America

Sources from old books

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

WHen Christophorus Columbus had found out this fourth part of the World unknowne to the Ancients; some call it India, others for the largenesse of it Novus Orbis, or the new World: for it is as great and bigge as all our World, that is, Europe, Africke, and Asia, being joyned together: as it may appeare by viewing our generall Table. It is called also America from Americus Vesputius a Florentine, who next after Columbus discovered the Easterne part of the Southerne America: in which are the Countries of Paria and Brasilia; but it is uncertaine when America began first to be inhabited: certaine it is, that for many ages it lay unknowne; for that which some suppose concerning the Romans, is more easily said then proved, and that fiction is accurately refuted by Gasparus Varrerius. Some suppose that Seneca by Poeticall inspiration did sing some raptures concerning it in his Medea: but it is madnesse to suppose that these parts in that age were knowne either to him or any other. Christophorus Columbus of Genoa, after it had beene many ages unknown unto us, did first finde it out being employed by the King of Castile, after hee had learnt it out, (as some beleeve that would detract from the glory of so famous an enterprise) from a certain Spanish Marriner, who had long endured foule weather on the Atlanticke Sea; it was performed in the yeare 1492. After him Americus Vesputius did attempt the same for the King of Portugall, and brought backe the reward of his enterprise, because (as we said) the whole Continent is called from his name America. The whole Country from the North to the South, is stretched out in the forme of two great Peninsulaes, which are joyned together by a slender Isthmus: the one of them is called Northerne America, the other, Southerne America. The Longitude thereof is extended betweene the Meridionall degree 190, and the Meridionall degree 67. The terme of its Latitude towards the South, is the Straits of Magellane, that is, under the degree 52. and towards the North, it is not knowne higher then 67. It hath therefore on the East the Atlanticke Sea, which they commonly call Del Nort; on the South, the Southerne Land of Magellane, disjoyned from it by a narrow Sea flowing betweene: on the West, Mare Pacificum, or the Peaceable Sea, called Mare Del Zur; and on the North it is doubtfull whether there bee Land or Sea. The whole compasse in sayling round about it, is about 32000 miles, as the most approved thinke. For it hath beene sayled round about, except that Country which lyeth Northward, whose coasts are not yet discovered. The whole Country is changeable and full of varietie; at first it wanted both Corne and Wine: but instead thereof it bringeth forth Maiz. a kinde of pulse, for so they call it; as they call Wine Chichia, boates Canoas, their Princes Cacicos. They do not plough the ground to reape, but having digged trenches of a small depth, they put three or foure granes in one of them, and so cover them with earth. The severall stalkes doe beare three or foure eares, and every one of the eares doe beare three or foure hundred graines and more. The stalke of Mayz doth exceed the height of a man, and in some Countries it is gathered twice in a yeare. They have also another kinde of bread, beside that which they make of Maiz, which they call Cazabi. This is made of Iucca, which is a roote of the bignesse of a Turnep, which sendeth forth no seed, but certaine knottie, hard stalkes, cloathed with greene leaves like Hempe. Those stalkes when they are ripe, they cut into peeces of two hands length, which they bury in heapes under the earth; and as oft as they would make that kinde of bread, they digge up of them as much as they thinke good, because they will soone be corrupted and grow naught. Moreover, there are two other kindes of rootes, the one they call the Battata, the other the Haia, almost alike in shape, but that the Haiae are lesse and more savory: they ea•e the fruite of them within sixe Moneths after they are planted, which though they have a kinde of sweet taste, yet such as will soone cloy one; beside, they have but little juyce, and doe procure winde in the stomacke. Those Countries have also a great number of trees, which doe bring forth wilde Grapes. Their Grapes are like Sloes which grow upon thornes and bushes, and are covered with blacke leaves: but because they are more woody then juycie, therefore the inhabitants doe not make wine of them. There are in this Country Trees bearing Olives, but such as are of an unpleasant smell, and of a worse taste: and diverse other kindes of fruits in great abundance, as those which they call Hovi, Platani, Pineae, Guiavae, Mamei, and Guanavanae; it bringeth forth Sugar, Cotton-wooll, Hempe, and other things as with us, beside divers sorts of strange Trees and Herbes. It hath sweet Spices, Pearles and pretious stones; it aboundeth with incredible plenty of Gold and Silver, and with other Mettalls, and Mineralls. But it had not when it was discovered, either Oxen, Horses, Mules, Asses, Sheep, Goates, or Dogges. Wherefore it is no wonder if the inhabitants were strucken with amazement at the first sight of a Horse. Mice were first brought thither by a Ship of Antwerpe, which sayled very farre through the Straight of Magellane. Since which time either by the fruitfulnesse of the Country, or of the Creatures themselves, they are multiplyed and increased in so exceeding a manner, that they spoyle the fruits of their harvest by knawing the hearbes and trees. It doth bring to us divers living Creatures, partly knowne to us, and partly unknowne. Among other things there is found a prodigious Beast, which hath on her belly another belly placed in the likenesse of a purse: and as often as she changeth her denne, she hides and carries her young ones in that bagge. This Creature hath the body and snowte of a Foxe, the feete and hands of a Monkey, and the eares of a Batte. There is also another kinde of Creature (which the inhabitants doe call Cascuij) like a blacke Hogge, hairy, hard skinned, having little eyes, broade eares, cloven hoofes, armed with a short trunke or snowte like an Elephant; and having so terrible a cry or braying, that he makes men deafe: but his flesh is sweet to eate. Here is found a great company of wilde Boares, and fierce Tigers; and Lyons also, but those very fearefull, and such as will runne away at the sight of a man. Here are also Peacocks, Phesants, Partridges, and divers other kindes of Birdes, but farre differing from ours: But of these wee will speake more largely in our particular descriptions. All America is divided (as wee said before) into two great Peninsulaes, whereof the one, which lyeth on this side of the Aequinoctiall, is called the Northerne America; the other the Southerne, because the greatest part of it is stretched out beyond the Aequinoctiall: although some Countries of it are neare unto the Aequinoctiall. The Northerne America is divided into many Regions, as namely, Quivira, Nova Hispania, Nicaragua, Iucatan, Florida, Apalchen, Norumbega, Nova Francia, Terra Laboratoris, and Estotilandia. There are many parts of the Southerne America, but these are the chiefest which have already been gotten and taken from the Savages: as Castella aurea, Plopaiana, Peruvia, Chile, and Brasilia: It doth glory especially in two Cities, Cusco and Mexico. Cusco is the Metropolis or chiefe Citie of Southerne America, which, both for bignesse, strength and magnificence, for the invincible fortification of the Castle, and the great company of nobility; for the order and placing of the houses, and for pleasantnesse of situation, may worthily compare with the fairest Cities of France or Spaine. No common people are admitted into it, but it is the seate of Noble men and great Princes, who in that Country doe live in great numbers, partly within the walls of the Citie, and partly in Villages neare the Citie. Here are foure especiall Pallaces of Noble men, who doe governe the Common-wealth, which are stately and with great cost built with square carved Marble stone. And all the streets being straight, in many places make the forme of a Crosse, and through every one a pleasant River runneth in a channell walled on each side with stone. The forme of the Citie is foure square, lying sweetly on the side of a hill: on the steepe ascent of a Mountaine, a wonderfull faire Tower doth adorne the Citie, whose beauty or largenesse if you consider, those which have viewed many Countries, have seene few in all Europe like unto it. Mexico or Temistitan is a rich and famous Citie in Nova Hispania, whereof wee will treate hereafter in the description of Nova Hispania: now we proceed to other things.

This part of the World is watered with many famous Rivers, the most whereof doe bring downe gold; and it is full of Lakes and Springs In the Lakes and Rivers there are great plenty of fish: among which there is one kinde of them of chiefe note, which by the inhabitants of Hispaniola are called Manati. This Fish is somewhat like a Trout; he is five and twenty foot long, and twelve foote thicke, in his head and tayle hee resembles an Oxe; he hath small eyes, a hard and hairy skinne, of a light blew colour, and two feete like an Elephant. The femalls of this kinde of fish doe bring forth their young ones, as Cowes doe, and doe let them sucke at their two dugges.

Here are also very many Mountaines, among which, as Benso witnesseth, is a fire-vomiting Mountaine, which out of its hollow mouth doth send forth such great flakes of fire, that the blazing of it in the night doth cast forth a light which may bee seene above an hundred miles. Some have supposed that the gold melting within, doth afford continuall matter to the fire. For a certaine Dominican Frier, when he would make tryall thereof, caused a vessell of gold to bee made with an iron chaine: and afterward going to the Mountaine with foure other Spaniards, he let downe the vessell with the chaine into the hole of the hill; and there by the heate of the fire the vessell with part of the chaine was melted: and having tryed it againe with a bigger chaine, it hapned to melt againe in the same manner. Here the Cities generally are stately built, the wayes paved, and the houses very faire and beautifull. It is reported that here was a Kings garden, wherein herbes and trees, with their bodie, boughs, and fruits did stand of solid gold, and as bigge as those which grow in Orchards. And it is reported that here was a Kings Conclave, in which there were all kindes of living Creatures, made of precious stones, partly painted, and partly inlaid, and engraven. That which is reported concerning the two wayes in this Country is worthy of memory, the one whereof lyeth through the rough Mountaines, the other stretcheth through the plaine fields, from Quito a Citie of Peru, to the Citie Cusco, for the space of five hundred miles. The beauty of this worke is encreased, by many wonderfull heapes of stones, which were not brought thither by the strength of Horses, or Oxen, (both which the inhabitants wanted) but by the hands of men. The field way is defended on both sides with walls, and it is five and twenty foote broade, within which little streames doe runne, having their bankes planted with shrubby trees, which they call Molli. The other being hewed out of stones and rockes, passeth through the middle of the Mountaines, having the same bredth: Moreover the way in the uneven and lower part of the Valleyes, is fortified with fences, as the nature of the Country requires. These wayes King Gninacava (who lived not long since) caused to to be clensed, and the ruinous walls to be repaired and adorned, otherwise the worke is more ancient, and there were placed all along by the way side Innes both faire, and pleasant, (they call them Tambi) in which all the Kings traine were received. And let this suffice concerning the foure parts of the World in generall: now our method doth require that we should describe particularly the partes of Europe, which was set before in the first place.

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

OF AMERICA AND THE PROVINCES THEREOF.

CHAP. XI.

THIS bodie then contained in this universall Map, or (as now I may terme it) this World, is by Geographers divided (as I said before) into 4. parts, Europe, Africa, Asia and America; which last was altogether unknowne to the ancients, and being of a large extent, the moderne have divided it, some into two, some into three parts, Mexicana, Peruana, Magellanica, and each of these parts are found to containe severall Provinces and Kingdomes, the which I will onely superficially look over, thereby the better to come to the Townes of traffique, scituated in those Provinces and Kingdomes; upon which my method and present intentions will inforce me the longer to insist upon: and because this last mentioned, parts America as last discovered, is least known unto us, and the least frequented by our Nation; I thinke it not improper there to begin to delineate my MAP of COMMERCE, borrowing herein the liberty of those navigators that publish their Cards, leaving unperfect to the view of all men those places, lands and harbours, which have not been fully discovered and found out; and thence sailing homewards by Africa and Asia into Europe, gathering in each Countrey as I passe more variety of colours to adorne and beautifie this Treatise, and so at last to close my whole labours, and finish my MAP within the circumference of London, as better known unto us, and as being better versed in their severall manner of negotiation.

This new World then called by us America, and now adayes passing by the name of the west Indies; being West in respect of its Scituation, and India in respect of its wealth, was at first discovered by Christopher Columbus à Genoes, at the charges of Ferdinando, and Isabella King and Queene of Castilia, after 63. dayes saile from Sivil. Then secondly by Americus Vespatius à Florentine, at the charges of Emanuel King of Portugall: and thirdly, by Iohn Cabbot a Venetian, at the charges of Henry the seventh King of England, the first and last had their adventures of discovering of some Ilands onely in this part; and Americus of the Maine continent, and thereby gained the honour of giving name to that vast circuit of Earth, which since by sundry others have been more exactly discovered, as by our Countrey-men Drake, Candish, Frobusher, Davies, Willowby, Burrows, and others as desiring to share with the first discoverers in the riches and wealth which thence spread it selfe over all the other parts of the World.

