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MAny other thynges myght be sayde, & much differyng from these wherof I haue spoken. But to lette passe the multitude of thynges whiche are as variable as the power of na∣ture is infinite, and to speake of suche thyn∣ges as coome chiefely to my rememberaunce as mooste woorthy to be noted, I wyll fyrste
speake of terteyne lyttle and troubelous beastes whiche may•• seeme to bee engendered of nature to molest and vexe menne, to shewe them and gyue them to vnderstand howe smaul and vyle a thynge may offende and disquiete them, to thende that they maye remember the pryncipall ende for the whiche they were created, that is, to knowe theyr maker and procurer of theyr saluation by the waye whiche is open to all Christian men and all other whiche wyll open the eyes of theyr vnder∣standynge. And although the thynges whereof wee entende nowe to speake may seeme vyle and lyttle to bee esteemed, yet are they woorthy to bee noted and consydered to vnderstand the difference and variable woorkes of nature. So it is ther¦fore, that whereas in many partes of the firme lande by the which aswell the Christians as Indians doo trauel, there are such marysshes and waters in the way that they are fayne to go withowt breeches amonge the herbes and weedes, by rea¦son wherof, certeyne smaule beastes or woormes (which they caule Garapates) much lyke vnto tykes, cleaue fast to theyr leg∣ges. These wormes are as little as the pouder of beaten salt: And cleaue so fast that they can by no meanes be taken away except the place bee noynted with oyle. And after that the legges bee noynted awhyle with oyle, or the other partes where these lyttle tykes are fastened, they scrape the place with a knyfe and so take them away. But the Indi••ns whi¦che haue no oyle, smoke them and burne them with fyer, and abyde great peynes in takynge them awaye by this meanes. Of other lyttle beastes which trouble men and are engende∣in theyr heades or other p••rtes of theyr bodies, I saye that the Christian men which trauell into these partes, haue them but seldome tymes, and that not past one or two, and this al¦so very seldome. For passynge by the lyne of the Diameter where the compasse makethe difference of saylynge by the wynde cauled Greco, (that is North East) and Magistral, (that is south west) which is in the course of the Ilandes of Azori, they sayle but a lyttle way folowing owre vyage by the west, but that all the ly••e which the Christians cary with them, or are engendered in theyr heades or other places of theyr bo∣dies, dye and vtterly consume by lyttle and lyttle, and are not engendered in India excepte in the heades of lyttle chyl∣dren in those partes aswel amonge the chyldren of the Chri∣stians
which are borne there, as also amonge the natural In∣dians who haue theym commonly in theyr heades and sume∣tymes in other partes of theyr bodyes, and especially they of the prouince of Cueua, which is a region conteynynge more then a hundreth leaques in length, and embraseth the one and the other coast of the North sea and of the East. When these Indians are infected with this fylthynesse, they dresse and clense one an other. And they that exercise this, are for th•• moste parte women who eate all that they take: And haue herein such dexteritie by reason of theyr exercise, that owre men can not lyghtly atteyne th••runto. There is also another thynge greatly to bee consydered. And this is how the Chri¦stian men beinge there cleane frome this fylthynes of India, aswell in theyr heades as the reste of theyr bodyes, yet when they returne to coomme ageyne into Europe and begyn to ar∣ryue in that place of the Ocean sea where wee sayde befor•• that the lyse dyed and forsoke them, suddenly in theyr repas∣synge by the same clyme (as thoughe the lyse had taryed for them in that place) they can by no meanes auoyde theym for the ••pace of certeyne dayes although they change theyr sher∣tes two or three tymes in a day. These lyse are at the fyrste as lyttle as nyttes, and growe by lyttle and lyttle vntyl they bee of the byggenesse that they are in Spayne. This haue I often tymes proued, hauynge nowe foure tymes pa••••ed the Ocean sea by this vyage.
Besyde these woormes and vermyn wherof we haue spo∣ken, there is another lyttle mischeuous woorme, whiche we may number amonge the kyndes of f••eas, This pestilence the Indians caul Nigua:* 1.1 And is much lesse then a flea. It perse••h the fleshe of a man, and so launseth or cutteth the same (while in the meane tyme it can nother bee seene nor taken) that frō sume it hath cutte of theyr handes, and from other theyr fiete vntyll the remedy was founde to annoynt the place with oyle and scrape it with a rasoure.
