The history of trauayle in the VVest and East Indies, and other countreys lying eyther way, towardes the fruitfull and ryche Moluccaes As Moscouia, Persia, Arabia, Syria, Ægypte, Ethiopia, Guinea, China in Cathayo, and Giapan: vvith a discourse of the Northwest passage. Gathered in parte, and done into Englyshe by Richarde Eden. Newly set in order, augmented, and finished by Richarde VVilles.

The nienth booke of the thyrd Decade.

THey say that the fyrst inhabitours lyued con∣tented with the rootes of Dates, and Ma∣gueans, which is an hearbe, much lyke vn∣to that which is commonly called Sen∣grene or Orpin: also the rootes of Guaie∣gans, which are rounde and great, muche lyke vnto puffes y^e of earth or mushromes. They dyd lykewyse eate Guaieros, lyke vnto Persnips, Cibaios, lyke Nuttes, Cibaioes and Macoanes, like vnto Onions, with di∣uers other such rootes. They say that after many yeeres, a cer∣taine Boition, that is, a wyse old man, saw vppon the bankes syde a bush lyke vnto fenell, & transplanting the roote therof, brought it from wyldnesse to a better kynde, by nooryshing it in gardens. This was the begynning of Iucca, which at the fyrst was dead∣ly poison to al such as did eate therof rawe. But for as muche as they parceyued it to be of pleasaunt tast, they determined many wayes to proue the vse therof, and at the length founde by experi∣ence, that beyng sodde, or fryed, it was lesse hurtful: by whiche meanes also, they came to the knowledge of the venome lying hyd in the iuise of the roote. Thus by drying, salting, seasoning, and otherwyse temperyng it, they brought it to theyr fyne bread, whiche they call Cazabbi, more delectable and holsome to the sto∣macke of man then bread made of wheate, because it is of easyer digestion. The same is to be vnderstood of other rootes, and the grayne of Maizium, which they haue chosen for theyr chiefe meate among the seedes of nature, as we reade howe Ceres the daughter of Saturnus, geathered wheate and barley (with suche other corne as are now most in vse among men) in Egypt, of cer∣tayne graynes taken out of the mudde dryuen from the moun∣taynes of Ethiopia by thincrease of the riuer Nilus, & left in the playne at such tyme as Nilus resorted agayne to his chanell. For the which fact, we reade that the antiquitie gaue diuine honour to Ceres, who fyrst nooryshed and increased suche chosen seedes.

There are innumerable kyndes of Ages, the varietie wherof, is knowen by theyr leaues and flowers. One kynde of these, is cal∣led Guanaguax, this is white both within and without. An o∣ther named Guaraguei, is of violet colour without, and white within. The other kyndes of Ages, they call Zazaueios, these are redde without and white within. Squiuetes, are whyte within and without. Tunna, is altogeather of violet coloure. Hobos is yelowe both of skynne and inner substaunce. There is an other named Atibunieix, the skynne of this is of violet coloure, and the substaunce white. Aniguamar, hath his skynne also of violet co∣loure, and is white within. Guaccaracca, hath a white skynne, and the substaunce of violet colour. There are many other, which are not yet brought to vs. But I feare me lest in the rehearsall of of these. I shal prouoke the spurres of malicious persons against me, which wyl scorne these our doynges, for that we haue wryt∣ten of many such small thynges, to a prince occupied in suche weyghtie affayres, as vnto your holynesse, vpon whose shoul∣ders resteth the burden of the whole Christian worlde. But I would aske of these malicious enuyers of other mens trauayles, whether Plinie and such other famous writers, when they direc∣ted and decicated such thyngs to kynges and princes, entended only to profite them to whom they consecrated the fruite of theyr knowledge. They sometimes intermixt famous things with ob∣scure things, light with heauie, and great with small, that by the furtheraunce of princes, theyr vniuersall posteritie might enioye the fruition of the knowledge of thyngs. At other times also be∣yng entent about perticular things, and desirous of new things, they occupied them selues in searchyng of perticular tractes and coastes, with such thynges as nature brought foorth in the same, by this meanes to come the better to more absolute and vniuer∣sall knowledge. Let them therfore contemne our doyng, and we wyl laugh to scorne, not theyr ignoraunce and slouthfulnesse, but pernicious curiousnesse: and therewith hauyng pytie of theyr frowarde dispositions, wyll commit them to the vene∣mous Serpentes of whom enuye tooke his fyrst originall. It shall in the meane tyme abundauntly content vs, that these thynges doo please your holynesse, and that you do not dispyse our symple vestures, wherewith we haue onely weaued