This America then or more properly in honour of the first discoverer Columba, bounded as I mentioned before, is found by the Spaniard, (who challengeth all this large territory) for their own by conquest, to be divided into 2. parts, Mexicana, and Peruana, of which briefly.

Of MEXICANA, and the Provinces thereof.

MExicana containeth the northerne tract of America, and comprehendeth these distinct Provinces.

• 1 Mexico.
• 2 Quivira.
• 3 Nocaragua.
• 4 Iucutan.
• 5 Florida.
• 6 Virginia.
• 7 Nurembega.
• 8 Nova francia.
• 9 Corterialis.
• 10 Estotilandia.

Mexico giveth name to halfe America, now knowne by the name of nova Hispania, whence the Kings of Spaine stile themselves Hispaniarum Reges; it was very populous before the arrivall of the * 1.2 Spaniards, who in 17. yeares slew 6. millions of the Inhabitants, rosting some, cutting off the members, and putting out the eyes of others, and casting them living to be devoured of wild beasts; to which place now is found no trade nor commerce by any Nation, save onely to the subjects of this King, and to such onely as are known for naturall borne Spaniards, though at first the same was granted by Isabella to the natives of Castile onely, and Andalusia; but now indifferently to all.

The commodities that this Countrey is found to afford for Merchandise * 1.3 is principally gold and silver mines, sugar, tobacco, ginger, tallow, hides, and some spices not known to our ancestors till the discovery thereof; and amongst others not to be forgotten that admirable tree called Metle, which by them is planted and dressed * 1.4 as we doe our Vines, having 40. kinds of leaves serving to severall uses, for when they are tender they make of them conserves, paper, flax, mantles, matts, shooes, girdles and cordage: on these leaves grow certaine hard prickles so strong and sharpe, that they use them instead of sawes: from the root of this tree cometh a juyce, like unto sirrop, which being sodde becometh honey, if purified becometh sugar; or otherwise thereof is made both wine and vinegar: the rinde rosted healeth hurts and sores, and from the topboughes issueth a gumme which is an excellent Antidote against poyson.

This Countrey is divided into 4. divisions, the first is nova Galicia, * 1.5 the chiefe Towne thereof is called Saint Michael a Colonie of the Spaniards. The second is Mechuacan, one of the best Countries of new Spaine abounding in mulberry trees, silke, honey, waxe, and store of fish of all kinds; the principall Towne is Sinsonso, and the chiefe Havens are at Saint Anthonies, and at Saint Iames; or * 1.6 as the Spaniards called it Saint Iago. The third Province is Gustacan, the chiefe City is Ilascalan, yeelding for beauty and state * 1.7 precedencie to Mexico, and none other in all these parts, the principall part is Uillarico, a wealthie Town, as the place through which all the traffique of old and new Spaine doth passe. The * 1.8 fourth is Mexico, wherein that famous City of Mexico is seated: now the seat of the Spanish Uiceroy and Archbishop of new Spaine, this City is said to be scituated in a Lake upon certaine Ilands, as Uenice doth, every where interlaced with the pleasant currents of fresh and Sea waters, and carrieth a face of more civill government then any other in America, though nothing, if compared with any in Europe: the Lake is said to be 50. Miles in compasse; on whose banks are found many pleasant Townes and houses: also it is said that 50. thousand Wherryes are seen here continually plying, and affords such quantity of fish that the same is worth 20000. Crownes yearely. The City of Mexico it selfe is 6. Miles in compasse, containing 6000. houses of Spaniards, and 6000. of Indians: it hath also a Printing-house, a Mint and an Vniversity; and some Churches of note that beautifie the same: it was vanquished by Fernando Cortes in Anno 1521. with an Armie 100000. Americans, onely 900. Spaniards, 80. horse, 17. pieces of small ordinance; in 13. Brigantins and 6000. Wherries, most of the Americans were of Ilascalan, who were ever adversaries to the Mexicans; for which cause that City doth injoy many immunities to this day; and to conclude, according to the opinion of an English traveller, whose relation I herein follow; Foure things are here remarkable for beauty, their apparell, their women, their horses and their sticats: and thus much shall serve of Mexico.

The second Province is Quivira, seated on the most westerne * 1.9 parts of America, in which are two Provinces, Cibola taking its name from the chiefe City subdued by Francisco Vasques, in Anno 1540. and Nova Albion discoverd by that famous Sea-man Sir Francis Drake An. 1585. and by him so called: the chiefe commodities and riches of this Count•…ey is kine, some men being owners of 40. thousand, and these serve to the Inhabitants here, as we say of our ale to drunkards in England, meat, drinke and cloth and more too; for first the hides yeeld them houses, or to say more properly the covering of them, their bones, bodkins, their haire thred, their sinewes ropes, their hornes, maws and bladders, vessels, their dung fire, their calfe-skins budgets to draw and keep water, their blood for drinke; and lastly their flesh for meat, &c.

The third is Nicaragua, being South-east from Mexico, with which it agreeth in nature both of soyle and Inhabitants, and accounted * 1.10 for its pleasantnesse, Mahomets paradise, having trees in * 1.11 great abundance, of that strange nature, that a branch touched by the hand of any man, withereth presently. The chiefe Citie is Nova Grenada, and Lea a Bishops Sea. The commodities thereof are, hony, waxe, cotton, and bal•…am in great abundance; it is extreame * 1.12 hot, and therefore not to be traveld by day, but by night: their winter beginneth in May, and from thence raineth for six moneths; the other six very faire and dry; and the day and night being here of equall length.

The fourth is Iucatan, and was discovered in Anno 1517. which in the language of the place, signifieth, What say you? which * 1.13 was the answer the Inhabitants gave the Spanyards that first demanded of them the name of their Countrey; and since by this meanes retaines that name by the Spanyards. The chiefest Citie is Campechio, whence comes that wood so well knowne in Europe; also here is the Iland called by the Spanyard, Santo Crux, wherein * 1.14 is a Citie of that name well fortified by them.

The fifth is Florida, discovered by the English, under the conduct of Sebastian Cabbot, Anno 1467. then possessed by the Spanyards * 1.15 in Anno 1527. and called Florida; afterward the French got footing here in Anno 1562; but the Spanyards unwilling the French should be eye-witnesses of their rich bootie, waged warre with them so long, that there was not a man left on either side to maintaine the quarrell; and then was Florida againe in 1567 abandoned: the Spanyards now hold here three strong Forts, St. Iames, St. Philip, and St. Augustin; which last was taken and burnt by Sir Francis Drake 1586. which since is repaired, and that is all the Spanyards hold here at this day; desiring (as it seemes) neither to plant further himselfe, nor suffer other to doe it.

The sixth is Virginia, wherein is said to be rich Veines of Allom, * 1.16 Pitch, Tarre, Rosen, Turpentine, Cedar, Grapes, Oyles, plentie of Sweet Gummes, Dies, Tymber trees, Mines of Iron and Copper, and abundance of Frait, Fishes, Beasts, and Fowle; it was discovered at the charges of Sir Walter Rawleigh in Anno 1584; and in honour of our Virgin Queene, called Virginia. The chiefe Towne is called Iames Towne, and of late dayes the northerne part of this Uirginia, being b•…tter discovered than the other, is called New England, full of good new Townes and Forts; whither many persons discontented with the forme of our Ecclesiasticall Government, are (said to be) the principall Planters, and is likely in a short time to prove a happie and flourishing Plantation.

The seaventh is Terra Corterialis; on the South whereof runs * 1.17 that famous river of Caneda, rising out of the hill Hombuedo, running nine hundred miles, and found navigable for eight hundred thereof; this Country was discovered by Gasper Corteralis a Portugall in Anno 1500. and affords onely some rich skins and furres for commodities and Merchandise. The chiefe Towne thereof is Brest, Cabomarso, and others of little note.

The eighth is Nurembega, and the chiefe Towne carrieth that * 1.18 name, in possession of the French; other things remarkeable I finde not observable therein.

The ninth is Nova Francia, discovered by Iaques Cartier, a * 1.19 French-man, in Anno 1534. inhabited besides the Natives, with some few French-men. The chiefe Townes are Canada, and next Sanguinai, seated both upon two rivers so called, affording onely some skins and furres, especially Bevers, which thence by the French are transported into Europe.

The last and tenth is Estotiland, called by us New-found-land; by the English discovered in Anno 1527. who imposed the names * 1.20 upon the Capes and Rivers which now they hold, where some have gone to plant, but the cold hath beene found to be too extreame for the English constitution; but in the Summer season the Seas here are found to abound with Fish in such abundance, that a man may take in an houres space a hundred great Fishes, which being opened, salted and dried upon the rocks and braches, * 1.21 are hence transported to all parts of Europe; and knowne in England by the name of New-land fish; in French by the name of Morleux; in Italie, Bacalio; and in Spaine, Abadeses: five hundred sayle great and small doe from England yearly sayle to this coast, and to a place called the Banke, a sand of 15 in 20 fadome deepe, thirtie leagues off of this Coast; and these depart from our Coast about the end of Februarie, and arriving there about the middle of Aprill, unrigge their shippes, set up boothes and cabanets on the shore in divers creekes and harbours, and there with fishing provisions and salt, being their fishing in Shallops and Boats, continue it till September, and in this time doe not onely catch as many fish as will lade their shippes, but also as many as will lade vessels of greater burthens, that in the Summer come hither from England and other parts, to buy up the same, and purposely to transport it for Spaine, Italie, and other Countries: and this fishing ended and the cold beginning, they leave their stations and booths and repairing aboord their shippes, lade their fish, and rigging their vessels, returne to their native homes, where these fishermen winter, and then become husbandmen; so that their lives may be compared to the Otter, which is spent halfe on land, and halfe in Sea.

This fishing is found to be wonderfull beneficiall to our westerne parts of England, whose Inhabitants confiding upon the constancie of the yearly fishing upon this Coast, it is usuall with them to sell the said fish either by tale or by the hundred waight in England by contract, before they either depart their homes, or before the said fish be caught, at profitable rates; and when their Summer is once spent, and that the cold approacheth, and that the fish beginneth to leave the Coast, they returne contented to their Families; where oftentimes in Winter they merrily spend, what thus in Summer they have painfully fisht for.

Other notes of trading, worthy observations, at my there-being in my younger dayes, I observed not. The Waights and Coines of England passing there currant amongst the English, and the price of fish once generally Cut at their fishing Stales, doth afterward in liew of Coine, by way of Commutation, all that yeare passe currant for all needfull Commodities, and is esteemed as a valuable consideration amongst them from one man to another: and thus much for the Provinces and Cities of Mexicana.

Of Peruana, and the Provinces thereof.

PERUANA containes the Southerne part of America, * 1.1 and is tyed to Mexicana by the Straight of Darien, being ten miles broad; some hold the Spanyards did once intend to cut this Straight through, and make it navigable, and thereby shorten the way to the South Sea, China, Molluccos, but hitherto wee heare not that the same is any way attempted; this Part doth comprehend by the computation of the Spanyards, whose relation in this vast Countrey I must follow, five distinct Provinces.

1. Castella Aurea.
2. Guiana.
3. Peru.
4. Brasilia.
5. Chile;

of each briefly.

Castella Aurea, is the first, and was so termed by the Spanyards * 1.2 at its discovery, for the abundance of gold found therein, besides which it is admirably stored with silver, spices, and some drugges; it is divided into foure Provinces, which are first Castella del Oro, scituated in the very Isthmus, and is not populous, by reason of the unhealthfulnesse of the ayre, proceeding from the many standing pooles found therein: the chiefe Cities are Nombre de Dios on the East, and Panama on the West side thereof, both built by Didacus * 1.3 Niq•…esa the discoverer; which since for their unhealthfull scituation, were removed by the King of Spaines command, by Petro Aria, then Viceroy; through which two Townes commeth all the rich traffique that is betwixt Spaine and Peru; for whatsoever commodities cometh out of Peru, is unladen at Panama, caried * 1.4 by land to Nombre de Dios, and thence shipped for Spaine, and what commoditie comes from Spaine is landed at Nombre de Dios, is caried by land to Panama, and so laden for Peru.

