Countrey is neer 300 leagues by the sea but not above twenty into the land where lye the Andes which are mighty great mountains that run through the southern America even from the strait of Magellan to Sancta Martha Of the Spanish towns in Chilla there is recovered by the Natives and by them quite destroyed the City of Conception Chillon Osornio Valdivia and Imperiall CHAP. 67. The Councill of Charcas THe bounds of this Councill stretcheth from Chilia to Peru it hath abundance of cattle of all kinds great shag-haired sheep bigger then goats that carry great burthens on their backs store of corn of all sorts fruits and wine much gold and the greatest mines of silver in the world There are few Spanish towns and but one port in regard the Spaniards get neer the Hill of Potosi to the City Imperiall which lyeth in 19 degrees of latitude far from the sea and delivereth that which is exported and receiveth the Marchandize imported at the City of Arica The City of Imperiall is exceeding populous of Spaniards and Indians and it standeth neer the Hill of Potosi which is much to be admired for the great quantities of silver is drawn from thence and exceeding deep caves in the earth from whence they fetch it that are so intricate and far in the earth that those that go in take the Popish Sacraments the danger of death is so great This mountain is as it were pointed at by a black cloud that perpetually hangeth over it The land about it is most extream barren yet the great quantity of silver that is there causeth that all sorts of variety is there in great plenty although at a dear rate And towards the Port of Arica are the mines of Porco which are more ancient and very great but harder to work The Indians live in the best places for cattle corn wine and fruits being tributary to the Spaniards that in behalf of the King of Spain are Lords of these great riches CHAP. 68. The Kingdom of Peru. THis Kingdome is governed by a Councill and Viceroy It hath to the North the Councill of Quipo on the south Charcas and to the west the south sea and to the east without limits This Kingdome is well peopled with Civill orderly Indians that are in great subjection to the Spaniards Peru doth abound in all sorts of fruits seed cattle horses sheep swine rich mines of gold silver quick-silver plentifull of wine oil and sugar The Andes run through this Province within ten leagues of the sea In all which coasts it never raineth but on the said hils it raineth continually and beyond as in other Regions The plains between the sea and the said Hils have few or no rivers but the industrie of the Inhabitants draw in trenches which are artificially made the water either from those few rivers or from the side of the said Andes which maketh that the said plain is mightily populous fruitfull and pleasant even as a garden The City of Lema is neer the south sea in 12 degrees of south lalatitude on the side of a rich and pleasant valley It consisteth of 4000 houses On the east-side of it runneth a fair river by which the Citizens have Gardens with most excellent fruits And this is the sole place in the world that is without thunder and lightning which never happen here neither is there plague or pestilence but the inhabitants enjoy perpetually a clear and fair sky It is the seat of the Viceroy and Councill and Assembly of Chief Justices the Officers of the King of Spains revenue the chief seat of the Inquisition a University with schools of divers Indians languages five Monasteries of Friars and one of Jesuits Calao which is the Port of this City is two leagues from it It is great and good The village of Arneado is in the valley of Chianeai ten leagues from Lima neer a good Haven in 9 degrees The City of Truxcilo stands in seven degrees and a half neer the sea with Monasteries of Dominican Franciscan and Mercenaries and Officers royall for these bounds The port is two leagues of the City in a Bay not very good for ships The City of Saint John is seated in a most plentifull place and the Indian inhabitants are the fairest and most wel-favoured people in the Indies The City Guanang is to the south of Lema It hath Monasteries of Dominican Franciscan and Mercenaries and one of Nuns and the best houses of any City in Peru of Brick and Stone It standeth in a temperate place and is very healthy The City of Cosco is the head City of Peru by a title that it hath from the Kings of Spain It lyeth in 13 degrees and a half south of the Equinoctiall It is a very great City and hath four great streets that go to the four parts of the world It hath many Monasteries and Nunneries with a Cathedrall and divers schools of Indian Children The City of Ariquipa is in 16 degrees on the sea side It is a rich and flourishing place and in a wholesome Climate the other Cities of Spaniards are Inland but these rehearsed are the most eminent The inconveniency of this Countrey is the great Earthquakes that often happen especially about