New Granada

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

THIS new Kingdome of Granada beginneth on the South, neere the Mountaines of Opon; the Country is is plaine and fruitfull, and well inhabited, especially in the Vales, here Anthropophagi or Canibals doe live, who are called Pancho•, but they which dwell on the Firme Land doe hate their barbarousnesse in eating of mans flesh. It is 130. leagues in length, and 30. broad, and it lyeth in 3.4. or 5. degrees of height. It is devided into two speciall Provinces, Bogata and Tunea, it hath abundance of Gold and Emraulds. The Inhabitants have comely bodies, especially the Women, who are better shaped, and fairer colourd than their neighbours. They weare Mantles dy'd black and white, which they make fast beneath their breasts, and so let them hang downe to their feete, they adorne their heads with Flowers, and Cotton Crownes of divers colours. They are not troubled with cold, for there is no great difference betweene their Summer and Winter. The ayre also is good and wholesome, and they make their Houses and Cottages of woodden boords, which they cover with straw. Their food is Maiz, which is a kind of Corne, and they eate also the flesh of wilde Beasts, and they have store of Conies. They delight much in Songs and Dancing, and they are vaine lyars, as more people are in this Country. The soyle is fitt either for Pasturage or Tillage. And in some parts there are Mines of Gold, Copper, and Latine Mettall. The Metropolis of this Province is called S. Fidei de Bigota, it is situate 4. degrees Northward from the Aequinoctiall Line, neere the foote of the Mountaine, in which there are 600. Inhabitants, and there the royall Senate is held, and the Kings Officers doe dwell. This Citty is also adornd with a Cathedrall Church, and two Monasteries, the one of Dominicans, the other Franciscans. Five thousand men are ceased by this Senate, and doe pay tribute. It hath a cleare wholesome ayre. The Citty Toycama is seated by the banke of the great River Patus, it hath a cleare drie ayre and wholesome, except it be when the heate is too immoderate. The Inhabitants are couragious, having small foreheads, and heretofore they were all Anthropophagi or Men-eaters, but now by conversing with the Spaniards they have left of that barbarous use. They esteeme not of Gold, but goe naked for the most part, they are much addicted to Hunting, and doe make their Bread of Maiz. The toppes of the Mountaines for the most part of the yeere are white with Snow, but yet they are full of Gold, Brasse, and Lead. This Country also hath Cattell, and divers wilde beasts, as Tigers, Lions, and the like: it hath abundance also of Citterus and Mellons. The Province Popajana is annexed and joyned to this, which from the North to the South is 220. leagues in length, but the most part of it is barren and unhabited, and therefore it bringeth forth little Corne, but yet it is rich in Gold. It hath no peculiar Governour but the Vice-roy of the Kingdome, because the most of the Courts of this Citty, are subject to the Quito. The chiefe Citty is called after the name of the Province being situate two degrees from the Line, it hath a temperate constant climate, the day and nights are all the yeere equall, it hath seldome any raine, but it is often troubled with Lightning and Thunder. The soyle affordeth two Harvests of Corne every yeere, and this Country breedeth great store of Cattell. The Inhabitants are courteous, the Citty is adorned with a Cathedrall Church, and a Monastery of Friers. It hath a great Jurisdiction, and many Townes round about are subject unto it. The Gold which is gotten here is accounted purer than other Gold. Not farre from hence the most famous Rivers in this Country doe rise, which are called la Magdalena, and la Martha, which doe water all the Country.