Xaraya out of which all Geographers that give us the Cartes of America make a considerable River to come forth which they bring to that of the great Amazones whereof they ought to abstain to speak too hardily untill by certain experience the truth of their first thoughts be better assured CHAP. XXIX Of the I le of the Topinambes SEeing the I le of Topinambes is in this place of the River of the Amazones and that it is the greatest of all its Iles the most renowned Province of any that it waters we shall say first that it is of more than sixty leagues of length and that it is so situated in the great Amazone that it comes nearer to his South-side than to his North and that all the distances and measures that concern it are in the tenth Chapter of this Book Secondly we shall say that it is admirable in fertility of its Grounds in the beauty of its bankes in the multitude of its Habitations whereof the most mighty is in the Eastmost point of it and hath three degrees of South latitude Finally we shall say that once it was inhabited by its Natives and originall Indians but that the Topinambes coming upon them chased them from it after sundry Battells and possest themselves of it with so much glory and reputation for themselves that the terrour of their names did reach to the neighbouring Nations Now these Topinambes before had inhabited the South coasts of Brasile where not being able to endure the hard entreaty of the Portugalls towards them after that they had come upon them they renounced their dear Countrey and voluntarily abandoned with great resolution more than eighty of their great Bourgades So they marched in infinite multitudes of men women and children streight towards the West and under the same parallell They crossed by swimming the great Rivers of Parane and of the Plata and leaving on their left hand the Province of Tucuman they in end took up their lodgings on the beginnings of the great River Madera But it befalling one of these Topinambes some while after to kill a Cow of a Spaniard on the frontier of Peru for which he was rudely chastised the same fear that carried them too lightly to leave their ancient abode made them all to dislodge presently from this new one And to the end to put themselves farre enough from all the Provinces of any neighbourhood with Peru possest by the Spaniards and and to make their Voyage or removall with lesse inconvenience and the more diligence and circumspection they embarqued themselves in Canoes which they had ready in great number and so suffered themselves to go at adventure down the stream of Madera and after sundry Moneths navigation found themselves arrived in the great Amazone and so lastly on the bankes of this I le of Topinambe which they possest by Armes as hath been said Now this Warlike and valiant Nation entertain'd very courteously the Portugalls at their passing them and received very pleasantly their proposalls that they made of a mutuall Covenant and Alliance Which alone might suffice for the conquest of the whole Realm of the Amazone seeing all ply to the only name of the Topinambes CHAP. XXX Of the Bosphore of the Amazone and of the Neighbouring Nations to it FOllowing the course of the great Amazone you shall find about fifty four leagues from the Topinambes the Bosphore of the Amazone whereby a marvellous effect of the naturall disposition of the ground of these Countries all the waters of the great River of the Amazones and of all the others that we have described reduce themselves by a sweet violence to the necessity of passing in one only channell so strait that it is no more than one good quarter of a league But of this famous Bosphore and all that concerns it see the tenth and thirteenth Chapters of this Book that we may passe without hinderance to the Province of Mataya which lies on the South-side of the great River from the Province of Cayane before-mentioned unto the Bosphore of the great Amazone The Inhabitants whereof being often beaten by the Topinambes have at last submitted to their yoake and are now their Tributaries being bound yearly to furnish them with Stone-axes to fell their Woods and great Trees and with other usefull Instruments of the same matter for labouring and manuring of the Ground wherein the Topinambes are marvellous expert and diligent as appears in all their plaines and champain Grounds But on the other North-banke of the great Amazone the Province of Apanta presents it self happy enough in all things It hath for its confines on the West the Province of Camsuare on the East it passeth the Bosphore and on the North its frontiers on the famous Region of the Amazones which I pass over as well as other doubtfull reports which the Spaniards and Portugalls have heard of it as they passed along the great River The Inhabitants of this Province next Neighbours to the Topinambes trade in Salt with them and other Nations that are farther from them and Salt is not found but in this place all alongst the whole course of the great Amazone As to the Apantes and Conures they labour their fair Fields that are watered by the Coruris which enters presently into the great River according to the tenth Chapter of this Book as also the Orixamine a River no lesse considerable of the same North-side and near to the Bosphore They have this singular amongst all the Peoples of that Countrey that their language is the common language of all Brasile though they be distant from it three hundred leagues But it may be that the Topinambes in keeping their own which was this have also communicated it to this neighbourhood Finally the best counsell that one can give on this behalf to a Prince or Republique in the progresse of this conquest is to keep the Bosphore in his possession and the Topinambes in amity and confederacy with him CHAP. XXXI Of the Province and River of Tapayse PResently after that the Amazone is come forth of the famous Bosphore he betakes himself to his accustomed broadnesse again and begins to mingle the boilings of his waters with the floods of the high-high-sea The first Province that he visits on his South-side takes its name from the great and broad River of the Tapayfeâ— and is no lesse considerable for the abundance of his Fruites and Crops than for the couragious Nation that inhabits it the which is so much the more redoubted to its Neighbours as that it addes to its valour an art of empoysoning their Arrows But the Source of this fair and fertile River is unknown to us as yet and yet its greatnesse makes it appear and perswades us that is it very remote on the South-side between the coast of Brasile and the great Lake of Xaraya About the year One thousand six hundred thirty the English went up his broad channell with one Ship and coming down his bankes again
great Atlantique-Sea for the space of three hundred Leagues from Cap-north to the I le of the Trinity and on the West the great River of the Orenu serves for its coufines but on the South it is kept in by a ridge of Mountains parallel to the Sea-coast which separate it from the Provinces of Camsnare of Apanta and of Corepa already mentioned Now these Mountains though not yet known are not imaginary but reall and effective according to the naturall disposition of all these Countries seeing the Rivers of Viapoco of Cayene of Maruyne of Sequebe and other considerable ones of Guyana which run all from the South to the North and enter into the Ocean-Sea and those other of Genipapa of Coropatube of Orixamine and of Coruris which run all from North to South by a contrary course to the others and enter into the great Amazone have necessarily their sources in those Mountains deep and fertile Valleys But returning to that East part of Guyana which buts on the mouth of our famous River we will first tell you that it begins from that of Genipapa considerable enough both for the greatness of his bed and for the fine gold that he draws along with him in his waters whence it follows by infallible conjecture that the mountains of his fource and the plains of his neighbourhood are no less rich happy and fertile than in all the rest of America Now the coast or this Province from Genipapa to the Cap-nord which forms the great mouth of the Amazon is very uneven in its bank and very dangerous in its navigation because of heights and lowes that are here sometimes found But these difficulties are not in coming down the great River untill after you have passed and necessarily taken notice of the place of Corupa one of the Governments of the Portugalls on these banks about twenty eight Leagues from the place where the great River begins to open his mouth But because Cap-nord ends the North side of this great River we shall tell you again that it hath one degree and forty five minutes of North latitude according to the tenth Chapter of this book likewise that the grounds about are very low and covered with woods the Sea very rageing and not very deep the Sands moveable and often covered with Sea-ware or weeds And as to the rest of this coast as you go from Cap-nord to Corupa see the Relations of the Hollanders reported by Johne Laet in his America where you may finde the knowledge of it little either necessary or delectable CHAP. XXXV Of the Province of Maragnon and of the Town of Para. AS the Province of Guyana ends the North-bank and brink of the great Amazone so the Kingdome of Brasile under the Crown of Portugall ends it on the South side by the Province of Maragnon the Northerliest of all its Countries It took its name from a River and a Bay of the same name on the coast of the Atlantique-Sea where the Town of St. Lewis the residence of the Governour and of justice is in a very pleasant I le But that side of this Government of Maragnon is far longer on the great mouth of the great River than on that side that accosts the great Ocean seeing at contains all the bank of the Amazone for the space of an hundred Leagues from the River of Pacashe to the point of Zaparara Yet in all this length of Lands so fertile and abundant in all things there is but the one only Town of Para that is considerable From the year 1615 the Portugalls established the Colonie there and built the fortress of it which is a square of Mason-work on the Land-side and of earth or turfe on the Sea-side It is commanded by a Captain-major who answers to the Governour-Generall of the Province and under this Captain-major of the Town of Para are other three Captains of Infantry dispersed in diverse places of that Countrey It is forty Leagues from the North-Sea and from the point of Zaparara and thirty Leagues from the great Village of Commuta once very flourishing but now ruinous on the mouth of the great River of the Tocantines a Nation very fertile and rich It hath also one degree and thirty minutes of South latitude and is about sixty five Leagues from Cap-nord in a right Line and Geometricall measure making twenty Leagues for every degree of a great Circle as we have done in the rest of this work And as to other distances on this South side of the great Amazone you shall find them at the end of the tenth Chapter of this Book as also those of the I le of the Sun which is by the waterbank of the Province of Maragnon having more than ten Leagues in Circuit one very safe Haven fish abundance Crabs without number very good fresh or sweet waters of lesser prey or game as much as they will and a very pleasant air Finally a place much more convenient than that of Para to set up a Colonie and Forts in whereby to command the best and safest entry of all those which lead from the Sea into the true Channell of the great River of the Amazones CHAP. XXXVI Of the Entrice into the River of the Amazones Such as are exercised in the navigations of the great Ocean know nothing more dangerous nor more difficult than the entries of Ports of Bayes and of Rivers But in this as in other points the great River of the Amazones is no less admirable than singular For being framed as it were to receive in times coming the greatest and richest commerce of all the world how could it hinder that its great mouth should not be defamed by Robbers or Pirates as well as the Gulph of Mexico Now the same providence that hath heaped upon it more than upon all the Rivers of the earth so many marvellous advantages and prerogatives would not in this either make it less perfect having by a certain and naturall disposall and ordering of its Iles sides and lowes or flats reduced its navigation into one only Channell and rendred the other passages as it were unprofitable and by his impetuous currants which carry his waters thirty Leagues into the Sea forbidden all strange Ships and hostile enemies to rest in these places that they might there surprize any Navy at their going in or coming out But the difficulties hitherto have been great to find out the true tract that Vessels ought to hold in going into the great Amazone And after having considered the diverse observations reported by their Authors Spaniards English and Flemish some of them too short and others too confused and obscure and most or all of them uncertain we shall tell you in few words that first of all one must shun the currants in coming down going aside of them unto two degrees of South latitude then go up again by the coast of Brasile at half a degree latitude of the same side of the Line then double the point of