Jema There are three wonderfull springs of water in this Countrey a water that turneth so soon as it is stopt to stone If a man or beast drink of it it turneth to a stone in his body and killeth him with this they make stones of what fashion they please and make their houses there is another water that springeth far within land that being setled turneth to pure white salt the other is two spouts of water by each other the one hot the other cold The remarkablest ports Ilands and points on this coast are the Ilands of Lobos in 7 degrees the one is four leagues from the coast the other more and forward to the south west the I le of Saint Rock and further the port of Abrago ten leagues to the north of Truxcilio in 7 degrees and a half the port of Santa in nine degrees and five leagues more south port Farwell and six from it Casama and eight leagues further the port of Gurmay and twenty leagues to the south the Baranca and Potquaria where there is a great salt pit And a little more south the I le of Lema at the entry of the port of Cala and twenty leagues more south the point of Guareo And in 15 degrees the point Chuca and forward the point of Saint Laurence neer the River Ariquipa And then the River of Nonsbred ' Dios where Peru endeth and the Councill of Charchas beginneth CHAP. 69. Quito Kingdome THis Kingdome is governed by a Councill whole bounds lyeth between Peru and Panama It hath two mighty Countreys or Provinces within his circuit that is to say first Quito and then Popyan Quito lyeth between Peru and Popyan on the south sea and far into the land under the Equinoctiall line and contrary
Plantations with most of the Masters in those places especially in Virginia for besides their being back-beaten and belly-beaten it is three to one if they live out their servitude by reason of the unwholsomenesse of the Countreys In which disasters that happen to our Nation I cannot but condole their misfortunes as if we of all Europe were of the seed of Cham when the Spaniard at the same time managed their businesse so well that scarcely will one of them serve in the Indies except it be the Viceroy or some great Personage and I know that Nation in nothing exceeds us but in their keeping together as one people The third Question Is whether the trade of England may not be increased It is not hard to imagine when we see the greatnesse of Asia and Africa and the little Commerce that we have with them that it may well be increased And although the trade of Europe be much greater the rest yet doth it want much of that exactnesse which we may have in it For where as we gain in some parts and lose in others it is possible to assure the Land to gain in all and lose in none The fourth Question Is how it hath been hindred and what is the let in the growth of it The people generally suppose 't is the danger of the seas and the little security in the parts abroad for the Merchants Goods and ships In answer I affirm the trade of the Hollanders never flourished so as in time of War and their enemies were more strong at Sea then ours upon which we may conclude it is not that that is the true cause Wherefore I finde these other causes to be the obstruction in the trade The first is the Companies of our Nation which sort of people I account a benefit or a losse according as they are established and managed in which the Companies of England have been defective which appeareth in the generall damages which themselves and Adventurers have had with them and few publick memorials they have erected at home or abroad that hath appeared a publick good but divers acts have seemed the contrary And on particulars we finde there are five Companies that are well in years amongst us the other which was of later establishment which really was the best the Giney Company is dissolved And to omit the general damage that all the Inland Companies do to our Nation which is from my purpose now to treat of the five Companies of exportation are first the Cloth Company that trade into Holland Hamborough the Baltick Seas and elsewhere with all the white Clothes exported the Kingdome The second is the East India Company the third the Turkey the fourrh the Muscovia the fifth the Company of Greenland alias Grinland Of which I conceive the Cloth Company to be the greatest Monopoly for this cause Besides the ingrossing of the commodity of white Cloth to themselves which is a great barre to the priviledge of the Nation The carrying of them out of the Laud is a pernicious thing to five sorts of men Merchants Seamen Cloth-dressers Sheare-men and Diers which last people receive the greatest damage although they were accounted anciently the Staple-manufacture of our Nation The prejudice to the Cloth-dressers and Diers appears in the carrying away from them forty Clothes white more then are worked at home by which it appears that where there is one imploy'd now in that course there might be forty if it were managed at home And