Purchas his pilgrimes. part 4 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

§. VI.

Of the Fishes that swimme in the salt water: also Shel-fishes, Trees and Fowles of the Sea: of Riuers and the Creatures which liue therein; and the Beasts and Plants brought thither out [ 40] of Portugall.

THe Oxe-fish in these parts is a Royall fish, esteemed aboue all other fishes, very health∣full * 1.1 in eating, and of a good taste, either salted or fresh: And it rather seemeth Beefe then Fish, and some doubts there were, because it was eaten on fish dayes; the flesh is all grained like Beefe, and so it is cut in slices, and they dresse it at the smoake like Bacon, or hanged Beefe. In the taste, if it be eaten or sodden with Cabidge, or other herbes, it tasteth like Beefe, and drest in sowce it tasteth like Mutton; and rosted, both in smell, taste, and fatnesse it is like Porke, and hath fat also.

The Fish in his making seemeth a land creature, and chiefly an Oxe, the head is altogether of [ 50] an Oxe, with skinne and haire, eares, eyes, cheekes and tongue; the eyes are exceeding small for the bodie it hath, he shutteth and openeth them when hee listeth, which other fishes doe not; ouer the ventsit hath two skinnes wherewith he closeth them, and by them he breatheth, and it cannot bee long vnder water without breathing, it hath no more nor other finnes but the taile: which is all round and close; the bodie is of a great bignesse, all full of yellow haires, it hath two armes of a cubite long, with two hands like round peeles, and on them he hath fiue fingers all close one to another, and euery finger hath his nayle like a mans nayle. Vnder these armes the female haue two paps, wherewith shee bringeth vp her young; she beareth but one at once: the inward part and the inwards of this fish are like an Oxes, with liuer, and lights, &c. In the head ouer the eyes neere the braines it hath two stones of a good bignesse, white and heauie, [ 60] they are of great esteeme, and are the onely remedie for the Stone: for beaten to powder and dranke in wine or water it causeth to void the stone, as it happened that giuing it to a person to drinke, leauing other many experiences, within one houre hee voided a stone as bigge as an Al∣mond, and remained sound, being before at the point of death. The bones of this fish are all mas∣sie

and white like Iuorie. They make of it great store of * 1.2 Butter, they take two leaues as from a hogge; and the most of the Butter it hath in the taile, which being of a yard or more in length, it melteth all into Butter, it hath a good taste, and for to dresse or frie fish, and for light. It is verie good also for Medicines, as the Hogges Grease, it is white and smelleth well, it hath no smell of fish. This fish is taken with Harping-Irons; it is found in the salt Riuers, neere the fresh water: it feedeth on an herbe that groweth by the borders, and within the Riuers, and where this herbe groweth, and neere the Springs of fresh water, whereof hee onely drinketh. They are verie great, some weigh tenne, others fifteene hundred, and such a fish hath beene taken, that an hundred men could not get it out of the water, but they broke it vp there where it was killed. [ 10]

The fish Beijupira is like the Sturgeon of Portugall, and so it is held and esteemed of heere as * 1.3 a royall fish: it is very healthfull, fat, and of a good taste, they bee infinite, and some of their towes are a span in compasse about: these fishes are taken in the broad Sea, with a hooke and line, it is six or seuen spannes long; the bodie is round, blacke on the backe and the belly white.

The Oxe-eie is like the Tunnyes of Spaine, as well in bignesse as in making, inward as outward; * 1.4 it is verie fat, it hath sometime betweene leafe and leafe courses of ••at as thicke as a Portugall d 1.5 Tester; they are cut in backes and bellies like the Tunn••es, and of them is made great store and verie good e 1.6 Butter, it hath leaues like a Hogge, is a fish esteemed and of a good taste, it deser∣ueth well the name of One fish, as well in his beautie, as his bignesse, the eies are properly like an Oxe, and therefore it hath this name. [ 20]

The fish Camurupi is also a royall fish, and esteemed in these parts, the graine of it all in flakes, * 1.7 enterlarded with fat and grease, and of a good taste, it hath many bones through all the bodie, and is dangerous in eating. It hath a finne on the backe, which it carries alwaies raised vpwards, it is of two or thre•• quarters long, the fish is long of twelue and thirteene quarters in length, and of a good bignesse, and two men haue much adoe to lift vp one of them, they are taken with Harping Irons, there are many of them, and much f 1.8 Oile is made of them.

This wilde fish, which the Indians call Pira••mbu, (that is, a fish that snorteth, the reason is, be∣cause * 1.9 wheresoeuer it is, is heard by his snorting) is of a good bignesse, about eight or nine spannes, it is of a good taste, and esteemed; it hath in the mouth two stones as broad as a hand, exceeding strange, with them they breake the Wilkes whereof they feed, the Indians esteeme the stones [ 30] and weare them about their neckes as a Iewell.

There are many other fishes of sundrie kinds, that are not in Spaine, and commonly of a good taste and healthfull. Of the fishes of Portugall in these parts are also many, to wit, a fish called Tainhas, and a great multitude, and it hath beene tried that the Tainha beeing fresh, and laid to the stinging of a Snake is another Vnicorne. There want no Sea-breames, a fish called Chichar∣ros, it is like a Mackerill, Pargos, or great Sea-breames, S••rg••s, other Sea-breames, Garazes, Da∣rados) the Needle-fish, Cod-fishes, but these are rare, Pilchards like them of Spaine, are found at sometimes in the Riuer of Ianuarie, and the most parts of the South, Scates, and Rayes; these Rayes some haue in their mouth two bones, and breake with them the Wilkes.

