The decades of the newe worlde or west India conteynyng the nauigations and conquestes of the Spanyardes, with the particular description of the moste ryche and large landes and ilandes lately founde in the west ocean perteynyng to the inheritaunce of the kinges of Spayne. ... Wrytten in the Latine tounge by Peter Martyr of Angleria, and translated into Englysshe by Rycharde Eden.

To the reader.

ALthough amonge dyuers which haue wrytten of the Ocean and Weste Indies, there is none to be compared to Peter Martyr of Angleria, in declarynge by philosophical discourses the secreate causes of naturall affectes bothe as touchynge the lande, the sea, the starres, and other straunge woorkes of nature, yet forasmuche as of later dayes those countreys haue byn better knowen and searched, and dyuers suche particular and notable thynges founde as are contey∣ned in the hystories of later wryters, emonge the number of whom, Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus, (whom lerned Cardanus com¦pareth to the ancient writers) is doubtles the chiefe, I haue therfore thought good to ioyne to the Decades of Peter Mar¦tyr certeyne notable thynges which I haue gathered owte of his booke intiteled the Summarie or abbrigement of his ge∣nerall hystorie of the west Indies wrytten in th•• firme lande of the same in the citie of Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariena (where he dwelte and was gouernoure many yeares) And dedicated to Themperous maiestie, as maye appeare by the epystell fo∣lowynge.

¶ To the most hygh and myghtie prince Charles the fyfte of that name: Emperour of Rome, Kynge of Spayne, and of the twoo Sicilies, of bothe the sydes of the streyght of Faro, Kynge of Hierusalem and Hungarie, Duke of Burgonie and Earle of Flaunders, Lorde and inheritoure of the firme lande and Ilandes of the Weste Ocean. &c. Gonzalus Ferdinandus Oui∣edus his most humble seruant wysheth health and per∣petual felicitie.

THe thynges whiche principally preserue and mayntayne the woorkes of nature in the memo¦ries of men, are hystories and bookes compo∣sed of the same. Amonge the whiche certes those are esteemed moste trewe and autentyke which haue byn wrytten by wyttie and expert

men well trauayled in the worlde, as faythfull wytnesses of suche thynges as they haue partely seene and byn partely in∣formed by credible persons. Of this mynde and opinion was Plinie, who better then any other autoure hathe wrytten in xxxvii. bookes al that perteyneth to the naturall historie, con¦teyned al in one volume dedicated to Uespasian Themperour. Wherein, as a prudente historiographer, he declareth suche thynges as he had harde: Attributynge the seconde autoritie to suche as he had redde in autoures that wrote before hym: And thyrdely ioyned to the same hystorie, such thynges as he hym selfe had seene as moste certeyne testimonie. Whose exem¦ple I folowynge, wyl in this my breefe summarie reduce and represent to yowr maiesties memorie such thynges as I haue seene in yowre Empyre of the West Indies aswell in the I∣landes as in the firme lande of the Ocean sea, where I haue serued nowe more then twelue yeares in the place of suruoy∣er of the golde mynes by the commaundemente of the Catho∣lyke kynge Don Fernando the fyfte of that name and graundfa∣ther vnto yowre maiestie, to whom god gaue great fame and glorie. Sense whose death also I haue lykewies serued and trust whyle the rest of my lyfe yet remayneth, to serue yowre maiestie as shall please yowe to commaunde. As touchynge which thinges and such other lyke, I haue more largely writ¦ten in a hystorie begunne as sone as my age was rype to take suche matters in hande. Wherein furthermore I haue made mention of suche thynges as haue chaunced in Spaine, from the yeare .1494. vnto this tyme. Addynge also thereunto suche thynges woorthy memorie as I haue obserued in other realmes and prouinces where I haue trauayled. And haue likewise particulerly wrytten the lyues and woorthy actes of the catholyke Princes of famous memorie Don Ferdinando and lady Elizabeth his wyfe to theyr last dayes. After whose fru¦ition of heauenly Paradyse, I haue noted suche thynges as haue chaunced in yowre most fortunate succession. Not omit¦tynge particularly to wryte a large booke of such thynges as haue seemed moste woorthy to bee noted as touchynge yowre maiesties Indies. But for asmuche as that volume remaineth in the citie of San. Dominico in the Ilande of Hispaniola where I dwell and am placed in housholde with wyfe, chyldren, and famelie, I haue brought no more with me of that my wri¦tynge

then I beare in memorie. Determynynge notwithstan∣dynge for yowre maiesties recreation to make a breefe rehear¦sall of certeyne notable thynges wherof I haue more largely entreated in my sayde general historie, and such as may seeme moste woorthy to bee redde of yowre maiestie. Of the which, although a great parte haue byn wrytten by other who haue also seene the same, yet perhappes they are not so exactly and particularly described as of me, forasmuche as in maner all that trauayle into these Indies haue greater respecte to luker and gaynes then diligently to searche the woorkes of nature wherunto I haue byn euer naturally inclyned, and haue ther¦fore with all possible endeuour applyed myne eyes and intel∣ligence to fynde the same. And this presente Summarie shall not bee contrary or dyuers from my larger historie wherin (as I haue sayde) I haue more amplye declared these thynges: but shal onely more breefely expresse theffect therof vntyl such tyme as Godde shal restore me to myne owne house, where I may accomplyshe and fynishe my sayd general hystorie. Where vnto to gyue the fyrst principle, I say that Don Christopher Colonus (as it is well knowen) beinge the fyrste Admyrall of this India, discouered the same in the dayes of the Catho∣lyke kynge Don Ferdinando and the ladye Elyzabeth his wyfe, graundfather and graundmother vnto yowre maiestie: In the yeare .1491. And came to Barzalona in the yeare 1492. with the fyrst Indians and other shewes and profes of the great ryches and notice of this west Empire. The whi∣che gyfte and benefyte was suche, that it is vnto this daye, one of the greatest that euer any subiect or seruant hath done for his prince or countrey, as is manifeste to the hole worlde. And to saye the trewth, this shall doubtlesse bee so commodi∣ous and profytable vnto the hole realme of Spayne, that I repute hym no good Castilian or Spanyarde that doothe not recognise the same. And (as I haue sayde before) foras∣much as in my sayde generall historie I haue more largely in¦treated of these thynges, I intend at this present only briefe¦ly to rehearse certeyne especiall thynges, the whiche suerly are verye fewe in respecte of the thousandes that myght bee sayde in this behalfe. Fyrst therfore I wyl speake sumwhat of the nauigation into these parties. Then of the generati∣on of the nations whiche are founde in the same, with their

rytes, customes, and cerimonies. Also of beastes, foules, byrdes, woormes, fysshes, seas, ryuers, sprynges, trees, plantes, herbes, and dyuers other thinges which are engen∣dered boothe on the lande and in the water. And forasmuche as I am one of thorder and company of them that are appoin¦ted to returne into these regions to serue yowre maiestie, yf therfore the thynges conteyned in this booke shall not bee di¦stincte in such order as I promised to performe in my greater woorke. I desyre yowre maiestie to haue no respecte herevn¦to, but rather to consyder the noueltie of suche straunge thyn∣ges as I haue herein declared, whiche is the chiefe ende that moued me to write. Protestyng that in this Summarie I haue written the trewth of suche thynges as coome to my re∣membraunce: wherof not onely I my selfe can testifye, but also diuers other woorthy and credible men which haue bin in those regions, and are nowe presente in yowre maiesties courte. And thus it shal suffyce to haue saide thus much vn∣to yowre maiestie in maner of a proheme vnto this present worke which I most humbly desyre yowre maiesticas thank¦fully taccept, as I haue written it faythfully.

¶Of the ordinary nauygation from Spayne to the Weste Indies.

THe nauygation whiche is commonly made from Spayne to the Weste India, is from Siuile, where yowre maiestie haue yowre house of contractation for those partes, with also yowre offycers thervnto perteynynge, of whom the capitaines take their passeporte and lycence. The patrones of suche shyppes as are appoynted to these vyages, imbarke theym selues at san Luca di Barameda, where the ryuer Cuadalchiber entereth into the Ocean sea. And from hense they folowe their course to∣ward the Ilandes of Canarie. Of these seuen Ilandes, they commonly touche two, that is, eyther Grancanaria or Gomera▪ And here the shyppes are furnysshed with freshe water, fuell, cheese, biefe, and suche other thynges whiche may seeme re∣quisyte to be added to suche as they brynge with them owte of Spayne. From Spayne to these Ilandes, is coommonly

eyght dayes saylinge, or lyttle more or lesse. And when they are arryued there, they haue sayled two hundereth and fyftie leaques, whiche make a thousande myles, accomptyng foure myles to a leaque as is their maner to recken by sea. Depar∣tynge from the sayde Ilandes to folowe their course, the ship∣pes tary .xxv. dayes, or a lyttle more or lesse, before they see the fyrste lande of the Ilandes that lye before that whiche they caule La Spagnuola or Hispaniola. And the lande that is com∣monly fyrste scene, is one of these Ilandes whiche they caule Ogni sancti Marigalante (or Galanta) La Desseada (otherwise cauled Desy∣derata) Matanino, Dominica, Guadalupe, San. Christoual, or summe other of the Ilandes wherof there are a great multitude lyinge aboute these aforesaide. Yet it sumtymes so chaunceth that the ship∣pes passe withowte the syght of any of the sayde Ilandes, or any other that are within that course vntyll they coome to the Iland of Sancti Iohannis or Hispaniola, or Iamaica, or Cuba, whi∣che are before the other. It may also chaunce that they ouer passe all these likewyse, vntyll they faule vppon the coastes of the fyrme lande. But this chaunceth when the pylote is not well practised in this nauigation or not perfecte in the trewe carde. But makynge this viage with experte maryners (wherof there is nowe great plentie) one of the sayde fyrste Ilandes shall euer bee knowen. And from the Ilandes of Canarie to one of the fyrste of these, the distaunce is nyne hundreth leaques by saylynge, or more. And from hense to the citie of saynte Dominike which is in the Ilande of Hispa∣niola, is a hundreth and fyftie leaques: So that from Spayne hitherto, is a thousand and three hundreth leaques. Yet for asmuche as sumtimes the nauigation procedeth not so direct∣ly, but that it chaunceth to wander euer on the one syde or on the other, wee may well saye that they haue nowe sayled a thousande and fyue hundreth leaques and more. And if the nauigation be slowe by reason of summe hynderaunce, it com∣monly chaunceth to be fynisshed in .xxxv. or .xl. dayes. And this happeneth for the moste parte, not accomptynge the ex∣tremes: that is, eyther of them that haue slowe passage, or of them that arryue in verye shorte tyme. For wee owghte to consyder that which chaunceth most commonly. The returne from those partes to Spayne, is not fynysshed without lon∣ger tyme, as in the space of .l. dayes, or a lyttle more or lesse.

Neuerthelesse in this present yeare of .1525. there came foure shyps from the Iland of San Dominico to saint Luca in Spaine, in .xxv. dayes. But (as I haue sayd) we ought not to iudge of that whiche chaunceth seldome, but of that which happe∣neth most ordinarily. This nauigation is very safe and much vsed, euen vnto the sayd Ilande. And from this to the firme land, the shyppes trauerse diuers wayes for the space of fiue, syxe, or seuen dayes saylynge, or more, accordyng to the par∣tes or coastes whither they directe their vyages, forasmuche as the sayde fyrme lande is verye great and large, and many nauigations and vyages are directed to dyuers partes of the same. Yet to the fyrme land whiche is nearest to this Iland, and lyeth directly ageynst San Dominico, the passage is fynis∣shed in the tyme aforesayde. But it shalbe muche better to re∣mytte all this to the carde of these nauigations and the new Cosmographie, of the whiche no parte was knowen to Pto∣lomie or any other of the owlde wrytters.

¶Of twoo notable thynges as touchyng the West Indies: And of the great rychesse brought from thense into Spayne∴

AFter my vniuersall description of the historie of the Indies, there commeth to my remem∣beraunce two thynges chiefely to be noted as touchynge thempire of this West Indies per∣teynynge to the dominion of yowre maiestye. And these besyde the other particulars wher∣of I haue suffyciently spoken, are to be con∣sydered as thinges of great importaunce. Wherof, the one is the shortenesse of the way & with what expedition yowr ma∣iesties shyppes maye passe beyonde the mayne fyrme lande of these Indies into the newe Southe sea cauled Mare del Sur ly∣ynge beyond the same. And this to thintent to coome to the Ilandes where the spices growe, besyde the other innumera∣ble rychesse of the kingedomes and signiories whiche confin•• with the sayde sea where are so many people and nations of dyuers toonges and maners. The other thinge, is to consy∣der howe innumerable treasures are entered into Spayne by

these Indies, aswell that whiche commeth dayly from thense as also that is continually to bee looked for, bothe of golde and perle & other marchaunties which are first brought into this yowre realme of Spaine before they are seene of other nations or traded into other realmes. Wherby not onely this yowre realme is greatly inriched, but also the benefyte ther∣of redoundeth to the great profyte of other countreys which are neare thervnto. A testimonye of this, are the double du∣cades whiche yowre maiestie haue caused to bee coyned, and are disparsed throughowte the hole worlde. But after they are once pa••sed owt of this yowre realme, they neuer returne agein bycause they are the best curraunt money of the world. And therfore if after they haue byn in the handes of straun∣gers they chaunce to be retourned ageyne into Spaine, they coome disguised in an other habite, and are diminisshed of the goodnesse of their golde, with the stampe of yowre maie∣stye chaunged: So that if it were not for their suche defa∣cynges in other realmes for the cause aforesayde, there shulde not bee founde so great quantitie of fyne golde of the coyne of any prynce in the worlde as of powre maiesties. And the cause of all this, are yowre Indies.

¶Of the mynes of golde, and the ma∣ner of woorkynge in theym.

THis particular of the mynes of gold, is a thing greatly to bee noted: And I maye muche bet∣ter speake hereof then any other man, foras∣muche as there are nowe twelue yeares paste sense I serued in the place of the surueier of the meltynge shoppes perteynynge to the golde mynes of the firme lande, and was the gouernour of the my∣nes of the Catholyke kyng Don Ferdinando, after whose depar∣ture from this lyfe, I serued longe in the same roome in the name of yowr maiestie: By reason wherof, I haue had great occasion to knowe howe golde is founde and wrought owte of the mynes: And do knowe ryght well that this lande is exceadynge ryche: hauynge by my accompte and by the la∣bour of my Indians and slaues, gathered and fyned a great portion of the same: and may therfore the better affyrme this

by testimonie of syght. For I am well assured that in no part of Cas••ilia del oro, that is, golden Castile (otherwise cauled Bo∣ragua) no man coulde aske me of the mynes of golde, but that I durste haue bounde my selfe to haue discouered them in the space of ten leagues of the countrey where it shulde haue byn demaunded me, and the same to bee verye ryche. For I was alowed all maner of charges to make searche for the same. And although golde be founde in maner euery where in these regions of golden Castile, yet owght wee not in euery place to bestowe the trauell, and charge to get it owte, bycause it is of lesse quantitie and goodnesse in sum place then in sum. And the myne or beyne whiche owghte to be folowed, ought to bee in a place whiche may stande to saue muche of the char∣ges of the labourers, and for the administration of other ne∣cessary thinges that the charges may bee recompensed with gaynes. For there is no doubte but that golde shalbe founde more or lesse in euery place. And the golde whiche is founde in golden Castile, is verye good, and of .xxii. caractes or bet∣ter in fynesse. Furthermore, besyde this great quantitie of golde whiche I haue sayde to be founde in the mynes, there is also from day to day found or otherwise gotten, great trea¦sure of suche wrought gold as hath byn in the custodie of the subdued Indians and their kynges, aswell of suche as they haue gyuen for their fyne and raunsome, or otherwise as frendes to the Christians, besyde that whiche hath byn vpo∣lently taken from the rebelles. But the greatest parte of the wrought gold whiche the Indians haue, is base and holdeth sumwhat of copper. Of this they make braslettes and chaines and in the same they close their iewels whiche their women are accustomed to weare and esteeme more then all the richesse of the worlde. The maner howe golde is gathered, is this, eyther of suche as is founde in Za••ana, that is to saye in the plaines and riuers of the champian countrey being withowt trees, whether the earth be with gra••se or without. Or of su∣che as is sumtymes founde on the land without the riuers in places where trees growe, so that to coome by the same, it shalbe requisite to cutte downe many and great trees. But af∣ter whiche so euer of these two maners it be founde, eyther in the riuers or ruptures or breaches of waters, or elles in the earth, I wyll shewe howe it is founde in bothe these places,

and howe it is seperate and pourged. Therfore when the myne or veine is discouered, this chaunceth by serchyng and prouyng in suche places as by certeyne sygnes and tooken do appeare to skylfull men apte for the generation of golde and to holde golde. And when they haue founde it, they folowe the myne and labour it, whether it be in the ryuer or in the plaine as I haue sayde. And if it bee founde on the plaine, fyrst they make the place verye cleane where they intende to dygge. Then they dygge eyght or ten foote in length and as muche in breadth: but they goo no deeper then a spanne or two, or more as shall seeme best to the maister of the myne, dyggynge equally. Then they wa••he all the earthe whiche they haue taken owte of the sayde space. And if herein they fynde any golde, they folowe it. And if not, they dygge a spanne deeper, and washe the earth as they dyd before. And if then also, they fynde nothynge, they continue in dyggyng and wasshyng the earth as before vntil they come to the hard rocke or stone. And if in fyne they fynd no gold there, they fo∣lowe no further to seeke golde in that place, but go to an o∣ther parte. And it is to be vnderstode, that when they haue founde the myne, they folowe it in digginge in the same mea∣sure in leuell and deapth vntill they haue made an ende of al the myne which that place conteyneth, if it appere to be riche. This myne ought to consyst of certen feete or pases in length or breadth accordynge to certeyne orders determined. And within that compasse of earth, it is not lawfull for any other to dygge for golde. And where as endeth the myne of hym that fyrste founde the gold, immediatly it is lawfull for any other man that wyl, with a staffe to assygne hym selfe a place by the syde of the same, inclosynge it with stakes or pales as his owne. These mynes of Zauana (that is such as are found in the playnes) owght euer to bee sought neare to sum ryuer or brooke or springe of water, or dyke, or standyng poole, to thende that the golde maye bee wasshed, for the whiche pur∣pose they vse the laboure of certeyne Indians as they doo o∣ther in dygginge of the myne. And when they haue dygged owte the myne, they fyl certeine traies with that earth, whi∣che other Indians haue the charge immediatly to receaue at their handes, and to carye those treyes of earth to the water where it maye bee wasshed. Yet do not they that brynge it,

washe it, but delyuer it to other, puttynge it owte of their owne trayes into theirs which they haue ready in their han∣des to receaue it. These wasshers for the moste parte, are the Indian women, bycause this woorke is of lesse paine and trauayle then any other. These women when they washe, are accustomed to sytte by the waters syde, with their legges in the water euen vppe to the knees or lesse as the place serueth their purpose. And thus holdynge the trays with earth in their handes by the handles therof, and puttynge the same into the water, they moue them rownde aboute after the ma∣ner of syftynge, with a certeyne aptenesse in suche sorte that there entreth no more water into the trais then serueth their turne: And with the selfe same apte mouynge of their trais in the water, they euer auoyd the foule water with the earth owte of the one syde of the vessell, and receaue in cleane wa∣ter on the other side therof. So that by this meanes by little and lyttle, the water wassheth the earth as the lyghter sub∣staunce owte of the trais, and the golde as the heauier mat∣ter resteth in the bottome of the same, beyng rounde and ho∣lowe in the myddest lyke vnto a barbars basen. And when all the earth is auoyded, and the golde gathered togither in the bottome of the traye, they putte it aparte, and returne to take more earth, whiche they washe continually as ••efore. And thus they that laboure in this woorke, do gather dayly suche portion of golde as shal please god to graunt to the pa∣trones of these Indians and suche other as trauaile in the same. Furthermore, it is to bee noted that for euery two In∣dians that washe, it is requisite that two other serue them to brynge earthe from the myne, and other twoo to breake the same smaule and fylle their trais therwith. Also besyde these labourers, it is necessarye that there bee other people in the place where they woorke and reste in the nyghte. These are suche as make their breade, and prouyde for vyttayles and o∣ther necessaryes. So that to conclude, there are in all, fyue persons ordinarily assigned to euery traye of wasshers.