In the firme lande in golden Castyle or Beragua, there are many vypers lyke vnto them of Spayne.* 1.2 They that a••e byt∣ten of them, dye in short space. For fewe lyue to the fourthe day except present remedy. Of these, sume are of a le••••e k••nd then other: And haue theyr tayle sumwhat rounde, and leape in the ayer to assayle men. And for this cause, sume caule
this kynde of vypers Tyro. Theyr bytyng is most venemous, and for the moste parte incurable. One of theym chaunced to byte an Indian mayde whiche serued me in my house, to whome I caused the surgians to mynister theyr ordinarye cure, but they coulde doo her no good, nor yet get one droppe of bludde owt of her, but only a yelowe water, so that shee died the thyrd day for lacke of remedy as the like hath chaun¦ced to dyuers other. This mayde was of thage of .xiiii. yeares and spoke the Spanysshe toonge as yf shee had byn borne in Castyle. Shee sayde that the vyper whiche bytte her on the foote, was two spannes longe or lyttle le••se. And that to byte her shee lepte in the ayer for the space of more then syxe pases, as I haue harde the lyke of other credible persons.
I haue also seene in the firme lande, a kynde of adders very smaule and of seuen or eyght foote longe.* 1.3 These are so redde that in the nyght they appeare lyke burnynge cooles, and in the day seeme as redde as bludde. These are also vene¦mous, but not so much as the vypers. There are other much lesse and shorter and blacker. These coome owt of the ryuers and wander sumtymes farre on the lande, and are lykewyse venemous. There are also other adders of a russet coloure. These are sumwhat bygger then the vypers, and are hurtful and venemous. There are lykewyse an other sorte of manye coloures and very longe. Of these I sawe one in the yeare of Christ 1515. in the Iland of Hispaniola nere vnto the sea costes at the foote of the mountaynes cauled Pedernales. When this adder was slayne, I measured her and founde her to be more then .xx. foote longe, and sumwhat more then a mans fyst in byggenes. And althoughe she hadde three or foure deadely woundes with a swoorde, yet dyed shee not nor stoonke the same daye, in so much that her bludde continued warme all that tyme. There are also in the marysshes and desertes of the firme lande many other kyndes of lysertes, dragons,* 1.4 and other dyuers kyndes of serpentes wherof I entende not here to speake much, bycause I haue more particulerly entreated of these thynges in my generall historie of the Weste Indyes.
There are also spiders of marueylous bygnessse.* 1.5 And I haue seene summe with the body and legges, bygger then a mannes hande extended euery waye, And I ones sawe one of suche bygnesse, that onely her bodye was as bygge as a
sparowe, and full of that laune wherof they make their web∣bes. This was of a darke russette coloure, with eyes greates then the eies of a sparow. They are venemous and of terrible shape to beholde. There are also scorpions and dyuers other suche venemous wormes. Wherby we maye see, that where as natural causes and influence of the planettes are of stron∣gest actiuitie, they cease not to engender and brynge foorthe bothe good and badde accordynge to the disposytion of the matter, whiche they also doo partely dispose as the phyloso¦phers affyrme.
Furthermore in the fyrme lande, there are manye toades beyng very noyous and hurteful by reason of their great mul∣titude. They are not venemous. They are seene in greate a∣boundance in Dariena where they are so bygge that when they dye in the time of drouth, the bones of sum of them (and espe∣cially the rybbes) are of suche greatnesse that they appere too bee the bones of cattes or of summe other beastes of the same byggenesse. But as the waters dyminishe and the moysture ••onsumeth in the tyme of drouth (as I haue sayde) they also consume therwith vntyll the yeare nexte folowing when the rayne and moysture increase, at whiche tyme they are seene a∣geyne. Neuerthelesse, at this present, there is no such quan∣titie of them as was wonte to bee, by reason that as the land is better cultured by the Christians, as well by the fellynge of wooddes and shrubb••s as also by the pasture of kine, horses, and other beastes, so is it apparent that this poyson dimini∣sheth dayly, wherby that regyon becometh more holsome and pleasaunt. These toades synge after three or foure sortes. For summe of them synge pleasauntly: other, lyke owres of Spayne. Summe also whistle: and other summe make an o∣ther maner of noyse. They are lykewyse of dyuers colours: as summe greene, summe russette or grey, and summe almost blacke. But of all sortes, they are great, and fylthye, and noyous by reason of their great multitude: yet are they not venemous as I haue sayde.
There are also a straunge kynde of crabbes,* 1.6 whiche coome foorthe of certeyne holes of the earth that they them selues make. The head and bodye of these, make one rounde thing muche lyke vnto the hoode of a fawkon: hauynge foure feete commyng owt of the one syde and as many owt of the other.
