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I Was determyned (moste holy father) to haue proceded no further herein, but that on•• fierye sparke yet remaynynge in my mynde, woolde not suffer me to cease. Wheras I haue therfore declared howe Beragua was fyrste fownde by
Colonus, my thincke I shulde commytte a heynous cryme if I shuld defraude the man of the due commendations of his tra∣uayles,* 1.1 of his cares and troubles, and fynally of the daun∣geours and perels, whiche he susteyned in that nauigation.
Therfore in the yeare of Christe .1502. in the .vi. daye of the Ides of Maye, he hoysed vppe his sayles and departed from the Ilandes of Gades with .iiii. shyppes of fyftie or .iii. score tunne a piece, with a hundreth threscore and tenne mē, and came with prosperous wynde to the Ilandes of Canari•• within fiue daies folowinge, from thense arryuinge the .xvi. day at the Ilande of Dominica beinge the chiefe habitation of the Canibales, he sayled from Dominica to Hispaniola in fyue o∣ther daies. Thus within the space of .xxvi. daies, with pros∣perous wynde and by the swyfte faule of the Ocean from the Easte to the west, he sayled from Spaine to Hispaniola: Which course is counted of the mariners to bee no lesse then a thou∣sande and twoo hundreth leagues.* 1.2 He taryed but a whyle in Hispaniola, whether it were wyllingly, or that he were so ad∣monisshed of the viceroye. Directing therfore his vyage from thense towarde the weste, leauyng the Ilandes of Cuba and Iamaica on his ryght hande towarde the northe, he wryteth that he chaunsed vppon an Ilande more southewarde then Iamaica, whiche thinhabitantes caule Guanassa, so florysshinge and frutefull that it myghte seeme an earthlye Paradyse.* 1.3
Coastynge alonge by the shores of this Ilande, he mette two of the Canoas or boates of those prouinces, whiche were drawne with two naked slaues ageynst the streame. In these boates, was caryed a ruler of the Ilande with his wyfe and chyldren, all na••ed. The slaues seeynge owre men a lande, made signes to them with proude countenaunce in their mai∣sters name, to stande owte of the waye, and threatned them if they woolde not gyue place.* 1.4 Their sympelnes is suche that they nother feared the multitude or poure of owre men, or the greatnes and straungenes of owre shippes. They thought that owre men woolde haue honoured their maister with like reuerence as they did. Owre men had intelligēce at the length that this ruler was a greate marchaunte whiche came to the marte from other coastes of the Ilande.* 1.5 For they exercyse byinge and sellynge by exchaunge with their confinies. He had also with him good stoore of suche ware as they stande
in neede of or take pleasure in: as laton belles, rasers, kny∣ues, and hatchettes made of a certeyne sharpe yelowe bryght stone, with handles of a stronge kynd of woodde. Also many other necessary instrumentes with kychen stuffe and vesselles for all necessary vses. Lykewise sheetes of gossampine cotton wrought of sundrye colours. Owre men tooke hym prysoner with all his famely. But Colonus commaunded hym to bee lo∣sed shortely after, and the greatest parte of his goodes to bee restored to wynne his fryndeshippe. Beinge here instructed of a lande lyinge further towarde the southe, he tooke his vy∣age thether. Therfore lytle more then tenne myles distant frō hense, he founde a large lande whiche thinhabitantes cauled Quiriquetana: But he named it Ciamba.* 1.6 When he wente a lande and commaunded his chaplaine to saye ma••se on the sea ban∣kes, a great confluence of the naked inhabitantes flocked thi¦ther symplye and without feare, brinkynge with them plen∣ty of meate and freshe water, marueylynge at owre men as they had byn summe straunge miracle.* 1.7 When they had presen∣ted their giftes, they went sumwhat backewarde and made lowe curtesy after their maner bowinge their heades and bo∣dyes reuerently. He recompensed their gentylnes rewardinge them with other of owre thynges, as counters, braslettes and garlandes of glasse and counterfecte stoones, lookynge glasses, nedelles, and pynnes, with suche other trashe, whi∣che seemed vnto them precious marchaundies. In this great tracte there are two regions wherof the one is cauled Taia and the other Maia.* 1.8 He writeth that all that lande is very fayre and holsome by reason of the excellent temperatnesse of the ayer: And that it is inferiour to no lande in frutefull ground beinge partely full of mountaines, and partely large playn••s: Also replenyshed with many goodly trees, holsome herbes, and frutes, continuynge greene and floryshynge all the hole yeare. It beareth also verye many holy trees and pyne aple trees. Also .vii. kyndes of date trees wherof summe are frute∣full and summe baren.* 1.9 It bringeth furth lykewyse of it selfe Pelgoras and wilde vynes laden with grapes euen in the wood∣des emonge other trees.* 1.10 He saythe furthermore that there is suche abundaunce of other pleasaunte and profitable frutes, that they passe not of vynes. Of one of those kyndes of date trees, they make certeyne longe and brode swoordes and dar∣tes.