the parties concerned that they might make such use thereof as they saw good And I have chosen this way of examples subjoyned to the discourse of generosity by way of Apology for my self and first opening my condition from that obscurity it lay under to prevent or repulse the currish snarls of clownish Pedants and Schiolists My intent in this Translation is beside what I have exprest to his Majesty the propagation of Religion and the good of England But if Religion be not better intended and attended and prosecuted by undertakers than it hath been at home it may justly frustrate all and cast us in as great confusions abroad as it did at home But because this would require more length than this Epistle is now fit to be drawn unto and I may have another occasion for it perhaps ere long I heartily recommend all to Gods blessing and thy good acceptance and bid thee farewell Blackefriers this 22 of October 1660. W. H. Advertisement These Books are newly Printed for and Sold by John Starkey at the Miter in Fleet-street near to Temple-Barre THe World Surveyed or the famous Voyages and Travels of Vincent Le Blanc of Marseilles who from the age of fourteen years to threescore and eighteen travelled through most parts of the World viz. the East and West Indies Persia Pegn the Kingdomes of Fez and Morocco Guinny and through all Africa from the Cape of good hope into Alexandria by the Territories of Monomotapa of Prester John and Egypt into the Mediterranean Isles and through the principall Provinces of Europe Containing amore exact description of severall parts of the World than hath hitherto been done by any other Author the whole work enriched with many authentick Histories originally written in French and faithfully rendred into English by F. 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To my Lord the most Eminent Cardinall MAZARINE My Lord WHat can be offered greater in a little work than the great River of the Amazones It now offers it self with all its grandures to your Eminency after that it hath hidden them so long time It desires baptisme from you for all its peoples it desires laws from you for all its Nations and a valiant King for all its Provinces that he may unite them to his Crown If the conquest thereof be easie neither will the expense thereof be excessive For there will need no great Armies here to give battels nor no great provision of Artillery for carrying on of sieges There is need only of preparations fitting for planting of five Colonies at the first aboard the first whereof is to be in the Isle of the Sun for guarding the best entry into this great Rivers mouth The second on the famous Bosphore or Strait thereof to desend and keep this Rivers passage The third on that renowned point of the Comanares for the best seat of that whole Empire The fourth near to the Mountain of Swana whereby to be Master of the gold-mine there And the fifth and last on the mouth of the River of Maragnon to watch over the Frontier of that side of the Andes And in favours of this first establishment your Eminence might easily adde the alliances of the Illustrious and renowned Nations of the Homagues of the Generous and noble Yorimans of the valiant Topinambes and give order for a Fleet-volant of about twelve men of Warre continually to be visiting and going between these Colonies because the distance by sailing of the farthest of these from the other will be at the least a thousand Spanish leagues and this alwayes upon the channell of the great River of the Amazones it self But this is enough for an Epistle and the Book it self will speak the matter more at length and in so noble a design your Counsels will not be wanting to France as I shall never be wanting my Lord to give you all sort of honour submissions and respects being as I am of Your Eminence the most humble most obedient and most obliged Servant Blaise Francis de Pagan From Paris the 12th of March 1655. MAGNI AMAZONI FLUVII IN AMERICA MERIDIONALI noua delineatio AN HISTORICAL AND Geographical Description OF THE Great River of the Amazones IN AMERICA CHAP. I. Of the greatness of the River of the Amazones WHat the Danow is to Europe Ganges to Asia and Nilus to Afrique the same is the great Amazone to America And as America is the greatest part of the world so is the River of the Amazones the greatest River in the Universe His length is of greater extent than that of the Nile and Negro in Afrique his breadth larger than that of Ganges and Kiam in Asia his navigation and portableness is better than that of the Danow and Rhine in Eurupe his mouth or entrance into the Sea is more open than that of Plata and Saint Lawrence in America and his depth is like unto that of the Oceane and of the mediterrane-Sea His inundations or overflowings are yearly and fruitfull his aspect is every where and every way pleasant all his branches and Rivers running out of him are inhabited his fields are all fertile and all his adjoyning plaines or valleys cultivated Chase fishing and Venison are there every where great store woods fruits and Corn-fields for harvest cover the grounds and little hills there and the sweetness of his Air is through all alike equally temperate and both gold and silver are found in the Rivers and mountains there Its peoples are innumerable its Iles great and infinite in number yet inhabited all its peoples are spritely and nimble and the riches of the Climate furnisheth them abundantly with all things This River's course is almost alwayes under the equinoctiall Line and every where his nights and days are of alike length and the other Rivers that pay their tribute to him are all under the torride Zone Marvellous effects of the divine providence which having distanced so many Nations from the Sea-coasts and its commodities hath given them so great Rivers and waters in so great abundance that this famous River of the Amazones may reasonably enough be called an ocean-Ocean-Sea of sweet waters But all its prerogatives which by an universall consent have made the title of the greatest River of the world be given unto it shall more amply be seen and with more particular deduction of Circumstances in the following Chapters of this Book CHAP. II. Of the great Realm of the Amazone IN the Peninsule or almost-Ile of the Southerly America and almost in the midst of so great a Continent or main-Land there is a great extent of Land covered with so many
Wisemen or Wizards among them of great esteem who serve them for Counsellors as well for Religion and Physick as for Law and policy and in the year 1639 the Portuguais found an Indian in these Countries that called himself the son of the Sun who coming to a peaceable and loving conference with them was not satisfied with the grounds of our Belief but going away without renouncing his own imposture said that every night he went by the Spirit to consult the Sun for the government of the following day Finally all these peoples are of a good nature nimble and quick of body and of colour not so tawny and Sun-burnt as those of Brasile They are of quick apprehension and understanding and are very expert in their hands for all sort of works They are naturally sweet and meek officious and tractable and they converse familiarly with strangers without any fear They are every way so docile and teachable and so little possest with malice that from hence the easiness to subdue them as well to Laws and policy as to Christian Religion may be guessed at CHAP. VI. Of the great Cordeliere IN the Southern America to the East of the Kingdom of Peru and as it were from the North to the South runs and rangeth along a garland of great Mountains more than six hundred Leagues in length under the name of the great Cordeliere And by a wonderfull work of nature all the waters which from thence arise in abundance on that side of the great Mountains that look towards the East do all render themselves into the north-North-Sea by one only mouth and confluent But these well-heads and springs being so many cannot be yet all discovered it sufficeth us in this Book to remark the chief ones and such of them as are famous by the origine and source of the great River of the Amamazones and of others the most famous that he receiveth into his channell to convey them together with himself into the Ocean-Sea And amongst the longest and greatest of all these Rivers the Great Caketa the Putumaye and the Aguarike are on the North-side and the Madera the Amarumaya the Maragnon and the Curaray are on the Southside of the River of the Amazones Which being the only and the principall object of our Discourse we will here begin to describe its source in this Chapter telling you that it is the most Westward of all the sources that are to the East of the great Cordeliere that which is furthest off from the Ocean or Atlantique-Sea and the nearest of any to the Town of Kyto one of the greatest and fairest Cities not only of the Kingdom of Peru but also of any in all America the seat of a Soveraign Court and Capitall of a great Province of three hundred degrees and ten minutes of Longitude counting from the first and fixt Meridian of the I le of Saint Michell of the Azores and sixteen minutes only of Latitude meridionale But for better clearing of this matter yet we must adde that between the Town of Kyto the source of the great River of the Amazons these tops or risings of the great Cordeliere that are after mentioned are interjected CHAP. VII Of the sources of the great River of the Amazones Pulcan and Guanama are two Mountains of the great and high Cordeliere distant one from the other little less than two Spanish Leagues of three hundred degrees thirty six minutes of Longitude on the terrestriall Globe and twenty minutes only of meridionale or Southern Latitude They are in the great Province of Kyto of the rich Empire of Peru about six Leagues to the Southside of the equinoctiall Line and eight Leagues to the East of the Town of Kyto the Capitall of that Province and two Lakes that are at the two foots of these two Mountains are the renowned sources of the great and famous Amazone That of Pulcan is the largest openest and best discovered and that of Guanama is the deepest and profoundest and as it were almost covered by a great rock overturned upon it by an Earthquake But these two spring-heads the most wonderfull of all the world since they give the beginning to the most memorable River of the universall world run quickly into one and pass along together the terrible rocks of the Cordeliere rolling their roaring waters over its precipices and fals from whence this great River coming forth and running alwayes strong swift and straight towards the East receives presently upon his leaving the Cordeliere a marvellous great increase from the Coca the Payamine and the Napo three considerable Rivers whereof we shall speak else where and in short while makes his navigableness like unto