They haue also two mouthes like vnto a paire of smaule pin∣sers, the one bygger then the other, wherwith they byte, but do no great hurte bycause they are not venemous. Their skyn and bodye is smoothe and thynne as is the skynne of a man, sauynge that it is sumwhat harder. Their colour is russette or white, or blewe, and walke sydelonge. They are very good to bee eaten: In so muche that the Christians trauayling by the fyrme lande, haue byn greatly nurysshed by them bycause they are founde in maner euery where. In shape and forme, they are muche lyke vnto the crabbe which we paynte for the sygne Cancer, and like vnto those which are found in Spaine in Andalusia in the ryuer Guadalchiber where it entereth into the sea, and in the sea coastes therabout, sauynge that these are of the water and the other of the lande. They are sumtymes hurtefull, so that they that eate of them dye. But this chaun∣ceth onely when they haue eaten any venemous thyng, or of the venemous apples wherwith the Canibale archers poyson their arrowes wherof I wyll speake hereafter. And for this cause the Christians take hede howe they eate of these crab∣bes if they fynde them neare vnto the sayd apple trees.
Furthermore in these Indies, aswell in the fyrme lande as in the Ilandes, there is founde a kynde of serpentes, which they caule Y. V. anas, which summe caule Iuannas.* 1.7 These are terrible and fearefull to syght, and yet not hurtefull. They are very delicate to bee eaten, and it is not yet knowen whe∣ther they be beastes of the lande or fyshes, bycause they lyue in the water, and wander in the woddes and on the lande. They haue foure feete, and are commonly bigger then connies and in summe places bygger then otters, with tayles lyke li∣sartes or eutes. Their skynne is spotted, and of the same kynd of smothnesse or barenesse, although of dyuers colours. Upon the ridge of their backes, they haue many long prickes. Theyr teeth•• are very sharpe, and especially theyr fanges or dogge teeth. Their throtes are longe and large, reachynge from their bea••des to their breastes, of the lyke skynne to the resydewe of their bodyes. They are dumme, and haue no voyce or make any noyse or crye although they bee kepte tyde to the foote of a cheste or any other thynge for the space of .xx. or .xxv. dayes withowt any thyng to eate or drynke, excepte they gyue them nowe and then a lyttle of the breade
of Cazabbi, or summe such other thyng. They haue foure feete, and their fore feete as longe as a mans fynger with clawes lyke the clawes of a byrde, but weaker, and suche as can not grasple or take holde of any thynge. They are muche better to bee eaten then to beholde. For fewe that see them, wyll haue desyre to eate of them, by reason of their horrible shape excepte suche as haue byn accustomed to the beastes of these regyons, whiche are more horrible and fearefull, as this is not but onely in apparence. Their fleshe is of much better tast then the fleshe of connyes and more holsome. For it hurteth none but onely such as haue had the frenshe poxe. In so much that if they haue onely byn touched of that infyrmitie, al∣though they haue byn hole of longe tyme, neuerthelesse they feele hurte and complayne of the eatynge of these Iuannas, as hath byn often tymes proued by experience.
There are founde in the fyrme lande certeyne byrdes so lyt∣tle that the hole body of one of theym is no bygger then the toppe of the byggest fynger of a mans hande:* 1.8 and yet is the hare body withowt the fethers not paste halfe so bygge. This byrde, besyde her lyttlenes,* 1.9 is of such velocitie and swyftnes in flying that who so seeth her sleing in the ayer, cā not se her flap or beate her winges after any other sort then do the dor¦res or hūble bees or betels: so that there is no man that see••h her flie, that wold think her to be any other thē a dorre. They make their nestes accordyng to the proportiō of their b••gnes. And I haue scene that one of these byrdes with her nest put in a paire of gold weights, altogether hath ward no more thē ii. Tomini, which are in poise .24. grams, with the fethers w••th out the which she shulde haue wayed sumwhat le••se. And do••bt lesse when I consider the fynenesse of the clawes and feete of these birdes, I knowe not whervnto I may better liken them then to the lyttle byrdes whiche the lymmers of bookes are accustomed to paynte on the margentes of churche bookes and other bookes of deuine seruice. Their fethers are of ma∣ny faire colours as golden yelowe and greene beside other va∣riable colours. Thei•• beake is verye longe for the proportion of theyr bodies: and as fyne and subtile as a sowyng nedle. They are very hardye: so that when they see a man clyme the tree whe••e they haue theyr nestes, they ••lye at hys face and stryke hym in the eyes, commyng, goynge, and retournynge
with such swyftnes, that no man wolde lightly beleue it that hath not seene it. And certenly these byrdes are so lyttle, that I durst not haue made mention hereof if it were not that di∣uers other which haue seene them as wel as I, can beare wit¦nes of my saying. They make their nestes of flockes and heare of cotten wherof there is great plentie in these regions, and serueth wel for theyr purpose. But as touchyng the byrdes, foules, and beastes of these Indies, bycause they are innume∣rable bothe lyttle and greate, I intende not to speake muche heare, bycause I haue spoken more largely hereof in my gene∣rall hystorye of the Indyes.
