albeit as touching the Moneth of Iuly I wyll contend it is not well rehearsed no although he had sailed vnder the poole for such reasons as we haue declared before to the contrary neuerthelesse that at some tyme he sailed by yse this testifieth in that he sayled not by the mayne sea but in places neare vnto the land comprehending embrasing the sea in fourme of a gulfe whereas for the same cause the gulfe of Gothland is frosen because it is streyght and narrow ▪ in the which also the litle quantitie of salte water is ouercome by the abundance of fresh water of many and great ryuers that fall into the gulfe But betweene Norway and Island the sea is not frosen for the contrary cause forasmuch as the power of freshe water is there ouercome of the abundance of the salte water There is a fame but of vncertayne aucthoritie that the Spaniardes sayle at this present to Gronelande and to an other lande whiche they call Terra Viridis that is the greene lande bringyng from thence suche wares as are founde in Gronelande Towards the North ▪ it reacheth to the vnknowen land vnder the pole from whence also the theeues and robbers of the Pigmei come into this lande Which is an argument that the regions vnder the pole are inhabited almost enuironed with the sea as are they whiche the Cosmographers call Chersonnesi or Peninsulae that is almost Ilandes The description of Gronlande The description of the East syde which lyeth towarde Norway Wardhus Castle 54.  70. 30. Towarde the North. 53. 30. 71. 30. The fyrst extention 40.  71. 40. The second extention 28.  72.  Huitsarch promont 22.  67.  The extention 5.  61. 45. It is continued from thence by the coastes of the lande of Baccallaos 356. 60.   Towarde the West and North it is termined with an vnknowen ende of landes and seas     Islande ISlande is interpreted the land of Ise and is called of the olde wryters Thyle It is extended betweene the South and the North almost two hundred schoenes in longitude It is for the most parte full of mountaynes and vncultured But in the playnes it hath such fruitfull pastures that they are fayne sometymes to dryue the beastes from theyr feedyng least they should be suffocate with to much fatnesse This Ilande is famous by the strange myracles of nature of the whiche Saxo Grammaticus in his hystorie of Denmarke and Olanus Gothus in his description of the North landes doe make mention There are in it three mountaynes of marueylous height the toppes whereof are couered with perpetuall snowe but the nether partes of them are of lyke nature to the mountayne Etna in the Ilande of Sicilie boylyng with continuall flames of fyre and castyng foorth brymstone One of these is named Helga and the other Mons Crucis that is the mounte of the crosse The thyrd is named Hecla whose flames neyther consume flaxe or tow matters most apte to take fyre nor yet are quenched with water And with lyke force as the shot of great artillerie is driuen foorth by violence of fyre euen so by the commixtion and repugnance of fyre colde and brymstone great stones are heere throwne into the ayre Neare vnto these mountaynes are three chynkes or open places in the earth of huge bygnesse and such depth especially at the mount Hecla that no sight can attayne thereto But to such as looke into them there first appeare men as though they were drowned and yet breathyng foorth theyr soules who beyng exhorted by theyr friendes to resorte to theyr owne they answere with mournyng voyce and greeuous sighes that they must departe from thence to the mount Hecla and therewith sodaynely vanyshe out of sight He floweth about the Ilande for the space of seuen or eight monethes makyng by runnyng togeather a certayne miserable waylyng and gronyng noyse not vnlyke the voyce of man Thinhabitauntes thynke that in this Ise and the mount Hecla are the places where the euyll soules of theyr people are tormented If any man take a great portion of this Ise and keepe it as diligently as may be in a close vessell or cofer the same doeth so vanyshe at the tyme when the other Ise about the Ilande dissolueth that not so much as one droppe of water or Ise can thereof be founde Not farre from these mountaynes reachyng towarde the sea coastes are foure sprynges of water of most dyuers and contrary nature The fyrst by reason of his perpetuall and feruent heate sodaynely turneth all bodyes that are cast therein into stones reseruyng neuerthelesse theyr fyrst forme and shape The seconde is of intollerable coldnesse The thyrd is sweeter then hony and most pleasaunt to quench thyrst The fourth is playne poyson pestilent and deadly There is furthermore in these sprynges suche aboundaunce of brymstone that a thousande pounde weight thereof is bought for litle as for the tenth parte of a ducate Theyr chiefe wares are dryed fyshe as Soles Maydens Playces Salpas Stockefyshes and such other whiche they exchange for wheat and such other thinges as are brought thyther from Lubecke Hamborowe and Amsterdam For they haue oftentymes such scarsenesse of corne that they vse dryed fysh in the steade of bread although in sommer the Iland so florysheth with greene and fruitfull medowes that they are fayne somtimes to dryue theyr beastes from pasture least they should suffocate for to much fatnesse as I haue sayde before They make very good butter and apte to be vsed in matters of phisicke There are found diuers kindes of good Haukes as Faulcons Gerfaulcons Lanners and Sperhaukes Also Rauens Crowes Beares Hares and Foxes both white and blacke They haue most swift horses and such as run .xxx. miles continually without rest or baite They haue many churches houses builded of the bones of Whales
exceedyng hygh mountaynes reachyng euen vnto the bankes whose rydges or toppes by reason of continuall wyndes are in maner vtterly barren without grasse or fruites And although in diuers places they haue diuers names yet are they commonlye called Cingulus mundi that is the worlde In these mountaynes doo Ierfalcons breede whereof I haue spoken before There growe also Cedar trees among the whiche are founde the best and blackest kynde of Sables and onely these mountaynes are seene in all the dominions of the prince of Moscouia whiche perhappes are the same that the olde wryters call Rhipheos or Hyperboreos so named of the Greeke woorde Hyper that is Under and Boreas that is the North for by reason they are couered with continual snowe and frost they can not without great difficultie be trauayled and reache so farre into the North that they make the vnknowen land of Engreonland The Duke of Moscouia Basilius the sonne of Iohn sent on a tyme two of his captaynes named Simeon Pheodorowitz Kurbski and Knes Peter Vschatoi to searche the places beyonde these mountaynes and to subdue the nations thereabout Kurbski was yet alyue at my beyng in Moscouia and declared vnto mee that he spent .xvii. dayes in ascending the mountayne and yet could not come to the toppe therof which in theyr tongue is called Stolp that is a pyller This mountayne is extended into the Ocean vnto the mouthes of the ryuers of Dwina and Petzora But now hauyng spoken thus much of the sayde iourney I will returne to the dominions of Moscouia with other regions lying Eastwarde and South from the same toward the myghtie Empyre of Cathay But I will fyrst speake somewhat briefly of the prouince of Rezan and the famous ryuer of Tanais The prouince of Rezan situate betweene the ryuers of Occa and Tanais hath a citie buylded of wood not far from the banke of Occa there was in it a Castle named Iaroslaw whereof there now remayneth nothing but tokens of the olde ruine Not farre from that citie the ryuer Occa maketh an Ilande named Strub which was somtyme a great Dukedome whose prince was subiecte to none other This prouince of Rezan is more fruitful then any other of the prouinces of Moscouia Insomuche that in this as they say euery grayne of wheate bringeth foorth twoo and sometymes more eares whose stalkes or strawes grow so thicke that horses can scarsly goe through them or Quayles flee out of them There is great plentie of hony fyshes foules byrdes and wylde beastes The fruites also doe farre exceede the fruites of Moscouia The people are bolde and warlyke men Of the famous ryuer of Tanais FRom Moscouia vnto the Castle of Iaroslaw and beyonde for the space of almost xxiiii leagues runneth the ryuer of Tanais at a place called Donco where the marchauntes that trade to Asoph Capha and Constantinople fraight theyr shyppes and this for the most parte in Autumpe beyng a rayney tyme of the yeere For Tanais heere at other tymes of the yeere doeth not so abounde with water as to beare shyppes of any burden This famous ryuer of Tanais dyuydeth Europe from Asia and hath his orygynall or sprynges almost .viii. leagues from the citie of Tulla towarde the South inclynyng somewhat towarde the East and not out of the Riphean mountaynes as some haue writen But out of a great lake named Iwanwosero that is the lake of Iohn beyng in length and bredth about .1500 Werstes in a wood which some call Okonitzkilles and other name it Iepipbanoulies And out of this lake spryng the two great ryuers of Schat and Tanais Schat towarde the West receyuyng into it the ryuer of Vppa runneth into the riuer of Occa betwene the West and the North But Tanais at the fyrst runneth directly East and continueth his course betwene the kyngdomes of Casan and Astrachan within syxe or seuen leagues of Volga and from thence bendyng towarde the South maketh the fennes or maryshes of Meotis Furthermore nexte vnto his sprynges is the citie of Tulla and vppon the banke of the ryuer almost three leagues aboue the mouthes of the same is the citie of Asoph whiche was fyrst called Tanais Foure dayes iorney aboue this is a towne called Achas situate harde by the same ryuer whiche the Moscouites call Don. I can not sufficiently prayse this ryuer for the exceedyng abundaunce of good fyshes and fayrenesse of the regions on both sydes the bankes with plentie of holesome hearbes and sweete rootes besyde dyuers and many fruitefull trees growyng in suche coomly order as though they had been set of purpose in gardens or orchardes There is also in maner euery where such plentie of wylde beastes that they may easely be slayne with arrowes Insomuch that such as trauaile by those regions shall stande in neede of none other thyng to mayntayne theyr lyfe but only fyre and salte In these partes is no obseruation of myles but of dayes iorneys But as farre as I coulde coniecture from the fountaynes or sprynges of Tanais vnto the mouthes of the same iorneying by lande are almost fourescore leagues And sayling from Donco from whence I sayde that Tanais was fyrst nauigable in scarsely .xx. dayes voyage they come to the citie of Asoph tributarie to the Turkes which is as they say fyue dayes iorney from the streight of Taurica otherwyse called Precop In this citie is a famous marte towne vnto the whiche resort many merchauntes of dyuers nations and from dyuers partes of the worlde For that all nations may the gladlyer haue recourse thyther free lybertie of bying and sellyng is graunted vnto all and that without the citie euery man may freely vse his owne and accustomed maner of lyuyng without punyshement Of the alters of great Alexander and Iulius Cesar whiche many wryters make mention of in this place or of theyr ruines I coulde haue no certayne knoweledge of thinhabitauntes or any other that had oftentymes trayuayled these places Furthermore the souldyers whiche the prince of Moscouia mayntayneth there yeerely to oppresse thincursions of the Tartars being of me demaunded herof answeared y t they neuer saw or heard of any such thing Neuerthelesse they said that about y e mouths of Tanais the lesse foure dayes iorney from Asoph neere vnto a place called Sewerski by the holy mountaynes they sawe certayne images of stone and marble Tanais the lesse hath his springes in the Dukedome of Sewerski whereof it is called Donetz Sewerski and falleth into Tanais three dayes iorney aboue Asoph But such as iorney from Moscouia to Asoph by lande they passyng ouer Tanais about the olde and ruinate towne of Donco do somwhat turne from the South to the East In the which place if a ryght line be drawne from the mouthes of Tanais to the sprynges of the same Moscouia shal be founde to be in Asia and not in Europe More directly from
swalowing gulfe is such that it draweth into it inuolueth and swaloweth vp shyppes all other thinges that come neare it and that they were neuer in greater danger For the whirlepoole so sodeynely and violently drue vnto it the shyp or barke wherein they were carryed that with the helpe of Ores and great labour they hardly escaped When they had thus ouerpassed the holy nose they came to a certayne stony mountaine which they should needes compasse about but being there stayed with contrary windes for the space of certaine dayes the pylot of the shyp spake vnto them in this effect This stone sayeth he that you see is called Semes the whiche except wee please with some gyfte we shall not passe by without great danger But the Pylot beyng reproued of Istoma for his vayne superstition helde his peace And when they had ben deteined there by tempest for the space of foure dayes at the length the tempest ceassed and they went forward on theyr viage with a prosperous wynde Then the pylot spake vnto them agayne saying You despised my admonition of pleasing the Semes and scorned the same as vayne and superstitious but if I had not priuilie in the night ascended a rocke and pleased the Semes we should surely haue had no passage Being demaunded what he offered to the Semes hee sayde that he poured butter myxt with otemeale vpon the stone which we sawe reach foorth into the sea As they sayled further they came to an other cape named Motka whiche was almost enuironed with the sea lyke an Ilande in whose extreme pointe is situate the Castel of Barthus which some call Wardhus that is a house of defence or fortresse For the kynges of Norway haue there a garrison of men to defend theyr marches He sayde furthermore that that cape reacheth so farre into the sea that they could scarsely compasse it in eyght dayes By which tarying leaste they should be hyndered they caryed on theyr shoulders with great labour theyr barkes and fardelles ouer a streyght of lande conteynyng halfe a league in breadth From hence they sayled to the region of the wylde Lappones called Dikillappones to a place named Dront beyng .200 leagues distant from Dwina toward the North. And thus far as he sayth doth the prince of Moscouia exacte tribute Furthermore leauing their Barkes here they furnyshed the residue of their iourney on Sleades He further declared that there were heards of Hartes as are with vs of Oxen which in the Noruegians tongue are called Rhâ—n beyng somewhat bygger then our Hartes These the Lappones vse in this maner They ioyne them to Sleades made lyke fysher Boates as we put horses to the Cart the man in the Sleade is tyed fast by the feete lest he fal out by the swift course of the Hartes In his leaft hande he holdeth a coller or reigne wherewith he moderateth the course of the Hartes and in the ryght hand a pyked staffe wherwith he may susteyne the Sleade from fallyng yf it chaunce to decline too muche on anye parte And he tolde me that by this meanes he trauayled .xx. leagues in one day and then dismyssed the Hart who by hym selfe returned to his owne maister and accustomed stable This iourney thus finished they came to Berges a citie of Noruegia or Norway situate directlye towarde the North betweene the mountaynes and went from thence to Denmarke on horsbacke At Dront and Berges the day is sayde to be .xxii. houres long in the Sommer Equinoctial Blasius an other of the prince of Moscouia his Interpreters who a fewe yeeres before was sent of his prynce into Spayne to the Emperour declared vnto vs an other and shorter way of his iourney for he sayde that when he was sent from Moscouia to Iohn the kyng of Denmarke he came firste on foote vnto Rostowe and takyng shyppe there came to Pereaslaw and from Pereaslaw by the riuer Volga to Castromow and that from thence goyng seuen werstes by lande he came to a litle ryuer saylyng by the whiche when firste he came to Vuolochda then to Suchana and Dwina and in fiue to the citie of Berges in Norway ouerpassyng in this viage al the perylles and labours that Istoma rehearsed before he came at length to Hafnia the cheefe citie of Denmarke whiche the Germanes call Koppenhagen but in their returnyng home they both confesse that they came to Moscouia by Liuonia and that they were a yeere in this viage albeit Georgius Istoma sayde that halfe the parte of that tyme he was hyndered by tempestes and inforced to carrye long in manye places by the way yet they both lykewyse constantly affyrme that in this iourney eyther of them trauayled a thousande threescore and ten werstes that is three hundred and fourtie leagues Furthermore also Demetrius who of late was sent ambassadour from the prince of Moscouia to the Byshop of Rome by whose relation also Paulus Iouius wrote his description of Moscouia confirmed all these thynges to be true All they beyng demaunded of me of the congeled or frosen sea made none other answere but that in places neere vnto that sea they sawe many and great ryuers by whose vehemente course and abundant flowyng the seas are dryuen farre from the shore and that the sayde water of the ryuers is frosen with the sea a good space from the lande as in Liuonia and other partes of Suecia For although by the vehemencie of the wyndes the Ise is broken in the sea yet doth this chaunce seldome or neuer in ryuers except by some innundation or fluode the Ise geathered togeather be lyfted vp and broken For the flakes or pieces of Ise caryed into the sea by force of the ryuers do flote aboue the water in maner all the whole yeere and are agayne so vehemently frosen togeather that a man may there sometymes see great heapes of the Ise of manie yeeres as doth appeare by suche pieces as are dryuen to the shore by the wynde I haue also been credybly informed by faythfull men that the sea Baltheum otherwyse called the gulfe of Liuonia is oftentymes frosen in many places They say furthermore that in that region whiche is inhabited of the wylde Lappones the Sunne in the sommer Equinoctiall doth not fall for the space of .xl. dayes yet that the body thereof is so hydden with a darke myste or cloude three houres that the beames do not appeare neuerthelesse to geue such light during that time that the darknesse hyndereth not theyr woorke The Moscouites make theyr boste that these wylde Lappones are tributaries to theyr prynce Whereat I do not greatly marueyle forasmuch as they haue none other neere vnto them that may demaund tribute of them Theyr tribute is onely furres and fyshe hauyng in maner none other thyng greatly commodious And albeit they lacke bread salte and other intysementes of gluttony and lyue onely with fyshe and