that of the great Ocean-Sea as well for the depth of his channell as for the less rapidness of his currant of water But this remarkable place where the River of Napo enters into that of the Amazones which the Spaniards call the Junto of the Rivers and we the conjunction or joyning of the Rivers to the same very sense verbatim is about sixty Leagues from the Town of Kyto and under the equinoctiall Line And it was in this place that the adventurous Francis D'Areillane that Spanish Knight made build a Vessell in the which he first navigated and happily discovered all this great River of the Amazones CHAP. VIII Of the length and course of this River AFter that the great Amazone hath made his channell like unto that of the greatest Rivers of the world by the conflux of the foresaid three Rivers he goes on his way through the vast and fertile fields of America alwayes towards the East and without longer straying from under the Line than five or six degrees at the most on the Southside or that of the antarctick Pole Yet drawing his now-slow waters after him by infinite turnings and windings in plains and fields of so large and great extent he casts out his arms on every side to receive the more easily the Rivers which from all parts come unto him and that with such admirable agreement that the least of his armes receive alway the least Rivers and Rivulets and the greater the greater and if Rivers come to him that are bigge and made great by a course of more hundreths of Leagues together he there shuts up all his waters into one channell to receive those greater worthily and as it were with a greater state and magnificence As for his length from his source to his mouth at the atlantique-Atlantique-Sea following the course of his wide channell it is diversly reported The fore-mentioned Areillane makes it of eighteen hundred and Father D' Acogna of one thousand two hundred seventy six Spanish Leagues according to the justest measures that we could gather from the Relations of this Author who contradicts himself often through forgetfulness and not taking heed Now the sparingest reckoning of Father D' Acogna being modester than that of Areillane seems to me to have more appearances of the truth in it because
them well nigh to the Town of Pasto of the Government of Popayan having three hundred and one degrees and thirty minutes of longitude and one degree only of North latitude But though both these Rivers have their course from West to East yet that of the Aguarique which is the Southerliest comes first to the great River of the Amazones in the Province of the Chevelues or long-hair'd people and that after a course of more than an hundred leagues all along Navigable through happy fertile and well-inhabited Regions as all the rest of the Realm of the great Amazone is Now the mouth of this considerable River the Name whereof is The River of Gold because he draws much of it along his bank-sides is on the North-side of the great River of the Amazones and about an hundred seventeen leagues from his own Sources and Spring-heads and likewise under the line But the River of Putomaya taking a course much more stragling and wandring and watering a good many more Nations than the other makes also hereby his Navigation more considerable and of greater Portation by a course of farre greater extent and a greater number of Rivers that on all sides arrive unto him also And after he hath fertilized so many great champain Countries by the fresh vapours of his waters and by his ordinary overflowings as all Rivers of America do he opens and enlarges himself near unto a leagues bredth at his entry into the great River of the Amazones and about four hundred fifty three leagues from his own Sources or Well-heads Now the mouth of this River of Putomaya which carryes along with him gold also as most others do is on the North-side of the great River and hath two degrees and thirty minutes of Southern latitude having runne under the line a great deal more than the half of his course and under the same measured in his bankes and windings at least the space and length of more than three hundred fifty leagues Thus the commerce of the great River of the Amazones will in time coming receive no lesse enlargement by the happy Navigations of the Aguarique and of the Putomaya than by other great and famous Rivers which promise him the same encrease as well for the richesse and fertile Countries of the Town of Pasto as for the situation of the same which is too farre distant from the conveniencies of the Port of Carthagena CHAP. XVI Of the great Caketa a considerable River THe third and last River which from the North and from the mountains of the Cordelier comes into the great River of the Amazones goes under the name of The great Caketa and is acknowledged and celebrated for the greatest of all the Rivers in America next to the great Amazone The Kingdom of new Granado glories in its birth and the Valley of Nicao of the Province of Popayan is the famous place of his Source which hath two degrees and thirty minutes of North-latitude and three hundred and three degrees and fourty minutes of longitude on the terrestrial Globe This great River so much renown'd and yet so little known to this day by Geographers receives presently a marvellous increase of waters which descend in great abundance from the great mountains of St Faith of Bogota and taking his way from West to East almost every where parallell to the great Amazone he insensibly draws near to runne under the line continuing thus his course untill about at one degree of North-latitude and three hundred eighteen degrees of longitude he divides his large and magnificent Channell into Rio-negro and Rio-grand i. e. into the Black River and the great River But the great Caketa is so wonderfull at this place that this division hinders him not to render himself on the one side into the great Amazone by the first of his branches and by an entry of more than one league and an half broad nor to keep for a long time the colour of his own pleasant and deep waters untill that the great River of the Amazones all gathered up into one great bed for receiving of him deface this appearance of the Caketaes waters but not untill after a combate between them for the space of twelve leagues length As for his other branch which I take to be the great River of the Orenoc contrary to the opinions of Father D' Acogna because I see no other River from the Cape of the Sailes to the Cape of the North that can be attributed to him it turns its course towards the North and renders himself into the North-Sea by a mouth worthy of his greatness and magnificence But because the Orenos as other Rivers of Guyana have hath leaps and fals that are high and steep amongst the rocks that he passeth through following here the relations of Diego d' Ordas of Alphonso de Herrera and of Anthony de Berreo who were amongst the first of such as navigated it neither the commerce of the great Caketa nor that of the great Amazone can ever be hindred on this behalf as Father D'Acogna apprehends grounding himself on the passage of Lopez D'Aguirre which he held from the River of the Amazones to the North Sea by this track or way but not knowing that Lopez had not light Boats that can pass over all and shoot such fals as Oares do London-Bridge at a low water or that he made draw them alongst with him by land as other Spaniards also did before him from the beginning of the leap or fall of the River Orenoc to the end of it which is at least an hundred Leagues distant from his mouth whereby he enters into the great Ocean Returning therefore to the great Caketa we shall have done with him and this Chapter if we tell you that he receives an infinitie of other Rivers that he waters sundry rich Provinces and many very warlike Nations that his overflowings makes on all sides many great Lakes as is usuall in all other Rivers of America that now and then he sends some arms or branches into the great Amazone which are equall to some good Rivers in other places that his mouth of the Orenoc hath nine degrees of North-latitude and three hundred twenty one degrees and twenty minutes of Longitude and that his mouth of Rio-negro so called from the depth of his pure-clear waters whereby they seem black hath four degrees of South-latitude and three hundred twenty two degrees and twenty minutes of longitude on the North-side of the great River of the Amazones about some seven hundred eighty eight Leagues from his first sources the same distance that the Amazone hath from this place to his head as is before said towards the end of Chapter the ninth CHAP. XVII Of the River of Maragnon ONe of the principall and most famous Rivers that the Andes of the Cordeliere send forth towards the South of the great Amazone is without all doubt the Maragnon as well for the rich and noble Province whence he takes his
Zaparara and make Sail or launch to the Southwest after that follow the coast of the Province of Maragnon and pass the Channell of the I le of the Sun at one degree and a quarter of South-latitude and twenty six Leagnes from the full Sea finally make Sail to the West leave the side of Para and keep the same latitude to gain the bankside of Corupa in the Province of Guyana and for conclusion follow still the same side and enter at last into the true Channell of the great River of the Amazones at two degrees of South-latitude and thirty Leagues beyond Corupa which is but one degree and a half of the same side of the Line CHAP. XXXVII Of the first discovery of this River FOrasmuch as historicall Relations are easilier understood if they follow Geographicall ones we have changed the order of Authors that went before us begun at the latter After that Gonsales Pizarro Governour of the Province of Kito had first of all the Spaniards pushed on by the same ambition to find gold and silver in the vast Countries of the great Amazone passed the high and dangerous Mountains of the Cordeliere and discovered the Province of Kixo his Lieutenant Generall Francis of Areillana finding himself well far engaged and that in Challops only on so many unknown and great Rivers and not knowing any sure way of going up again and returning to his Generall who with them that were with him suffered an extream great want of Victuals he would stay at the famous place where the River of Napo loseth himself in that great one of the Amazones where causing his men to build another Bark greater and more convenient than his others for a long navigation he resolved by an ambitious desire to purchase glory to commit his life and fortune to the uncertain currants and waters of that great River This admirable voyage and singular for so many circumstances was begun on the eighth of the Moneth of January in the year 1541 and continued with so much good luck and happiness that this great and marvellous River was wholly navigated and first discovered by this ventorious Knight from whom also the River had the name of Areillane In passing over the Provinces of the Cassique or Lord Aparia this Prince received him very courteously and advertised him to take heed in his way of travell of certain Amazones and warlike women the renown of whom though they were very far from him yet ceased not to give him knowledge of them Finally in his course he had diverse successes sometimes good sometimes bad according to the fear or fearless confidence of the Nations that saw him with astonishment pass along upon the great River And after having known not without admiration the Rio-negro he saw in the Moneth of June Indians in great number upon the banks thereof and at the head of them armed women which seemed to command and lead them to warre whereupon the Spaniards of Francis of Areillana and himself were so perswaded of the truth of these Amazones that they published the report of it with such confidence that from thence the name did remain to this great and memorable River Lastly after sundry fortunes and much wearinesse on the 26. of the moneth of August of the same year 1541. he went out at the great mouth of this great River and making sail towards the