There is an other maner of woorkyng the mynes in riuers or brookes of runnynge waters. And this is, that in auoy∣dynge the water of his course, after that the beddes of the ryuers are drye and vtterlye emptied, they fynde golde e∣monge the breaches, cliftes, and ryftes of stones, and among

all that is in the bottome of the chanell, and where naturally the riuer runneth of greatest force. So that it chaunceth sum tyme, that when the bedde of the ryuer is good and ryche, they fynde in it great quantitie of golde. And therfore yowe maiestie ought to vnderstande for a generall rule, as it appe∣reth in facte, that all golde is engendered in the toppes and hyghest places of the montaines: And in continuance of time is by lyttle and lyttle browght downe to the vales and plai∣nes by showres of rayne, and the faules of sprynges, ryuers, and brookes hauynge their originall in the mountaynes and descendynge from the same, notwithstandynge it bee often∣tymes founde in the plaines farre from the mountaynes.

But when it chaunceth to be founde in great quantitie, it is for the moste parte amonge the mountaynes and in the riuers, or their branches, more then in any other parte of the plaine. And in these two maners is it commonly founde moste abun∣dauntly. And for the better profe that golde is engendered on hyghe, and is brought downe into the lowe places, I haue one great tooken therof whiche causeth me to beleue it for certeine. And this is to consyder that coles neuer putrifie nor corrupt vnder the ground, if they be made of stronge woodde. Wherby it chaunceth that diggyng the earth by the fouldes or indented places of the mountaynes, or on the sydes, and breakynge a myne in the earthe where it had not byn broken before, and hauyng nowe dygged one or two or three poles in measure, the myners founde certeyne coles of wood vnde•• the same leuel where they found gold. And this I saye in the earth whiche was taken for a vyrgine: that is to saye, such as had not before byn opened for any myne. The which coles coulde not naturally bee engendred there, or enter in by any meanes. But when the superficial part of the earth was equal with the leuel where the coles were founde, it is lyke that the coles were left there by sum occasion of fyre, & that they fast∣ned there in tyme, and that afterwarde in longe continuance of tyme, they were by lyttle and lyttle couered with the earth which the often showers of rayne washed from the mountay∣nes, so that by the course of yeares the earth ouergrewe the coles vnto the sayde leuell and measure whiche had before tyme byn the superficiall parte of the earthe where the coles and golde were founde togyther: whereby it maye appeare

that the golde was no more engendered there then were the coles, but brought thyther from the mountaynes by the fau∣les of waters as we haue fayde: forasmuche as the moun∣taynes are the matrices and bowels of all ryche metals. Fur∣ther and besyde this, I say that in how much more the gold is gonne farre from the naturall place of his generation to the place where it is founde, it is so muche the more puryfied and fyned and of a better carracte. And the nearer that it is founde to his proper myne or vaine where it is engendered, it is so muche the baser, fouler, and more crude, and of a ba∣ser alay and caracte, and dothe wast so much the more in mel¦tynge, and remayneth more brickle. Sumetyme there are founde graynes of golde of greate quantitie and of greate weyght aboue the earth and sumtymes also vnder the earth. And the greateste of all other that was founde to this daye in the Indies, was that which was loste in the sea about the Ilande Beata, whiche weyed three thousande and twoo hun∣dreth Castellans of golde, which are in value foure thousand a hundreth, thirtie and eyght ducades of golde, which waye one Arroua and seuen pounde, or .xxxii. pounde after .xii. oun∣ces to the pounde,* 1.1 whiche make threescore and foure markes of golde. And I sawe in the yeare .1515. in the handes of Mychel Passamonte treasurer to yowre maiestie, two graines of the which one wayde seuen poundes, which are .xiiii. mar∣kes, and are in the value aboute threescore and fyue ducades of golde euery marke. The other was of .x. markes, which are lyue poundes of lyke value, and of very good golde of .xxii. taractes and better. There are also founde many other greate graynes, although not equall vnto these in byggenes. And forasmuche as I haue spoken of golde, I haue thought good to declare sumewhat howe the Indians can very excel∣lently gylte suche vesselles of copper and base golde as they make. For they can gyue them so fayre and f••oryshynge a co∣loure, that all the masse whiche they gylte, appearethe as though it were golde of .xxii. caractes and better. This colour they gyue with a certeyne herbe as thoughe it were wrought by the arte of any goldesmyth of Spayne or Italie, and wold of them bee esteemed as a thynge of greate ryches, and a se∣create maner of gyldynge. And for as muche as I haue spo∣ken sufficiently of the myne of golde, I wyll nowe speake

sumwhat of copper bycause I haue made mention thereof. This metall is founde in many of the Ilandes of the Indies and also in the firme lande: And is founde dayely in greate quantitie holdynge sumwhat of golde. But for the desyre that owre men haue to golde, they nothynge esteeme the cop∣per, although there myght great commoditie and profi••te he had therby, and also by other metals whiche they nothynge regarde excepte syluer whiche is founde abundantly in that parte of the firme lande which is cauled newe Spayne. But of this it shall suffice to haue sayde thus muche, bycause I haue more particularly entreated of these thynges in my gene¦rall hystorie of India.

¶ Of the maner of fyshynge for perles.

THe Indians exercise this kynde of fysshynge for the moste parte in the coastes of the North in Cubagua and Cumana. And manye of theym which dwell in the houses of certeyne particu∣lar lordes in the Ilandes of San Dominico and Sancti Iohannis, resort to the Ilande of Cubagua for this purpose. Theyr custome is to go fyue, syxe, or seuen, or more in one of theyr Canoas or barkes erly in the mornynge to sume place in the sea there about where it appeareth vnto thē that there shulde bee greate plentie of those shell fyshes (which sume caule muscles and sume oysters) wherin perles are engen¦dered. And there they plonge them selues vnder the water, euen vnto the bottome, sauynge one that remaynethe in the Canoa or boate which he keepeth styll in one place as neare as he can, lookynge for theyr returne owte of the water. And when one of them hath byn a good whyle vnder the water, he cyseth vp and commeth swymmynge to the boate, enterynge into the same, and leauynge there all the oysters whiche he hath taken and brought with hym. For in these, are the perles founde. And when he hathe there rested hym selfe a whyle, and eaten parte of the oysters, he returneth ageyne to the water, where he remaynethe as longe as he can endure, and then ryseth ageyne, and swimmeth to the boate with his pray, where he restethe hym as before, and thus continueth course by course, as doo all the other in lyke maner, being all

moste experte swymmers and dyuers. And when the nyght draweth neare, they returne to the Ilande to theyr houses, and presente all the oysters to the master or stewarde of the house of theyr lorde who hath the charge of the sayde Indi∣ans. And when he hath gyuen them sumwhat to eate, he lay¦eth vp the oysters in safe custodie vntyll he haue a great quan¦titie therof. Then hee causeth the same fyssher men to open them. And they fynde in euery of theym pearles other great or smaul, two or three or foure, and sumtymes fiue and syxe, and many smaule graines accordyng to the lyberalitie of na∣ture. They saue the pearles bothe smaule and great whiche they haue founde••: And eyther eate the oysters if they wyl, or caste them away, hauynge so great quantitie therof that they in maner abhorre them. These oysters are of hard fleshe, and not so plesaunt in eatyng as are owres of Spayne. This Ilande of Cubagua where this maner of fysshing is exercised, is in the Northe coaste, and is no bygger then the Iland of Zelande. Oftentymes the sea increaseth greatly, and muche more then the fyshers for pearles wold, bycause where as the place is very depe, a man can not naturally rest at the bottome by reason of the aboundaunce of aery substaunce whiche is in hym, as I haue oftentymes proued. For althoughe he may by vyolence and force descende to the bottome, yet are his feete lyfted vp ageyne so that he can continue no tyme there. And therfore where the sea is verye deepe, these Indian fys∣shers vse to tye two great stoones aboute them with a corde, on euery syde one, by the weyght wherof they descend to the bottome and remayne there vntyl them lysteth to ryse ageine: At which tyme they vnlose the stones, and ryse vppe at their pleasure. But this their aptenesse and agilitie in swimming, is not the thynge that causeth men moste to maruaile: But rather to consyder howe many of them can stande in the bot∣tome of the water for the space of one hole houre, and summe more or lesse, accordynge as one is more apte hereunto then an other. An other thynge there is whiche seemeth to me ve∣ry straunge. And this is, that where as I haue oftentymes demaunded of summe of these lordes of the Indians, if the place where they are accustomed to fy••••e for pearles beynge but lyttle and narrowe, wyll not in shorte tyme bee vtterly withowt oysters if they consume them so faste, they al answe∣red

me, that althoughe they bee consumed in one parte, yet if they go a fysshynge in an other parte or an other coaste of the Ilande, or at an other contrary wynd, and continue fysshing there also vntyll the oysters be lykewyse consumed, and then returne ageyne to the fyrste place, or any other place where they fysshed before and emptied the same in lyke maner, they find thē ageine as ful of oysters as though they had neuer bin fysshed.* 1.2 Wherby we may iudge that these oysters eyther re∣moue from one place to an other as do other fysshers, or elles that they are engendered and encrease in certeyne ordinarie places. This Iland of Cumana and Cubagua where they fyshe for these perles, is in the twelfe degree of the part of the said coaste which incline••h toward the North. Lykewise pearles are founde and gathered in the South sea cauled Mare del Sur. And the pearles of this sea are verye bygge. Yet not so bigge as they of the Ilande of pearles cauled de las perlas, or Marga∣ritea, whiche the Indians caule Terarequi, lyinge in the goulfe of saincte Michael, where greatter pearles are founde and of greater price then in any other coaste of the Northe sea, in Cumana, or any other parte. I speake this as a trewe testi∣monie of syght, hauyng byn longe in that South sea, and ma¦kynge curious inquisition to bee certenly informed of al that perteyneth to the fysshynge of pearles. From this Ilande of Tararequi,* 1.3 there was brought a pearle of the fasshyon of a peace, wayinge .xxxi. carattes, whiche Petrus Arias had a∣monge a thousande and soo many poundes weight of other pearles whiche hee had when capitayne Gaspar Morales (before Petrus Arias) passed to the saide Ilande in the yeare .1515. whiche pearle was of great prise. From the saide I∣lande also, came a great and verye rounde pearle, whiche I brought owte of that sea. This was as bygge as a smaule pellet of a stone bowe, and of the weight of .xxvi. cacattes. I bought it in the citie of Panama in the sea of Sur: And paide for it syxe hundreth and fyftie tymes the weyght therof of good gold, and had it thre yeares in my custodie: and after my returne into Spaine, soulde it to therle of Nansao Marquesse of Zenete, great chamberleyne to yowre maiestie, who gaue it to the Marquesse his wyfe, the ladye Mentia of Mendozza. I thyncke verely that this pearle was the greatest, fayrest, and roundest that hath byn seene in those partes. For yowre

maiestie owght to vnderstande that in the coaste of the sea of Sur, there are founde a hundreth greate pearles rounde after the fasshyon of a peare, to one that is perfectely rounde and greate. This Ilande of Terarequi, which the Christians caule the Ilande of pearles, & other caule it the Ilande of floutes, is founde in the eyght degree on the southe syde of the firme lande in the prouince of golden Castyle or Beragua. And these are the coastes of the firme lande where pearles are founde euen vnto this day. I vnderstande also that there are pooles founde in the prouince and Ilandes of Cartageni••. And ••ence yowr maiestie appoynted me a gouernour and capytayne, I haue made further searche, and am aduertised that peatles are founde in dyuers other places as about the Iland of Gode¦go which lyeth ageynst the mouth of that porte of the Ilande of Carta••enia which the Indians caul Coro. The which Iland and porte, are on the North syde in the tenthe degree of the coastes of the firme lande.

¶ Of the familiaritie which certeyne of the Indians haue with the deuyll, and howe they receaue answere of hym of thynges to coome.

WHen the Indians begynne theyr batrayle, or go to any combat or attempte any other greate matter, they haue certeyne electe menne whom they reuerendely esteme and caule them Tequ••nas, whiche in theyr tonge is as muche to saye as masters. Notwithstandynge that they caule euery man that is cunnynge in any science, by the same name, as fysshers, foulers, hunters, or makers of nettes. These Tequinas therfore, they caule the masters of theyr aun••weres by¦cause they speake with Tuyra, that is th•• deuyll, and brynge them aunswere what he saythe, eyther as touchynge suche thynges as they haue to doo or shall chaunce to them the day folowynge, or many dayes to coome. For the deuyll beinge so auncient an Astronomer, knowethe the tymes of thynges and seeth howe they are naturally directed and inclin••d. And makethe theym beleue that they come so to passe by his ordy∣naunce, as though he were the lorde and mouer of all that is and shalbe: And that he gyueth the day lyght and ••ayne: cau¦seth

tempest and ruleth the stations of tymes, gyuyng lyfe or takynge awaye lyfe at his pleasure. By reason wherof, the Indians being deceaued of hym, and seing also such effectes to coome certeynely to passe as he hath tolde them before, be∣leue hym in all other thynges and honoure hym in many pla∣ces with sacrifyces of the bludde and liues of men and odori∣ferous spices. And when god disposeth the contrary to that whiche the deuell hath spoken in oracle wherby he is proued a lyer, he causeth the Taquin••s to perswade the people that he hath chaunged his mynde and sentence for summe of their synnes, or deuiseth summe suche lye as lyketh hym beste, be∣ynge a skylfull maister in suche subtile and craftie deuises to deceyue the symple and ignorant people whiche hath smaule defence against so mighty and craftie an aduersarie. And as they caule the deuell Tuyra, so doo they in many places caule the Christians by the same name, thynkyng that they greatly honoure them therby, as in deede it is a name very feete and agreable to many of them, hauynge layde aparte all honestie and vertue, lyuynge more lyke dragons then men amonge these symple people.

Before thinhabitauntes of the Ilande of Hispaniola had re∣ceaued the Christian faithe there was amonge them a secte of men whiche liued solytarily in the desertes and wooddes and ledde their lyfe in sylence and abstinence more straightly then euer dyd the phylosophers of Pythagoras secte, absteinyng in lyke maner from the eatyng of al thynges that liue by bludde contented onely with suche fruites, herbes, and rootes as the desertes and wooddes mynistred vnto them to eate. The pro∣fessours of this secte were cauled Piaces. They gaue them sel∣ues to the knowleage of naturall thynges, and vsed certeine secreate magicall operations and superstitions wherby they had familiaritie with spirites whiche they allured into theyr owne bodyes at suche tymes as they wolde take vppon them to tell of thynges to coome, whiche they dyd in maner as fo∣loweth. When any of the k••nges had occasyon to caule any of them owte of the desertes for this purpose, their custome was to sende them a portion of their fyne breade of Caxabbi or M••azium, and with humble requeste and sute to desyre them to tell them of suche thynges as they woulde demaunde. After the request graunted and the place and daye appoynted, the

Plari coometh with twoo of his disciples waytynge on hym, wherof the one bryngeth with hym a vessell of a secreate wa∣ter, and the other a lyttle syluer bell. When he coommeth to the place, he sytteth downe on a rounde seate made for hym of purpose. Where hauynge his disciples the one standynge on the one hande and the other on the other euen in the pre∣sence of the kyng and certeyne of his nobles (for the common people are not admytted to these misteries) and turnynge his face toward the deserte, he begynneth his inchauntment and cauleth the spirit with loude voyce by certeyne names which no man vnderstandeth but he and his disciples. After he hath dooen thus a while, if the spirite yet deferre his coommyng, he drynketh of the sayde water, and therwith waxeth hotte and furious, and inuerteth and turneth his inchauntement, and letteth hym selfe bludde with a thorne, marueilously tur∣moylyng hym selfe as wee reade of the furious Sybilles not ceasynge vntyl the spirite bee coome: who at his coommyng entereth into hym and ouerthroweth hym as it weare a gre∣hounde shulde ouerturne a squerell. Then for a space, he see∣meth to lye as thoughe he were in great payne or in a rapte, wonderfully tormentynge hym selfe, durynge whiche agonie, the other disciple shaketh the syluer bell contynually. Thus when the agonie is paste and he lyeth quietly (yet withowte any sence or feelyng) the kynge or summe other in his steade, demaundeth of hym what he desyreth to knowe, and the spi∣rite answereth by the mouth of the rapte Piaces with a directe and perfecte answere to all poyntes. In so muche that on a tyme certeyne Spanyardes beynge presente at these mysteries with one of the kinges, and in the Spanyshe tounge demaun∣dynge the Piaces of their shyppes whiche they looked for owte of Spayne, the spirite answered in the Indian toonge, and toulde them what daye and houre the sh••ppes departed from Spayne, how many they were, and what they brought with∣owt faylynge in any poynte. If he be also demaunded of the eclypse of the soonne or moone (which they greatly feare and abhorre) he geueth a perfecte answere, and the lyke of tem∣pestes, famen, plentie, warre or peace, and suche other thin∣ges. When all the demaundes are fynysshed, his disciples caule hym aloude, rynging the syluer bell at his eare and blo∣wynge a certeyne pouder into his nosethrilles wherby he is

raysed as it we••e from a deadesscape beinge yet sumewhat heauy headed and faynt a good whyle afect. Thus beinge a∣geyne r••w••••••ded of t••••cky••ge with more breade, he departeth ageyne to the desert is with his disciples. But sence the Chri¦stian fayth hath byn disparsed throwghe owte the Ilande, these deuyll 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pr••ouses haue ceased, and they of the mem∣bers of the deuyll, are made the members of Chryste by bap∣tisme, forsakynge the deuyll and his workes, with the vaine curiositie o•• desyre of knowleage of thynges to coome, wher∣of for the most part it is better to be ignorant then with vex∣ation to knowe that which can not be auoyded.

