The history of South America. Containing the discoveries of Columbus, the conquest of Mexico and Peru, and the other transactions of the Spaniards in the New World. / By the Rev. Mr. Cooper. ; Embellished with copper-plate cuts.

CONTENTS.

• CHAP. I. Origin of navigation—Introduction of commerce.—Rude sta•••• of navigation among the ancients. State of navigation and commerce among the Egyptians. Phenicians. Jews. Carthaginians. Greeks, and Romans. Discoveries of the ancients by land. Imperfect state of Geography among the ancients. Commerce preserved in the Eastern em∣pire. Revival of commerce and navi∣gation in Europe. The crusades fa∣vourable to commerce. The invention of the mariner's compass. First regular plan of discovery. The Portuguese doub∣le Cape Non. Discovery of Porto San∣to. Of Madeira. The Portuguese double Cape Bojador, and advance within the tropics. The Cape de Verd Islands and the Azores discovered. The Por∣tuguese cross the line, They discover the Cape of Good Hope. . . P. 1.
• CHAP. II. Birth and education of Columbus. He enters into the service of the Por∣tuguese. He forms the idea of a new Course to India. He applies to the Genoese. Then to Portugal, and after∣wards to Spain. Proposes his plan to Henry VIII. of England. His treaty

• with Spain.—He sets sail on his voyage, —His crews are filled with alarms and apprehensions.—Land discovered. —First interview with the natives.— Columbus assumes the title of admiral and vice roy,—He discovers Cuba and Hispaniola.—Loses one of his ships,— His distresses,—Resolves to return to Europe,—Arrives in Spain, and re∣ceives the highest marks of honour.— He sets sail on his second voyage,— Builds the town of Isabella.—Discov∣ers the island of Jamaica.—The indians take arms against the Spaniards.— Columbus attacks and defeats them.— He taxes them.—Returns to Spain— He sets sail a third time—He discovers Trinidad.—Troubles at St. Domingo.— The Portuguese sail to the East-Indies by the way of the Cape of Good Hope.— From whom the name of AMERICA was given to the New World.—The Portu∣guese discover Brasil.—Columbus, sent in chains to Spain.—Is there set at liberty. —Sails a fourth time on discoveries—Is wrecked on the coast of Jamaica.—Death of Columbus. 25
• CHAP. III. ••••••te of the colony in Hispaniola.—New discoveries and settlements.—Diego Co∣lumbus appointed governor of Hispan∣iola

• —Sets sail for that island.—New dis∣coveries made.—Attempts made to settle on the continent.—Discovery of Florida. Discoveries of Balboa,—He enters the South Sea,—And returns.—Pedrarias Davilla appointed governor of Darien. His bad conduct.—Balboa publicly exe∣cuted, through the treachery and intrigues of Pedrarias,—Further attempts at dis∣covery.—The state of Hispaniola under Don Diego Columbus.—Death of Fer∣dinand, and acession of Charles the Fifth. New discoveries made towards the West. Discovery of Yocatan.—Are attacked by the indians, and defeat them.—The Spaniards quit that place.—Arrive at Campeachy.—Meet with a defeat on landing to take in water, and are forced to return to Cuba.—Voyage of Juan de Grijalva,—He discovers New Spain. Touches at Tabasco, and then at Gu∣axaca.—Lands on the isle of Sacrifices, and then touches at St. Juan de Ulua. 51
• CHAP. IV. Vast extent of the New World.—Its prodigious mountains.—Rivers and Lakes—Temperature of the climate.— Its original rude state—Its animals.— Insects and reptiles.—B••rds—Soil.— How was America first peopled?—

• Character and condition of the original Americans. The first discoverers of the New World mostly illiterare men. The bodily constitution of the South Americans. Their complexion.— Have small appetites. None of them deformed. State of their health and diseases. Power and qualities of their minds. The active efforts of their minds few and languid. Domestic union. The condition of the American women humiliating and miserable.— Patenial aff••••ction and f••lial duty.— Mode of subsistence. Fishing, hunting, and agriculture. The Americans di∣vided into small communities. Had no notion of property. Their method of carrying on war. Their dre••s and or∣naments. Habitations. Their arms, Domestic utensils and cookery. Their canoes. Id••as of religion. Their phy∣cians. Dancing, gaming, and drinking, their favourite amusements. Destroy the aged and incurable.—Their general character. . . . . 76
• CHAP. V. Velasquez makes prepara••ions for the invasion of New Spain. Ferdinando Cortes undertakes the command of that expedition. His forces. Cortes sets sail with his little armament.