These regyons beare also gossampyne trees here and there commonly in the woodd••s. Lykewise Mirobalanes of sun∣dry kyndes,* 1.11 as those which the phisitians caule Emblicos and Chebulos. Maizium also, Iucca, Ages, and Battatas, lyke vnto those whiche we haue sayde before to bee founde in other regions in these coastes. The same nooryssheth also lyons, Tygers, Hartes, Roes, Goates, and dyuers other beastes. Lyke∣wyse sundry kyndes of byrdes and foules:* 1.12 Emonge the whiche they keepe onely them to franke and feede, whiche are in colour, bygnes, and taste, muche lyke vnto owre pe∣hennes. He saith that thinhabitantes are of high and good∣ly stature,* 1.13 well lym••ed and proportioned both men and wo∣men: Couerynge their priuye partes with fyne breeches of gossampine cotton wrought with dyuers colours. And that they may seeme the more cumlye and bewtifull (as they take it) they paynte their bodyes redde and bla••ke with the iuce of certeyne apples whiche they plante in their gardens for the sa••e purpose. Summe of them paynte their hole bodies:* 1.14 summe but parte: and other summe drawe th•• portitures, of herbes, floures, and knottes, euery one as seemeth be••te to his owne phantasye. Their language differeth vtterlye from theirs of the Ilandes nere aboute them.* 1.15 From these regions, the waters of the sea ranne with as full course to∣warde the weste, as if it had byn the faule of a swyfte riuer. Neuerthelesse he determined to searche the Easte partes of this lande, reuoluynge in his mynde that the regions of Pa∣ria and Os Draconis with other coastes founde before toward the Easte,* 1.16 shulde bee neare theraboute as in deede they were. Departyng therfore from the large region of Quiriquetana the xiii. daye of the calendes of September, when he had sailed thirtie leaques, he founde a ryuer, without the mouth wher∣of he drewe freshe water in the sea.* 1.17 Where also the shoore was so cleane withowte rockes, that he founde grounde e∣uery where, where he myght aptely caste anker. He writeth that the swifte course of the Ocean was so vehement and con¦trarye, that in the space of fortye dayes he coulde scarcelye sayle threscore and tenne leaques, and that with muche dif∣fy••ultie with many fetches and coompasynges,* 1.18 fyndyng him selfe to bee sumtimes repulsed and dryuen farre backe by the vyolente course of the sea when he woolde haue taken lande
towarde the euenynge, le••s••e perhappes wanderynge in vn∣knowen coastes in the darckenes••e of the nyght, he myghte bee in daunger of shypwracke: He writeth that in the space of eyght leaques, he found three great and fayre ryuers vp∣pon the banckes wherof,* 1.19 there grewe reedes bygger then a mannes thygh, In these ryuers was also greate plentye of fyshe and great tortoyses:* 1.20 Lykewise in many places, mul••i∣tudes of Crocodiles lyinge in the ••ande, and yanyng to ••ake the heate of the soonne: Besyde dyuers other kyndes of beastes whervnto he gane no names. He sayth al••o that the soyle of that lande is very diuers a••d variable: beyng sum∣where stonye and full of rough and ••e••ggie promonto••••es or poyntes reachynge into the sea. And in other places as frut∣full as maye bee. They haue also diuers kynges and rulers.* 1.21 In summe places they caule a kynge Cacicus: in other places they caule hym Quebi, and sumwhere Tiba. Suche as haue behaued them selues valiantly in the warres ageynste their enemies, and haue their faces full of scarres, they caule Cu∣pras, and honour them as the antiquitie dyd the goddes whi∣che they cauled Heroes,* 1.22 supposed to bee the soules of suche men as in their lyfe tyme excelled in vertue and noble actes. The common people, they caule Chiui: and a man, they caule Ho••••cu••. When they saye in their language, take man, they say Hoppa home. After this, he came to an other ryuer apte to beare great shyppes: Before the mouthe wherof, l••ye foure smaule Ilandes full of florisshing and frutfull trees. These Ilandes he named Quatuor tempora.* 1.23 From hense saylynge towarde the Easte for the space of .xiii. leaques styll ageinste ••he vyolent course of the water, he founde twelue other smaule Ilandes. In the whiche bycause he founde a newe kynde of frutes muche like vnto owre lemondes, he cauled them Limonares.* 1.24 Wanderynge yet further the same waye for the ••pace of .xii. leaques, he founde a great hauen enteryng into th•• land af∣ter the maner of a goulfe the space of three l••aqu••s, and in maner as brode, into the whiche fell a great ryuer. He••e was Nicuesa loste afterwarde when he soug••te Ber••ga••: By rea••on wherof they cauled it Rio delos perdido••:* 1.25 that is the ryuer of the loste men. Thus Colonus the Admirall yet further con••ynu∣ynge his cour••e ageynste the furye of the ••ea, fou••de manye hyghe montaynes and horrible valleys, with dyuers ryuers