All these fishes are so healthfull that in these parts they are eaten after Milke, after flesh, and [ 40] all a whole Lent without Oile or Vineger, and it causeth no scabs nor other diseases as in Eu∣rope, but rather it is giuen to the sicke, though they haue a Feuer, or be very weake.

Because this Coast is full of many Bayes, Nookes, and Creekes, there came great store of * 1.10 Whales to these Concaues chiefly from May to September, when; they spawne and bring vp their young, and also because they come to the great store of fish that at this time there is in this Creekes. They are sometime so many that ye may see fortie or fiftie together, men doe say that they doe cast the Amber that they find in the Sea, and whereof they also feed, and therefore is some of it found in this Coast; others doe say that the Sea it selfe doth cast it on the shoares with * 1.11 great tempests, and commonly it is found after a great storme, and all the beasts doe eate of this Amber, and great diligence is needfull after the tempests that they may not find it eaten. It is very dangerous to saile in small Barkes along this Coast, for besides other dangers, the Whales o∣uerwhelme [ 50] many, if they heare any ringing, they are so scared as Horses when they heare the sound of a Drumme, and are as fierce as Lions, many runne vpon the shoare, and great store of Oile is made of them. They haue the head open, and there they breathe, and cast at once great store of water, and scatter it so in the Aire as if it were a great showre.

There is great store of the Sword-fishes, they are great and fierce, for they haue a snowt like * 1.12 a Sword, all full of teeth round about, verie sharpe, and as bigge as Dogges teeth or bigger; they are a mans hand or more, and the length is according to the greatnesse of the fish. Some of these snowts or Swords are of eight or ten spannes long: with these they make a cruell battell with the Whales, for raising it vpward, and striking so many strokes on her, and so fast that it is a * 1.13 [ 60] wonderfull thing: the Sharkes resort to the bloud, and sucke it in such sort till she dieth, and so many are found dead and cut in pieces. With this snowt also they catch the fishes whereof they feed. The Indians vse these snowts when they are young for to beate their children, and to feare them when they are disobedient vnto them.

In this Coast are many Tortoises; there are many taken, whereof there are coffers, boxes for the hoasts, cups, &c. These Tortoises doe lay their egges in the sands, and they lay 200. or 300. * 1.14 egges at a time, they are as bigge as Hens egges, verie white and round as balles; they hide these egges in the sand, and when the young are hatcht, presently they goe to the water, where they are nourished, the egges also are eaten. They haue this propertie, that though you boile or roast them the white is euer soft, the inwards are like a Hogges, and they haue vents where through they breathe. They haue another particularitie, that when yee turne them on their belly, they turne presently toward the Sea, neither can they liue otherwise. Some of them are so bigge that of their shels they make whole Targets, and one was taken vpon this Coast so bigge, that twen∣tie men could not lift, nor poise it from the ground. [ 10]

Vpon this Coast are many sorts of Sharkes, and in it are found sixe or seuen kinds of them; it is a very fierce and cruell fish, and kils many persons, especially those that swimme. The Riuers * 1.15 are full of them; they are so cruell that it happened one to runne after an Indi••n that went in a Boate, and put him in such a straight, that the young man leaping a shoare, the Sharke leapt after him thinking to haue caught him, and fell on drie land where they killed him. In the broad Sea where also are many, they kill them with Snares, and Harping Irons, and they are so eager, greedie, and loue flesh, and they are so deuouring, that they find in their bellies, skinnes, p••eces of cloth, shirts and breeches that fall from the Sailers, they goe ordinarily accompanied with cer∣taine verie faire fishes of diuers colours called Pelgrimes. They make great store of Oile of them, * 1.16 and the Indians vse the teeth in their Arrowes, because they are verie sharpe, cruell, and vene∣mous, [ 20] and verie seldome, or with great difficultie are they healed that are hurt with them.

The flying fishes are ordinarily of a spanne long or little more, it hath the eies verie faire, of a * 1.17 certaine verie gallant picture, that beautifies it much, and doe seeme precious stones, the head is also very faire, it hath wings like R••ere-mice, but of a siluer hue; they are much per••ecuted of the other fishes, and for to escape they flie in flockes, like Stares, or Sparrowes, but they flie not ve∣rie high, they are also good to eat, and when they flie they glad the Sailers, and many times they fall in the ship, and come in at the Cabbin windowes.

Botos and T••ninas, are two kinds of Porpoises. Of these fishes there are great abundance, as in Europe.

They find also in this Coast Salmonets, but they are rare, and not so esteemed, nor of so good * 1.18 [ 30] a taste as those of Europe. The Soles of these parts are verie rare, they haue this propertie, that when they are to be boiled or fried they beate them, and the more stroakes they giue them, the stiffer they are, and the better to eate, and if they beate them not, they are soft and no∣thing worth.

As in this Countrie of Brasill are many Snakes, and venemous Wormes, whereof wee will * 1.19 speake hereafter, there are likewise many fishes verie venemous.