If I should silently passe over the attempt of one Iohn Ocknam * 1.5 a follower of Sir Francis Drake, in his Worlds incompassement in this place, I should much wrong the honour due to so much worth: this man as M^r. Hackluit hath it, with 70. companions, in a creeke a little above these Townes, drew on shore his Barke, covered the same with boughes and leaves, and so leaving it marched over with his company, guyded by some negroes, untill he came to a River which ran into the South Sea, which by the relation and Mercator his Maps, may be Tomobonda, or the Creek Uentura, where he cut down timber, built him a freggat, entred the South Seas, went to the Ile of pearles, lay there 10. dayes, and there intercepted in two Spanish Ships 60000. pound weight of gold, and 200000. pound weight of silver in ingots, with divers other rich commodities; and after that returned safely againe to the main land, where rowing up the same streame where his frigat was built, he was discovered by some feathers pluckt from certaine soule they had kild for their provision, which swam upon the River down the current; and though by this meanes he was taken, and return'd not into his Countrey, nor yet his hidden Vessell; yet it is an adventure that deserves a remembrance from all such as are lovers of their Countries honour, and it is held in admiration by the Spanish writers that have made mention thereof.

Andalusia Nova is the second; the chiefe Cities are Santa Margarita, and Santa Sperita.

Nova Grenada is the third, the chief City is Iungia, a pleasant * 1.7 and strong Towne directly seated under the Equator; then next is S^t. Foy an Archbishops Sea and a Court of Iustice.

Cartaghena is the fourth, accounted a fruitfull soile; but therein is found a tree, that whosoever toucheth doth hardly escape poysoning: * 1.8 the chiefe City is Cartagena; which our Countrey man S^r Francis Drake, in An. 1585. surprised; where besides inestimable summes of moneys, he tooke with him from hence 240. pieces of Ordinance.

Guiana is the second Province, directly scituated under the Equinoctiall * 1.9 line, and is the fruitfullest part of Peruana: the Inhabitants in winter time dw•…ling in trees, for feare of inundations, on which they built ma•… pretty Uilages and artificiall mansions: it is watered with two goodly Rivers; theone hath the name of Orinoque or rather Raliana, borrowing the same from S^r Walter Raughlie, who first of all to any purpose, made a plenary survey of this Countrey, with the commodities and scituation thereof in An. 1595. and found this River navigable for great Ships of burthen 1000. miles, and for Boats and Pinaces 2000. miles. The other River is called Orellana, or the Amasons, discovered 1543. the which is found navigable 6000. miles, and 200. miles broad at the entrance into the Sea.

The chiefe City of this Countrey (and if Spanish writers may * 1.10 herein be beleeved the chiefest City of the World) is here found and called Manoa, or as Diego Ordas the discoverer calleth it, el Dorado, or the golden, from the aboundance of gold, both in coyne, plate, armour, and other furniture, which he there saw. This discoverer or traveller, (for by that name the truth of his wonderous relation may be the better considered) is said to have entered into the City at noone, and to have travelled all that day, and the next also untill night through the streets hereof, before he came to the Kings Palace, which peradventure was the policie of those people; as I have seen it to be in Constantinople in An. 1621. when as the Duke of Avarascah coming with a great traine in Embassie from the King of Poland to Soltan Osman the then great Turke, after his unfortunate expedition to Poland, caused him and his whole traine to be lead a whole afternoone thorow the most eminent streets of that City, when he first entered the same, and so to his appointed lodging, whereas an houres easie walke to him that had known the direct way, would easily have served the turn; perchance imagining this a fit way to demonstrate to the Ambassadour the beauty and vastnes of that City, together with his own greatnes in ostentation, and to recover that honour and repute which he had a little before lost by the insolencie and cowardise of his Souldiers in his said expedition thither.

The third Province is Peru, which above all others in America * 1.11 abounds in gold and silver, the mine whereof in divers places is better stored with mettals than with Earth: the chiefe City whereof is S^t. Michael, the first colony the Spaniards placed here, and fortified by Piscaro a famous Spanish captaine, who subdued the Countrey, took the King thereof prisoner, and had for a ransome for his liberty and life a house piled upon all sides with refined gold and silver, in estimation about ten millions, which when he had received, most perfidiuosly contrary to his oath and promise slew him: by which appeares the wonderfull riches of this Countrey. Besides which the soile is luxurient in all manner of graine, fortunate in the civility of her Inhabitants, frequencie of Cities, and salabrity of ayre; and aboundantly stored with that herbe Tobacco, from hence brought first into England by S^r. Francis Drakes mariners in An. 1585. In this Country also is now found that famous River called of Plate, being 150. * 1.12 miles broade at the Embosheur, and above 2000. miles long: and on this streame is found certaine figge trees; the part towards the River bearing fruit in winter, and the other part thereof towards the land bearing fruit in summer.

Brasilia is the fourth, affording a soile fat by nature, and alwaies flourishing, yeelding great store of sugars, and wonderfull rich in * 1.13 mines; and hence our red wood which is hereused by dyers called brasile doth come: the trees whereof are found of that bignes, that whole families live in an arme of one of them, every tree being as populous as many of our Countrey Villages, which is the reason that few Cities are found in this Countrey, yet along the Sea coast some Cities are of late built by the Spaniards, and by them fortified where the Dutch have lately got some footing, and taken Todos los santos, and thence marched to Fernand buck, whence that wood comes so well known to diers by that name, where report saith they are now setled and daily get ground in that continent.

The fifth is Chilo, taking its name as some would have it, from the * 1.14 exceeding cold there found, so that the Rivers are here observed to run in the day, but by night to stand still, or at leastwise to move very slowly: this Countrey boasteth of 5. or 6. Townes inhabited by Spaniards, the Towne called the Imperiall being a colony of the Spaniards is found to be the principall.

This Countrey bordereth upon the straights of Magelan, through which S^r. Francis Drake passed in his Worlds incompassement; many of the ports and baies herein owing him that honour due to this adventure, for the names they now are knowne by: which voyage finished by him in 2. ½. yeares, as the relation of Diego Nunio his Pilot testifieth, made profit to himselfe and Merchants of London his partners and fellow adventurers, according to an account made up at his return, all charges paid and discharged which I have seen subscribed under his owne hand 47 li. for one pound; so that he who adventur'd with him in this voyage 100. li. had 4700. li. for the same, by which may be gathered the benefit that redounded thereby; though accompanied with many rubbes, delaies and dangers. Having thus runne over the maine continent of this Worlds division, let us see what Ilands of note belong thereunto.

First in the South Seas are found the Ilands of Solomon 18. in number, and imagined by the discoverer in An. 1567. to be the * 1.15 land of Ophir, to which Solomon sent for his gold; but in this he was deceived: the next are the Ilands of theeves of no account, therefore I passe over them, and in the next place peruse the Ilands in the Virginian Ocean; the first worthy of mention is Margarita, deficient both in corne, grasse, trees and water; yet the aboundance of precious stones here found makes some amends for these defects, from whence the name of Margarita is imposed on it. * 1.16

The next is Trinidado discovered by Columbus in An. 1497. being famoused for the best Tobacco, which by some Nations carrieth * 1.17 the name of this Iland.

The next are the Iles of Bacaloes lying against the influx of Caneda, * 1.18 and owe the first discovery to Sebastian Cabot 1447. by some termed Terra Nova, well knowne for the great quantity of fish taken on this coast, as I have noted in the passage of that part of America.

The next is the Iland of Beriquen, the North part affording plenty of gold, and the South part of vitall provisions; the Cities here * 1.19 are S^t Iohns, built and inhabited by the Spaniards 1527 and Porto Rico ruind by Henry Earle of Cumberland 1597. and whose walles was then first mounted by my deceased Uncle Captaine Tho. Roberts, to whose worth and valour I owe here this remembrance.

The next is Iamaica once very populous, insomuch that the * 1.20 Spaniards here slew 60000. living soules, and the women beholding their cruelty, did kill their Children before they had given them life, that the issues of their bodies might not serve so cruell a Nation. The Townes of note are Crestana and Sivil, acknowledging Columbus for its first discoverer.

The next is Cuba, made knowne by Columbus his second Navigation, it aboundeth with ginger, cassia, masticke, aloes, cynamon, * 1.21 sugar; the earth producing brasse, of excellent perfection, but the gold somewhat drossie: here is the famous Roade Havana, a staple of Indian and Spanish merchandize, and where the King of Spaines Navy rideth till the time of the yeare, and the convenience of the winde joyne together to waft them homeward.

The next is the Lucay Ilands 400. in number, who glory in the matchlesse beauty of their Women, and mourn for the losse of a million * 1.22 of the Inhabitants murdered by the bloodthirsty Spaniards at the first discovery thereof.

Hispaniola is the next, now lamenting the losse of three millions of her Inhabitants, butchered by her new Spanish Masters, injoying a * 1.23 temperate ayre, a fertile soyle, rich mines, amber and sugars; it excelleth all other the Ilands of these Seas, especially in three prerogatives; first, in the finenesse of the gold, which is here digged more pure and unmixed; secondly, in the increase of the sugar cane, which here is found oftentimes in one cane to fill up twentie and sometimes thirtie measures of liquour; thirdly, in the goodnesse •…f the soile for tillage, the corne here yeelding an hundred fold, •…nd in sixteene dayes, herbes and roots are found to ripen and to •…e fit for meat; this fertilitie is ascribed to foure rivers running East, West, North, and South, and all foure springing from one mountaine standing in the very center of this Iland; the chiefe Townes here is Saint Dominico, ransackt by Sir Francis Drake 1585. Besides which Ilands inhabited by Spanyards, there are belonging to this division of the world, some that are inhabited by the English, as the Barbadas, Barmudas, and others, in which certaine * 1.24 Colonies of English have planted themselves, which is found agree•…ble with the English constitution, and being well fortified and peopled, may in time prove maine instruments of sharing with •…he Spanyard in his American Dominions. And thus briefly stands •…he present state of this new found climate, least acquainted to our Nation, and onely subject to the will and power of the Spanish Scepter, who challengeth the soveraigntie and rule of this vast Countrey, the trade whereof is onely permitted to his subjects, and debarred from all others; save what is obtained by force or strength, and purchased by Colonies planted where the Spanyard is neither knowne nor seated.

To give here a small touch of the traffique of this new world, is * 1.25 the principall scope of my intention, but being shut up from the eyes of all strangers, wee must be content till time produce it more apparantly to live in ignorance: true it is that the Coun•…rey abounding in Mines of silver and gold, and the soyle rich in •…ringing forth all fruits, that from Spaine have beene hither tran•…planted, addes every day an increase to their present traffique, •…he speciall matter here sought out for is gold and silver, the load•…one that attracts all Merchants to adventure hither: and in their Mines the Inhabitants are set continually to worke, living poore•…y, and undergoing thus the punishment of their ignorance and pu•…llanimitie, suffering themselves to be so easily overcome and so •…asely subjected; out of which Mines the King hath the ⅕ part of •…ll extracted, which in the Emperour Charles the fifths time amounted but to five hundred thousand Crownes of gold yearly, but since it hath beene found that the Kings of Spaine have had thence sometimes tenne, sometimes fifteene, and sometimes seaventeene millions of gold yearly. The Merchants carry thither Spanish wines, woolen and linnen cloth, and other merchandizes of Europe, and (if report may gaine credit) doe make returnes thence above one hundred profit for another, in spices, sugars, some drugges, and in gold and silver ingotts in great abundance, as well for the accounts of private merchants, as for the account of the King himselfe; so that it doth appeare in the Records kept in the Custome-house of Sivill, that in these seventy-foure yeares last past, there hath come from this India into Spaine two hundred and sixty millions of gold, which hath beene the moover of all those broyles and warres that have beene set afoot in Europe by the Kings of Spaine, it being affirmed without contradiction, that by meanes thereof, Philip the second during his raigne, did spend more than all his predecessours, being in number sixty-two that have raigned before him in this Kingdome since they shooke off the Roman yoake; for he alone spent more than an hundred millions that came out of this India.

This Countrey also giveth imployment to many ships of great burthen, to carry their sugars, ginger, cottons, fernandbucke, and such other commodities that are here sound daily to increase by the industrie of the Spanyard, which by good government may come in time to a great height, and had not the sword of these bloudsuckers ended so many millions of lives in so short a time, trade might have seene a larger harvest, and a more profitable crop by their industrie and labour.