There is an other kynde of beastes seene in the firme land which seemed very straunge and marueilous to the Chrystian men to beholde,* 1.10 and muche differynge from all other beastes which haue byn seene in other partes of the worlde. These beastes are cauled Bardati:* 1.11 And are foure footed, hauing their raile and al the rest of theyr bodies couered onely with a skyn lyke the coperture of a barbed horse or the chekered skynne of a lysarte or Crocodyle, of coloure betwene whyte and russet, inclynynge sumwhat more to whyte. This beast, is of forme and shape much lyke to a barbed horse with his barbes and flankettes in all poyntes. And from vnder that which is the barbe and coperture, the tayle commeth foorth, and the feete in theyr place, the necke also and the eares in theyr partes, and in fyne all thynges in lyke sorte as in a barbed courser. They are of the bygnes of one of these common dogges. They are not hurtfull. They are fylthy, and haue theyr habitation in certen hillockes of earthe where digginge with there feete they make their dens very deepe & the holes therof in like ma¦ner as do connyes. They are verye excellent to be eaten, and are taken with nettes and sum also killed with crosbowes. They are lykewise taken often tymes when the husband men burie the stubble in sowyng time, or to renewe the herbage for kyne and other beastes. I haue often times eaten of their fleshe which semeth to me of better tast then kyddes fleshe, and hol∣some to be eaten. And if these beastes had euer byn seene in these partes of the woorlde where the first barbed horses had their original, no man wold iudge but that the forme and fas∣shion of the coperture of horses furnished for the warres was fyrste deuysed by the syght of these beastes.
There is also in the firme lande an other beaste cauled Or∣so Formigaro that is, the Ante beare.* 1.12 This beaste in heare and coloure, is much lyke to the beare of Spayne, and in maner of the same makynge saue that he hath a much longer snowt and is of euyll syght. They are often tymes taken only with slaues without any other weapon, and are not hurtful. They are also taken with dogges bycause they are not naturally ar∣med althowgh they byte sumwhat. They are founde for the moste parte about and neare to the hyllockes where are great abundaunce of antes.* 1.13 For in these regions is engendered a certeyne kynde of antes very lyttle and blacke, in the fyeldes and playnes where as growe no trees, where by thinstinct of nature these antes separate them selues to engender far from the wooddes for feare of these beares: The whiche bycause they are fearefull, vyle, and vnarmed (as I haue sayde) they keepe euer in places full of trees vntyll very famen and neces∣sitie, or the great desire that they haue to fiede of these antes, cause them to coomme owt of the wooddes to hunte for them. These antes make a hyllocke of earth to the heyght of a man, or sumwhat more or lesse, and as bygge as a great chest, and sumtymes as bygge as a butte or a hogges head, and as hard as a stone: So that they seeme as thoughe they were stones set vp to lymytte thendes and confines of certeyne landes.
Within these hyllockes made of most harde earth, are innu∣merable and infinite lyttle antes, the which may bee gathered by busshelles when the hyllocke is broken. The which when it is sumtymes moysted by rayne and then dryed ageyne by the heate of the soone, it breaketh and hath certeyne smaul ryftes as lyttle and subtyle as the edge of a knyfe. And it se∣meth that nature hath gyuen sense to these Antes to fynde such a matter of earth wherwith they may make the sayde hil¦locke of suche hardenes that it may seeme a stronge pauement made of lyme and stone. And wheras I haue proued and cau¦sed sum of them to bee broken, I haue founde theim of suche hardenes as if I had not seene I coulde not haue beleaued: In so muche that they coulde scarsely bee broken with pykes of Iren: So stronge fortresses doo these lyttle beastes make for theyr sauegarde ageynst theyr aduersarie the beare, who is chiefely nurysshed by them, and gyuen them as an enemie, accordynge to the common prouerbe which sayth, Non ••alcun••