and hauens, from all the whiche (as he saythe) proceaded sweete sauers greatly rec••eatynge and confortynge nature. In so muche that in all this longe tracte there was not one of his men desea••ed vntyll he ca••e to a region whiche thin¦habitantes cau••e Quicuri,* 1.26 in the whiche is the hauen cauled Cariai, named M••robalanus by the admyrall bycause the Miroba∣lane trees are natiue in the regions therabout. In this hauen of Cariai,* 1.27 there came about two hundreth of thinhabitantes to the sea syde with euerye of them three or foure dartes in their handes: Yet of condition gentell enoughe, and not re∣fusyng straungers. Their commyng was for none other pur∣pose then to knowe what this newe nation mente, or what they brough••e with them. When owre men had gyuen them sygnes of peace, they came swymmynge to the shyppes and desyred to barter with them by exchaunge. The admyrall to allure them to frend••hippe, gaue them many of owre thinges: But they refused them, suspectynge summe disceate thereby bycause he woolde not receyue theirs. They wroughte all by sygnes:* 1.28 for one vnderstoode not a woorde of the others lan∣guage. Suche gyftes as were sente them, they lefte on the shore a••d woolde take no part therof. They are of suche ciui∣litye and humanytie, that they esteeme it more honorable to gyue then to take. They sente owre men two younge women beinge vyrgines, of cōmendable fauour and goodly stature, sygnifyinge vnto them that they myghte take them awaye with them if it were their pleasure. These women after the maner of their countrey, were couered from their ancles sum∣what aboue their priuye partes with a certeyne clothe made of gossampine cotton. But the men are al naked. The women vse to cutte their heare: But the men lette it growe on the hynder partes of their heades, and cutte it on the fore parte. Their longe heare, they bynde vppe with fyllettes, & winde it in sundry rowles as owre maydes are accustomed to do. The virgins which were sente to the Admirall he decked in fayre apparell, & gaue them many gyftes, and sent theym home ageyne. But lykewise all these rewardes and apparel they left vppon the shore bycause owre men had refused their gyftes. Yet tooke he two men away with him (and those ve¦ry wyllyngly) that by lernyng the Spanyshe tonge, he might afterwarde vse them for interpretours. He considered that
the tractes of these coastes were not greately troubeled with vehement motions or ouerflowynges of the sea, forasmuche as trees growe in the sea not farre frome the sh••re,* 1.29 euen as they doo vppon the bankes of ryuers. The which thynge al¦so other doo affirme whiche haue latelyer searched those coa∣stes, declaring that the sea riseth and fauleth but lyttle there aboute. He sayth furthermore, that in the prospecte of this lande, there are trees engendred euen in the sea,* 1.30 which after that they are growen to any height, bende downe the toppes of theyr branches into the grounde: which embrasing them causeth other branches to sprynge owt of the same, and take roote in the earth, bringynge foorth trees in theyr kynde suc∣cessiuely as dyd the fyrst roote from whense they had theyr o¦riginall, as do also the settes of vines when onely bothe the endes therof are put into the grounde. Plinie in the twelfth booke of his natural historie maketh mention of suche trees,* 1.31 describynge them to bee on the lande, but not in the sea. The Admirall wryteth also that the lyke beastes are engendered in the coastes of Cariai, as in other prouinces of these regions, and such as we haue spoken of before. Yet that there is one founde here in nature much differinge from the other. This beaste is of the byggenes of a greate moonkeye,* 1.32 but with a tayle muche longer and bygger. It lyueth in the wooddes, and remoueth from tree to tree in this maner. Hangynge by the tayle vppon the braunche of a tree, & gatheryng strength by swayinge her body twyse or thryse too and fro, she casteth her selfe from branche to branche and so from tree to tree as though she flewe. An archer of owres hurt one of them. Who perceauinge her selfe to be wounded,* 1.33 leapte downe from the tree, and fiercely set on hym which gaue her the wounde, in so muche that he was fayne to defende hym selfe with his swoorde. And thus by chaunce cuttyng of one of her armes, he tooke her, and with muche a doo brought her to the ships where within a whyle, shee waxed tame. Whyle shee was thus kep••e and bownde with cheynes, certeyne other of owr hunters hadde chased a wylde bore owt of the maryshes nere vnto the sea syde. For hunger and desyre of fleshe, caused thē to take double pleasure in huntynge. In this meane tyme o∣ther which remayned in the shippes, goinge a lande to recre∣ate them selues, tooke this moonkey with them. Who, as
soone as shee had espied the bore, set vp her brystels & made towarde her. The bore lykewyse shooke his bristels & whette his teethe. The moonkey furiously inuaded the bore,* 1.34 wrap∣pynge her tayle about his body, and with her arme reserued of her victourer, helde hym so fast aboute the throte, that he was suffocate. These people of Cariai, vse to drye the deade bodyes of theyr princes vppon hurdels, and so reserue them inuolued in the leaues of trees.* 1.35 As he went forwarde about twentie leagues from Cariai, he founde a goulfe of suc•• large¦nes that it conteyned .xii. leagues in compa••se. In the mouth of this goulfe were foure lyttle Ilandes so nere tog••ther, that they made a safe hauen to enter into the goulfe. This goulfe is the hauen which we sayde before to be cauled Cera∣baro of thinhabitantes.* 1.36 But they haue nowe lerned th••t only the lande of the one syde therof, lyinge on the ryght hande at the enterynge of the goulfe, is cauled by that name. But that on the lefte syde, is cauled Aburema.* 1.37 He saythe th••t all this goulfe is ful of fruteful Ilandes wel replenysshed with goodly trees: And the grounde of the sea to bee verye cleane withowt rockes, and commodious to cast anker: Lykewyse the sea of the goulfe to haue greate abundance of fysshe: and the land•• of both the sydes to bee inferior to none in frutful∣nes. At his fyrst arryuynge, he espyed two of thinh••bitan••es hauynge cheynes about theyr neckes,* 1.38 made of ouches (which they caule Cuauines,) of base golde artificially wrought in the formes of Eagles, and lions, with dyuers other beastes and foules. Of the two Cariaians whiche he brought with hym from Cariai, he was enformed that the regions of Cerabaro and Aburema were rych in golde. And that the people of Cariai haue all theyr golde frome thense for exchaunge of other of theyr thynges.* 1.39 They towlde hym also, that in the sa••e regi••ns there are fyue vyllages not farre from the sea ••yde, whose in¦habitantes apply the•• selues onely to the gathering of gold The names of the••e vyllages are these: Chirara, Puren, Chitaza, Iureche, Atamea.* 1.40 All the men of the prouince of Cerabaro, go na¦ked, and are paynted with dyuers coloures. They take g••eat pleasure in wearynge garlan••es of floures, and crownes made of the clawes of Lions and Tygers.* 1.41 The women couer onely theyr priuie partes wi••h a fyller of gossampine cotton. Departinge from hen••e and ••oastynge styll by the same shore