all that ever I heard that the Company could say for themselvs is that the trade of making white Cloth would be spoiled for the Dutch and Poles if they could not have it white would forbear buying of it But I am sure the Merchants buy it beyond the seas for their profit and not to set their Country-men at worke or else they differ much from them of the Company And if they want it to trade with they will have it as well drest by us as their own Nation but if they be obstinate and will not buy it we shall gaine and not lose for our Sea-men and Merchants that make short Voyages with small profit will then vent it to those parts which now have it at the second hand from them that buy it white from us and so the Merchants will make two profits in stead of one and the Sea-men longer Voyages The East-India Company come home to this question in that it hath lost many advantagious places there and impoverished many that adventured with them giving them after fifteen or sixteen yeares forbearance of their money instead of 70li yearly which the Dutch give most yeares to their Adventurers 70li for their principall And the Dutch lately to renew their Lease which not long since was neer expired being but for 21 yeares at the first compounded with the States Generall to have it renewed for so much longer for the summe of eight hundred thousand pound paid to them and five hundred thousand to the West-India Company which the States owed the said West-India Company And whereas the Dutch Company hath whole Countries divers Islands Cities Castles Forts c. and all taken in by the sword to the contrary our men hath lost money lost time which was considerable in those actions and divers Countries which they never got but were delivered by the Natives such was Pulway Pullerroon Lantor Rosingen Wayer Timor Tiadore Ternat and the Castle of Amboyna where the Dutch committed the greatest murther that of late yeares hath been heard of upon our Nation by racking torturing by fire and water throwing in dungeons and their easing themselves on them untill their bodies became blistered then drawing them forth and beheading some sawing a-sunder others at other times their cruelty hath been after the same manner and this accompanied with revilling of our Nation which things are in perticular related by them that escaped from those miseries recording before the Tribunall of the late King their sufferings and his dishonour which he heard with as much patience as the losse of the English at the Isle of Ree I know not the hearts of other men but my minde is that all men that acknowledge a Government and subscribe to maintaine it ought to be protected as well abroad as at home There is difference between the bloud of Peace and War as David saith and this was not as the rest of Rochell and the Isle of Ree but by the snare that Joab smote Amasa And upon discourse it will be found that act is justified by that people to this day The cause of the Dutches flourishing our Companies say was there stock exceeding the English But it will appear upon examination that the English Company had sixteene hundred thousand pounds under writ for when the Dutch had but eight The Turkey Company is little before it in goodnesse although men have not so eminently suffered yet some have been inslaved by the Turks of Barbary But the great prejudice as
is some 25 miles from Panama In the North seas where I say are the best the principall fishing for them is at the River of Haca which runneth between the Province of Sancta Martha and Carthagena and also at the Islands of Margreata and Cumana They are found in Oyster-shels of the colour of heaven fastned to gravell or Rocks six nine and twelve fathome under water and brought from thence by Negro slaves which are so expert in diving that some of them will continue half an hour under water CHAP. 4. Of the Island of New found Land IN order to a perticular description of this new World I shall first speak of the Islands of which the most Seprentrionall is New-found land which stretcheth north and south from 46 degrees and a half to 50 and a half of latitude The Natives of this place are few and savage neither is there any thing in this Countrey to invite a Plantation it is so Rockie and barren But for the commoditie of fish which are taken on the Coast in great plenty there are some men that do endure the heat of Summer and cold in Winter both which come in extreams some are French but the most English in whose hand lieth the supream power the plenty of fish wch sort is wel known in England by the name of New-found land fish inviteth many ships thither whose lading is procured sometimes by themselves but for the most part by the dwellers in the place This Island lyeth at the mouth of the River Canida distant from the Continent at the North end neer half a league and the South west point is about a league from Cape Briton and by the one of these ways you passe to the River Canida