are of Copper They eate on the grounde sittyng on Carpets crosse legged as do taylers There is no man so symple but he sytteth on a Carpet better or worse and the whole house or roome wherein he sytteth is wholy couered with Carpets Theyr houses are all with flatte roofes couered with earth and in the sommer tyme they lye vpon them all nyght They haue many bonde seruauntes both men and women â–ª Bond men and bond women is one of the best kinde of merchandies that any man may bryng When they bye anye maydes or young women they vse to feele them in all partes as with vs men do horses when one hath bought a young woman yf he lyke her he wyll keepe her for his owne vse as long as hym lysteth and then selleth her to an other who doth the like with her So that one woman is sometymes solde in the space of foure or fyue yeeres twelue or twentie tymes If a man keepe a bonde woman for his owne vse and yf he fynde her to be false to hym and geue her body to any other he may kyll her yf he wyll When a merchant or trauailer commeth to any towne where he entendeth to tarry any time he hyreth a woman or sometimes two or three duryng his abode there And when he commeth to an other towne he doth the lyke in the same also for there they vse to put out theyr women to hyre as wee doo here hackneye Horses There is a verye great ryuer whiche runneth through the playne of Iauat whiche falleth into the Caspian sea by a towne called Backo neare vnto whiche towne is a strange thyng to beholde For there ishueth out of the grounde a marueilous quantitie of Oyle which Oyle they fetch from the vttermost boundes of al Persia it serueth all the countrey to burne in theyr houses This Oyle is blacke and is called Nefte they vse to cary it throughout all the countrey vpon Kyne and Asses of which you shal oftentymes meete with foure or fyue hundred in a company There is also by the sayde towne of Backo an other kinde of Oyle whiche is whyte and very precious and is supposed to be the same that here is called Petroleum There is also not farre from Shamaky a thyng lyke vnto Tarre and ishueth out of the grounde whereof we haue made the proofe that in our shyps it serueth well in the steade of Tarre In Persia are Kyne of two sortes the one lyke vnto ours in these partes the other are marueylous euil fauoured with great bones and very leane and but little heare vppon them theyr milk is walowish sweete they are like vnto them which are spoken of in the scripture which in the dreame of Pharao signified the seuen deare yeeres for a leaner or more euill fauoured beast can no man see In the countrey of Sheruan sometyme called Media if you chaunce to lye in the fieldes neare vnto any village as soone as the twylyght begynneth you shall haue about you two or three hundred Foxes whiche make a marueylous wawelyng or howlyng and yf you looke not well to your victuales it shall scape them hardly but they wyll haue part with you The Caspian sea doth neyther ebbe nor flowe except sometymes by rage of wynde it swelleth vp very hygh the water is very salt Howbeit the quantitie of water that falleth out of the great ryuer of Volga maketh the water freshe at the least twentie leagues into the sea The Caspian sea is marueylous full of fyshe but no kynde of monstrous fysh as farre as I coulde vnderstande yet hath it sundry sortes of fyshes whiche are not in these parties of the worlde The Mutton there is good and the Sheepe great hauyng verye great rumpes with much fat vppon them Ryse and Mutton is theyr cheefe victuale Of the Empire of the Persians and of theyr originall THe kyngdome or Empire of the Persians as it was in auncient tyme most famous euen so is it at these dayes mightie glorious comprehendyng many great large regions For all the tracte of Asia which is betweene the riuer of Tigris the gulfe of Persia and the Indian sea sometime called the sea Indus and the ryuer Iaxartes at this day called Chefell euen vnto the Caspian sea is at this day vnder the dominion of the Sophie of Persia. Of the originall of the Sophies thus writeth Caelius Curio in his Saracenicall historie In the yeere of our Lord .1369 was a certayne Prince among the Persians who possessed the towne of Ardenelim his name was Sophi glorified him selfe to discende of the rase and progenie of Alis Muamedis by Musan Cazin his Neuie He after the death of Calyfa the Soltan of Babilon and the contrary faction which the Turkes defended suppressed also of the Tartars began more boldly and freely to professe his opinion and sentence of theyr religion And bycause that Ocemus the sonne of Alis from whom he glorified him selfe to descend had twelue children willyng to adde to them of his secte a certayne signe whereby they myght be knowen from other ordeyned that they that would embrace his secte and profession should were on their heads a high cappe of purple vnder a vele wherwith all the Turkes inuolue theyr heades and in theyr language call it Tulibante hauing in the middest of it .xii. plumes or shappe toppes After his death succeeded his sonne Guines who in all the East partes obteyned so great opinion of wisedome and holinesse that most famous Tamerlanes Emperour of the Parthians who before had taken Bayazetes kyng of the Turkes made a iourney into Persia to visit him as a most holy man of whom Guines had so much fauour that he obteyned of him the libertie of .xxx. thousande Captiues which he brought with him whom also Guines addicted to his faction and his sonne Secaidar vsed them in his warres For with these after the death of Guines he made warre to certayne people of Scythia named Georgians his borderers beyng Christians afflicted them very greeuously Thus much of the originall of the Sophie of Persia they keepe continually warres with the Turkes for the religion of Mahumet For the Sophians or Persians folowe one maner of interpretation of Mahumettes religion and the Turkes an other the which interpretations neuerthelesse are so differyng one from the other that the one of them esteemeth the other for heretikes The Persians are of liberall nature of muche ciuilitie and curtesie greatly esteeming artes and sciences they acknowledge a certaine worthinesse or nobilitie among men wherin they differ much from the Turkes which make no difference betweene slaues and worthier men or Gentelmen Of the Region of Persia and the maners of the Persians Marcus Paulus Venetus writeth thus Cap. xix Lib. 1. PErsia is a great and large prouince was once noble and of great fame but nowe devastate and ouerrun by the Tartars it is of
Sesto beyng East The .xxi. day of the sayde moneth we fel with Cape Mensurado to the Southeast about two leagues of This Cape may be easely knowen by reason the rysyng of it is like a Porpose head Also toward the Southeast there are three trees whereof the Eastermost tree is the hyghest and the myddlemost is lyke a hie stacke and the Southermost lyke vnto a Gibet and vppon the mayne are foure or fyue hygh hylles rysyng one after an other lyke rounde hoommockes or hyllockes And the Southeast of the three trees is three trees lyke a brandierwyse and all the coast along is whyte sand The sayde Cape standeth within a litle in syxe degrees The .xxii. of December we came to the ryuer of Sesto and remayned there vntyll the .xxix. day of the sayde moneth Here we thought it best to send before vs the pynnesse to the ryuer of Dulce called Rio Dulce that they myght haue the begynnyng of the market before the commyng of the Iohn At the ryuer of Sesto we had a Tunne of graynes This riuer standeth in .vi. degrees lackyng a terce From the ryuer of Sesto to Rio Dulce is .xxv. leagues Rio Dulce standeth in fyue degrees and a halfe The ryuer of Sesto is easye to be knowen by reason there is a ledge of rockes on the Southeast parte of the Rode And at the entryng into the hauen are fyue or sixe trees that beare no leaues This is a good harborowe but very narow at the entrance into the ryuer There is also a rocke in the hauens mouth ryght as you enter And all that coast betweene Cape de Monte and cape de las Palmas lyeth Southeast and by East Northwest and by West being three leagues of the shore And you shall haue in some places rockes two leagues of and that betweene the riuer of Sesto and cape de las Palmas Betweene the ryuer of Sesto the ryuer Dulce is .xxv. leagues and the high lande that is betweene them both is called Cakeado being eight leagues from the ryuer of Sesto And to the Southeastwarde of him is a place called Shawgro and an other called Shyawe or Shauo where you may get freshe water Of this Shyawe lyeth a redge of rockes and to the Southeastwarde lyeth a hedlande called Croke Betweene Cakeado and Croke is .ix. or ten leagues To the Southeastwarde of is a harborowe called saint Vincent Ryght ouer agaynst sainct Vincent is a rocke vnder the water two leagues and a halfe of the shore To the Southeastwarde of that rocke you shall see an Ilande about three or foure leagues of this Ilande is not paste a league of the shore To the East Southeast of the Ilande is a rocke that lyeth aboue the water and by that rocke goeth in the ryuer of Dulce which you shall know by the sayde ryuer and rocke The Northwest syde of the hauen is flatte sande and the Southeast syde thereof is lyke an Ilande and a bare platte without any trees and so is it not in any other place In the Rode you shall ryde in xiii or .xiiii. fadomes good owes and sande beyng the markes of the Rode to bryng the Ilande and the Northeast lande togeather and here we Ankered the last of December The third day of Ianuary we came from the riuer of Dulce Note that cape de las Palmas is a fayre high lande but some lowe places thereof by the water syde looke lyke redde cliffes with whyte strakes lyke wayes a cable length a peece this is to the East parte of the cape This cape is the Southermost lande in all the coast of Guinea and standeth in foure degrees and a terce The coast from Cape de las palmas to Cape Trepoyntes or the tres Puntas is fayre and cleare without rocke or other daunger Twentie and fyue leagues from Cape de las Palmas the lande is hygher then in any place vntyl we come to Cape Trepoyntes And about ten leagues before you come to Cape Trepoyntes the land ryseth styll hygher and hygher vntyl you come to Cape Trepoyntes Also before you come to the sayde Cape after other fyue leagues to the Northwest part of it there is certayne broken grounde with two great rockes and within them in the byght of a bay is a castel called Arra parteining to the kyng of Portugale You shal know it by the sayd rockes that lye of it for there is none suche from Cape de las Palmas to cape Trepoyntes This coast lyeth East by North West by South From Cape de las Palmas to the sayd castel is fourscore and fyfteene leagues And the coast lyeth from the sayd castel to the westermost point of the Trepoyntes Southeast and by South Northwest and by North. Also the westermost poynt of the Trepoyntes is a low land lying halfe a myle out in the sea and vppon the innermoste necke to the land ward is a tuft of trees there we arryued the eleuenth day of Ianuary The twelf day of Ianuary we came to a towne called Samma or Samua beyng .viii. leagues from Cape Trepoyntes toward East Northeast Betweene Cape Trepoyntes and the towne of Samua is a great ledge of rockes a great way out in the sea We continued foure dayes at that towne the captayne therof would needs haue a pledge a shore But when they receiued the pledge they kept him still would trafficke no more but shot of theyr ordinance at vs. They haue two or three peeces of ordinance and no more The .xvi. day of the sayde mooneth we made reckonyng to come to a place called Cape Corea where captayne Don Ihon dwelleth whose men entertayned vs frendly This Cape Corea is foure leagues Eastwarde of the castell of Mina other wyse called La mina or Castello de mina where we arryued the .xviii. day of the moneth Here we made sayle of all our cloth sauing two or three packes The .xxvi. day of the same moneth we weighed anker and departed from thence to the Trinitie whiche was .vii. leagues Eastwarde of vs where she solde her wares Then they of the Trinitie wylled vs to go Eastwarde of that .viii or .ix. leagues to sell part of theyr wares in a place called Perecow and an other place named Perecow Grande beyng the eastermost place of both these whiche you shall knowe by a great rounde hyll neere vnto it named Monte Rodondo lying westward from it and by the water syde are many hygh palme trees From hence dyd we set forth homewarde the .xiii. day of February and plyed vp alongest tyll we came within .vii or .viii. leagues to Cape Trepointes About .viii. of the clocke the .xv. day at afternoone we dyd cast about to seawarde and beware of the currantes for they wyl deceiue you sore Whosoeuer shall come from the coaste of Mina homewarde let hym be sure to make
his way good west vntyl he recken hym selfe as farre as Cape de las Palmas where the currant setteth alwayes to the eastwarde And within .xx. leagues eastwarde of Cape de las Palmas is a ryuer called De los Potos where you may haue freshe water and balasse enough and plentie of Iuery or Elephantes teeth This ryuer standeth in foure degrees and almost two terces And when you reckon your selfe as farre shotte as Cape de las Palmas beyng in a degree or a degree and a halfe you may go west west by north vntyl you come in three degrees and then you may go west northwest and northwest and by west vntyll you come in fyue degrees and then northwest And in the .vi. degrees we met northerly wyndes and great rooflyng of tydes And as we coulde iudge the currantes went to the north northwest Furthermore betweene Cape de Monte and Cape verde go great currantes which deceiue many men The .xxii. daye of Apryll we were in .viii. degrees and two terces and so we ranne to the northwest hauyng the wynde at northeast and east northeast and sometymes at east vntyll we were at .xviii. degrees and a terce whiche was on Maye daye And so from .xviii. and two terces we had the wynde at east and east northeast and sometymes at east southeast and then we reckened the Ilandes of Cape Verde easte southeast of vs we iudgyng our selues to bee .xlviii. leagues of And in .xx. and .xxi. degrees we had the wynde more easterly to the southwarde then before And so we ran to the Northwest north northwest and sometymes north by west and north vntyll we came into .xxxi. degrees where we reckoned our selues a hundred and fourescore leagues southwest and by south of the Iland de Flore or de los Flores and there wee met with the wynd at south southeast and set our course northeast In .xxiii. degrees we had the wynde at the South and southwest and then we set our course north northeast and so we ranne to .xl. degrees and then we set our course northeast the wynde being at the southwest and hauyng the Ile de Flore East of vs and xvii leagues of In .xli. degrees we met with the wynde at Northeast and so we ranne northwestwarde then we met with the wynde at the west northwest and at the west within .vi. leagues runnyng towarde the northwest and then we cast about and laye northeast vntyll we came in .xlii. degrees where wee set our course East northeast iudgyng the I le of Coruo south and by west of vs and xxxvi leagues distant from vs. A remembrance that the .xxi day of May we communed with Iohn Rafe and he thought it best to goe northeast and iudged him selfe .xxv. leagues Eastwarde to the Ile de Flore and in .xxxix. degrees and a halfe Note that in the fourth day of September vnder niene degrees we lost the sight of the north starre Note also that in the .xlv. degrees the compasse is varied .viii. degrees to the West Item in .xl. degrees the compasse dyd vary .xv. degrees in the whole Item in .xxx. degrees and a halfe the compasse is varyed .v. degrees to the West Be it also in memorie that two or three dayes before we came to cape Trepointes the pynnesse went alongest the shore thinkyng to sell some of our wares and so we came to Anker three or foure leagues west and by south of the cape Trepointes where we lefte the Trinitie Then our pynnesse came aboorde with all our men the Pynnesse also tooke in more wares They tolde me moreouer that they would goe to a place where the Prymrose was and had receyued muche golde at the first vyage to these parties and tolde me furthermore that it was a good place but I fearyng a brigantine that was then vppon the coast dyd wey and folow them left the Trinitie about foure leagues of from vs and there we rode agaynst that towne foure dayes so that Martine by his owne desire and assent of some of the Commissioners that were in the pinnesse went a shore to the towne and there Iohn Berin went to trafique from vs being three myles of trafcking at an other towne The towne is called Samma or Samua for Samma and Sammaterra are the names of the two first townes where we did traficke for golde to the Northeast of cape Trepoints Hetherto continueth the course of the vyage as it was described by the sayd Pylot Now therfore I wil speake somewhat of the countrey and people and of such thinges as are brought from thence They brought from thence at the last vyage foure hundred pound weight and odde of gold of .xxii. Carrattes and one graine in finenesse also .xxxvi. buttes of graynes and about two hundred and fyftie Elephantes teeth of all quantities Of these I sawe and measured some of .ix. spannes in length as they were crooked Some of them were as bygge as a mans thygh aboue the knee and weyed about foure score and tenne pounde weight a peece They say that some one hath been seene of a hundred and .xxv. pounde weyght Other there were which they call the teeth of calues of one or two or three yeeres whereof some were a foote and a halfe some two foote and some three or more accordyng to the age of the beast These great teeth or tuskes growe in the vpper iawe downewarde and not in the nether iawe vpwarde wherin the paynters and arras woorkers are deceyued At this laste vyage was brought from Guinea the head of an Elephante of suche huge bygnesse that only the bones or crauewe thereof besyde the nether iawe and great tuskes weyghed about two hundred weyght and was as muche as I coulde well lyfte from the grounde insomuche that consideryng also heerewith the weyght of two suche great teethe the nether iawes with the lesse teeth the tongue the great hangyng eares the bygge and long snoute or troonke with all the fleshe braynes and skynne with all other partes belongyng to the whole head in my iudgement it could wey little lesse then fyue hundred weight This head dyuers haue seene in the house of the woorthie merchant syr Andrewe Iudde where also I saw it and beheld it not onely with my bodyly eyes but much more with the eyes of my mynde and spirite considered by the woorke the cunnyng and wysedome of the workemaister without which consideration the sight of suche straunge and wonderfull thinges may rather seeme curiosities then profitable contemplations The Elephante whiche some call an Oliphante is the biggest of all foure footed beastes his forelegges are longer then his hynder he hath ankles in the lower parte of his hynder legges and fyue toes on his feete vndiuided his snoute or troonke is so long and in suche fourme that it is to him in the steede of a hande for hee neyther eateth nor drynketh but by
bryngyng his troonke to his mouth therewith hee helpeth vp his maister or keeper therwith he ouerthroweth trees Besyde his two great tuskes he hath on euery syde of his mouth foure teethe wherewith he eateth and gryndeth his meate eyther of these teeth are almost a spanne in length as they growe along in the iawe and are about two inches in heyght and almost as much in thicknesse The tuskes of the Male are greater then of the Female his tongue is very litle and so farre in his mouth that it can not be seene of all beastes they are most gentle and tractable for by many sundry wayes they are taught and doe vnderstande insomuche that they learne to doe due honour to a Kyng and are of quicke sense and sharpenesse of wyt When the Male hath once seasoned the Female he neuer after toucheth her The Male Elephante lyueth two hundred yeeres or at the least one hundred and twentie the Female almost as long but the floure of theyr age is but .lx. yeeres as some wryte They can not suffer wynter or colde they loue ryuers and wil often goe into them vp to the snoute wherewith they blow and snuffe and playe in the water but swymme they can not for the weyght of theyr bodyes Plinie and Solinie wryte that they vse none adulterie If they happen to meete with a man in wyldernesse beyng out of the way gentelly they will goe before him and bryng him into the playne waye Ioyned in battayle they haue no small respecte vnto them that be wounded for they bryng them that are hurte or weary into the middle of the army to be defended they are made tame by drinking the iuise of barley They haue continual war agaynst Dragons which desire theyr blood bycause it is very colde and therfore the Dragon lying awayte as the Elephant passeth by wyndeth his tayle being of exceeding length about the hynder legges of the Elephant and so steying him thrusteth his head into his troonke and exhausteth his breath or els byteth him in the eare wherevnto he can not reache with his troonke and when the Elephant waxeth faynte he falleth downe on the Serpent beyng nowe full of blood and with the poyse of his body breaketh him so that his owne blood with the blood of the Elephant runneth out of him myngeled togeather which beyng colde is congealed into that substance which the Apothecaries call Sanguis Draconis that is Dragons blood otherwyse called Cinnabaris although there be an other kynde of Cinnabaris commonly called cinoper or vermilion which the painters vse in certaine colours They are also of three kyndes as of the maryshes the plaines and the mountaynes no lesse differyng in conditions Philostratus writeth that as much as the Elephant of Libia in bygnesse passeth the horse of Nysea so muche doeth the Elephantes of India exceede them of Libia for of the Elephantes of India some haue been seene of the heyght of .ix. cubites the other doe so greatly feare these that they dare not abyde the sight of them Of the Indian Elephantes only the Males haue tuskes but of them of Ethiopia and Libia both kyndes are tusked they are of dyuers heyghtes as of xii.xiii and .xiiii. dordantes euery dodrant benig a measure of niene ynches Some wryte that an Elephant is bygger then three wylde Oxen or Buffes They of India are blacke or of the colour of a Mouse but they of Ethiope or Guinea are browne the hyde or skynne of them all is very harde and without heare or brystels theyr eares are two dodrantes brode and theyr eyes very litle Our men sawe one drynkyng at a ryuer in Guinea as they sayled into the lande Of other properties and conditions