West along the coasts of Guyana and Paria Provinces of the same America on the eleventh of the moneth of September he happily attain'd the Isle of Cubagua near to that of Marguarite both of them inhabited by Spaniards and then rich in the fishing of Pearls CHAP. XXXVIII Of the second Expedition of Areillana in the same River AFter that Areillana was return'd to Europe had fill'd all Spain with the admiration of his adventures and the Court of the Emperour Charles the V. with the hopes of the great River of the Amazones had got also from this Prince whose arms and ambition troubled no lesse the old than the new-found world the charge of making conquest of it in the name of the Crown of Castile and that he had at his own leisure made ready three Ships and man'd them with Horsemen and provisions necessary he made sail the xi day of the moneth of May in the year 1549. from the Haven of St Luke of Barrameda in Andalusia for the Tenariff in the Canaries where the ships stayed three moneths as also two moneths more under Cape-verd on the Continent of Africk loosing by those stayes an 150. souldiers by sicknesse Passing from thence to the coast of America the tempest drown'd one ship to him which had xi horse and 70. men aboard and coming to half a degree of South-latitude he drew up sweet water in the full Sea and by that conjectur'd that infallibly he was in the River of the Amazones being not then above twelve Leagues from the point of Zaparara But having gone in an hundred Leagues into the great mouth of this great River an 107. of his folks being yet wanting to him and he perceiving that the rest would not be sufficient to furnish out these two ships he caused of the one of them a Barke to be made which was not compleated in three moneths and making sail again scarcely had he gone up twenty Leagues in the same River but he broke his other ship of the planks whereof he was constrain'd to make another Bark which thirty men made an end of only in two months and an half and that with much toile and wearinesse Areillana in this mean while set himselfe twice with the other Bark to seek the true channel of the Amazone and never having been able to find it amongst so many arms and Isles of that River and so confused he finished his life with his adventures being surcharged with travail grief and sadnesse so that the two Barks retired themselves severally from the great Amazone and following the coasts of the firm Land of America betook themselves to the Isles of Cubagua and the Marguarite where the Spaniards that were but few now surviving this so ruinous an expedition made an end of all the rest of their lives dying there of sicknesse CHAP. XXXIX Of Pedro D'Orsua and of the Tyrant Lope d'Aguirre AS all the Authours that have imployed their watchings to describe largely unto us the things of America were neither good enough Geographers nor good enough Geometricians to disintangle the difficulties that grows ordinarily in such matters so they have but too often fallen into contrarieties that make their Histories confused and into obscurities that robs their Readers of possibilities to understand them Such as would take advantage at depressing them will somewhat strange at my censure of them but I seeking nothing but truth and not after vain-glory in my works will passe on to my subject of this famous River the discovery whereof was no more essayed from Spain its self after the disgraces of Francis of Areillana but
AN Historical Geographical DESCRIPTION OF THE Great Country River OF THE AMAZONES IN AMERICA Drawn out of divers Authors and reduced into a better forme with a Mapp of the River and of its Provinces being that place which Sr Walter Rawleigh intended to conquer and plant when he made his Voyage to Guianu Written in French by the Count of Pagan and dedicated to Cardinall Mazarine in order to a Conquest by the Cardinals motion to be undertaken And now translated into English by William Hamilton and humbly offered to his Majesty as worthy his Consideration LONDON Printed for John Starkey at the Miter in Fleet-street near Temple-Barre 1660. TO THE Imperial Majesty OF CHARLES II of Great-Brittain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith of Protestants and of Protestants themselves by his Title of signal providence Happiness Victories Triumphs Gracious Sir NOt only freewill-offerings and gifts were acceptable to God though they had a member or members superfluous or were deficient in some and so had much imperfection so it were not of the nature of unsincerity in which respect they behoved to be without blemish Levit. 22.23 but in trespass-offerings also which were commanded and not left free if the Party was poor not only a single Turtle or young Pigeon was accepted for the other was for an Holocaust but a single meat-offering a very little Flower or Meal and a little Salt to it were accepted for both Holocaust and trespass-offering under one Lev. 5.7 which being doubtlesly in use from Noahs time or Adams rather as elsewhere I hope to make it appear gave as undoubtedly the beginning to that practice and proverb among the Heathens Heathenism being but an inveterate corruption of heresie and schism from the Religion delivered by God to Adam and Noah as shall also God willing be made appea◠molâ salsâ litant qui non habent thura such may acceptably sacrifice to God with meal and salt who have not frankincense The like debonnairety to accept of mean gifts from good mindes hath also been annumerated to the heroick indowments of the greatest Kings Thus Artaxerxes disdained not a pitcher of water from a Paisant And Plutarch in his Apophthegms shows by one of them the property of a royall disposition to have been esteemed this Non minus est regium parvula accipere quam largiri magna It is no less Kingly to accept of little things than freely to bestow great matters And this Royall Sir is my humble request to your saered Majesty at this time That you will graciously accept a mean gift from a mean giver and by your royall return of justice and bountie to enable me to serve God and your Majesty with better God himself inviting you thereto by his example who allowed even of poor freewill-offerings made to him of purpose to obtain his bountifull returns of some eminent benefits or favours And yet a mean gift Sir I call this of mine not that the work it self should be so accounted but my work about it which is but a Translation For the Book though in bulke but small in its concernments is very rich and as highly commendable in it self so not much less in the Author In its natural language it made its first address to Cardinal Mazarine in order to have set his Majesty of France on conquest of the great Kingdome of the Amazone to himself But having these five years at least that now it hath been abroad not made use of it that way it comes now by me to beg your Majesties favourable acceptance in hope of that large retribution to your self when your Majesty shall think fit to apply your thoughts to it for which it was intended to another It was by an old servant of your Majesties Royall Fathers and Gandfathers I. L. D. brought over and communicate to one of your Majesties most expert Seamen C. W. who from his youth up and often times since hath been in and knowes perfectly all the coasts of the Southern America Both these are very confident at least wish heartily and my self with the like affection do now humbly present it also That your Majesty would so consider of that great Empire as if it were already your own as it may be with much ease if your applications be seasonable and suitable to its worth For it is possest by the barbarous Natives only except in two Skirts Brasile on the East where the Portuguaise pitched and Peru upon the West where the Spaniard is divided from the Inland by the tract of the Andes or Cordeliere hills but in the Peninsular great continent your Majesty may dresse an Empire of near nine thousand miles in circuit of the pleasantest fertilest and richest continent in the world whether for air waters or soil to which no Prince can pretend much less lay a claim For the discoveries of that River by the Portugaise and Spaniards were more to satisfie their curiosity than that they could then hope for a conquest And the Natives not only in their forlorn condition but by singular junctures of providence call for the Christian Religion from us while others cease from that duty as the man of Macedon did Paul to help them while he was hindred to go into Bithynia Act. 16.7 9 10. and others have been hindred hitherto to go to them for such end but they may also easily be made to receive your Majesties Government with friendship if wisely dealt with For while neither Portugall nor Spain nor France pursued the design here offered God in in his providence amidst your Majesties and your good Subjects troubles seems not obscurely to have been designing this for you and your Brittain as may be hoped from ancient prediction not liable to exception from the solidest and soberest wits as at another occasion I may fullier clear if your Majesty command it and so much the more as his providence hath prevented your projecting having already made way and brought to pass for your Majesties interest an opportune and considerable Colonie by that noble Lord Willoughbee of Parham to his great travels hazards and vast expenses both seeming to concurre with the foresaid prediction and to point out your Majesty for the layer of such a foundation both to Christ and your self The Author of this work is a French Earl of a most ancient Nobility and descent from those famous and honourable Commanders in the holy Warres who for their wise conduct and rare valour were imployed in places of great trust and transmitted them with the Coat of arms and name of Pagan which was the badge of their great exploits in mating and killing the Pagans or Infidels to their suecessors of the same name and family as the Author himself showes at large in the Dedication of his rare Book of Fortifications to another noble branch of the same family of whose rare accomplishments for gentile and manly learning and Souldiery lest I should here presume too much upon your Majesties patience I
Nations and watered with so many Rivers that of it might be formed a Kingdome or Empire of three thousand Leagues in compass for one that would make the conquest of it It s rich and opulent Countries which all of them together I call the great Kingdome or Realm of the Amazone seeing all their waters and Rivers render themselves into this great and renowned River of the Amazones have for their boundaries Brasile towards the East the Kingdome of New-Granado and the coast of Guiana towards the North and towards the West Peru and the great Cordelier and Southward Tucuman and Paraguais all Provinces under the Crown of Castile except Brasile subject to the Portugallians that inhabit it I said of three thousand Leagues in compass not precisely but near to that dimension because the diversity of Mapps and of their opinions and reports that have compassed it not only cross one another but also thwart themselves in their relations that they give of it as by name Father Christopher D'Acogna a Spanish Jesuit and a principall author and eye-witness of these things But of these doubtfull and diverse mensurations we shall speak elsewhere let us here draw towards an end of this Chapter in telling you That all this great Realm of Amazone is inhabited only as yet of Indians and Americans and not at all of Spaniards whether Castilians or Portuguais These have indeed discovered it and run its length first of any with their armed Navies but only passed thorow and never stayed any where to build fortresses or plant colonies as they have done in so great number and with so great state and magnificence in other Countries of the same America But if Spain happily situated for commanding over this new world had turned her thoughts towards the conquest of this Empire of the great Amazone instead of consuming unprofitably so many Armies and so great treasures in her Warres of Europe as she hath done now for an