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.

¶ The nynth booke of the thyrde Decade.

THEY saye that the fyrste inhabitours lyued contented with the rootes of dates, and Ma¦gueans, which is an herbe muche lyke vnto that which is commonly cauled Sengrene or Orpin. Also the rootes of Guaiegans, whi¦che are rounde and greate muche lyke vnto puffes of the earth or mussheromes. They did lykewise eate Guaieros, lyke vnto perseneppes: Cibaios lyke nuttes, Cabaioes and Macoanes, lyke vnto onions, with dy∣uers other suche rootes. They say that after many yeares, a certeyne Boi••ion, that is, a wyse oulde man, sawe vppon the bankes syde, a bushe lyke vnto fenel: and transplantyng the roote therof, brought it from wyldenes to a better kynde, by noorysshynge it in gardens. This was the begynnynge of Iucca, which at the fyrste was deadely poyson to all suche as dyd eate therof rawe. But for as muche as they perceaued it to bee of pleasaunte taste, they determyned many wayes to proue the vse therof: And at the length founde by experience that beinge sodde or fryed, it was lesse hurtefull: by whiche meanes also, they came to the knowledge of the veneme ly∣inge hyd in the iuse of the roote. Thus by dryinge, saltynge, seasonynge, and otherwyse temperynge it, they brought it

to theyr fine breade which they caule Cazabbi, more delectable and holsome to the stomacke of manne then breade made of wheate, bycause it is of easyer digestion. The same is to bee vnderstoode of other rootes and the grayne of Maizium whi∣che they haue chosen for their chiefe meate amonge the seedes of nature, as we reade howe Ceres the doughter of Saturnus, gathered wheate and barley (with suche other corne as are nowe most in vse amonge men) in Egypte of certeyne graynes taken owt of the mudde dryuen from the mountaynes of Ethi¦opia by thincrease of the ryuer Nilus, and lefte in the plaine at such tyme as Nilus resorted ageyne to his chanell. For the which facte, we reade that the antiquitie gaue diuine honour to Ceres, who fyrst norished and increased such chosen seedes. There are innumerable kyndes of Ages: the varietie wherof, is knowen by theyr leaues and floures. One kynde of these, is cauled Guanaguax. This is whyte boothe within & without An other named Guaraguei is of vyolet colour without & white within. The other kyndes of Ages, they caul Zazaueios. These are redde without and whyte within. Squiuetes, are whyte within and without. Tunna, is all together of vyolet coloure. Hobos is yelowe booth of skynne and inner substance. There is an other named A••ibunicix: The skynne of this is of violet colour, and the substance whyte. Aniguamar, hath his skynne also of vyolet coloure, and is whyte within. Guaccaracca. hath a whyte skynne, and the substance of vyolet colour. There are many other which are not yet brought to vs. But I feare me least in the rehearsall of these, I shal prouoke the spurres of malicious persons ageynst me which wyll scorne these owr doinges for that we haue wrytten of many such smaule thin∣ges to a prince occupyed in suche weyghty affayres, as vnto yowre holynes vppon whose shulders resteth the burthen of the hole Christian worlde. But I wolde aske of these maly¦cious en••yers of other mens trauayles, whether Plinie and such other famous wryters, when they dyrected and dedica∣ted such thinges to kynges and princes, entended only to pro¦fyte them to whom they consecrated the frute of theyr know∣leage. They sumtymes intermyxte famous thynges with ob∣scure thynges, lyght with heauie, and greate with smaule, that by the foortheraunce of princes, theyr vniuersall poste∣ritie myght enioye the fruition of the knowleage of thynges.