of the Elephant as of theyr marueylous docilicie of theyr fyght and vse in the warres of theyr generation and chastitie when they were fyrste seene in the theaters and tryumphes of the Romans howe they are taken and tamed and when they caste theyr tuskes with the vse of the same in medicine who so desireth to know let him reade Plinie in the .viii. booke of his natural hystorie He also writeth in his xii booke that in olde tyme they made many goodly woorkes of Iuery or Elephants teeth as tables tressels postes of houses rayles lattesses for wyndowes Images of their goddes and dyuers other thinges of Iuery both coloured and vncoloured intermyxt with sundry kyndes of precious woods as at this day are made certayne Chayres Lutes and Uirginalles They had suche plentie thereof in olde tyme that as far as I remember Iosephus wryteth that one of the gates of Hierusalem was called Porta Eburnea that is the Iuery gate The whytenesse thereof was so muche esteemed that it was thought to represent the naturall fayrenesse of mans skynne insomuche that such as went about to set foorth or rather corrupt naturall beautie with colours and payntyng were reprooued by this prouerbe Ebur atramento candefacere that is to make Iuery whyte with ynke The Poettes also describyng the fayre neckes of beautifull virgins call them Eburnea colla that is Iuery neckes And to haue sayde thus muche of Elephantes and Iuery it may suffice Now therfore I wil speake somewhat of the people and theyr maners and maner of lyuyng with also an other briefe description of Africa It is to vnderstande that the people which nowe inhabite the regions of the coast of Guinea and the myd partes of Africa as Libia the inner and Nubia with diuers other great and large regions about the same were in olde tyme called Ethiopes and Nigrite which we now call Moores Moorens or Negros a people of beastly lyuyng without a God lawe religion or common wealth and so scorched and vexed with the heate of the sun that in many places they curse it when it ryseth Of the regions and people about the inner Libia called Libia Interior Gemma Phrysius writeth thus Libia Interior is very large and desolate in the whiche are many horrible Wyldernesses and mountaynes replenished with dyuers kyndes of wylde and monstrous beastes and Serpentes Fyrst from Mauritania or Barbarie towarde the South is Getulia a rough and saluage region whose inhabitauntes are wylde and wanderyng people After these folowe the people called Melanogetuli and Pharusii whiche wander in the wyldernesse carying with them great gourdes of water The Ethiophians called Nigrite occupie a great part of Aphrica and are extended to the West Ocean Southwarde also they reach to the ryuer Nigritis whose nature agreeth with the ryuer of Nilus forasmuch as it is increased and diminished at the same tyme and bryngeth foorth the lyke beastes as the Crocodile By reason whereof I thynke this to be the same ryuer whiche the Portugales call Senega For this ryuer is also of the same nature It is furthermore marueylous and very strange that is sayde of this ryuer And this is that on the one syde thereof thinhabitauntes are
planettes as wryteth Plinie consisteth of fyre and conteyneth in it a spirite of life â–ª which can not be without heate And that the Moone geueth heate vppon the earth the Prophet Dauid seemeth to confirme in his Cxxi Psalme where speakyng of such men as are defended from euils by goddes protection he sayeth thus Per diem Sol non exuret te nec Luna per noctem That is to say In the day the Sunne shall not burne thee nor the Moone by nyght They say furthermore that in certayne places of the sea they saw certayne streames of water which they call spoutes fallyng out of the ayre into the sea and that some of these are as byg as the great pyllers of Churches Insomuch that sometymes they fall into shyps and put them in great daunger of drownyng Some phantasye that these should be the Caractes of Heauen whiche were all opened at Noes fludde But I thynke them rather to be such fluxions and eruptions as Aristotle in his booke de Mundo saith to chaunce in the sea For speakyng of suche strange thynges as are seene often tymes in the sea he wryteth thus Oftentymes also euen in the sea are seene euaporations of fyre and suche eruptions and breakyng foorth of springs that the mouthes of ryuers are opened Whyrlepooles and fluxions are caused of such other vehement motions not only in the myddest of the sea but also in creekes and streyghtes At certayne tymes also a great quantitie of water is sodenly lyfted vp and carryed about with the Moone c. By whiche woordes of Aristotle it doth appeare that suche waters may bee lyfted vp in one place at one tyme and sodenlye fall downe in an other place at an other tyme. And hereunto perhappes parteyneth it that Rychard Chaunceller tolde me that he harde Sebastian Cabot reporte that as farre as I remenber eyther about the coastes of Brasile or Rio de Plata his shyppe or pumesse was suddaynly lyfted from the sea and cast vppon lande I wotte not howe farre The whiche thyng and suche other lyke wonderfull and straunge woorkes of nature whyle I consyder and call to rememberaunce the narownesse of mans vnderstandyng and knowledge in comparyson of her myghtie power I can but ceasse to marueyle and confesse with Plinie that nothyng is to her impossible the leaste parte of whose power is not yet knowen to men Many thynges more our men sawe and consydered in this vyage worthy to be noted whereof I haue thought good to put some in memorie that the reader may aswell take pleasure in the varietie of thynges as knowledge of the historie Among other thynges therefore touchyng the maners and nature of the people this may seeme straunge that theyr princes and noble men vse to pounce and rase theyr skinnes with pretie knottes in dyuers formes as it were branched damaske thynkyng that to be a decent ornament And albeit they go in maner all naked yet are many of them and especially their women in maner laden with collars braslettes hoopes and chaines eyther of golde copper or Iuery I my selfe haue one of theyr braselettes of Iuery waying two pound and .vi. ounces of Troy weyght whiche make .xxxviii. ounces this one of theyr women dyd weare vpon her arme It is made of one whole peece of the byggest part of the tooth turned and somewhat carued with a hole in the myddest wherein they put theyr handes to weare it on theyr arme Some haue of euery arme one and as many on theyr legges wherwith some of them are so galded that although they are in maner made lame therby yet wyl they by no meanes leaue them of Some weare also on theyr legges great shackels of bryght copper which they thynke to be no lesse comely They weare also collars braslettes garlandes and gyrdels of certayne blewe stones lyke beades Lykewyse some of theyr women weare on theyr bare armes certayne foresleeues made of the plates of beaten golde On theyr fingers also they weare ringes made of golden wyres with a knotte or wreathe lyke vnto that which chyldren make in a ryng of a ryshe Among other thinges of gold that our men bought of them for exchange of their wares were certayne dogges chaynes and collers They are very ware people in theyr bargaynyng and wyll not lose one sparke of golde of any value They vse weyghtes and measures and are very circumspect in occupying the same They that shall haue to do with them must vse them gentelly for they wyl not traffike or bryng in any wares if they be euyll vsed At the fyrst vyage that our men had into these parties it so chaunced that at theyr departure from the fyrst place where they dyd trafike one of them eyther stole a muske catte or tooke her away by force not mystrustyng that that shoulde haue hyndred theyr bargaynyng in an other place whyther they intended to go But for all the hast they coulde make with full sayles the fame of theyr mysusage so preuented them that the people of that place also offended thereby would bryng in no wares Insomuche that they were inforced eyther to restore the cat or pay for her at theyr price before they coulde trafike there Theyr houses are made of foure postes or trees and couered with bowes Theyr common feedyng is of rootes and suche fyshes as they take whereof they haue great plentie There are also such sleeing fyshes as are seene in the sea of the West Indies Our men salted of theyr fyshes hopyng to prouide store thereof but they wolde take no salte and must therefore be eaten foorthwith as some saye Howe be it other affirme that if they be salted immediatly after they be taken they wyll last vncorrupted .x. or .xii. dayes But this is more straunge that part of such flesh as they caryed with them out of England and putrifyed there became sweete againe at their returne to the clime of temperate regions They vse also a strange makyng of bread in this maner They grynde betweene two stones with theyr handes as muche corne as they thynke may suffice theyr famylie and when they haue thus brought it to floure they put thereto a certayne quantitie of water and make therof very thin dough which they stick vpon some post of theyr houses where it is baked by the heate of the Sun So that when the maister of the house or any of his famely wyll eate thereof they take it downe and eate it They haue very fayre wheate the eare whereof is two handefulles in length and as bygge as a great Bulrush and almost foure inches about where it is byggest The stemme or straw seemeth to be almost as byg as the litle fynger of a mans hande or litle lesse The graynes of this wheate are as byg as our peason rounde also and very whyte and somewhat shynyng lyke pearles that haue lost theyr colour Almost all
when he came declared vnto him that the only cause of his commyng thyther was to visite the Sepulchre and bodie of Nabi by which woord is signified the Prophet Mahumet and that he vnderstoode that the price to be admitted to the sight of these mysteries should be foure thousande Saraphes of golde Also that he had no parentes neyther brothers sisters kinsefolkes chyldren or wyues neyther that he came thyther to buye merchaundies as spices or Baccar or Nardus or any maner of precious Iewelles but only for very zeale of religion and saluation of his soule and was therefore greatly desirous to see the bodie of the Prophet To whom the priest of the Temple they call them Side with countenance lyke one that were distraught made aunswere in this maner Darest thou with those eyes with the which thou hast committed so many horrible sinnes desyre to see him by whose sight God hath created heauen and earth To whom agayne our Captayne aunswered thus My Lorde you haue sayde truely neuerthelesse I pray you that I may fynde so much fauour with you that I may see the Prophet whom when I haue seene I will immediately thrust out myne eyes The Side aunswered O Prince I will open all thynges vnto thee So it is that no man can denye but that our Prophet dyed heere who if he would myght haue dyed at Mecha But to shewe in him selfe a token of humilitie and thereby to gyue vs example to folowe him was willyng rather heere then elsewhere to departe out of this worlde and was incontinent of Angelles borne into heauen and there receyued as equall with them Then our Captayne sayde to him Where is Iesus Christus the sonne of Marie To whom the Side answered At the feete of Mahumet Then sayde our Captayne agayne It suffyceth it suffyceth I will knowe no more After this our Captayne commyng out of the Temple and turnyng him to vs sayd See I pray you for what goodly stuffe I would haue payde three thousande Saraphes of golde The same daye at euenyng at almost three a clocke of the nyght ten or twelue of the Elders of the secte of Mahumet entred into our Carauana whiche remayned not paste a stone cast from the gate of the citie These ranne hyther and thyther crying lyke madde men with these wordes Mahumet the messenger and Apostle of God shall ryse agayne O Prophet O God Mahumet shall ryse agayne haue mercy on vs God Our Captayne and we all raysed with this crye tooke weapon with all expedition suspectyng that the Arabians were come to robbe our Carauana We asked what was the cause of that exclamation and what they cryed for they cryed as doe the Christians when sodeynly any marueylous thyng chaunceth The Elders answered Sawe you not the lyghtnyng whiche shone out of the Sepulchre of the Prophet Mahumet Our Captayne answered that he sawe nothyng and we also beyng demaunded answered in lyke maner Then sayde one of the olde men Are you slaues That is to say bought men meanyng thereby Mamalukes Then sayde our Captayne We are in deede Mamalukes Then agayne the olde man sayde Yâ—u my Lordes can not see heauenly thinges as beyng Neophiti that is newly come to the fayth and not yet confirmed in our religion To this our Captayne answered agayne O you madde and insensaâ—e beastes I had thought to haue giuen you three thousande peeces of golde but now O you dogges and progenie of dogges I will gyue you nothyng It is therefore to bee vnderstoode that none other shynyng came out of the Sepulchre then a certayne flame which the priests caused to come out of the open place of the Towre spoken of here before whereby they would haue deceyued vs. And therfore our Captaine commaunded that thereafter none of vs should enter into the Temple Of this also we haue most true experience and most certaynely assure you that there is neyther Iron or steele or the Magnes stone that should so make the toombe of Mahumet to hange in the ayre as some haue falsely imagined neyther is there any mountayne nearer then foure myles we remayned here three dayes to refreshe our company To this citie victualles and all kynde of corne is brought from Arabia Foelix and Babylon or Alcayr and also from Ethiope by the redde sea whiche is from this citie but foure dayes iourney The iourney to Mecha Cap. 14. AFter that we were satisfied or rather wearyed with the filthinesse and lothesomenesse of the trumperyes deceites trifles and hypocrises of the religion of Mahumet we determyned to goe forward on our iourney and that by guiding of a pylot who myght directe our course with the mariners boxe or compasse with also the carde of the sea euen as is vsed in saylyng on the sea And thus bendyng our iourney to the West we founde a very fayre well or fountayne from the which flowed great aboundance of water The inhabitantes affyrme that Sainct Marke the Euangelist was the aucthour of this fountayne by a miracle of God when that region was in maner burned with incredible drynesse Here we and our beastes were satisfied with drynke I may not here omit to speake of the sea of sande and of the daungers thereof This was founde of vs before we came to the mountayne of the Iewes In this sea of sand we traueiled the iourney of three dayes and nightes this is a great brode plaine all couered with white sande in maner as small as floure If by euyll fortune it so chaunce that anye trauaile that way southward if in the meane time the wind come to the north they are ouerwhelmed with sande And although they shoulde haue prosperous wynde yet are they so inuolued with sande that they scatter out of the way and can scarsely see the one the other .x. pases of And therefore thinhabitans trauaylyng this way are inclosed in cages of woodde borne with Camels and lyue in them so passyng the iorney guided by pilots with maryners compasse and card euen as on the sea as we haue sayde In this iorney also many peryshe for thirst and many for drynkyng to muche when they fynde suche good waters In these sandes is founde Momia whiche is the fleshe of such men as are drowned in these sandes and there dryed by the heate of the Sunne So that those bodyes are preserued from putrifaction by the drynesse of the sand and therefore that drye fleshe is esteemed medicinable Albeit there is an other kynde of more pretious Momia which is y e dryed and embalmed bodies of kynges and princes whiche of long tyme haue been preserued drye without corruption When the wynde bloweth from the northeast theÌ„ the sand riseth is driuen against a certaine mountayne which is an arme of the mount Sinai There we found certayne pyllers artificially wrought whiche they call Ianuan On the lefte hande of the sayde mountayne in the
I entered into the citie I went to their Temple or Meschita where I sawe a great multitude of poore people as about the number of .xxv. thousande attendyng a certayne Pilot who should bryng them into their countrey Heere I suffered muche trouble and affliction beyng enforced to hyde my selfe among these poore folkes faynyng my selfe very sicke to the ende that none should be inquisityue what I was whence I came or whyther I would The Lord of this citie is the Soltan of Babylon brother to the Soltan of Mecha who is his subiecte The inhabitauntes are Mahumetans The soyle is vnfruitfull and lacketh freshe water The sea beateth agaynst the towne There is neuerthelesse aboundance of all thinges but brought thyther from other places as from Babylon of Nilus Arabia Foelix and dyuers other places The heate is here so great that men are in maner dryed vp therewith And therefore there is euer a great number of sicke folkes The citie conteyneth about fyue hundred houses After fyftiene dayes were past I couenaunted with a pilot who was ready to departe from thence into Persia and agreed of the price to goe with him There laye at Anker in the hauen almost a hundred Brigantines and Foistes with diuers boates and barkes of sundry sortes both with Ores and without Ores Therefore after three dayes gyuyng wynde to our sayles we entred into the redde sea otherwyse named Mare Erythraeum Of the red sea and why it can not be sayled in the nyght Cap. 21. IT is well knowen to wyse men that this sea is not red as some haue imagined but is of the colour of other seas We continued therefore our vyage vntyll the goyng downe of the Sunne For this sea is nauigable only in the day tyme and therefore in the nightes the maryners rest them vntyll they come to the Ilande named Chameran from whence they proceede forwarde more safely Why this sea can not be sayled in the nyght they say the cause to be that there are many daungerous sandes rockes and shelues and therefore that it is needefull of diligent and long prospecte from the toppe Castell of the shyppe to foresee the dangerous places The seconde booke entreating of Arabia Foelix That is the happie or blessed Arabia Of the citie of Gezan and the fruitfulnesse thereof Cap. 1. FOrasmuche as hytherto wee haue spoken somewhat of the maners of the people and cities of Arabia Foelix it may nowe seeme conuenient to finishe the reste of our vyage with such thinges as we haue seene in the sayde countrey of Arabia Therefore after sixe dayes saylyng we came to a citie named Gezan It hath a commodious porte and very fayre where we found about fourtie and fyue Brigantines and Foistes of dyuers regions The citie is harde by the sea syde and the Prince thereof is a Mahumetan The soile is fruitful lyke vnto Italie It beareth Pomegranates Quinses Peaches Apples of Assyria Pepons Melons Oranges Gourdes and dyuers other fruites Also Roses and sundry sortes of floures the fayrest that euer I sawe It seemeth an earthly Paradyse The moste parte of the inhabitauntes go naked â–ª In other thinges they lyue after the maner of the Mahumetans There is also great abundance of fleshe wheate barley the grayne of whyte Millet or Hirse whiche they call Dora whereof they make very sweete bread Of certayne people named Banduin Cap. 2. DEparting from the citie of Gezan the space of .v. dayes sayling towarde the lefte hande hauyng euer the coast of the lande in sight we came to the sight of certayne houses where about .xiiii. of vs went alande hopyng to haue had some victuals of the inhabitans But we lost our labour for in the steede of victuals they cast stones at vs with stinges They were about a hundred that fought with our men for the space of an houre Of them were slayne .xxiiii. The rest were dryuen to flyght they were naked and had none other weapons then slynges After theyr flyght we brought away with vs certayne hens and Calues very good Shortly after a great multitude of the inhabitauntes shewed them selues to the number of fyue or syxe hundred but we departed with our praye and returned to the shyppes Of an Ilande of the red sea named Camaran Cap. 3. THe same day saylyng forwarde we came to an Iland named Camaran which conteyneth ten myles in circuite In it is a towne of two hundred houses the inhabitantes are Mahumetans it hath aboundaunce of freshe water and fleshe and the fayrest salte that euer I sawe The porte is eight myles from the continent it is subiecte to the Soltan of Amanian of Arabia Foelix After we had remayned here two dayes we tooke our way towarde the mouth of the red sea in the space of two dayes saylyng This sea may here be sayled both day and nyght For as we haue sayde before from this Ilande vnto the porte of Zida the red sea is not safely nauigable by nyght When we came to the mouth of the sea we seemed to be in maner inclosed for that the mouth of the sea is there very streyght and no more then three myles ouer Towarde the right hande the continent lande is seene of the heyght of ten pases the soile seemeth rude and not cultured At the lefte hande of the sayde mouth ryseth a very hygh hyll of stone In the myddest of the mouth is a litle Ilande vnhabited named Bebmendo and is towarde the lefte hande to them that sayle to Zeila But they that goe to Aden must keepe the way to the lefte hande All this way we had euer the lande in our sight from Bebmendo to Aden in the space of two dayes and a halfe Of the citie of Aden and of their maners and customes towarde straungers Cap. 4. I Doe not remember that I haue seene any citie better fortified then this It standeth on a soyle not much vnequall it is walled on two sydes The reste is inclosed with mountaynes hauyng on them fyue fortresses The citie conteyneth sixe thousande houses Theyr exercise of bying and sellyng begynneth the seconde houre of the nyght by reason of extreeme heate in the day tyme. A stone cast from the citie is a mountayne hauyng on it a fortresse The shyppes lye neare the foote of the mountayne it is certaynely a very goodly citie and the fayrest of all the cities of Arabia Foelix To this as to the chiefe marte the merchauntes of India Ethiopia and Persia haue recourse by sea and they also that resorte to Mecha Assoone as our Brigantines came into the hauen immediately the customers and searchers came aborde demaundyng what we were from whence we came what merchaundies we brought and howe many men were in euery Brigantine Beyng aduertised of these thinges immediately they tooke away our maste sayles and other tackelynges of our shyppes that we should not departe without paying of custome The day after our arryuyng there the Mahumetans tooke mee and put shackles on