Furthermore; in many places of the firme lande, when any of the kynges dye, all his housholde seruauntes, aswell women as men which haue continually serued hym, kyl them selues, beleauynge as they are taught by the deuyl Tuyra, that they which kyll them selues when the kynge dyeth, go with hym to heauen and seene hym in the same place and office as they dyd before on the earth whyle he lyued. And that all that refuse so to doo, when after they dye by theyr naturall death or otherwyse, theyr soules to dye with theyr bodyes and to bee dissolued into ayer and become nothynge us do the soules of hogges, byrdes, or fysshes or other brute beastes. And that only the other may enioy the priuileage of immorta¦litie for euer to serue the kynge in heauen. And of this false opinion commeth it that they which sowe corne or set rootes for the kynges breade, and gather the same, are accustomed to kyll them selues that they may enioy this priuileage in hea¦uen. And for the same purpose, cause a portion of the graine of Maizium and a bundle of Iucca (wherof theyr breade is made) to bee buryed with them in theyr graues that the same maye serue them in heauen if perhappes there shuld lacke seedes to sowe. And therfore they take this with them to begyn with all, vntyl Tuyra (who maketh them all these fayre promisses) prouyde them of greater quantitie. This haue I my selfe sene in the toppe of the mountaynes of Guaturo, where hauynge in pryson the kynge of that prouince (who rebelled from thobe∣dience of yowre maiestie) and demaundynge of hym to whom perteyned those sepultures or graues whiche I sawe in his hou••e, he answered that they were of certeyne Indians whi¦che ••••ewe them selues at the death of his father. And bycause

they are oftentymes accustomed to burye greate quantities of wrought golde with them, I caused twoo graues to bee ope∣ned, wherein was nothynge founde but a vessell full of the grayne of Maizium, and a bundell of Iucca as I haue sayde. And demaundyng the cause hereof of the kinge and the other Indians, they aunswered that they that were buryed there, were the labourers of the grounde, and men skylful in sow∣ynge of seedes and makynge of breade, and seruauntes to the kynges father. And to thende that theyr soules shoulde not dye with theyr bodyes, they slewe them selues at the deathe of the kynge theyr master to lyue with hym in heauen. And to thintent that they myght seene him there in the same office they reserued that Maizium and Iucca to sowe it in heauen.

Wherunto I aunswered them in this maner. Beholde howe your Tuyra deceaueth yowe? And howe all that he teacheth yow is false? Yowe see how in so long a tyme sence they are deade, they haue not yet taken awaye this Maizium and Iucca which is nowe putrified and woorth nothynge, and not lyke to bee sowen in heauen. To this the kynge replyed, sayinge. In that they haue not taken it away nor sowen it in heauen, the cause is that they chaunced to fynde enowgh there, by rea¦son wherof they had no neade of this. To this errour manye thynges were sayde which seemed of lyttle force to remoue hym from his false opinion, and especially any such as at that age are occupyed of the deuyll, whom they paynt of the selfe same forme and coloure as he appereth vnto theym in dyuers shapes and formes. They make also Images of golde, copper and woodde, to the same similitudes in terrible shapes and so variable as the paynters are accustomed to paynt them at the feete of saynte Mychaell tharchangell or in anye other place where they paynt them of most horrible portiture. Lykewyse when the deuyll greatly intendeth to feare theym, he threte∣neth to sende them great tempestes which they caule Fu••acanas or Haurachanas, and are so vehement that they ouerthrowe ma¦ny howses and great trees. And I haue seene in montaynes full of many and greate trees, th••t for the space of three quar¦ters of a league the m••untayne hathe byn subuerted and the trees ouer••hrowen and plucked owte of the earthe with the rootes: a thynge doubtelesse so fearefull and terryble to be∣hold, that it may verely appere to be doen by the hand of the

deuyll. And in this case the Christian men ought to consider with good reason, that in al places where the holy sacrament is reserued, the sayd tempestes are no more so owtragious, or so perelous as they were wonte to bee.

¶ Of the temperature of the regions vnder or neare to the burnt lyue cauled Torrida zona or the Equinoctiall: and of the dyuers seasons of the yeare.

THe landes and regions that are neare about the clymes of the Equinoctiall lyne, are naturally hotte, althowghe they bee otherwise tem∣perate by the diuine prouidence. And therfore suche flesshe or fyshe as is taken and kylled in these regions, can not bee preserued from pu∣trefaction except it be tosted, sodden, or perboylde, the same daye that it is kylde. And wheras I haue sayde that such re¦gions are naturally hot, and yet temperate by the prouidence of god, it is so in deede. And therfore not without cause the auncient autours were of opinion that the burnte lyne or Tor∣rida zona where passeth the lyne of the Equinoctiall, shulde be vnhabitable by reason the soonne hath greater dominion in that place then in any other of the sphere, remaynynge conti¦nually betwene the two tropykes of Cancer and Capricorne. For when in these regions the earth is opened or dygged frō the superficial parte therof to the depth of a mans heyght, it is founde temperate. And within this space, the trees and plantes fasten and spreade their rootes, and no dieper. Exten¦dynge the same as farre in breadth in the ground as do the••r braunches in the ayer: And enter no dieper into the grounde then I haue sayde, bycause that beneth the depth of the said space of a mans heyght, the earth is verye hotte, the vpp••r parte beinge temperate and verye moyste aswell by reason of thaboundaunce of water whiche fauleth from heauen vppon that earth at certeyne ordinarie seasons of the yeare, as also for the multitude of great ryuers, brokes, sprynges and ma∣rysshes, wherby the myghtie and supreme lorde which made the••e landes, hath moste prudently prouyded for the preser∣uation of the same.

R. E. As touchynge this poynt whiche was vnknowen to the owlde wryters, and withowt consideration wherof rea••on can not perfectly conceaue howe temperate regione shulde be vnder the Equinoctiall lyne. I haue thought good for the better manifestynge of this ••ecreate woorke of nature, to note owte of Cardanus his booke de Elementis, howe all waters haue theyr cour••e toward the South as to the lowest part of the earth. he wayteth therefore as foloweth. The water was made of lesse quantitie then the earth and only in maner in the superficiall parte therof, that place might bee lefte for the habitation of beastes, and that water by his could∣nesse myght temperate and not destroy the lyfe of beastes. And bi∣cause this generation of lyuynge creatures, was only necessary on the superficiall partes of the earth in comparison to the hole, ther∣fore was the water made to occupie onely the superficiall parte, in the which, metals, plantes, beastes, and fysshes shulde bee nury∣shed. And bycause there was great perell least it shulde be to much con••umed by the ayer and heate of the soonne, continuall mouinge was ioyned to it, wherby it gathereth cou••denes and is preserued from sodeyne resolution. For suche waters as doo not moue▪ doo soone putrifie, and are easely resolued into ayer. By reason wherof nature prouyded for the generation of water in cou••de places, as vn¦der the coles and mountaynes. And whereas the earth vnder the Equinoctiall shu••de otherwi••e for lacke of moyster haue bin to much burned and scorched▪ nature also prouyded that that parte of the earth shulde bee lowest, by reason wh••reof all waters haue theyr course towarde the South to mitigate with moyster thextremitie of heate which otherwise shulde haue byn intollerable in that c••yme. And by this reason, the famous ryuer of Nilus in Egypte, albeit it haue his originall and ••prynge, owt of the mountaynes of the mone cauled Montes Lunae nere vnto the cyrcle of Caprico••ne, yet run∣nynge with all his braunches vnder and beyonde the Equinoctiall cyrcle, ••t di••parseth throwgh owt the burnt line of Torrida ••ona, and by the same vyolent course fauleth into owre sea nere vnto the citie of Alexandria. It was necessary therfore that the greatest parte of the coulde and moyst element shulde haue recourse thyther and con¦syst there, wheras was the gr••atest necessitie therof to temper the heate of the soonne by moystynge and coolyn••e the earthe and the ayer, as vnder the Equinoctiall. And herewith also hath most pru¦dent nature prouyded for the securitie and preseruation of the pla∣ces lyinge betwene bothe thextremities of heate and colde, as be∣twene the poles and the Equinoctiall. For the waters flowynge e∣uer one wayes and k••pynge one course, no regions can be drowned by studdes: which thynge they well obserue that delyuer fieldes from inundations or ou••rflowynges, and that take in hande to drye vp marysshes It therfore waters had not theyr cour••e and faul to∣warde places low•• or declynynge, the hole casth shulde bee ouer∣flowne as a marrysshe And that the most declynynge parte shulde bee towarde the South, and sumwhat hygher about the poles, the cause is aswell the consumynge deare of the soonne in the South•• partes, as the preseruynge coulde of the hygh mountaynes nere to the poles. For we haue els where proued that heate consumeth and

wasteth as coulde gathereth and preserueth. And for this cause that parte of the earthe that is nearest the poles, is, was, and e∣uer shalbe highest, and likewise lowest in the middest furthest from the poles. And therfore it was not conuenient that the sonne shuld ••aue his course on euery syde, neither to the poles. For if it weare ••••ryed alyke to euery parte throughowt the worlde, it is necessary ••hat the earth bee equall: and by that reason shulde it eyther bee altogether dryed, or elles all ouerflowed with water. But where as this coulde not suffyce to the free course of ryuers for the often intercourse of higher places lyinge in the waye, whereby ouerflo∣wynges and stayes of wat••rs and their corruption myght ensue, mooste prouydent nature hath gyuen this priuileage to water that it maye so much ascende as it hath discended: that by his meanes passynge ouer mountaynes and hylles, it maye at the length bee ca∣ryed into the sea. &c. hytherto Cardanus, lette vs nowe returne to the historie.

There are also many roughe and hyghe mountaynes with temperate ayer and pleasaunt, cleare, and moderate nightes. Of the whiche particularitie the auncient writers hauyng no certeyne knowleage, affyrmed the said burnte lyne or Torrida zona, or Equinoctial to be naturally vnhabitable. As touching which thing I am able to witnesse the contrary by testimonie of syght and feelyng as by most certeine senses, hauyng liued many yeares in this regions, by reason wherof better credit ought to be giuen to me then to suche as haue grounded their opinion onely vpon coniectures. And to speake further of the sytuation of these regyons, yowe shall vnderstande that the coaste of the Northe sea, beynge in the goulfe of Vraba and in the porte of Dariena, where the shyppes arryue whiche coome owte of Spayne, is in the syxte degree and a halfe, and in the seuenth, and from syxe and a halfe vnto eyght, excepte a smaule pointe which entereth into the sea toward the North That pointe which of this land and new parte of the worlde lieth moste towarde the East, is the cape of saincte Augustine which is in the eight degree. So that the said goulfe of Vraba is distant from the Equinoctiall lyne, from a hundreth and twentie to a hundreth and thirtie leaques and three quarters of a leaque after thaccompte of .xvii. leaques and a h••lfe for euerye degree from pole to pole. And thus for a lyttle more or lesse, goeth all the coaste. By reason wherof, in the citie of Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariena, and in all that course of the for∣sayde goulfe of Vraba, at all tymes of the yea••e the dayes and nyghtes are in maner of equall length. And if there bee any

dyfference betwene theym by reason of this smaule distance from the Equinoctial, it is so lyttle, that in .xxiiii. houres ma¦kynge a naturall daye, it canne not bee perceaued but by the iudgement of speculatiue men and suche as vnderstande the sphere. From hense the North starre is seene very lowe And when the starres which are cauled the wardens of the north starre, are vnder the chariotte, it can not bee seene, bycause it is vnder the horisontal. And whereas I haue sayde beefore that it rayneth in these regions at certeyne ordinarie tymes, it is so in deede. For it is wynter and summer there at con∣trary tymes to that whiche is in Spayne, where the greateste coulde of froste and rayne is in December and Ianuary: And the greatest heate of sommer aboute saynt Iohannes daye at mydsommer or in the moneth of Iuly. But in golden Castile or Beragua, it is contrary. For the sommer and tyme of grea∣test drowght and withowt rayne, is at Chrystmas and a mo∣neth before and a moneth after. And the tyme when it ray∣neth most, is about midsommer and a moneth before and a mo¦neth after. And this season whiche they caule wynter, is not for that it is any coulder then, then at any other tyme of the yeare, or hotter at Christmas then at other seasons, the tyme in these regions being euer after one maner, but for that that in this tyme which they caule wynter, the soonne is hyd from theyr syghtes by reason of cloudes and rayne more then at o∣ther tymes. Yet forasmuch as for the moste parte of the yeare they lyue in a cleare, open, and temperate ayer, they sumwhat shrynke and feele a lyttle coulde durynge the tyme of the said moist and cloudy ayer, althowgh it bee not coulde in deede, or at the least suche coulde as hath any sensible sharpenes.

¶ Of dyuers particular thynges, as woormes, ser∣pentes, beastes, foules, trees, &c.

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:* 1.4 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.* 1.5 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.* 1.6 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,* 1.7 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.* 1.8 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,* 1.9 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.* 1.10 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:* 1.11 and yet is the hare body withowt the fethers not paste halfe so bygge. This byrde, besyde her lyttlenes,* 1.12 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,* 1.13 and muche differynge from all other beastes which haue byn seene in other partes of the worlde. These beastes are cauled Bardati:* 1.14 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.* 1.15 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.* 1.16 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,* 1.17 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.* 1.18* 1.19 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,* 1.20 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:* 1.21 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,* 1.22 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.* 1.23 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,* 1.24 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,* 1.25 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,* 1.26

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.

¶ Of trees, fruites, and plantes.

THere is bothe in the firme lande and the Ilan∣des a certeyne tree cauled Cocus,* 1.27 beinge a kynd of date trees and hauynge theyr leaues of the selfe same greatenesse as haue the date trees which beare dates, but dyffer much in their growynge. For the leanes of this Cocus grow owte of the trunkes of the tree as doo the fyngers owt of the hande, wreathynge them selues one within an other and so spreadynge abrode. These trees are hygh: and are founde in great plentie in the coaste of the sea of Sur, in the prouince of Cacique Chiman. These date trees brynge furth a frute after this sorte. Beinge altogyther vnite as it groweth on the tree, it is of greater circumference then the heade of a man. And frō the superficiall parte to the myddest which is the frute, it is inuolued and couered with many webs much lyke vnto those hyrdes of towe whiche they vse in Andalusia. Of this towe or webbe, the East Indians make a certeyne kynde of clothe of three or foure sortes, and cordes for the sayles of shyppes.

But in these Indies of yowr maiestie, they passe not for these cordes or this clothe that maye be made of the frute of Cocus, by reason of the great plentie that they haue of the bombage or cotton of the gossampine trees. The frute which is in the myddest of the sayde towe, is (as I haue sayde) as bygge as a mans fyfte, and sumtymes twyse as bygge and more. It is in forme, lyke vnto a walnutte, or sum other rounde thynge sumwhat more longe then large, and very harde. The rynde or barke herof, is as thycke as the cyrcle of letters of a riale of plate. And within, there cleaueth faste to the rynde of the nutte a carnositie or substaunce of coornel, of the thyckenesse of halfe a fynger or of the least fynger of the hande: And is verye whyte, lyke vnto a fayre Almonde, and of better taste

and more pleasaunt. When this fruite is ch••wed, there re∣mayne certeyne crummes as do the lyke of almondes. Yet if it bee swalowed downe, it is not vnpleasaunt. For al••howgh that after the iewse or moysture bee gonne downe the throte before the sayde crummes bee swalowed, the reste whiche is eaten seeme sumwhat sharpe or sower, yet ••oth it not so great¦ly offende the taste as to bee caste away. Whyle this Cocus is yet freshe and newly taken from the tree, they vse not to eate of the sayde carnositie and frute: But fyrste beatynge it very much, and then straynynge it, they drawe a mylke thereof, much better and sweeter then is the mylke of beastes, and of much substaunce: The which the Christian men of those regi∣ons put in the ••ortes or cakes which they make of the grayne of Maizium wherof they make theyr breade, or in other breade as we put breade in porrage: So that by reason of the sayde mylke of Cocus, the cortes are more excellent to be eaten w••th owt offence to the stomake. They are so pleasaunte to the taste, and leaue it aswell satisfyed as thowghe it had byn de∣lyted with many delycate dysshes. But to proceade further, yowre maiestie shall vnderstand, that in the place of the stone or coornell, there is in the myddest of the sayde carnositie, a voyde place, which neuerthelesse is full of a moste cleare and excellent water, in such quantitie as maye fyll a greate egge shell,* 1.28 or more or lesse accordynge to the byggenesse of the Co∣cus. The which water suerly, is the moste substantial, excel∣lent and precious to be droonke, that maye bee founde in the worlde. In so much that in the momente when it passeth the palate of the mouth and begynneth to goo downe the throte it seemethe that frome the sole of the foote to the crowne of the headde, there is no parte of the boddye but that feelethe great cōfort therby: as it is doutlesse one of the most excellent thynges that may be tast••d vppon the earth, and suche as I am not able by wrytynge or toonge to expresse. And to pro∣ceade yet further, I say that when the meate of this frute is taken from the vessell therof, the vessell remayneth as fayre and nette as though is were pullyshed: and is without, of co¦lour inclynynge towarde blacke, and shyneth or glystereth ve∣ry fayre. And is within of no lesse dilicatenesse. Suche as haue accustomed to drynke in these vesselles, and haue bynne trowbeled with the disease cauled the fretinge of the guttes,

say that they haue by experience founde it a maruelous reme∣die ageynst that disease: And that it breakethe the stone and prouoketh vrine. This frute was cauled Cocus for this cause, that when it is taken from the place where it cleaueth faste to the tree, there are seene two holes, and aboue them two o∣ther naturall holes, which altogyther, doo represent the gie∣sture and fygure of the cattes cauled Mammone, that is, mun∣keys, when they crye: whiche crye the Indians caule Coca: But in very deede, this tree is a kynd of date trees: and hath the same effecte to heale fretynge of the guttes, that Plinie descrybeth all kyndes of date trees to haue.