At other tymes also, beinge intent about particular thinges, and desyrous of newe thynges, they occupyed them selues in the searchinge of particular tractes and coastes, with suche thynges as nature brought foorth in the same, by this mea∣nes to coome the better to more absolute and vniuersal know¦leage. Let theym therefore contemne owre doinge: And wee wyll laugh to scorne, not theyr ignoraunce and slothfulnes, but pernicious curiousnes: And therewith hauynge pitie of theyr frowarde dispositions, wyll commit theim to the vene∣mous serpentes of whome enuie tooke his fyrst orginall. It shall in the meane tyme abundantly contente vs that these thynges do please yowre holynes: And that yowe doo not dispise owre simple vestures wherwith we haue only weaued togyther and not adourned, gathered and not described such maruelous thynges in the garnyshynge wherof, nature hath sufficiently shewed her cunnynge. Owre desyre is none other but herein for yowre sake to doo owre endeuoure that these thynges maye not peryshe. Let euery man take hereof what lyketh hym best. Of the sheepe or bullocke soulde in the mar∣ket, nothynge remayneth in the euenynge, bycause the shul∣der pleaseth one, the legge an other, and the necke an other. Ye, sume haue most phantasie to the bowels, and sume to the feete. Thus hauynge enough wandered, lette vs returne to owre purpose and declare with what woordes they salute the kynges chyldren when they are fyrst borne: or howe they ap¦ply the begynnyng of theyr lyues to the end: And why their kynges are cauled by many names. Therfore when the kynge hath a sonne borne, such as dwel neare about his pallaice or vyllage, repayre to the queenes chamber, where one saluteth the newe borne chylde with one name, and an other with an other name. God saue the thowe shyninge lampe sayth one: An other cauleth him bryght and cleare. Sume name him the victourer of his enemies: and other sume, the puissaunt con∣querour descended of bludde royall, and bryghter then gold, with dyuers other suche vayne names. Therfore lyke as eue¦ry of the Romane emperours was cauled Adiabenicus, Par••••icus, Ar¦menicus, Dacicus, Go••bicus, and Germanicus, accordynge to the titles of theyr parentes and auncestours, euen so by thimposition of names inuented by other kynges, Beucbicus Anacachoa the lord of the region of Xaragua (of whome and of the wyse woman

Anachaona his syster, we haue spoken largely in the fyrste De∣cade) was cauled by all these names folowynge: Tureigua Ho∣bin: whiche is as muche to saye, as, a kynge shynynge as bryght as laton. Starei, that is, bryghte: Huibo, hyghnesse: Duih••ynequen, a ryche fludde. With all these names and more then fortye other suche, dooeth kynge Beuchius magnifye hym selfe as often as he commaundeth any thynge to bee doone or causeth any proclamation to bee made in his name. If the cryer by neglygence leaue owte any of these names, the king thynketh it to sounde greatly to his contumely and reproche. The lyke is also of other. Howe fondely they vse them sel∣ues in makynge their testamentes, wee wyll nowe declare. They leaue thinheritaunce of their kyngedomes to theldest soonnes of their eldest systers. If shee fayle, to theldest of the seconde syster and so of the thirde if the second also faile. For they are owte of doubte that those children coome of their bludde. But the children of their owne wyues, they counte to bee not legitimate. If there remayne none of their systers children, they leaue thinheritaunce to their broothers. And if they faile, it descendeth to their owne soonnes. Laste of all, if al these faile, they assygne it to the woorthiest, as to hym that is of greatest power in all the Ilande, that he may defende their subiectes from their auncient enemyes. They take as many wyues as them lysteth. They suffer the best be∣loued of the kynges wyues, and concubynes to bee buryed with hym. Anachaona the syster of Beuchius the kyng of Xaragua, being a woman of suche wisedome and cunnynge that in ma∣kynge of rhymes and balettes shee was counted a prophetisse emonge the beste, commaunded, that emonge all the wyues and concubynes of the kinge her brother, the fayrerest (whose name was Guanahattabenechina) shulde be buried alyue with him, and two of her waytyng maydes with her. Shee woolde also haue appointed dyuers other to that offyce, if shee had not byn otherwise perswaded by the prayers of certeyne fryers of saincte Fraunces order whiche chaunced then to bee pre∣sente. They saye that this Guanahattabenechina had none in all the Iland comparable to her in bewtie. She buried with her all her iewelles and twentie of her best ornamentes. Their custome is, to place besyde euery of them in their sepultures, a cuppe full of water and a portion of the fyne breade of Ca∣zabbi.