The Toad fish, in their Language, A••••ayacn, is a small fish, a spanne long, painted, it hath * 1.20 faire eies, taking it out of the water it snorteth verie much, and cutteth the hookes, and out of the water it swelleth much, all the poison lies in the skinne, and flaying they eate it: but ea∣ting it with the skinne it killeth. It chanced a young man to eate one with the skinne, who died [ 40] almost suddenly; the Father said, I will eate the fish that killed my Sonne, and eating of it died also presently, it is a great poison for Rats, for those that eate of it doe die presently.

There is another kind of Toad fish of the same fashion that the other, but it hath many cruell prickles, as a Hedge-hogge; it snorteth, and swelleth out of the water; the skinne also killeth, especially the prickles, because they are verie venemous, fleaing it, it is eaten, and it is good for the bloudie Fluxe. There is another Toad fish, called in their tongue, Itaoça, it is three square, and the bodie such, that all of it is like a Dagger; it is faire, it hath the eies bluish, it is eaten fleade; the poison consisteth in the skinne, liuers, guts, and bones, whatsoeuer creature doth eate it, dieth.

Puraque is like the Scate, it hath such vertue that if any touch it, he remaineth shaking as one [ 50] that hath the Palsie, and touching it with a sticke, or other thing it benummeth presently him * 1.21 that toucheth it, and while he holdeth the sticke ouer him, the arme that holdeth the sticke is benummed, and a sleepe; it is taken with flue-nets, and with casting Nets it maketh all the bodie tremble, and benummes it with the paine, but beeing dead it is eaten, and it hath no poison.

The Caramuru are like the Sea Snakes of Portugall, of ten or fifteene spans long, very fat, and * 1.22 roafted taste like Pigge; these haue strange teeth, and many men are may med by their bytings, and the hand or foot where they were bitten, doe rot away. It hath ouer all the bodie many prickels. The Countrimen say that they engender with the Snakes; for they finde them many times knit with them, and many in the sands tarrying for the Sea Snakes. * 1.23

Amoreaty is like the Toad fish, it is full of prickels, and thrusts himselfe vnder the sand along [ 60] the shoare, and prickes the foot or hand vnderneath that toucheth it, and it hath no other reme∣die but only by fire.

Amayacurub is round and of the bignesse of the k 1.24 Bugallos of Spaine, and are very venemous, it hath the bodie full of Wartes, and therefore it is called Curub, that is to say, a Wart in their Language.

Ierepomonga, is a Snake that liueth in the Sea; her manner of liuing is to lie very still, and whatsoeuer liuing thing that toucheth it, remaineth so fast sticking to it that in no wise it can * 1.25 stirre, and so he feedeth and sustaines himselfe. Sometimes it commeth out of the Sea, and be∣commeth very small, and as soone as it is toucht it sticketh fast, and if they goe with the other hand to lose themselues, they remaine also fast by it, and then it becommeth as bigge as a great Cable, and so carrieth the person to the Sea, and eateth it, and because it cleaueth so fast, it is called Terepomong, that is to say, a thing that cleaneth fast.

Finally, there are many kinds of very venomous fishes in the Sea, that haue so vehement a poison, that ordinarily none escapeth that catech or toucheth them.

The Mermen, or men of the Sea, are called in their language Ypupiapra; the men of the country are * 1.26 [ 10] so afraid of them, that many of them die only with the thought of them, & none that seeth them scapeth. Some that died already, being demanded the cause said, that they had seene this Monster, they properly are like men, of a good stature, but their eies are very hollow. The Female are like women, they haue long haire, and are beautiful;▪ these Monsters are found in the bars of the fresh Riuers; in Iagoaripe, seuen or eight leagues from the Bay haue many bin found, & in the yeere 82. an Indian going to fish, was chased by one, and fleeing in a Canoa told it to his Master. The Master for to animate the Indian, would needs go see the Monster, & being carelesse with one hand out of the Canoa, it catcht hold of him, and carried him away, and hee was neuer seene againe, and in the same yeere died an Indian of Franciscus Lorenço Cacyro. In Port Secure are some seene, which haue killed some Indians alreadie, the manner of their killing is to embrace themselues with the [ 20] person so strongly, kissing, and grasping it hard to it selfe that they crush it in pieces remaining whole, and when they perceiue it dead, they giue some sighings in shew of sorrow, and letting them goe they runne away, and if they carrie any they eate onely the eies, the nose, the points of the fingers and toes, and priuie members, and so ordinarily they are found on the sands with these things missing.

The Seas of these parts are very plentifull of Cutties, this kind of fish hath a hood alwaies full * 1.27 of very blacke Inke: this is their defence from the greater fishes, for when they come to catch them they cast that Inke before their eies, and the water becommeth very blacke, and then hee goes his waies. They take them with shooting at them, but they baite them first, they are also taken with lights by night. For to eate them they beate them, and the more, the softer they are, [ 30] and of better taste.

Apula is a shel-fish like the joint of a Cane: it is rare, it is eaten, and drinking it fasting in * 1.28 Powder, a souereigne remedie for the Milt or Spleene.

In these parts are infinite of the Sea-fomes, and are great, as broad as a hat; they haue many * 1.29 foulds wherewith they catch the fish, and resemble the Barberie Purses, they are not eaten; if they sting any one, they cause great paines, and cause to weepe, and so said an Indian that was stung with one of them, that he had receiued many wounds with Arrowes, but neuer wept till then; they are neuer seene but in neape tides (or slow waters, therefore the Portugals call them Agnas mortas, or Dead waters.)