persona filibera, a chim••nchi il suo Bargello: That is, there is no mā so fre that hath not his persecutour or pryuie enemie. And here whē I consyder the maruelous prouidence which nature hath gy∣uen to these lyttle boddies, I caule to remembraunce the wit¦tie sentence of Plinie, where speakyng of such lyttle beastes, he sayth thus. Why doo we maruayle at the towrebearynge shoulders of Elephantes, and not rather where nature hathe placed so many sences and suche industry in suche lyttle bod∣dies? where is hearynge, smellynge, seeinge, and feelynge, ye, where are the vaynes & arteries (without which no beaste can lyue or moue) in these so lyttle boddies whereof sume are so smaule that theyr hole boddies can scarsely be sene of owr eyes, what shall we then saye of the partes of the same? Yet euen amonge these are there many of such sagacitie and indu¦strye as the lyke is not seene in beastes of greater quantitie, no nor yet in man. &c. But to returne to the hystorie. This enemie which nature hath gyuen to these lyttle beastes, vseth this maner to assayle them. When he resortethe to the hyl∣locke where the antes lye hid as in theyr fortresse, he putteth his toonge to one of the ryftes wherof we haue spoken being as subtyle as the edge of a swoorde, and there with continu∣all lyckynge, maketh the place moyst, the fome and froth of his mouth beinge of such propertie that by continual lycking the place, it enlargeth the ryfte in such sort by lyttle and lyt¦tle, that at the length he easely putteth in his toonge whiche he hath very longe and thynne, and much disproportionate to his bodye. And when he hath thus made free passage for his toonge into the hyllocke to put it easely in and owt at his pleasure, then he thrusteth it into the hole as farre as he can reache, and so letteth it reste a good space vntyl a great quan¦titie of the antes (whose nature reioyseth in heate and moy∣ster) haue laden his tonge and as many as he can conteyne in the holownesse therof: at which tyme he suddeynly draweth it into his mouth and eateth them, and returneth ageyne to the same practise immediatly vntyl he haue eaten as manye as hym lysteth, or as longe as he can reache any with his tonge. The flesshe of this beaste, is fylthy and vnsauery. But by rea¦son of thextreme shyftes and necessitie that the Christian men were put to at theyr fyrst commynge into these partes, they were inforced to proue al thynges and so fel to theatyng of
these beastes. But when they had founde more delycate mea∣tes, they fell into hatred with this. These antes haue thap∣peraunce of the place of theyr enteraunce into the hyllocke, vnder the grounde. And this at so lyttle a hole that it could hardely be founde yf certeyne of them were not seene to passe in and owt. But by this way the beares coulde haue no such poure to hurte them as aboue at the sayde ryftes as I haue sayde. There is an other strange beaste whiche by a name of contrary effecte,* 1.14 the Spanyardes caule Cagnuolo leggiero, that is the lyght dogge, wheras it is one of the sloweste beastes in the worlde, and so heauy and dull in mouynge that it canne scarsely go fyftie pases in a hole day. These beastes are in the firme lande, and are very straunge to beholde for the dispro∣portion that they haue to all other beastes. They are abowte two spannes in length when they are growne to theyr full byggenesse. But when they are very younge, they are sume∣what more grosse then longe. They haue foure subtyle fiete, and in euery of them foure clawes lyke vnto byrdes, and ioy∣ned togyther. Yet are nother theyr clawes or theyr fiete able to susteyne theyr bodyes from the grounde. By reason wher∣of and by the heauynesse of theyr boddies, they drawe theyr bellyes on the grounde. Theyr neckes are hygh and streyght and all equall lyke the pestle of a morter, which is altogyther equall euen vnto the toppe withowt makynge any proporti∣on or similitude of a headde, or any dyfference excepte in the noddle. And in the toppes of theyr neckes, they haue verye rounde faces much lyke vnto owles: And haue a marke of theyr owne heare after the maner of a cyrcle whiche makethe theyr faces seeme sumwhat more longe then large. They haue smaule eyes and rounde: And nostrylles lyke vnto munkeys. They haue lyttle mouthes, and moue theyr neckes frome one syde to an other as thoughe they were astonysshed. Theyr chiefe desyre and delyte is to cleaue and stycke faste vnto trees or sume other thynge whereby they may clyme alofte. And therfore for the moste parte, these beastes are founde vppon trees whervnto cleauynge fast, they mounte vp by lyttle and lyttle, steyinge them selues by theyr longe clawes. The co∣loure of theyr heare, is betwene russet and whyte, and of the proper coloure of the heare of a wesell. They haue no tayles, and theyr voyce is much dyfferynge frome other beastes: for