In Xaragua, the regyon of this kynge Beuchius, and in Hazua, parte of the regyon of Caiabo, also in the fayre vale of salte and freshe lakes, and lykewise in the region of Yaquino in the prouynce of Bainoa, it rayneth but seldome. In al these regyons are fosses or trenches made of oulde tyme, wherby they conueye the waters in order to water their fyeldes, with no lesse arte then doo thinhabitours of newe Carthage, and of the kyngedome of Murcien in Spartaria for the feldoome faule of rayne. The region of Maguana, deuydeth the prouynce of Bainoa from Caiabo, and Zauana from Guaccaiarima. In the deepe vales, they are troubled with raine more often then ned••th. Also the confynes of the chiefe citie named saincte Dominike are moister then is necessary. In other places, it rayneth mo∣derately. There are therfore in the Ilande of Hispaniola, dy∣uers & variable motions of the elementes, as we reade the lyke of manye other regions. Of their colonies or mantions which the Spaniardes haue erected in this Ilande we haue spoken suffycientelye beefore. They haue sence that tyme buylded these vyllages: Portus Platae, Portus Regalis, La∣res, Villanoua, Azuam, and Saluaterra. Hauynge sayde thus muche of the Ilande of Hispaniola the moother and ladye of the other Ilandes, and as it were Tethys the moste bewtifull wyfe of Neptunus the god of the sea, let vs nowe entreate sumwhat of her Nymphes and faire Nereides whiche waite vppon her and adourne her on euery syde. Wee wyll therfore begynne at the nearest cauled the newe Arethusa, soo named of the fontayne Arethusa in the Ilande of Sicilie. This is famous by reason of a sprynge: but otherwyse vnprofytable. Owre men na∣med it of late, Duas Arbores, bycause it hath onely twoo trees groynge in it: nere vnto the whiche is a fountaine that com∣meth from the Ilande of Hispaniola throughe the secreate pas∣sages of the earth vnder the sea, and breaketh foorth in this Ilande, as the ryuer Alpeus in Achaia runneth vnder the sea from the citie of Elide, and breaketh foorth in the Ilande of Sicilie in the fountayne Arethusa. That the foūtayne of this newe Arethusa hath h••s original from the Ilande of Hispaniola, it is manifest hereby, that the water isshewynge owte of the fountayne, bryngeth with it the leaues of many trees whiche growe in Hispaniola, and not in this Ilande. They saye that the fountayne hath his originall from the ryuer Yiamiroa in the region of Guaccaiarima confynynge with the land of Zauan••

This Ilande is not pas••e a myle in circuite, and commodi∣ous for fyssher men. Directly towarde the Easte (as it were the porter kepynge the enterie to Tothys) lyeth the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis (otherwise cauled Burichena) wherof wee haue spoken largely before. This aboundeth with golde: and in fruitefull soile, is equall with her moother Hispaniola. In this are many colonies or mansions of Spaniardes, whiche ap∣plye them selues to gatherynge of golde. Towarde the west on the Northe syde, great Cuba (for the longenesse therof, longe supposed to be the continent or fyrme lande) wardeth owre Tethys on the backe halfe. This is muche longer then Hispaniola: And from the Easte to the Weste, is diuyded in the myddest with the circle cauled Tropicus Cancri. Hispaniola and the other lyinge on the South syde of this, are included almost in the mydde space betwene the sayde Tropyke and the Equi∣noctiall lyne, whiche many of the oulde writers supposed to bee vnhabitable & desert by reason of the feruent heate of the soonne in that clyme as they coniectured. But they were deceaued in their opinion. They affyrme that rytcher golde mynes are founde in Cuba then in Hispaniola. They saye also that euen nowe while I wryte these thynges, there is golde gathered together ready to the meltyng, amountynge to the quantitie of a hundreth and fourescore thousande Castellans of gold, an argument surely of great rychesse. Iamaica is more towarde the Southe then these: And is a pleasaunte and fruitefull Ilande, of soyle apte for corne, graffes, and settes, it consysteth of onely one mountayne. Thinhabitauntes are warrelyke men and of good wytte. Colonus compared it to Sicilie in bygnesse. They whiche of late searched it more ex∣actely, saye that it is sumwhat lesse: but not muche. It is thought to be without gold and precious stoones, as the like was supposed of Cuba at the begynnynge. The Ilande of Guadalupea (fyrste named Caraqueira) lyinge on the Southe syde of Hispaniola, is foure degrees nearer the Equinoctiall. It is eaten and indented with two goulfes (as wee reade of great Britanye nowe cauled Englande, and Calidonia nowe cau∣led Scotlande) beinge in maner two Ilandes. It hath fa∣mous portes, In this they founde that gumme whiche the Apothecaries caule Animae Album, whose fume is holesome a∣geynst reumes and heauynesse of the heade. The tree whiche