The Vça is a kind of Crab found in the mire, and they are infinite, and the foode of all this * 1.30 [ 40] Countrie, chiefly for the slaues of Guinea, and the Indians of the Countrie, they haue a good taste, vpon them is good drinking cold water. They haue a particularitie to bee noted, that when they cast their shell they goe into their holes, and there they are two or three moneths, and casting the shell, mouthes and feet, they come so out, and they grow againe as before.

Guainumu is a kind of Crabs so great, that a mans legge will goe into their mouth. They * 1.31 are good to eate; when it doth thunder they come out of their holes, and make so great a noise the one with the other, that men haue gone out with their weapons, thinking they had beene enemies; if they doe eate a certaine herbe, whosoeuer eateth them then dieth, these are of the Land, but keepe in holes neere the Sea side.

The Aratu Crabs keepe in the trunkes of the trees, that grow in the Oowes of the Sea, when * 1.32 [ 50] thay find a Cockle that gapeth, they seeke presently some little stone, and very cunningly put it into the Cockle: the Cockle shutteth presently, and not beeing able because of the little stone it hath within, they with their mouthes doe take out the fish and eate it.

There are ten or twelue kinds of Crabs in this Countrie, and as I haue said, they are so many in * 1.33 number, and so healthfull, that all are eaten, especially of the Indians, &c.

The Oysters are many, and some are very great, and the meate is as broad as the palme of the * 1.34 hand: in these are some Pearles found very rich, in other smaller are also very fine Pearles found. The Indians in old time came to the Sea for Oysters, and got so many that they made great Hils of the shels, and carried the fishes they carried away for to eate all the yeere; vpon these Hils by the continuance of time grew great Groues of Trees and very thicke and high, and the Portugals [ 60] discouered some, and euery day goe discouering others anew, and of these shels they make lime; * 1.35 and of one only heape was part of the Colledge of the Bay made, the Palaces of the Gouernour, and many other buildings, and yet it is not ended, the lime is very white, good for to garnish and

lime withall; if it bee in the raine it becommeth blacke, and for to keepe water in Cisternes it is not so sure, but for the rest as good as the stone in Spaine.

There wan•• no Muscles in this Countrie▪ they serue the Indians and the Portugals for Spoones * 1.36 and Kniues, they haue a ••aire siluer colour▪ in them is found some seed Pearle; there is a small kind of them whereon the Sea-guls doe feed, and because they cannot breake them, they haue such a naturall instinct that taking them vp into the Aire, they let them fall so many times till they breake it, and then they eate them.

The Perewinkles are very▪ tastefull, and good in this Countrie, and some seed Pearle is found * 1.37 in them, and so of the Perewinkles, and of the Muscles there is great store, of many and sun∣drie kinds. [ 10]

The greatest Wilkes which are called G••••tapigg••••••••, that is, a great Wilk••, are much esteemed of the Indians, for of them they make their Trumpets, Furnitures, Beades, Brooches, Eare∣rings, * 1.38 and Gloues for the children, and they are of such esteeme among them, that for one they will giue any one person that they haue captiue: and the Portugals gaue in olde time a Crowne for one: they are as white as Iuorie, and many of them are of two quarters broad, and one in length.

The Piraguaig are also eaten, and of the shelles they make their Beades: and for so many fa∣thome * 1.39 they g••ue a person. Of these the Sea casteth vp sometimes great heapes, a wonderfull thing. Of Wilkes and Skallops there is great quantitie in this Countrie, very faire, and to bee e∣steemed, of sundrie kinds. [ 20]

They find great store of white-stone Corrall vnder water, it groweth like small Trees all in * 1.40 leaues, and Canes as the red Corrall of India; and if this also were so, there would be great riches in this Countrie, for the great abundance there is of it, it is very white, it is gotten with diffi∣cultie, they make lime of it also.

There are great multitudes of Prawnes, because this Coast is almost all enuironed with shelues, * 1.41 and Rockes; there are also many Sea-ruffes, and other Monsters found in the Concauities of the Rockes, great Cra••esses or Crabbes like those of Europe, it seemes there bee none in these parts.

The Mangue Trees are like the Swallowes, or Will••wes of Europe, there is so great quantitie of * 1.42 them in the armes or creeks that the Sea maketh within the Land, that many leagues of the Land [ 30] is of these Trees, that are watered with the tides. We trauelled I say leagues, and whole daies in the Riuers where these Trees are, and they are alwaies greene, faire and pleasant, and of many kinds. The wood is good to burne, and for to build houses, it is very heauie and hard as Iron; of the barke they make Inke, and it serueth to tanne Leather, and they are of many kindes. A cer∣taine kind of them doe cast certaine twigs from the top of their length some times as long as a Launce, till they come to the water, and then they cast many branches and rootes, and these branches remaine fast in the earth, and while they are greene these twigs are tender, and because they are hollow within, they make good Flutes of them. In these Creekes are a certaine kinde of Gnats called Mareguis, as small as Hennes Lice, they bite in such sort, that they leaue such * 1.43 a Wheale, smart and itching that a man cannot helpe himselfe, for euen through the clothes they [ 40] pricke, and it is a good penance, and mortification to suffer them on a Morning, or an Euening; there is no other remedie to defend themselues from them, but to anoint themselues with dirt, or to make a great fire and smoke.

In these Creekes are many Crabs, Oysters, and Water Rats, and there is one kind of these Rats, a monstrous thing, for all the day they sleepe, and wake all night.