thus stayed as it were with weyght and balance an other appoynted to that purpose casteth into the sea a corde with a stone hangyng at it In the myddest of the Boate an other hauing a sacke hangyng on his shoulder before and behynde and a stone hangyng at his feete hurleth him selfe into the sea and swimmeth vnder the water euen vnto the bottome of the sea for the deapth of fyftiene pases or more and there remayneth vntyll he haue geathered the pearle Muscles which he putteth in his sacke then he casteth away the stone that weyghed him downe and commeth vp by the corde There are seene sometyme almost three hundred shyppes and other kynde of vessels which come thyther from many places and countreys The Soltan of the citie is a Mahumetan There are aboue foure hundred merchauntes and factours remaynyng here continually for the trafike of merchandies whiche come from diuers other regions as silke pearles precious stones spices and suche lyke They lyue with Ryse for the moste parte for they haue none other corne Of the citie named Eri in Chorazani a region of Persia and of the riches therof Also of Reubarbarum Cap. 3. DEpartyng from Ormus I went into Persia And after ten dayes iourney I came to a certayne citie named Eri. The name of the region is Chorazani by which signification we may also name it Flaminia The Kyng of the region dwelleth in the citie It is fruitefull and plentifull almost of all thinges There is seene so great aboundaunce of sylke that you may in one daye bye as muche as may suffice to lade three thousande Cameles Corne is there neuer deare by reason of the great abundaunce There is great plentie of Rubarbe as I geather by this coniecture that syxe pounde of Rubarbe after our pounde of .xii. vnces to the pounde are solde for one croune of golde The citie conteyneth in circuite about seuen thousande houses They are of the secte of Mahumet Departyng from hence twentie dayes iorney I obserued that the continent region or firme lande farre from the sea syde is very well inhabited with many good townes and vyllages Of the ryuer thought to be Euphrates And of Castoreum Cap. 4. IN this iorney I came to a certayne great ryuer whiche in the inhabitantes language euen at this daye is named Eufra which I veryly thynke to be Euphrates consideryng also the large capacitie thereof Proceedyng therefore on my iorney by the ryuer towarde the left hande I came in the space of three dayes to an other citie named Schyra This hath onely one prynce and he a Persian Mahumetan and subiecte to none other Here are founde all sortes of precious stones and especially the stone Eranon whiche delyuereth men from witchecraftes madnesse and fearefulnesse proceedyng of melancolie It is the stone commonly called the Turquesse They are brought in great abundaunce from a citie named Balascam where is also great plentie of Castoreum and sundrye kyndes of coloures And heere I notifie vnto you why there is found litle true Castoreum among vs because it is adulcerate by the Persians before it come to our handes for these people are greatly geuen to the counterfettyng of suche thynges as I saw by experience before myne eyes for willyng on a time to proue the odoriferous strength of pure Castoreum I sawe certayne that had experience hereof do in this maner They tooke the bladder of Castoreum and foure of them one after an other put it to their noses to smell The fauour of it was so strong that it made theyr noses bleede and by this profe they knew it to be pure Castoreum not counterfect I asked the Persian whether Castoreum as other the lyke vngments or drugges would sone loose his strength He answered that the strength of that sauour myght be preserued the space of ten yerees yf it were not counterfect The Persians are very courteous and gentle people lyberall and gratious one to an other and fauorable to strangers and this I speake as I haue founde and seene by experyence Duryng the tyme that I was there I founde a certayne Persian merchant who the yeere before knewe me in the citie of Mecha he was borne in the citie of Eri in Corozain As soone as he saw me he spake to me in this maner Lodouicke what God or fortune hath sent thee into these countreyes Art not thou he whom not long sence I knewe in Mecha To whom I answered I am certaynely the same and am now come hyther for the great desire that I haue to see the worlde Praysed be God sayd he that I haue nowe found a companion of my iorney that is taken with the same desire that I haue and therfore for the space of fyfteene dayes we remayned togeather in a citie named Squilaz He exhorted me not to depart from hym but that we should togeather by his guydyng trauayle the cheefe partes of the world Enteryng therefore on our iorney we came fyrst to a place named Sainct Bragant Of the citie of Sainct Bragant bygger then Babylon And of the kyng of Persia named the Sophie Cap. 5. THey saye that the citie of Sainct Bragant is bygger then Babylon the kyng of the citie is a Mahumetan The merchantes saye that when it pleaseth hym he assembleth an armie of threescore thousande Horsemen The people are of colour enclinyng to whytenesse and verye warrelyke men This we say only by enformation of other for we coulde not safely passe anye further by reason of the great warres which the Sophie then made agaynst those Mahumetans which are of the sect and religon of Bubachar Othomar Omar â–ª These were the felowes of Mahumet as we haue written before of Mahumet and his felowes The Persians abhorre these as heretikes and false doctours although they them selues also be Mahumetans of an other secte whiche is of Mahumet and Hali whose doctrine they embrace and esteeme for most perfect and true religion Here therefore the sayde Persian my good friende and ioyfull companion of my iourney sayde thus vnto mee That thou mayest vnderstande Lodouike the vnfayned good will that I beare thee and the desyre I haue that our friendshyp may be knyt with indissoluble bandes and thereby to assure thee that I will not fayle thee in thy necessitie I haue a Nyese named Samis whom I wil gyue thee to wyfe Samis in theyr tongue signifieth the Sunne for shee deserued so to be called for her singuler beautie and sayde furthermore that he dyd not trauayle the worlde for lacke of any thyng but only for his pleasure and desyre of knowledge And therefore passyng no further by reason of the warres as we haue sayde we returned to the citie of Eri where he enterteyned mee in his house honourably and shewyng mee his Nyese instauntly desyred mee to take her to wyfe But I hauyng my mynde otherwyse destinate would not
certayne space distant one from the other eyther for feare of fyre or by ignorance of the builders It is a myle of length The houses are despicable as no hygher from the grounde then a man on horsebacke and are for the most parte couered with boughes of trees in the steede of tiles or other coueryng The cause whereof they say to bee that in digging the grounde fyue or sixe handfull depth water immediately issueth foorth And therefore they can laye no deeper foundations to beare the weyght of any greater buyldynges The houses of merchandyse or warehouses are solde for fyftiene or twentie peeces of golde But the common houses are of no greater price then two peeces of golde at the most and some for lesse Of the kyng of Calecut and of their Idolatrie Cap. 2. THe kyng of Calecut and his people are gyuen to Idolatrie and seruyng of the deuyll yet deny they not but that there is one great God maker of heauen and earth and fyrst and chiefe cause of all thinges But they adde therevnto a fable saying that God coulde take no pleasure of his principate or dominion if hee him selfe shoulde take vppon him the gouernement of the worlde and therefore that he gaue the vicarage of that gouernance to the deuyll who they say was sent from heauen for that purpose and to iudge the worlde renderyng vnto men well or euyll accordyng to theyr deseruyng This deuyll they name Deumo But the great God him selfe they call I amerani The kyng hath a Chapel in his Pallace where he honoureth this Deumo the Chapell is open on euery syde the breadth of a vaulte of two pases and is no hygher from the grounde then three pases The entraunce is by a doore of wood garnished with carued woorke conteynyng the dyuers monstruous fourmes and shapes of deuylles In the myddest of the Chapell is a seate of maiestie made of copper with also a deuyll of copper sittyng in it This deuyll hath on his head a crowne after the maner of the byshop of Rome but this hath ouerplus foure hornes his mouth gapyng with foure notable teeth a deformed nose louryng and grymme eyes a threatenyng looke crooked handes lyke a fleshe hooke and feete not much vnlyke the feete of a Cocke A monster doubtlesse horrible and fearefull to beholde In euery corner of the Chapell sit such deuylles of shining copper as though they were of flamyng fyre deuouryng soules miserably These soules are about the bygnesse of halfe a finger and some litle bigger He putteth one soule in his mouth with the ryght hande and with the lefte hande taketh an other from beneath Euery mornyng the priestes whom they call Bramini washe the Idoll with rose water and perfume him with sweete sauours and lying prostrate on the grounde pray vnto him They sacrifice vnto him once a weeke Theyr maner of sacrifice is this They haue a little cubbarde lyke vnto an Altar three handfulles hygh foure handfuls brode and fyue handfuls long this cubbard they strawe with all maner of floures and sweete pouders Then hauyng a great Chafingdyshe or the lyke vessell of siluer full of burnyng coles they put the blood of the Cocke thereon and also cast thereon innumerable sweete sauours In the meane tyme also with sensours in theyr handes they goe rounde about the Altar makyng perfume with frankensence ringyng a little siluer bell all the whyle of the sacrifice They kyll the Cocke with a siluer knyfe and the knyfe also being rayed with blood they put often in the fyre that no parte of the blood be lost Sometyme hauyng the knyfe in theyr hande they make certayne straunge gestures much lyke to those which the masters offense vse in giuyng or auoyding of strokes They neuer ceasse puttyng to more coles and spices or perfumes vntyl all the blood of the Cocke be burnt The priest that offereth the blood of the Cocke hath his armes and feete garnyshed with siluer plates and pendantes in such sorte that whyle hee moueth they make a certayne noyse much lyke vnto sonettes or Haukes belles He hath on his brest a certayne bosse conteynyng I know not what secrete figure which may seeme to be the secrete caract or signe of some mysterie The sacrifice being finished he taketh both his handes full of wheate and goeth from the Alter backeward lyke a Creuice neuer mouyng his eyes from the Alter vntyll he come to a certayne tree where openyng his handes hee casteth the wheate on the tree Then holdyng his handes aboue his head he returneth to the Alter and taketh away all that is thereon Of the maner which the kyng vseth at his meate Cap. 3. THe Kyng doeth not sit downe to his meate before foure of the priestes offer it to the deuyl in this maner Lifting theyr handes aboue theyr heades with also many other fantasticall gesticulations and murmuryng voyces they offer the meate to the deuyl spende long tyme in those ceremonyes to the end that the kyng should eate no meat that is not first offered to the deuyll They offer the meate in a tray of wood and therin laye it vppon the brode leaues of a certayne tree His meat is Ryse and dyuers other thinges as fruite fleshe and fyshe He sitteth on the grounde without cloth or Carpet The priestes in the meane tyme stande rounde about him but approcheth no nearer then foure or fyue pases obseruyng diligently the kinges woordes When the kyng hath lefte eatyng the priestes carry away all that is lefte and in a certayne place thereto appointed offer it to certayne Crowes which they keepe for the same purpose And therefore being vsed to be thus fedde geather togeather at a signe gyuen them and eate vp the meate These crowes are therefore of them esteemed holy and therefore it is not lawfull for any man to take them or hurte them Of the Priestes of Calecut called Bramini â–ª Cap. 4. THese Bramini are in place with them as are the chiefe priestes or byshoppes with vs. Therefore when the king shall marrie he lyeth not with his wyfe before shee be defloured by the Archbyshop yet taketh he not this vppon him without rewarde for the kyng gyueth him for his labour fiftie peeces of golde Only the kyng of Calecut keepeth this custome Of the dyuers sortes of Idolaters in the citie of Calecut Cap. 5. THe chiefest Idolaters and of the greatest dignitie are the Bramini They of the seconde order are named Naeri And in the same place with them as are with gentelmen whose office is when they go abrode to beare swoordes targettes bowes launces and other weapons The thyrde order consysteth of mecanike or handie craftes men In the fourth place are vitaylers and suche as make prouision of fyshe and fleshe Next vnto these are they that geather Pepper Wyne Walnuttes and suche other fruites and
Then sayde we to him What desyre they then They loue sayde he despicable thynges and of small value as pynnes knyues sysers lookyng Glasses Haukes belles bagges or boxes to keepe theyr golde in copper Rynges iangelinges to hang at theyr Tymberelles bosses laces broches copper chaynes carkenettes braselettes and suche other tryfles to trymme theyr wyues and children We aunswered that we were content to gyue them suche wares for theyr kyne if they woulde bryng them to the nexte mountayne Then sayde our Pilot agayne They will bryng them with vs to the mountayne but no further in any condition Therefore speake what you will gyue Then one of our companions sayde that he had a bosse of grauen copper and also a little bell But I bycause I had no suche merchaundies yet beyng desirous to eate fleshe sayde that I woulde sell one of my shertes for kyne Then sayde the Pilot Let mee alone with the matter Then callyng vnto him fyue or sixe of the Inhabitauntes he shewed them our goodly Iewelles and demaunded for them three hundred kyne But the inhabitantes not muche differyng from beastes made signes that they would gyue only fyftiene In fyne we agreed yet suspectyng some deceite neuerthelesse they kept theyr promyse and sent vs fyftiene kyne by two of theyr companions We were scarsely departed but we hearde a noyse and tumulte in theyr dennes and were partly afrayde lest these Troglodites woulde folowe vs and therefore leauyng our kyne we tooke vs to our weapons But they made signes vnto vs to feare nothyng Then our pilot tolde vs that their tumulte was only which of them should haue the bosse of copper Then recouering our kyne we droue them forward to the toppe of the mountaine and there dismissed the two blacke slaues that came with them Whyle wee were thus driuyng our kyne by the syde of a little wood we met agayne with the Elephantes whereof beyng in great feare we forsooke our kyne and trusted to our feete Therefore departyng from hence we returned to the Ilande where makyng prouision for our vyage we sayled towarde the Cape called Caput Bonae Spei passyng the Ilande of Saincte Laurence otherwyse named Madagascar beyng fourescore leagues distant from the nearest continent or firme land I suppose that in shorte tyme the kyng of Portugale will be Lorde of this Ilande For hauyng nowe burned and destroyed many villages and townes of the Ilande his name is fearefull among them And as farre as I can coniecture by my peregrinations of the worlde especially of India and Ethiopia I thynke that the kyng of Portugale if hee continue as he hath begunne is lyke to bee the rychest kyng in the worlde and doubtlesse not vnwoorthily for the dignitie and godly zeale of so noble a prince as by whose meanes the Christian fayth is dayly greatly increased For it is certayne that in India and especially in the citie of Cucin where the Uiceroye remayneth euery holy day tenne or twelue Idolaters or Mahumetans are professed to our religion whereby we may conceyue good hope that in tyme our fayth shall there bee greatly enlarged by the grace of God who hath there gyuen suche supernaturall victories to the Christians and therefore all professers of Christes holy name ought to pray to almyghtie God to assyst hym in so godly an enterprise Of the Cape called Caput Boneae Spei That is the Cape of good hope Cap. 4. DEpartyng from the Cape named Caput Bonae Spei when we had nowe sayled aboute two hundred myles there rose suddenly a tempest with contrarye wynde The cause whereof was that we had on the lefte hande the Ilande of Saint Laurence and many other litle Ilandes from whence bloweth for the most part a great gale of wynde And therefore for the space of seuen dayes beyng here daungerously tossed to and fro by the rages of the sea and wynde at the length we escaped by the grace of God But proceedyng about two hundred leagues a newe tempest rysyng so scattred our shyppes in the space of syxe dayes that we mette not togeather agayne vntyll we arryued at Luxburne in Portugale I was in the shyppe of Barthelmewe a Florentine citizen of Luxburne The shyppe was named Saint Uincent a vessell of exceedyng capacitie laden with seuen thousande tonnes of all sortes of spyces In the way we passed also by an other Iland named the Iland of saint Helen where we sawe certayne fyshes of suche enorme and monstrous byggenesse that one of them was as bygge as a great house When they ryse aboue the water they yane or gape so wyde that y e vpper iawe couereth al the forehead as it were a souldier in shynyng harnesse Agayne when they swymme on the brymme of the water the forhead is seene the breadth of three great paces And when they swymme in the sea they so trouble the water and come so neare the shyps that we were fayne to discharge al our artillarye to dryue them away Shortly after we founde an Ilande named the Ilande of Ascention where we sawe many fowles about the byggnesse of our Duckes so symple without suspicion or feare that we tooke them with our handes but shortly after they were taken they shewed an incredible fiercenesse I thynke veryly that they neuer sawe any man before they so behelde vs before they were taken and were as styll as if they had ben astonyshed For in that Ilande we sawe no lyuyng creature saue onely innumerable fyshes and the sayd byrdes After we had passed this Ilande many dayes sayling as though we were nowe come to our owne worlde the North starre and guardions of our maryners appeared vnto vs. And here oportunitie serueth well to confute the opinion of them that thynke that men maye not sayle in regions subiect to the pole Antartike or south pole by the guide of the north starre For it is certayne that the Portugales sayle by the guyde of the north starres although they be vtterly out of syght by the eleuation of the pole Antartike Yet do they sometymes refreshe the vertue of the needle with the stone whiche euer naturally respecteth the north pole A fewe dayes after we arryued at the fayre region where are seene many Ilandes named the Ilandes of Astures so named for the multitude of those Egles whiche we commonly call Astures These Ilandes are diuersely named for some are named Pici Martij some Dè Coruo also De Floribus Sancti Georgij Gratiosa and Feial Departyng from hence we came to the Ilande of Tertiera where we remayned two dayes All these Ilandes are marueylous fruitefull and haue plentie of all thynges necessary for mans lyfe Departyng from hence in seuen dayes saylyng we came to y e goodly citie of Luxburne or Vlisbona in Portugale A◠my commyng thyther I was brought to the kynges presence whose handes kissing with most humble reuerence I thanked his maiestie for the great fauour I had