hundred years she might have enjoyed by this time the glory and advantages of so great an Empire from the conquest of which now she is further off than ever as well for the reason of her present weakness as her intestine division CHAP. III. Of the Nations of this great Realm THe innumerable Nations and Provinces of this great Empire of the Amazone are not all yet distinctly known by their severall names and languages because the Spaniards who last navigated this famous River have not marked them all but only one hundred and fifty of them The Provinces are all so mightily peopled and their habitations so thick that from the last village of one Town one may hear the noise of such as travail from the first village of anopher And yet so near a neighbour hood not being able to keep them in peace they are in continuall Warres one Nation against another Yet neither ambition of command nor greediness of acquiring riches not a desire to eat men as Canibals of the same America have are any of the grounds of so many cruell and bloody Battels without which were it not for all this so many people could never be contained in these Countries but the cause of all these Fights wherein are often slain an infinitie of persons is only for glory and renown and to have slaves of a strange or other Nation than their own and that because at home amongit themselves the innocence of their manners and riches of the Climate not being apt to bring men to a necessity of serving others of their own accord none is found there obliged to such a condition but by force of Arms. And yet this invincible courage that they exercise thus against one another hath not yet appeared against the Spaniards who navigate and run the River of Amazones in Arms foras much as hither to either a light fleeing if at any time they opposed them or a mutuall amity embraced and consented to by them have been the only Arms which to this present they have employed against these dominators of the new world the Spaniards But all America being barren of Iron we must not think it strange if the inhabitants of this great Realm have been surprized with fear as all other Indians were and are of the Sword the Musquiet and of Artillery CHAR. IV. Of their Arms and Commerce SEing neither Steel nor Iron are found at all in the West Indies we must not marvell if the Americans of this great Kingdom have no other Arms but Arrows and Javelots about which notwithstanding they are marvellously expert not only for making them of hard wood and sharp pointed but also for shooting and casting them with so great force that therewith they pierce through and through the body of their enemies which they hit The same necessity makes them also use stones well brought to an edge and Tortoise shells for Axes and Hatchets and their instruments of travelling the one for great wood and the other for less and houshold Utensils But they use the horn of certain little Beasts fastned to little hefts for their finer works which they make upon wood with marvellous skill As for the Commerce of all these peoples on this great River of the Amazones and on other Rivers that run into it they perform it in Boats which they call Canoès that are made all of Cedar and all of one piece as in other places of the Indies but with more ease and better than elsewhere because this great River during its overflowings brings down so great a number of great Trees that these peoples have no more to do to come by them but every one to lay hold on and stay as many as he desires at his House there to cut and hollow them as he thinks meet As for Cloathes such as use any have them all almost of Cotton and for such as go naked which are the greatest part neither excessive heat nor rigour of cold forces them to cover themselves in that sort CHAP. V. Of their Customes and Religion THere were never any written Laws amongst those peoples and all their customes are almost much alike Some of them live at liberty and some of them under Cacyques or Lords as the rest of America They have Idols of wood made by mans hand which they adore as their gods attributing to some of them the power over waters and giving them a Fish for their mark to others the power over fruits and seeds of the earth They have also such as they take for gods of Armies and Battels and they openly avouch that these deities came down from Heaven to live with them to do them good and procure their profit They have neither Temples nor Ceremonies wherewith they adore them but leave them carelesly in some corner of their House untill they have occasion to use them But when they take water to go to Warre they place on the Poup of their Vessels their god of Armies and so they use the others in like sort They have also
thirty leagues the mouth of which River is to the North of the Amazone From the Coruris to the Bosphore of the Amazone twenty four leagues This strange narrownesse hath two degrees and fourty minutes of Southern latitude and three hundred twenty eight degrees and fifty minutes in longitude From the Bosphore to the Tapayse fourty leagues the mouth of which River is on the South of the great Amazone From the Tapayse to the Coropatube fourty leagues the mouth of which River is on the North-side of the great Amazone From the Coropatube to the Fort of the Destierro fifty four leagues which Forteresse is also on the North-side of the great River From the foresaid Fort to the Ginipape six leagues the mouth of which River is on the North-side also having two degrees of Southern latitude and three hundred thirty one degrees and fifty minutes of longitude And about two leagues under this Ginipape towards the Sea the great River of the Amazones begins to open himself by little and little towards his great Mouth or place of discharge into the Sea From the Ginipape to the Paranaybe ten leagues the mouth of which River is on the South side of the Amazone From the Paranaybe to the Pacache fourty leagues the mouth of which is also on the South of the Amazone From the Pacache to Commuta fourty leagues This place is also on the South-side of the Amazone From Commuta to Para thirty leagues This Town is also on the South-banke of the great mouth of the Amazone having one degree and thirty minutes of South latitude From Para to the I le of the Sun fourteen leagues This I le is also near to the same South-banke And from Para to Zaparara fourty leagues which is a Cape on the extremity of the South-banke of the great River having thirty five minutes of South latitude and three hundred thirty seven degrees and ten minutes of longitude And so the course of the great River of the Amazones is from Rio-negro to Zaparara of four hundred eighty eight leagues and his whole length is one thousand two hundred seventy six leagues as have been set down in the preceeding Chapters Yet to describe his North-banke of his great Mouth also somewhat more we shall thus set it down From the Ginipape to Corupa thirty leagues this place being on the North-side of the River From Corupa to the Cape of the North the distance is not well known and this Cape is on the extremity of the North-banke of the great River having fourty five minutes of North latitude and three hundred thirty three degrees and fifty minutes of longitude CHAP. XI Of the bredth and of the Iles of this great River IF the great Amazone is wonderfull for its length it is no lesse admirable for its bredth and its Ilands The one is alwaies of two three or four leagues broad but never so little as of one only the others are innumerable and so great that their compasse is of five or of ten and sometimes of twenty yea and more than of an hundred leagues sometimes as is that of the Topinambes There is a great number also of very little ones in which the Natives make their Burial-places having their Dwellings in the others that are greater But the greater part of these Iles and sometimes the greatest of them are in part at least drowned and overflowed every year by the inundations of that River but so fatned thereafter with the mud that he scatters over them behind him that they are thereby exceeding fertile yielding every year without any intermissions of rest their ordinary crops which are of Maze Yoca and Mandioca which yeeld the common food for all America where it is in great abundance all along the great River of the Amazone But to help the inconveniences of overflowing they make under-ground Cellers Granaries or Caves well cover'd where they keep their Maze which is their wheat without impairement and the Yoca which is a root whereof they make their Casabe which is the ordinary and lesse finish bread of all Brasile and of all that New-world Returning then to the wonders of the large Channell of this great River of the Amazones we shall end this Chapter in telling you that he keeps alwaies about the same bredth that we have before set down untill by an enlarging him-self and opening into eighty four Spanish leagues of bredth he comes to lose his name and waters in the great Atlantique Ocean between the two Capes of the North and of Zaparara this being in Brasile and the other in Guiana Provinces of America CHAP. XII Of its Depth and Navigation SEeing the great and wonderfull Channell of the renowned River of the Amazones as a certain long and vast Sea of sweet waters receives so many great broad and deep Rivers we must not think it strange if the depth of his bed equall oftentimes the Abysses of the Ocean its self This is for the most part from his beginning unto Rio-negro of eight twelve and of twenty fathomes and from Rio-negro downwards to the Ocean of thirty fourty and sometimes without ground and unfathomable according to the relations of all that have observed it But this marvellous advantage his depth hath beyond others singular that for the most part they are alike along the bankes and sides as they are in the midst of this large Channell of the great Amazone whence it follows that his Navigablenesse and the fitnesse for commerce of this great River is open and sufficient enough for the greatest Navies of the greatest number of the greatest burthen which may not only sail up all along him to his first rise in order of Battell and ready for fight but also put to Land easily and apply to the shore without any fear of rocks or sands And Providence having purposed every way to render all these wonders yet more considerable hath led the waters of this famous River alwaies from West to East and near unto the Aequator to the end that as Navale Armies might easily come down from his very source to his mouth carryed by the sweet force and strength of his current and streame so they might also as easily go up from his mouth and first entrance unto his very source against the stream of his deep waters by a favourable and continual winde which blows there in a good gale perpetually and without ceasing from East to West either all the day long or at lest three or four hours of it together because of the Diurnall motion either of the Earth or of the first moveable Heaven or Orbe so that on the North-sea from the Canary Ilands to those of the Canibal's and on the South-sea from New-Spain unto the Philippine Iles as also all along the coast of Paria and Guiana as one goes from the North-cape to the Cape of Sailes the same East-wind is alwaies found to be on wing and in his reign without ceasing But as in those other parts