engendereth this gumme, beareth a fruite muche lyke to a date, beinge a spanne in length. When it is opened, it see∣meth to conteyne a certayne sweete meale. As owre husbande men are accustomed to reserue chestenuttes and suche other harde fruites all the wynter, soo do they the dates of this tree, beynge muche lyke vnto a sygge tree. They founde al∣so in this Ilande, Pyne trees of the beste kynde, and suche other deyntie dysshes of nature, wherof wee haue spoken largely before. Ye, they thyncke that thinhabitauntes of o∣ther Ilandes, had their seedes of soo many pleasaunt frutes from hense. For the Canibales beinge a wylde and wande∣rynge people, and ouer runnynge all the countreys aboute them to hunte for mannes fleshe, were accustomed to brynge home with them what so euer they founde straunge or profy∣table in any place. They are intractable, and wyll admytte no straungiers. It shall therfore bee needefull to ouercoome them with great poure. For as well the women as men, are experte archiers, and vse to inueneme their arrowes. When the men go foorthe of the lande a man huntynge, the women manfully defende their coastes ageynst suche as attempte to inuade the same. And hereby I suppose it was thought that there were Ilandes in the Ocean, inhabited onely with wo∣men, as Colonus the admirall hym selfe perswaded me, as I haue sayde in the fyrste decade. This Ilande hath also frute∣full mountaynes and playnes, and notable ryuers. It nou∣ryssheth honye in trees, and in the caues of rockes, as in Palma one of the Ilandea of Canarie, honye is gathered emong the briers and bramble busshes. Aboute .xviii. myles Easte∣ward from this Iland, lieth an Iland which owr men named Desiderata, brynge .xx. myles in circuite and verye fayre. Also aboute ten myles from Guadalupea towarde the Southe, lyeth the Ilande of Galanta, beynge thirtie myles in circuite and playne. It was so named for the neatenesse and bewtifulnes therof. Nyne myles distant from Guadalupea toward the East, there are syxe smaule Ilandes named Todos Sanctos or Barbara. These are full of rockes and barren: Yet necessarye to bee knowen to suche as vse to trauayle the seas of these coastes. Ageyne, from Guadalupea .xxxv. myles towarde the Northe, there is an Ilande named Monsserratus, conteynynge in circuite fortye myles, hauynge also in it a mountayne of notable

heyght. The Ilande named Antipua, distante from Guadalupea thirtie myles, is aboute fortye myles in circuite. Diegus Colo∣nus the soonne and heyre of Christophorus Colonus, tould me that his wyfe (whome he lefte in the Ilande of Hispaniola a•• his comming into Spaine to the courte) did write vnto hym, that of late emonge the Ilandes of the Canibales, there is one founde whiche aboundeth with golde. On the lefte syde of Hispaniola towarde the Southe, neare vnto the hauen Botea, there lyeth an Ilande named Portus Bellus. They tell marue∣lous thynges of the monsters of the sea aboute this Ilande, and especially of the tortoyses. For they saye that they are bygger then greate rounde targettes. At suche tyme as the h••ate of nature moueth theym too generation, they coome foorthe of the sea: And makynge a deepe pytte in the sande, they laye three or foure hundreth egges therin. When they haue thus emptied their bagge of conception, they putte as muche of the sande ageyne into the pytte, as maye suffyce to couer the egges: And soo resorte ageyne to the sea, no∣thynge carefull of their successyon. At the daye appoynted of nature to the procreation of these beastes, there creapeth owte a multitude of tortoyses, as it were pyssemares swar∣mynge owte of an ante hyll: And this onely by the heate of the soonne withowte any helpe of their parentes. They saye that their egges are in maner as bygge as geese egges. They also coompare the fleshe of these tortoyses, to be equall with veale in taste. There are besyde these, innumerable I∣landes the whiche they haue not yet searched: nor yet is it greatly necessarye to syfte this meale so fynely. It maye suffyce to vnderstond that there are large landes & many re∣gyons whiche shal hereafter receaue owre nations, tounges, and maners: and therwith embrase owre relygion. The Troyans dydde not soodenly replenyshe Asia, the Tyrians Libia, nor the Greekes and Phoenices Spayne.