knowledge thereof But nowe intendyng to speake of the whole worlde I wyll not be long in my preface but begyn my narration as foloweth ¶ A briefe declaration of the viage or nauigation made about the worlde Geathered out of a large booke written hereof by master Antoni Pigafetta Vincentine knyght of the Rhodes and one of the companie of that vyage in the which Ferdinando Magalianes a Portugale whom some call Magellanus was generall captayne of the nauie ALthough Sebastian Munster in his vniuersall Cosmographie in the fyfth booke of the landes of the greater Asia which I translated into Englyshe about .24 yeeres sence hath wrytten of the vyage of Magellanus declaryng therein how the Spanyardes by the West and the Portugales by the East sayling to the Ilandes of Molucca compassed the whole globe of the worlde betweene them yet haue I heere thought it good to make a breefe repeticion of this vyage addyng hereunto dyuers notable thynges which were not touched of Munster as I haue geathered them out of the bookes of Antoni Pigafetta and Transiluanus wrytyng of the same vyage For albeit in deede it was a strange and woonderfull thyng that the Spanyardes and Portugales compassed the whole circumference of the worlde betweene them yet is it more marueylous that the same was done with one ship one companie of men as did the Spanyardes in this viage who keeping their continual course by the west returned into Spaine by the east a thing doubtlesse so much more woonderful and strange then if they had returned from the halfe circumference by the same way they went in how muche they were ignorant in the vyage neuer attempted before besyde the thousande daungers and perylles whiche they were daylye lyke to fal into aswell by wandryng in vnknowen coastes as also by fallyng into the handes of the Portugales by whose dominions in the East they shoulde needes passe of necessitie not trustyng to their gentlenesse for the controuersie whiche had been long betweene them for the Ilandes of Molucca I wyl therfore as I haue sayde make a briefe rehearsal of this viage from the begynnyng to the endyng omittyng neuerthelesse many notable thynges whiche are more largely described in the bookes of Maximilianus Transiluanus and Antonius Pigafetta The tenth day of August in the yeere of our Lord .1519 Ferdinando Magalianes ▪ departed from the port of Siuile in Spayne with a nauie of fyue shippes and 237. men wel furnished with all thynges necessary And saylyng first downe by the ryuer of Guadalchiber which runneth from the sayd port into the sea they came first to a place named Giouan Dulpharaz where are many villages of the Moores and from thence arryued at a castle of the duke of Medina Sidonia where is the port from whiche they enter into the sea to the cape saint Vincent beyng distant from the Equinoctial .37 degrees and from the sayd port .10 leagues and is from thence to Siuile betweene 17. and 20. leagues Heere they remayned certayne dayes to make newe prouision of such thinges as they lacked Departyng from hence the 20. day of September they arryued the 26. day of the same moneth at one of the Ilandes of Canarie called Tenerife beyng 25. degrees aboue the Equinostial In one of these Ilandes is none other water but that is continually engendred of a cloude which appeareth dayly at noone tyde as though it descended from heauen and compasseth about a certayne great tree from whose branches distylleth great aboundaunce of water and falleth in streames from the roote of the same into certaine trenches and cesternes made and placed to receyue it This water serueth sufficiently all the inhabitauntes and cattayle of the Iland The lyke thyng is also seene in the Ilande of saint Thomas lying directly vnder the Equinoctial line The thirde day of October about mydnyght the captayne commaunded them to lyght fyre brandes and to hoyse vp theyr sayles directyng theyr course towarde the South saylyng saylyng betwene Capo Verde of Affrike and the Ilandes lying about the same beyng from the Equinoctial fourteene degrees a halfe They sayled thus many dayes in the syght of the coast of Guinea of Ethiope where is the mountayne called Serra Liona being eyght degrees aboue the Equinoctial In this coast they had no maner of contrary wynde but a great calme and fayre weather for the space of threescore and ten dayes in the whiche they came vnder the Equinoctial line In this viage they sawe many strange Fyshes monsters of the Sea besyde another strange thyng whiche appeared vnto them For there appeared in their shippes certayne flames of fyre burnyng very cleare whiche they cal saint Helen saint Nicholas these appeared as though they had been vpon the mast of the shippes in suche clearenesse that they tooke away theyr syght for the space of a quarter of an houre by reason wherof they so wandred out of theyr course and were dispearsed in sunder that they in maner dispayred to meete agayne but as God would the sea and tempest beyng quieted they came safely to their determined course And before I speake any further of the viage I haue heere thought good to say somewhat of these strange fyers whiche some ignorant folke thynke to be spirites or suche other phantasies wheras they are but naturall thynges proceedyng of naturall causes and engendred of certayne exhalations Of these therfore the great Philosopher of our tyme Hieronimus Cardanus in his second booke De Subtilitate wryteth in this maner There are two maner of fyers engendred of exhalations wherof the one is hurtful the other without hurt That which is hurtfull is fyre in deede engendred of malicious and venemous vapours whiche in successe of tyme take fyre as apt matters to be kyndled The other kynde is no true fyre but lyke the matter that is in such olde putrified wood as geueth the shynyng of fyre without the substaunce or qualitie therof Of the kynde of true fyre is the Fyreball or Starre commonly called saint Helen which is sometyme seene about the mastes of shippes beyng of such fyerie nature that it sometyme melteth brasen vessels and is a token of drownyng forasmuch as this chaunceth only in great tempestes for the vapour or exhalation wherof this fyre is engendred can not be dryuen togeather or compact in fourme of fyre but of a grosse vapour and by a great power of wynde and is therefore a token of imminent perill As on the contrary parte the lyke fyres called in olde tyme Castor and Pollux and nowe named the two lightes of Sainct Peter and Sainct Nicolas which for the most parte fall on the cables of the shyppes leapyng from one to an other with a certayne flutteryng noyse lyke byrdes are a token of securitie and of the tempest ouerpassed For they are but vapours cleauyng to the cables which in successe of tyme the fyre
Barbarians were .xv. slayne many sore wounded After the death of the Captayne they chose two other in his place of the which one was Odoardo Barbessa a Portugale and the other Iohn Serrano â–ª who was shortly after betrayde by the interpretour and taken prisoner with dyuers other Certaine dayes before the captaines death they had knowledge of the Ilandes of Molucca whiche they chiefely sought Departyng therefore from the Ilande of Mathan they sayled farre and came to the Cape of an other Ilande named Bohol In the myddest of this mayne sea which they named Archipelagus they consulted to burne the shyppe named Conception bycause they were nowe fewe in number and to furnyshe the other two shyppes with the artillerie thereof Thus directyng theyr course towarde Southwest they came to an other Ilande named Pauiloghon where they founde blacke men lyke vnto the Sarasins Shortly after they arryued at an other great Ilande whose kyng named Raia Calauar intreated them very friendly in all thynges as dyd the kyng of Massana This Ilande is ryche in golde and hath plentie of Rysse Gynger Hogges Goates Hennes and dyuers other thynges It is named Chippit and is viii degrees aboue the Equinoctiall lyne towarde our pole and in longitude from the place from whence they first departed .170 degrees and about .50 leagues from Zubut Departyng from hence they came to an other Ilande named Caghaian beyng .40 leagues from Chippit as they sayled betweene the Weste and Southwest This Ilande is very great and in maner vnhabited The people are Moores and were banished out of the Ilande of Burnei which some call Porne From this Ilande about .xxv. leagues betweene the Weste and Northweste they founde a marueylous fruitfull Ilande named Pulaoan beyng towarde our pole aboue the Equinoctiall niene degrees and a thirde parte and C.lxxix degrees and a thirde parte in longitude from the place of their departyng From this Ilande .x. leagues towarde the Southwest they sawe an other Ilande whiche seemed to them sometymes to mount as they sayled by the coastes thereof As they were entering into the port there arose a boystuous dark tempest which ceassed assoone as the fyres of the three saintes whereof we haue spoken before appeared vpon the cables From the beginning of this Iland to the porte are fyue leagues This Ilande is great and ryche and the chiefe citie thereof conteyneth .xxv. thousande houses The Kyng enterteyned our men very friendly and sent them besyde many other presentes two Elephantes trapped with silke to bryng them to his Pallace that brought the presentes which the Captayne 's sent him He hath a magnificall Courte and a great garde also a multitude of concubynes He is a Moore and is named Raia Siripada He is a kyng of great power and hath vnder him many other kynges Ilands and cities This Ilande of Burnei is aboue the Equinoctiall towarde our pole fyue degrees and a quarter and in longitude from the place of theyr departyng C.lxxvi degrees and two third partes Departyng from Burnei they came to an Ilande called Cimbulon beyng .viii. degrees aboue the Equinoctiall lyne Heere they remayned .xl. dayes to calke theyr shyppes and furnysh them with freshe water and fuell which was to them great payne and trauayle bycause they were in maner all bare footed their shooes and in maner their other apparel being worne by reason of the long vyage In the woods of this Iland they found a tree whose leaues as soone as they fall on the ground doe sturre and remoue from place to place as though they were alyue they are muche lyke the leaues of a Mulbery tree and haue on euery syde as it were two short blunt feete When they are cut or broken there is no blood seene come foorth of them Yet when any of them are touched they sodaynly moue and starte away Antoni Pigafetta kept one of them in a platter for the space of .viii. dayes and euer when he touched it it ranne rounde about the platter He supposeth that they lyue only by ayre Departyng from hence they directed theyr course by the West quarter towarde the Southeast to fynde the Ilandes of Molucca and sayled not farre from certayne mountaynes where they founde the sea full of great weedes and hearbes From hence they came to the Ilandes of Zolo and Taghima in the which are founde pearles of exceedyng bygnesse Folowyng theyr course towarde the Northeast they came to a great citie named Mangdando lying aboue the Ilandes of Butbuan and Calaghan where they tooke a Canoa of certayne of the inhabitantes by whom beyng infourmed of the Ilandes of Molucca they lefte theyr course towarde the Northeast and folowed the Southeast neare vnto a Cape of the Ilande of Buthuan they were aduertised for certentie that on the bankes of a certayne ryuer there dwelt men ouergrowen with heare and of hygh stature Folowyng styll theyr course by the Southeast and passyng by many small Ilandes they came to the Ilandes of Molucca the sixte day of Nouember and the .xxvii. moneth after their departure out of Spayne Beyng therefore ioyfull and gyuyng thankes vnto God they discharged all theyr ordinaunce In the coaste of all these Ilandes euen vnto the Ilandes of Molucca soundyng with theyr plummet they founde the deapth of the sea to be no lesse then a hundred and two yardes which is contrary to the saying of the Portugales who affyrme that no shyppe can passe that way without great daunger by reason of the shalownesse and rockes or shelues and for the darkenesse which the cloudes cause in the heauen All which things they fayned to the intent that none other should haue knowledge of theyr viages The eyght day of Nouember in the yeere 1521. before the rysing of the Sunne they entered into the porte of the Ilande of Tidore beyng one of the chiefe Ilandes of Molucca where they were honorably interteyned of the kyng who declared that he had long before seene a signe in heauen that certayne shyppes shoulde come from a farre countrey to the Ilandes of Molucca And that whereas for the better certificate thereof he considered the stations of the Moone he sawe therein the commyng of our shyppes and that we were the men whom he seemed to see in the same Wherevppon he profered him selfe to enter into league of friendshyp with the kyng of Spayne and to accepte our men as his brethren and chyldren wyllyng them to come alande as into theyr owne houses Also that for theyr commyng that Ilande shoulde no more bee called Tidore but Castile for the great loue whiche he bore to theyr Kyng whom he reputed as his Lorde and maister This Kyng is a Moore and is named Raia Sultan Mauzor The Ilandes of Molucca are fyue in number and are thus named Tarenate Tidore Mutir Macchian and Bacchian Of these Tarenate is the cheefest Directly agaynst the
Ilande of Tidore there is an other great Ilande named Gilolo inhabited of Moores and Gentiles The Moores haue two Kynges of the whiche one hath sixe hundred chyldren and the other sixe hundred and fyftie The Gentyles keepe not so many women as doe the Moores nor yet lyue in suche superstitions They pray to the first thyng that they meete in the mornyng when they goe foorth of theyr houses and honour that as theyr God for that day The Kyng of the Gentyles is very ryche in golde In the sayde Ilande of Gilolo are Reedes as byg as a mans legge and full of cleare water holsome to be drunke The .xii. day of Nouember the kyng of Tidore appoynted our men a warehouse in the citie where they myght sell theyr merchaundies Theyr maner of exchaunge was in this sorte For tenne yardes of good redde cloth they had one Babar of Cloues which amounteth to foure Cantari and six pound weight And one Cantar is a hundred pounde weyght For .xv. yardes of cloth somewhat woorse then the other they receyued in Cambie one Bahar For .xxxv. drynkyng cuppes of glasse they had one Bahar For .xvii. Cathyls of quicke siluer one Bahar They came dayly to the shyppes with many of theyr Barkes full of Goates Hennes fygges of a spanne long also the fruite called Cocus with dyuers other kyndes of victualles in suche quantitie that it was a marueylous thyng to beholde They furnyshed also theyr shyppes with freshe water which is hotte as it issueth out of the spryng but is very colde when it hath stoode a whyle in an other place It spryngeth from the mountaynes on the which the cloue trees growe They sawe a cloude ryse in maner dayly whiche compasseth about the sayde mountaynes The kyng of the Ilande of Bacchian sent the kyng of Spaine two dead byrdes of straunge fourme They were of the bygnesse of Turtle Dooues with little heades and long bylles also long and small legges and no wynges but in the steede thereof certayne long feathers of diuers colours and tayles lyke Turtle Dooues all the other feathers are of one colour much lyke vnto tawny excepte those of the wynges they flee not but when the wynde bloweth These Moores are of opinion that these byrdes come from the heauenly Paradyse and therefore call them Manuccodiata that is the byrdes of God When they were determyned to departe from the Ilandes of Molucca certayne kynges of the Ilandes accompanied them with theyr Canoas and conducted them to an Ilande called Mare where they refreshed theyr shyppes with freshe water and fuell The kynges sent the Emperours maiestie many presentes and embrasing our men departed with the teares in theyr eyes and our men for theyr laste farewell shot of all their ordinance When in the Ilande of Mare they perceyued that one of theyr shyppes leaked and tooke water very sore wherby they were inforced to tarrie there three dayes But seeyng that they coulde fynde no remedie for the same but in long tyme they determined to leaue it gyuyng order that if afterwarde it coulde bee repayred they should returne into Spayne as well as they could In all the Ilandes of Molucca is founde Cloues Ginger bread of the roote of Sagu Ryse Goates sheepe Hennes Figges Almondes sweete Pomegranates and sowre Oranges Lemondes and hony which is made of certayne flyes lesse then Antes Also canes of suger oyle of Cocus Mellons Gourdes and a marueylous colde fruite whiche they name Camulicai and dyuers other fruites Furthermore whyte and red Popingayes and other of variable colours It is not paste fiftie yeeres since the Moores fyrst inhabited any of these Ilandes whiche were before inhabited only with Gentiles The Ilande of Tidore is aboue the Equinoctiall line toward our pole about .27 minutes and in longitude from the place from whence they departed .171 degrees and from the Archipelagus in the which is the Ilande of Zamal whiche our men named the Ilande of theeues .ix. degrees and a halfe and runneth to the quarter of South Southwest and North Northeast Terenate is vnder the Equinoctiall lyne foure minutes vnder the pole Antartike Mutir is directly vnder the Equinoctiall lyne Macchian is .xv. minutes towarde the pole Antartike and Bacchian one degree These Ilands are lyke iiii sharpe mountaines except Macchian which is not sharpe The biggest of all these is Bacchian Departyng from the Ilande of Mare and directyng theyr course toward the Southwest with only .xlvi. men in theyr shyppe and .xiii. Indians they passed by the Ilandes of Chacouan Lagoma Sico Gioghi Caphi Sulacho Lumatola Tenâ—tum Buâ—u Ambon Budia Celaruri Benaia Ambalao Bandon Zorobua Zolot Noceuamor Galian and Mallua with dyuers other Ilands both great and small of Moores Gentiles and Canibales Our men remayned .xv. dayes in the Ilande of Mallua to repayre theyr shyppe in certayne places where it tooke water All the feeldes of this Ilande is full of long and rounde Pepper and is situate towarde the pole Antartike vnder the Equinoctial line .viii. degrees and a halfe and is in the longitude of .169 degrees and .40 minutes The Pilot whiche our men brought out of the Ilandes of Molucca tolde them that not farre from thence was an Ilande named Arucetto in the whiche are men and women not past a cubite in heyght hauyng eares of suche byggenesse that they lye vppon one and couer them with the other But our men would not sayle thyther both because the wynde and course of the sea was agaynst them and also for that they gaue no credite to his reporte The .xxv. daye of Ianuarie in the yeere .1522 they departed from Mallua and the day folowyng arryued at a great Ilande named Timor beyng fyue leagues distant from Mallua betweene the south and southwest In this Ilande is found the wood of whyte Saunders and Gynger and dyuers kyndes of fruites Also sundry kyndes of beastes and plentie of vittaile and golde They of the Ilandes of Giaua Molucca and Lozon resorte to this Iland for Saunders The inhabitantes are gentyles They saye that when they go to cutte the wood of Saunders the deuyl appeareth to them in dyuers fourmes and asketh them what they haue neede of And that after this vision many of them are long sicke In al y e Ilands of this Archipelagus rayneth the disease of saint Iob whiche we call the frenche poxe more then in any other place in the worlde Farre from this Ilande betweene the west and northwest they came to an Ilande named Eude in the whiche groweth great plentie of Sinamome In this tracte are founde many Ilandes lying in order as it were one directly behynde an other euen vnto the Iland of the greater Giaua named Giaua maior and vnto the cape of Malacha beyng in East India Giaua the lesse is as bygge as the Ilande of Madera and is but halfe a league