togeather, and not adourned, geathered, and not described, such maruelous thynges, in the garnyshyng whereof, nature hath sufficiently shewed her cunnyng. Our desyre is none other here∣in, but for your sake to doo our endeuoure that these thynges may not peryshe: let euery man take hereof what lyketh hym best. Of the sheepe or Bullocke solde in the market, nothyng remayneth in the euenyng, because the shoulder pleaseth one, the legge an other, and the necke an other: yea some haue most phantasie to the bowels, and some to the feete. Thus hauyng yenough wandered, let vs returne to our purpose, and de∣clare with what woordes they salute the kynges chyldren when they are fyrst borne, and howe they applye the begynning of their liues to the end, and why their kinges are called by many names. Therefore when the kyng hath a sonne borne, suche as dwell neare about his pallace or village, repayre to the queenes cham∣ber, where one saluteth the newe borne chylde with one name, and an other with an other name. God saue thee thou shynyng lampe, sayth one: An other calleth hym, bryght and cleare: Some name hym the victourer of his enimies: and other some, the puis∣saunt conquerour descended of blood royall, and bryghter then gold: with dyuers other suche vayne names. Therefore lyke as euery of the Roman emperours was called Adiabenicus, Par∣thicus, Armenicus, Dacicus, Gothicus, and Germanicus, according to the titles of their parentes and auncestours: euen so by thimpositi∣on of names inuented by other kinges, Beuchicus Anacacoa the lord of the region of Xaragua (of whom and of the wyse woman Anachaona his syster, we haue spoken largly in the first Decade) was called by all these names folowyng, Tureigua Hobin, whiche is asmuche to saye as, a kyng shynyng as bryght as laton, Starei, that is, bryght, Huibo, hyghnesse, Duiheynequen, a ryche flood. With all these names, and more then fourtie other suche, dooth kyng Beuchius magnifie hym selfe as often as he commaundeth any thing to be doone, or causeth any proclamation to be made in his name. If the cryer by negligence leaue out any of these names, the kyng thynketh it to sounde greatly to his contumely and reproche: The lyke is also of other. Howe fondely they vse them selues in makyng theyr testamentes, we wyll nowe de∣clare. They leaue thinheritaunce of their kyngdomes to theldest

sonnes of theyr eldest systers. If she fayle, to theldest of the seconde syster, and so of the thyrde if the seconde also fayle: For they are out of doubte that those chyldren come of theyr blood, but the chyldren of theyr owne wyues, they counte to be not legitimate. If there remayne none of theyr systers chyldren, they leaue thinheritaunce to theyr brothers: and if they fayle, it descendeth to theyr owne sonnes. Last of all, if all these faile, they assigne it to the woorthiest, as to him that is of greatest power in all the Ilande, that he may defende theyr subiectes from their auncient enimies. They take as many wyues as them lysteth. They suffer the best beloued of the kynges wyues and concubines to be buryed with hym. Anachaona the syster of Beuchius the kyng of Xaragua, being a woman of such wisedome and cunnyng, that in makyng of rhymes and balattes she was counted a prophetisse among the best, commaunded, that among all the wyues and concubines of the kyng her brother, the fayre∣est (whose name was Guanahattabenechina) shoulde be buried alyue with hym, and two of her waytyng maydes with her: She would surely haue appointed diuers other to that offyce, if she had not been otherwyse perswaded by the prayers of certayne fryers of saint Fraunces order, whiche chaunced then to be present. They saye that this Guanahattabenechina had none in all the Ilande comparable to her in beautie. She buryed with her all her iewels, and twentie of her best ornamentes. Their custome is, to place besyde euery of them in their sepultures, a cuppe full of water, & a portion of the fyne bread of Cazabbi. In Xaragua, the region of this kyng Beuchius, and in Hazua, part of the regi∣on of Caiabo, also in the fayre vale of salt and freshe lakes, and lykewyse in the region of Yaquino in the prouince of Bainoa, it rayneth but seldome: In al these regions are fosses or trenches made of olde tyme, whereby they conueye the waters in order to water theyr fieldes, with no lesse art then do thinhabitours of newe Carthage, and of the kingdome of Murcien in Spartaria for the seldome fall of rayne. The region of Maguana, diuideth the prouince of Bainoa from Caiabo, and Zauana from Guaccaiarima. In the deepe vales, they are troubled with rayne more often then nedeth. Also the confines of the chiefe citie, named saint Do∣minike, are moister thē is necessary. In other places, it raineth