above-named it is impossible for Ships to take the same waies back again for returning to the places from whence they came that they held in coming from them so long as their Sailes must be fill'd with those East-windes so this great River of the Amazones hath this particular advantage beyond them that whole Armadoes can go from East to West and from West to East alwaies under the line and the same way both of going and coming and as the same time CHAP. XIII Of the Bosphore of the Amazone THe Thracian and Cimmerian Bosphores or Ox-swim-bredths were never so famous in ages past as the Amazonian Bosphore will be renowned in times to come in all apperance This one strange Strait of this River richer in one day than are at present both the Straits of Hellespont and of Elsenore shuts up in one channell scarcely a thousand paces broad or an Italian mile the whole great River of the Amazones proud of the spoiles of so many and great and long Rivers and highly puft up for his course of more than nine hundred sixty leagues through Plaines and Valleys the fertilest in the whole world and triumphing in all the waters that rise from the East of the great Cordeliere from the Town of Popayan to that of Plata which is the space of five hundred leagues This wonderfull Bosphore or Ox-passe which Providence hath reserved to be one day the Key of the richest Trade in the world and of the greatest Kingdom that is in one only Continent hath three hundred twenty eight degrees and fifty minutes of longitude and two degrees and fourty minutes of North-latitude and is three hundred leagues from the North sea following the course of turning and windings of this great River unto Zaparara however Father D' Acogna often enough variable in his measures carry sometimes this distance of the Bosphore from the Sea unto the length of three hundred sixty leagues But untill the longitude of this great part of America be better observed I intend alwaies to follow the least measures of distances Now this one only and famous Strait of the great River of the Amazones is yet further considerable for this that the flowing of the great Seas is here easily perceived offering a marvellous advantage to the commerce of this Rivers Navigation by the ebbing and flowing of the Ocean Whence it follows that the advantages of the first Nation that shall possesse its self by Colonies and Forts of both sides of this Amazonian Bosphore cannot be exprest in a few words For can any doubt but that the riches of so many Mines discovered and not wrought by the miserable depopulations of the rich Western Regions of this Peninsulare America will be one day snatched up by the greed of those will follow us and the multitude of men that will be born hereafter in these happy Countries and will in end be carried on the currents of so many famous Rivers as render themselves unto the Bosphore of the Amazone to be afterwards brought into Europe by the easie Navigation of the Atlantique Sea in comparison of the troublesome mountains of Panama the Corsaires and the Shipwracks of the Gulph of Mexico and the notable dangers of the channell of Bahame CHAP. XIV Of the first three Rivers that enter into that of the Amazones AFter that we have thus summarily described the course of the great River of the Amazones we will return to his beginning to handle anew the things that are without and adjacent to it But I could wish that Father Acogna the Authour and eye-witnesse of a part of these relations were more cleanly and understandable in them For not having been able to find either cartes or books to help my cares that I have to unfold these ambiguities I my self therefore rest not satisfied in this behalf with mine own work Without staying therefore to censure a Person of his Noblenesse and merit by reasons which I might and the curious may themselves perceive in his writings I shall take me to my Subject and tell you that from the Town of Cofana in the Province of Kixo to the East of the Andes of Peru and to the North of the line comes forth the Coca a navigable River which quickly renders himself on the North-side into the beginnings of the great River of the Amazones which as yet in these parts having his stream too rapid and violent hath not therefore at this place so convenient a navigation himself as other Rivers that enter into his large bed on the side of the Antarctique or South Pole The first whereof passing on as it were about three daies journeys from the City of Avila of the same Province of the Kixos renders himself in short while and under the name of Payamino into the great River on the South-side thereof and below the entrance of the Coca though the distance is not known nor set down But about eighteen leagues from the Town of Kito beyond the Andes of the great Cordelier is the mount Antezame on the South-side of the line from the foot of which the River of Napo coming forth and running amongst the Rocks without being navigable untill he come to a Port or Haven of the same name well nigh unto Archidona he becomes yet more easie to be navigated four leagues beneath that as well for the greatnesse of his Channell as for the lesse rapidnesse and violence of his stream and pursuing in this condition his way to great River he enters thereinto about thirty leagues only from Archidona But concerning the mouth of this River you may look the seventh Chapter of this Book unto which I will here adde that the foresaid Port of Napo where the Indians have an habitation is the best embarquing place for all those that from the Province of Kito would sail or go into the great Amazone And as to this pleasant fair and great enough River of Napo it hath this prerogative beyond others to rolle alongst with him a-amongst the sands of his current good store of Gold which the Natives of this Countrey gathering do therewith without much pains or trouble pay their tribute which yearly they owe to the Spaniards of that same Province a Province also that abounds every where else in all sorts of Fruites necessary for intertaining of the life the like whereunto may be said of it both for Fishing and Hunting or Chace CHAP. XV. Of the Agarique and the Putomaya HAving begun to shew you before the divers Havens or embarquing places by which the great and rich Province of Kyto may enter into the commerce of the great River of Amazone we will now follow the like way be the other Rivers that come from the North-side and give the like advantages to the rich Regions of the Popayan and of the Kingdom of new Granado whereof the first are the Aguarique and the Putomaya taking their beginnings in the Putomaya taking their beginnings in the great mountaines of the Cordelier both of
beginning as for the renown of his name whereby he is so celebrious in the Histories of this New-world forasmuch as Joseph Acosta and Antony of Herrera give this name often both to the great River of the Amazones it self and to the River of the Orenoc and the Portuguaise of Brasile give the same name also to another considerable enough River which looseth himself in a great Bay or gulph which they call the Bay of Maragnon in the North-most Government of the Kingdome of Maragnon called for this same cause by that title also But to the end that the diversity of so many Rivers and places called by this name may not beget confusion in my Geography I shall for ever leave it to this one alone and famous River that I now speak of the name of Maragnon a River well known from all Antiquity in the great Empire of Peru by this name He hath this singular in the way of his course that whereas he takes his beginnings to the West of the great Mountains of the Cordeliere and not from its self yet he ceases not to pass through them and to draw all his deep waters towards the East of America His famous sources honour the Lake of Boubon with the prerogative of his rise This Lake is in the Countries of Guanuco a Colony of the Spaniards and in the Province of Lima the richest and first of all the Empire of Peru the most rich place of all the world It s longitude is of three-hundred and two degrees and thirty minutes on the terrestriall Globe and his latitude of ten degrees and four minutes antarctick or meridionall and his distance from the royall Town of Lima forty Leagues So this famous River of Maragnon coming forth of this foresaid Lake waters the long and fertile Valley of Saussa and cutting or crossing the Kings high way beween the Towns of Guanuco and Guamangue under Bridges made of cords and wood with a marvellous artifice he passes through the whole Andes of the Cordeliere from whence coming out again at last much more mighty than he was by the continuall confluence of Rivers that on all sides arrive unto him he passes along the Province of Mayn to the East of the Cordeliere and after his having saluted as it were the Town of St. James of the Mountains still made broader deeper and very swift and rapid in currant he afterwards spreads himself abroad at pleasure and with more liberty in diverse fair Provinces and amongst Nations puissant and warlike In end following his course still growing bigger and more impetuous and rapide than one would think that he could be navigable he powres out all his waters into the great River of the Amazones at the Southside thereof having four degrees of Southern latitude at that place and three hundred and seven degrees and fifty minutes of Longitude and about two hundred fifty seven Leagues from the sources of the great River of the Amazones His own length is about three hundred Leagues reckoning by his banks and as for his navigation which I take ought not to be reckoned further than after that he hath passed the Andes it will not fail one day to bring the greatest riches of all Peru to the great River of the Amazones for the same reasons that we have heretofore mentioned and in the Chapter of the Bosphore by name CHAP. XVIII Of the Amarumaya and of the Madera IN the same Province of Lima of the great and rich Kingdome of Peru to the East of the great Mountains of the Cordeliere about twenty Spanish Leagues from the royall Town of Cusco about thirteen degrees and thirty minutes of South-latitude and three hundred eight degrees twenty six minutes of longitude are the sundry and abundant sources which presently cast themselves into one Channell of the great River of Amarumaya which in the Language of the Indians signifieth Serpents The River according to the testimonies of Infant Garcilassa come of the Kings of Peru and afterwards turned Ctaholick saith he takes his course towards the East he wades great Provinces and renders himself at last into the North-Sea without saying any more But this long and deep River being the same that Father D'Acogna acknowledges under the name of Cusco but knows it not by the name of Amarumaya after having received an infinitie of other Rivers into his bed and after that he hath run according to the measure of his crooked banks the length of four hundred Leagues he looseth his name with his waters in the great River of the Amazones to the South-side of it having five degrees of Southern latitude and five hundred forty two Leagues from the sources of the great River and three hundred fifteen degrees and fifty minutes of Longitude But the Madera without contradiction is the last River that comes from the Southside and from the Andes of the great Cordeliere to pay his tribute to the great Amazone And as he is remotest in his sources so he is the longest having a course of about seven hundred Leagues He wades inestimable fields and infinite Nations and as it were jealous of the glory of his ending he seems as it were upon design to shun rencountring with the Lake of Xaraya the originall of the great River of Plata leaving it upon his Eastside only fifty Leagues distant from him that he might with more honour loose his name and waters in the great and more renowned River of the Amazones and that by an entry that is worthy of his own greatness at three degrees and forty minutes of South-latitude and three hundred twenty four degrees of longitude and eight hundred thirty two Leagues from the sources of the great Amazone As to the birth of the Madera whereof we shall speak and to which the Spaniards gave this name because of the trees that he brought down into his mouth at that time when they discovered him according to the best opinion it is in the most rich and opulent Province of Plata in the Kingdome of Peru to the East of the Mountains of the Andes under the twenty first degree of South-latitude and three hundred and thirteenth of Longitude The Topinambians vaunt that they have come down all the length of it as we shall declare hereafter and they tell wonders of its greatness as also of other Rivers that on every side augment it And finally his navigation being once fully discovered the Ages to come will doubtless proclaim the great riches that he will bring to the great Amazone drawn out of the Mountain of Potosie thirty Leagues distant only from his source CHAP. XIX Of the other Rivers and of the Province of the Kixes THe other great and long Rivers not less considerable than the preceding which come forth also from the Mountains of the Andes to render themselves into the great River of the Amazones at his South-side to follow the order of the ninth Chapter of this Book are first the Curaray between the Rivers of
