Terra Firma

Sources from old books

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

Terra Firma reaches from the Confines of Veragua to Cape Nord, or Cape Race in Carabona, about 640 Leagues from West to East, and from South to North about 200, from the Borders of Paria and Amazonia, as far as Cape Lavela. It is the most Northern Region of this great Peninsula. It is fruitful in all things. It hath in it 12 Provinces, as they are set down in the following Table, with the chief Cities in each of them.

TERRA FIRMA in XV. Parts.

• 1. The Audience of Panama.
  • ...Panama,
  • ...Porto-Belo,
  • ...Nombre de Dios
• 2. Popayan, a Government.
  • ...S. Fe de. Ante-quera.
• 3. Cartagena, a Government.
  • ...Cartagena.
• 4. S. Martha a Government.
  • ...S. Martha.
• 5. Rio de la Hacha, a Government.
  • ...Rio de la Hacha,
• 6. Venezuola, a Government.
  • Venezuola, or Cono.
• 7. Granada a Kingdom.
  • ...S. Fede Bogota.
• 8. Paria Propria, a Government.
  • ...Tamara,
  • ...Macureguare.
• 9. New Andalousia.
  • Comana, or
  • ...Corouba.
• 10. Caribana.
  • Divers Forts.
• 11. Guyana.
  • Dorodo or
  • ...Monoa

• 12. The Isle of Cayanna.
  • ...Cayene.

People.

• ...Caribes,
• ...Araotes,
• ...Arricari,
• ...Ʋrraba,
• ...Cataparara,
• ...Stinagotes,
• ...Paezes, Pixos,
• Manipos, &c.

Lakes.

• ...Parim,
• ...Guyana,
• ...Cassipa,
• ...Macambe.

Rivers.

• ...Darien,
• ...S. Martha,
• Paria, or
• ...Orineque,
• ...Essekebe,
• ...Maron,
• ...Pixos,
• ...Paezes,
• ...Manipos

The Air is very cold and healthful, except on the Coasts of the Isthmus of Panama, where there are many Marshes. The Soil produces abundance of Maze, but little Wheat. It hath much Pasture, and divers Fruits that we have, and some that we have not, but not in every place al•ke. They have many Odoriferous Trees, and others that yield them Gums. Their Forests afford Tigers and other Beas•s, their Rivers Crocodiles, and other very troubles•me and mischievous Insects. They have Mines of G•l•, Silver, Copper, Azure, Emeralds, and some other precious Stones. Panama is a B•shop's See and Royal Audience. Morgan, the famous Backaneer▪ burnt it in 1670; but the Spaniards have built it again a little more West-ward. It is the Treasury o• the Go•redge• and Silver of Peru, which is carried from thence to Porto Belo upon the North-Sea, which is within 18 or 20 Leagues. This Port is much augmented by the People of Nombre de Dios, which the bad Air hath made to be utterly forsaken. In the way they make use of the River Chiagre; so that they go not above 5 Leagues by Land. By this Port also they bring Merchandizes from Spain to Peru. Cartagena is stored with Balm, Rosin, and several sorts of Gums; the City of the same name, is the Port for the Vessels that come from Cadiz, by Terra Firma. S. Martha produces all sorts of Fruits. Here the Mountains called the Andes, begin, which run towards the South. Venezuela is the Granary of the Neighbouring Provinces. The City of Comana hath Salt-pits to supply the adjoining Countries. The Paezes, Pixos, Manip•s, and other People, are not yet fully Subdued. Granada is furnish'd with Silver, Copper, and Emeralds. Guana, or the Aequinoctial-France, is a good Air, and is more or less Fruitful according to the places and Nations which live in it. The French are Masters of the Isle of Cayenne, the Forts of Gorous, Cinamari, Caonama, Concaribo, Cape Conde, along the Coasts of Caribana. The English are at Surinam and Marone. The Dutch at Esquib, Barbice, Boron, and Aperuvaque. The Isle of Cayenne, which is 15 or 16 Leagues in Compass, is very considerable in all things. The French have there divers Towns and Forts; it produceth abundance of all things that are necessary for the life of Man.