moderatly. There are therfore in the Iland of Hispaniola, diuers and variable motions of the elementes, as we reade the lyke of many other regions. Of theyr colonies or mantions which the Spaniardes haue erected in this Iland, we haue spoken suffi∣ciently before. They haue since that tyme builded these villa∣ges, Portus platae, Portus Regalis, Lares, Villanoua, Azuam, and Salua terra. Hauing sayde thus much of the Iland of Hispaniola, the mother and lady of the other Ilandes, and as it were Tethys the most beautifull wyfe of Neptunus the god of the sea, let vs nowe entreate somewhat of her Nymphes and fayre Nereides, which wayte vppon her, and adourne her on euery syde. We wyll therfore begyn at the nearest, called the newe Arethusa, so named of the fountaine Arethusa in the Iland of Sicilie. This is famous by reason of a spring, but otherwyse vnprofitable. Our men named it of late Duas Arbores, because it hath onlye two trees growing in it: neere vnto the which is a fountayne that commeth from the Iland of Hispaniola, through the secrete passages of the earth vnder the sea, and breaketh foorth in this Inde, as the ryuer Alpheus in Achaia runneth vnder the sea from the citie of Elde, and breaketh foorth in y^e Iland of Sicilie in the fountayne Arethusa. That the fountayne of this newe Arethusa, hath his originall from the Ilande of Hispaniola, it is manifest heereby, that the water issuyng out of the fountayne, bryngeth with it the leaues of many trees whiche growe in Hi∣spaniola, and not in this Iland. They saye that the fountayne hath his originall from the ryuer Yiamiroa, in the region of Guac∣caiarima, confinyng with the lande of Zauana. This Ilande is not past a myle in circuite, and commodious for fishermen. Di∣rectly towards the East (as it were the porter keepyng the en∣trye to Tethys) lieth the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis (otherwyse cal∣led Burichena) whereof we haue spoken largely before: this a∣boundeth with gold, and in fruitefull soile is equall with her mo∣ther Hispaniola: in this are many colonies or mansions of Spa∣niardes, which apply them selues to geatheryng of golde. To∣wards the west on the North syde, great Cuba (for the longnesse thereof, long supposed to be continent or fyrme lande) wardeth our Tethys on the backe halfe. This is much longer then Hispaniola, and from the East to the west, is diuiuided in the

