Castella Aurea

Sources from old books

1630. Relations of the most famous kingdomes. London. by Giovanni Botero.

Castella Aurea.

OR golden Castile, is that part of the firme •an• (so called by the Spaniards) which stretcheth from the City Theonima and Panama, even to the bay of Vrava and Saint Michael, and taketh up all that streight wherewith these two spacious parts of the New world, are linked as it were with a defensible chaine. It is badly inhabited, and lesse manured for the contagiousnesse of the aire and standing waters. Yet are there therein two famous Cities; Theonima or Nombre de dios situated on the North Sea, and Panama on the Peruvian or Pacificke sea. And whatsoever Merchandise is brought by the Peruvian Sea towards Spaine, is unloden in the City of Panama, and thence transported by land to Nombre de dios, where it is finally againe shipped for Spaine. The like course is observed from Spaine to those places.

Of their forces little can be spoken by reason of their subjection to the Spaniard, and ignorance in matter of armes and policy. But as for their private commodities, as Gold, Silver, and Stones, who knoweth not, but that they are the chiefest trafficke of all these Provinces. The name it hath from the abundance of Gold and Silver, and is divided into foure Provinces; first, Castella del Oro it selfe: secondly, Nova Andaluzia: thirdly, Nova Granata: and fourthly, Carthagena, taken by Sir Francis Drake, and this yeare skated by the Hollander.

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

CAstella Aurea, so called from the Gold which the Spaniards found there in so great abundance, that in the Year 1514. several of their Country-men would needs go thither, in the Opinion that it was there to be Fisht for with Nets. Its Inhabitants eat Crocodiles & Serpents, whose flesh they find very delicate Food. The Spaniards have there several Provinces, Terra-firma, Cartagena, Sancka Martha, the Rio de la Hacha, Venezuela, New Andalousia, Popayen, and the New Kingdom of Granada.

The Terra-firma lies near the Isthmus, which joyns the two America's. It is different from the great Terra-firma which makes part of the Northern America upon the North Sea. Its called so as being the first Land of the Continent of America that was discovered after the Islands. Its City of Panama upon the South Sea, is the Store-House, or Magazine of the Gold and Silver of Peru, which is afterwards carried by Land to Porto Belo, which is sixteen or eighteen Leagues from thence, upon the North Sea, which is much augmented from the ruins of the City of Nombre de Dios, which the ill Air had caused the Spaniards to abandon. At Porto-Belo, this Gold and Silver is put on board of Ships, which carry it into Spain. In the way from Panama to Porto-Belo, they have the conveniency of the River of Chagre, if they please to make use of it, and then departing from Panama, you have but five Leagues by Land; after which they Embark upon that River. By the same way do they bring their Merchandizes out of Spain into Peru. In the Year 1668. the English plundered Porto Belo, & exacted very considerable summs from the Spaniards before they would restore it them. The Buccaniers and other Privateers have done the like. Cartagena affords Balm, Rosin, and several sorts of Gums. Its Inhabitants had formerly peculiar places, whither they carried the Bodies of their Dead, with their Gold, their Necklaces, and other most precious Ornaments: The Spaniards to take advantage of this, have shown those Relicks the light for the second time; the City which is in a Peninsula, has had its Name from the resemblance of its Harbour, with that of Cartagena in Europe. 'Tis one of the best of America, the Rendezvouze of the Fleets which come from Cadiz for the Terra-firma. Sancta Martha produces almost all the sorts of Fruits that are had in Spain; and there you see the beginning of those High Mountains, which under the Names of Andes, advance towards the South. The Rio de la Hacha, no longer affords the fishing of Pearls in its Neighbourhood. Venezuela had this Name from a Town that was found built there upon Piles of Wood in the midst of Waters. When this Countrey was Discovered, the Germans to whom Charles the Ninth had engaged it, had a design to build a City at the mouth of the Lake Macaraybo, upon the model of that of Venice, but in a little while after they changed their design, and chose rather to return into their Countrey; New Andalousia is otherwise called Paria from its great River; Its Coast as well as that of Venezuela, goes under the name of Costa de las Perlas, by reason of the Pearl-fishing that is there, since they have ceased so doing in the Neighbourhood of the Isles of Margaretes and Cabagna. Some Indians maintain and defend themselves there still against the Spaniards; and most of the Sea Towns have often been pillaged and plunder'd by the English. That of Comana has Salt Pits in its Neighbourhood. The Countrey and City of Popayen have kept the Name of their last King.

The New Kingdom of Granada, which was discovered by one Ximanes a Granadian, furnishes Silver, Copper, Iron, and Emeralds. There was formerly one brought from hence to Philip the Second, King of Spain, that the Goldsmiths could not sufficiently esteem the value of it: It was put into the Treasury of the Escurial.