* 1.29There are furthermore in the firme lande, trees of suche byggenesse that I dare not speake therof but in place where I haue so many wytnesses which haue seene the same as wel as I. I say therfore, that a leaque from Dariena or the citie of Sancta Maria Antiqua, there passeth a ryuer very large & diepe, which is cauled Cuti: ouer the which the Indians had layde a greate tree so trauersinge the same that it was in the steade of a brydge, the which I my selfe with dyuers other that are at this present in yowre maiesties courte, haue often tymes passed ouer. And forasmuch as the sayde tree had lyne longe there, and by the great weight therof was so shronke downe∣warde and partely couered with water that none could passe ouer it but were weete to the knee, I being then in the yeare 1522. thofficial of Iustice in that citie at yowre maiesties ap∣poyntemente, caused an other greate tree to bee layde in that place whiche in lyke maner trauersed the ryuer and reached more thē fyftie foote ouer the further syde. This tree was ex∣ceadynge greate, and rested aboue the water more then twoo cubytes. In the faule, it cast downe all suche other trees as were within the reache therof: And discouered certeyne vy∣nes whiche were so laden with blacke grapes of pleasaunte taste, that they satisfyed more then fiftie persons whiche eate theyr fylle therof. This tree in the thyckest parte therof, was more then syxtene spannes thicke: And was neuerthelesse but lyttle in respect of many other trees which are founde in this prouince. For the Indians of the coaste and prouince of Car∣••agenia, make barkes or boates therof (which they caule Cano∣as,) of such byggenesse, beinge all of one hole tree, that sume conteyne a hundreth men, sume a hundreth and thirtie, and

sume more, hauynge neuerthelesse suche voyde space within the same, that there is lefte sufficiente roome to passe to and fro through owte all the Canoa. Sum of these are so large by∣syde the length, that they conteyne more then tenne or twelue spannes in breadth, and sayle with twoo sayles as with the master sayle and the trinkette which they make of verye good cotton. The greatest trees that I haue seene in these partes or in anye other regions, was in the prouince of Guaturo, the kynge wherof rebellynge from thobedience of yowre maiestie, was persued by me and taken prysoner: At whiche tyme I with my company, passed ouer a very hygh mountayne ful of great trees, in the toppe wherof we founde one tree whiche had three rootes or rather diuisions of the roote aboue the earth in forme of a tryangle or triuette:* 1.30 so that betwene eue∣ry foote of this triangle or three feete, there was a space of twentie foote betwene euery foote. And this of such heyght aboue the earthe, that a laden carte of those wherewith they are accustomed to brynge home corne in the tyme of haruest in the kyngedome of Toledo in Spayne, myght easely haue pas∣sed throwgh euery of those particions or wyndowes whiche were betwene the three feete of the sayd tree. From the earth vpwarde to the trunke of the tree, the open places of the dy∣uisions betwene these three feete, were of suche heyght from the grounde, that a footeman with a iauelyn was not able to reache to the place where the sayde feete ioyned togyther in the trunke or body of the tree which grewe of great height in one piece and one hole body, or euer it spredde in braun∣ches, which it did not before it exceaded in heyhht the towre of saynt Romane in the citie of Toledo: from whiche heyght and vpwarde, it spreade very greate and stronge braunches. Amonge certeyne Spanyardes which clymed this tree, I my selfe was one. And when I was ascended to the place where it begunne to spreade the branches, it was a maruelous thing to beholde a greate countrey of suche trees towarde the pro∣uince of Abrayme. This tree was easy to clyme, by rea••on of certeyne Besuchi (wherof I haue spoken before) which grewe wreathed aboute the tree in suche sorte that they seemed to make a scalynge ladder. Euery of the foresayde three feete which bore the boddie of the tree, was twentie spannes in thyckenesse. And where they ioyned al togyther aboue in the

trunke or boddye of the tree, the principall trunke was more then fortie and fyue spannes in circuite. I named the moun∣tayne where these trees grow, the mountayne of three footed trees. And this which I haue nowe declared, was seene of all the companye that was there with me when (as I haue sayde before) I tooke kynge Guaturo prysoner in the yeare 1522. Many thynges more myght here bee spoken as tou∣chynge this matter, as also howe there are many other excel¦lent trees founde of dyuers sortes and dyfference, as sweete Ceder trees, blacke date trees, and many other: of the which sum are so heauy that they can not flote aboue the water but synke immediatly to the bottome. And other ageyne as light as a corke. As touchynge all whiche thynges I haue wryt∣ten more largely in my generall hystorie of the Indies. And forasmuch as at this present I haue entered to intreate of trees, before I passe any further to other thynges, I wyl declare the maner howe the Indians kyndle fyre, only wi••h woodde and without fyre,* 1.31 the maner wherof is this. They take a piece of woodde of two spannes in lengthe, as bygge as the leaste fynger of a mans hande, or as an arrowe well pullysshed, and of a stronge kynde of woodde whiche they keepe onely for this purpose. And where they intende to kyn¦dle any fyre, they take two other pieces of woodde of the dry¦est and lyghtest that they can fynde, and bynde them fast to∣gyther one with an other as close as two fyngers ioyned. In the myddest or betwene these, they put the poynt of the fyrste lyttle staffe made of harde and stronge wood which they hold in theyr handes by the toppe thereof, and turne or rubbe it rounde aboute continually in one place betwene the two pie∣ces of woodde which lye bounde togyther vppon the earthe, which by that vncessant rubbynge and chafynge, are in short space kyndeled and take fyer.* 1.32

I haue also thought good here to speake sumwhat of such thynges as coomme to my rememberaunce of certeyne trees which are founde in this lande, and sumetyme also the lyke haue bynne seene in Spayne. These are certeyne putrifyed troonkes which haue ••yne so longe rottyng on the ••arth that they are verye whyte and shyne in the nyght lyke burnynge fyre brandes. And when the Spanyardes fynde any of this woodde, and intende priuily in the nyght to make warre and

inuade any prouince when case so requyreth that it shalbe ne∣cessary to go in the nyght in suche places where they knowe not the way, the formost Christian man whiche guydethe the waye, associate with an Indian to directe hym therein, ta∣keth a lyttle starre of the sayde woodde, which he put••eth in his cappe hangynge behynde on h••s shoulders, by the lyght wherof he that foloweth nexte to him, directeth his iourney, who also in lyke maner beareth an other starre behynde hym, by the shynynge whereof the thyrde foloweth the same waye, and in lyke maner do al the rest, so that by this meanes none are loste or stragle owte of the way. And forasmuche as this lyght is not seene very farre, it is the better pollicie for the Chrystians bycause they are not thereby disclosed before they inuade theyr enemies.

Furthermore as touchynge the natures of trees, one par∣ticular thynge seemeth woorthy to bee noted, wherof Plinie maketh mention in his natural hystorye where he saythe that there are certeyne trees which contynewe ••uer greene and ne∣uer lose theyr leaues,* 1.33 as the baye tree, the Ceder,* 1.34 the orange tree, and the olyue tree with such other, of the whiche in all togyther he nameth not paste fyue or syxe. To this purpose, I saye, that in the Ilandes of these Indies, and also in the firme lande, it is a thynge of muche difficultie to fynde twoo trees that lose or cast theyr leaues at any tyme. For althowgh I haue diligentely searched to knowe the trewthe hereof, y••t haue I not seene any that lose theyr leaues, eyther of theym which we haue browght owt of Spayne into these regions, as Orange trees, Linions, Ceders, Palmes, or date trees and Pomegranate trees, or of any other in these regions ex∣••epte onely Cassia,* 1.35 which loseth his leaues and hath a greater thynge appropriate to it selfe onely: which is, that whereas all other trees and plantes of India spreade theyr roo••••s no d••eper in the earthe then the depth of a mans heyght or sume∣what more,* 1.36 not descendyng any further into the ground by reason of the greate heate which is found beneth that depth, yet dooth Cassia pearce further into the grounde vntyl it fynd water: whiche by the Phylosophers opinion shoulde be the cause of a thynne and watery radycall moyster to suche thyn∣ges as drawe theyr nuryshement therof,* 1.37 as ••at and v••ctuous groundes with temperate heate, yelde a fast & firme moysture

to suche thynges as growe in them, whiche is the cause that suche trees lose not theyr leaues, as the sayde thynne and wa¦terysshe moysture is cause of the contrarie, as appearethe by the sayde effecte which is seene onely in Cassia, and none other tree or plante in all these parties.

¶ Of Reedes or Canes.

I Haue not thought it conuenient in the chapi∣ture before to speake of that whereof I in∣tende nowe to intreate of reedes or canes to thintente that I woolde not mengle theym with plantes or trees, beinge thynges of thē selues woorthy to bee particularly obserued. So it is therfore, that in the firme land there are many sortes of reedes, so that in many places they make theyr howses therof, couerynge them with the toppes of the same, and makynge theyr waules of them in lyke maner, as I haue sayde before. And amonge these kyndes of reedes, there is one so greate, that the canes therof are as bygge as a mans legge in the knee, and three spannes in length frome ioynt to ioynt or more: in so much that euery of them is of ca¦pacitie to conteyne a lyttle bucket of water. In this kynde, here are founde sum greater and sum lesse, of the which sum they vse to make quyuers for arrowes. There is founde an other kynde which suerly is marueylous, beynge lyttle byg∣ger then a Iauelen, the canes whereof are longer then twoo spannes. These reedes growe one farre from an other, as sum¦tymes twentie or thirtie pases, and sumetymes also twoo or three leaques. They growe in maner in all prouynces in the Indies: And growe nere to very hygh trees whereunto they leane, and creepe vp to the toppes of theyr braunches, which they imbrase and descende ageyne downe to the earth. Theyr canes are full of moste cleare water without any maner of tast or sauoure eyther of the canes or of any other thynge: And suche as yf it were taken owte of the fressheste sprynge in the worlde. Nor yet is it knowen that euer it hurte any that droonke therof. For it hath oftentymes so chaunced that as the Chrysten men haue trauayled in these regions in desolate wayes where for lacke of water they haue byn in great daun∣ger

to dye for thyrste, they haue escaped that perell by reason that they founde the sayde reedes, of the water of whose ca∣nes they haue droonke a great quantitie withowt any hurte thereof ensewynge. Therefore when they fynde these in any place, they make water vesselles of the canes therof, and cary as many of them ful of water as may suffice for one dayes ior¦nay. And sumtyme they cary so many, that they take for eue∣ry man two or three quartes of water which may serue them for many dayes bycause it doth not corrupte, but remaynethe styll fresshe and good.

There are also certeine plantes which the Christians caul Platani.* 1.38 These are as hygh as trees, and become as bygge in the trunke as the knee of a man or more. Frome the foote to the toppe, they beare certeyne longe and large leaues, beinge more then three spannes in largenes, and about ten or twelue in length: The whiche when they are broken of the wynde, the stalke remayneth hole in the myddest. In the myddeste of this plant in the hyghest parte thereof, there groweth a clu∣ster with fortie or fyftie Platans abowt it, euery of them be¦inge a spanne and a halfe in length, and as bygge as a mans arme in the smau••e, or more or lesse accordynge to the good∣nesse of the soyle where they growe. They haue a rynde not very thycke, and easy to bee broken: being within altogither full of a substaunce lyke vnto the marye of the bone of an oxe as it appeareth when the rynde or barke is taken frome the same. This cluster owght to bee taken from the plant, when any one of the Platans begynne to appere yelowe. At which tyme they take it and hange it in theyr houses where all the cluster waxeth rype with all his Platans. This cluster is a very good frute: And when it is opened and the rynde taken of, there are founde within it many good drye fygges which beynge rosted or stewed in an ouen in a close pot or sum suche other thynge,* 1.39 are of pleasaunte taste muche lyke the conserue of hony. They putrifie not on the sea so soone as sume other frutes do: but continue fyfteene dayes and more yf they bee gathered sumwhat greene. They seeme more delycate on the sea then on the lande, not for that they any thinge increase in goodnesse on the sea, but bycause that whereas on the sea o∣ther thynges are lackyng wherof is plentie on the land, those meates seeme of beste taste which satisfie presente necessitie.

This troonke or sprygge whiche bryngeth foorth the sayde cluster is a hole yeare in growyng and brynging foorth frute. In whiche tyme it hath put foorth rounde abowte it tenne or twelue sprygges as bygge as the fyrst or principall, and mul∣tiplieth no lesse then the pryncipall in bryngynge foorthe of clusters with frutes lykewyse at theyr tyme, and also in bryn∣gynge foorth other and many sprygges as is sayde beefore. From the which sprygges or trunkes, as soone as the cluster of the frute is taken away, the plante begynneth to drye and wyther, which then they take owt of the grounde bycause it doth none other then occupie it in vayne and without profyt. They are so many and doo so maruelously increase and multi∣plie, that it is a thynge in maner incredible. They are excea∣dynge moyste. In so much that when they are plucked vp frō the place where they gro••••, there issheweth forth a great quan¦••••tie of water as well owte of the plante as owte of the place where it grewe: In suche sorte that all the moysture of the earth farre abowte, myght seeme to bee gathered to gyther a∣bowte the trunke or blocke of the sayde plante: with the frutes whereof, the antes are so farre in loue, that they are seene in great multitudes in the branches of the plantes. So that for the multitude thereof it sumetyme so chaunceth that men are inforced to take away the Platans frome theyr pos∣session. These frutes are founde at all tymes of the yeare.

There is also an other kynd of wyld plantes that groweth in the fyeldes: which I haue not seene but in the Ilande of Hispaniola, althowgh they be founde in other Ilandes of the Indies. These they caule Tunas.* 1.40 They growe of a thistle full of thornes, and brynge foorth a fruite muche lyke vnto great fygges, which haue a crowne lyke medlers, and are within of a hyghe coloure, with graynes and the rynde lyke vnto a fygge. They are of good taste: And growe abundant∣ly in the fyeldes in many places. They woorke a straunge ef∣fecte in suche as eate them. For if a manne eate two or three or more, they cause his vrine to bee of the verye coloure of bludde, which thynge chaunced once to my selfe. At whiche tyme as I made water and sawe the colour of my vrine, I en∣tered into a great suspition of my lyfe, beinge so astonysshed for feare, that I thought the same had chaunced to me vpon sum other cause. In so muche that surely my imagination

myght haue doone me hurte, but that they whiche were with me dyd conforte me immediately, declarynge the cause therof as they knewe by experience beinge auncient inhabitours in those regions.

There groweth also an other plante whiche the people of the countrey caule Bihaos.* 1.41 This putteth forth certeyne streight braunches and very brode leaues which the Indians vse for dyuers purposes. For in sum places they couer theyr houses with the leaues therof cowched and layde after the maner of thetche, wherunto it serueth very well. Sumtymes also whē it rayneth, they cast these ouer theyr heades to defende theim from the water. They make also certeyne chestes whiche they caule Hauas,* 1.42 weaued after a straunge sorte and intermixt with the leaues of this Bihaos. These chestes are wrought in such sort, that although it rayne vpon them, or they chaunce to faule into the water, yet are not such thynges wette as are within them. They are made of the braunches of the sayde Bihaos with the leaues weaued togyther therwith. In these they keepe salte and other subtyle thynges. They vse theym also for an other purpose, which is this: That findyng them in the fieldes at such tyme as they haue scarsenesse of vyttay∣les, they dygge vp the rootes of these plantes whyle they are yet younge, or eate the plante it selfe in that parte where it is moste tender, which is from a foote vnder the grounde, where it is as tender and whyte as a reede or bulrusshe.

And forasmuch as wee are nowe coomme to thend of this narration,* 1.43 it commeth to my rememberaunce to make menti∣on of an other thynge which is not farre from my purpose. And this is howe the Indians do stayne or dye cloth of bom∣bage cotton, or any other thynge which they intende to dye of dyuers coloures: as blacke, tawny, greene, blewe, yelowe, and redde, whiche they doo with the barkes or ryndes, and leaues of certeyne trees, whiche they knowe by experience to bee good for this practise. And by this arte they make colours in such perfection and excellencie that no better can bee diuy∣sed. But this seemeth a straunge thynge,* 1.44 that they doo all this in one selfe same vessell: So that when they haue caused the sayde ryndes and leaues to boyle togyther, they make in the same vessell without any chaunge (as I haue sayde) as many colours as them lysteth. Whiche thynge I suppose to

coomme to passe by the disposition of the coloure whiche they haue fyrste gyuen to the thynge that they intende to dye or co¦lour, whether it bee threede, webbe, or clothe, or any thynge that they intende to coloure.

¶ Of venemous apples wherwith they poyson theyr arrowes.

THe apples wherewith the Indian Canibales inueneme theyr arrowes, growe on certeyne trees couered with many braunches and leaues beinge very greene and growyng thicke. They are laden with abundaunce of these euyll fru∣tes, and haue theyr leaues lyke the leaues of a peare tree, but that they are lesse and rounder. The frute is much lyke the muscadell peares of the Ilande of Sicilie or Naples in forme and byggenesse: And are in sum partes stey∣ned with redde spottes, and of very sweete sauours. These trees for the moste parte, growe euer by the sea coastes and neare vnto the water: And are so fayre and of pleasaunte sa∣uour, that there is no man that seethe theym but wyll desyre to eate therof.

In so much that if it may bee spoken of any frute yet grow¦ynge on the earth,* 1.45 I wolde saye that this was the vnhappy frute wherof owre fyrste parentes Adam and Eue tasted, wher¦by they both lost theyr felicitie and procured death to them & theyr posteritie. Of these frutes, and of the greate antes whose bytynge causeth swellynge (whereof I haue spoken els where) and of the eutes or lysartes, and vypers, and such other venemous thynges, the Canibales which are the chyefe archers amonge the Indians,* 1.46 are accustomed to poyson theyr arrowes wherwith they kyll all that they wounde.

* 1.47These venemes they mengle togyther and make thereof a blacke masse or composition which appeareth lyke vnto very blacke pytche. Of this poyson I caused a great quantitie to be burnt in Sancta Maria Antiqua in a place two leaques and more within the lande, with a greate multitude of theyr inuenemed arrowes and other munition, with also the house wherein they were reserued. This was in the yeare .1514. at suche tyme* 1.48 as tharmy arriued there with capitayne Pedrarias da villa at

the commaundemente of the Catholyke kynge Don Ferdinando. But to returne to the hystory. These apples (as I haue said) growe neare vnto the sea. And wheras the Christians which serue yowr maiestie in these parties, suppose that there is no remedy so profytable for such as are wounded with these ar∣rowes, as is the water of the sea if the wounde be much was¦sted therwith,* 1.49 by which meanes sum haue escaped although but fewe, yet to saye the trewthe, albeit the water of the sea haue a certeyne caustike qualitie agenyst poyson, it is not a suf¦ficient remedy in this case: nor yet to this day haue the Chri¦stian perceaued that of fiftie that haue byn wounded, three haue recouered. But that yowr maiestie may the better consy∣der the force of the veneme of these trees, yowe shall further vnderstande that yf a man doo but repose hym selfe to sleepe a lyttle whyle vnder the shadow of the same, he hath his head and eyes so swolne when he ryseth, that the eye lyddes are ioyned with the chekes. And if it chaunce one droppe or more of the dewe of the sayde tree to faule into the eye, it vtterly destroyeth the syght. The pestilent nature of this tree is such that it can not bee declared in fewe woordes. Of these there groweth greate plentie in the goulfe of Vraba towarde the North coast on the Weste and Easte syde.* 1.50 The wood of these trees when it burneth, maketh so greate a stynke that noo man is able to abyde it, by reason it causeth so great a peyne in the headde.