they synge onely in the nyght: And that continually frome tyme to tyme syngynge euer syxe notes one hygher then an o∣ther, so faulynge with the same that the fyrste note is the hyghest and the other in a baser tewne as yf a man shuld say La, sol, fa, mi, re, vt. So this beast sayth, Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ha. And doubtelesse, it seemeth vnto me, that as I haue sayde in the chapiter of the beaste cauled Bardari, that those beastes might bee thoriginall and document to imbarbe horses, euen so the fyrste inuenture of musycke myght seeme by the hearynge of this beast to haue the fyrst principles of that scyence rather then by any other thynge in the worlde. But nowe to returne to the hystorie: I say that in a shorte space after this beaste hath soonge and hath paused a whyle, she returneth ageyne to the selfe same songe, and doth this only in the nyght and not in the day. By reason wherof and also bycause of her e∣uyll syght, I thynke her to bee a nyght beaste and the frende of darkenesse. Sumtymes the Christian menne fynde these beastes and brynge theym home to theyr howses, where also they creepe all abowte with theyr naturall slowenesse, in so much that nother for threatenynge or pryckynge they wyll moue any faster then theyr natural and accustomed pase. And yf they fynde any trees, they creepe thyther immediatly, and mounte to the toppe of the hyghest braunche thereof, where they remayne continually for the space of eyght, or tenne, or twentie dayes without eatynge of any thinge as farre as any man can iudge. And wheras I my selfe haue kepte theym in my house, I coulde neuer perceaue other but that they lyue onely of ayer. And of the same opinion are in maner all men of those regions, bycause they haue neuer scene them eate any thynge, but euer turne theyr heades and mouthes towarde that parte where the wynde b••oweth most: whereby may bee consydered that they take moste pleasure in the ayer. They byte not, nor yet can byte, hauyng very lyttle mouthes. They are not venemous or noyous any way: but altogyther brutishe and vtterly vnprofytable and without commoditie yet know∣en to men, sauynge onely to moue theyr myndes to contem∣plate thinfinite poure of god, who delyteth in the varietie of creatures, wherby appeareth the poure of his incomprehen∣sible wisedome and maiestie so farre to excede the capacitie of mans vnderstandynge.
In these regions there are likewise found certeyne foules or byrdes which the Indians caule Alcatraz.* 1.15* 1.16 These are much bygger then geese. The greatest parte of theyr fethers are of russet coloure, and in sume partes yelowe. Theyr bylles or beakes are of two spannes in length and verye large neare to the heade, and growynge smaule towarde the poynte. They haue greate and large throtes: And are much lyke to a foule which I sawe in Flaunders in Brusselles in yowre maiesties pallaice which the Flemynges caule Haina. And I remember that when yowr maiestie dyned one day in yowre great haule there was brought to yowre maiesties presence a chauderne of water with certeyne fysshes alyue, which the sayde foule did eate vp hole. And I thynke verely that that foule was a foule of the sea bycause shee had fiete lyke foules of the water as haue also these Alcatrazi, which are likewyse foules of the sea: and of such greatnesse that I haue seene a hole cote of a man put into the throates of one of theym in Panama in the yeare 1521. And forasmuch as in that coaste of Panama,* 1.17 there pas∣seth and flyeth a greate multitude of these Alcatrazi beinge a thynge very notable, I wyll declare the maner hereof as not onely I, but also dyuers other nowe presente in yowre ma∣iesties courte haue often tymes seene. Yowre maiestie shall therfore vnderstande that in this place (as I haue sayde be∣fore) the sea or Sur ryseth and fauleth two leagues and more from syxe houres to syxe houres: so that when it increaseth, the water of the sea arryueth so neare to the houses of Panama as doth owre sea (cauled Mare Mediteraneum) in Barzalona or in Naples. And when the sayd increasyng of the sea commeth, there commeth also therwith such a multitude of the smaule fysshes cauled sardynes, that it is so marueylous a thynge to beholde, that no man wolde beleue it that hath not seene it. In so much that the Cacique, (that is) the kynge of that land at such tyme as I dwelt there, was bounde dayly as he was commaunded by yowre maiesties gouernour, to brynge ordy∣naryly three canoas or barkes full of the sayde sardynes and to vnlade the same in the markette place, whiche were after∣warde by the ruler of the citie diuyded amonge the Christian men without any coste or charge to any of them. In so much that yf the people had bin a much greater multitude then they were, and as many as are at this presente in Toledo or more,