In these Creekes the Parrets breeds, which are so many in number, and make such a noise, that it seemeth the noise of Sparrowes, or Dawes.

On the Sands they finde great store of Parsley, as good and better, then that of Portugall whereof also they make Conserues. [ 50]

Birds that doe feed, and are found in the salt water.

THe Bird Guiratinga is white, of the bignesse of the Cranes of Portugall; they are extreame * 1.44 white, and haue verie long feete, the bill verie cruell and sharpe, and verie faire, of a ve∣rie fine yellow, the legges are also verie long, betweene Red and Yellow. On the necke it hath the finest Plume Feathers that can bee found, and they are like the Estridges Feathers of Africa.

Caripira by another name Forked-tayles, are many; they are called Forked-tayles, because their * 1.45 taile is diuided in the middle; the Indians make great account of the Feathers for the feathering of their Arrowes, and say that they last long, at sometimes they are verie fat, the fat is good for [ 60] the loosenesse. These Birds doe vse to bring newes a land of the ships, and they are so certaine in this that very seldome they faile, for when they are seene, ordinarily within twentie or thir∣tie * 1.46 daies the ships doe come.

Guaca is properly the Sea-mew of Portugall, their ordinarie food are Cockles, and because they * 1.47 are hard, and they cannot breake them, they take them in their bill, and letting them fall many times they breake them and eate them; of these Sea-m••••••es there are an infinite number of kinds, that the Trees and the strands are full of them.

Guirateonteon is called in Portugall Sc••ld-p••te, it is called Guir••••e••nt••on, that is, a Bird that hath * 1.48 deadly accidents, and that dieth and liueth againe, as though it had the Falling sicknesse, and these fits are so great that many times the Indians doe find them along the strands, and take them in their hands, and thinking they are dead doe fling them away, and they assoone as they fall doe rise and flie away, they are white and faire, and there are other kinds of these that haue the same accidents. [ 10]

The Calca••••r are as bigge as Tuttle-doues, or Pigeons; the men of the Countrie say, that they * 1.49 lay their Egges in the Sea, and there they hatch, and breed their young; they flie not, but with their wings and feet they swimme very swiftly, they foreshew great calmes and showres, and in calme weather they are so many along the shippes that the Mariners cannot tell what to doe, they are euen the very spite it selfe, and melancholy.

The Ay••y•• are as bigge as a Pye-••n••et, more white th••n red, they haue a faire colour of whi•••• * 1.50 bespotted with red, the bill is long and like a Spoone. For to catch the fish, it hath this ••••ght; it striketh with the foot in the water, and stretching out his neck, carrieth for the fish and catcheth it, and therefore the Indians say it hath humane knowledge.

The C〈…〉〈…〉ra is small and gray, it hath faire eies with a verie faire red circle, it hath a strange * 1.51 note, for the he that heareth it thinketh it is of a verie great bird, it beeing verie small; for it singeth [ 20] with the mouth, and jointly behind it maketh a noise so sounding, loud and strong, though not smelling verie well, that it is a wonder, it maketh this sweet Musicke two houres before day, and at Euening till the Euening twilight be done, and ordinarily when it singeth, foresheweth faire weather.

The Guara is as bigge as a Pye-annet, it hath a long bill with a crooked point, and his feet of a * 1.52 quarter or span long, when it is hatched, it is blacke, and after becommeth gray, when it alrea∣die doth fl••e, it becommeth whiter then any Doue, afterward it turneth to a bright red, yet at length it becommeth redder then Scarlet it selfe, in this colour he continueth till his death, they are many in quantitie, but they haue no other kind. They breed well in Houses, their food is fish, flesh, and other things; their food must be alwaies in water, the Indians esteeme greatly the Fea∣thers [ 30] of these, and of them they make their Diademes, Fringes wherewith they couer the Swords they kill withall, and they make Bracelets to weare on their armes, and fasten them to their haire like Rose buds, and these are their Iewels, and Chaines of Gold wherewith they adorne themselues in their Feasts, and they so much esteeme, yea, they beeing so much giuen to eat humane flesh, they giue many times the enemies they haue for to eat in change for these Fea∣thers. These birds goe in flights, and if the Sunne doth shine on them vpon the Sands, or in the Aire, it is a faire thing to behold. Many other birds there are that do feed on the Sea, as Hearn∣shewes, Corm••rants, and a certaine kinde of Eagles (which are our Asperalles) which would bee tedious to recite. [ 40]

The maine Riuers wherewith this Prouince is watered are innumerable, and some verie great, * 1.53 and haue verie faire barres, not wanting in the Riuers, Brookes and Fountaines, whereof the Countrie is verie plentifull, and the waters ordinarily are verie faire, cleere and healthfull, and plentifull of infinite fishes of sundrie kinds, of the which some are of an exceeding greatnesse, and of great value, and verie healthfull, and are giuen vnto the sicke for Medicines. These fishes doe the Indians catch with Nets, but ordinarily with Hooke and Line. Among these there is a royall fish of a good taste and sauour, that is verie like the Sturgeon of Spaine, this is called Iau, they are of fourteene and fifteene quarters long, and sometimes bigger, and verie fat, and they make Butter (or Grease) of them. And at sometimes the fish is so much, they fat their Hogges with it. In the small Creekes are manie Shrimpes, and some of a quarter and more in length, and of a verie good taste and sauour. [ 50]

Fresh water Snakes (and Creatures of the water.)

