Of the situation of the city of Cali, of the Indians in its vicinity,
and concerning the founder.
To reach the city of Cali it is necessary to cross a small river called
the Rio Frio, which is full of weeds and flags. This river is very cold,
because it comes down from the mountains, and, flowing through a part of
the valley, loses itself in the great river. Beyond this river the road
leads over extensive plains, where there are many small and very fleet
deer. The Spaniards have their grazing farms in the plains, where their
servants live, and look after the estates. The Indians come from their
villages in the mountains to sow and reap the maize in the plains. Near
the farms many very pretty water-courses flow through and irrigate the
fields, besides some small rivers of good water. Many orange, lime,
lemon, pomegranate and banana trees have been planted along these rivers
and water-courses, besides excellent sugar-canes. There are also
pine-apples, _guayavas_,[241] _guavas_,[242] _guanavanas_,[243]
_paltas_,[244] and other fruits in great abundance. There are Spanish
melons and legumes, but wheat has not yet been introduced, though I am
told they have it in the valley of Lile, which is five leagues from the
city; neither have they planted vines as yet, though the land is as well
adapted for them as that of Spain.
The city of Cali is situated a league from the great river, near a small
river of particularly good water, which rises in the overhanging
mountains. Its banks are bordered with pleasant gardens, where there are
plenty of the fruits and vegetables just mentioned. The city is built on
a level platform; and, if it was not for the heat, it would be one of
the best sites I have seen in any part of the Indies, for it wants
nothing to make it excellent. The Indians and caciques who serve the
Spaniards holding _encomiendas_,[245] live in the mountains. When I left
the place there were twenty-three citizens who had Indians, and there
are never wanting Spaniards who are travelling from one part to the
other, looking after their affairs. This city of Cali was founded by
captain Miguel Muñoz in the name of his Majesty, the Adelantado Don
Francisco Pizarro being governor of Peru, in the year 1537; though, as I
said before, it was first founded by the captain Sebastian de Belalcazar
in the country of the Gorrones. And some say that the municipality of
the city obliged Miguel Muñoz to remove the settlement to its present
site, whence it appears that the honour of founding the city is in
dispute between Belalcazar and the municipality, for the conquerors, who
composed the citizens, declare that it was not known whether Miguel
Muñoz acted of his own accord or not.