for the space of .xviii. leagues, he came to another ryuer, wh••re he espyed aboute three hundreth naked men in a com∣pany. When they sawe the shippes drawe neare the lande, they cryed owte aloude, with cruell countenaunces shakynge th••yr woodden swoordes and hurlynge dartes, takynge also wa••er in theyr mouthes and spoutyng the same ageynst our men:* 1.42 wherby they seemed to insinuate that they woolde re∣ceaue no condition of peace or haue owght to doo with them. Here he commaunded certeyne pieces of ordinaunce to be shot of toward them: Yet so to ouershute them, that none myght be hurt therby. For he euer determyned to deale quietly and peaceably with these newe nations. At the noyse therfore of the gunnes and syght of the fyer, they fell downe to the grounde, and desyred peace.* 1.43 Thus enteringe into further frendshippe, they exchaunged theyr cheynes and ouches of golde for glasses and haukes belles and such other marchan¦dies. They vse drummes or tymbrels made of the shelles of certeyne sea fysshes, wherewith they encorage theym selues in the warres. In this tract are these seuen ryuers, Acateba, Quareba, Zobroba, Aiaguitin, Vrida, Duribba, Beragua,* 1.44 in all the whiche, golde is founde. They defende them selues ageynste rayne and heate with certeyne great leaues of trees in the steade of clokes. Departinge from hense, he searched the coastes of Ebetere, and Embigar, into the which faule the goodly ryuers of Zohoran and Cubigar:* 1.45 And here ceaseth the plentie and frute∣fulnes of golde, in the tracte of fiftie leagues or there about. From hense onely three leagues distant, is the rocke whiche in the vnfortunate discourse of Nicuesa we sayde was cauled of owre men Pignonem.* 1.46 But of thinhabitantes the Region is cauled Vibba.* 1.47 In this tracte also aboute syxe leagues frome thense, is the hauen which Colonus cauled Portus Bellus (wher∣of we haue spoken before) in the region whiche thinhabitan∣tes caule Xaguaguara.* 1.48 This region is very peopulous: but they go all naked. The kyng is paynted with blacke colours, but all the people with redde.* 1.49 The kynge and seuen of his noble men,* 1.50 had euery of them a lyttle plate of golde hangynge at theyr nosethrylles downe vnto theyr lyppes. And this they take for a cumly ornamente.* 1.51 The menne inclose theyr priuie members in a shell: And the women couer theyrs with a fyl∣••et of gossampine cotton tyed about theyr loynes. In theyr
gardens they noorysshe a frute muche lyke the nutte of a pine tree: the whiche (as we haue sayde in an other place) gro∣weth on a shrubbe muche lyke vnto an archichocke: But the frute is muche softer, and meate for a kynge. Also cer∣teyne trees whiche beare gourdes, wherof we haue spoken before. This tree, they caule Hibuero. In these coastes they mette sumtymes with Crocodiles lyinge on the sandes. the whiche when they fled, or tooke the water, they lefte a ve∣ry sweete sauour behynde them sweeter then muske or Casto∣reum.* 1.52 When I was sente ambassadour for the catholike king of Castile to the Soltane of Babilon or Alcayer in Egipte,* 1.53 thinhabitantes nere vnto the ryuer of Nilus toulde me the like of their female Crocodiles. Affyrmyng furthermore that the fatte or sewette of them is equall in sweetnes with the plea∣saunte gummes of Arabic. But the Admirall was nowe at the length enforced of necessytie to departe from hense, as∣well for that he was no longer able to abyde the contrarye and vyolente course of the water, as also that his shyppes were daily more and more putrified and eaten throwgh with certeyne wormes whiche are engendred of the warmenes of the water in all those tractes nere vnto the Equinoctial line.* 1.54 The Uenetians caule these woormes Bissas. The same are al∣so engendred in two hauens of the citie of Alexandria in Egipt and destroye the shyppes if they lye longe at anker.* 1.55 They are a cubet in lengch, and sumwhat more: not passyng the quan∣titie of a fynger in bygnesse. The Spanyshe mariner cauleth this pestilence Broma.* 1.56 Colonus therfore whom before the great monsters of the sea coulde not feare, nowe fearyng this Bro∣ma, beynge also soore vexed with the contrary faule of the sea, directed his course with the Ocean towarde the west, and came first to the ryuer Hiebra,* 1.57 distant onely two leaques from the ryuer of Beragua, bycause that was commodious to har∣borowe great shippes. This region is named after the riuer, and is cauled Beragua the lesse:* 1.58 Bycause bothe the ryuers are in the dominion of the kyng which inhabiteth the region of Beragua.. But what chaunsed vn••o hym in this vyage on the ryghte hande and on the lefte, le••te vs nowe declare. Whyle therfore Colonus the Admirall remayned yet in the ryuer Hie∣bra, he sent Bertholomeus Colonus his brother and Lieuetenaunte of Hispaniola, with the shyppe boa••es and threscore and .viii.