Amonge other trees which are in these Indies as well in the Ilandes as in the firme lande, there is an other kynde which they caule Xagua,* 1.51 wherof there is great plentie. They are very hygh and streyght, and fayre to beholde. Of these they vse to make pykes and iauelyns of dyuers lengthes and byggenesse. They are of a fayre colour betwene russette and whyte. This tree bryngeth foorth a greate frute as bygge as Papauer or poppie and much lyke therunto. It is very good to be eaten when it is ••ype. Owte of this they gette a very cleare water wherwith they wasshe theyr legges and sume∣tymes all theyr boddyes when they feele theyr flesshe werye, faynt, or loose. The which water, bysyd•• that it hath a byn dynge qualitie, it hath also th••s propertie, th••t what so euer it toucheth, it steyneth it blacke by ly••tle and lyttle vntyll it bee as blacke as giete, which coloure can not be taken away

in lesse space then tenne or twelue dayes. And if the nayle bee but touched therwith, it is so steined that it can by no meanes bee taken away vntyll it eyther faule of, or growe owte and bee clypped away by lyttle and lyttle, as I my selfe haue of∣tentymes seene by experience.

There is an other kynde of trees whith they caule Hobi.* 1.52 These are very great and fayre,* 1.53 & cause holsome ayer where they growe and a pleasaunt shadow, and are founde in great abundaunce. Theyr frute is very good, and of good tast and sauoure, and much lyke vnto certeyne damsons or prunes be¦inge lyttle and yelowe. But theyr stone is very great: by rea¦son wherof they haue but lyttle meate. Theyr barke or rynde boyled in water, maketh a holsome bathe for the legges, by∣cause it bindeth and steyeth the loosenesse of the flesshe so sen¦cibly that it is a marueyle to consyder. It is suerly a holsome and excellent bathe ageynst such fayntnesse: And is the beste tree that may bee founde in those parties to sleepe vnder. For it causeth no heauinesse of the headde as doo dyuers other trees. Whiche thynge I speake bycause the Christians are muche accustomed in those regions to lye in the fyeldes. It is therfore a common practice amonge them, that where so euer they fynd these trees, there they spreade theyr mattresses and beddes wherin they sleepe.

There are also a kynde of hyghe date trees and full of thornes.* 1.54 The woodde of these is moste excellent: beinge ve∣ry blacke, and shynynge, and so heauy that no parte thereof can swymme aboue the water, but synketh immediatly to the bottome. Of this woodde they make theyr arrowes and dar¦tes: Also iauelyns, speares, and pykes. And I saye pykes, bycause that in the coastes of the sea of Sur,* 1.55 beyonde Esquegus and Vracha, the Indians vse great and longe pykes made of the woodde of these date trees. Of the same lykewyse they make clubbes and swoordes and dyuers other weapons. Also vesselles and housholde stuffe of dyuers sortes very fayre and commodious. Furthermore of this woodde the Christians vse to make dyuers musicall instrumentes, as clarisimbals, lutes, gyterns, and suche other, the whiche bysyde theyr fayre shy∣dynge coloure lyke vnto giete, are also of a good sounde and very durable by reason of the hardenesse of the woodde.

After that I haue sayde thus much of trees and plantes,

I haue thought good also to speake sumwhat of herbes.* 1.56 You shall therefore vnderstande that in these Indies there is an herbe much lyke vnto a yelowe lyllie, abowte whose leaues there growe and creepe certeyne cordes or laces, as the lyke is partly seene in the herbe which we caule lased sauery. But these of the Indies are muche bygger, and longer: and so stronge that they tye theyr hangynge beddes thereby whiche they caule Hamacas wherof we haue spoken elswhere. These cordes, they caule Cabuia and Henequen,* 1.57 which are al one thing sauynge that Henequen is lesse and of a fyner substaunce as it were line: And the other is grosser lyke the wycke or twyste of hempe, and is imperfecte in comparison to the other. They are of coloure betwene whyte and yelowe lyke vnto abarne, and sum also whyte. With Henequen whiche is the moste sub∣tyle and fyne threede, the Indians sawe in sunder fetters,* 1.58 cheynes, or barres of Iren in this maner. They moue the threede of Henequen vppon the iren which they intende to saw or cutte, drawynge the one hande after the other as doo they that sawe, puttynge euer nowe and then a portion of fyne sande vppon the threede, or on the place or parte of the Iren where they continue rubbynge the sayde threede. So that yf the threede be worne, they take an other, and continewe in theyr woorke as before vntyl they haue cutte in sunder the i∣ren although it bee neuer so bygge: and cut it as yf it were a tender thynge and easye to bee sawne.

And for asmuch as the leaues of trees may bee counted a∣monge herbes,* 1.59 I wyll here speake sumewhat of the qualitie of the leaues of certeyne trees which are founde in the Iland of Hispaniola. These trees are so full of thornes, that there is no tree or plante that seemeth more wylde and deformed: so that I can not well determyne whether they bee trees or plan¦tes. They haue certeyne braunches full of large and defor∣med leaues, which braunches were fyrste leaues lyke vnto the other. As the braunches made of these leaues growe foorthe inlength, there commeth other leaues of them. So that ••n fine it is a dyfficult thyng to descrybe the forme of these trees except the same shulde bee doone by a paynter wherby the eye myght conceaue that wherein the toonge fayleth in this be∣halfe. The leaues of this tree are of such vertue,* 1.60 that beyng well beaten and spreadde vppon a cloth after the maner of a

playster, and so layde to a legge or arme that is broken in ma¦ny pieces, it healeth it in fyftene dayes, and maketh it as hole as though it had neuer byn broken. Durynge the tyme of this operation, it cleaueth so fast to the flesshe that it can not without much difficultie bee taken away. But as soone as it hath healed the sore and wrought his operation, it loo∣seth it selfe from the place where it was layde, as I my selfe and dyuers other which haue proued it, knowe by experience

¶ Of fysshes and of the maner of fysshynge.

IN the sea coastes of the firme lande, there are dyuers and sundry kyndes of fysshes muche differynge in shape and forme. And althoughe it be impossible to speake of all, yet wyll I make mention of sum. And fyrst to begynne at sardynes, yowe shall vnderstande that there is founde a kynde of these fysshes very large and with redde tayles, beinge a very delicate fysshe. The beste kyndes of o∣ther fysshes are these: Moxarre, Diabace, Brettes, Dahaos, Thorn backes, and Salmons. All these and dyuers other which I donot now remember, are taken in great quantitie in ryuers. There are lykewyse taken very good creuysshes. There are also founde in the sea, certeyne other fysshes: as soles, macke¦relles, turbuttes, Palamite, Lizze, Polpi, Chieppe, Xaibas, Locustes, Oysters, exceadynge great Tortoyses, and Tiburoni of mar∣uelous byggenesse:* 1.61 Also Manates,* 1.62 and Murene, and manye other fysshes which haue no names in oure language. And these of such diuersitie and quantitie as can not bee expressed without large wrytynge and longe tyme. But to let passe to intreate particulerly of the multitude of fysshes, I intende to speake chiefely and sumwhat largely of three sortes of moste notable fysshes: wherof the fyrst is, the great Tortoyses,* 1.63 the seconde is cauled Tiburon, and the thyrde Manate. And to begynne at the fyrste, I saye that in the Ilande of Cuba, are founde great Tortoyses (which are certeyne shell fysshes) of such byggenesse that tenne or fyfteene men are scarsely able to lyfte one of them owt of the water, as I haue byn infor∣med of credible persons dwellynge in the same Ilande. But

of that which I my selfe haue seene, I can testifie that in the firme lande in the vyllage of Acla there are of this sorte sum taken and kylled of suche byggenes that sixe men with much difficultie coulde scarsely drawe them owt of the water. And commonly the least sort of them are as much as two men may cary at a burden. That which I sawe lifted vp by syxe men, had her shell a yarde and a quarter in length, and in breadth more then fyue yardes. The maner of takynge them, is this. It sumtymes chaunceth that in theyr greate nettes (whiche they caule shoote ne••tes) there are founde certeyne Tortoyses of the common sorte in great quantities. And when they coomme owt of the sea and bringe foorth theyr egges and go togyther by coompanies from the sea to feade on the lande, the Christians or Indians folowe theyr steppes whiche they fynde in the sande, and soone ouertake them bycause they are very heauy and slowe in goynge, although they make all the haste they can to return•• to the sea as soone as they espie any boddie. When they that pursewe them haue ouertaken them, they put a stake or staffe vnder theyr legges and ouerturne thē on theyr backes as they are yet runnynge, so that they can go no further nor yet ryse ageyne or turne. And thus they suffer them to lye styll whyle they folowe after the reste which they ouerturne in lyke maner: And by this meanes take very ma∣nye at suche tymes as they coome furth of the sea as I haue sayde. This fysshe is very excellent and holsome to be eaten, and of good taste. The seconde of the three fysshes wherof I haue spoken, is the Tiburon.* 1.64 This is a very greate fysshe and very quicke and swyfte in the water, and a cruell deuourer. These are often tymes taken, as well when the shippes are vn∣der sayle in the Ocean, as also when they lye at anker, or at any other time, and especially the leaste kynd of these fisshes. When the shippes are vnder sayle, the biggest sorte are taken after this maner. When the Tiburon seeth the shippe sailinge he foloweth it swymmynge behynde. The which thinges the mariners seeinge, caste furthe all the fylthe of the shippe into the sea for the fysshe to eate, who neuerthelesse foloweth thē with equal pase although th••y make neuer suche haste wyth full wynd and sailes, and waloweth on euery syde and about the shyppe: And thus foloweth it sumetyme for the space of a hundreth and fyftie leaques and more. And when the ma∣riners

are disposed to take them, they cast downe by the sterne of the shippe, a hoke of yren as bigge as the biggest finger of a mans hande of three spannes in lengthe and crooked like a fysshehooke with beardes accordinge to the bignesse thereof, and fastened to an iren chayne of fyue or syxe linkes neare vn∣to thende, and from thense tyed with a greate rope, fastening also on the hooke for a bayte, a piece of sum fisshe, or hogges flessh, or sum other flesshe, or the bouwelles and intralles of an other Tiburon wh••che they haue taken before, whiche may easely bee doone, for I haue seene nyne taken in one day. And if they wold haue taken more, they myght also. Thus when the Tiburon hath pleasauntly folowed the ship a longe viage, at the lengthe he swaloweth the baite with the hooke. And a••well by his stryuinge to flye or escape, as also by the swyfte passage of the s••yppe, the hooke ouerthwarteth and catcheth hold of his chappes. The which fisshe whē it is takē, it is of suche huge b••ggenesse that twelue or fyfeteene men are scarsely able to drawe it owt of the water and lifte it into the shyppe: Where one of the mariners gyueth it many knoc∣kes on the headde with a clubbe or beetle vntil he haue slaine it. They are sumtymes founde of tenne or twelue foote long, and of fyue, syxe, or seuen spannes in breadth where they are brodest. They haue very greate and wyde mouthes to the pro¦portion of the reste of theyr boddies, and haue two rowes of teethe the one sumewhat separate from the other, of cruell shape & standing very thicke. When they haue slayne this fysshe, they cutte the boddy therof in smaule pieses, and put it to drye, hangynge it three or foure dayes at the cordes of the sayle clothes to drye in the wynde, and then eate it. It is doubtlesse a good fysshe and of greate commoditie to serue the shippes for vitalles for many dayes. The leaste of these fysshes are moste holsome and tender. It hath a skinne much like to the skynne of a sole, whervnto the sayde Tuberon is like in shape. Which I saye bycause Plinie hath made men∣tion of none of these three fisshes among the number of them wherof he wryteth in his natural historie.* 1.65 These Tiburons coomme furth of the sea and enter into the ryuers, where they are no lesse perelous then greate lisartes or Crocodiles wher∣of I haue spoken largely before.* 1.66 For they deuoure men, kine, and horses, euen as doo the Crocodiles. They are very daun¦gerous

in certeyne wasshynge places or pooles by the ryuers sydes, and where they haue deuoured at other tymes. Dy∣uers other fysshes both greate and smaule, of sundry sortes and kyndes are accustomed to folowe the shyppes goynge vn∣der sayle, of the which I wyl speake sumwhat when I h••ue wrytten of Manate which is the thyrde of the three whereof I haue promysed to entreate.* 1.67 Manate therefore, is a fysshe of the sea, of the byggest sorte, and muche greater then the Tiburon in length and breadth: And is very brutysshe and vyle, so that it appeareth in forme lyke vnto one of those great vesselles made of goates skynnes wherin they vse to ca¦ry newe wyne in Medina de Campo or in Areualo. The headde of this beast is lyke the head of an oxe, with also lyke eyes. And hath in the place of armes, two great stumpes wherwith he swymmeth. It is a very gentle and tame beaste: And cōmeth oftētymes owt of the water to the next shore where if he find ny herbes or grasse, he feedeth therof. Owre men are accusto¦med to kyl many of these and dyuers other good fysshes with theyr crossebowes, pursuinge them in barkes or Canoas, by∣cause they swymme in maner aboue the water. The whiche thynge when they see, they drawe them with a hooke tyde at a smaule corde, but sumwhat stronge. As the fysshe flyeth a∣way, the archer letteth go and prolongeth the corde by lyt∣tle and lyttle vntyll he haue lette it go many fathams. At the ende of the corde, there is tyde a corke or a piece of lyght woodde. And when the fysshe is goone a lyttle way, & hathe coloured the water with his bludde, and feeleth hym selfe to faynt and drawe towarde thende of his lyfe, he resortethe to the shore, and the archer foloweth gatherynge vp his corde: wherof whyle there yet remaine sixe or eyght fathams or sum¦what more or lesse, he draweth it towarde the lande, and draweth the fysshe therwith by little and lyttle as the waues of the sea helpe hym to doo it the more easely. Then with the helpe of the reste of his companie he lyftethe th••s greate beast owt of the water to the lande, beinge of such hygnesse that to conuey it from thense to the citie, it shalbe requ••site to haue a carte with a good yoke of oxen, and sumtymes more, accordyng as these fysshes are of byggenesse, sum being much greater then other sum in the same kynde as is seene of other beastes. Sumtymes they lyft these fysshes into the Canoa or

barke, withowt drawynge them to the lande as before. For as soone as they are slayne, they flote aboue the water. And I beleue verely that this fysshe is one of the best in the world to the taste, and the lykest vnto flesshe. E••pecially so lyke vnto biefe, that who so hath not seene it hole, can iudge it to bee none other when he seethe it in pieces then verye biefe or veale. And is certeynly so lyke vnto flesshe, that all the men in the worlde may herein bee deceaued. The taste lykewyse, is lyke vnto the tast of very good veale, and lasteth longe yf it bee poudered. So that in fine, the base of these parties, is by no meanes lyke vnto this. This Manate,* 1.68 hath a c••rteine stone or rather bone in his headde within the brayne, which is of qualitie greatly appropriate ageynste the disease of the stone,* 1.69 if it bee burnte and grounde into smaule pouder, and taken fastynge in the mornynge when the payne is felte, in such quantitie as may lye vppon a penye with a drawght of good whyte wyne. For beynge th••s taken three or foure mor¦nynges, it a••quieteth the grefe as dyuers haue toulde me whi¦che haue proued it trewe. And I my selfe by testimonie of sight, doo wytnesse that I haue seene this stone sought of dyuers for this effecte.

There are also dyuers other fysshes as bygge as this Ma¦nate:* 1.70 Emonge the which there is one caule•• Vihuella. This fy••he beareth in the toppe of his headde, a swoorde beinge on euery syde full of many sharpe teeth. This swoorde is natu∣rally very harde & stronge, of foure or fyue spannes in length and of proportion accordynge to the same byggenes. And for this cause is this fyshe cauled Spada: that is the swoord fyshe. Of this kynde sum are found as lyttle as sardines: and other so greate, th•••• two yokes of oxen are scarsely able to drawe them on a carte. But whereas before, I haue promysed to speake of other fysshes which are taken in these seas whyle the shyppes are vnder sayle, I wyl not forget to speake of the Tunnye which is a great and good fysshe,* 1.71 and is oftentymes taken and kylde with troute speares and hookes caste in the water when they play and swymme aboute the shyppes. In lyke maner also are taken many turbuts which are very good fysshes as are lyghtly in all the sea.* 1.72

And here is to bee noted, that in the greate Ocean sea, there is a straunge thynge to bee considered, whiche all that

haue byn in the Indies affirme to bee trewe. And this is, that lyke as on the lande there are sum prouinces fertile and frut∣full,* 1.73 and sum barren, euen so dooth the lyke chaunce in the sea: So that at sum wyndes the shyppes sayle fiftie or a hun∣dreth, or two hundreth leaques and more, withowt takyng or seinge of one fysshe. And ageyne in the selfe same Ocean, in sum places, all the water is seene tremble by the mouynge of the fysshes, where they are taken abundauntly.

It commeth further to my rememberaunce to speake sum∣what of the flyinge of fysshes,* 1.74 which is doubtlesse a straunge thynge to beholde, and is after this maner. When the shyp¦pes sayle by the greate Ocean folowynge theyr vyage, there ryseth sumtymes on the one syde or on the other, many coom∣panies of certeyne lyttle fysshes, of the which the byggest is no greater then a sardyne: and soo diminisshe lesse and lesse from that quantitie that sum of them are very lyttle. These are cauled Volatori: that is, flyinge fysshes. They ryse by great coompanies and flockes in such multitudes that it is an asto∣nysshement to beholde them. Sumtymes they ryse but lyttle from the water: & (as it chaunceth) continew one flyght for the space of a hundreth pases and sumtymes more or lesse be∣fore they faule ageyne into the sea. Sumtymes also they faule into the shyppes. And I remember that on an euenyng when all the company in the shippe were on theyr knees syngynge Salue regina in the highest parte of the Castel of the poope, and sayled with a full wynde, there passed by vs a flocke of these flyinge fysshes: and came so neare vs that many of them fell into the shyppe, amonge the which, two or three fell hard by me which I tooke alyue in my hande: so that I myght well perceaue that they were as bigge as sardynes and of the same quantitie, hauynge two wynges or quylles growyng owt of theyr fynnes, lyke vnto those wherwith all fysshes swymme in ryuers. These wynges are as longe as the fysshes theym selues. As longe as theyr wynges are moyste, they beare them vp in the ayer. But as soone as they are drye, they can continewe theyr flyght no further then as I haue sayde be∣fore, but faule immediatly into the sea, and so ryse ageyne, and flye as before from place to place.