THe Snake Cucurijuba is the greatest, or of the greatest that are in Brasill, notable as well for * 1.54 greatnesse as beautie, some are taken of fiue and twentie or thirtie foote long, and a yard in compasse. It hath a Chaine along the backe, of notable Pictures and verie faire, that beginneth at the head and endeth in the Taile; it hath Teeth like a Dogge, and laying hold on a man, Cow, Stagge, or Hogge, winding it with certaine turnes of her Taile, it swalloweth the said thing whole. And after she hath it so in her belly, she lets her selfe rot, and the Rauens and Crowes do [ 60] eate her all, so that there remaineth nothing but the bones, and afterward it breedeth new flesh againe, and reneweth as before it was. The reason whereof is (say the men of the Countrie) be∣cause while it putrifieth it hath the head in the mire, and hauing life in the noddle they liue a∣gaine; and because this is knowne alreadie, when they finde them putrified, they seeke o••t the

head and kill it. The manner of their feeding is to waite for their prey, either beasts or people laide along by the waies, and when it passeth, it winds it selfe about it, and killeth and eateth it. After they are full they sleepe in such sort, that sometimes they cut two or three pieces of their Taile, they not waking, as hath happened that after they had cut two pieces of the Taile of one of these, the next day they found her dead with two wild Bores in her belly; and it was about twelue yards and an halfe long.

The Snake Manima keepeth alwaies in the water, it is yet greater then the other abouesaid; it is much painted: and from his Pictures did the Gentlies of Brasill take the painting of them∣selues. * 1.55 That Indian holds himselfe for blessed, that it doth shew it selfe vnto, saying, they shall liue long, seeing the Manima did shew it selfe vnto him. [ 10]

Many other kinds of Snakes there be in the Riuers of fresh water, which I leaue for breuitie sake, and because there is nothing in particular that can be said of them.

The Iacare Lizards are of a notable greatnesse, and some are as bigge as Dogges, their snowt is like a Dogge, and so haue they their Teeth verie long, they haue ouer all the bodie certaine plates * 1.56 like an armed Horse, and when they arme themselues, there is no Arrow can pierce them, they are painted of diuers colours, they doe no hurt to the people, but rather they take them easily with Snares, some haue beene taken of fifteene quarters (or spans) long, and the Indians esteeme them much, and hold them for estate as the Rimbabas, that is, Dogges, or any other thing of e∣state. They keepe in the water, and on the land, they lay Egges as bigge as Geese, and so hard that striking one against another, they tingle like Iron. Where these doe haunt they are pre∣sently [ 20] perceiued, by the great cries they giue; the flesh of these smelleth very much, especially * 1.57 his Cods of Muske, and they are of esteeme, their dung hath some vertue, especially it is good for the Lelidas.

The Iaguarucu is a beast greater then any Oxe, it hath Teeth of a great quarter long, they keepe in and out of the water, and doe kill men; they are rare; some of them are found in the * 1.58 Riuer of Saint Francis, and in Paraguacu.

The Atacape are Woolues smaller, but much more hurtfull, for they come out of the water to watch for men, and being verie swift they kill some persons and eate them.

The Iaguapopeba are the true Atters of Portugall. There is another small beast of the big∣nesse of it is called Zariguemeiu, these haue rich Skinnes for Furres; and of these [ 30] water beasts, there are many other kinds; some doe no hurt, others are verie fierce.

The Baepapina are a certaine kind of Mermen as bigge as children, for they differ nothing from them, of these there are many and doe no harme. * 1.59

There be many of the water Hogges Capijgoara, and are of the bignesse of land-hogges, but they differ in fashions; in the roofe of the mouth it hath a very great stone that doth serue him * 1.60 for great Teeth. This the Indians hold for a Iewell for their children, sonnes and daughters. It hath no taile, they continue long vnder water, but they lodge on the Land, and in it they bring vp their young; their foode is grasse, and fruites that they find along the Riuers.

In the fresh Riuers of waters are many kinde of Igta Scallops, great and small. Some are so bigge as good Siues, and serue to sift their meale with them; other are smaller, and serue for [ 40] Spoones, all of them are long, and of a siluer colour, in them are some Pearles.

In the Riuers are found many of the Cagados, (a Sea bird so called) and they are so many in number, that the Tapuyas doe feed fat in a certaine time of the yeere with the Egges, and doe seeke for them as for some other daintie food.

There want no Frogges in the Riuers, Fountaines, P••ddles, and Lakes, and they are of many kinds especially these Guararici. The feare that the Indians haue thereof is a wonderfull thing, * 1.61 that of the onely hearing it they die, and tell them neuer so much they haue no other remedie, but let themselues die, so great is the imagination and apprehension that they take of the hea∣ring it sing, and whatsoeuer Indian that heareth it dieth, for they say it doth cast from it selfe a brightnesse like a lightning. [ 50]

All these maine Riuers haue so great and so thicke Woods on the one side and the other, that they saile many leagues by them and see no ground, on either side, in them are many things to be told, which I omit for breuities sake.

Of the Beasts, Trees and Herbes, that came from Portugall, and doe grow and breed in Brasill.