men to the ryuer of Beragua,* 1.59 where the king of the region be∣inge naked and painted after the maner of the countrey, came towarde them with a great multitude of men waytynge on hym, but all vnarmed and without weapons, gyuinge also sygnes of peace. When he approched nerer, and entered com∣munication with owre men, certeyne of his gentelmen nea∣reste aboute his person, rememberinge the maiestie of a king, and that it stoode not with his honour to bargen stondynge, tooke a greate stoone owte of the ryuer, wasshynge an•• rub∣bynge it veary•• decently, & so put it vnder hym with humble reuerence.* 1.60 The kyng thus syttyng, seemed with sygnes & to∣kens to insinuate that it shuld be lawful for owre men to sear¦che & viewe al the ryuers within h••s dominion. Wherfore, the vi. day of the Ides of February, leauing his boates with cer∣teyne of his coompany, he wente by lande a foote from the bankes of Beragua vntyl he came to the ryuer of Duraba,* 1.61 whi∣che he affirmeth to be richer in gold then eyther Hiebra or Bera∣gua. For gold is engendred in al the riuers of that land. In so muche that emonge the rootes of the trees growynge by the bankes of the ryuers, & amonge the stones left of the water,* 1.62 & also where so euer they dygged a hole or pyt in the grounde not paste the deapthe of a handfull and a halfe, they founde the earthe taken owte therof, myxte with golde: Where vp∣pon he determyned to fasten his foote there and to inhabyte. Whiche thynge the people of the countrey perceauynge and smellynge what inconuenyence and myschiefe myght thereof ensewe to their countrey if they shulde permitte straungers to plante their habitation there, assembled a great army, and with horrible owte crye assayled owre men (who had nowe begoonne to buylde houses) soo desperately that they were scarcely able to abyde the fyrste brunte. These nake•• barba∣rians at their fyrst approche, vsed onely slynges and dartes:* 1.63 But when they came nearer to hande strookes, they foughte with their woodden swoordes whiche they caule Machan••s, as wee haue sayd before. A man woolde not thinke what great malice and wrath was kyndeled in their hartes ageinst owre men: And with what desperate myndes they fought for the defense of their lybertie whiche they more esteeme then lyfe or rychesse.* 1.64 For they were nowe so voyde of all feare, and contemnynge deathe, that they neyther scared longe bowes
or crossebowes, nor yet (whiche is mooste to be marueyled) were any thynge discouraged at the terryble noyse of the gunnes shotte of from the shyppes. They retyred once. But shortly after encreasynge their noumber, they returned more fiercely then at the fyrste. They woolde haue byn contented to haue receyued owre men frendly as straungers, but not as inhabitours. The more instante that owre men were to re∣maine, so muche the greater multitude of bortherers flocked togyther dayly, disturbyng thē both nyght & daye sumtymes on the one syde & sumtymes on the other.* 1.65 The shyps lying at anker neare vnto the shore, warded them on the backe halfe. But at the length they were fayne to forsake this lande, and retourne backe the same way by the which they came. Thus with much diffyculty and danger, they came to the Iland of Iamaica lyenge on the south syde of Hispaniola and Cuba,* 1.66 with their shyppes as full of holes as sieues, and so eaten with woormes, as though they had byn bored through with wim∣bles. The water entered so faste at the ryftes and holes, that if they had not with the paynefull labour of their han∣des empted the same as faste, they were lyke to haue perys∣shed. Where as yet by this meanes they arryued at Iamaica, althoughe in maner halfe deade. But their calamitie ceased not here. For as fast as their shyppes leaked, their strengthe dimynisshed so that they were no longer able to keepe theym from synkynge.* 1.67 By reason wherof, faulynge into the han∣des of the barbarians, and inclosed withowte hope of de∣parture, they led their lyues for the space of tenne monthes emong the naked people more myserably then euer dyd Ache∣menides emonge the gyantes cauled Ciclopes: rather lyuing thē beinge eyther contented or satisfied with the strange meates of that Ilande: and that onely at such tymes as pleased the barbarians to giue them part of theirs. The deadly enmity and malice whiche these barbarous kinges beare one ageinst an other, made greatly with owre men. For at suche tymes as they attempted warre ageinst their bortherers they woold sumtymes gyue owre men parte of their breade to ayde them. But howe myserable and wretched a thyng it is to lyue one∣ly with breade gotten by beggynge, yowre holynesse maye easylye coniecture: Especially where all other accustomed foode is lackynge, as wyne, oyle, flesshe, butter, chiese, and
milke, wherwith the stomakes of owr people of Europe haue euer byn noorisshed euen from their cradelles.* 1.68 Therfore as necessyty is subiecte to no lawe, so doothe it enforce men to attempte desperate aduentures. And those the soner, which by a certeyne nobylytie of nature do no further esteeme lyfe then it is ioyned with summe felicity. Bertholomeus Colonus ther∣fore, intendynge rather to proue what god woolde do with hym and his companyons in these extremities,* 1.69 then any lon∣ger to abide the same, commaunded Diegus Mendez his steward with two guydes of that Ilande whome he had hyred with promysses of great rewardes at their retourne, to enter in∣to one of their canoas and take their viage to Hispaniola.