middest with the circle called Tropicus Cancri. Hispaniola and the other lying on the South syde of this, are encluded almost in the mydde space betweene the sayde Tropike and the Equinoctiall line, which many of the olde wryters supposed to be vnhabitable and defart, by reason of the feruent heate of the Sonne in that clyme, as they coniectured: but they were deceyued in theyr o∣pinion. They affirme that rycher golde mynes are founde in Cuba, then in Hispaniola. They say also that euen now whyle I wryte these thynges, there is golde geathered togeather redy to the meltyng, amountyng to the quantitie of a hundred and foure∣score thousand Castellans of golde, an argument surely of great rychesse. Iamaica is more towards the South then these, and is a pleasaunt and fruitful Ilande, of soyle apt for corne, graffes, and settes, it consisteth of onely one mountayne: the inhabitan∣tes are warrelyke men, and of good wyt, Colonus compared it to Scicilie in bygnesse. They whiche of late searched it more exactly, say that it is somewhat lesse, but not muche. It is thought to be without golde and precious stones, as the lyke was supposed of Cuba at the begynning. The Ilande of Guada∣lupea (fyrst named Caraqueira) lying on the South syde of Hispa∣niola, is foure degrees nearer the Equinoctiall. It is eaten and indented with two gulfes (as we reade of great Britanie, nowe called England, and Calidonia, nowe called Scotland) beyng in maner two Ilandes. It hath famous Portes. In this they founde that gumme whiche the Apothecaries call Animae Al∣bum, whose fume is holsome agaynst reumes and heauinesse of the head. The tree whiche engendreth this gumme, beareth a fruite much like vnto a Date, beyng a spanne in length. When it is opened, it seemeth to conteyne a certayne sweete meale. As our husbandmen are accustomed to reserue Chestnuts, and such other harde fruites, all the winter, so do they the Dates of this tree, beyng muche lyke vnto a Fygge tree. They founde also in this Ilande, Pyne trees, of the best kynde, and such other dayntie dyshes of nature, whereof we haue spoken largelye before: Yea they thynke that the inhabitauntes of o∣ther Ilandes, had theyr seedes of so many pleasaunt fruites from hence. For the Cambales, beyng a wylde and wande∣ryng people, and ouerrunnyng all the countreye about them,

to hunte for mans fleshe, were accustomed to bryng home with them whatsoeuer they founde straunge or profytable in anye place: They are intractable, and will admit no straungers. It shall therefore bee needefull to ouercome them with great power: For as well the women as men, are experte archers, and vse to inuenome theyr arrowes. When the men go foorth of the lande a man huntyng, the women manfully defend their coastes agaynst suche as attempt to inuade the same. And hereby I suppose it was thought, that there were Ilandes in the Ocean, inhabited onely with women, as Colonus the Admiral him selfe perswaded mee, as I haue sayde in the fyrst Decade. This Ilande hath also fruitefull mountaynes and playnes, and notable ryuers. It nourysheth hony in trees, and in the caues of rockes, as in Palma one of the Ilandes of Canarie, hony is geathered among the bryers and bramble bushes. About .xviii. myles Eastward from this Ilande, lyeth an Ilande which our men named Desiderata, beyng .xx. myles in circuite, and verye fayre. Also about tenne myles from Guadalupea towarde the South, lyeth the Ilande of Galanta, beyng thirtie myles in circu∣ite, and plaine: It was so named for the neatenesse and beautiful∣nesse therof. Niene myles distant from Guadalupea towarde the East, there are sixe small Ilandes, named Todos Sanctos, or Bar∣bata: these are full of rockes, & barren, yet necessary to be knowen to such as vse to trauayle the seas of these coastes. Agayne, from Guadalupea .xxxv. myles towarde the North, there is an Ilande named Monsserratus, conteynyng in circuite fourtie myles, ha∣uyng also in it a mountayne of notable heyght. The Ilande na∣med Antiqua, distante from Guadalupea thirtie myles, is about fourtie myles in circuite. Diegus Colonus the sonne and heyre of Christiphorus Colonus, tolde me that his wyfe (whom he lefte in the Ilande of Hispaniola at his comming into Spayne to the courte) did wryte vnto him, that of late among the Ilandes of the Canibales, there is one founde which aboundeth with golde. On the lefte syde of Hispaniola towarde the South, neere vnto the hauen Beata, there lyeth an Ilande named Portus Bellus: they tell marueilous thinges of the monsters of the sea about this I∣lande, and especially of the Tortoyses, for they say that they are bygger then great rounde targettes. At suche tyme as the