It will not be further usefull for me to insist upon other particulars of traffique in this Continent in matter of coynes, of waights and measures; for in all these they follow the rules observed in Sivill, where the rendevous of those shippes are made, that goe and come into these parts; and so leaving this new discovered Division of the World, I will crosse the maine Ocean, and with a somewhat better Survay, I will observe the needfull occurrents of trade in AFRICA, my second part of this Modell, and of the World.

1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome

AMERICA is a Continent different from that wherein we inhabit, or which we call Ours; for the surface of the Globe being described into two Hemispheres, divided by the first Meridian; America is in that Hemisphere which is opposite to ours.

• In 1492, and some succeeding years, Christopher Columbus, a Genouese, for and in the name of Ferdinand King of Arragon, and Isabella Queen of Castile, made divers Voyages into the Islands which are before this Continent, and discovered part of the Coasts of the Continent. In 1501 Alvares Cabral, for and in the name of Emanuel King of Portugal, Navigating along the Coast of Africa, on a Voyage to the East-Indies, some Eastern Winds carried him so far to the West, that he discovered the Coast of a main Land, which was afterwards called Brazil; where a little after Americus Vesputius, a Florentine, was expresly sent with a particular charge to discover this Country: In which he was so happy, that his name was given to that part of the Coast which he discovered; and in fine, to the whole Continent. From these Voyages of Columbus, Cabral, and Americus Vesputius, the Spaniards pretend to be the first who discovered, or caused to be discovered, and gave knowledge of this Continent.

• The Greeks and Latins have given fair testimonies, that the Ancients have had some knowledge of America. Plato in his Timaeus, and in his Critias, calls in the Atlantick Isle, and esteems it as great or greater than Asia and Africa together. It seems that Plato (or Solon, or the Priest of Egypt, &c.) had knowledge of the greatness, scituation, and form of the two parts of America; so well they agree to Asia and Africa: the Northern America with Asia, the Southern with Africa.

• AMERICA is almost divided into two parts, of which one is between the Equator and the North; the other, in regard of us, is towards the South, and part under the Equator.

After Plato, Theopompus, either in his Treatise of Wonders, or in his History, makes mention of another Continent besides ours, and touches divers particulars: Among others, that its greatness is so vast that it was not wholly known; that its Men were greater, stronger, and lived longer than we; that they had Gold and Silver in so great quantity, that they made less account of it than we do of Iron: That they had a great number of Cities, and among others two very great ones, and of Customs much different; the principal aim of the one being to War, and the other to Religion; which I esteem agreeing with Cusco and Mexico, which we have so found when first known to us; Mexico more inclined to War, and Cusco to the adoration of its Divinities.

AMERICA having been known to the Ancients under divers names, and all these names preserved till now, there remains to know from whence the People of this America should descend, whether from Europe, Asia, or Africa.

It is to be believed, that the first of our Continent which were carried into America, were so either by chance or by force; the Eastern Winds having driven them from the Coast of Africa or Libya, where they sailed, and carried them so far into the West that they have found these Lands.

And it is likewise to be believed, that of those which have been so carried, some have been unfurnished of Victuals for so long and impremeditated a Voyage, and so have been constrained to eat some among them to preserve the rest, as others since have done. And thus America may have been peopled by divers Nations,* 1.4 and at divers times, and according to the Parts from whence they were, according to the hunger and necessity they suffered upon the Sea, they became more or less barbarous. And that some have been carried by chance or force from our Continent to the other, we may judge both by Ancient and Modern Histories. Diodorus Siculus makes mention of certain Phoenicians, (Aristotle had said almost the same before of the Carthaginians) who sayling along the Coast of Africa or Libya, were carried far into the Occidental Ocean, where they found a very great Isle, distant from our Main Land many days sail, and the Country as beautiful as that of Toscany, so that some of Carthage would here have settled; but that the Republick prohibited any more to pass, fearing lest it should weaken their Estate, commanding those which were passed to retire, and abolishing as much as they could the knowledge of their Country; yet with design to retire thither, if they should become so unfortunate as to fall under the Romans subjection. Those particulars which Authors apply to this Isle, agree better with America Meridionalis, which is almost an Isle, than with the Isles on this side it.

Besides these Authorities of the Ancients, the accident which arrived to Alonzo Zanches de Guelva, in Adalousie, or whatever other Pilot he was, who landing at the Madera, where was Christopher Columbus, who told him how he had been carried by force into the West, which he had discovered, and how he had returned: And the like accident which happened to Cabral in 1501, (as we have already said) makes it sufficiently appear how the same thing may have hapned to other Saylors; and particularly to those Nations on this side. which lie upon the Ocean, as the Moors, Spaniards, Celtes, and Bretons, &c. And those who traded on the Ocean, as the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Tyrrhenians; and this is the more easily, because between the two Tropicks, the Eastern Brises or Winds do for the most part blow, and easily carry, nay sometimes force Ships from East to West. It is true, that it is hard to turn from East to West by the same course: And possibly from these two so different things the Poet took occasion to say,

—Facilis descensus Averni; Sed revocare gradum superasque revertere ad auras, Hoc opus, hic labor est.

Understanding it easy to descend from our Continent into the other, which we esteem the Lower Hemisphere; but hard to return from that to ours, which we esteem the Higher: the means to return with least difficulty not being found out but with time; and after having (and that at divers times) essayed all courses, which is, by disingaging themselves from between the Tropicks, which some attribute to Pedrarias de Avila, who about the year 1514 began to give Rules for the time of parting; and the course was to be held, to go from our Continent to the other: and likewise the time and course to return from the others to ours.

Since some have passed from this world of our Continent, and by our Coast into the other Continent: It may likewise be believed, that others have passed from the other Coast, that is to say, from Asia. Whence it comes that some believe, that the Inhabitants of Peru and Mexico, descend rather from the Chinois and Japanois, than from the Europeans or Africans.

But this subject will be too tedious to handle, let us therefore content our selves to speak a word or two of this America in general, before we descend to particulars.

AMERICA considered in its whole Body, is part on this side, and part beyond the Equator: It stretches it self to near 54 degrees beyond, and extends it self to 80 or more on this side, which are more than 130 degrees of Latitude; our Continent not having much more than 100: But the breadth of America is very unequal, this Continent being composed of two great Peninsula's, almost divided the one from the other by the Equator; its breadth here is not in some places of above 30, 40, or 50 Leagues,* 1.5 though in other places 1000 or 1200, and possibly much more in America Septentrionalis, if the Land of Jesso be contiguous to it.

• This Land of JESSO, or YEDSO, is between America and Asia, and we know not yet whether it joyn upon Asia or America, or make a Piece apart; if it be divided both from the one and the other, and that New Denmark and Greenland are upon it, as there is much reason to believe, it makes a Piece not less than the three parts of our Continent, or of the two of the other; but possibly it makes a third part of the other Continent: Let us proceed to the two parts of America, as they are esteemed and known at present.

AMERICA SEPTENTRIONALIS.

AMERICA SEPTENTRIONALIS, is that part of America which is not only the most Northern of the two America's, but likewise doth all lie between the Equator and the North;* 1.7 it extends it self from the 8th or 10th degree of Latitude, even beyond the Artick Circle; and if we comprehend the Artick Lands with America, it advances at least to the 88th degree of Latitude, which are 70 degrees for its height from South to North. Its length from West to East possesses near all the degrees of Longitude of the other Hemisphere, to wit, from about the 180th, where ours end, even beyond the 300th, which is the end of the other.

The Mer del Nort is on the East of it, the Mer del Sud on its West; towards the North its bounds are unknown, there being Land found even beyond the 80th degree of Latitude,* 1.8 with appearance that they extend yet farther towards the Pole: so that we cannot judge to what degree, or whether it be contiguous to New Denmark and Greenland, or whether it be in Islands; and on the South it makes America Meridionalis.

We will divide this America Septentrionalis into Canadiana and Mexicana. Under the name of Canadiana is understood that part of America which is about Canada, where the English, French, Hollanders, Danes and Swedes have divers Colonies: And under the name of Mexicana,* 1.9 that part of America which the King of Spain doth almost alone possess, and where he hath established abundance of Colonies, subdividing Canadiana into the Artick Lands, and Canada or New France; and Mexicana into New Mexico, and Mexico or New Spain.

Of these four parts, Mexico or New Spain is the most advanced towards the Equator and the South, the Artick Lands towards the North,* 1.10 the other two parts rest in the middle; Canada or New France towards the East, and New Mexico towards the West. The first is under and about the Tropick of Cancer, the second under or about the Polar Circle, the two others lie from 25 or 30 unto 60 degrees of Latitude; so that the first is within or very near the Torrid Zone, the second within or near the Frozen Zone, and the two in the middle quite in the Temperate Zone.

The first and most Southernly ought to be called Mexico or New Spain, Mexico, because Mexico is by much the fairest City, and the Dominion of the ancient Kings of Mexico extended over the best part of it: New Spain, because the King of Spain possesses near all of it, having established a great many Colonies; a Vice-Roy, divers Archbishops, Bishops, Audiences, and Governments: the Natives of the Country that are left, being almost all Tributaries to him.

The second may be called the Arctick Lands, because it approaches the Arctick Pole,* 1.11 and is for the most part comprehended within the Arctick Circle: these are but little known. We understand well that they are divided by some Streights, and that it apparently consists in many and divers Isles, which hath been the cause a Passage hath been sought to go this way to China and the East-Indies. The Natives do here enjoy a full and entire liberty, the People of Europe not thinking it worth their pains to establish Colonies.

Of the two middle parts, the most Easternly and nearest to Europe, ought to be esteemed under the general name of Canada or New France: of Canada, because in that particular Region the Europeans first Landed; of New France, because the French did first establish themselves here before any other Europeans. The most Western and farthest from Europe may in general be called New Mexico, because the Spaniards of Mexico or New Spain discovered it not till after they had been sometime settled in this other.

Of these four parts of America Septentrionalis, to wit, Mexico or New Spain, New Mexico, Canada or New France, and America Arctica: New Spain is washed by Mer del Nort, and Mer del Sud: America Arctica likewise by both Seas; New France only by Mer del Nort, and New Mexico only by Mer del Sud.

These four great parts are subdivided into many less, which we call Regions, Peoples, Provinces, &c. We will observe the chief of them the most clearly and succinctly as possibly we can; but because New Spain touches on America Meridionalis, we will begin our America Septentrionalis by the Arctick and New France; so proceeding to the one and the other Mexico, that we may pass in order to the parts bordering on America Meridionalis. And likewise, because the Arctick Lands of America are very little known, and that we cannot judge to make a particular discourse of them, we will content our selves to speak something here before we pass to the other parts.

That part of America which is comprised for the most part between the Arctick Pole and Circle, or which at most descends unto the 60th or 55th degree of Latitude, is named according to our method, America Arctica. In all this part we know only some Coasts and Gulphs of that which is most towards Europe: There we have the Isles of Iseland and Groenland, we might likewise put Shetland, which we know not whether Isles or parts of the New Continent, as we are likewise ignorant of all the rest of America Arctica.

AMERICA MERIDIONALIS.

AMERICA MERIDIONALIS is the most Southern part, or Peninsula of America; which extends it self from about the 12 degree on this side of the Aequator, unto the 54 beyond it, which are 66 degrees of Latitude: and from the 291, or 92, where is Porto Viejo, unto about the 350, where there is Cape St. Augustin, which are 57, or 58 degrees of Longitude. It reaches then from South to North, 1650 Leagues; from West to East, little less than 400.

Its bounds on the North and East, are the Mer del Nort: towards the South the Magellanick Sea;* 1.2 And on the West, the Mer del Sud, or Pacifick Sea.

Its form approaches near a Triangle, whose sides are almost equal; from Porto Viejo to Cape St. Augustin are 1400 Leagues; from Cape St. Augustin, to Cape Freeward in the middle of the streight of Magellan, are 1500 Leagues, and from that Cape to Porto Belo, 1600. Its scituation is for the most part under the Torrid Zone, part under the Antartick temperate Zone; of that which is under the Torrid Zone, the greatest part is beyond the Aequator, the less on this side; so that the greatest part of these people have their seasons contrary to ours: The Coasts of this Country are all known more or less, the Inlands very little.