and had none other thynge to lyue by, they myght haue byn sufficiently susteyned by these sardynes, bysyde thouerplus which shulde haue remayned. But to returne to the foules wherof we haue spoken. As the sea commeth, and the sar∣dynes with the same, euen so lykewyse coome the sayde Alca∣trazzi therwith: and flye continually ouer it in suche a multy∣tude, that they appeare to couer thupper parte or floure of the water. And thus continue in mountynge and faulynge from the ayer to the water, and from the water to the ayer du¦rynge all the tyme of theyr fysshynge. And as soone as they haue taken any of these sardynes, they flye aboue the water and eate them incontinently, and suddeynly returne ageyne to the water for more, continuing thus course by course with owt ceasynge. In lyke maner when the sea fauleth, they fo¦lowe there fysshynge as I haue sayde. There goethe also in the company of these foules, an other kynde of foules cauled Coda inforcata, (that is) the forked tayle, whereof I haue made mention before. And as soone as the Alcatraz mounteth from the water with her pray of the sardynes, suddeynly this Coda inforcata gyueth her so many strokes, and so persecuteth her, that shee causeth her to let faule the sardynes which shee hath in her mouth. The which as soone as they are faulne, and be¦fore they yet touch the water, the Coda inforcata catcheth them euen in the faule, in suche sorte that it is a great pleasure to beholde the combatte betwene them all the daye longe. The number of these Alcatrazzi is such, that the Chrystian menn•• are accustomed to send to certeyne Ilandes and rockes which are neare abowte Panama, with theyr boates or barkes to tak•• these Alcatrazzi whyle they are yet younge and can not flye: and kyll as many of them with staues as they wyll, vntyll they haue therwith laden theyr barkes or canoas. These younge ones are so fatte and wel fedde that they can not bee eaten. And are taken for none other intent but only to make grease for candels to burne in the nyght, for the whiche pur∣pose it serueth very well: and gyueth a cleare lyght, and bur¦neth easely. After this maner and for this purpose, innume∣rable of them are kylde. And yet it seemeth that the number of them that fysshe for sardynes doo dayly increase
There are other foules cauled Passere sempie:* 1.18 that is, simple sparowes. These are sumwhat lesse then semewes: and haue
theyr fiete lyke vnto great malardes: And stande in the wa∣ter sumtymes. And when the shyppes sayle fyftie or a hun∣dreth leaques abowte the Ilandes, these foules beholdynge the shyppes commyng towarde them, breake theyr flyght and faule downe vpon the sayle yardes, mastes, and cables therof. And are so simple and folyshe that they tary vntyll they maye easely be taken with mens handes, and were therefore cauled of the maryners simple sparowes. They are blacke, and vp∣pon their blacke, haue theyr headde and shoulders of fethers of a darke russet coloure. They are not good to bee eaten, al∣thowgh the mariners haue sumtimes bin inforced to eate thē.
There is an other kynde of byrdes in the fyrme lande, which the Christians caule Picuti,* 1.19 bycause they haue very great beakes in respecte of the lyttlenesse of theyr boddies: For theyr beakes are very heauy and waye more then theyr hole boddyes bysyde. These byrdes are no bygger then quayles, but haue a much greater bushement of fethers, in so much that theyr fethers are more then theyr boddies. Theyr fethers are very fayre and of many variable coloures. Theyr beakes are a quarter of a yarde in length or more, and bendynge downe towarde the earthe, and three fyngers brode neare vnto the heade. Theyr tonges are very quilles, wherwith they make a greate hyssynge. They make holes in trees with theyr bea∣kes, in the which they make theyr nestes. And surely these byrdes are maruelous to beholde for the great difference whi∣che they haue from all other byrdes that I haue seene, aswel for theyr toonges (which are quylles as I haue sayde) as also for the strangenesse of theyr syght and disproportion of their greate beakes in respect of the rest of theyr boddies. There are no byrdes founde that prouyde better for the safegarde of theyr younge in the tyme of theyr breedynge to bee withowte daunger of wylde cattes that they enter not into theyr nestes to destroye theyr egges or younge. And this aswell by the straunge maner of buyldyng theyr nestes, as also by theyr owne defence. And therfore when they perceaue that the cat∣tes approche towarde them, they ente•• into theyr nestes: and holdynge theyr beakes towarde thenteraunce of the same, stande at theyr defence, and so vexe the cattes that they cause them to leaue theyr enterpryse.