Beynge thus tossed on the sea two and fro from rocke too rocke by reason of the shortenesse and narownes of the ca∣noa, they arryued at the length at the laste corner of Hispa∣niola, beynge distante from Iamaica fortie leagues. Here his guydes departynge from hym, returned ageine to Colonus for the rewardes which he had promysed them. But Diegu•• Men∣dez wente on forward a foote vntyll he came to the citie cau∣led Sanctus Dominicus beynge the chiefe and heade citye of the Ilande.* 1.70 The offycers and rulers of Hispaniola, beinge enfor∣med of the matter, appoynted hym two shyppes wherwith he retourned to his maister and coompanions. As he founde them, soo came they to Hispaniola, verye feeble and in maner naked. What chaunced of them afterwarde, I knowe not as yet. Lette vs nowe therfore leaue these particulers, and speake sumwhat more of generals. In al those tractes whi∣che we sayde here before to haue bynne found by Colonus the Admyrall,* 1.71 bothe he hym selfe writeth, and all his coompa∣nyons of that vyage confesse, that the trees, herbes,* 1.72 and fru∣tes, are floryshing and greene all the hole yeare, and the ayer so temperate and holesome, that of all his coompanye there neuer fell one man sycke, nor yet were vexed eyther with ex∣treme coulde or heate for the space of fyftie leagues from the great hauen of Cerabaro to the ryuers of Hiebra and Beragua.* 1.73* 1.74* 1.75
Thinhabitantes of Cerabaro, and the nat••ons whiche are be∣twyxte that and the sayde ryuers, applye not them selues to the gatherynge of golde but onely at certeyne tymes of the yeare: And are very experte & cunnyng herein, as are owre myners of syluer and Iren.* 1.76 They knowe by longe experience
in what places golde is mooste abundantly engendred: as by the colour of the water of the ryuers, and suche as faule frō the montaynes: And also by the colour of the earthe and sto∣nes. They beleue a certeyne godly nature to be in golde,* 1.77 for asmuche as they neuer gather it excepte they vse certeyne re∣lygious expiations or pourgynge, as to absteyn from women, and all kyndes of plesures and delycate meates and drinkes, d••ring all the tyme that their golden haruest laste••he.* 1.78 They suppose that men do naturally lyue and dye as other beastes do, and therfore honour none other thynge as god. Yet doo th••y praye to the soonne, and honour it when it ryseth. But lette vs nowe speake of the montaines and situation of these landes. From all the sea bankes of these regyons, exceding great and hyghe mountaynes are seene towarde the Southe,* 1.79 yet reachynge by a continuall tracte from the Easte into the weste. By reason wherof I suppose that the two greate seas (wherof I haue spoken largly before) are deuided with these montaynes as it were with bulwarkes, leaste they shoulde ioyne and repugne, as Italye deuideth the sea cauled Tirrhe∣num,* 1.80 from the sea Adriatyke, which is nowe commonly cau∣led the goulfe of Uenes.
For whiche waye soo euer they sayled from the poynt cauled Promontorium, S. Augustini (whiche perteyneth to the Portugales & prospecteth ageynste the sea Atlantike) euen vnto Vraba and the hauen Cerabaro,* 1.81* 1.82* 1.83 and to the furthest landes found hyther∣to westwarde, they had euer greate mountaynes in syghte bothe nere hande and farre of, in all that longe rase. These mountaynes were in sume place, smooth, pleasaunt and frut¦full,* 1.84 full of goodly trees and herbes: And sumwhere, hygh, rowgh, ful of rockes, and baren, as chaunseth in the famus mountayne of Taurus in Asia, and also in dyuers coastes of our mountaynes of Apennini,* 1.85 and suche other of lyke byggenesse. The rydgies also of these mountaynes are diuided with good¦ly and fayre valleis. That part of the mountaynes which in¦cludeth the lymettes of Beragua,* 1.86 is thought to be hygher then the clowdes,* 1.87 in so much that (as they saye) the tops of them can seldome bee seene for the multitude of thicke clowdes which are beneath the same. Colonus the Admirall the fyrste fynder of these regions, affirmeth that the toppes of the mon¦taynes of Beragua are more then fiftie myles in heyghth.* 1.88 He
sayth furthermore that in the same region at the rotes of the montaynes the way is open to the south sea, and compareth it as it were betwene Uenice and Genua, or Ianua as the Ge∣nues wyll haue it cauled, whiche fable that theyr citie was buylded of Ianus.* 1.89 He affirmeth also that this lande reacheth foorth towarde the south: And that from hense it taketh the begynnynge of breadth, lyke as from the Alpes owte of the narowe thygh of Italy,* 1.90 we see the large and mayne landes of Fraunce, Germanye, and Pannonye, to the Sarmatians and Scythyans, euen vnto the mountaynes and rockes of Riphea and the frosen sea, and embrase therwith as with a continuall bonde, all Tracia, and Grecia, with all that is included within the promontorie or poynt of Malea and Hel∣lespontus southwarde, and the sea Euzinus and the marysshes of Maeotis in Scythia northwarde. The Admirall supposethe,* 1.91 that on the lefte hande in saylynge towarde the weste, this lande is ioyned to India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges: And that on the ryght hande towarde the North, it bee extended to the frosen sea, beyonde the Hyperboreans and the North pole: So that both the seas (that is to meane that south sea which we sayde to bee founde by Vaschus, and owre Ocean) shulde ioyne and meete in the corners of that land: And that the waters of these seas doo not onely inclose and compasse the same withowt diuision as Europe is inclosed with the seas of Hellespontus and Tanais, with the frosen Ocean & owre sea of Tyrrhenum with the Spanysshe seas. But in my opini∣on, the vehement course of the Ocean toward the weste, doth signifie and lette that the sayde two seas shulde not so ioyne togither:* 1.92 But rather that that land is adherent to the firme landes towarde the Northe, as we haue sayde before. It shall suffice to haue sayde thus muche of the length hereof. Let vs nowe therfore speake sumwhat of the breadth of the same,* 1.93 We haue made mention before howe the south sea is diuided by narowe lymittes from owre Ocean, as it was pro¦ued by thexperience of Vaschus Nun••ez and his coompanions which fyrst made open the way thyther. But as dyuersly as the mountaynes of owre Alpes in Europe are sumwhere na∣rowe and in sume place brode, euen so by the lyke prouidēc•• of nature, this lande in sume parte therof reacheth farre in breadth, and is in other places coarcted with narowe limet∣tes