CHAP. 5. Martins Vineyard THe next Island that is seated is Martins Vineyard It is a small Island on the coast of New England and the Governour is appointed by the Councill of Boston the chief government in New England It is 20 miles long and 10 broad And upon it are forty English families with divers peaceable Indians that live by hunting and fishing The soil is rocky but affordeth some English grain and Virginia Corn They have no Commerce but with the Indians of the Mayn for skins of Bever c. And some little Corn they send to Boston There is great plenty of Fish on the Coast which they procure the Indians to catch them at an easie rate CHAP. 6. Long Island SOuth west of Martins Vineyard lieth Long Island It is in length sixty English mlles and fifteen in breadth The North east end is seated by some English which have been thrust from New England for their Judgement The most of them holding the Christian tenent of confession before Baptisme At the South West end there are some few Dutch and English This Island is a fruitfull soil for English grain and Milet and of a good air The Seas about it are well stored with Fish and the woods with Deer and Turkeys and it hath many quiet Indians that live by hunting and fishing The Dutch Plantation layeth claim to this Island so doth the South Government of New England but at present the Inhabitants live without duty to either There are divers other Islands on this Coast but not any seated or considerable to a Plantation The principall on the Coast of New England are in the Naraganset and Masytusis Bayes and neer the Swedes Plantation Some few in Delaware Bay And Smiths Island at the North Cape of Virginia and from the Cape Charls which is the South Cape of the Chesapeack Bay in Virginia till you come to Cape Hatrask are no Islands This Cape is a point of an Iland in 36 degrees and from thence till you come to the point of St. Helena which is in 32 degrees all the coast along are broken Islands uninhabited the best is within Cape Hatrask in the same height It is called Roanock and is of 18 miles compasse to the South-ward of the mouth of the River Occam in old Virginia It is bad coming to it by reason of the shelves of Cape Hatrask which lyeth far out at Sea by which Cape he that will go to the said Island must passe CHAP. 7. The Bermudas or Somers Islands THis Island lyeth distant from the Main 200 leagues in 33 degrees and 20 minutes It is 20 miles long and something more then two miles in breadth And temperate in relation to heat and cold but violent in the blustring winds which often haunteth their coasts but a most wholsome place to live in and wel replenished with our Nation that live there without want for there is store of Milet or Virginia Corn and Potatoes divers sorts of fruits as Muskmelons Water-melons Figs Plants Papans Limons Oranges Limes Plenty of flesh as Turkeys Hens Pork and Beef and on the Coast much Fish The Commodity they yearly export is some Tobacco of the worst sort Beef and Pork The Spanish wracks that often happens on their Coast furnisheth them with pieces of eight And the best sort have their Negro Slaves to work for them This Iland is almost surrounded with rocks and shelves but on the South-side is an open road and toward the East end a good harbour but hard to hit without an Islander for Pilot. When you first marke the Island it appears as a Rock in the Sea going almost right up a a great way from the water and it hath a delightfull aspect but 't is little better then a Rock there being but two foot of mould on the greatest part of it under which there is a kind of hard substance much like pumistone CHâ—P 8. Of the Islands of Lucaos or Bahama THese Islands are South-west from the Barmuda's and to the North of Portorico Hispaniola and Cuba the most eminent is Lucayoneque in 27 degrees It hath almost to the West the Island of Bahama From whence the channell of Bahama between Florida and the Sholdes de los Mimbres taketh name The current of this channell seateth so hard to the North that although Winds be prosperous the Ships cannot enter it and if it be crosse they will go with the current Next to Bahama is a small Isle surrounded with the shelves of Bimny There is like wise the Island of Abacoa of 12 Leagues long another called Yuma of 20 Leagues and eight in breadth in 24 degrees and a halfe Yuemeata is in 23 degrees and a half 15 Leagues in length and North from Hispaniola lieth Samana 7 Leagues each way And between Yuemeata and Guanema lieth Yabaque of 10 Leagues in 22 degrees and a half The Miara Parvos are three smal Islands that by triangle and are compassed with shelves South from Yuemeata is Magaguana of 20 leagues in length and the halfe in breadth in 23 degrees Quaqua of 10 leagues in 20 degrees and a half North from Quaqua are the Cacos of five leagues in 21 degrees The Island of Mackre stands in 20 degrees and is compassed