• AMERICA MERIDIONALIS may be divided into PERUVIANA, and BRASILIANA, subdividing Peruviana into Terra Firma, and Peru; and Brasiliana, into Brasile, and Paraguay; the first division is taken by a line which from the mouth of the Amazona, goes to seek the utmost part of Chili towards the South, and this line divides America Meridionalis into two equal parts; the one belonging almost wholly to the Castilians alone, and the other for the most part to the Portugals: These have their Vice-Roy in St. Salvador, a capital City in the Bay of All-Saints, and almost in the middle of the Coast of Brazile; the other in Lima, or Los Reyes, that is, the Kings, at present a capital City, and in the middle of the Coast of Peru.

We may yet divide the Terra Firma, into Terra Firma and Guiana; Peru into Peru and Chili; Brazil into the Coast of Brazil, and Main Land of Brazil; Paraguay into Paraguay, and the Magellanick Lands. Of this America Meridionalis, Brazil possesses all that is towards the East; Terra Firma, and Guiana, that which is towards the North; Paraguay and the Magellanick Lands, that which advanceth towards the South; and Peru and Chili are towards the West, in regard of Brazil and Paraguay.* 1.4 The Castilians possess almost all Terra Firma, nothing at all in Guiana; they hold Peru and Chili between the Andes and Mer del Sud, scarce any thing beyond those Mountains; besides their Vice-Roy, who resides at Lima or Los Reyes, they have established in what they possess, many Archbishopricks, Bishopricks, &c. for the rule of the Church; many Audiences and Seats of Justice, for the Secular and Civil Power; and many Governments for the Militia.

• The Archbishops are those of Lima, in Peru de la Plata, in Los Charcas, and of St. Fe de Bogota, in the new Kingdom of Granada. The Archbishop of Lima hath for Suffragans the Bishops of Cusco, Quito, Arequipa, Truxillo, and Guamanga, all in Peru. The Archbishop de la Plata hath for Suffragans the Bishops of Baranca, or Sancta Crux in La Sierra, Cividad della Pax in Chiquiago, St. Jago del Estero in Cucuman, Buenos Ayres in Rio della Plata, Nostra Sacra del' Assumption in Paraguay, Panama in Terra Firma, or Castilla del Oro, St. Jago del Estremadura, and the Imperial in Chili. The Archbishop of Sancta Fe de Bogota in new Granada; hath for Suffragans the Bishops of Popayan, of Carthagena, and of St. Martha in their Provinces of the same name.

In the Diocess of the Archbishops and Bishops are a very great number of Parishes, Chapels of Ease, Monasteries, &c.

The Audiences under the Vice-Roy of Peru have formerly been those of Panama in Terra Firma, of Sancta Fe de Bogota, in the new Kingdom of Granada; of Quito and Lima in Peru, de la Plata in Los Charcaes, and de St. Jago de Estremadura in Chili: That of Panama and of Chili subsists no longer, but are reduced into Governments. Of these Governments there are here eleven, viz. Panama, Carthagena, St. Martha, Popayan, the new Kingdom of Granada, los Quixos, Passamoros, los Charcas, Tucuman, Chili, and Rio de la Plata. Peru, wherein are Lima, Quito, and Cusco, is not among these Governments, but depends immediately on the Vice-Roy.

But before we leave America Meridionalis, let us speak a word or two touching that part which is towards Mer del Sud, there is found a great diversity between that near this Sea and that within Land: that which is nearest the Coast is for the most part plain, and above the Plains are many Hills, or rather Mountains; after these Mountains there are other Plains and beautiful Vallies, and then Mountains almost inaccessible, which are those that bound Chili and Peru towards the East. It scarce rains in the Plains, often in the first Mountains, sometimes between the two ranks of Mountains; and snows often between the two last Mountains: The Soil of the Plains of the first Mountains and of those between the two ranks of Mountains, are fruitful and pleasant; the last are only Rocks, barren, extreamly cold both in Winter and Summer, and almost always covered with Snow. And that which is observable, these Mountains beginning near the Streight of Magellan make two Branches; which one in the sight of the other traverse all the length of America Meridionalis: and so they are in the same Parallel, yet of quality and temperament so different, that each Region hath its Beasts, Grains, and Fruits unlike, nay the Men transported from the one can scarcely live in the other. But let us proceed to its Parts.

TERRA-FIRMA.

• UNder the name of TERRA-FIRMA taken in general, we understand that part of AMERICA MERIDIONALIS, most advanced towards the North, and which touches AMERICA SEPTENTRIONALIS by the Isthmus of Panama. This name of Terra-Firma is taken from Christopher Columbus, not having discovered any but Isles in his first and second voyage; in his third and fourth he made a good part of these Coasts, which judging to be Main Land, that name was given it.

• It extends it self from the Isthmus of Panama, unto the mouth of the Amazon, near 1000 Leagues; its breadth, between the Mer del Nort, and the Estates which are along the Amazon, is not above 200 or 250 Leagues, or little more. This breadth being only the quarter of the length is the cause that we have divided this Terra-Firma into two parts, of which the most Occidental, and the best for the most part belongeth to the King of Spain; the most Eastern, and the least, is almost all in the hands of the Natives; some Europeans having only settled some Habitations on the coast, and this may be called Guiana; the first is five or six hundred Leagues long, this about four hundred.

The Spaniards have established in Terra-Firma, many Governments, viz. those of Panama, Carthagena, Sancta Martha, Rio de la Haches, Venezuela, and of Paria or Nueva Andalouzia, on the Sea Coast of Mer del Nort; those of Popayan, and the new Kingdom of Granada are within Land, or on the Pacifique Sea.

• The Government of PANAMA, and which particularly takes the name of Terra-Firma, is between the North and South Seas, placed in the Isthmus, which joyns the two parts of America together. The Countrey is either low and miery, or mountainous and barren, and therefore very unfit to bear Corn, only some Mayze it yieldeth. Yet here is found good pasturage for Cattle, it is well watered with Rivers, some of which stream down Sand-gold. Its air is very unhealthful, by reason of the great heats and foggs it is subject unto.

• Its chief places are, 1. Panama, which takes its name from the Province, as the chief, being the residence of the Governour, honoured with a Bishops Sea, which is Suffragan to the Arch-Bishop of Lima, and the Courts of Judicature, and beautified with three fair Monasteries, as also a Colledge of Jesuites. It is seated on the Sea shore, and is a place of great resort. 2. Nombre de Dios once famous, being made the Staple of such commodities as were trucked betwixt Peru and Spain, which were brought hither by Sea, and so conveyed by Land to Panama, from whence they were shipped for Peru; and the like was done for those Goods sent from Peru to Spain; but by reason of the unhealthfulness, as also lying too open to the invasions of the English or other Nations, it was removed to Porto Belo, a place of great strength, built for that purpose by Philip the second, King of Spain, seated on the North Sea, distant from Panama 16 or 20 Leagues, which makes this passage have a great trade between Peru and Mexico.

It was once proposed to cut this Isthmus to make a communication between the one and the other Sea, but the Pacifique Sea being found higher then Mer del Nort, this proposition vanished; that the Mer del Sud is higher then that del Nort, may be judged by the eye; the Lake of Nicaragua, the Rivers of Paria or Orinoque, of the Amazones, together with abundance of others, having their springs near Mer del Sud, and discharging themselves into that del Nort, after a long course, which could not be but with a great declension.

• At the opening of the Gulf of Panama, are the Isles of Pearls once famous; the Pearls of Gubagua, and de la Margarita being at most not above eight or ten Carrats: there was found in these Isles from 25 to 30, both round, oval, and in pairs, all excellent; whereas among the others few were found well formed, or without spot.

• CARTHAGENA is a Peninsula joyning to the firm Land by a Causway of 250 Paces, all Sandy. It is a place of great strength, especially since the damage it received by Sir Francis Drake in 1585. Its Port is one of the most famous of America, where the Spanish Fleet that goes to the West Indies by Order puts in here, which makes it be of a great resort, and is become very rich: Its Houses are well built, and beautified with a Cathedral Church and 3 Monasteries. The other Cities of this Government are, St. Jago de los Cavalleros, of old, Tolu, worthy of note for the most Sovereign Balsom of all these parts, little Inferiour to that of Egypt. Mopoz, near the confluences of the Rivers of Martha and Magdalens, Sancta Maria, and la Conception. The Air of this Government is moist, scarce healthful, the best is near Tolu; there is brought from these quarters Gold, Long-Pepper, Dragons-Blood,* 1.12 excellent Balm, Emeralds, and Slaves.

• SANCTA MARTHA, so called from its chief City, is a Country unfit for tillage, being Mountainous and barren, yet some they have; it yields good Fruits, and hath Gold, Saphirs, Emeralds, Jaspar, Cassidoins, Brazil-wood: and the Sea yields Pearls. The Air in the Mid-land parts, by reason of the vicinity of Mountains, which are always covered with Snow, is very cold, and on the Sea-Coasts as hot and scorching. Its chief places are,* 1.14 1. St. Martha, scituate on the Sea-shoar, neighboured by a convenient and safe Haven, which is defended from the fury of the Winds by an high Mountain near unto it; it is honoured with an Episcopal See, but still laments the Ruins it suffered from the English by Sir Francis Drake and Sir Anthony Shirley, in Anno 1595 and 96. 2. Teneriff, seated on the Banks of the River Magdalen. 3. Tamalameque, by the Spaniards called Villa de los Palmas. 4. Los Reyes, scituate in the Vale of Ʋpar, on the Banks of a rapid and deep River called Guatapori. 5. La Ramada or Salamanca, seated in the same Vale of Ʋpar, about which are several Veins of Brass. And, 6. Ocanna, or St. Anna, seated on the River Cesar. Among the Governments of America Meridionalis, those of Rio de la Hacha, of Venezuela, and of Paria, are of the Audience of St. Domingo in the Isle of Hispaniola, which is of America Septentrionalis, yet their scituation makes us describe them here.

• RIO DE LA HACHA is East of St. Martha, of whose Bishoprick it depends. This Government hath only the City of Nuestra Sennora de la Nieves, or de los Remedios, and sometimes also Rio de la Hacha. It yields Gold, precious Stones, Salt, and its Soil is fertil.

• VENEZƲELA had its name so given, for its being built on many little Isles, and in a Lake, as Venice is. Its Air is sweet and healthful, and the Soil so fertil in all sorts of Grain and Fruits, and so well stocked with Cattle, that it is termed by other Countries a Granary, as indeed they find it so, it supplying their wants. It is well watered with Rivers; here is also wild Beasts for hunting; and in the bowels of its Earth are rich Mines of Gold and other Metals. The other Cities are Nuestra Sennora de Carvalleda, seated upon the Sea, but its Haven is very unsafe; nigh to this City there are Hills whose tops are said for height to equalize those of Teneriff. St. Jago de Leon, Valenza la Nueva, Xeres la Nueva, Segovia la Nueva, Tucuyo, and Nuestra Sennora della Pax. Segovia la Nueva is more advanced towards the Barbarian people of any, its Soil is lean, but in recompence feeds many Cattle and Venison. The Lake of Maraycabo, near 100 Leagues circuit, is esteemed in this Province.

• PARIA, or New Andalusia, is on the River Paria or Orinoque, and is likewise called Serpa and Comana from the name of its principal City, which they call Nueva Cordova: They fish many Pearls along this Coast, before which are the Isles of Cubago, Margarita, and the Trinity or Trinidado, formerly so famous for this fishing. These Isles are very barren, scarce affording sustenance for its Inhabitants, which defect is supplied from the adjacent Countries, which made the Spaniards abandon them so soon as the said Fishing left them.