the imaginary Treasures of the fabulous rather than famous Lagad rado CHAP. XXIV Of the Province of Yoriman NEXT after the Province of Corosirare as you go down the great Amazone on the South-side is the Province of Yoriman being but of sixty leagues long but of such repute amongst the Indians of all these Countries by reason of the strength and valour of its Inhabitants than the Navy of the Portuguais themselves passing along did perceive it They are of a good stature of a fair body and well formed They are expert in all things they take themselves to especially in Armes and go all naked as well men as women They are also so numerous for multitude that never any saw at one time so many Barbarians together It was an infallible token of their great courage that they went and came as they did amidst the Armed Vessels and Ships of Warre of the Portuguais to traffique with them with extreme assurance of minde For whilest the Portuguais going up the great Amazone sail'd along by this Province every day there came to them above two hundred Canoes full of Women and Children with Fruits Fishes Meales and other such like Provision which they changed with the Portuguais for axes and knives whereof they have great esteem as all others Indians of the new world The Yorimans inhabite not only the main Land of this Province but fill also the great Iles that the great Amazone makes by sundry of his Armes stretched forth The first Village of this Warlike Nation is on the mouth of a Christalline River which must be strong and come very farre considering the force wherewith he pusheth the deep waters of the great Amazone But the notablest of their Habitations is the greatest of any that lie on the great Amazone containing more a good deal on the banke of that River than a good league and in every of its Houses four or five Familes and sometimes more whereby easily may be gathered the great number of the Inhabitants of this long Town whereof we spake also in the ninth Chapter of this Book It was in this place so abounding with all things that the Fleet of the Portuguais stay'd five or six daies at its return after it had gone up the River of the Amazones before with good successe as shall be afterwards related Not one of so numerous a people fled from his House for fear of their arrivall but the whole Fleet got freely from them all that they stood in need of and because the Navy was near an end of all its Provisions it got from their bounty five hundred Sacks of the Meale of Mandioqua which sufficed it for the whole rest of its Voyage The other Habitations also of this happy Province of Yoriman are not much inferiour to the former they are all along very frequent on the firm land but yet both mightier and more numerous in a great Iland about thirty leagues lower where it seemes the principall Forces are of this generous Nation generous I say both for its valour liberality and numerousnesse of men that inhabite it CHAP. XXV Of the Province of Surina and the Neighbouring Nations BUt to go from the Province of Yoriman to that of Surina we must in our passage visit the Nation of the Cusiguares that labour the fertile Plaines situated on the South-banke of the Amazone which in this place receives the plentifull waters of that great River that gives its own name to this pleasant Province This renowned River of Cusiguare both for the easinesse of its Navigation though somewhat hindered now and then by Rocks appearing in it here and there and for the happinesse of its Fishing no lesse abounding here than elsewhere will be no lesse considerable for the high stature and the great courage of his Nation of the Motuanes that cover the first Plaine that he waters who by testimony of the Indians that report it use also long Plates of fine Gold for Eare and Nose-Pendants whence it would seem that they are not farre from the rich Province of the Plata and of Potosy because even to travell up to their Countrey it takes full two moneths time But upon the same River and between the aforesaid two Nations the Curians and the Catoses enjoy likewise the happy fruitfulnesse of so many good Grounds and so many pleasant Rivers that on all sides enter into their principall River Now as the Province of Homague is celebrated amongst all those of the great Amazone for its fine works of Stufles and Cloathes of Cotton of so great variety and the Province of Corosirare for their excellent Pottery of Vessels of Earth so artificially Painted and fashioned so the Province of Surina is no lesse commendable for a delicate houshold-stuffe or Utensiles of a marvellous fine artifice It is on the South of the great River and to the East of the Cusiguares its Peoples being the Surines and the Coripunes Nations that are the most curious and expert of working in Wood of any in all America They make Seates and Formes in the fashion of Animals yet so fine and commodious for the ease of the body that nothing can be added to their industry They make also Javelots and Arrows with so much gentilenesse and elegancy that all other Nations seek after them And the like Images that they make to the life are so perfectly done in all points that our best Ingravers and Carvers could find no other occasion but to learn from them so that by exchange of so many singular workmanships of so sundry sorts they daily make their lives more happy by all necessary Commodities which on all sides come unto them from this rich traffique CHAP. XXVI Of the Province of Caribane FOr as much as the distances of all these Rivers and Provinces are just enough set down in the ninth Chapter of this Book we shall say only of this Province of Caribane that it lies between the Rio-negro and the great Amazone in extent of more than an hundred leagues on the banks of either of them Its Fields and Plaines are higher than that they are subject to the overflowings of these Rivers or of an equall height unto them yet fertile and abundant in all things The River of Bazurura which enters into that of the Amazones on the North-side makes here Lakes and Ilands very pleasant and the divers Nations of this great Province are no lesse considerable for the plenteousnesse and fertility of their Countrey than for the happy condition of their life Of these the Araguananes and the Mariguanes are the most Westerly and lye against the bankes of the Yoriman already mentioned The Pogoanes and the Caraganes are on the Basurura The Comanares possesse that point which the two Rivers for me at their meeting The Tuynamanes and the Comarurianes are on the side of Rio-negro and the others lesse renown'd possesse the Lands that are furthest off from the Amazone All these Peoples are valiant and use-skilfully the Bow and Arrow
They had from the year One thousand six hundred thirty eight Knives and Axes and other Instruments of Iron after the fashion of Europe which they gave out to have bought from Indians their Neighbours that were nearer than they to the Sea and these again from certain persons that were white of countenance and cloathed like the Portuguais and armed with Sword and Musket that dwelt upon the Atlantique Sea which have been without doubt either Hollanders or English who have both sailed into the Orenoc and dwelt for some time in the Coasts of Guyana but were at length hostilely chased from thence by the Savages as also all the French were an One thousand six hundred fifty four from the I le of Cayene in the main Land and on the same side of the Sea of the North which is not above two hundred leagues at the most from Rio-negro but reckoning in a streight line and by the shortest distance But because nature hath not offered in all the Realm of the great Amazone a more favourable situation than on the point of the Comanares for setling of a Colony of the most considerable ones of any in the world and which cannot fail one day to be the Seat of an Empire most flourishing and of great richesse in Trade we shall therewith finish this Chapter in telling you That the Land of it is right upon the bankes of these two great Rivers that it is also mounted above the height of ordinary inundations that the surface of it is plain sweet and not shrubby that the Neighbouring Fields abound in graines for necessary Provisions and in good pasturage for nourishing of Cattle that Quarries of an excellent Stone for Building and easie to be cut and hewn are as near it as Woods and Trees of a marvellous greatnesse and height for the conveniency of Buildings and Houses that the distance of the great Amazone from the Rio-negro is not so great but the fortifications may conveniently and regularly be drawn along on the Land-side and that the Foussies of these fortifications and this wall being well ordered may easily be made deep enough and themselves fill'd by the debordments of the one or of the other River at pleasure CHAP. XXVII Of Rio-negro and of the Province of Camsuara FOllowing the North-side of the great River of the Amazones Rio-negro incontinent presents its self next after the Province of Caribane His bredth and depth give him the prerogative to be thought the fairest and mightiest River of all that enter into the great Amazone whose mouth being wide a great league and an half hath four degrees of South latitude and three hundred twenty two degrees and twenty minutes of longitude and seven hundred eighty eight leagues of distance from the Sources of the great Amazone The Amazones course is here towards the North-east and that of Rio-negro right East where he enters into the other with such grandure and majesty that he keeps his waters distinct and separate from the others and keeps half of the whole channell to himself for the space of twelve leagues before the great River though here all united into one great bed to receive him can overcome the distinctnesse of his waters with all the force that he hath The Spaniards first and after them the Portugall's call'd it Rio-negro because at his mouth as often also in his channell his waters appear very black because indeed they are very clear and without any colour but very deep The Natives also name it for the same reason Coriguacure that is the Black River But as Rio-negro is the great Caketa of the sixteenth Chaper of our Book we shall say no more of it here nor stay again upon the obscurities of Father D' Acogna which we have there briefly unfolded but passe on to the recitall of the Nations that inhabite its bankes and tell you That the Province of Camsuare is the first that presents its self having on its South Rio-negro on its East the great Amazone and on its North the great Province of Guyane All the Plaines of these Countries are mounted like those of Caribana and not subject to the ordinary overflowings covered with infinite Peoples and aboundant in all things especially of Trees of a prodigious height and thicknesse But amongst the rich Nations of this fertile Province of Camsuare those of the Aguares of the Agaypes of the Jamnes and of the Carupatabes are not the least considerable without relating the Guaranacasanes which make a Province on the beginning of the River of Orenoc as he comes out of the great Caketa See the sixteenth Chapter to make the knowledge of these things lesse confused and imperfect than they are in Historians and Geographers who treat of them either too diffusedly in great Books or too lightly in little Tractates seeing also it becomes daily more certain by new and reiterated experiences CHAP. XXVIII Of the Province of Cayane and of the Nations Neighbouring BUt going now to the South-side of the great River of the Amazones again we shall find to the East and following that of Surina the Province of Cayane