In the yeare. A thousand fyue hundreth fiftene. when I came fyrst to informe your maiestye of the state of the thynges Indya, and was the yeare folowynge in Flaunders in the tyme of youre moste fortunate successe in these youre kynge∣domes of Aragonie and Castyle, wheras at that vyage I say¦led aboue the Iland Bermuda otherwyse cauled Garza,* 1.75 beynge the furtheste of all the Ilandes that are founde at thys daye in the worlde, and arryuynge there at the deapthe of eight yeardes of water, and dystant from the land as farre as the shotte of a piece of ordynaunce, I determined to sende sume of the shyppe to lande as well to make searche of suche thynges as were there, as also to leaue in the Ilande certayne hogges for increase. But the tyme not seruyng my purpose by reason of contrarye wynde, I could bryng my shyppes no nearer the Ilande beinge twelue leaques in lengthe and syxe in breadth and about thyrty in circuite, lying in the thyrtie thre & degre of the northe syde. Whyle I remayned here, I sawe a stryfe and combatte betwene these flyinge fyshes and the fyshes na∣med gylte heades, and the foules cauled seamewes and cor∣morauntes, whych suerlye seemed vnto me a thynge of as greate pleasure and solace as coulde bee deuysed, whyle the gylte heades swamme on the brymme of the water and sum∣tymes lyfted their shulders aboue the same to rayse the swym¦mynge fysshes owt of the water to dryue them to flyght, and folowe them swymming to the place where they faule to take and eate them sodaynlye. Agayne on the other syde, the sea∣mewes and cormorantes, take manye of these flying fysshes: so that by thys meanes theye are nother safe in the ayre nor in the water.* 1.76 In the selfe same perrell and daunger doo men lyue in thys mortall lyfe wherin is no certayne securytye ne∣ther in hygh estate nor in lowe. Which thynge suerlye ought to put vs in rememberaunce of that blessed and safe restynge place whych god hath prepared for such as loue hym, who shall acquyete and fynyshe the trauayles of thys troubelous worlde wherin are so manye daungyours, and brynge them to that eternall lyfe where they shall fynde eternall securytye and reste. But to returne to the hystorye: these byrdes and foules whych I sawe, were of the Ilande of Bermuda nere vn∣to the whych I sawe these flyinge fysshes. For they coulde bee of no other lande, forasmuche as they are not accustomed

to wander farre frome the coastes where they are bredde.

¶Of thincrease and decrease, (that is) rysynge and faullynge of our Ocean sea and Southe sea caulled the sea of Sur.

I Wyll nowe speake of certeayne thynges whi∣che are seene in the Prouynce, or at the leaste in the citie of golden Castyle otherwyse cau∣led Beragua,* 1.77 and in the coastes of the North sea and of the South sea caulled the sea of Sur. Not omittyng to note one synguler and mer∣uelous thynge which I haue consydered of the Ocean sea. wherof hytherto no cosmogra¦pher, pylote or maryner or any other haue satisfyed me.

I say therfore as it is well knowen to your maiestye and all such as haue knowlege of the Ocean sea, that this greate Ocean casteth from it selfe the sea Mediterraneum by the mouthe of the strayght of Gibilterra: in the which the water from thend and furtheste parte of that sea,* 1.78 euen vnto the mouth of the sayde straight, eyther in the East towarde the coaste common¦lye cauled Leuante, or in any other parte of the sayde sea Me∣diterraneum,* 1.79 the sea doothe not so faule nor increase as reason wolde iudge for so greate a sea. But incresethe verye lyttle and a smaule space. Neuerthelesse, withoute the mouthe of the straight in the mayne Ocean, it increaseth and fauleth verye muche and a great space of grounde from syxe houres to syxe houres, as in all the coastes of Spayne, Britannye, Flan¦ders, Germanye and England. The selfe same Ocean sea in the fyrme lande newly founde, in the coastes of the same ly∣ynge towarde the Northe, dothe neyther ryse nor faule, nor lykewise in the Ilandes of Hispaniola and Cuba and all the other Ilandes of the same sea lyinge towarde the northe,* 1.80* 1.81 for the space of thre thousande leaques, but onelye in lyke maner as doothe the sea Mediterr••neum in Italye: whiche is in maner no∣thynge in respecte to that increase and decrease whiche the sayde Ocean hath in the coastes of Spayne and Flaunders. But this is yet a greater thynge, that also the selfe same Ocean in the coastes of the sayde fyrme lande lyinge toward•• the Southe in the citie of Panama, and also in the coaste of that

lande whiche lyethe towarde the Easte and Weste frome that citie, as in the Ilande of pearles or Margaritea whiche the In∣dians caule Tarrarequi, and also in Taboga and Otoque, and in all other Ilandes of the southe sea of Sur, the water ryseth and fauleth so much, that when it fauleth it goth in maner owt of syghte, which thynge I my selfe haue seene oftentymes.

And here youre maiestie may note an other thynge, that from the northe sea to the southe sea beynge of suche dyffer••nce the one from the other in rysynge and faulynge,* 1.82 yet is the lan¦de that deuydeth theym not paste eyghteene or twentye lea∣ques in breadthe frome coaste to coaste. So that bothe the sayde seas beynge all one Ocean this straunge effecte is a thynge worthy greately to bee considered of al suche as haue inclination and desyre to knowe the secreate woorkes of na∣ture wherin the infinite powre and wysedome of god is seene to bee such as may allure all good natures to reuerence and loue so diuine a maiestie.* 1.83 And wheras by the demonstrations of lerned men I am not satisfyed of the natural cause hereof, I content my selfe to knowe and beleue that he which hathe made these thynges, dooth knowe this and many other whi¦che he hath not granted to the reason of man to comprehend, much lesse to so base a wyt as myne is. They therefore that are of greater vnderstandynge, shall searche the cause hereof, for them and for me, forasmuch as I ha••e onely put the mat¦ter in question as a wytnesse that haue seene thexperience of the thynge.

¶ Of the strayght or narowe passage of the lande lyinge be∣twene the North and South sea, by the whiche spyces way much sooner and easlyer be brought from the I∣landes of Molucca into Spayne by the West Oce∣an then by that way wherby the Portugales sayle into East India.

IT hath byn an opinion amonge the Cosmogra¦phers and Pylottes of late tyme, and other which haue had practise in thynges touchynge the sea, that there shulde bee a straygh•• of wa∣ter passynge from the North sea of the firme, in to the South sea of Sur, whiche neuerthelesse

hath not byn seene nor founde to this daye. And suerlye yf there be any suche strayght▪ we that inhabite those partes do thynke the same shulde bee rather of lande thē of water. For the fyrme lande in sum partes therof is so strayght and nar∣rowe that the Indyans saye that frome the mountaynes of the prouynce of Esquegua or Vrraca,* 1.84 (whych are betwene the one sea and the other) If a man assend to the toppe of the moun∣taynes and looke towarde the Northe, he maye see the wa∣ter of the North sea of the Prouynce of Beragua. And ageyne lookynge the contrarye waye, may on the other syde towarde the Southe, see the sea of Sur and the prouynces whyche confyne with it, as doo the territoryes of the twoo Lordes or kynges of the sayde prouinces of Vrraca and Esquegua. And I beleue that if it bee as the Indyans saye, of al that is hether∣to knowen, this is the narowest strayght of the fyrme lande, whiche sume affyrme to bee full of rough mountaynes. Yet doo I not take it for a better waye, or so shorte as is that whyche is made from the porte cauled Nomen dei (whiche is in the Northe sea) vnto the newe citye of Panama beynge in the coaste and on the banke of the sea of Sur.* 1.85* 1.86 Whiche waye is like¦wyse very rough ful of thicke wods, mountaines, ryuers, val¦leys, and verye diffyculte to passe through, and can not bee doone withowt greate laboure and trauayle. Sum measure this waye in this part, to bee from sea to sea .xviii. leaques, whych I suppose to bee rather .xx. not for that it is any more by measure, but bicause it is rough and dyffyculte as I haue sayde, and as I haue founde it by experyence hauynge nowe twyse passed that way by foote: countyng from the porte and vyllage of Nomen Dei vnto the dominion of the Cacique of Iuana¦ga otherwyse cauled Capira .viii. leaques: And frome thense to the ryuer of Chagre,* 1.87 other .viii. leaques. So that at this ryuer beinge .xvi. leaques from the sayde porte, endeth the roughnesse of the way. Then from hense to the maruelous brydge are two leaques: And beyonde that, other twoo vnto the port of Panama: So that all togyther in my iudgemente, make .xx. leaques. And if therfore this nauigation may bee founde in the South sea for the trade of spices (as we trust in God) to bee brought from thense to the sayde porte of Panama (as is possible enough) they may afterwarde easly passe to the Northe sea notwithstaddynge the difficultie of the waye of

the .xx. leaques aforesayde. Whiche thynge I affirme as a man well trauayled in these regions, hauynge twyse on my feete passed ouer this strayght in the yeare .1521. as I haue sayde. It is furthermore to bee vnderstode, that it is a mar∣uelous facilitie to bryng spices by this way which I wil now declare. From Panama to the ryuer of Chagre, are foure leaques of good and fayre way by the which cartes may passe at plea∣sure by reason that the mountaynes are but fewe and lyttle, and that the greateste parte of these foure leaques is a playne grounde voyde of trees. And when the cartes are coomme to the sayde ryuer, the spices may bee caryed in barkes and pin∣nesses. For this ryuer entereth into the North sea fyue or .vi leaques lower then the port of Nomen dei, and emptieth it selfe in the sea nere vnto an Ilande cauled Bastimento,* 1.88 where is a ve∣ry good and safe port. Yowr maiestie may now therfore consy¦der howe great a thynge and what commoditie it maye bee to conuey spices this way, forasmuch as the ryuer of Chagre ha∣uyng his originall only two leaques from the South sea, con¦tineweth his course & emptieth it selfe into the other North sea. This ryuer runneth fast and is very greate, and so com∣modious for this purpose as may be thowght or desyred. The marueilous bridge made by the worke of nature,* 1.89 being two leaques beyonde the sayd ryuer, and other twoo leaques on this syde the porte of Panama, so lyinge in the mydde way be∣twene them both, is framed naturally in such sort that none which passe by this viage see any such bridge or thynke that there is any such buyldyng in that place vntyll they bee in the toppe therof in the way toward Panama. But as soone as they are on the brydge, lookynge towarde the ryght hande, they see a lyttle ryuer vnder them which hath his chanell distante from the feete of them that walke ouer it, the space of twoo speares length or more. The water of this ryuer is very sha∣lowe, not passyng the depth of a mans legge to the knee: and is in breadth be••wene thyrtie and fortie pases: and faulethe into the ryuer of Chagre. Towarde the ryght hand standyng on this brydge, there is nothyng seene but great trees. The largenesse of the brydge, conteyneth .xv. pases: and the l••ngth ••herof about threescore or fourescore pases. The arche is so made of moste harde stone, that no man can beholde it without admiration, beinge made by the hyghe and omnipo∣tent

creatour of all thynges. But to returne to speake sum∣what more of the conueying of spices, I say that when it shal please almyghty god that this nauigation aforesayde shal bee founde by the good fortune of yowre maiestie, and that the spices of the Ilandes of the South sea (which may also bee otherwyse cauled the Ocean of the East India in the whiche are the Ilandes of Molucca) shalbe browght to the sayd coaste and the porte of Panama,* 1.90 and bee conueyed from thense (as we haue sayde) by the firme lande with cartes vnto the ryuer of Chagre, and from thense into this owr other sea of the North, from whense they may afterward bee browght into Spayne, I say that by this meanes the vyage shall bee shortened more then seuen thousande leaques,* 1.91 with muche lesse daunger then is by the viage nowe vsed by the way of Commendator of Ay¦sa capitayne vnder yowre maiestie, who this present yeare at∣tempted a vyage to the place of the sayde spyces. And not on∣ly the way is thus much shortened, but also a thyrde parte of the tyme is abbreuiate. To conclude therfore, if any had he∣therto attempted this vyage by the sea of Sur, to seeke the I∣landes of spyces, I am of firme opinion that they shuld haue byn founde longe sence, as doubtelesse they maye bee by the reasons of Cosmographie.

¶ Howe thynges that are of one kynde, dyffer in forme and qualitie, accordynge to the nature of the place where they are engendred or growe. And of the beastes cauled Tygers.

IN the firme lande are fownde many terryble beastes which sum thinke to be Tigers.* 1.92 Which thynge neuerthelesse, I dare not affirme, con∣syderynge what auctoures doo wryte of the lyghtnes and agilitie of the Tyger, whereas this beast beynge other wyse in shape very like vnto a Tyger, is notwithstandynge very slowe. Yet trewe it is, that accordynge to the maruayles of the worlde and diffe¦rences which naturall thynges haue in dyuers regions vnder heauen and dyuers constellations of the same vnder the whi¦che they are created, wee see that sum suche plantes and her¦bes as are hurtfull in one countrey,* 1.93 are harmelesse and hol∣some

in other regions. And byrdes which in one prouince are of good taste,* 1.94 are in other so vnsauery that they may not bee eaten. Men likewyse which in sum countreys are blacke, are in other places whyte: and yet are both these and they men.* 1.95

Euen so may it bee that Tygers are lyght in sum region as they wryte, and maye neuerthelesse bee slowe and heauy in these Indies of yowr maiestie wherof we speake. The sheepe of Arabie drawe theyr tayles longe and bigge on the ground,* 1.96 and the bulles of Egypt haue theyr heare growynge towarde theyr headdes: yet are those sheepe and these bulles.* 1.97 Men in sum countreys are hardy and of good courage, and in other naturally fearefull and brutyshe. All these thynges and ma∣ny more which may bee sayde to this purpose, are easy to bee proued and woorthy to bee beleued of suche as haue redde of the lyke in autours or trauayled the worlde, whereby theyr owne syght may teache theym thexperience of these thynges wherof I speake. It is also manifest, that Iucea wherof they make theyr breade in the Ilande of Hispaniola,* 1.98 is deadely poy∣son yf it bee eaten greene with the iuse: And yet hathe it no suche propertie in the firme land where I haue eaten it many times & founde it to bee a good frute. The bats of Spayne al¦though they bite,* 1.99 yet are they not venemous. But in the firme lande many dye that are bytten of them. And in this fourme may so many thynges bee sayde that tyme shall not suffice to wryte, wheras my intent is only to proue that this beast may be a Tiger or of the kind of Tigers although it be not of such lyghtnesse and swiftnes as are they wherof Plinie and other autours speake,* 1.100 discrybynge it to bee one of the swyftesse beastes of the lande, and that the ryuer of Tigris for the swift course therof was cauled by that name. The first Spaniardes which sawe this Tyger in the firme lande, dyd so name it. Of the kynde of these was that which Don Diego Columbo the Admirall sent yowre maiestie owte of newe Spayne to Tole∣do.* 1.101 Theyr heades are lyke to the heades of Lyons or Lio∣nesses, but greater. The reste of all theyr boddies and theyr legges, are full of blacke spottes one nere vnto an other and diuided with a circumference or frynge of redde colour shew∣inge as it were a fayre woorke and correspondent picture. Abowt theyr croopes or hynder partes, they haue these spots bydgest: and lesse and lesse towarde theyr bellies, legges, and

headdes. That which was brought to Toledo, was younge and but lyttle, and by my estimation, of thage of three yeares But in the firme lande there are many founde of greater quan∣titie. For I haue seene sum of three spannes in heyght, and more then fyue in length. They are beastes of greate force, with stronge legges, and well armed with nayles and fanges which we caule dogge teeth. They are so fierce that in my iudgement no reall lyon of the byggest sorte is so stronge or fierce. Of these, there are many founde in the firme land whi∣che deuour many of the Indians & do much hurte otherwyse. But syns the comming of the Christians, many haue byn kyld with Crossebowes after this maner. As soone as the archer hath knowlege of the haunt of any of these Tygers,* 1.102 he gothe searchynge theyr trase with his crossebowe and with a lyttle hounde or bewgle and not with a greehounde, bycause this beast wolde soone kyll any dogge that wolde venter on hym. When the hounde hath founde the Tyger, he runneth about hym bayinge continually, and approcheth so neare hym snap∣pynge and grynnynge with so quicke flyinge and returnyng, that he hereby so molesteth this fierce beaste that he dryuethe hym to take the next tree, at the foote whereof he remayneth styl baying and the Tyger grynnyng and shewyng his teeth, whyle in the meane tyme the archer commeth neare, and .xii. or .xiiii. pases of, stryketh hym with the querel of his crosse∣bowe in the breste, and flyeth incontinent, leauynge the Ty∣ger in his trauayle for lyfe and death, bytynge the tree and ea∣tynge earth for fi••rcenesse. Then within the space of twoo or three houres or the day folowynge, the archer returneth thy∣ther, and with his dogge fyndeth the place where he lyethe deade.

In the yeare, 1522. I with the other rulers & magistra∣tes of the citie of Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariena, toke order in owr counsayle, A rewarde of foure or fyue pieces of golde to bee giuen to euery man that kylde any of these Tygers:* 1.103 by reason wherof many were kylde in shorte space both with crosse∣bowes and also with dyuers snares and ingens. But to con∣clude, I wyll not obstynately stand in opinyon whether these beastes bee Tygers or Panthers, or of the number of any o∣ther such beastes of spotted heare, or also peraduenture sum other newe beaste vnknowen to the owlde wryters as were

many other wherof I haue spoken in this booke. Of which thynge, I doo not greately meruayle, For asmuche as vnto owre tyme thys greate parte of the worlde was vnknowen to the antiquitie: In so muche that none of the wryters of that age, nor yet Ptolomie in his Cosmographie, or any other sence hym, haue made any mention herof, vntill the fyrst Ad¦myrall Don Chrystopher Colonus discouered the same.