The Governments of POPAYAN, and the New Kingdom of Granada, are towards Peru; that of Popayan is divided into two parts, the one answering to the Chamber of the new Kingdom of Granada, the other to that of Quito or Peru. The Air of all Popayan is generally healthful, and very fresh by reason of the Mountains. The Land is more proper for Fruits and Pasture, than for Grains; and, as in all the neighbouring Countries, here are likewise many Mines of Gold and other Metals. The Cities of Popayan, which answer to the new Kingdom of Granada,* 1.19 are five, but have formerly been ten; Sancta Fe de Antequera, Calamanta; Arma, Sancta Anna de Anzerma, and Cartago; all upon or near the River of Sancta Martha: the other five were Antioquia, St. Sebastian de la Plata, St. Vincent de los Payezes, Neyva, and Villa de los Angelos. The first was transported to Sancta Fe de Antequera, the others abandoned by reason of the continual Wars made upon them by the Paezes, Pixos, and Manipa's, who could not be tamed. The Cities of the Government of Popayan,* 1.20 which answer to the Chamber of Quito, are nine. Popayan, which hath its name common with the name of the Country, seated on a pleasant River in the midst of a rich Plain, being the residence of the Governour, as also the See of a Bishop, and adorned with a Cathedral and a Monastery of Fryars. Cali, seated at the Foot of a high Mountain on the Banks of a River, and Almanguer on the sides of a plain, but barren Mountain. Timana, St. Juan de Truxillo, and Guadalajara, of Buga advance towards the East. Madrigal, otherwise Chapanchica, St. Juan de Pasto, and Agreda, or Malaga towards the West, and approaching near the Mer del Sud.

• The new Kingdom of GRANADA lies almost all along the River Magdelane, and from its Springs to the middle of its course, are found a great many Cities, as Sancta Fe de Bogata, the Metropolis of this Kingdom of Granada, the residence of the Governour, and the See of an Archbishop; a City well inhabited by Spaniards, as well as the Natives. St. Michael, de Sancta Fe, about 12 Leagues from Sancta Fe de Bogata. Tocayma, seated on the Banks of the River Pati. La Palma de los Colimas, a Town built by the Spaniards. Tunia, built on the top of a Hill, being now a place of great strength, serving for a Fortress against the Savages; it is also a wealthy Town, enjoying a good Trade. La Trinidad de los Musos, seated on a River, of some note by reason of the Veins of Chrystal, Emeralds, and Adamants, that are in its adjacent Fields. St. John de los Linos, seated in a corner full of Veins of Gold, also Velez, Ybagua, Mariquita, and Nuestra Sennora de los Remedios, and these four last are on the left hand of the River, the other seven on the right. Distant from this River, and between the Governments of Sancta Martha, and Venezuela, are likewise Pampelona, rich in Mines of Gold, Cattle, and Herbs. Merida and St. Christopher: Tudela, between la Trinidad and la Palma hath b•en transported to St. John de los Lianos.

• In 1536 Gonzalo Ximenes over-run a great part of this new Kingdom of Granada, and made booty of about 250000 Pezo's of Gold, of which near 200000 were exceeding pure; and besides the Gold 1800 Emeralds of divers sizes. In another Incursion made by Ferdinand Cortez into these quarters, were found five Emeralds of a vast price. They were cut into divers fashions; one into the form of a Fish, another into a Bugle or small Horn, a third into a little Bird, a fourth into a Bell, whose Clapper was a large Pearl, fashioned like a Pear, and the last into a Cup; for which alone a Genouese Lapidary proffered 40000 Ducats, with hopes of gaining great profit by it.

• The Air of this Government inclines to Heat, the Valleys have Grains and Pastures, but no Wine; the Mountains have many rich Mines of Gold and other Metals; the Silver Mines of St. Agatha are rich, those de los Remedios have store of Gold, and there are 12 or 15000 Negroes which labour in them. Those of Musos near la Trinity, and those of Pampilona, St. Christopher, and Merida, are likewise of some esteem; but above all, the Mine of Emeralds near la Trinity, where there is a Rock full.

GƲIANA, taken in general, comprehends all that is found between the Rivers of Orinoque and of the Amazons; from the Mountains which are above the Lake of Parima unto the Mer del Nort. These Mountains towards the South divide it from what is above the River of Amazons: Orinoque divides it from Terra-Firma, or New Andalousia, on the West, and the River of Amazons from Brazil on the East. The length of this Guiana is near 400 Leagues, the breadth 150, and in some places 200; and if we would divide Guiana into Guiana and Caribane, this last would possess all the Coast, and Guiana the parts within Land. The Coast hath at divers times been frequented by the Spaniards, English, Hollanders, and French, who have all endeavoured to establish some Colonies, what in one place, what in another, and all with design to have commerce with those within the Country, where they hope to find a new Peru: I mean the Kingdom of Manoa, or El Dorado, which they esteem very rich in Gold. And they have observed exactly the Rivers, Gulphs, and Capes, which present themselves on this Coast. Among these Rivers the fairest and greatest are, Essequebe, Brebice, Corretine, Marruvine, Cayanna, the Aparuvaca or Cape Ruvaca, and the Viapoco. The Spring of the Essequebe, according to the report of its Inhabitants, is not above a days journey distant from the famous Lake of Parima, and thence takes its course for 20 days journey to the Sea, into which it discharges it self. It is interrupted by divers Cataracts, which hinders its being navigable for any considerable way, which causes the Inland Country not to be so perfectly discovered, as it might be were it otherwise. The Brebice and Corretine have little less course than the Essequebe, and no fewer Cataracts; the last hath its Mouth to the Sea very large, but not deep. The Marruvine is no less than 4 or 5000 Geometrical Paces broad at its Mouth, and the length of its course is esteemed to be 30 or 40 days journey. The English, who have mounted this River farther than any others, have observed abundance of Rivers which lose themselves in it; and say, that here is found the Sensitive Plant or Herb, which hath this natural property, to close if never so little touched; and to shut up its Flowers and fade if the least sprig be took from it, not opening its Leaves till a good while after. All these Rivers, for the most part, have their Cataracts under the same Parallel, within 4 or 5 degrees of Latitude on this side the Equator, which may make us judge that there is some ridge of Mountains, or at least a continued Eminence, which makes these Countries within Land, of a higher scituation than those Parts neighboured by the Sea. Cayanna hath likewise in it those Mountains which are near the Lake of Parima; and from its Spring to the Sea, is no less than 100 Leagues in a strait line, and twice as much according to its course: It embraces an Isle where the French have endeavoured to settle a Colony, which in time may come to good effect. Apuruvaca or Caperuvaca hath a longer course than Cayanna: It forms a great Lake not far from its Spring, and embraces an Island near its Mouth. When Harcourt, an Englishman, was on this River, he found many People, and those much different from one another. Keymish, another Englishman, who was with the worthy Sir Walter Rawleigh, who took so much pains to find out the Kingdom of Manoa, assures us, that in his time they could find no such People; which makes it appear, that these People are sometimes on one Coast, and sometimes on another. There are here found Paroquetto's, and other very rare and beautiful Birds, with pretty Apes and Monkies.Viapoco hath a longer course than the Cayanna, a shorter than the Apuruvaca; and like all the others of this Coast, suffers a fall 18 or 20 Leagues from the Sea, where it disburthens it self with other Rivers into a little Gusph of 7 or 8 Leagues wide, leaving on the Right hand Cape de Condi, or d'Orange. There is found along this River Tobacco, Canes from which Sugar may be extracted, and Shrubs which yield Cotton: and amongst the Beasts they have Stags, wild Boars, tame Swine, and Beeves which have no Horns, &c. But let us speak a word or two of the temperament and quality of the Soil of these Quarters, in which there is something extraordinary.

It is true that Guiana is under, or very near the Aequator; that part which stretches most within Land, and the nearest to the Amazons, is under the Equator: from that line the Coast stretches on this side unto the 8th degree of Latitude; yet the greatest part of this Coast lies under the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th of these degrees, which is almost in the middle of the Torrid Zone, and consequently seems to be in a Climate extreamly hot. But the Eastern-winds, which do almost continually blow upon the Coast, the Nights being equal with the Days, the large Rivers which refresh and water the Country, the great Dews which fall, the height of their Mountains, the thickness of their Forrests, &c. yield such refreshments as renders this Country one of the most pleasant, and would be made (were it cultivated) one of the best and richest Countries in all America: They have two Summers and two Winters, their Summers during the Aequinoxes, and their Winters during the Solstices; and to speak truth, they have always either Spring or Autumn, their Flowers being always in their beauty, the Trees always in their verdure, and their Fruits fit to gather all the yearlong. The Air is so temperate and healthful, that those of the Country live commonly 100 or 120 years, sometimes 150, without being subject to any disease or sickness. Provisions cost almost nothing, all sorts of Game being had for only hunting; all sorts of Fish are here very plentiful: They have several rich Commodities, as Cotton, Cotton-Thread, and Hamacks or Beds of Cotton, China-wood, green Ebony, white and red Saunders, Dyersstood, Brazil, Medicinal Oils, Jallop, Salsaparilla, Turbith, Gayac, Gommegutte, Gum-Arabick, Gum-Eleni; a Balm excellent against the Gout, Torquesses, Emeralds, Stag-skins, Tigers, Otters, and black Foxes; grains of Musk taken from Lizards, Munkeys, Apes and Tamarins, a little Beast of pleasure so beautiful and joyful that one alone hath been sold for 500 Crowns. The Americans themselves loving to play with them, and putting about their Necks collars of Pearls, and Pendants of Stones in their Ears.

In the bowels of its Earth are Mines of Copper, Tin, Lead, and Iron, which are very rare in America; and to all appearance there are Mines of Gold and Silver; here is also Roch-Alum, Chrystal of the Rock, Azure, and likewise Dragons Blood, &c.

That part of Guiana most advanced within Land, and which retains particularly the name of Guiana, is very little known; yet here should be the Kingdom and City of Manoa or El Dorado, of which some have formerly made such account; but not being found at present, is by most believed Imaginary.

The AMAZONE.

THE River AMAZONE is the greatest and swiftest, either in the one or other part of America, and it may be said the largest of both Continents: From its Springs to its disburthenings into the Sea is 8 or 900 Leagues in a strait line, and according to its course 11 or 1200; it receives, both on the Right and Left, abundance of Rivers, of which some have 100, 200, 300, others 4, 5, or 600 Leagues course. All the Amazon is inhabited by abundance of People,* 1.33 less barbarous than those of Brazil, nor yet so much civilized as those of Peru were: They eat not one another, for by their Hunting, Fishing, Fruits, Corn and Roots, they are furnished with what is needful either for Meat or Drink: they have some Idols particular to them, but pay them no adoration, contenting themselves to expose them to publick view when they enterprize any Affair.* 1.34 The Amazon begins at the Foot of the Cordillier Mountains, 8 or 10 Leagues from Quito in Peru, pressing forward its streams from West to East: Its Springs and its Mouths are under or near the Aequator. The breadth of its Channel from Junta de los Rios, which is 60 and odd Leagues from its Springs unto Maranhon, is of one or two Leagues, and below Maranhon, two, three, or four, enlarging still as it approacheth the Sea, where it makes an opening of 50 or 60 Leagues between the Capes de Nort and Zaparare; this on the Coast of Brazile, the other on the Coast of Guiana: Its depth likewise from Junta los Rios unto Maranhon is at least 5 or 6 Fathom, in some places 8 or 10; from Maranhon unto Rio Negro, 10, 15 or 20, and from Rio Negro to the Sea 30, 40, 50, and sometimes much more.