THis Brasill is alreadie another Portugall, and not speaking of China, which is much more temperate and healthfull, without great heates or colds, where the men doe liue long, with few sicknesses, as the Collicke, of the Liuer, the Head, the Breast, Scabs, nor any other Diseases [ 60] of Portugall. Neither speaking of the Sea, which hath great store of fish, and wholsome, nor of the things of the Land, which God hath giuen to this Nation, nor of many other commodities which the men haue to passe their liues withall; though the commoditie of houses is not great,

for the most of them are of mud walls, and thatched, though now they beginne to make buil∣dings of lime and stone, and tile, neither are the commodities for apparell many, because the Countrie yeeldeth no other cloth but Cotton-wooll. In this place the people are in great need, especially from the Riuer of Ianuarie, vnto Saint Uincent, for want of ships to bring Merchan∣dize and Clothes, but in the most Captaineships they are prouided of all kinde of clothings and Silkes, and the men goe well apparelled, and weare many Silkes and Veluets. But it is alreadie Portugall as I said for the many Commodities that from thence doe come vnto it.

In this Prouince is a good breed of the Horses, and there be alreadie great abundance of them * 1.62 and very good Iennets of a great price, that are worth 200. and 300. Duckets and more, and there is alreadie running at the Geese, at the Ring, at Canes, and other Sports and Skirmishes, and from hence they beginne to prouide Angola of Horses whereof they stand in great want. [ 10]

Though this Countrie hath weake pastures, and in Por•• S••cure is an Herbe that killeth the * 1.63 beasts if they doe eate it, notwithstanding there is a great number of them alreadie, and all Bra∣sill is full of great Heards, and some haue 500. some a 1000. heads, especially in the fields of Pi∣ratininga, because it hath good pastures, and are like to them of Portugall, and it is a pleasant thing to see the young breed that is there.

The Swine doe like very well heere, and they beginne to haue great multitudes, and heere it * 1.64 is the best flesh of all, yea, better then Hennes flesh, and it is giuen to the sicke, and hath a very good rellish and taste.

Vnto the Riuer of Ianuarie are many sheepe found alreadie, and Weathers, and they fatten so * 1.65 much that they burst with fatnesse: it is not here so good flesh as in Portugall. [ 20]

The Goates are yet but few, but yet they like well in this Countrie, and doe multiply verie * 1.66 much, and in a short time there will be a great multitude.

The Hennes are infinite, and greater then in the Realme of Portugall, and because the Coun∣trie * 1.67 is temperate they breed well, and the Indians doe esteeme them, and breed them within the Maine, three hundred and foure hundred leagues, the flesh here is not so good as in the Realme.

The Hennes of Peru, like well in this Countrie, and there is great abundance of them, and * 1.68 there is no Banquet where they are not a dish.

The Geese doe like well in this Countrie, and are in great abundance, there is also here ano∣ther * 1.69 kind of the Countrie it selfe, and are farre greater and fairer. [ 30]

The Dogges haue multiplied much in this Countrie, and are of many kindes; they are estee∣med * 1.70 heere aswell of the Portugals which brought them, as of the Indians that esteeme them a∣boue all the things they haue: because they helpe them in their hunting, and are domesticall creatures, and so the women doe carrie them on their backe from one place to another, and nou∣rish them as Children, and giue them sucke at the breast.

Trees with prickles, as Orenges, Pomecitrons, Limons * 1.71 of both kinds, of sundrie sorts do * 1.72 grow well in this Countrie, which almost all the yeere haue fruit, and there are so great Oren∣ges and Pomecitron Groues, that euen among the Woods they grow, and the abundance is so great of those things that they are not set by. They haue a great enemie, the Ants, notwith∣standing [ 40] there is great abundance, without euer being watered, and as there wanteth no Sugar, they make infinite Conserues, to wit, of Citrons, Limons, the flowres, &c.

The Fig-trees grow verie well heere, and there bee many kindes, as long Figges, blacke * 1.73 Figges, Figge-Dates, and many other kinds, to the Riuer of Ianuarie, that are hotter ground, they yeeld two crops in the yeere.

In the Riuer of Ianuarie and Saint Vincent, in the fields of Piratininga, doe grow many Quinces, * 1.74 and yeeld foure crops a yeere, one after another, and there are men that with verie few Quince Trees doe gather, ten, and twelue thousand Quinces, and here they make great store of Marme∣lets and verie shortly will those of the Iland of Madera be spared.

There are many sorts of Grapes, as Feriads, Boaes, Bastard, Greene, and Gallizian Grapes, and * 1.75 many other. To the Riuer of Ianuarie they haue all the yeere Grapes, if they will haue them, [ 50] for if they cut them euerie moneth, they beare euerie moneth Grapes successiuely. In the Riuer of Ianuarie especially in Piratininga, are Vineyards, and are so loaden that they bow to the ground, they yeeld but one crop. They beginne alreadie to make Wine, though with trouble to preserue it, for in wood the Worme doth presently eate thorow, and earthen vessels they haue none, but seeke remedies of their owne, and doe continue it, and in a short space they will haue many Wines.

In the Riuer of Ianuarie and Piratininga, are many Roses; one, Damaske Roses, whereof they * 1.76 distill great store of Rose-water, and Conserue of Roses for to purge, and not to purge, for of the other they haue not, they seethe the Damaske Roses in water, and straining them they make [ 60] Conserue of Roses very good wherewith they doe not purge.

Muske Melons want not in many Captaine ships, and are good and fine, many Gourds where∣of * 1.77 they make Conserues, many Beets whereof they make it also, Cabbages, Cowcumbers, Raddishes, Turnops, Mustard, Mintes, Coriander, Dill, Fennell, Pease, Leekes, Onions,

Garlicke, Borrage, and other Pulses which were brought from Portugall, and grow well in this Countrie.