with shelues And in 20 degrees lieth the shelves of Abreo of 15 leagues long but East from Mackre On these Islands are no Inhabitants those that did live there were a harmless simple people and therefore the easier taken and carried away by the Spaniards that have made them so desolate many of them seem of a good mould and the Latitude promiseth much fertility The arie is certainly good and wholsome and not so extream hot as other parts of that height There is scarcely any beast on them save a Cony that hath a taile like a Rat but Pigeons and Brids in great numbers most of them of greenish colour There is the Gumme Benjamin of the best and worst sort Guacom and Sasaprila and Sasafras and on some of them red wood and Amber-greece The English Sea-men are little acquainted with these Islands although they saile round them yearely And since I petitioned for them which was six years ago and my absence hindred my prosecution Captain Sail and others have obtained a Patent making thither on the coast of an Island which he called Illutheria his ship was wrackt but the people of the ship all saved but recovered the shoare with few necessaries I saw him after his escape from thence in a small boat of 3 Tuns recovering Virginia where he procured a Pinnace of near 25 Tuns with which he carried relief to those he left in the Island But I understand by a Master of a Bark that went from New England that on a division was among them they were leaving the Island In my discourse with the said Sail I understod that none of his company knew the place they intended or were ever there when they undertook the voyage The coasts of most of them are dangerous and bad to make and that ship that shall be neer or amongst them must keep the lead always going but with a wary Pilot and care in giving the Islands a fair birth they are easily recovered The Spaniards know this place well and have a yearly trade thither for the aforesaid Commodities and amongst the Islands are wracks of divers of their ships CHAP. 9. Of Hispaniola SOuth of the Lucayos lyeth the Islands of Barlevento which are not onely the best of America but almost beyond compare were they as well furnished with people as they are with necessaries to maintain them They be in the hand of the Spaniard almost without people For Hispaniola that is the chief and in 18 19 20 degrees and 150 leagues East and West hath but one City no Town nor Village but what is inhabited by Negro's that are servants to the Spaniards Here is a perpetuall Summer the Winter being but the rain that falleth This Land is exceeding pleasant and hath divers Vallies one being so great as to reach from the one side of the Island to other that hath many golden rivers issuing into it which Vallies are always stocked with multitudes of wilde kine goats hogs shag-hair'd sheep and horses amongst which as their deadly enemy are many wild dogs that are bred of such as have been lost a hunting and run away from the Spaniards the woods have abundance of Oranges Limons Limes Cotton-wool and Plantens and many green Birds The commodities the Spaniards yearly export from thence is Ginger Sugar Cotton-wool Cassia Fistula Sasaprila and Lignum vitae with Tallow and a hundred thousand hides which are yearly gotten of those wild cattell which are the largest of the world There are divers Rivers that afford gold and some Mines which are not now worked great plenty of Copper and other minerall The City where the Spaniards dwel is called Santo Domingo it standeth on the South side of the Island neer the East end on the West-side the River Osama in 19 degrees and a half fairly built with stone and walled about with a Castle on the said River between the Town and the Sea Here are resident the Supream Council of the Islands the Officers of the goods and royall treasure a Mint-house and the Cathedrall that hath for sufferance the Bishoprick of Cuba Portrico Fenescula and the Abbotship of Jamecca Here are also Monasteries of Franciscans Dominicans and Mercenaries and two Nunneries a Grammar-school and an Hospitall The people in this City live in great pleasure enjoying beside the foresaid plenty of flesh many excellent fruits all the year long as Bonanoes Pine-apples Custard-apples Plantens Papans Musk-melons Water-melons and many other fruits and hearbs store of Turkeys and Poultrey And their bread they make of the root Yuca called Cascaby but they have plenty of Milet and Potatoes On the Coasts are first the point of Nisao ten leagues to the West of Santo Domingo and eighteen leagues further is the Port Ocoa which is a Bay where the fleets of Nova Hispania take refreshing when they do not anchor in the nooke of Sepesepin which is neer unto it or in another called the Fair Haven two leagues before you come to Ocoa And 20 leagues beyond Ocoa is the Port of Asua And 30 leagues more Westwardly there is a large point right against the Island of Bola which lieth five leagues from the Coast The most Westerly point is called Cape Tibron It hath an