through which the great and long River of the Madera passeth and renders it self into the great Amazone And because this River of the Madera which was so called by the Spaniards because of the great number of Trees which it drew alongst with it into its mouth is one of the principall Rivers of America you shall find the distances and measures and other circumstances that concern it in the tenth and eighteenth Chapters of this Book Now the Nations that Province great enough contains within its extent whether lying alongst the great Amazone or in going up the great River of the Madera which the Natives call also Cayane are no lesse happy for the fertility of their fair Fields and pleasant Rivulets than other Peoples of all these fertile Countries are They are of no lesse courage for Warre not lesse expert in Fights and handling of Armes they have also the like industry in their handy-works that serve to make their happinesse of life the more accomplished by the exchange of them with such commodities as they stand in need of and they keep likewise in their conduct and Government of affairs Laws and Customes like unto those that all other Provinces of the Realm of the Amazone do But of all these infinite Peoples that cover so many considerable Plaines and Fields the Cayanes and the Anamares are the most renown'd and next to these the Curares and the Goarinumes and after them the Abacares and the Oragunagues and lastly the Sabucares and the Urubingues in going down the great Amazone which yet are the most esteem'd for their curious finenesse of working and making house Utensiles But the remotest of all in going down the great Amazone and amongst these the best known are the Maraques and the Oregates and towards the South the Guaranaques and others without number which undoubtedly border upon the great Lake of
stayed there some time to sow and gather Tobacco but being chased from thence with some losse by the Indians they went away without returning Amongst the Habitations of this Province the Portugalls found one in it at their return down the great River of more than one thousand five hundred Families wherein they were so favourably received by this Nation however otherwise both hardy and barbarous as hath already been said that all the day long they ceased not to go and sell them Meale Poullets Fish Fruites and other necessaries and all with such confidence that the very women and children never scar'd at their Navy And yet not content with these good Offices as it is the nature of valiant people to be alivaies generous too they offered moreover to all the Portugalls there if they would but leave their own Countrey and come and live with them to serve them in peace and with a good will and nourish them all their life time As to the measures and distances of the deep and broad mouth of the River of Tapayse you may find them in the tenth Chapter of this Book and its length cannot well be thought lesse than from three towards four hundred leagues whence will follow that he must receive many others into his bed to become so great and broad as he is and that the Provinces and Nations neighbouring upon him must be very many abundant and fertile CHAP. XXXII Of the rich and great Province of Coropa BUt following of the River of the Amazones and on the North-side you finde after the Province of Apanta that of Coropa which extends its limits to the River of Genipapa the mouth of which is an hundred fourty leagues from the Bosphore according to the tenth Chapter of this Book which sets down all the rest of its measure also This Province hath the name from the River of Coropatube because the name of Tube in America language signifies nothing else but a River The Province is almost in the midst of the Rivers length and a Village of the same name is upon its entry into the great Amazone which is in peace and under the obeisance of the Portugalls of the Kingdom of Brasile But this River is not so abundant in its waters as in its richesse if the Natives abuse not themselves in assuring us of four marvellous Mountaines that make it considerable by the nearnesse of the precious Mines that they contain in themselves The first is Yaguare that containeth Gold the second Picore that offereth Silver the third presents Sulphure the fourth is Paragache which so shines by Sunne and Moon-light that it seemes to be wrought as with enammell with sundry sorts of precious Stones All these rich Mountains are under the line and about an hundred leagues only from Cayene where the French have had Colonies But the commerce of them will be more opened and more commodious by the navigation of the River of Coropa because about six daies journeys from the same Village that carryes its name Coropa receives another little River coming from the Mount Yaguare that brings with it abundance of Gold in forme of graines and billetts And as for assurances of the Mine of Silver of the Mountain of Picora they may be found from the consequence of the relations of the same Savages who give out with one voice That they have often drawn out white Mettall of that Mountain whereof they once made Axes and Knives but that because of its softnesse they left it off as unprofitable and of no use But in the same Province of Coropa on the North-bank of the great River and six leagues before you come to that of Genipape is the Fort of the Destierro where thirty Portugalls are ordinarily in Garrison under a Captain that commands and governs all those Neighbouring Countries without any s et bounds to their extent CHAP. XXXIII Of the great Mouth of the great River of the Amazones The great River of the Amazones the relations whereof cannot equall the marvells of its magnificence is no lesse admirable in the greatnesse of his Mouth than in all other things that lift it up to so much glory He begins to open himself below the River of Genipape and becoming alwaies broader he incompasseth Ilands without number infinite Nations and Peoples that speak sundry languages though the common language of Brasile extend it self also to all these But the most remarkeable amongst others are the Tapuya the Aanxaiase the Mayanase the Angaybe and that of the valiant Pacaches which inhabite also the bankes of River of the same name which comes from the South-side into that of the Amazones All these Iles are wonderfull in the festility of their Fields in the fruitfull plenty of their Fishes in the beauty of their bankes which are crowned with a continuall greenesse But the River of Pacach considerable enough for its broadnesse but yet of an originall or Source unknown to us bounds to the East the Province of Paranayba which comes after that of Tapayse hereafter mentioned The great and fair River of Paranayba gives it its name whose Sources are farre removed towards the South and the Nations that it waters in passing so many Fields are not as yet well known His Mouth is two leagues wide and the Habitations of this Neighbourhood obey the Portugalls who govern them And as to the distance and measures of all those remarkeable places you shall finde them in the tenth Chapter of this Book as also the greatest bredth of this wondrous Mouth of the Amazone to wit eighty four leagues lying from the Cape of the North to the Province of Zaparara which notwithstanding because it is in an oblique line is not the just measure of the true entry of the great Amazone But to get a truer knowledge of it follow the streight line from the foresaid Cape of the North to the Town of Para on the coast of Brasile you will yet finde it so of more than sixty leagues of breadth not to stay on the mis-reckoning of the seventeenth Book of John Laet a late flenmish Authour who teacheth how to finde this distance from the East point of the Mouth of this great River to the West-side of the same drawing yet a more oblique line than that of the Cape of the North to the point of the Zaparara was But seeing we cite here the tenth Chapter of this Book you must not fail to put there the distance of the Genipapa from Corupa of thirty leagues to mend the fault of the Printers because of the importance of all these measures CHAP. XXXIV Of the great Prevince of Guyana SEeing the Province of Guyana ends the great River of the Amazomes on his North-side and Geographers have gained no great knowledge of it as yet we shall speak of it in manner following On the East it hath for its limit the great mouth of the Amazone from the River of Genipapa to Cap-north on the North it is washed with the
foundation of that doctrine depends on the equall motion of the Sun in the Ecliptick and not at all in the equator the opinion that we have of it is more from the appearances of truth than from any design we have to contradict FINIS A Table of the Chapters CHAP. I. OF the greatness of the River of the Amazones page 1 CHAP. II. Of the great Kingdome of this Amazone if reduced to one by conquest 3 CHAP. III. Of the Nations of this great Kingdome 6 CHAP. IV. Of their Arms and of their Commerce 8 CHAP. V. Of their Customes and Religion 9 CHAP. VI. Of the great Cordeliere 11 CHAP. VII Of the sources of the great River of the Amazones 13 CHAP. VIII Of the length and of the course of this River 15 CHAP. IX Of the longitudes latitudes and measures of Leagues and Distances observed in this great River 18 CHAP. X. Of the same continued upon the same River unto the Atlantique-Sea 23 CHAP. XI Of the breadth and of the Islands of this River 26 CHAP. XII Of its depth and of its portableness or navigation 28 CHAP. XIII Of the Bosphore or Strait of the Amazone 31 CHAP. XIIII Of the three first Rivers that enter into that of the Amazones 33 CHAP. XV. Of the Agarick and of the Putomaya 36 CHAP. XVI Of the great Caketa a considerable River 39 CHAP. XVII Of the River of Maragnon 43 CHAP. XVIII Of the Amarumaya and of the Madera 46 CHAP. XIX Of the other Rivers and of the ' Province of the Kixes 49 CHAP. XX. Of the Province of the long-hairs and of that of the Homagues 52 CHAP. XXI Of the condition of slaves and of the neighbour-Nrtions 55 CHAP. XXII Of the Province of Corosirara and other neighbour-Nations 57 CHAP. XXIII Of the Gold-mine of the Swanes and of the neighbouring-Nations 60 CHAP. XXIV Of the Province of Yoriman 62 CHAP. XXV Of the Province of Surina and of the neighbouring-Nations 65 CHAP. XXVI Of the Province of Caribane 68 CHAP. XXVII Of Rio-negro and of the Province of Camsware 71 CHAP. XXVIII Of the Province of Cayana and of the neighbouring-Nations 73 CHAP. XXIX Of the Isle of the Topinambes 76 CHAP. XXX Of the Bosphore of the Amazone and of the neighbouring-Nations 79 CHAP. XXXI Of the Province and River of Tapayse 81 CHAP. XXXII Of the rich and great Province of Coropa 84 CHAP. XXXIII Of the great mouth of the River of the Amazones 86 CHAP. XXXIV Of the great Province of Guyana 89 CHAP. XXXV Of the Province of Maragnon and of the Town of Para. 91 CHAP. XXXVI Of the Entries into the River of the Amazones 94 CHAP. XXXVII Of the first discovery of this River 96 CHAP. XXXVIII Of the second Expedition of Areillana on the same River 99 CHAP. XXXIX Of Pedro d'Orsua and of the Tyrant Lope de Aguirre 101 CHAP. XL. Of the unfortunate Expedition of Maldonado 104 CHAP. XLI Of other designs for discovery of this River 108 CHAP. XLII Of the Friers of St. Francis that went down all this River 111 CHAP. XLIII Of the departure of Peter Texeira for the discovery of it 114 CHAP. XLIV Of the aarivall of the Fleet at Peru. 117 CHAP. XLV Of the Orders of the Viceroy for the return of the Portugall Fleet. 120 CHAP. XLVI Of the Camp of the Portugalls in the Province of the long-haired or Chevelues 122 CHAP. XLVII Of the return of the Portugall Fleet. 125 CHAP. XLVIII Of the arrivall of the Fleet at Brasile 127 CHAP XLIX Of the Amazones of America 129 CHAP. L Of the qualities of the Aire and of the Land of the great Amazone 132 CHAP. LI. Of the fertileness of the land and the waters for nourishment of men 135 CHAP. LII Of the riches of Commerce for strangers 137. 1. Advertisement to Geographers on the longitudes of America 140 2. Advertisement to Geographers on the restitution of longitudes 146 FINIS