Of the island of Puna, and of that of La Plata: and concerning the
admirable root called sarsaparilla, which is so useful for all diseases.
The island of Puna, which is near the port of Tumbez, is little more
than ten leagues round, yet in former times it was considered an
important place; for, besides that the inhabitants are great traders,
and possess in their islands all things needful to sustain human life,
which are sufficient causes for their wealth, they are held to be
valiant by their neighbours, and in ancient times they waged fierce wars
with those of Tumbez and of other provinces. For very slight causes they
killed each other, and seized their women and children. The great Tupac
Ynca sent ambassadors to these islanders, proposing that they should be
his friends and allies; and they, owing to his great fame, heard his
embassy, but refused to serve him, and they were not entirely subdued
until the time of Huayna Ccapac, although others say that they had been
conquered and brought within the rule of the Yncas by Ynca Yupanqui, but
that they had rebelled; however this may have been, the events connected
with the murder of the captains, already described, certainly took
place. These islanders are of middle height, and dark skinned. They
dress in cotton cloths, both men and women, and wear _chaquiras_ on
several parts of the body. They also put on pieces of gold in order to
look smart.
The island is covered with large woods and flowering meadows; and
abounds in fruit. It yields plenty of maize, _yucas_, and other edible
roots, and there are also birds of all kinds, such as parrots,
_guacamayas_,[311] and of beasts, monkeys, lions, foxes, snakes, and
many others. When the chiefs die they are lamented by all the people, as
well men as women, and are interred with great signs of respect,
according to their custom. They bury the most valuable things, arms, and
most beautiful women with the deceased, the women being buried alive in
the tombs to keep their husbands company. They mourn for the dead during
many days, and shave the heads of the women in the houses, even those
who are the nearest relations. They are given to religious ceremonies,
and to the commission of some crimes. The devil had the same power over
them as he had over other Indians, and some of them conversed with him.
They had their temples in dark and hidden places, and carved the walls
with horrible pictures. In front of their altars, where they performed
sacrifices, they killed many animals and some birds; and it is said that
they even killed slaves or prisoners taken in war, offering up their
blood to the accursed devil.
In another small island, at no great distance, the natives say that, in
the time of their ancestors, there was a temple, or _huaca_, where they
also worshipped their gods and performed sacrifices. Round the temple
they had quantities of gold, silver, and other valuable things, such as
woollen cloths and jewels, which had been offered up at different times.
It is also said that some of the islanders of Puna committed the
accursed sin. At present, by the will of God, they are not so bad, or,
if they are, they do not commit their crimes publicly and openly, for
there are clergy on the island now, and the natives are aware of the
blindness in which their fathers lived, and how erroneous was their
belief. They also know how much they gain by believing our holy catholic
faith, and by having Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, for their God. Thus, by
his great goodness and mercy, many have become Christians, and more are
converted every day.
An herb grows in abundance on this island, and in the province of
Guayaquil, which is called sarsaparilla because it grows like a bramble
from its birth, and small leaves grow out of the suckers and other parts
of the branches.[312] The roots of the herb are useful for all
sicknesses, and especially for _bubos_, and to mitigate the evil which
this pestiferous disease causes to man. Those who wish to be cured are
put in a warm room, well covered up, so that the cold or air can do no
injury. Then, by merely purging, eating delicate meats, and drinking an
infusion of this root for some days, without any other remedy, the evil
is cleared out of the body, and shortly the patient is more healthy than
he ever was before, and the body is left without any vestige of the
evil, but remains so perfect that it seems as if it had never been
ailing. Thus they have truly effected great cures in the town of
Guayaquil at different times. Many, too, whose bowels are out of order,
by simply drinking an infusion of these roots, become healthy, and in
better condition than before they were taken ill. Others suffering from
_bubos_ are also cured, as well as those with boils or tumours. I take
it for certain that this is the best root and herb in the world, and the
most useful, as is proved by the numbers who have been cured by it. This
sarsaparilla grows in many parts of the Indies, but none is so good or
efficacious as that which is found on the island of Puna and in the
province of the city of Guayaquil.[313]