Tamaius and .13 hundred men of that countrey to serue in steede of packe horses for cariage after the maner there began to set forwarde from his Castle Vera crux towardes Themistitan in Mexico distant from thence Westwarde a hundred leagues or thereabout Cempoal standeth from Vera Crux .4 leagues eche league in this countrey is .4 Italian miles Foure dayes iourney from Cempoal Cortesius was enterteined curtuously by the inhabiters of a goodly shyre named Sienchimalen as also by the citizens of Texuacan after that he had passed with his army an exceedyng hygh hyll thicke clad with yse snow euen in the moneth of August The like enterteynment was offered him his companie as hee marched forward vntill he came to the Tascaltecans lande who are so great enemies vnto the Mexicans that liuyng amyd their dominions they had rather want their greatest necessaries to wit salt and cotton to cloath them than become subiects in any wise to the Prince of Mexico With these Tascaltecans Cortesius had three conflictes passing through their countrey in the ende valiantly gaue them the ouerthrow Tascalteca is a greater citie more populous and better serued than Granata in Spayne was at what time the Moores yelded their bread is made of Maiz that is Indish corne a very good seat for hauking hunting freshe water fishing sea fish is scarse for it standeth from the sea aboue .50 leagues of pulse good store This towne wals houses in number 20000. built of stone high strong in respect of the enemy euer at hand they keepe markets and fayres The people doth weare hose and maketh good accompt of Iewels precious stones of crestes bushes of feathers to set them foorth in the warres they garnishe euery thing with gold wood is brought to be sold to the market on mens shoulders timber boordes bricke lime stone are vsuall merchandise Theyr Carpenters Masons Potters are very skilfull There is no vessell wrought amongst vs more artificially than theyrs is Medicinable hearbes are solde openly They vse baths the nation politike gouerned in maner of a common wealth The whole circuit of this prouince is .90 leagues full of townes boroughes and villages hils and dales most â—ruitfull well stored of good souldyers in respecte of their enemyes rounde about them About one league of this citie encamped Cortesius by his spials vnderstanding the citizens not to mistrust or feare any inuasion tooke the strongest part therof by night in the morning came the best citizens to offer him all obedience Cortesius than returning with the victorie victuals to his campe found it in a troublesome mutinie for the great distresses present calamies they thought them selues to be in so far of from their owne country in the midst of their enemies This mutinie appeased he with good woords comfortable reasons persuading them their enemies to be weaker the spreadyng abroade of the gospell to be now in their hands them selues to be Spaniardes who esteeme not death to wyn glory a most happy death that to be where life is spent in the conquest of infidelles and barbares to lye by the sea side idlely that were to no purpose Thus appeased he the rebellious myndes of his companyons and after .20 dayes abode made in this prouince he led them into an other shire for pastures and riuers the most commodious for habitation best in all that countrey The principall citie hath name Churultecal as great as faire as Tascalteca and so gouerned vntil the king of Mexico oppressed it Here was Cortesius receyued with songes musicall instruments and trumpets by the priestes and children of the citie after their maner wel feasted The end of all this mirth was an vprore of the inhabiters agaynst him procured by the kyng of Mexico as it was supposed whereof Cortesius hauing secrete intelligence by a woman of Cempoal that folowed his Campe summoned a parle with the beste citizens of Churultecal at his owne lodging Those citizens first laid he fast by the heles than speedely with his army warned to be in a readinesse for that purpose set vpon the deceiptful Barbares of a soden before that they were throughly prouided and gaue them the ouerthrow The prince of Mexico acquitted him selfe of this vprore protesting by his Ambassadors to Cortesius that his disloyall subiectes the Churultecals had bruted that conspiracie vnder his name to doe him iniury whom they would not willingly obeye He sent withall rich presentes praying Cortesius to come to Themistitan promising him that he should want nothyng there notwithstandyng the harde prouision thereof in so barren a place altogeather in the water To conducte Cortesius thyther he sent also certayne Gentlemen for guydes and other of his nobilitie to receyue him as he came neare To speake of euery curtesie shewed him in this iourney and to wryte of euery place he passed and particulerly to rehearse euery dayes iourney euery hyll towne ryuer house and gardeyne by the way would breede ouermuche tediousnesse In fewe the Lordes of the countrey as he went vsed him well especially in Guazucingo prouince and Chialcho shyre the one whereof was violently oppressed by the prince of Mexico the other willingly subiect vnto him In the cold mountaynes he wanted no wood in the townes hee was prouided for and his companions who were of Cempoallens Tastaltecans Churultecans Gâ—zucinges in number .4000 of Spaniards not aboue .300 In this maner Cortesius accompanyed folowed came at the length into a vale bearing name Colua â–ª wherein be two meres the one salt water of .60 leagues in circuit the other a freshet Partly on the land partly in the salt meere standeth Iztapalapa a fayre towne from whence to Themistitan the royall seat of Mexico there lyeth a way on a stone wall two speares length broad built vp in the water by hand with infinite charges the wall serueth also for a bridge by this bridge sides stand three fayre townes Mesicalcingo Coluacan VVichilabusco The first is supposed to haue .3000 houses the second .6000 the third .4000 wel built especially their Towers their Temples wherin they doe sacrifice In these townes great aboundaunce of salt is made that serueth all such as doe acknowledge the Prince of Mexico for their Lord. Other be denied it as of the Tascaltecans it was sayde This salte meere rysing doeth flowe into the Freshet as it ebbeth the Freshet falleth into the salt meere agayne The freshe water may serue neuerthelesse for drinke the salte water becommeth not freshe therewithall The wall hath many draught bridges for warfare and sluses for passage where toll is payde vnto the kyng Halfe one league before you come to Themistitan where the lyke bridge or causey from the lande ioyneth with the aforesayde wal standeth a strong Castle double walled about with two strong Towers not possible to be conquered To this place came a thousande Gentlemen Courtiers foorth of the citie
Priuilegio Kyng of Portugale Algarbs Lorde of Guinea of the coÌ„quest nauigation and trafike into Ethiopia Arabia Persia India The first part the first Decadâ— The second Decade The third Decade The fourth Decade The seconde part The thyrde part The fourth part A harde begynyng The Pylot that fyrst founde the Indies Mina Colon was not much learned Colon conferred with learned men Kyng Henry the seuenth Barnarde knewe not all thynges The conquest of Granada The archbâ—shop of Toledo The colour of the East Indians The coloure of the west Indians Gods wysedome power is seene in his workes Thyle is Islande The largenesse of the Ocean vnknowen to this day Cardinal Ascanius The warres at Granatum agaynst the Moores Italy disquieted with warres The sequeles of warre Kyng Frederike Spayne subdued from the Moores The kyngdome of Naples The temperatnesse of the Equinoctiall vnknowen to the olde wryters Continent or fyrme lande as bygge as three Europes Riches are the instruments of conquestes The rewardâ— of vertue The Ilandes of the West Ocean Christophorus Colonus India The fyrst voyage of Colonus The Ilandes of Canarie Gades or Calsmals A league what it conteyneth by sea The fortunate Ilandes Capo Verde The .vii. Ilandes of Canarie Betanchor a Frenche man subdued the Ilandes of Canarie c. Alphonsus Lugo Colonus men rebel agaynst hym Fayre woordes and promises Hispaniola Iohanna Nightingales syng in Nouember The Ilande of Ophir The Ilandes of Antilia A shypwracke The people of the Ilande Naked people Expert swymmers Gold for earth and glasse Many kynges Religious and humane people Canoas Monoxyla They haue no iron Canibales or Caribes Anthâ—opophagi The crueltie of the Canibales Ages Rootes in the steede of meate Iucca Bread of rootes In hearbe of strange nature Maizium Golde in estimation Golde in the sandes of riuers Serpentes without venime Turtle doues Duckes Popiniayes Plini These Ilandes are part of India The Indians are Antipodes to the Spanyardes Aristotle Seneca India not farre from Spayne Mastyx Aloe Gossampine cotton or bombase Seres The language of these Indians Trees fruites vnknoweÌ„ to vs Fat and moyst grounde Heate continual temperate The fruitefulnesse of Hispaniola The seconde voyage of Colonus Corne seedes to sowe Tooles and artyllerie Water droppyng from a tree continuallye Methymna Campi Castella Vetus Gades The Ilandâ— of Ferrea Ilandes of the Canibales The Ilande of Dominica Lysartes The Ilande of Galanta The Iland of Guadalupea Villages of .xx. or .xxx. houses The buildyng of theyr houses Gossampine cotton Bombase Hangyng beddes Images Fine cookerie Arrowheades of bones The mount Guadalupus Carucueria Popiniayes bygger then Phesantes The Canibales driueÌ„ to flyght Matinino an Ilande of women The Ilandes of Mons Serratus Huntyng for men Sancta Maria Rotunda Sanctus Martinus Sancta Maria Antiqua Insula crucis an Ilande of the Canibales The Canibales are expert Archers Arrowes inâ—ected with â—enime A conflict with the Canibales The fiercenesse terrible countenance of the Canibales Methymna Campi Innumerable Ilandes The mynes of mettals precious stones The sea called Archipelagus Insula S. Iohannes or Buchena Death for death â—he mounâ—â—ynes are colâ—er then the â—â—aynes â—rom Domiâ—â—ca to Hispaâ—â—ola fiue hunâ—â—ed leagues â—he Spaniarâ—s left in the â—ande are â—yne â—yng Guaccaâ—â—rillus reâ—â—leth Two images of golde Libertie and idlenesse A happie kinde of lyfe Superfluitie Many haue to much and none yenough The golden worde Naked men troubled with ambition Geue place The Admirall sendeth for the kyng No horses in the Ilandes A tyme for all â—ynges A desperate aduenture of a woman Cloelia of Rome Guaccanarillus is sought Melchior Popyngiayes and byrdes Taini Haukes belles A large house Reedes of sundry colours Caccius Hoiedus and Gorualanus Gold in riuers â—allyng from mountaynes The manner of gathering gold Graynes of golde A masse of rude gold weyghing ix ounces Caunaboa â–ª kyng of the house of golde Holsome water and plentie of fyshe The day and nyght of equall length in December Byrdes breede in December The eleuation of the pole The starres are called guardens of the pole The Equinoctial line A chappell and priestes Marchantes Syrophenicians The Cinamome tree Xiloaloes or Lignum Aloes Hispaniola Ophir whither Solomons shyps sayled for Golde Isabella A token of marueilous fruitefulnesse Hearbes greene al the whole yeere Suger reedes Plantes and vines Corne grayne ripe twyse a yeere The region of Cipanga or Cibana Golde The golden region of Cibana The vale of Cibana Golde for haukes bels Graynes and pibble stones of golde They passe not for golde in that it is golde onely but. c. Stones of golde as big as the head of a childe Spices Wilde vines of plesaunte taste Fruitful mountaynes Golde in the lande of ryuers falling from the mountaynes Libertie and idlenes The mountaynes are colde The ilande of Cuba Least any other prince c. Discention betweene the Portiugales and Spaniardes The ilandes of cobouerde or Hesperides The Portugales vâ—ages The ende of the easte and weste Note India not far from Spaine Sainte Nicolas porte The iland of Iamaica Quicke witted people The compassing of the earth Aurea Chersonesus or Malaccha A secreate of Astronomie The riuer of Ganges Daungerous streightes by reason of many Ilandes A large hauen Rosted fishe and serpents of viii foote longe Crocodiles of Egipte The kinges fishers Serpentes esteemed for delicate meaâ—â— Blossomes fruites both at one time Trees which beare gourds A multitude of Ilandes Hotte water A straunge kinde of fisshing Abundance of Tortoyses Fisher men The fishe Guaicanum Humane people A mountayne fruitfull and well inhabited Dogges of strange shape and dumme white and thicke water Wooddes of â—ate trees Men appareâ—â—d like white â—â—yers â—pparelled â—en Natiue vines Trees bearyng spices sweete fruites Diuers languages in the Ilande of Cuba Pearles in shelfyshes The sea entangled with Ilandes A multitude of great Tortoyses A gulfe of white water The humanitie of a reuerende olde gouernour An oration of the naked gouernour Theyr opinion of the soule of man Desyre of gold founde that which religion coulde not â—ynde Virtus post nummos c. The lande as common as â–ª the sunne and water Simple dyet Hispaniola The Canibales Sickenesse of to much Watching Easte India The Spaniardes rebell in the Admirals absence The kinges of the ilande rebell The Spaniardes misbehauiour A iust reuenge Capitayne Hoieda Caunaboa conspireth the Admirals death Famine in the ilande of hispaniola The hunger of golde causeth greate famine The tower of conception Electrum is a metall naturally mixt of one portion of golde an other of siluer being of propertie to bewraye poyson and was therfore in olde time in greater estimation then golde The mine of Electrum An other kinde of amber is taken out of greate whale fishes Orpement oâ— oker Wooddes of brasile trees Licentiusnes of to much libertie And this only geathered and not dygged out of the bodye of the mine The nature of the region disposeth the maner of
Weakenesse of hunger Cape Marmor Nomen Dei The nauigation of Rodericus Colmenaris An exceedyng high mountayne couered with snowe Apparelled men Spanyardes slayne with venemous arrowes A remedie agaynst venemous arrowes The hauen of Vraba Nicuesa is founde in a miserable case Insolencie oftâ— muche felicitie The death of Nicuesa Famine enforseth them to fal to spaylyng Careta kyng of Coiba Kyng Careta is taken and spoyled Mine thine the seedes of al myscheefe Ancisus Lieuetenant for Fogeda is cast in pryson Ancisus taketh his voyage to Hispaniola The reuengâ— of God The inconueniences of discorde King Poncha Swordes of wood Kyng Careta conspireth with the Spaniards agaynst kyng Poncha The region of Comogra distant from Dariena .xxx. leagues Kyng Comogrus The kynges pallace Wine syder Blacke wine The carcasses of men dâ—yed The distribution of golde Young Comogrus his oration The hunger of golde A region flowing with golde Kyng Tumanama Canibales The golde mines of the mountaynes Vnwrought golde not estemed Abundance of golde Housholde stuffe of golde Naked people tormented with ambition A vehement perswasion A token of hunger Kyng Comogrus is baptised with his familie Horrible thunder and lyghtnyng in the moneth of Nouember Maryshe grounde Ancisus bitten of a Batte A tempest King Turui The Ilande of Cannafistula King Abibeiba dwelleth in a tree The rysyng of the Ocean sea Trees of marueilous height Plinie Fruitefull grounde Abibeiba the kyng of the tree yeeldeth to Vaschus Golde no more esteemed then stones Canibales Men good yenough yf they had iron Captiues A garryson of thirtie men Eightene Spanyardes slayne and drowned The kinges which conspired the death of the Christians A straunge chaunce Women can keepe no counsayle An armie of an hundred Canoas and fyue M. men Triumph before victorie Affection corrupteth true iudgement The conspiracie of the kyngs is detected Kyng Cemaechus conspireth the death of Vaschus Vaschus pursueth the kings with threescore and ten men Colmenaris sacketh the vyllage of Tichiri Fyue rulers hanged shot through with arrowes Iohan. Quicedus is sent to Spayne A wife is a hinderaunce The death of aldiuia Hurt of lauyshnesse of the tongue The calamities and death of Fogeda Maladies and famine The prosperous voyage of Ancisus A king of Cuba baptised by the name of Commendator A marueylous hystorie howe God wrought myracles by the simple faith of a Maryner Be not rashe in iudgement A Chappell builded to the pycture of the virgin Marie One superstititious religion turned into an other holdeth stil many thinges of the fyrst Zeale without knowledge is neuer godly Marke this blyndnesse This ignorance is to be lamented The deuil dissembleth to keepe his in blyndnesse styll A notable lye of a papistical heretike One blasphemie vpon another The deuyll appeareth in his lykenesse What likenes A strange myracle not to be credited Another myracle Wise men Math. xiiii This is another matter The deuyl appeareth againe The virgin Mary in her owne person ouercommeth the deuyl The priestes rewarde Why name you Capons Ancisus voiage to Spayne Ancisus complayneth of Vaschus Marke to whoÌ„ this fayned myraculous storie was written The procuratours of Dariena are honourably receiued at the court The great master of the kings ships Petrus Arias is elected gouernour of Dariena The oration of the Byshop of Burges in the defence of Petrus Arias The warres of Aphryca A house in Ciuile appoynted to the affayres of India Perulariae The Portugales inuentions The nauigation of Petrus Arias A shipwracke Americus Vesputius A notable example of a valiant woman The wyfe of Petrus Arias Plentie of pearles The vse of gunnes Great abundance of gold frankencense â–ª Olibanum Sabea is a couÌ„trey in â—rabia which bringeth foorth Frankencense Rulers for one yeere The great gulfe of Paria The great Iland Atlantike Contention betweene the Castilians Portugales for the newe landes The bishop of Rome diuideth the lande The golden regioÌ„ of Ciamba The Ilande of S. Iohannis Fyue byshops of the Ilande made by the bishop of Rome The Canibales of the Iland of Sancta Crux The ryuers of Vraba The fruitfulnesse of Vraba The fruitefulnes of Dariena Swynes fleshe of better taste more holsome then mutton Fruites putrified on the sea Betatas Lions and Tygers A strange beast The ryuers of Vraba A league is xxiiii furlonges Danubius A Crocodile is muche lyke a Neute but of exceedyng kygnesse The Portugales nauigations A philosophical discourse as concerning thoriginal of springes and ryuers The breadth of the lande at Vraba from the North Ocean to the South sea The sea The lande enclosed with two seas Conuersion of ayre into water in the caues of mountaynes The often fal of rayne and continuall spryng tyme. The Equinoctiall The pores of the sea and the south wynde The fludde Eridanus The ryuer Alpheus Longe caues in the mountaines The length and forme of the Iland Cardes of the sea The carde of Americus Vesputius The carde of Colouns The carde of Iohannes de la Cossa The carde of Andreas moralis The maner of measuring the cardes A league The nauigation of Iohannes Dias The eleuation of the pole The iurisdiction of the Portugales Hercules pyllers The Ilande Boiuca or Agnaneo The renouation of age A water of marueilous vertue The accidentes of age may be hydden Extreme hunger This was at the siege of Hierusalem Many dogges eaten A mangie dog â—â—are solde Broth of a mangie dogs skynne Toades eaten A dead man eaten Note Petrus Arias whoÌ„ the Spanyardâ—s call Pedâ—arias Vaschus Nunnez gouernor of Dariena The new south Ocean Commendation of the Spanyardes A valiant mynd can not be ydle Vaschus his voyage toward the golden mountaynes â–ª Careta kyng of Coiba King Poncha Strange thinges are counted precious Lacke of Iron A stone in the steede of Iron Superfluities hynder libertie Carpenters Brydges The region of Quarequa kyng Quarequa is dryuen to flyght Hargabusies Crossebowes vi C. Barbarians are slaine The vse of dogges in the warre agaynst the naked Barbarians Natural hatred of vnnatural sinne I woulde al men were of this opinion The haruest is great and the woorkemen but fewe Warlyke people The higher the colder A region of blacke Moores Diseases of change of ayre and dyet The south sea Prayer God rayseth the poore from the dounghyl Hanniball of Carthage King Chiapes A battayle Chiapes is driuen to flyght Vaschus sendeth for kyng Chiapes Chiapes submitteth hym selâ—e to Vaschus A gulfe of threescore myles Saint Michaels gulfe The manly corage and godly zeale of Vaschus Ryches are the synewes of warre The faythfulnes of kyng Chiapes A tempest on the sea The increasing of the South sea The Northe Ocean Hard shyft in necessitie The region Tumacca Kyng Tumaccus is driuen to flyght Golde and pearles Muscles of the sea Fyshyng for pearles The thyrst of golde Ambition among naked men A kyng of greaâ— power Byg pearles Cleopatra queene of Egypt resolued a pearle in vineger drunke it Price fiue
