New Spain

Sources from old books

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

NEW Spaine is the greatest Province of America, being more inhabited, more populous, and more pleasant than the rest. It is a great tract of Land reaching from Tavascus or the River Grialvus Westward, to the Land of Saint Michael, and the Culiacans Country. On the North it is bounderd with new Granada, and other Countries of the Kingdome of new Mexico. The South shoare is washed with the Pacif{que} Sea. It lyeth betweene the Aequinoctiall Linē and the Tropick of Cancer, so that there is little difference betweene the length of the dayes and nights, and it is almost alwaies Spring. In the moneths of June, July, August, and September, the daily raine, and the gentle breeses of winde that come from the Sea, doe temper and mittigate the heate of the day, which is the true reason, why it is convenient living under the Summer Tropick, contrary to the opinion of ancient Philosophers. Therefore it hath a temperate ayre, although it lye under the Torrid Zone. This Country hath abundance of rich Mines of Gold, Silver, Iron, and Brasse: it hath also Cassia, and a certaine kind of fruit, which the Inhabitants call Cacao which is like Almonds, of which they make a drinke which is very much desired. It hath abundance of Cotton, and all other kindes of fruits which we have in Europe: as Wheate, Barley, and all kinde of Pulse, also Sallets, Lettice, Colworts, Cabbages, Radishes, Onions, Leekes, wilde Alexander, Rape Rootes, Parsnips, and Carrets, Turnips, Beete, Spinnage, Pease, Beanes, Lentills, and the like. There are also great store of Oranges, Lemmons, Citrons, Pomegranats. Here are also Apples and Peares, but not very bigge, Prunes are rare, but there are abundance of Figs. But there are great store of Cotton, Apples, but Cherries doe not yet thrive there. There are Vines also that beare Grapes, but no Wine is made of them. Moreover it hath Oyle, Sugar, and Mulberries. And it hath many other fruits which are unknowne to us: especially a kinde of Graine call'd Maiz, which is like Pepper, of which they make Bread. It yeeldeth also divers living Creatures, as Sheep, Kine, Goates, Hogges, Horses, Asses, Dogs, Cats, and other Beasts, all which are found in the West-Indies: Also Lions, Beares, Tigers, Boares, Foxes, and other wilde Beasts: also Harts, Hares, and Connies. Besides these there is a kinde of Beast called Sainos, which is like a little Hogge•, which have their Navells on the top of their back. There are great store of them in the Woods, and also of other Beasts, which for brevity sake I omit. There is also great variety of Fowle, as Geese, Ducks, Starlings, and Hens which are bigger than ours, and divers other. The Spaniards first tooke possession of this Country, under the conduct of their Captaine Ferdinando Cortes, with a great losse and slaughter of their own men, and of the Inhabitants, in consideration whereof, the Emperour Charles the fifth gave them New Spaine is situate by Mare del Nort, or the Northerne Sea. The Spaniards have here two Colonies, namely Panuca, and S. Iames of the Valleyes Colonie. Lastly, there is in new Spaine the Citty Tlascalan, which is second to Mexico, which is very populous and rich, and hath a fruitfull soyle round about it, it is governd like a Common-wealth, but it is under the possession of the King of Spaine. There are in new Spaine many Lakes, which are for the most part so salt, that Salt is made out of them. The chiefe Lake is that, which in regard of the bignesse thereof is call'd the Chapalican Sea. There is also the Lake of the Citty Mexico. There are also many Rivers in it full of Fish, some of which have golden Sands. There are also Crocodiles in them which the Inhabitants doe eate. The Country also is full of Mountaines and rugged Rocks. In the Province of Mexico there is a flaming Mountaine, which the Inhabitants call Popocampeche. There is also a Mountaine in the Country Guastecan, in which there are two Fountaines, the one of black Pitch, the other of hot red Pitch. Moreover this Country is full of Woods, and generally it hath great store of Trees, especially of that Tree of which they make Boates or Canoas of one bough. It hath also Cedars which are so tall and thicke, that they cut square timber out of them, which is 120. foote long, and 12. broad, and such great store of it, that you may say that Ceders doe grow as commonly on their Mountaines, as Oakes doe on ours. I come to the publike workes. There were in these parts of the Indies many faire and magnificent Temples consecrated to Idols, and ordained for the worship of the Divell, which the Spaniards heretofore called Cu. First there was in the Citty Mexico the famous Temple Vitziliputzli, being very large within. But the care which the Mexicans shew in educating and bringing up their children is very strange, for they know assuredly that there is nothing, which availeth more to the right ordering of publike or private matters, than the instruction of children. The Indians are cunning Artificers in Mechanick Arts, especially in weaving of divers sorts of Birds feathers, and Beasts skins: and they are so painefull and laborious, that oftentimes they doe not eate in a whole day, untill they have coyned and neately filled some one feather, and then they view it on every side, both in the Sunne and in the shade, that they may see whether it will become them to weare it with their haire standing on end, or lying on either side. So that they will presently make any kinde of Beast, or Flower, or Hearbe, and set it forth to the life. The Goldsmiths are the chiefe Artificers, and are more cunning than the rest, so that they will expresse a thing to the life: and they are excellent casters of mettall, so that they will cast either any Hearbe or the smallest thing so lively, that you shall thinke it to be naturall. The Citty of Mexico hath the best government and policy of all new Spaine. For it being the Metropolis of the whole Empire, divers Nations of the same Country did flock thither to trade and traffique, so that severall Nations kept their severall places, and every 5. dayes they kept markets, which were well furnished with all commodities. So that severall Manufactures and kindes of Merchandise, had a severall place appointed them, which none could forestall or take up, which was a great point of Policy. Neither as Zenophon witnesseth in his Oeconomicks, can any Citty or House bee governd more conveniently, then by assigning every thing a certaine place which the Indians did observe.