One Francis Orilhane was the first that took any pains to know the course of this River. In 1540 he transported himself to Junta de los Rios, where he caused to be built a Vessel proper to descend this River to the Sea: In 1541 he imbarqued himself with some Souldiers, had divers encounters in the way, but about the end of August he found the Sea, after which he hasted to Spain to make this discovery known unto the King. In 1549 he returned from Spain to the Amazone, where after his spending a long time upon the great Sea, being sometimes beaten to and fro by the impetuosity of the winds which caused great storms, then retained as long by calms, which together with the loss of a great many of his men, at length he entred into its mouth; yet after all these labours and miseries, he was so unhappy, that not finding the true channel to remount the Amazone, he died with grief; having gained nothing for all his travel, labour and expence, but the honour that some give his name to the River, calling it Orelhane. After Francis Orelhane, the Amazone was let alone for a good continuance of time. In 1560 those of Lima in Peru, tried it another way; they caused some to embark on the River of Xauxa, otherwise of Maranhon, which begins in Peru, below Guanuca, and about 150 Leagues from Lima, passes within 30 or 40 of Cusco, and by a course of 5 or 600 Leagues descends into the Amazon, which hath scarce made 300 at this meeting, yet is found the large; this voyage was likewise unhappy; for Pedro de Orsua Chief of this expedition was slain by his own men, and Lopez de Aguyre chief of the sedition, finished to descend to the Sea by the Orinoque, and landed at La Trinity, where he was arrested, and chastised for his felony. In 1566 those of Cusco tried again the discovery of the Amazone by the Amarumaye, which could not succeed, there being two competitors for this expedition; who made war, fought, and weakned each other in such manner, that there remained but a few to be knockt on the head by the Chonchis: Maldonado one of the Chiefs of this expedition, together with two Fryers escaped and brought the news; after this of Maldonado no more discovery of the Amazon was attempted till 60 or 70 years after. In 1635 Jean de Palacios reattempted this design, transporting himself, with some others to Annete, to see with what means he might serve himself to make this voyage; but in 1636 he was killed, and the greatest part of his men returned; but two Friers and 5 or 6 Souldiers, put themselves into a Skiff, with a resolution to descend the River, and in the end arrived at Para, the chief Colonie of Brazile under the Crown of Portugal, where they told the news to Piedro Texeira, Captain Major of Para.* 1.36 Though Brazile was then in arms against the Hollanders, yet Texeira forbore not to equip 47 Barques•• caused to be embarqued in them 70 Portugals, with 1200 Indians, who knew how to manage Armes; and likewise 800 Boyes and Women to serve them; with these he departed in October 1637. remounted the River, and was so happy, that he finished his voyage even to Peru, left a part of his men there, where the River Chevelus falls into the Amazone; the rest he left at Junta de los Rios, except himself, with some few persons which came to Quito; where he made his report in September, 1638. The news being brought to Lima to the Count of Chinchon, Vice-Roy of Peru, he gave order to furnish them with all things necessary for their return; and that the Father Christopher de Acogne, a Jesuite, and his companion should go with them to carry the news to Spain. They parted from Peru in February 1639 and arrived at Pera in December following, and soon after Father Christopher de Acogne carried the news to Spain, arriving there in 1640. and exposed his relation to publick view.

These two last Voyages of Texeira mounting and descending the River, have given us a more ample and true knowledge of the Amazon than all those before him could do; and according to their report, all the Regions which are about the Amazon enjoy a temperate Air. The Eastern Winds which blow all day, the Nights equal to the Days, the annual Inundations like to those of the Nile, the great quantity of Trees and Forrests, which are upon or near the River, yield much refreshment, and keeps them from being troubled with thousands of ugly Insects, which they are pestred with at Peru and Brazil. They say, that the Leaves and Fruits of the Trees, the verdure of their Herbs, and the beauty of their Flowers, gives great delight to the Inhabitants all the year long.* 1.37 The Country (by reason of the Inundation of the River) is very fertil in Grains, hath rich Pastures, and their Fruits, Plants and Roots are in great plenty, and may compare with any Country in all America; their Rivers and Lakes are well stored with Fish, among others the Sea-Calf and Tortoise are very large and delicate. The Country is well cloathed with Woods, some Trees being 5 or 6 Fathom about, and along the River may be built as great Ships as any that swim on the Ocean. Their Ebony and Brazil is grown to an inexhaustible quantity; they have great store of Cacoa and Tobacco, plenty of Sugar-Canes, which they might easily husband, and abundance of other Commodities, without having regard to Gold, Silver, and other Metals which are found there.

• They have abundance of different Nations upon and about the Amazon; the most part of these Nations so well peopled, and their Villages so thick, that the last House of the one may easily hear the noise made in the first House of the other. Of these People, the Homagues are esteemed for their Manufactures of Cotton-Cloth: the Corosipares for their Earthen Vessels: the Surines for their Joyners-work: the Topinamubes for their Power. The Bow and Javelin being their general and common Arms.

• Among the Ravers that fall into the Amazon, the Napo, the Agaric, the Putomaye, the Jenupape, and the Coropatube, and with some others, have their Sands mixt with Gold; below Coropatube there are divers Mines of Gold in the Mountains of Yaguare, Mines of Silver in that of Picory, and of divers Stones in that of Paragoche, and of Sulphur in many others.

• As for the Amazonian Women, and their Kingdom, from whence it is pretended this River took its name, many accounts have been made, and divers Relations given of it to Quito, Cusco, and other places; and possibly those of the Country would have frighted the Castilians and Portugals which have been on this River. But it is no otherwise, than that the Inhabitants of the Country being in Arms, there hath sometimes been some Women so couragious, as to be in their party; but there never was a whole Country or Kingdom of these Women. And in fine, they seek them so far within the Country, that they cannot be on the Amazon: so those may turn to a Fable, as well as those which the Greeks have formerly recounted to us of such Wonders.

• PERUVIANE where there shall be
  • TERRA FIRMA, whose Governments or Provinces, with their chief places are those of
    • PANAMA
      • Panama.
      • Nembre de dios.
      • Darien.
    • CARTHAGENA
      • Cartagen•.
      • Mo•••
      • Sancta Maria.
      • la Conception.
    • St. MARTHA
      • St. Martha.
      • Teneriff.
      • Tamalameque.
      • Los Reys.
    • RIO de la HACHA
      • Occanna.
      • Rio de la Hacha.
      • Rancheria.
    • VENEZULA
      • Venezula.
      • Nos. signo. de Carvalleda.
      • St. Jago de Leon.
      • Nueve Xeres.
      • Valenza la Nueve.
      • Segovia la Neuve.
      • Tucuyo.
      • Truxillo.
    • New ANDALUSIA
      • Comana.
      • Corduba.
      • Maurenabi.
    • PARIA
      • Macureguara:
      • Catetios.
      • Orinaque,
    • OARIBES
      • Taupuramunen.
      • M•reshego.
    • GUIANA
      • Macurewaraj.
      • Manoa del dorade.
    • POPAYAN
      • Sancta Fee de Antiochi•.
      • Calamanta.
      • Arma.
      • Anzerma.
      • Carrago.
      • Popayan.
      • Almangher.
      • Timana.
      • Truxillo.
      • Guadalajara.
      • St. John de Pasto.
    • GRANADA
      • Sancto Fee de bogata.
      • St. Michael.
      • Tocayma.
      • Tunia.
      • Trinadad.
      • St. John de los lanos.
      • Velez.
      • Mariquita.
• PERU, with its Audiences of
  • QUI TO with its Provinces of
    • PERU
      • Quito.
      • Rio bamba.
      • Porto Viejo.
      • Guayaquil.
      • Cuenca.
      • Lox•.
      • Zamora.
      • Yaen.
      • St. Michael.
    • de los QUIXOS,
      • Baesa.
      • Archidona.
      • Avila.
      • Sevilla del Oro.
    • PAZAMOROS,
      • Loyola.
      • Valadolid.
      • St. Jago de las Montane•.
  • LIMA, whose chief places are
    • Lima.
    • Cusco.
    • Arequipa.
    • Valverde.
    • Arnedo.
    • Leon de Guanuco.
    • la Parsilla.
    • Truxillo,
    • Miroflores.
    • Cachapoyas.
  • De la PLATA, whose chief places are,
    • de la Plata.
    • Potossi.
    • Oropesa.
    • Sancta Crux de la Sierra.
• The Country of the AMAZONS, or the people Inhabiting by the River AMAZONE, which are many, and of sundry sorts.
• CHILI, whose parts of Jurisdictions take their names from their chief Cities in each part, as those of
  • Copiapo.
  • Conception.
  • l'Imperial.
  • Villa Rica.
  • Valdivia.
  • Osorno.
  • Caftro.
  • St. Jago.
  • Serena.
  • de la Frontera.
• MAGELLANICK LAND
  • St. Phillip.
  • de la Guadero.
• TERRA DEL FUGO, or the ISLAND of MAGELLAND,
  • BRAZILIANE where there shall be
    • BRAZILE regarding the Sea, with its Governments (as they are Inhabited by the Portugals) of
      • St VINCENT
        • Sanctos,
        • St. Vincent.
        • Itauchi,
        • St. Paule.
        • Philippe villa.
      • RIO JANIERO
        • St. Sebastian.
        • A•g•a 〈◊〉 Reyes.
      • SPIRITU SANCTO — Spiritus Sancto,
        • PORTO SEGURO
        • Porto Seguro.
        • Sancta Crux.
      • LOS ISLEOS
        • los Isleos.
        • Camamu.
      • BAYA de los SANCTOS
        • St. Salvador.
        • St. Antonio.
        • Fapesipe.
      • SEREGIPPE
        • Seregippe del Rey.
        • Olivera.
      • FERNAMBUCO
        • Olinda.
        • Recif.
        • St. Michael.
        • Calvo.
      • TAMARACA— Tamaraca.
      • PARAYBA
        • Payraba.
        • St. Anthony.
        • St. Katherine.
      • RIO GRANDA
        • de los tres Reys.
        • Copoaba.
        • Juaon Lostao.
        • Natall.
        • Brandibe.
      • SIARA
        • Siara.
        • St. Jago.
        • St. Sebastian.
        • Cors.
        • Soutpan.
        • Clene Salinas.
        • Camucipe.
      • MARANHAN
        • Junipara.
        • Sancta Ann.
        • Comma.
        • St. Lewis.
        • Nuestra sennora.
      • PARA
        • Corrupa.
        • Estiero.
        • Cogemine.
        • Comata.
        • Para.
    • BRAZILE within Land, which is possessed with aboundance of several sorts of people, (most of which are unknown unto us) among which are the Paries, Carayaes, Amixocories, Noneaes, Amacaxies, Apnyes, Aquigiraees, Tapiguiries, Panaguiries, Apetubaes, Tapuxenquies, Caraguatayraes, Quiriguiaes, Bigrorgies, Vibes, Guigraes, Jubaes, Oquigties, Pahies, Aries, Guipaes, Cuigtaies, Pirivies, Annaciugies, Laratiies, Guaracacativies, Aturavies, Aquitigpaes, Maimimyes, Caracujvyes, Mandeivies, Caraembas, Macutiies, Napares, Parapoties, Pahacuries, Cuaxraes, Nuhinvies, Taraguaigies, Piraquies, Anacuyes, Tapacuvyes, M•caraguacies, Tupioys, Cayviaries, Jacuyvies, Ca•ucujares, Jobiores, Cumpehes, Cicules, &c.
    • PARAGUAY Or, RIO de la PLATA, whose chief Provinces and Places, are those of
      • PARAGUAY
        • Paraguay.
        • Eupana.
        • Guabiano.
      • CHACO
        • Chaco.
        • Rioxa.
        • Estero.
      • De la PLATA
        • Assumption.
        • las seite Corrientas.
        • Sancta Fee.
        • Buenos Ayres.
        • Penabobre.
      • TUCOMAN
        • St. Jago del Estero.
        • St. Michael de Tucoman.
        • St. Salvador.
        • Salta.
        • Corduba.
      • URVAIG
        • la Conception.
        • St. Nicholas.
        • St. Francis Xavier.
        • Ibicuit.
      • PARANA
        • St. Ignatius,
        • Itapoa, or the Incarnation.
        • The holy Sacrament.
        • Acarag.
        • Sancta Maria.
      • GUAYR
        • Cuidad Real.
        • Villa ricca.
        • St. Paul.
        • No. sen. de Loretto.
        • St. Francisco Xavier.
        • St. Joseph..
        • We have thus comprised all that seemed most necessary concerning America: true it is, whole Volums might be made only touching the Nature and Propriety of their Grains, Herbs, Plants, Fruits, Fowl, Beasts and Fish, which are all different from ours; yet those which have been carried from hence; have thrived and multiplied exceeding well, either in one place or another: But of all our Beasts, nothing so much astonished them as our Horses; and it was near a hundred years in Peru, and other parts of America, before those People would be perswaded to mount on them.