Cerabaro Decade iii.li.iiii The South sea A league contayneth foure myles by sea and but three by lande The golden region Coiba Dites Sande myxt with golde Howe theyr slaues are marked in the face Golde A fruitefull region left desolate by ciuile discorde Syxe thousand Castellans of golde kyng Taracuru Foure thousand pesos of gold Salte Theyr maner of warre Gonsalus Badaiocius hath the ouerthrowe and is spoiled of great riches of gold The inconstancie of fortune The expedition of Fraunces Bezarra aganst the Canibales Gunnes Valleius repulsed of his enemies The Ilands of the South sea In this sea lye the Ilandes of Mollucca most fruitfull of spyces Collacutea Cochinus and Camemorus from whence the Portugales haue their spyces He meaneth by the streight of Magellanus Howe they take Hartes and wylde Bores Stocke doues Theyr maner of foulyng Popingiayes are easily taken A straunge kynde of foulyng Fyshes and worms engendred of slyme Foules Gourdes of the tree Later opinions of the swyft course of the Ocean toward the West The continent or fyrme lande The vyages of Diegus Colonus The viage from the new lands to Spain The contrary course of waters The poynt of the pole starre The golde mynes of Dariena and the maner of geatheryng golde Our inclosers would leaue no such commens Auri sacra Fames The dropsie of couetousnesse Looke Decade 3. Liber 10. Cities fortifyed with walles The Ilande of Cuba or Fernandina The Spaniards of Cuba attempt new vyages The West angle of Cuba Note The Ilande of Iucatana A great citie well buylded Temples Humane people Cunnyng artifycers Apparelled people Circumcised Idolaters Campechium A towne of three thousand houses Plentie of beastes and foules Theyr Idoles and Idolatry Houses of lime and stone The prouince Aquanil Mosco The Spanyardes are put to flyght and many slayne An other expedition The Ilande of Cozumella Sweete sauoures A fruitefull Ilande Towres and temples Cozumella named Scancta Crux Idles lyke Beares Idolatry Gentle people Iucanata but fyue myles from Cozumella The Barbarians make resistance A conflict The length of Iucatana The region of Caluacam or Oloan. The riuer Grisalua 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 Armur of gold Expert artificers Fyshe hokes of golde The Ilandes of Sacrifice Chyldren sacrificed to Idols Theyr Idoles of marble Golde and precious stones A stone of great price Ilandes of women Golde Houses lyke Towres .xv. great townes in the prouince of Coluacana Townes of .xx. thousand houses The region of Palmaria A token of frendshyp Priestes Chastitie The punishment of adulterie Mariage is honoured Fasting Kyng Ouandus Idoles iewels and ouches of golde Gold in mountaynes and riuers Theyr maner of geathering golde Sweete sauours A stone of great price Other viages from Cuba oâ— Fernandina Many Ilands betweene Cuba and the fyrme lande Sanctiago the chiefe citie of Cuba The Barbarians slep the Spaniardes with theyr own weapons The chiefe citie of the supposed continent The Spanyardes are slaine againe with their owne weapons The Barbarians are slayne and put to flyght A multitude of Ilandes Archipelagus â–ª An other viage xxvi Ilandes about Hispaniola Cuba Images of golde Rasers of stone Instruments and tooles Landes lyke vnto the earthly Paradyse An other vyage of ten Carauels and fyue hundred men Horses and mares Fernando Cortesius The Ilande of Cozumella Carpettes and sheetes Innumerable bookes Circumcised Idolaters They Sacrifyce Children The Ilandes of Destam and Sestam The sacrifice of dogges They are soone perswaded to our religion This people leauing one kynde of Idolatry be taught another An other viage Aquillaris .vii. yeeres captiue in the Ilande of Iucatana Valdiuia The shipwrack of Valdiuia The quicke sandes called vypers The course of the sea toward the West Valdiuia is sacrificed to Idoles How Aquillaris escaped Kyng Taxmarus The mouth of a ryuer stopped with sande Turky Hens A conflicte The Barbarians arâ— put to flyght The great towne of Potanchana or Victoria A towne of xxv thousande houses Gunnes and horses The men and the horse â–ª thought to be one beast Palaces of maruelous bygnes and well buylded They receyue our religion A towne of a thousand and fyue hundred houses Another voiage of two brigantines and fyftie men Where the sea runneth swyftly from the East to the West A conflict betweene the waters comming from the West and from the South A dangerous and payneful vyage The lande of Coluacana The lande of Baccalaos oâ— Baccalearum Rych presentes of golde and pretious stones A newe colonie This Cortesius hath written a booke of these thynges They weare rynges and plates at theyr lyppes The dyuers phantasies of men Syluer Note where golde and syluer are engendred I thinke this Laton to be some kynde of pure Copper or els Copper that holdeth golde For Laton is an artificial metall and hath no natural myne Theyr bookes Theyr letters What is conteyned in theyr bookes Temples richely adourned Prayer They sacrifice children and captiues A wrong way to heauen Bloody gods Villa Ricca Siuilla Noua The force of an old errour Theyr priests lyue chast Faggotes of bones A figure of baptisme The presentes sent into Spayne to the kyng Two Images of golde and siluer Two cheynes of golde marueylously beset with precious stones and iewelles Buskyns Myters How can we then call them beastly or Barbarous If they had chaunged theyr golde for our Iron â–ª they had not so soone been subdued Quylles Helmets A byrd Speares A scepter A braselet Shooes Glasses Bâ—â—ds foules and fyshes of golde A crowne of golde Images of beastes Sheetes Cloth of Arras A souldyers cloake Registers of th affayres of India Thaucthoritie of the Lieuetenaunt The Spanyardes of Dariena Sansta Maria Antiqua Petrus Arias whom the Spanyardes name Pediarias This sea the Spanyardes call Mardelser Contention betweene Vaschus and Petrus Arias Petrus Arias commaundeth that Vaschus be put to death Vaschus is accused Vaschus is put to death Petrus Arias Lupus Sosa The great ryuer of Dabaiba or Grandis The gulfe of Vraba The ryche mountaynes of Dabaiba Fierce waclyke people Dartes Swoordes of heauy wood Hispaniola Ouiedus wryteth that there are now fyue monasteries Newe and straunge diseases The suger of Hispaniola Suger of Valentia A token of marueylous fruitfulnes Wheat Vines Cassia Fistula Brasyle Myrobalanes Cap. 5. August A marke is a pounde of viii ounces summa xvi.li weyght .viii. ounces after xii ounces to the .li. Of this reade more largely in the decades By the computation of Venice foure granes make a Caract Doctrine not worthy for a christian man Vipers Adders Dragons Spiders Crabbes Serpentes called Iuanni Beâ—res Antes â–ª A strange beast which seemeth a kind of Cameleon Foules and byrdes Alcatraz Panama Passere sempie Picuti Folyshe sparowes Cazzuole Pintadelli Great foules Cocus I haue seene one of these fruites opened the whiche when it was whole if it were shaken the water was harde shogge therein as it were in a bottle but in tyme it consumed and was partly congeled into a saâ—te
substaunce Great trees A marueylous tree Kyndlyng of fyre without fyre Putrified woodde shynyng in the nyght Plinie Trees whiche continue euer greene Cassia A secrete thyng Radycall moysture Platani Fygges Tunas Bihaos Hauas Dying of cotton A strange thyng Note Caniballes archers Wherwith they inuenome theyr arrowes Petrus Arias The water of the sea The gulfe of Uraba Xagua Hohi Some thinke these to be mirobalanes Date trees Thinhabitauntes of the sea of Sur. An hearbe that beareth cordes Cabuia and Henequen A strange thing Leaues A leafe of great vertue Tiburons Manates Great Tortoyses Tiburons Plinie Crocodiles Manates The fyshe Manate A remedy agaynst the stone The swoorde fyshe Tunnye Turbut Note Fleeyng fyshes The Iland of Bermuda Not to hie for the Pye nor to lowe for the Crowe Beragua The west Ocean The sea Mediterraneum Hispaniola Cuba The South sea The power and wysedome of God is sene in his creatures Esquegua and Vrraca Nomen Dei Panama The ryuer of Chagre The Ilande Bastimento The marueylous brydge The Ilandes of Molucca The commoditie of this viage Tigers Plantes and hearbes Birdes Men. Sheepe Bulles Iucca Battes Plinie The Tiger The huntyng of Tigers A rewarde for kyllyng of Tygers Colonus compared to Hercules The pyllers of Hercules The strayghtes of Gibilterra Note Plus Vltra Howe farre the Emperours maiestie excelleth Hercules A Tyger made tame The Indian women The men of India The kyng is borne on mens backes Lettyng of blood They haue no beardes They paynte their bodies The Canibals Armure of golde Their galantnesse in the Warres Theyr Iuelles Howe the women beare vp theyr teates with barres of golde The stature colour of the Indians The Indians called Coronati The Ilande of Giantes Iucatos The sculles of the Indians heades Newe Spaine The houses of the Christians in India Dariena Gardens Men are desirous of newe thynges The commodities of Hispaniola Englande and Sicilie Golde mynes Cotton Cassia Suger Plantes and hearbes Great thynges hyndred by respect of present gaynes Oranges Pomegranats Fygges all the yeere Dates Beastes Great heardes of cattayle Good pasture The effect of continuall and moderate heate The cause of fat nouryshment Beastes of long lyfe in regions about the Equinoctial line Trees whose leaues do not wyther The canker of the tree Long lyued men in India Paradise neare the Equinoctiall line Sheepe and Hogges Dogges and Cattes become wylde The situation of Hispaniola The citi of San Domenico The ryuer Ozama The Hauen A cathadrall churche and monasteris in Hispaniola An Hospitall The people Glowormes Crowes stinkyng sweete Sainct Iohn his Ilande â–ª Iamaica Partriches Pellettes for Gunnes wrought by nature A fountayne of the pytche of Bitumen Quintus Cursius Bitumen of Babylon Panuco Baccalaos Indians Ryche furres and syluer Idolaters The citie of Mexico or Temixtitan Golde and syluer Sylke Cotton Alame Woade Suger Shelles for mony Corne. Beastes Haukyng and huntyng Payntyng WomeÌ„ sumptuously appareled A warlyke nation Captiues sacrificed to Idoles Peru is the rychest land that is knowen A house couered with golde Harnesse of golde A fruitfull region Great sheepe The dutie of Christian Princes Paraue Iohn Dias Solis The Iland Martinus Gratias The viage of Sebastian Cabot to the riuer of Plata Charlis Ophir Cipango Cathay The ryuer of Plata Marueylous fruitefulnes Mountaynes conteynyng golde and syluer Great sheepe Theyr colour Men with deformed legges The way to the Ilandes of Molucca by the north sea The Spanyardes Gasper Cortesreales Insula Cortesreales Snowe and Ise. Furres Fyshe Gryfes Beares The Britons Sebebastian Cabot The lande of Baccallaos The viage of Cabot in the dayes of king Henry the seuenth I se in Iuly Baccallaos Brytons Danes Iaques Cartyre The people of Baccallaos Fyshing for Tunnies Laborador Iohn Ponce Water of great vertue of this reade in the Decades Bemini Guaccana The Canibales Boriquen The death of Iohn Ponce The lande of Florida Ferdinando de Soto The valiant myndes of the Spanyardes The thyrd attempt of the conquest of Florida Certayne Fryers attempt the conquest onely with wordes but with euyll successe The Fryers are slayne and eaten A newe kynde of disgradyng 1. By the southeast 2. By the southwest 3. By the northeast Ortel tab Asiae 3. 4. By the Northwest Ob. 1. In Theatro Ob. 2. Ob. 3. Ob. 4. 5. Ob. Ob. 6. Cic. i. de orat Arist. pri Metaph. Lib. i. Geog. Cap. 2. Sol. i. Sol. 2. Oued 1. Meta. Sol. 3. Sol. 4. Lib. Geog. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lib. 2. Meteor Cap. 1. Plin. lib. 2. Cap. 67. Sol. 5. Sol. 6. Luc. lib. 1. Pharsal VVhat the easterne currant is Lib. 1. Geog. Cap. 2. Fuquien Cinceo Cantan Chequeam Xutiamfu Chelim Quianci rather Quinzi Pachin al. Pochang Theyr monethes Loutea Chian al. Chaen Ponchiassi Anchiassi al. Hexasi Tuzi Taissu Licentiates Doctors Dutch lyke We that is the Italians and Spaniardes After the Dutch fation Pithigorian lyke The Italians call it the strapadâ— A pylleâ—â— boorde Of like the first lenders be the more welthier Fuquieo Hereof to fore Parai Tamen the proper name of China Pochang al. Theyr enemies Maryage of the kynges children He speaketh not here of all China but of the cities for in other places there be beggers as you haue seene already swarmyng out of trees He speaketh of Fuquien shyre Aliis Cenchi The kynges reuenues Parai That is theyr temples It shoulde seeme by their voyage to be Cardandan in Ortelius It seemeth they came vp the riuer from the Caspian sea At cacan Ali. Auoins Tartares Mounte Vsont Mogorites Bremes Southwarde from Chenchi to the sea Auoins Chenchi Goa is a citie of the Portugales in East Indie Theyr gouernement Tundi P. 231. But his almes are very good Inambuxu Genguis The Giaponish Funerals Ainan 〈…〉 Santianum The Romane Empyre 4. hundreth yeeres of ignoraunce East India well knowen in olde time Strabo The great rychesse of Egypt The citie of Alexandria Marueylous rychesse The gouernaunce and reuenues of the Romanes Trogloditica and India The gulfe of Arabia Ethiope Rych customs The rychesse whiche were brought in olde time from India and the redde sea The commision of Themperours Marcus and Comodus The great riches the kings of Egypt had by customes The noble enterpryses of the kings of Egypt Arsinoe Damiata Pelusio Nilus Copto Berenice A nauigable trenche made from Egypt to the red sea Lacus amari King Sesostre King Psammiticus Kyng Darius Kyng Ptolomeus The citie Heroum What Plinie writeth of the nauigable trenche The largenesse and length of the trenche The viage by land from Egypt to the red sea What kyng Ptolomeus discouered Alcayre The viage to East India frequented in olde tyme. The customes and maners of the Indians The voyage to Cathay Rycharde Chaunceler A learned descourse of dyuers voyages The voyages of the Portugales The worlde hangyng in the ayre What is knowen of the lower hemispherie The lande of Brasile Peru. The charg and dutie of Christian princes Note
Hercules and Alexander The colonies of the Romans in regions subdued The great Ilande of Saynct Laurence or Madagascar The Ilands of Taprobana or Giaua Plinie The historie of Cornelius Nepos Shyps of India driuen into the sea of Germanie An enterprise wherby Princes may obtayne true fame and glory Cathay discouered by Marcus Paulus The citie of Lubyke The kyng of Polonie The Duke of Moscouia An ambassadour from the Duke of Moscouia The woordes of the Ambassadour of Moscouia The way from Moscouia to the North Ocean Cathay Volochda Vstiug Iug. Succana Duina Colmogor The North Ocean Great woods Gothlande The Moscouites haue knowledge of the great Cam of Cathay Permia Pescora Catena mundi Obdora Vecchiadoro Obo The lake Chethay The Tartars The citie of Cambalu Note this secrete Difficult traueylyng in Moscouia Commendation of the Spanyardes and Portugales The hystorie of Paulus Centurio 〈◊〉 his reade more at large in the booke of Paulus Iomus Malice may doe more with some then vertue The Caspian sea Riga The Tartars of Lordo Desartes The vyage by the North sea The woorthinesse of this vyage The vyages of the Frenchmen to the lande of Baccalaos Pleasaunt countreys New France Apostrophe to to the Christian Princes Great ryuers A thyng woorthy to be searched The way to Cathay and the Ilandes of Molucca by the Northwest A notable enterpryse The noble enterprise of Antonie di Mendoza viceroy of Mexico The discoueryng of the Northwest partes Shyppes saylyng from Cathay by the North Hyperboream sea to the coastes of the Northwest parte of the lande of Baccaleos Cathay The sea from newe Fraunce or Tarra Britonum to Cathay A notable booke A great and glorious enterprise Sebastian Cabote the grand pylot of the West Indies Commendation of Sebastian Cabote Sebastian Cabote tolde me that he was borne in Brystow â–ª that at .iiii yeeres olde he was carryed with his father to Venice and so returned agayne into England with his father after certayne yeeres whereby he was thought to haue ben borne in Venice The fyrst vyage of Sebastian Cabote The lande of Florida The seconde vyage of Cabote to the land of Brasile and Rio della Plata Cabote tolde me that in a region within this ryuer he sowed .50 graynes of wheate in September and geathered therof .50 thousande in December as writeth also Francisco Lopes The viage to Moscouia The hystory of Moscouia The dyuers names of Moscouia Roxolani Rosolanâ— Ruthem The ryuer Mosco The ryuer Boristhenes Themperour of Cathay The frosen sea Lacus Cromicus Saturnus Amaltheum The dominion of the Duke of Moscouia The citie of Moscouia The chiefe cities of Moscouia The Duke of Moscouia Emperour of Russia The duke of Moscouia his tytle Duke Basilius Theyr power Theyr obedience to theyr prynce Theyr warres conquestes Gunnes Only the Moscouites haue not felt the commodiâ—â—s of peace Theyr language Dalmatia Pannonia Hungarie Their original The Sclauion tongue reacheth farre Great woods white beares and blacke woolues Abundance of hony and waxe Rych furres Theyr maner of bargayning Rude wylde people Tartares Ciuile people in cities Theyr money They embrase the Christian faith which they receyued of the Apostles The counsayle of Nicene Basilius Magnus Chrisostomus Their constancie in theyr religion The bishops define controuersies in religion Theyr bishops The Archbishop The patriarke of constantinople A notable example of a Christian Prince Theyr religion A monasterie of ccc Munkes Priestes Masse A misterie The primatiue churche A strange custome Sarmatia Asiatica The Scythian Ocean The ryuer of Volga Lacus albus The Caspian sea Theyr chiefe cities The wylde Tartars Hordas The bygnes of the citie of Moscouia Syluer The region of Moscouia Beastes A fayre and stronge castel in the citie of Mosca The Dukes pallaice Theyr drynke They are geuen to drunkennesse Corne and grayne Stoues The famous ryuer of Tanais The marishes of Meotis Volga Ocha The sea Euxinum The forest of Hircania Vri. Alces They trauayle in winter on sleades Causeys of tymber Trees and fruites Corne and graynes Hony in wods and trees Lakes or pooles of Hony A man almost drowned in hony A merueylous chaunce Beares feede of hony bees Beares inuade Bulles The Beares byrth The Beares denne Beares lyue without meate xl dayes The sleape of Beares The religion of the Moscouites The Scythians subiect to the Duke of Moscouia It was then an opinion that all ryuers sprong out of mountaynes The fruitfull region of Colmogora The great ryuer Diuidna Wheate without plowing The ryuer of Iuga Vstiuga Furres The naturall cause of much hony in colde regions Gummes and spyces in hoote countreys Floures in colde regions Floures of trees Blossomes of trees An example of the degrees of heate The generation of floures by moderate heate Long dayes and shorce nyghtes Bramble and fearne Spyces The sauour of floures What Plinie wryteth of hony Sirius is otherwyse called Canicula that is the Dogge of whom the canicular dayes haue theyr name What is hony Howe hony is corrupted â—ony of great quantitie in North regions Hot nyghtes in colde regions A simiâ—itude Naturall heat doeth subtyle and digest all thinges Subtyle vapours digested by heate Colde regions Ziglerus Ziglerus The qualitie of sommer in colde regions The course of the Sunne Vapours Short and warme nyghts Gothlande One day of .vi. monethes Howe the sommer is increased in colde regions Rome Colde nyghtes in hot regions The Romane wynter Our night of vi monethes Obiections The twylightes The lyght of the Moone The nyght vnder the pole A demonstration The Moone Remedies of nature art The olde writers persuaded by coniecture A brasen potte broken with frost Fyshes of the North seas The North sea The qualitie of water The land The diuine prouidence in moderatyng the elementes The nature of the sea Salt Generatyue heate Outward colde is cause of inwarde heate Metals Vapoures and exhalations Whales Beastes Hereby may be considered the cause of the death of our men that sayle directly to Guinea No passage from our extremitie to an other but by a meane Caues and Dennes Valleis The best furres Sables Beastes that lye hyd in wynter All beasts haue the nature of the place where they are engendred What exercise may do Vse maketh masteries Scondia Scone is fayre in the duch tongue The fertilitie of Schondia He meaneth Diodorus Siculus Thinuasions of the Gothes Transiluania The Gothes Lumbardes Fruitfull pasture Religion neglecteâ— Inchaunteâ—â— The viage of Sebastian Cabot to the frosen sea Gronelande Wardhus Lapponia and Gronelande Schoeni Cabot tolde me that this I se is of fresh water not of the sea A commixtion of salt water fresh The sea between Norway and Island Terra Viridis Pigmei Baccallaos Islande called Thyle Schoene is lx furlonges Myracles of nature in Islande Three marueylous mountaynes Helga Hecla Straunge visions Ise. A straunge thyng Foure spryngs oâ— contrary nature Aboundaunce of brymstone Dryed fyshe Scarsenesse of corne Haukes White Rauens