heate of nature moueth them to generation, they come foorth of the sea, and makyng a deepe pyt in the sande, they lay three or foure hundred egges therein. When they haue thus emp∣tied theyr bagge of conception, they put as muche of the sande agayne into the pyt, as may suffyse to couer the egges, and so resorte agayne to the sea, nothyng carefull of theyr succession. At the day appoynted of nature to the procreation of these beastes, there creepeth out a multitude of Tortoyses, as it were pyssemares swarmyng out of an ant hyll: and this onely by the heate of the Sunne, without any helpe of theyr parentes. They say that theyr egges are in maner as bygge as Geese egges. They also compare the fleshe of these Tor∣toyses, to bee equall with veale in taste. There are besyde these, innumerable Ilandes, the whiche they haue not yet sear∣ched, nor yet is it greatly necessary to syft this meale so fyne∣ly. It may suffyse to vnderstande that there are large landes, and many regions, which shall heereafter receyue our nations, tounges, and maners, and therewith embrase our religion. The Troyans dyd not sodeinly replenyshe Asia, the Tyrians Libya, nor the Greekes and Phenices Spayne. As touchyng the Ilandes whiche lye on the North syde of Hispaniola, I haue let passe to speake: For albeit they are commodious for tyllage and fyshyng, yet are they lefte of the Spanyardes as poore and of small value. We will nowe therefore take our leaue of this olde Tethis, with her moyst and watery Nymphes, and receyue to our new acquayntance the beautifull lady of the South sea, rychly crowned with great pearles, the Ilande of Dites beyng ryche both in name and in treasure. In my Epistle booke which I sent vnto your holynesse this last yeere, I decla∣red howe Vaschus Nunnez Balboa, the Captayne of them which passed ouer the daungerous mountaynes toward the South sea, learned by report, that in the prospecte of those coastes there laye an Ilande aboundyng with pearles of the greatest sort, and that the kyng thereof was ryche, and of great power, infestyng with warres the other kynges his borderers, and especially Chiapes and Tumacchus: Wee declared further, howe at that tyme it was left vntouched by reason of the ragyng tempestes which troubled that South sea three monethes in the yeere. But

it is now better knowne to our men, who haue now also brought that fierce kyng to humanitie, and conuerted him from a cruell Tyger, to one of the meeke sheepe of Christes flocke, sanctifyed with the water of baptisme, with all his family and kyngdome. It shall not therefore bee from our purpose to declare, by the go∣uernaunce of what captaines, or by what meanes these thinges were so happyly atchyued.

Notes

• The kyndes of fruites where∣with thinhabi∣tauntes lyued fyrst.
• Necessitie the mother of al artes.
• The fyne bread Cazab∣bi, made of the rootes of Iucca.
• How Ceres fyrst founde wheate and barly in Egypt.
• The rootes of Ages.
• The aucthours excuse.
• Plinie.
• By what na∣mes they salute the kyngs chil∣dren when they are borne.

  The names and tytles of the Romane Emperours.
• Howe they make theyr testamentes.
• So dyd great Alexander.
• The kynges wyues & con∣cubines are bu∣ryed with him.
• They burye theyr iewels with them.
• A dreame of an other lyfe after this.
• Where it ray∣neth but sel∣dome.
• Where it ray∣neth much.
• Variable moti∣ons of the Ele∣mentes.
• The colonies and villages whiche the Spaniardes haue builded.
• The other I∣landes about Hispaniola.
• The Iland of Arethusa.
• A spring run∣nyng vnder the sea from Hispa∣niola to Are∣thusa.
• The Iland of Sancti Iohan∣nis.
• The Ilande of Cuba.
• Habitable regi∣ons vnder the Equinoctial.
• The riche golde mine•• of Cuba.
• The Iland of Iamaica.
• The Iland of Guadalupea.
• England and Scotland
• The gum cal∣led Anime album.
• Dates.
• Pine trees.
• The Cani∣bales.
• Whereby it was thought that there were Ilandes of women.
• Hony in trees and rockes.
• The Ilande Desiderata. The Ilande Galanta.
• The Ilandes of Todos Sanctos, or Barbata.
• The Ilande Monsserratus The Ilande Antiqua.
• The Ilande Portus Bellus Great Tortoy∣ses.

  The generati∣on of Tortoy∣ses.
• The Egges of Tortoyses.
• Innumerable Ilandes.
• Troyans. Tyrians. Greekes. Phenitians. The North Ilandes.
• The Ilandes of the south sea.
• The Ilande of pearles.
• Wylde beastes must be tamed with the rod.