from sea to sea, with valleys also in sume places, wher∣by men may passe from the one syde to the other. Where we haue descrybed the regions of Vraba and Beragua to bee situ∣ate,* 1.94 these seas are deuided by smaule distaunce. Yet owght we to thynke the region which the great ryuer of Maragnonus runneth through,* 1.95 to bee very large if we shall graunt Marag∣nonum to bee a ryuer and no sea, as the freshe waters of the same owght to persuade vs. For in suche narowe caues of the earth, there can bee no swalowinge goulfes of such byg¦nesse as to receaue or nooryshe so great abundance of water. The lyke is also to bee supposed of the great ryuer of Dabaiba which we sayde to bee from the corner of the goulfe of Vraba in sume place of fortie fathomes depth,* 1.96 and sumwhere fiftie: Also three myles in breadth, and so to faule into the sea. We must needes graunt that the earth is brode there, by the whi∣che the ryuer passeth from the hyghe mountaynes of Dabaiba from the East and not from the west. They say that this ry∣uer consisteth and taketh his encrease of foure other ryuers faulynge from the mountaynes of Dabaiba.* 1.97 Owre men caule this ryuer Flumen. S. Iohannis. They say also that from hense it fauleth into the goulfe of Vraba by seuen mouthes as doothe the ryuer of Nilus into the sea of Egypte.* 1.98 Lykewyse that in the same region of Vraba there are in sume places narowe streyghtes not passynge fyftene leaques: and the same to bee saluage and withowt any passage by reason of dyuers ma∣rysshes and desolate wayes,* 1.99 which the Latines caule Lamas: But the Spanyardes accordynge to theyr varietie, caule thē Tremedales, Trampales, Cenegales, Sumideros, and Zabondaderos. But before we passe any further, it shall not bee greatly from owr purpose to declare from whense these mountaynes of Dabaiba haue theyr name accordynge vnto thantiquities of thinhabi∣tantes.* 1.100 They saye therefore that Dabaiba was a woman of greate magnanimitie and wysedome emonge theyr predices∣sours in owlde tyme: whom in her lyfe, all thinhabitantes of those prouinces did greatly reuerence, and beinge deade gaue her diuine honour and named the regiō after her name, beleuynge that shee sendeth thunder and lyghtnynge to de∣stroy the frutes of the earth yf shee bee angered, and to send plentie if shee bee well pleased. This superstition hathe byn persuaded them by a craftie kynde of men vnder pretense of
religion to thintent that they might enioye suche gyftes and offeringes as were brought to the place where shee was ho∣noured.* 1.101 This is sufficient for this purpose. They saye fur∣thermore that the marysshes of the narowe lande wherof we haue spoken, brynge foorth great plentie of Crocodiles, dra∣gons, battes, and gnattes beinge very hurtfull. Therefore when so euer they take any iorney towarde the south, they go owte of the way towarde the mountaynes, and eschewe the regions neare vnto those perelous fennes or maryshes. Sume thinke that there is a valley lyinge that way that the ryuer runneth which owre men caule Rio de los perdidos, that is, the ryuer of the lost men (so named by the misfortune whiche there befell to Nicuesa and his coompany) and not far distant from the hauen Cerabaro whiche diuideth those mountaynes towarde the south.* 1.102 But let vs nowe fynishe this booke with a fewe other thynges woorthy to bee noted. They say there∣fore that on the ryght hande and lefte hande frome Dariena, there are twentie ryuers in all the whiche,* 1.103 greate plentie of golde is founde. Being demaunded what was the cause why they brought no greater abundance of gold from thense, they answered that they lacked myners: And that the men which they tooke with them from Spayne thyther, were not accu∣stomed to laboure, but for the moste parte brought vp in the warres. This lande seemeth also to promesse many precious stones.* 1.104 For besyde those which I sayde to bee founde neare vnto Cariai and Sancta Martha, one Andreas Moralis a pylot (who had trauayled those coastes with Iohannes de la Cossa whyle he yet lyued) had a precious diamonde which he bought of a na∣ked younge man in the region of Cumana in the prouince of Paria.* 1.105 This stone was as longe as two ioyntes of a mans mid¦dell fynger, and as bygge as the fyrst ioynte of the thumme: beinge also paynted on euery syde, consistynge of eyght squa¦res perfectly formed by nature. They say that with this they made scarres in anuilles and hammers, and brake the teethe of fyles, the stone remaynyng vnperysshed. The younge man of Cumana, wore this stone aboute his necke emonge other ou¦ches, and soulde it to Andreas Moralis for fyue of our coūterfect stones made of glasse of dyuers colours wherwith the igno∣rant younge man was greatly delyted. They founde also cer¦teyne topases on the shore.* 1.106 But thestimation of golde was so
farre entered into the heades of owre men, that they had no regarde to stones. Also the most part of the Spanyardes,* 1.107 do lawgh them to scorne which vse to weare many stones: speci¦ally such as are common: Iudginge it to bee an effeminate thynge, and more meete for women then men. The noble mē onely when they celebrate solēne mariages, or set forth any triūphes, weare cheynes of gold byset with precious stones, and vse fayre apparell of sylke embrothered with golde inter¦mixt with pearles and precious stones: And not at other ty∣mes. They thynke it no lesse effeminate for men to smell of the sweete sauours of Arabie:* 1.108 And iudge hym to bee infected with sum kynde of fylthy lechery, in whom they smell the sa¦uour of muske or Castoreum. But lyke as by one apple taken from a tree, we may perceyue the tree to bee frutfull, and by one fyshe taken in a ryuer, we may knowe that fyshe is ingen∣dered in the same, euen so, by a lyttel gold, and by one stone, we owght to consyder that this lande bringeth forthe great plentie of golde and precious stones.* 1.109 What they haue found in the porte of Sancti Martha in the region of Cariai when the hole nauye passed therby vnder the gouernaunce of Petrus A∣rias and his coompany with certeine other of the kynges of∣fycers,* 1.110* 1.111 I haue suffyciently declared in his place. To be shorte therefore, all thynges do so florysshe, growe, encrease, and prosper, that the laste are euer better then the fyrste. And surely to declare my opinion herin,* 1.112 what so euer hath here••o¦fore byn discouered by the famous trauayles of Saturnus and Hercules, with such other whō the antiquitie for their heroical factes honoured as goddes, seemeth but lyttell and obscure if it be compared to the Spanyardes victorious laboures.