A thynge doutelesse without comparyson muche greater then that whyche is sayd of Hercules,* 1.104 that he fyrste gaue thente∣rance of the sea Mediterraneum into the O••ean,* 1.105 whiche the Grekes coulde neuer doo before hym. And herof rysethe the fable that the mountaynes of Calpe and Abila (which are di∣rectly one agaynst an other in the strayght of Gibilterra,* 1.106 the one beyng in Spayne and the other in Affryke) were ioyned togi¦ther before they were opened by Hercules,* 1.107 who erected those hys pyllers whiche your maiestye gyue in token of prehemy∣nence and lyke enterpryses with lykewyse these hys wordes PLVS VLTRA:* 1.108 wordes doutelesse worthy for so greate an vnyuersall an Emperoure, and not conuenyent for any other Prynce.* 1.109 Forasmuche as your holy Catholyke Maiestye haue spredde them in so straunge and remote regyons, so manye thousande leaques further than euer dyd Hercules. And cer∣teynlye syr, If there had byn an Image of golde made in the prayse and fame of Colonus, He had as well deserued it as any of those men to whom for theyr noble enterpryse the antiquy¦tie gaue deuyne honoure, if he had byn in their tyme. But to returne to the matter whereof I began to speake: I neede say no more of the forme of thys beaste, for as muche as your Maiestye haue seene that whych is yet alyue in Tolledo. And suerly the keper of your Maiesties lyons, who hath taken vp¦pon hym the charge to tame this beaste, myght better haue be∣stowed his paynes in an other thynge that myght haue bynne more profitable for the safegarde of his lyfe bycause this Ty∣ger beinge yet but younge, wyl dayly bee stronger and fiercer and increase in malyce. The Indians (and especially they of the firme lande in the prouince whiche the Catholyke Kynge Don Ferdinando commaunded to bee cauled golden Castyle) caule this beaste Oobi. This thinge is straunge that chaunced of late: that wheras the Tiger wherof we haue made mention before,* 1.110 wolde haue kylde his kee•••••• that then kept hym in a

cage, was in fewe dayes after made so tame that he ledde her tyed only with a smaule corde and playde with her so family∣arly that I maruayled greatly to see it, yet not without cer∣teyne belefe that this frendshyp wyll not laste longe without daunger of lyfe to the keeper, forasmuch as suerly these bea∣stes are not meete to bee amonge men for theyr fiercenes and cruell nature that can not bee tamed.

❧ Of the maners and customes of the Indians of the firme lande, and of theyr women.

THe maners and customes of these Indians, are dyuers in diuers prouinces. Sum of them take as many wyues as them lyste, and other lyue with one wyfe whome they forsake not with∣out consent of both parties, which chauncethe especially when they haue no chyldren.* 1.111 The no¦bilitie aswel men as women, repute it infamous to ioyne with any of base parentage or strangers, except Christians, whom they count noble men by reason of theyr valientnes, although they put a difference betwene the common sorte and the other to whom they shewe obedience, countynge it for a great mat∣ter and an honorable thyng yf they bee beloued of any of thē. In so much that yf they knowe any Christian man carna••ly, they keepe theyr fayth to hym, so that he bee not longe ab∣sent farre from them. For theyr intent is not to bee widowes or to lyue chast lyke religious women. Many of theym haue this custome, that when they perceaue ••hat they are with chylde, they take an herbe wherwith they destroy that is con¦ceaued. For they say that only wel aged women shulde beare chyldren, and that they wyl not forbeare theyr pleasures and deforme theyr boddies with bearynge of chyldren, wherby theyr teates becoome loose and hangynge which thynge they greatly disprayse. When they are delyuered of theyr chyldren they go to the ryuer and washe them. Whiche doone, theyr bludde and purgation ceaseth immediatly. And when after this they haue a few days absteyned frō the company of men, they becomme so strayght as they say which haue had carnall familiaritie with them, that such as vse them, can not with∣out much difficultie satis••ie theyr appetite, They also whiche neuer had chyldren, are euer as byrgins.* 1.112 In sum partes they

weare certeyne lyttle apernes rounde about them before and behy••de as lowe as to theyr knees and hammes, wherwith they couer theyr priuie partes, and are naked all theyr boddie bysyde. The principal men beare theyr priuities in a holowe pype of golde: but the common sorte haue theym inclosed in the shelles of certeyne great welkes, and are bysyde vtterly naked. For they thynke it no more shame to haue theyr cods seene then any other parte of theyr boddies. And in many pro¦uinces bothe the men and women go vtterly naked without any such couerture at al. In the prouince of Cueua they caul a man Chuy, and a woman Ira: which name is not greately disagreeable to many both of theyr women and of owres.

These Indians gyue great honour and reuerence to theyr Cacique (that is) theyr kynges and rulers. The principall Ca∣cique,* 1.113 hath twelue of his most stronge Indians appoynted to beare hym when he remoueth to any place, or gothe abrod for his pleasure. Two of them cary hym syttyng vppon a longe piece of woodde which is naturally as lyght as they can fynd The other tenne folowe nexte vnto hym as foote men. They keepe continually a trottynge pase with hym on theyr shul∣ders. When the twoo that cary hym are wery, other twoo coomme in theyr places without any disturbance or stey. And thus if the way bee playne, they cary hym in this maner for the space of .xv. or .xx. leaques in one day. The Indians that are assigned to this office, are for the moste parte slaues or Naboriti, that is, such as are bounde to continuall seruice.

I haue also noted that when the Indians perceaue them selues to bee troubled with to much bludde,* 1.114 they lette theym selues blud in the calfes of theyr legges & brawnes of theyr armes, This doo they with a very sharpe stone, and sum∣tymes with the smaule toothe of a vyper, or with a sharpe reede or thorne

All the Indians are commonly without beardes:* 1.115 In so much that it is in maner a maruayle to see any of them eyther men or women to haue any downe or heare on theyr faces or other partes of theyr boddies. Albeit, I sawe the Cacique of the prouince of Catarapa who had heare on his face and other partes of his boddie, as had also his wyfe in suche places as women are accustomed to haue.* 1.116 This Cacique had a great part of his body paynted with a blacke colour which neuer fadeth: And is much lyke vnto that wherwith the Mores paynt them

selues in Barberie in token of nobilitie. But the Moores are paynted specially on theyr vysage and throte and certeyne other partes. Likewyse the principall Indians vse these payntynges on theyr armes and brestes, but not on theyr vy∣sages, bycause amonge them the slaues are so marked. When the Indians of certeyne prouinces go to the battayle (especi∣ally the Caniball archers) they cary certeyne shelles of greate welkes of the sea which they blowe and make therwith great sounde muche lyke the noyse of hornes.* 1.117 They carye also cer∣teyne tymbrels which they vse in the steade of drummes. Also very fayre plumes of fethers, and certeyne armure of golde:* 1.118 especially great and rounde pieces on theyr ••restes, and splin¦tes on there armes. Lykewyse other pieces whiche they put on theyr heades and other partes of theyr bodyes.* 1.119 For they esteeme nothynge so much as to appeare galante in the wars, and to go in most coomely order that they can deuyse, glyste∣rynge with precious stones, iewelles, golde, and fethers. Of the leaste of these welkes or perewincles, they make certeyne lyttle beades of diuers sortes and colours. They make also little brass••lets whiche they mengle with gaud••es of golde.* 1.120 These they rowle about there armes frome the elbowe to the wreste of the hande. The lyke also doo they on theyr legges from the knee to the soles of theyr feete in token of nobilitie. Especially theyr noble women in dyuers prouinces are accu∣stomed to weare such Iewelles, and haue theyr neckes in ma¦ner laden therwith. These beades and Iewels and such other trynkettes, they caule Caqu••ras. Bisyde these also, they weare certeyne rynges of golde at theyr cares and nostrelles which they bore ful of holes on both sides, so that the ringes hange vppon theyr lyppes. Sum of these Indians, are poulde and rounded. Albe••t, commonly both the men and women take it for a decent thynge to weare longe heare, which the women weare to the myddest of theyr shulders and cut it equally, es∣pecially aboue theyr browes. This doo they with certeyne harde stones which they keepe for the same purpose. The prin¦cipall women when theyr teates faule or becoome loose, beare them vp with hartes of golde of the length of a••spanne and a halfe,* 1.121 wel wrought, and of such byggenesse that sum of them way more then two hundreth Castilians or ducades of golde. These barres haue holes at both thendes, whereat they tye

two smaul cordes made of cotton at euery ende of the barres. One of these cordes goth ouer the shulder, and the other vn∣der the arme holes where they tye both togyther, so that by th••s meanes the barre beareth vp theyr teates. Sum of these chiefe women go to the battayle with theyr husbandes, or when they themselues are regentes in any prouinces, in the which they haue all thynges a•• commaundement and execute thoffice of generall capitaynes, and cause them selues to bee caryed on mens backes in lyke maner as doo the Caciques of whom I haue spoken before.

These Indians of the firme lande are muche of the same stature and coloure as are they of the Ilandes.* 1.122 They are for the most part of the colour of an olyue. If there bee any other difference, it is more in byggenesse then otherwyse. And espe¦cially they that are cauled Coronati are stronger and bygger then any other that I haue seene in these parties,* 1.123 except those of the Ilande of giantes whiche are on the south syde of the Ilande of Hispaniola:* 1.124 nere vnto the coastes of the firme lande: And lykewyse certeyne other which they caule Yucatos which are on the north syde.* 1.125 All which chiefely, although they bee no giantes, yet are they doubtelesse the byggeste of the Indy∣ans that are knowen to this day, and commonly bygger then the Flemynges: and especially many of them aswell women as men, are of very hyghe stature, and are all archiers bothe men and women. These Coronati inhabite thirtie leaques in length by these coastes from the poynt of Canoa to the greate ryuer which they caule Guadalchibir nere vnto Sancta Maria de gra∣tia. As I trauersed by those coastes, I fylled a butte of freshe water of that ryuer syxe leaques in the sea frome the mouthe therof where it fauleth into the sea. They are cauled Coronati (that is crowned) bycause theyr heare is cutte round by theyr rares, and poulde lower a great compase abowte the crowne much lyke the fryers of saynt Augustines order. And bycause I haue spoken of theyr maner of wearynge theyr heare, here commeth to my rememberaunce a thynge which I haue often∣tymes noted in these Indians. And this is, that they haue the bones of the sculles of theyr heades foure tymes thycker and much stronger then owres.* 1.126 So that in comm••ng to hand strokes with them, it shalbe requisite not to strike them on the heades with swoordes. For so haue many swoordes bynne

broken on theyr heades with lyttle hurt doone. And to haue sayde thus much of theyr customes and maners, it shal suffice for this tyme, bycause I haue more largely intreated herof in my generall hystorie of the Indies. Yet haue I nother there nor here spoken much of that parte of the firme lande whiche is cauled Noua Hispania (that is, newe Spayne whereof the I∣lande of Iucatana is part) forasmuche as Ferdinando Cortese hath wrytten a large booke thereof.* 1.127

Of the houses of these Indians,* 1.128 I haue spoken sufficient¦ly elswhere. Yet haue I thought good to informe yowr ma¦iestie of the buyldynge and houses which the Christians haue made in dyuers places in the firme lande. They buylde them nowe therfore with two solars or loftes, and with loopes and wyndowes to open and shutte. Also with stronge tymber and very fayre bordes. In suche sorte that any noble man maye wel and pleasauntly bee lodged in sum of them. And amonge other, I my selfe caused one to bee builded in the citie of Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariena whiche coste me more then a thousande and fyue hundreth Castelians:* 1.129 being of such sort that I may well interteyne and commodiously lodge, any Lorde or noble man, reseruynge also a parte for my selfe and my famelie. For in this may many householdes bee kepte both aboue and be∣nethe. It hath also a fayre garden with many orange trees bothe sweete and sowre: Ceders also, and Lemondes,* 1.130 of the which there is nowe great plentie in the houses of the Chry∣stians. On one syde of the gardeyne, there runneth a fayre ry¦uer. The situation is very pleasaunte, with a good and hol∣some ayer, and a fayre prospecte abowte the ryuer. In fine, owre truste is that in fewe yeares al thynges in these regions shall growe to a better state accordynge to the holy intention of yowre maiestie.

Of the chiefe Ilandes Hispaniola and Cuba.

THe Indians which at this present inhabite the Ilande of Hispaniola, are but fewe in num∣ber, and the Chrystyans not so many as they ought to bee forasmuche as many of them that were in this Ilande, are gonne to other Ilan∣des and to the fyrme lande. For beynge for the

moste parte younge men vnmaried, and desirous dayly to see newe things wherin mans nature deliteth,* 1.131 they were not willinge to continewe longe in on place: especially seeing dai¦lie other newe landes discouered where they thowght theye might sooner fylle there purses by beinge present at the firste spoyle. Wherin neuerthelesse their hope deceaued many of them, and especially suche as bad houses and habitations in ••hys Ilande, For I certeynly beleue, confyrmynge my selfe herein with the Iudgement of many other, that if any one Prynce had no more signiores then only this Ilande, it shuld in shorte tyme bee suche as not to giue place eyther to Sicilie or Englande:* 1.132 wheras euen at this present there is nothynge wherefore it shulde malice their prosperitie not beinge inferi¦oure to them in any filicite that in maner the heauens can graunte to any lande: being furthermore suche as maye in∣riche many prouinces and k••ngedomes by reason of manye riche golde mynes that are in it of the beste golde that is founde to this day in the worlde,* 1.133 and in greatest quantitie. In this Ilande, nature of her selfe bringeth furthe suche a∣boundance of cotton that if it were wrought and maynteyned there shuld be more and better then in any parte of the world.* 1.134 There, is so greate plentie of excellent Cassia that a gr••ate quā¦titie is brought from thense into Spayne:* 1.135 from whense it is caried to dyuers partes of the worlde. In increaseth so muche that it is a meruelous thynge to consider. In this are many ryche shoppes wher suger is wrought:* 1.136 and that of such perfectenes and goodnes, and in suche quantitie that shippes come laden therwith yearly into Spayne.* 1.137 All suche sedes, sertes, or plantes, as are brought out of Spayne and planted in this Ilande, becoomme muche better, bygger, and of grea¦ter increase then they are in any parte of owre Europe. And if it chaunce otherwyse that sumetymes they prosper nor so well, the cause is that they which shulde tyll and husband the grounde,* 1.138 and sowe and plant in dewe seasons, haue no respect hereunto, being impacient whyle the wheate and vynes waxe rype, beinge gyuen to wanderynge and other affayres of pre∣sent gaynes (as I haue sayde) as searchynge the gold mines, fyshynge for pearles, and occupyinge marchaundies, with such other trades, for the greedy folowyng wherof, they neg∣lecte and contempne both sowynge and plantynge. Suche frutes as are brought owt of Spayne, into this Ilande, pros∣per

maruelously and waxe rype all tymes of the yeare: as her¦bes of all sortes very good and pleasaunt to bee eaten. Also many pomegranates of the best kynde, and oranges bothe sweete and sower.* 1.139 Lykewyse many fayre Lymones & ceders: and a great quantitie of all such as are of sharpe, sowre, and bytter taste. There are also many fygge trees whiche brynge furth theyr frute all the hole yeare.* 1.140 Lykewyse those kynd of date trees that beare dates:* 1.141 and dyuers other trees and plan¦tes which were brought owt of Spayne thyther.

Beastes doo also increase in lyke abundaunce:* 1.142 and especi¦ally the heardes of kyne are so augmented both in quantitie and number, that there are nowe many patrones of cattayle that haue more then two thousand heades of neate:* 1.143 and sum three or foure thousande, and sum more. Bysyde these, there are very many that haue heardes of foure or fyue hundrethe. And trewth it is, that this Iland hath better pasture for such cattayle then any other countrey in the worlde:* 1.144 also holsome and cleare water and temperate ayer, by reason whereof the heardes of such beastes are much bygger, fatter, and also of better taste then owres in Spayne bycause of the ranke pa∣sture whose moysture is better digested in the herbe or grasse by the continuall and temperate heate of the soonne,* 1.145 wherby being made more fatte and vnctuous, it is of better and more stedfast nuryshement.* 1.146 For continuall and temperate heate, dooth not only drawe muche moysture owt of the earth to the nuryshement of such thynges as growe and are engendered in that clyme, but dooth also by moderation preserue the same from resolution and putrefaction, digestynge also and conden¦satynge or thyckenynge the sayde moyste nuryshemente into a gummie and vactuous substaunce as is seene in all suche thin¦ges as growe in those regions. And this is the only naturall cause aswell that certeyne great beastes and of longe lyfe (as the Elephante and Rhinoceros with such other) are engende¦red only in regions nere vnto the Equinoctiall,* 1.147 as also that the leaues of such trees as growe there, doo not wyther or faule,* 1.148 vntyll they bee thruste owt by other, accordynge to the verse of the poete which sayth: Et nata pira piris, et ficus in ficubus ex∣tant. That is in effecte: peares growynge vppon peares, and fygges vppon fygges. Plinie also wryteth, that suche trees are neuer infected with the disease of trees that the Latines

caule Caries, which we may caule the worme or canker,* 1.149 being but a certeyne putrifaction by reason of a wateryshe nuryshe∣ment not well consolidate. The same thynge hath bynne the cause that certeyne Phylosophers considerynge aswell that man is the hottest and moystest beast that is (which is the best complexion) as also that men lyue longeste in certeyne partes of India nere the Equinoctiall (where yet to this day summe liue to thage of a hundreth and fiftie yeares) were of opinion that yf mankynde had any begynnynge on the earthe,* 1.150 that place owght by good reason to be vnder or not farre from the Equinoctiall lyne for the causes aforesayde.* 1.151 Sum of the di∣uines also vppon lyke consideration haue thought it agreable that theyr Paradyse shulde bee about the same within the pre∣cincte of those ryuers which are named in the booke of Gene∣sis. But to lette passe these thynges and to returne to the hystorie.

In this Ilande furthermore, are many sheepe and a great number of hogges:* 1.152 of the which (as also of the kyne) manye are becoome wyld: And lykewyse many dogges and cattes of those which were brought owt of Spayne.* 1.153 These (and espe∣cially the dogges) doo much hurte amonge the cattayle by rea¦son of the negligence of the hearde men.

There are also many horses, mares, and mules, and suche other beastes as serue thuse of men in Spayne, and are much greater then they of the fyrst brode brought thether owt of Spayne.* 1.154 Sum places of the Ilande are inhabyted, although not so many as were requisite: Of the whiche I wyll saye no more but that all the regions of the Ilande are so well situate that in the course of tyme all thynges shall coomme to grea∣ter perfection by reason of the rychnesse and pleasauntnesse of the countrey and fertilitie of the soile.