Island three leagues from it West called Caprio and sailing along the Coast you will see an Island called Camito and further in the nooke of Yaguana there is an Island called Guanabo of eight leagues long Of the North side of the Island the most Westwardly Cape and Port is Saint Nicol as from whence North-east and by East lyeth the Island of Tortaga neer the Coast of Hispaniola it is of five leagues length and governed by a Frenchman And further along the Coast is Montey Cristey the West Cape of the Port of Nativedad to the East of which there is a great Bay called Port Real This Island is so full of Harbours as he that will coast it cannot well misse of one where he pleaseth most of which afford refreshing of fresh meat and good water In many parts of this Island especially on the North side are English men always lying to kil Cattle for their hides onely they live in Tents ten and twenty in a company and have Shallops to attend them to conveigh them away when they please most commonly to Turtagues which is their head Quarter for it is neer lying CHAP. 10. Of the Island of Cuba THis Island lyeth West from Hispaniola and is 200 leagues long East and West the broadest part not 45. What Hispaniola affordeth is here in good plenty but the Land neither so pleasant nor wholsome The gold of this Island is not so good in his allay as that of Hispaniola but Copper is here in greater quantity It hath two remarkable things the one is a Valley of 20 leagues that within the earth hath stones as round as a bullet and from hence the Spaniards may furnish themselves with shot of all sizes The other is a fountain of a kind of pitch which
is constant gaurds upon each others Borders They make some Sugar in this Island some Indico and Cotton-wooll but most Tobacco CHAP 19. Nivis or the Snowes Barbada and Redouda THe English that seat it call it Neavis It is of five leagues in length lying within a league of St. Christophers Here is the best Sugar of the Caribey Islands some Indico but little Cotton or Tobacco It is an aguish Country and unwholsome but by the good Government that hath been amongst them the people live the happiest of all the Caribey Islands And in 17 degrees lyeth the Barbada and Redouda each of five leagues and in the hands of the Canibals CHAP. 20. Monserat MOnserat is seated by Irish of five leagues neere the Redouda The Inhabitants plant most Tobacco and some Indico CHAP. 21. Antego Margelante Dominica Matinina Santalusa Gardelupa Dodos sanctos Deseada ANtego lyeth between 14 and 15 degrees It hath a good air and is planted by the English with Tobacco Indico Cotton-wool and Sugar It lyeth ueer unto Gardelupia and Dodos Sanctos on which there lives some French with the Canibals which are in great numbers on these two Ilands The Deseada is six leagues to the Gardelupia in 14 degrees and a half seated by the Canibals Margalante is five leagues from Dominique and seated by the Canibals with French amongst them Dominica lyeth in 13 degrees and is 12 leagues in length It hath good Roads and watring places but in danger of the Canibals that are the Lords of this Iland with whom the French live in peaceable manner And neer Dominica is Matinina and Sancta Lusia which is 14 degres 20 minutes and both possest by Canibals CHAP. 22. The Burbudos THis Iland is commonly called the Barbados but the ancient name is the Burbudos to the Seacors of the Indies or Carer a de las Indies It is a Lee Island as those of Barbevento the Caribes are to weather of the Starbord bow It lyeth in 13 degrees 30 minutes and thoroughly inhabited with English and Negroes their servants This Iland flourisheth so much that it hath more people and Commerce then all the Ilands of the Indies Their principall Commodity is Sugar of the worst sort Indico and some Cotton-wool and little Tobacco Here are pieces of eight in greatest plenty of any English Plantation in America in so much that of late they buy and sell most small matters for ready money it is strong in men but no fortification yet perfected and not easily brought under by a common way of war There are store of Oxen and Kine in this Plantation as also Swine which they keep up in pends horses but by reason of the great number of inhabitants and occasion for Beasts of draught and burthen cattell is a good commodity so is all kind of provision and it yeildeth the best return It hath divers fruits and poultrey and as there is a greater trade here then in the rest of the Islands yet in regard the sellers are well matched by the buyers I conceive it the worst Plantation to goe to either to live or make a Voyage and returne For what is here is as well in the rest of the Islands and much more conveniency to plant for here they have too many people and in them there is too few and in most of them ground enough CHAP. 23. Trinidado ANd more southwardly are the rest of these Lee Ilands of which the greatest is the Trinidado in eight degrees of North Latitude