Abyssins Iustice good lawes Sheepe with great tayles Palearia Kyne with Hartes hornes Kyne with only one horne â–ª Diuobanderrumi The Soltan of Cambaia Goa Giulfar Meschet Ormus Pearles Fyshyng for Pearles Dyuers vnder the water Chorazani or Chorashan Great abundaunce of silke Plentie of corne Rubarbe of smal price The riuen Euphrates Schira Precious stons The stone Eranon â–ª A Turques Balascam Castoreum The profe of true CastoreuÌ„ Comendation of the Persians Squilaâ— Sainct Bragant An armie of threescore thousand horsemen War betweene the Sophieâ— of Persia and the Turke for their religion The Turkes holde of Mahumet and his felowes The Persians hold of Mahumet and Hali or Mortus Hali. A sure friend in necessitie Cheo The ryuer Indus The citie of Cambaia Note the increse of ryuers contrarye to ours xl shippes ladeÌ„ with sylke and bombasine Pithagorici Good people They may see me the successours of Darius and Poâ—us The great pompe of the kyng of Cambaia Elephantes Monstruos great lyppes A straunge historie of a kyng accustomed to eate poyson A venomus kyng Belyke he getteth no chyldren Great fruitfulnesse abundance of merchandies Plentie of sylke The kyng of Ioga an Idolatour Continuall progresse Wyues and concubines The colour of the Indians Hornes Wanderyng nations Feelde men Guzerat Idolatours Dabuly Idolaters Tribute Coyne Mamalukes white men A fayre palace Great pompe and magnificence Where Diamuntes are founde Womens faces couered White men The kyng of Decham hateth the Christians The citie Bathacala Centacola Idolatars Barthacal The Ilande of Onor A kyng a pirate Naked men Ryse Beastes Byrdes and foules Flowers all the yeere longe â–ª Longe lyfe Myngolor Ryse Afterwarde he became frende to the Portugales 〈…〉 â—ranges Ryse Spyces Straunge fruites An army of fyftie thousand gentelmen Gunnes Dromedares Elephantes A triple wall Hawkyng and huntyng An army of foure thousand horsemen Horses of great price Foure hundred Elephantes Dromedary Camelles Howe the Elephantes are prepared to the warres Seuen men fyght vpon one Elephant Howe the Elephant is armed The Elephant vnderstandeth the voyce of his keeper The Elephant can not abyde fyre The strength of the Elephant The Elephants haue ioyntes in their legges The hande of the Elephant The teeth of the Elephant is Iuery The bygnesse of the Elephant The naturall shamefastnesse of Elephantes The pissell of an Elephant Men of lesse vnderstandyng then Elephantes The riches of the kyng of Narsinga A great tribute by the day Idolaters A riche cloke The magnificence of the kyng of Narsinga Coyne of golde and siluer Daunger of Lyons The kyng of Narsinga friend to the kyng of Portugale The citie of Trompata Mahumetans Pandara Capagot Calecut The kyng of Calecut a God on the earth The citie of Calecut Houses diuided Uery lowe houses Houses of small price Idolatry and seruyng of the deuyll One God Pseudoplatonici The deuyll Prince of this worlde Deumo quasi Daemon The Chapell of the deuyll The deuyls chayre of maiestie Difference betweene the Popes crowne and the deuylles A well fauoured Prince The deuylles ordinary dyet and deâ—tie meate Bramini Brachmani The maner of sacrifice to the deuyll Gallus Esculapio A goodly priest the deuylles Chaplen A counterfeete Aaron Offeryng of wheate The deuyll is serued before the Kyng Chaplens of honour I thinke the Priestes take parte with the Crowes Crowes esteemed holy The priestes euer prouide for them selues A goodly office for a byshop Priestes and gentelmen Poore men haue no soules They are not troubled with garderobes or makyng them redye mornyng and euenyng The kynges children succeed not to inherite the kyngdome What paynes the priestes take for theyr liuyng and what seruice they do the kyng Bastordes Moornyng for the death of the kyng Chastitie and abstinence Meates that moue to echerie Great frendshyppe Diogenistae The punyshement of murtherers Beatyng A straunge maner to demauÌ„d debte Death for debte Outward clenlynesse 〈…〉 Clenly women Maisters of fence The kynges army Their weapons The kynges ensigne The priestes â–ª are haroldes A chalenge to cumbatte A great battayle and litle bloodshed â–ª Minstrells Blacke teeth The dead gentelmen are burnt but the poore men are buryed Coyned mony Merchauntes resorte to Calecut Mahumetans of Calecut Theyr shippes Ankers of marble on euery syde two Seasons of the yeere contrarie to ours Dyuers fashions of shippes and other vessells A goodly palaice Images of the deuyll to garnysh the kinges palaice The ryche iewels which the king weareth The kyng of Portugales warres agaynst the kyng of Calecut The frenche Poxe among precious iewells Unestimable treasure Pepper The pepper tree Clusters of pepper Genger Fruites vnlyke ours A philosophical consideration of the difference of thinges of one kynde A great fruite growyng out of the body of the tree Rype fruites in December A fruite of sundry tastes One fruite within an other A tree with very brode leaues A very goodly fruite Two hundred fruites on euery slyppe A tree that neuer beareth fruit but once Fruites and floures geathered at all tymes of the yeere This tree in the west India is called Coccus Ten commodities of one tree Nux Indica They are as big as a mans fyâ—t and some bygger Very sweete and cleare water within a Nutte Oile made of water Wyne of cutte branches of a tree A tree that beareth fruite continually all the whole yeere Oile Ploughing of the grounde A daunce of deuylles Solem suum oriri facit super bonos et malos c. The deuyll a Phisitian Such a Phisitian such phisicke A remedie 〈◊〉 surfetyng Fyne weightes and balances A straunge experiment to know the fyne golde from base Proxeneta A superstitious maner of buying and selling Litle payne or cost for noursing of children Funambuli Popingayes or Parottes A great noyse of birdes An earthly Paradyse Continuall spring and temperate ayre Monkeys doe much hurte Crocodiles without poison Three kyndes of Serpentes Serpentes superstitiously kepte and nourished Death for kyllyng a Serpent or a Cowe Bycause they goe naked Superstition Goodly candelstickes of laton Polyxines et Polychni Innumerable lyghtes and Lampes The deuyll serueth in the kynges chamber Mourning the space of a yeere The Temple of sacrifyce to Idolles Trees behanged with Lampes Washyng before sacrifice Holy oyle in the steade of holy water Sacrifice to the deuyll for forgeuenesse of synnes Sanctuary Large is the way that leadeth to perdition c. The kyng of Portugals warres in the citie of Calecut Caicolon Pepper Christians of the profession of saint Thomas Colon. An armie of .xx. thousande horsmen Pearles Zeilon Comerin The bodie of Thomas the Apostle The kyng of Narsinga frende to the Portugalls A miracle at the sepulchre of S. Thomas Foure kynges in one Iland Elephantes Rubie stones Precious stones Howe Cinamome is geathered A denne where Adam lyued in penance Temperate regions vnder the Equinoctiall lyne Saffran and Corall Elephants An armie of a hundred thousende footmen Fruites Wylde beastes Peacockes Falcons Popingayes A great and fayre foule Cocke
fyghting Fruitefull Gotes Rammes with buckes hornes Canonisyng of saintes The wyfe burneth her selfe after the death of her husband Daunsyng deuylles Sacrifice to the deuyll The hygh way to hell Great respecte of fame and honestie Writyng Mecha The citie of Bangella An army of two hundred thousand men Spices and silke Riche merchantes Precious stones Christians Lignum Aloes Laserpitium Belzoi Castoreum Christian Princes vnder the great Cham of Cathay Christian Princes neare the Turkes dominions Corall of great pryce Rubies Pego. Idolaters White men Christians Great Reedâ—â— â–ª Muske catteâ— â–ª Precious stones and spices Capela Smaragdes or Emeraldes Great riches of Iewelles and precious stones A kyng shinyng with earthly starres The kyng sacrifyceth to the deuyll Corall The kyng and the merchant contende of liberalitie Commendation of the Persians A casket full of Rubies A Princely gyfte Colours A ryuer of .xxv. myles brode The Ilande of Sumetra or Taprobana Chini or China Popingayes Sandalum Tyn. Spices and silke Vnruly people Anarchia The Ilande of Samatra or Samotra Foure kynges in one Iland Women burns them selues Iustice. Coyned mony of golde syluer and tynne Elephantes Long Pepper Cathay or Catai a colde region Sylke of the trees Laserpitium or Belzoe Litle true Aloes or Laserpitium Sarnau Cathay and other rych countreys Aloes of very sweete sauour The proofe of Laserpitium Lacca merchantes waxe Shyppes of a straunge fashion Swymmers Great hydes of fyshes Great teeth of Elephantes Great Serpentes The name of Hierusalem in reuerence Anarchia Lawlesse people Idolaters The Nuttemegge tree Mace All thynges common Nuttemegges of small price The lawe of nature These Ilandes of spyces are called Moluccdae and in them is seene the rare byrde named Manucodiata or paradisea The Cloue tree Cloues dearer then Nutmegs The Ilande of Gyaua Bornei â–ª Veronica or Vernacle The headdes of Peter and Paule The Ilande of Bornei Idolaters Camphora The north star The starres about the pole Antartike The lode stone serueth in the south regions beyonde the Equinoctiall line Antipodes Idolaters The Image of the deuyll Sylke of trees Smaragdes Golde Copper Whyte men good people Byrdes and foules Impoysoned arrowes Trunkes Anthropophagi eate mans fleshe In the West India they are called Caniballes A straunge pittie Rather to butchers then woormes Emeraldes of great price Gelded children Sana Seuen thousande Ilandes Malacha or Melacha Colon. Portugales Two Christians of Milan in Calecut The Christians haue made a rodde for their owne arsse The Nauie of Portugale A great peece of ordinaunce A Iewe that made Gunnes and shyppes was drowned Repentaunce Predestination A fortresse of the Portugales in the citie of Canonor Hipocrisie A Sainct by hipocrisie A glister A straunge ministring of a glister More good happe then cunnyng Sely soules Trumpettes in the steede of belles Not all thac say Lord Lord. c. Some of them say that he is rysen God the father The virgin Marie Merchantes of Calecut Noeros are gentlemen of the kynges garde The Gouernoure of Portugales fortresse The Viceroy of the kyng of Portugall in India Concubineâ— and slaues 〈…〉 Beware of couetousnesse The Byshop of the Mahumetans The Mahumetans conspire the death of the Christians An Oration The death of Iohn Maria and Peter Antonye The frenche poxe The nauie of the kyng of Calecut agaynst the Portugals â–ª The Mahumetan soldiers The oration of the gouernour to the Christian soldiers The nauie of the Mahumetans The Admirall of the Christians The quarel and occasion of the warre The Mahumetans geue the onset The valyantnesse of the Admirall A great slaughter of the mahumetans The valiantnesse of Iohn Seranus Fewe Chrians slayne The valiantnesse of Simon Martin A Stratageme Tenne Mahumetan shyps soonke with the shot of great artillerie The Christians had the victorie An other great conflicte The Mahumetans slayne in swimming The Mahumetans experte in swimmyng The kyng of Canonor The valiantnesse of the Portugales The death of the kyng of Canonor A newe expedition against the Christians Long warres Great oddes The Mahumetans artillerie The order of the Mahumetans Campe. Instrumentes Outragious out crye The arryuyng of a newe Nauie of Portugales The Mahumetans seeke to make peace with the Christians The peace concluded A pleasaunt fable Sainct Christopher the Christian Giant The enemyes confesse that God gaue the victorie Simple and ignorant people Messis multa sed operarii pauci c. The Masse No more can wyser men then they Inchaunters and of great agilitie The Ilande of Monzambrich Melinda The kyng of Portugales dominion in Ethiopia The conquestes of Tristan dè Cugna Sacutara Cumeris Pendè Zaphala Golde Blacke Mahumetans Trogloditae Ethiopes Heardes of Elephantes Elephantes are afrayde of fyre An Apyshe language Rych merchandies for golde Kyne very good cheape Trogloditae Cabo dè Buena Speranza The Ilande of Sainct Laurence or Madagascar The kyng of Portugale The Christian religion spreadâ—th in India Tempest An exceedyng great shyppe and great ryches of spyces Great Whale fyshes The Ilande of Ascention Saylyng by the north starre in regioÌ„s beneath the Equinoctiall lyne Malacha Tachola The Ilandes of Malucha The Alande of Samotra Spices Calecut Ceilam Cathay China Pretious stones Sylke Cantan One caratte is iiii graynes â–ª Which is one crowne of golde Which are .iii. crownes of golde A Marcell is a siluer coyne of Venice of .xi. vnâ—es iii.d with 〈◊〉 wherof .x. make an ounce Don Peter Martyr Rome sacked A daye lost in three yeeres one moneth It is now found with one master Harold a prebend in wyndsor Antonie Pigafetta Iacobus Faber Maximilian Transiluane The rewarde of noble enterprise The antiquitie had no such knowledge of the world as we haue The Ilandes of Molucca Aurea Chersonesus Malaccha Spices The Ilandes of Spices vnknowen in olde tyme. The Phenix Plinie The nauigations of great Alexander Ethiope Trogloditi The nauigation about the worlde The olde autours Monsters The wages of the Spanyards and Portugales Sebastian Munster The Ilandes of Molucca Controuersie betweene the Spanyardes and Portugales Ferdinando Magalianes The Cape of saint Vicent The Ilandes of Canarie Water engendred of a clude The Iland of S. Thomas Capo verde Guinea in Ethiope Fyshes and monsters of the sea The fyre of S. Helene and S. Nicolas A tempest The natural cause of suche fyres as fall in the shyppes Cardanus Two kyndes of fiers engendred of exhalations True fyre and false fyre Castor and Pollux The lightes of Sainct Peter and Sainct Nicolas They lost the sight of the North starre The Ilande of Brasile The South pole Suger The greatnesse of the lande of Brasile Caniballes Giantes Insulae gemmarum Cap. S. Marie The pole Antartike Geese Sea woolues The .xlix. degree of the South pole Giantes The bygnesse of the Giantes An other Giant Foure other Giantes Two Giantes are taken by a pollicie The deuyll Setebos Deuyls appeare to the Giantes when they dye Patagoni The Giantes feeding They conspire against theyr Captayne Confession The straight of Magellanus The South sea
are now I abhorre to rehearse We will therfore let this passe and returne to the pleasures of Hispaniola In the mountaynes of Cibaua which are in maner in the myddest of the Ilande in the prouince of Caiabo where we sayde to bee the greatest plentie of natyue golde there is a region named Cotobi situate in the cloudes enuironed with the toppes of hygh mountaynes and well inhabited it consisteth of a playne of .xxv. myles in length and .xv. in breadth This playne is hygher then the toppes of other mountaynes so that these mountaynes may seeme to bee the chiefe progenitours of the other This playne suffereth alterations of the foure tymes of the yere as the Spring Sommer Autumne and wynter Heere the hearbes waxe wythered the trees loose theyr leaues and the medowes become hoare the whiche thinges as wee haue sayde chaunce not in other places of the Ilande where they haue onely the Spring and Autumne The soyle of this playne bryngeth foorth fearne and bramble busshes bearyng blacke berries or wylde raspes which two are tokens of colde regions Yet is it a fayre region for the colde thereof is not very sharpe neyther doeth it afflicte thinhabitantes with frost or snowe They argue the fruitfulnesse of the region by the fearne whose stalkes or steames are bygger then a speare or Iauelyn The sydes of those mountaynes are ryche in golde yet is there none appoynted to dygge for the same bycause it shal be needefull to haue apparelled myners and such as are vsed to labour For thinhabitants lyuyng contented with little are but tender and can not therefore away with labour or abyde any colde There are two ryuers which runne through this region and fall from the toppes of the present mountaynes One of these is named Comoiayxa whose course is towarde the West and falleth into the chanell of Naiba the other is called Tirecotus which runnyng towarde the East ioyneth with the ryuer of Iunna In the Ilande of Creta now called Candie as I passed by in my legacie to the Soldane of Alcayr or Babylon in Egypt the Uenetians tolde mee that there lay such a region in the toppes of the mountaynes of Ida whiche they affirme to bee more fruitefull of wheate corne then any other region of the Ilande But forasmuch as once the Cretences rebelled against the Uenetians and by reason of the streight and narrow way to the toppes thereof long defended the region with armes against thaucthoritie of the Senate and at the length being foreweryed with warres rendred the same the Senate commaunded that it should be left desarte and the streightes of thentraunces to be stopped least any should ascend to the region without their permission Yet in the yeere of Christ M.D.ii. licence was graunted to the husbande men to tyll and manure the region on such condition that no such as were apte to the warres myght enter into the same There is also an other region in Hispaniola named Cotoby after the same name this diuideth the boundes of the prouinces of Vbabo and Caiabo It hath mountaynes vales and playnes but bycause it is barren it is not muche inhabited Yet is it richest in golde for the originall of the abundaunce of golde beginneth herein insomuch that it is not geathered in small graines and sparkes as in other places but is founde whole massie and pure among certaine softe stones and in the vaynes of rockes by breakyng the stones whereof they folowe the vaynes of golde They haue founde by experience that the vayne of golde is a lyuing tree and that the same by all wayes that it spreadeth and springeth from the roote by the softe pores and passages of the earth putteth foorth branches euen vnto the vppermost parte of the earth and ceasseth not vntill it discouer it selfe vnto the open ayre at which tyme it sheweth foorth certaine beautifull colours in the steede of floures rounde stones of golden earth in the steede of fruites and thynne plates in steede of leaues These are they which are disparcled throughout the whole Ilande by the course of the ryuers eruptions of the springes out of the mountaynes and violent falles of the flooddes For they thincke that such graines are not engendred where they are geathered especially on the drye land but otherwise in the riuers They say that the roote of the golden tree extendeth to the center of the earth and there taketh norishment of increase For the deeper y t they dygge they fynde the trunkes thereof to be so much the greater as farre as they may folowe it for abundaunce of water springing in the mountaines Of the branches of this tree they fynde some as small as a thread other as bygge as a mans fynger accordyng to the largenesse or straightnesse of the ryftes and clyftes They haue sometymes chaunced vpon whole caues susteyned borne vp as it were with golden pyllers and this in the wayes by the which the branches ascende the which beyng fylled with the substaunce of the trunke creepyng from beneath the branche maketh it selfe waye by whiche it maye passe out It is oftentymes diuided by encountryng with some kynde of harde stone Yet is it in other clyftes noorished by the exhalations and vertue of the roote But nowe perhaps you will aske mee what plentie of golde is brought from thence You shall therfore vnderstand that onely out of Hispaniola the summe of foure hundred and sometymes fyue hundred thousande ducates of golde is brought yeerely into Spayne as may be geathered by the fyfth portion due to the kynges Excheker which amounteth to the summe of a hundred and fourescore or fourescore and tenne thousande Castellan 〈◊〉 of golde and sometymes more What is to be thought of the Ilande of Cuba and Sancti Iohannis otherwise called Burichena being both very rych in golde we will declare further hereafter to haue sayde thus much of golde it shall suffyse We will now therefore speake somewhat of salt wherewith wee may season and reserue suche thinges as are bought with golde In a region of the prouince of Bainoa in the mountaynes of Daiaguo about twelue myles distant from the salt lake called Caspius there are salte bayes in the mountaynes in a maner as harde as stones also clearer and whyter then cristall There are lykewyse such salt bayes which grow wonderfully in Laletania now called Cataloma in the territorie of the duke of Cadona the chiefe ruler in that region but suche as knowe them both affyrme that these of Bainoa are most notable They say also that this can not bee cleft without wedges and beetelles of Iron But that of Laletana may easly bee broken as I my selfe haue prooued They therefore compare this to suche stones as may easily bee broken and the other to marble In the prouince of Caizimu in the regions of Iguanama Caiacoa and Guariagua there are springes whose waters are of marueylous nature being in