But nowe to speake sumwhat of the principall and chiefe place of the Ilande, which is the citie of San Domenico:* 1.155 I saye that as touchynge the buildynges, there is no citie in Spaine so muche for so muche (no not Barsalona whiche I haue often∣tymes seene) that is to bee preferred before this generallye. For the houses of San Domenico, are for the moste parte of stone as are they of Barsalona: or of so stronge and well wrought earth that it maketh a singuler & stronge byndyng. The situa¦cion is muche better thē that of Barsalona by reason that the

are much larger and playner▪ and without comparyson more directe and streyght furth. For beinge buylded nowe in owr tyme, bysyde the commoditie of the place of the foundation, the streates were also directed with corde, compase and mea∣sure, wherin it excelleth al the cities that I haue sene. It hath the sea so nere, that of one syde there is no more space betwen the sea and the citie then the waules. And this is about fyftie pases where it is furthest of. On this syde, the waters of the sea beate vppon the naturall stones and fayre coaste. On the other parte, harde by the syde and at the foote of the hou¦ses, passeth the ryuer Ozama whiche is a marueylous porte wherin laden shyppes ryse very nere to the lande and in ma∣ner vnder the house wynd••wes,* 1.156 & no further from the mouth of the ryuer where it entereth into the sea, then is frome the foote of the hyll of Monyuye to the monastery of saynt Frances or to the lodge of Barsalona. In the myddest of this space in the citie, is the fortresse and castle, vnder the which and twen¦tie pases distant from the same, passe the shippes to aryse sum what further in the same ryuer. From the enteraunce of the shyppes vntyll they cast anker, they sayle no further from the houses of the citie then thyrtie or fortie pases, bicause of this syde of the citie the habitacion is nere to the ryuer. The port or hauen also,* 1.157 is so fayre and commodious to defraight or vn∣lade shyppes, as the lyke is founde but in fewe places of the worlde. The chymmeis that are in this citie, are abowt syxe hundreth in number, and such houses as I haue spoken of be¦fore: Of the which sum are so fayre and large that they maye well receaue and lodge any lorde or noble manne of Spayne with his trayne and famelie. And especially that which Don Diego Colon viceroy vnder your maiestie hath in this citie, is suche that I knowe no man in Spayne that hath the lyke by a quarter in goodnesse consyderynge all the commodities of the same. Lykewyse the situation thereof, as beinge aboue the sayde porte and altogyther of stone and hauynge many faire and large roomes with as goodly a prospect of the lande and sea as may be deuysed, seemeth vnto me so magni∣ficall and princelyke that yowr maiestie maye bee as well lod∣ged therin as in any of the mooste exquisite builded houses of Spayne. There is also a Cathedrall churche buylded of late where aswell the byshop accordyng to his ••ignitie,* 1.158 as also the canones are wel indued. This church is wel buylded of stone

and lyme, and of good woorkemanshyppe. There are further∣more three monasteries bearyng the name of saynt Dominike, saynt Frances, and saynt Marie of Mercedes: The whiche are all well buylded althoughe not so curiouslye as they of Spayne. But speakynge without preiudice of any other reli¦gious monasterie, yowre maiestie may bee well assured that in these three monasteries, god is as wel serued as in any other religious house with men of holy lyuynge and vertuous exem¦ple. There is also a very good hospitall for the ayde and suc∣cour of pore people,* 1.159 whiche was founde by Michaell Passa∣ment threasurer to yowr maiestie. To conclude, this citie frō day to day increaseth in welth and good order, aswel for that the sayde Admyrall and viceroy with the lorde Chaunceloure and counsayle appoynted there by yowr maiestie, haue theyr continuall abydynge here, as also that the rychest men of the Ilande resort hyther for theyr moste commodious habitation and trade of such marchaundies as are eyther brought owt of Spayne or sent thyther from this Iland which nowe so abun¦deth in many thynges that it serueth Spayne with m••ny com¦modities, as it were with vsury requityng such benefites as it fyrst receaued from thense.

The people of this Ilande are commonlye of sumewhat lesse stature then are the Spanyardes, and of a shynynge or cleare browne coloure. They haue wyues of theyr owne, and absteyne from theyr dowghters, systers, and mothers. They haue large forheades, longe blacke heare, and no beardes or heare in any other parts of theyr bodies aswel mē as women,* 1.160 except very fewe as perhaps scarsely one amonge a thousand. They go as naked as they were borne, excepte that on the partes which may not with honestie bee seene, they weare a certeyne leafe as brode as a mans hande, which neuerthelesse is not kepte close with suche diligence but that sumtymes a man may see that they thynke sufficiently hydde.

In this Iland are certeyne glo woormes that shyne in the nyght as doo owres.* 1.161 But are muche bygger and gyue a grea∣ter lyght: In so much that when the men of the Ilande goo any iorneys in the nyght, they beare summe of these woormes made fast abowt theyr fiete and heade, in suche sorte that he that shulde see them a farre and ignorant of the thinge, wolde bee greatly astonyshed therat. By the lyght of these also, the

women woorke in theyr houses in the night. These woormes they caule Cleuas. Theyr lyght lasteth for the space of three dayes, and diminissheth as they begynne to drye vp.

There is also a kynd of crowes whose breath stynketh in the mornynge and is sweete at after noone.* 1.162 The excremente which they auoyde, is a lyuynge worme.

As touchynge other thynges of this Ilande whereof Pe∣ter Martyr hath more largely intreated in his Decades, I haue thought it superfluous to repeate the same ageyne owte of this hystorie of Gonzalus Ferdinandus: but haue here gathered only suche thynges as eyther are not touched of Peter Mar∣tyr or not so largely declared: as I haue doone the lyke in all other notable thynges which I haue collected owt of this Summarie of Gonzalus.

¶ Of the Ilande of Cuba and other.

OF the Ilande of Cuba and the other, as the I∣landes, of Sancti Iohannis and Iamaica,* 1.163* 1.164 the same maye bee sayde in maner in all thynges as be∣fore of Hispaniola although not so largely. Yet in lesse quantitie doo they brynge foorth the lyke thynges: as gold, copper, cattayle, trees plantes, fysshes, and such other of the whiche wee haue spo∣ken there.

In Cuba, is a certeyne kynde of Partyches beinge verye little, with theyr fethers much of the colour of turtle dooues:* 1.165 but are of muche better taste to bee eaten. They are taken in great number. And beinge brought wylde into the houses, they becoome as tame within the space of three or foure dayes as though they had byn hatched there. They becoomme ex∣ceadynge fatte in short space, and are doubtelesse the most de∣licate and pleasaunt meate that euer I haue eaten. But to let passe many other thynges that myght here bee sayde, and to speake of two maruelous thynges which are in this Iland of Cuba: wherof the one is,* 1.166 that a valley conteynynge twoo or three leaques in length betwene two mountaynes, is full of a kynde of very harde stones of suche perfecte roundenesse and lyke vnto pellettes of gunnes that no arte can make bet∣ter or more exactly polysshed. Of these, sum are as smaule

as pellettes for handegunnes: and other so increasynge byg∣ger and bygger from that quantitie, that they may serue for all sortes of artyllerie althoughe they bee of byggenesse to re∣ceaue one or two or more quintales of pouder, euery quintale conteynyng one hundreth weyght: or of what other quanti∣tie so euer they bee. These pelletes are founde through owte al the valley within the earth as in a myne, which they digge and take ow••e such as they neede of all sortes.

The other marueylous thinge of this Iland is this: That farre from the sea, there issheweth owt of a mountayne a cer¦teyne lycour much lyke the cley of Babilon cauled Bitumen or lyke vnto pytche in great quantitie and such as is very com∣modious for the calkynge of shyppes.* 1.167 This fauleth continu∣ally from the rocke and runneth into the sea in suche abun∣daunce that it is seene flotynge aboue the water on euery side of the sea there abowt as it is dryuen frome place to place by the wynde or course of the water.

Quintus Cursius wryteth in his hystorie,* 1.168 that great Alexander came to the citie of Memi where is a great caue or denne in the which is a sprynge or fountayne that continually auoydethe a great quantitie of Bitumen in such sort that it is an easy thing to beleue that the stones of the walles of Babilon myght bee layde therwith accordynge as the sayde auctoure wryteth.* 1.169 I haue seene this myne of Bitumen, not only in the Iland of Cu∣ba, but also such an other in new Spayne, which was found of late in the prouince of Panuco where it is much better then the other of Cuba,* 1.170 as I haue seene by experience in calkynge of shyppes.

¶ Of the lande of Baccaleos cauled Terra Baccalearum, situ∣ate on the North syde of the firme lande.

SHortly after that yowr Maiestie came to the ci¦tie of Toledo, there arryued in the moneth of Nouember, Steuen Gomes the pylot who the yeare before of 1524. by the commaundement of yowre maiestie sayled to the Northe partes and founde a greate parte of lande continu∣ate from that which is cauled Baccaleos discoursynge towarde the West to the .xl. and .xli. degree,* 1.171 frō whense he broughe

certeyne Indians (for so caule wee all the nations of the new founde landes) of the whiche he brought sum with hym from thense who are yet in Toledo at this present,* 1.172 and of greater stature then other of the firme lande as they are commonlye. Theyr coloure is much lyke thother of the firme lande. They are great archers, and go couered with the skinnes of dyuers beastes both wylde and tame.* 1.173 In this lande are many excel∣lent furres, as marterns, sables, and such other rych furres of the which the sayde pilote brought summe with hym into Spayne. They haue syluer and copper, and certeyne other metalles. They are Idolaters and honoure the soonne and moone,* 1.174 and are seduced with suche superstitions and errours as are they of the firme.

And to haue wrytten thus muche, it maye suffice of suche thinges as haue semed to me most woorthy to be noted in the Sūmarie of Gonzalus Ferdinandus wrytten to Thēperours maiestie

¶ Of other notable thynges gathered owte of dyuers autours: And fyrste of the vniuersal carde and newe worlde.

THe hole globe or compase of the earth was dy∣uyded by the auncient wryters into three par∣tes, as Europa, Affrica, and Asia: whiche partes conteyne in longitude .180. degrees, begyn∣nynge the fyrst degree at the Ilandes of Cana¦rie. And conteyne in latitude towarde the North .63. degrees, begynnynge the fyrste degree frome the Equinoctiall: And .10. degrees towarde the South. All the reste of the longitude which conteyneth other .180. degrees, is discouered of late tyme, as the West India cauled the newe worlde,* 1.175 bycause none of the owlde autoures had any knowe∣lege or made any mention therof. All that therfore is cauled newe which is Westwarde from the Ilandes of Canarie. And thus accomptynge these .180. degrees towarde the East disco¦uered in owlde tyme, with the other .180. degrees disco¦uered of late dayes, they make, 360. degrees, which is al the circle of the Equinoctiall in the sphere.* 1.176 Also the part aboue the .63. degrees of the North latitude,* 1.177 was founde by men of late tyme, as Norway and Grutlande with many other pro∣uinces.

Lykewise the part more south then .10. degrees of la¦titude,* 1.178 was discouered of late dayes, althoughe Ariane and Plinie say that it was knowen in owlde tyme: whiche yf it were, yet had they no suche particular description thereof as we haue in these dayes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A marke, is •• pounde of viii. ounces summa .xl••i.li. weyght .viii. ounces, after xii. ounces to the .li.
• * 1.2

  Of this reade more largely in the deca∣des.
• * 1.3

  By the com∣putation of ve¦nice .iiii. gra••∣nes make a carette.
• * 1.4

  Nigua.
• * 1.5

  Uypers,
• * 1.6

  Adders.
• * 1.7

  Dragons,
• * 1.8

  Spyders,
• * 1.9

  Crabbe••▪
• * 1.10

  Serpentes cauled Iuan∣••i.
• * 1.11

  Byrdes.
• * 1.12

  A very lyttle byrde.
• * 1.13

  Beastes.
• * 1.14

  Bardati.
• * 1.15

  Beares.
• * 1.16

  Antes.
• * 1.17

  A straunge beast whiche seemeth a kynd of Cha∣meleon.
• * 1.18

  Foules, and byrdes,
• * 1.19

  Alcatraz,
• * 1.20

  Panama▪
• * 1.21

  P••ssere sempie.
• * 1.22

  Picuti.
• * 1.23

  Folysshe spa∣rowes.
• * 1.24

  Gazz••ole.
• * 1.25

  Pintadelli.
• * 1.26

  Great foules
• * 1.27

  Cocus.
• * 1.28

  I haue seene one of these fruites ope∣ned the whi∣che wh••n it was ho••e, yf it were ••hakē the water was harde shogge ther∣in as it were in a bottle, but in tyme it consumed and was pa••t¦ly congeled in¦to a salte sub∣staunce,
• * 1.29

  Great trees.
• * 1.30

  A maruelo••-tree.
• * 1.31

  ••yndlynge of fyre withowt fyre.
• * 1.32

  Purrified woodde shy∣nyng in the nyght.
• * 1.33

  Plinie.
• * 1.34

  Trees which continue euer greene.
• * 1.35

  Cassia,
• * 1.36

  A secreat•• thy••ge.
• * 1.37

  Radycall moysture▪
• * 1.38

  Platani.
• * 1.39

  Figges.
• * 1.40

  ••unas.
• * 1.41

  Bihaos.
• * 1.42

  Hauas,
• * 1.43

  Dying of cot¦ton.
• * 1.44

  A straunge thynge.
• * 1.45

  Note.
• * 1.46

  Canibales ar¦chiers.
• * 1.47

  wherwith they inuenym¦ther arrowes
• * 1.48

  P••trus Arias.
• * 1.49

  The water of the sea.
• * 1.50

  The goulf of vraba.
• * 1.51

  Xagua.
• * 1.52

  Hobi.
• * 1.53

  Sum thynke these to be mi¦••obalanes.
• * 1.54

  Date trees,
• * 1.55

  Thinhabitan¦••es of the sea of Sur.
• * 1.56

  An herb that bearethe cor∣des.
• * 1.57

  Cabuia & he••••∣quen.
• * 1.58

  A straūg thi••∣ge.
• * 1.59

  Leaues,
• * 1.60

  A leafe of great vertue.
• * 1.61

  Tiburons.
• * 1.62

  Manates
• * 1.63

  G••eat Tortoy¦••es.
• * 1.64

  Tiburons.
• * 1.65

  Plinie.
• * 1.66

  Crocodyles.
• * 1.67

  Manates.
• * 1.68

  The fysshe Manate.
• * 1.69

  A remedy a∣geynst the stone.
• * 1.70

  The swoorde fysshe.
• * 1.71

  Tunnye.
• * 1.72

  Turbut,
• * 1.73

  Note,
• * 1.74

  Flyinge fys∣shes.
• * 1.75

  The Iland of Bermuda.
• * 1.76

  Not to hie for the pye nor to lowe fro: the crowe.
• * 1.77

  Beragua.
• * 1.78

  The West Ocean.
• * 1.79

  The s••a Me∣diteraneum.
• * 1.80

  Hispaniola.
• * 1.81

  Cuba.
• * 1.82

  The South sea.
• * 1.83

  The power and w••sdome of god is sene in his crea∣tures.
• * 1.84

  Esquegua and vrrace.
• * 1.85

  Nomen De••.
• * 1.86

  Panama.
• * 1.87

  The ryuer of Chagre.
• * 1.88

  The Ilande Bastimento.
• * 1.89

  The marue∣lous bridge.
• * 1.90

  The Ilandes of Molucca.
• * 1.91

  The commo∣ditie of this viage.
• * 1.92

  Tigers.
• * 1.93

  Plantes and herbes.
• * 1.94

  Birdes.
• * 1.95

  Men.
• * 1.96

  Sheepe.
• * 1.97

  Bulles.
• * 1.98

  Iucea.
• * 1.99

  Battes.
• * 1.100

  Plinie.
• * 1.101

  the Tiger.
• * 1.102

  The huntyng of tigers.
• * 1.103

  A reward for kyllinge of ••i¦gers.
• * 1.104

  Colocus com∣pared to Her∣cules.
• * 1.105

  The pillers of hercules.
• * 1.106

  the straightes of Gibilterra.
• * 1.107

  Note.
• * 1.108

  PLVS VLTRA.
• * 1.109

  howe farre Themperou•• maiestie excel¦leth hercules.
• * 1.110

  A tiger made ••ame.
• * 1.111

  The Indian women.
• * 1.112

  The men of India.
• * 1.113

  The kynge is borne on mēs b••ckes.
• * 1.114

  Lettinge of bludde.
• * 1.115

  They haue no beardes.
• * 1.116

  They paynte theyr bodies.
• * 1.117

  The Caniba∣les.
• * 1.118

  Armure of golde.
• * 1.119

  Their galant∣nes in the warres.
• * 1.120

  Their Iuell••
• * 1.121

  howe the wo¦men beare vp their s••a••es, wy••h barres of golde.
• * 1.122

  The stature & coloure of the Indians.
• * 1.123

  The Indians cauled Coro∣nati.
• * 1.124

  The Ilande of giantes.
• * 1.125

  Iucato••.
• * 1.126

  The sculles of the Indiās heades.
• * 1.127

  New Spaine.
• * 1.128

  The house•• of the Christi¦ans in India
• * 1.129

  Darien••.
• * 1.130

  Garde••••.
• * 1.131

  Men are desi∣rous of newe thinges.
• * 1.132

  The commo∣dities of his∣paniola-Englande and Sicilie.
• * 1.133

  Golde mines.
• * 1.134

  Cotton.
• * 1.135

  Cassia.
• * 1.136

  Suger.
• * 1.137

  Plantes and Herbes.
• * 1.138

  Greate thyn∣ges hindered by respecte of presente gay∣nes.
• * 1.139

  Orangies. Pomegrana∣tes.
• * 1.140

  Figges al the yeare.
• * 1.141

  Dates.
• * 1.142

  Beastes.
• * 1.143

  Greate hear∣des of catta••l.
• * 1.144

  good pasture.
• * 1.145

  The effecte of continual and moderate heate.
• * 1.146

  The cause of fatte nurisshe¦mente.
• * 1.147

  Beastes of longe lyfe ••n regions a¦bowte the E∣quinoctiall line
• * 1.148

  Trees whos leaues doe not wither
• * 1.149

  The cancar of the tree
• * 1.150

  Longe lyu••de men in India.
• * 1.151

  Paradise beare the e¦quinoctial line
• * 1.152

  Shepee and hogges
• * 1.153

  Dogges and cattes becom wylde
• * 1.154

  The situation of hispaniola.
• * 1.155

  The citie of sandomenico
• * 1.156

  The riuer ••¦zama
• * 1.157

  The hauen
• * 1.158

  A cathedrall churche and monasterie in hispaniola.
• * 1.159

  An hospitale.
• * 1.160

  The people
• * 1.161

  Glo wormes
• * 1.162

  Crowes sty••¦kynge and sweete.
• * 1.163

  Saynt Iohn his Ilande.
• * 1.164

  Iamaica.
• * 1.165

  Partriches.
• * 1.166

  Pellettes for gunnes wrought by nature.
• * 1.167

  A fountayne of the pytche of Bitumen.
• * 1.168

  Quintus Cu••sius
• * 1.169

  Bitumen of Babi••on.
• * 1.170

  Panuco.
• * 1.171

  Baccaleos.
• * 1.172

  Indians.
• * 1.173

  Ryche furres and syluer.
• * 1.174

  Idolaters.
• * 1.175

  west India the newe worlde.
• * 1.176

  The circum∣ference of the Equinoctiall lyne.
• * 1.177

  The North regions.
• * 1.178

  The South regions.