it hath fifty leagues East and West and almost 30 in breadth the air is here very pestiferous which makes that this is the unwholsomest Iland in the whole Indies but many Indians that being bred to it live there without much sicknesse it hath a Colony of Spaniards seated in a Town called Saint Joseph where is resident a Governour and about 200 Spaniards with the help of the Indians make much of that tobacco which is sold in Spain for Spanish tobacco to the English and others The most Orientall part of it is the point De la Jaleria from whence du North lyeth the small Iland of Tobago compassed with Ilets in the South-side is the round point Andrada and on the West-side the gulf of Paria which lyeth between it and the firm land to the North are Saint Vincents and Granado two little Ilands CHAP. 24. Margreata Tortuga Gardiner Caracute Cubava Tamasca TWenty leagues West from Trinidado lieth Margreata it is 16 leagues East and West and the half in breadth it hath but little water yet plentifull of pasture and many Cattle with two Spanish towns which standeth neer the Sea it hath a Fortresse to defend it and a good harbour which is before the Town in this Fortresse resides the Governour and treasure for the King of Spains customes of Pearl which is worth at the least fifty thousand pounds yearly And two leagues from this town within the land is the other whose inhabitants are most Planters but that on the Sea is possest by Merchants divers for pearls which are in good plenty on this coast And the Ile Cabagua a league off at sea from whence every Saturday at night the Pearl fishers return to Margareta To the East of Cubagua are Losfralos which is four little Ilands close aboard the shore And to the East are the Witnesses and West lyeth Tortuga and farther West lyeth the Ile of Gardiner it is ten leagues long and by it Curaco in which the Dutch have a Fort and some souldiers neer unto which is another Iland called Curacute of 14 leagues in length And north from Curacute is the Iland of Aruba in which two last mentioned there are some peaceable Indians that speak Spanish From the Trinidado along the Coast there are few Ilands save those that are at the mouth of the River Amisons and Oroinoque which are low and flat and on the violent risings of the Rivers commonly overflown which makes the inhabitants provide them lodgings in the trees which are there very great these Indians have their Ganoes to attend them by which they passe not only to their neighbours but fish and go to the land at pleasure Furthermore on the Land of Brazil there are some small Ilands the most remarkable is the Tamerica it is inhabited by the Portugals it hath a fair town on the South-side and a harbour with store of Red wood CHAP. 25. Of the North-west passage and the Lands called Nova Britania or Nova Framuncia THat which is most remarkable in this north part of America is the straight of the north-west passage which is generally talked of and indeed is nothing but a narrow difficult passage to Buttons Bay the entrance being properly called Hudsons Straight in regard of his first finding it the mouth of this straight lyeth in 62 degrees and because of the impossibility of this Mathematicall story I shall say there is certainly no such Straight as this which they call Anian or the
from Sancta Fee 22 leagues it stands upon a hill of an extraordinary scituation Here is a great garrison of souldiers and the best market in all the Realm Here is also the City of Meridia the City of Victorey the village of Saint Christopher the City Beles and the City of Marequeata all Spanish Cities with many hundred large towns and villages of Indians Through this Region they passe from Cartagena by land to Peru commonly by post but not otherwise by reason that it is fifteen hundred leagues from Cartagena to Cosco This Region cannot be entred by land from Cartagena by reason of the great waters and mountains that are in the way wherefore they passe up the river Magdalen with Merchandize from the Custome-house of Malamba on the said River from whence to the first landing in the Kingdome of Granada is one hundred and fifty miles CHAP. 59. The Province of Sancta Martha THis Province of Martha lyeth between Cartagena and the River Hacha on the North sea It is a plentifull Countrey of Millet Potatoes much gold Emraulds and other rich stones and copper and hath five Spanish towns the City of Sanct a Martha in ten degrees of North latitude where is resident the Spanish Governour the King of Spains Officers of his treasure and a Cathedral Suffragan to that of Granado The City of Tenerif standeth on the river Magdalen which parteth this Province from Cartagena The village of Palms is two leagues from this river twenty to the south of Tenerif the City of Losreas is 30 leagues from the river Hacha On the coast of this Government is the river Biaba Piaras Aguamur and Sancta Martha The Indians of this province are commonly in war