This I byd yowre holynes fare well, desyringe yowe to cer∣tifye me howe yowe lyke these fyrste frutes of the Ocean, that beyng encoraged with yowre exhortations, I maye the gladlyer and with lesse tediousnesse write suche thynges as shal chaunce heraf¦ter.
The fourth nauigation of Colonus the Admirall.
From Spaine to hispan••ola a thou••ande and two hun∣dreth leagues
The flory••∣shyng Ilande of Guanassa.
Simple. people.
A greate marchaunt.
The regyon of Querique∣tana or Ci∣amba.
Gentle peo∣ple.
The regyons of Taia and Maia.
Seuen kyn∣des of date trees.
wylde vines.
M••robalanes
Byrdes and foules.
People of goodly stature
They paynt theyr bodyes
The ••wyfte cour••e of the sea from the East to the West.
Pari••.
Fresshe wa∣ter in the sea.
F••••ches and compasinges
Faire ryuers. Great reedes
Great tortoy∣ses.
Dyuers lan∣guages.
Hero••••▪
Quatuor tem∣pora.
Twel••e I∣lāds na••ed Li••••••na••es.
Rio de los pe••∣didos.
The region of Qu••curi.
The hauen of Cariai or Mirobalanus
Ciuile and hu¦man•• people
sy••e.
Trees gro∣wyn•••• in th•• sea after a straunge sor••▪
Plinie,
A straunge kynde of moonkeys.
A moonkeye feyghteth with a man.
•• conflict be∣twene a mon∣key and a wylde bore.
The bodyes of kynges dry¦ed & reserued
Cerabaro.
Aburema.
Cheynes of golde.
Plentie of golde.
Fiue villages rych in gold.
Crownes of beasts claws
Soytefu••l people.
Guns make peace.
Seuen goldē ryuers
Note where the plentie of golde endeth
Pignonem.
Vibba.
Portus Bellus.
Paynted people.
A strange syght.
A she•• in the steede of a codpiece.
Crocodiles of ••weete sa∣uour.
Alcayr or Ba∣bilon in Egipt
Shippes ea∣ten with wormes.
Alexandria in Egypte.
Broma.
Hiebra,
Beragua.
how the king of Beragua enterteyn••d the lyeuete∣naunte.
The••r reue∣rence to their kynge.
Golde in the ry••er of Du∣raba.
Great plenty of golde.
Slynges and dartes.
L••berty mo••e esteemed thē ryches.
The Spany∣ardes are dryuen to flight.
The Ilande of Iamaica.
A myserable case.
Necessytie hath no lawe howe farre lyfe is to bee esteemed.
A daunge∣rous enter∣pryse.
Sanctus Domi∣nicus.
Landes foūd by Colonus.
Temperate regions and holsome aier
Cerabaro.
Hiebra.
Beragua.
Experte my∣ners.
A god••y na∣ture in golde.
Go••den har∣uest.
hyghe ••nd greate moun∣taynes.
Ty••rhenuum is nowe cau∣led Tu••eane
Cap. S. Augusti∣ni.
Vraba.
Cerabaro.
Frutful moun¦taynes.
A••ennini are mountaynes which d••uide Italy lute .ii. partes
Beragaa.
The moun∣taynes of Be¦ragua higher then the cl••udes.
Montaynes of fiftie miles heyght.
Ianus other∣wy••e cauled Iaphet, the son of Noe.
Italy is lyke vnto a legge in the sea, & the moun∣taynes of the alpes, are in the thyghe therof.
Colonus his opinion of the suppo••ed Continent. By this con∣iecture, the way shuld be open to Ca∣thay by the hiperbore••••.
Looke the n••¦uigation of Cabote. deca. iii. lib. vi.
The breadth of the lande
The regions of Uraba and Beragua.
The greate riuer Marag∣nonus.
The great riuer Dabai∣ba, or sancty Iohannis.
The ryuers haue their in∣crease from the sprynges of the mon∣taynes.
The ryuer of Nilus in E∣gypte.
Marisshes and desolate wayes.
A superstiti∣ous opinion of thoriginall of montaines of Dabaiba.
Dragons and crocodiles in the marishes
The hauen Cerabaro.
Twentie gol∣den ryuers.
Precious stones.
a precious di∣emonde of ercedynge bygnes.
Topases.
The Spany∣erdes con∣temne effemi¦nate plesures
Sweete sa∣uoru••.
A similitude prouing great plentie of golde & preci∣ous stones.
The hauen of Sancta Mar∣tha.
Cariai.
The heroical factes of the Spaniardes.