• Arrives in Mexico. Rich presen•••• sent from Montezuma to Cortes. — Character of Montezuma. Cortes re∣signs his commission, and is chosen by his officers and followers chief-justice and captain general of the new colony. He proceeds to Zimpoalla.—From thence to Quiabistan. Builds a town there, and forms alliances. Cortes de∣stroys his own fleet. Advances into the country. Concludes a peace with the Hascalans. Sets out for Mexico. The Spaniards astonished at the distant view of that city. First interview be∣tween Cortes and Montezuma. Dan∣gerous situation of the Spaniards in Mexico. Montezuma seized as a pris∣oner, and carried to the Spanish quar∣ters. Montezuma's son, and five of his officers, burnt alive by order of Cortes. The Mexican monarch ac∣knowledges himself to be a vassal of the king of Castile. A new Spanish arma∣ment arrives at Mexico, fitted out by Velasquez to destroy Cortes. Cortes attacks Narvaez in the night, defeats his forces, and takes him prisoner. The greater part of the Spanish prisoners enter into the service of Cortes. The Mexicans take up arms against the Spaniards. Montezuma slain by his own people, Cortes abandons the city of Mexico The Mexicans defeat him

• Is reduced almost to samins.—The battle of Otumba.—Cortes receives con∣siderable reinforcements.—Builds and launches several brigantines on the lake.—The brigantines defeat the Mexi∣can canoes on the lake.—Attacks the city of Mexico, Cortes defeated and wounded, forty of his men taken, and sac••••ficed to the god of war.—Cortes again attacks the city, and takes the emperor prisoner.—The Sp••••••ards much disappointed in their expectations of the riches the conquest of this city would afford them.—Cruel treatment of the emperor—The whole province of Mexico subdued by the Spaniards.—The straits of Magellan discovered.—Death of Magellan.— Cortes appointed captain-general and governor of New Spain — Sets out for the court of Castile.—The reception he meets with there.—Returns to New Spain, and discovers California. Death of Cortes. . . . . . 103
• CHAP. VI. First attempts to discover Peru unsuccess∣ful.—Pizarro, Almagro, and Luque▪ undertake that business.—Pizarro sets sail for Panama on his first expedi∣tion —Experiences great hardships.— Discovers Peru.—The Spaniards are surprised at the riches and fertility of that country,—Return to Panama —

• Pizarro is sent to Spain, where he gets himself appointed captain-general, &c. of the new discoveries.—Pizarro sails on another expedition, and lands in Peru. Commences hostilities.—Limits of the Peruvian empire.—A civil war rages in Peru at the time of the arrival of the Spaniards.—Pizarro turns that circum∣stance to his advantage.—State of his for∣ces.—Arrives at Caxamalca,— Treacherously seizes on the person of the Inca.—Massacre of the Peruvians— Almagro arrives with reinforcements.— Division of the immense ransom of the Peruvian Inca,—The Inca put to death. —Pizarro leaves Caxamalca, and mar∣ches to Cuzco.—He takes possession of that capital, and seizes on immense treasures.—Pizarro sets out for Spain— His reception there.—Sets out on his return to Peru.—Settles differences there with his associate Almagro.—Pizarro builds the city Lima,—Almagro marches towards Chili.—An insurrection in Peru. The Peruvians besiege Cuzco.—Engage Almagro, and are defeated.—Civil war among the Spaniards.—Almagro de∣feated, tr••ed, condemned, and executed. Progress of the Spanish arms. Chili con∣quered—Treachery and ingratitude of O∣re••lana Miserable condition of the fol∣lowers of Pizarro in consequence of that

• treachery. Francisco Pizarro murdered in his Palace. Almagro proclaimed governor of the city. Vaca de Castro arrives at Quito. and assumes the name of governor. Disputes between him and Almagro. The emperor reforms the government of his American dominions. Sends over a vice-roy, who is killed in battle. Pedro de la Gasca sent out as President of Peru. Gonzalo Pizarro assumes the government, opposes Gasca, is defeated, tried, and put to death.— Gasca sets out for Spain. His reception there. . . . . . 136
• CONCLUSION. Political institutions and national manners of the Mexicans and Peruvians. Origin of the Mexican monarchy. The city of Mexico, when founded. Splendour and power of their monarchs. Their wars. Funeral rites. Agriculture.— Temples, and other public buildings.— Religion of the Mexicans. Peruvian antiquity doubtful. Absolute power of their Incas. The silver mines of Po••osi. The Peruvian wars conducted with hu∣manity. Their improved state of agri∣culture. Taste in their buildings. The Peruvians an unwarlike spirit. . . . 161