As touchynge the Ilandes which lye on the north syde of His∣paniola, I haue let passe to speake. For albeit they are commo¦dious for ty••lage and fysshynge, yet are they lefte of the Spa¦nyardes as poore and of smaule value. We wyll nowe there∣fore take owre leaue of this owlde Tethis with her moyst and watery Nymphes: And receaue to owre newe acquaintance the bewetifull ladye of the South sea rychely crowned with

great pearles, the Ilande of Dites beinge ryche both in name and in treasure. In my epistell booke whiche I sente vnto yowre holynes this last yeare, I declared howe Vaschus Nunnez Balboa the capitayne of them whiche passed ouer the daunge∣rous mountaynes towarde the South sea, learned by report that in the prospect of those coastes there laye an Ilande a∣boundynge with pearles of the greatest sorte: And that the kynge therof was ryche and of great power, infestynge with warres the other kynges his bortherers, and especially Chi∣apes and Tumacchus. We declared further howe at that tyme it was lefte vntouthed by reason of the ragynge tempestes whi¦che troubled that South sea three moonethes in the yeare. But it is nowe better knowen to owre men, who haue nowe also brought that fierce kynge to humanitie: and conuerted hym from a cruell tyger to one of the meeke sheepe of Christes flocke sanctifyed with the water of baptisme with all his fa∣melie and kyngedome. It shall not therefore bee from owre purpose to declare by the gouernaunce of what capitaines or by what meanes these thynges were so happely atchyued.

Notes

• The kyndes of frutes wherwith thinhabitan∣tes lyued fyrst.
• Necessitie the moother of all artes.
• The fine breade Ca∣zabb••, made of the rootes of Iucca.
• howe Ceres fyrst founde wheate and ••arly in E∣gypte.
• The ••ootes of ages.
• The autour•• excu••e.
• Plinie.
• By what na∣mes they sa∣lute the kyn∣ges chyldren when they are borne.
• The names and ytles of the Romane Emperours.
• howe they make theyr testamente••
• So dyd grea Alexander
• The kynges wyues and concubines are buryed with hym.
• They burie theyr iewels with them. A dreame of an other lyfe after this.
• where it ray∣neth but sel∣dome.
• where it ray∣neth much.
• Uariable mo∣tions of the elementes.
• The colonies and vyllages which the Spanyardes haue buylded
• The other I∣landes about hispaniola,
• The Ilande Arethusa.
• A sprynge run¦nyng vnder the sea frome hispan••ola to Arethusa.
• The Iland of Sancti Iohan¦nis.
• The Ilande of Cuba.
• habitable re∣gions vnder the Equinoc∣tiall.
• The ryche golde mynes of Cuba.
• The Iland of Iamaica.
• The Iland of Guadalupea.
• England and Scotlande.
• The gumme cauled Anim•• album.
• Dates.
• Pine trees.
• The Cani∣ba••es.
• whereby it was thought that there were Ilandes of women▪
• hony in trees and ro••kes.
• The Ilande Desiderata.
• The Ilande Galanta.
• The Ilandes of Todos Sanctos or Barbara.
• The Ilande•• monsserratus
• The Ilande Antiqua,
• The Ilande Portus Bellus Great Tortoy¦ses.
• The genera∣tion of Tor∣toyses.
• The egges o•• Tortoyses.
• Innumerable Ilandes.
• Troians▪
• Tirians.
• Greekes.
• P••en••t••ns.
• The North Iland••s.
• The Ilandes of the south sea,
• The Iland of pearles.
• wylde beasts must be tamed with the rod.