There are also other byrdes of sparowes, whiche the
Christians by contrary effect caule Matti, that is fooles. Wher¦as neuerthelesse there is no byrde that sheweth more wyt and crafte in defendynge her younge from perell.* 1.20 These byrdes are lyttle and in maner blacke, and sumewhat bygger then owre thrusshes. They haue certeyne whyte fethers in theyr neckes, and the lyke sagacitie or sharpenes of sense as haue the byrdes or pyes cauled Gazzuole. They seldome tymes light vppon the earth. They make theyr nestes in trees separated from other, bycause the wylde cattes (cauled Mammoni) are ac¦customed to leape frome tree to tree, not descendynge to the grounde for feare of other beastes, excepte when they are en¦forced by thyrste to coomme downe to drynke at suche tymes as they are sure not to bee molested. And for this cause doo not these byrdes make theyr nestes but in trees farre diuyded from other. They make them of a cubette in length or more, after the maner of bagges or lyttle sackes, large at the bot∣tome, and growynge narower and narower towarde the mouth whereby they are fastened: hauynge the hole whereat they enter into the sacke, of such byggenes as may onely suf¦fice to re••eaue them. And to thende that the cattes maye not deuoure theyr younge yf they chaunce to mounte vppon the trees where they haue theyr nestes, they vse an other crafte, which is, to make theyr nestes in thycke braunches of trees, and to defende the same with sharpe and stronge thornes im∣plycate and set in such order that no man is able to make the lyke. So that the cattes can by no meanes put theyr legges into the hole of the neste to take owte the younge byrdes, as∣well for the sharpenes of the thornes as also for the depth of the nestes, in the bottome wherof, the younge birdes rest with owt daunger of theyr enemie. For sum of theyr nestes beynge three or foure spannes in lengthe, the legge of the catte can not reache to the bottome therof. They vse also an other pol¦licie: which is, to make many of theyr nestes in one tree. The which they doo for one of these two causes: that is, that ey∣ther of theyr owne naturall disposition they are accustomed to go in great multitudes, & reioyse in the company of theyr owne generation as do the byrdes which we caule stares, or elles to thintent that yf it shoulde so chaunce that the cattes shulde clyme the trees where they make theyr nestes, they might bee a greater company to resyste and molest the cattes,
at whose approch they make a feareful and terrible cry, wher¦by the cattes are put to flyght.
Furthermore, in the firme land, and in the Ilandes, there are certeyne byrdes cauled Piche or Gazzuole,* 1.21 sumewhat lyke vnto those which we caule woodwaules, or woodpeckes, be∣inge lesse then owrs of Spayne. These are altogither blacke, and go hoppynge and leapyng. Theyr beakes are also blacke and of the same fasshyon as are the popingiays beakes. They haue longe tayles, and are sumwhat bygger then s••ares.
There are other byrdes cauled Pintadelli,* 1.22 whiche are lyke vnto certeyne greene byrdes whiche the Italyans caule Frin∣guelli: and are of seuen coloures. These byrdes for feare of the cattes, are euer woonte to make theyr nestes ouer the bankes of ryuers or the sea, where the braunches of trees so reache ouer the water that with a lyttle weyght they maye bowe downe to the water. Theyr nestes are made so neare the top∣pes of the braunches that when the cattes coome theron, the braunches bende towarde the water, and the cattes turne backe ageyne for feare of faulynge. For althoughe no beaste in the worlde bee more malicious then this, yet whereas the moste parte of beastes are naturally inclyned to swymme, this catte hath no maner of aptenesse thereunto, and is therefore soone drowned or strangeled in the water, and by a pryuie sense of nature feareth the daunger which he can not escape. These byrdes make theyr nestes in suche sorte, that althowgh they bee weete and fylled with water, yet doo they so sudden¦ly ryse vp ageyne, that the younge byrdes are not thereby hurte or drowned.
There are also many nyghtyngales and other byrdes whi¦che synge maruelously with great melodie and dyfference in syngynge. These byrdes are of maruelous dyuers coloures the one from the other. Sum are altogither yelowe, and sum other of so excellente, delectable, and hyghe a coloure as it weare a rubye. Other are also of dyuers and variable co∣loures: sum of fewe coloures, and other sume all of one co∣loure: beinge all so fayre and bewtifull, that in bryghtnesse and shynynge they excell all that are seene in Spayne, or Ita∣ly or other prouinces of Europe. Many of these are taken with nettes, lyme twygges, and sprynges of dyuers sortes.
Dyuers other sortes of greate foules lyke vnto Eagles,* 1.23
and suche other as lyue of pray, are founde in the firme lande of suche diuersitie, that it is in maner impossible to descrybe them all particularly. And forasmuche as I haue more large¦ly intreated hereof in my generall hystorie of the Indies, I thynke it not requysite here to make anye further mention of the same.
Nigua.
Uypers,
Adders.
Dragons,
Spyders,
Crabbe••▪
Serpentes cauled Iuan∣••i.
Byrdes.
A very lyttle byrde.
Beastes.
Bardati.
Beares.
Antes.
A straunge beast whiche seemeth a kynd of Cha∣meleon.
Foules, and byrdes,
Alcatraz,
Panama▪
P••ssere sempie.
Picuti.
Folysshe spa∣rowes.
Gazz••ole.
Pintadelli.
Great foules