which is a hinderance to the Spaniards quiet enjoying the riches It exceedeth in stones of such value and quantity as is not elswhere to be found in India CHAP. 60. Venesiula THe Province of Venesiula lyeth on the North Sea parted from Sancta Martha by the River of Hacha on the east is the province of Suava or New Andelosia as the Spaniards call it The coast of the sea is neer 130 leagues of length In this land are veins of gold of more than two and twenty Carracts and a half It is plentifull of wheat and other seeds for there are two harvests in a year It hath abundance of all kind of cattle great and small Cotton and Sasaprila The City of Coro standeth in II degrees in a good air the Governour for the King of Spain resideth here It hath also a melting-house and Cathedrall with Monasteries The City of the Lady of Carvalteda on the sea coast 8 leagues from Coro with a bad haven Saint James is within the land three leagues to the south of Carvelteda The new Valentia is sixty leagues from Coro and seven from the Port of Brubufa Xeres 15 leagues south from Valentia The new Sigonia is 20 leagues to the south of Xeres The City of Tacuio standeth ten leagues from Segavia south-west Truxcillio eight leagues from Coro south and by east On this coast the principall river is the river Hacha which parts this province from Sancta Martha neer the mouth is a rich Town and Beads of pearl of the best in India CHAP. 61. Guana THis Region comprehendeth all the land that lyeth between the province of Venesula and Brazil which beginneth at twodegrees of south latitude this land is more famous for report than for any certain knowledge of the riches thereof for at this day there is no more than one Spanish Town called Codoa which lyeth on the sea coast from Trinidado The Spaniards are neer it and have better opportunities to know the riches of it than any other But the Indians which are in great part fled from the Spanish Countreys are so much their enemies as not to permit them to come amongst them without wars which is a great hinderance to the Spaniards undertakings But although this Countrey promiseth much in truth to this day there are no mines found and worked either of gold or silver although it is very probable by the Latitude that it doth abound in both The rivers are many and great that issue into the sea frō this coast of which the most famous are the rivers Orinoque or Orileania which entreth into the sea with sixteen mouths The best enterance is by the Branch du West from Trinidado The river of Amasions is more southerly and issueth into the sea under the line The mouth or entrance of this river is more shallow then Orinoque neither is it so well known although the English and Dutch have traded up them both with the Indians for these commodities naturall to the Countrey Bees wax Cotton-wool Cassia Fistula Bolearmoniack Teralemna and divers other drugs and wood fit for Dyers and some Balsomes The people love our Nation above any other and would be glad to assist us on any design The air in this Countrey is in some places extream hot and moist in other places constantly hot and dry and in other some very temperate all the year long CHAP. 62. The Land of Brazil THis Province beginneth where Guana endeth at two degrees of south latitude where there is a point called the Cape of Snakes from whence it lyeth along the Coast of the north sea to 25 degrees and on the back side west lyeth the provinces of the river of Plate The air is the whole year through very hot the winter which is our summer distinguished only with the rain that falleth at that season Here are many venemous worms and great serpents t is plentifull of pastures cattle and horses little Millet and no English grain wherefore their bread is Casabi or Potatoes which are in good Plenty There are great shews of silver and gold but none gotten nor mines certainly known The chief commodity is Sugar Cotton-wool Bombast and Brazil-wood It hath neer the sea coast about 20 Portugall towns many Ingeniowes or Sugar works the first town of the Countrey is called Tamerico and 5 leagues to the south of that Farnambuck or Rescif then All Saints 100 leagues from Farnambuck in 14 degrees 40 minutes The town of the Sure haven in 16 degrees and a half the Holy Ghost in 20. There is another town on the river Generio in 23 degrees neer which they cut much Brasel-wood There are on the coast eight or ten ports more principall than the rest which are the river Saint Dominick north-east off Farnambuck by the Cape of Saint Augustine which standeth in 9 degres The Island of Tamerico before rehearsed the river of Saint Francis in 10 degrees and a half It is very great The bay of All Saints is 3 leagues and 13 up into the land The river of Trinidado and the river of Canamon in 13 degreees and a half The river of Beads in 14 degrees and a half and the river of the Virgins in 16 and Portesceurae in 17. The river of Parague in 20 neer the town of