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

IS a part of the World, bearing the Name of Americus Vesputius, a Florentine, tho' Christopher Columbus, a Genoese, discover'd it before him. It has been also call'd, the New World, because it was not well known until the last Age, and its bigness has made it pass for the greatest Continent of the Earth. Sometimes it is called the West Indies, and the Little Indies, to distinguish it from the East Indies, which are great and part of Asia. Some give it the Name of the Spanish Indies, because the King of Spain has the greatest and better part of it in his possession. Thus the Name of Indies is common to two great Regions; the one in our Continent, the other in the other Hemisphere; whether they were discover'd at the same time; or that in both the Inhabitants go commonly naked; or that from the one and the other are brought rich and precious Merchandize and Commodities; or lastly, whether the Pilot Alonze Zanches d' Andalousia, being the same that saw America, before Columbus, and left him his Memoirs, did think that it was joyn'd to the Indies of Asia. In all probability, America is the Atlantick Island of the Ancients: some say that it is the real Tarsis; which Monarchs, to take from their People the knowledge of its great Riches, and the desire of trading thither, had given it very strange Names, calling it Hell, the Elysian Fields, and the Fortunate Islands: and that for the confounding the Name of Tarsis, they had called by the same Name several Places of our Continent, where the Merchants had their Banks and their Correspondencies. Several are persuaded, that the City and Island of Cadiz are now what was formerly Tarsis. Those Soveraigns pretended there were Dragons, Infernal Rivers, sometimes a Cherubim with a flaming Sword; which were probably nothing else than those storms which are frequent in the Torrid Zone, and the Insults of Corsairs and Pyrates, who watcht the the coming of the Gallies and Fleet from Terra firma, to get Booty. Several do assure us, that it was to the Atlantick Isle, Hanno the Carthaginian went, when he conducted towards the South West, a Fleet of Sixty Sail, with Thirty Thousand Men. They also say, That five years afterwards, the same Hanno, being return'd into his own Countrey, prohibited all such Voyages to his Citizens, that their City might not be depopulated, by their going to dwell there, charmed with the great Riches that were to be found in those-Countries, for fear the Rebels might make it an Asile, to the ruin of their State. Those Authors find but little credit, who undertake to prove by a feigned Medal of Augustus, which was pretended to be found in those parts, or by a supposed Marble, taken out of the ground in Portugal, under King Emanuel, with Latin Verses of a forged Sybile, touching the discovery of this New World. If it be then true, that America was known by the Ancients, we may say, that the perils People must expose themselves to in traversing the Seas that are between the two great Continents before they arrive there, and the little experience the Ancients had in Navigation, did make 'em abandon the persuit of their Commerce into these Regions; and that had it not been for the favourable reception that was made by Ferdinand, King of Arragon and Castile, to Columbus, whose proposal had been rejected by the Government of Genoa, the Kings of Portugal, and England, we should perhaps be still to learn, if there was any other Continent than ours.

America is divided into two great parts or Peninsula's, the one Northern, called Mexicana; the other Southern, called Peruana. This Division is according to the Isthmus or neck of Land which lyes near Panama, and not according to the Equinoctial Line. The Spaniards had once a design in their heads to cut through that Isthmus, for the sparing the Charges, which are far greater to them in that Tract of Land, by the transportation of their Merchandizes, when they go to Peru, or return from thence, than in all the way by Sea they make between Spain and America, tho' this way be above two thousand Leagues; But were not able to bring this Enterprize of theirs about. The Countries of Northern America, are as you go from the North to the South, Canada or New France, Virginia, Florida, New Mexico, Mexico or New Spain, and the Islands of the Antilles. You find in Southern America, all along the Seas, the Terra firma, where is Castella del Oro, and Guyana, Peru, Chili, Magellanica, Paraguay, where is Tucuman, and la Plata, and lastly Brasile.

America is environned with the Sea, if it be true, that towards the North West it is separated from the Land of Jesso by the Streights of Anien. Those who make it as big as Asia and Africa together, compare its Northern part to Asia, and its Southern to Africa. It has the advantage of being fertil and temperate, by reason of its great and goodly Rivers, and of the cool Winds that arise there, even in the Torrid Zone, where the Inhabitants have not the blackness which is natural in most of the Africans, and in some Asiaticks of our Continent, who inhabit under the same Zone. This makes us see, that the most or the least heat is not always caused by the proximity or remoteness of the Sun, and that which contributes thereto often is the situation of Places, the disposition of the Mountains and Valleys, the quality of the Soil, and the diversity of the Winds which blow in those respective Regions.

The Riches of America are so great, that Spain has drawn out from thence, and does still draw every year a prodigious quantity of Gold and Silver, of which many private persons of Europe, both in Peace and War, under diverse borrowed Names, receive a good share. The Mines of Potosi have always furnished an immense number of Millions. Never were any Riches comparable to those of Atabalipa, and of Guainacapa, Kings of Peru, and to the precious Furnitures of the City of Cusco, It was no extraordinary thing, during the Reign of those Kings, to see in some Cities of those Countreys, Temples Wainscoted with Silver, and Houses Cover'd with Sheets of Gold. The Spaniards do affirm, their King draws from thence every year, above Twelve Millions of Livres, by means of the Impositions he lays upon Commodities that are transported from those Parts; As Gold, Silver, Pearls, Emeraulds, Skins, Sugar, Tobacco, Cutchenelle, Sarzepareilla, Ginger, and several other things. Yet it is made out, that the first Expence, for the discovery of America, came but to Fifteen Thousand Ducats, which were advanced to Columbus, by a Secretary of the King of Spain.

The Mexican and Peruvian, were the only Nations amongst the Americans, who had Cities. These Cities, tho' built by People we stile Salvage and Barbarous, yielded in nothing to those of Europe, or for bigness or magnificence. No Horses were in America. An Indian of good sence, reckoned a Horse in the number of the three things he most esteemed; the two others were, a new laid Egg, and Light. Horses gave so much terrour to the Americans, that for above a hundred years they could not be prevailed with, to mount 'em. The Inhabitants are of four sorts, Europeans, Metis, Negroes, and Salvages. Most of the Nations of Europe have Colonies in this Portion of the World, which for the most part bear the Names of their respective Provinces and Cities. The Spaniards stand possess'd of the greatest, the richest, and the fertilest Countreys of America; Among others of Mexico and Peru, formerly two famous Kingdoms; the latter Hereditary, the other Elective: their King pretends a Right to All, by vertue of the Donative of Pope Alexander the Sixth, in the year 1493. But this other Nations do not allow of. The Portugneezes have the Coasts of Brasile▪ The French have Colonies in Canada, in several Islands, and upon the firm Land: The English have fair and great Establishments all along the Coasts of Northern America, and in the Islands: The Metis are those who are born of the Europeans and Indians. In the Territories, conquered by the Spaniards, they call Crioles, those who are born of a Spanish Man and Woman, and these are they whom the Spaniards of Europe have a mortal aversion to, and whom they put by all great Offices, for fear of a Revolt. The Negroes are transported into America, from Angola and other parts of Africa, to labour in the Mines, which drudgery the Americans are not able to support. The Salvages here live commonly on Hunting, Maiz, Cassave, which is their Corn. They have amongst 'em almost as many Tongues, as Villages; He who has the use of those of Mexico and Casco, may make himself understood through all America. This diversity of Tongues, is the cause that we have little knowledge of their Origine. They are all naturally dexterous and active, good Runners and excellent Swimmers. Several amongst 'em live like Beasts, without King, Policy, or Law. The Sun, Moon, nay, and the Devil too, are consider'd by them, as so many Divinities: The Sooth-sayers, who are very numerous in these parts, keep 'em in these Errours. The Kings of Spain have caused five Arch-Bishopricks to be erected there, and about thirty Episcopal Sees. The French have one Bishop in Canada. The Portugueezes have at this present three in Brasile, under the Arch-Bishop of S. Salvador. The other Nations, who have Settlements in these Countreys, have likewise establish'd there the Religion they profess.

America is not peopled comparatively with the parts of our Continent; perhaps by reason of the continual Wars which the Inhabitants wage there against one another, or else because of the cruel treatments the Indians have received from the Spaniards: some Authors do attest, they have put to Death there several Millions of Persons, whether for Religion, or for other Pretexts; and that the Blood of those who have perished in the, Mines where they have been forc'd to labour, would weigh more than the Gold and Silver they have thence extracted.

The Spaniards met with no strong resistance in their Conquests, where they found none to make head against 'em, but naked People, whose Armies were easily broken by the Noise only of a Canon-shot, or at the sight of a Horse-man. The poor Indians stedfastly believed, that the Spaniards were the Masters of Thunder; they thought 'em half Men and half Horses, or some Sea-Monsters, when they saw 'em on Horse-back; And when they saw them on board their Ships, eating Bisket, and drinking Claret, they said they were descended from Heaven upon a great Bird; that they eat Stones, and drank Blood.

If we confider the situation of the Islands of that part of the World, we shall find that California is in the West of Northern America; the New Lands, the Bermudas, and the Antilles, towards the East.

The Mountains of the Andes Cross all Southern America from the North to the South. That of Potosi in Peru, is esteem'd the richest of all, by reason of its Silver Mines. The Spaniards would persuade us, that there are others in the Neighbourhood at least as rich.

The North Sea is so call'd, because it is on the North of the firm Land, which makes part of the Southern America, and was sooner discovered than the Northern America; in regard of which it cannot bear the Name of the North Sea. 'Tis called the Green Sea towards the Tropick of Cancer, by reason of the Herbs found there upon the Surface of the Waters. The South Sea is really Southern, in regard of that North Sea; but if we consider all America, both Northern and Southern, we shall find that it is Western. It's often called Pacific, by reason of its pertinacious Calms, or else because very few Acts of Hostility are perform'd there. Between Mexico and the Island of California, 'tis call'd the Vermillion Sea: It hardly receives any considerable Rivers. The Sweet Sea, which is in Canada, and the Parime Sea, in Southern America, bear the names of Lakes, because they are in the midst of Lands. Many are of opinion, that by this Sweet Sea, the Northorn Sea communicates with with the Southern.

Among the Rivers of America, that of Canada, or St. Lawrence, is vulgarly call'd the Great River, perhaps for that it receives above two thousand others, great and small, and that above five hundred Leagues above Quebeck; its source has not yet been found out: It makes some Lakes grow narrow; sometimes it casts it self among the Rocks with such impetuosity, that 'tis impossible to pass there, by reason of the number of Water-falls, which they call Saults, and Carriages, because those who mean to go over, must carry their little Boats upon their shoulders, which they term Canoes. Its ordinary breadth is full twelve or thirteen Leagues; its depth does often exceed two hundred fathom: it keeps its Waters clear as far as below Quebeck. The River of Chayre, upon the Confines of the two America's, affords means for the Transportation of Merchandizes from one Sea to the other. L'Orenoyu is the largest of all those of America. The Amanzon is esteemed the greatest, strongest, and deepest of all those of these Countreys, and one of the fiercest in the World. In the Year 1638. the Portuguese, who were then under the Crown of Spain, remounted it up as far as Quito in Peru, and came down again the following Year. It has its Inundations as well as the Nile, whereby the neighbouring Countrey is not incommoded with Insects: Above a hundred and fifty several Nations have been observ'd to dwell in the Neighbourhood of this great River, and those which fall into it. La Plata has its Name from the Mines of Silver which are near it. Towards its beginning it bears the Name of Paraguay, after having joyned that of Parana; it rowls its Waters for above sixty Leagues, without any mixture: 'tis not deep, tho' towards its mouth it is sixty or eighty Leagues broad, and ten for the most part of its Course, where after having form'd several Islands, and the greatest Cataract in the World, it keeps its swiftness for above forty Leagues distance in the Sea. It might contribute much towards the carrying on the Commerce from one Sea to the other; but the Spaniards do not think fit to put this Adviso in practice, for fear other Nations might thereby become acquainted with it, who would make better advantage than they do of such Discoveries.

1695. A New Body of Geography by A. Sewall & T. Child.

Of the Northern AMERICA.

THe Northern America, which is called Mexicana, from the City Mexico, is parted from the Southern, by the Streight of Pavama, between the 7 D. 30 min. and 55 of Latitude, and between the 235 D. and 328 of Longitude, so that it is from South to North about 960 leagues, and about as much from West to East, in the widest place. It contains several Regions and many people, of which I shall give a Catalogue in the following Tables, as also of the Islands, Mountains, Rivers, and Lakes.

Northern America hath

• Canada, or New France,
  • Quebac, a Bish.
• ...Virginia,
  • ...Pomejoc.
• ...Florida,
  • ...S. Austin.
• New Mexico, or New Granada,
  • ...S. Fe.
• Mexico, or New Spain.
  • ...Mexico.
• Several Islands,
  • ...S. Domingo, &c.
• Diverse people,
  • .......
• Mountains, Rivers, and Lakes,
  • .....