In the Riuer of Ianuarie, and fields of Piratininga, groweth Wheate, they vse it not because they haue no Horse-mils, nor Water-mils, and they haue also great trouble in the gathering of * 1.78 it, for because of the many waters, and ranknesse of the ground it commeth altogether, and it multiplieth so much, that one Corne beareth sixtie and eightie Eares, and some beeing ripe, o∣thers grow anew, and it multiplieth almost in infinitum. Of lesse then a i 1.79 quarter of Barley that a man sowed, in the field of Piratininga, hee gathered sixtie and odde k 1.80 Alqueires, and if men would giue themselues to this commoditie, the Countrey would be verie rich and plentifull.

There are many sorts of Basill, and Gilliflowres Yellow, and Red, and doe grow well in Pi∣ratininga, [ 10] and other smelling herbes, as the l 1.81 Onion sese, &c.

Aboue all this, Brasill hath one commoditie for men to liue, that in it doe liue disorderly, that there are but few Lice or Fleas, but among the Indians, and Guinne Moores there are some Lice; but there want no Hornets, Dorres, Waspes, Flies, and Gnats of so many kinds, and so cruell and venemous, that stinging any person, the place swelleth for three or foure dayes, especial∣ly in the fresh men, which haue their bloud fresh and tender, with the good Bread, Wine and delicate fare of Portugall.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Oxe-fish, Ma∣••ati.
• * 1.2

  Or Greace, or Oile: so af∣ter. Ma••tega in the Portugall word.
• * 1.3

  Beijupira.
• * 1.4

  The Oxe eie.
• d 1.5

  Or foure shillings a piece.
• e 1.6

  Or Greace.
• * 1.7

  Camurupi.
• f 1.8

  Or Butter:
• * 1.9

  The wild fish.
• * 1.10

  The Whale.
• * 1.11

  Ambergrise,
• * 1.12

  The Sword fish
• * 1.13

  Battle with Whaies.
• * 1.14

  A Tortoise.
• * 1.15

  Tuborones, or Sharkes.
• * 1.16

  Pelgrimes.
• * 1.17

  The flying fish.
• * 1.18

  Soles and Sal∣monets. A little red fish very daintie in Spaine.
• * 1.19

  Of the vene∣mous fishes.
• * 1.20

  Toad fish deadly.
• * 1.21

  Puraque, or Torpedo. See Iobson.
• * 1.22

  Caramuru.
• * 1.23

  Amoreatie.
• k 1.24

  A fish so cal∣led
• * 1.25

  Ierepomonga. Strange Sea Snake.
• * 1.26

  Mermen, or Monsters of the Sea.
• * 1.27

  Of the Shel∣fishes. Cuttle fishes.,
• * 1.28

  Apula.
• * 1.29

  Sea-fomes.
• * 1.30

  Sea Crabs. Vza.
• * 1.31

  Guainumu.
• * 1.32

  Aratu.
• * 1.33

  Ten or twelue kinds of crabs.
• * 1.34

  Oysters.
• * 1.35

  Note for lime.
• * 1.36

  Muscles.
• * 1.37

  Perewinkles.
• * 1.38

  Wilkes.
• * 1.39

  Pir••guaig.
• * 1.40

  White Corral.
• * 1.41

  Prawnes.
• * 1.42

  Of the Trees that g••ow in salt-water. Mangues.
• * 1.43

  Gnats.
• * 1.44

  Guiratinga.
• * 1.45

  Caripira.
• * 1.46

  Note.
• * 1.47

  Guaca.
• * 1.48

  Guirateont••on.
• * 1.49

  Cal••amar, or Sea-stamper.
• * 1.50

  Ayaya.
• * 1.51

  C〈…〉〈…〉▪
• * 1.52

  G••••••••▪
• * 1.53

  Of the fresh Riuers▪ and the things that in them are.
• * 1.54

  Cururijuba a great Snake many wayes wonderfull.
• * 1.55

  Manima.
• * 1.56

  Water Lizards. Iacare (or Cro∣codile.
• * 1.57

  Hard Egges.
• * 1.58

  Iaguarucu. A great Dogge. This seemeth some kind of the Hippopeta∣mas. Atacape. Iaguapopeb••.
• * 1.59

  Baeapina.
• * 1.60

  Water-hogge.
• * 1.61

  Guararici. Men dye with hearing it.
• * 1.62

  Horses.
• * 1.63

  Kine.
• * 1.64

  Swine.
• * 1.65

  Sheepe.
• * 1.66

  Goates.
• * 1.67

  Hennes.
• * 1.68

  Turkies.
• * 1.69

  Geese and Duckes.
• * 1.70

  Dogges.
• * 1.71

  For one kind are called Li∣mas, as it wer•• the Female.
• * 1.72

  Trees.
• * 1.73

  Fig-trees.
• * 1.74

  Quinces.
• * 1.75

  Vines.
• * 1.76

  Roses.
• * 1.77

  Plants and Herbes.
• * 1.78

  Wheate.
• i 1.79

  That is ••oure b•• ••••l, and an ha••e.
• k 1.80

  N••••e that the Alque••que cont••i••eth 18. bush••ls. S••elling he••b••s.
• l 1.81

  An herbe so called. Ve••mine Insecta.