_Of the way and the Ilandes that are betwixt this
Iland of Santo Domingo and the kingdome of Mexico._
[Sidenote: The Ilande of Nauala.]
[Sidenote: The Iland of Iamayca.]
[Sidenote: Vracans.]
[Sidenote: The Iland of Cuba and the Port Hauana.]
The first ilande, that is after you are departed from Santo Domingo, is
that which ordinarily is called Nauala,[53] the which is one hundred and
twelue leagues from the cittie of Santo Domingo, and is seuenteene
degrees, and is but a small iland: and nigh vnto that is another, which
is called Jamayca, of fiftie leagues in longitude, and fourteene in
latitude: there was wont to be about them many vracanes,[54] which are
spowts of water, with many blustering winds. This word _vracan_, in the
Indian tongue of those ilands, is as much to say, as the ioyning of all
the foure principall winds togither, the one forcing against the other:
the which ordinarily dooth blow vppon this coste, in the monethes of
August, September, and October, by reason whereof such fleetes as are
bound vnto the Indies doo procure to passe that coast, before these
three monethes or after, for that by experience they haue lost many
ships in those times. From this iland they go vnto the ilande of Cuba,
which is in twenty degrees, in the which is the port of Hauana, which is
called the Cape of San Anton: they doo put two hundreth and fiue and
twentie leagues of longitude, and of latitude sixe and thirty; it is
inhabited with Spaniards, who conuerted all the rest vnto the faith of
Christ: there is in it a bishop, and monasteries of religious friers.
[53] More properly Navaza.
[54] Hurricanes.
When that any ships do go vnto Noua Espania, they haue sight of them,
and likewise when they doo returne: all those which do come from the
Peru do enter into the foresaid port of the Hauana, which is a very good
port and sure, and there is to be had all kind of prouision necessary
and belonging vnto the fleetes and ships, some which the ilande dooth
yeeld it selfe, and other some brought from other places: but in
particular, there is great store of very good timber, as wel for the
repairing of ships as for other thinges, with the which they do
ordinarily balest their ships that come for Spaine. The kinges maiesty
hath in this a gouernor and a captaine, with very good souldiers for the
defence thereof, and of a fort which is in the same harbor, the best
that is in all the ilands.
This iland of Cuba was discouered in the yeare 1511, and was in it
(being of the bignesse aforesaid) a great number of naturall people,
and now but a very fewe: it hath a riuer wherein is very much gold,
according vnto the opinion of the natural people, and was tolde by the
fathers vnto their children, the which was cast into that riuer by the
natural people, in this order following.
[Sidenote: The Spaniards god is gold.]
[Sidenote: The Indians throwe all their gold and iewels into the riuer.]
There was a casique, called Hatuey, who, for feare that hee had of the
Spaniards, came from the Iland Hispaniola, vnto this iland with many of
his people, and brought al their riches, with much golde amongst them,
who by the relation of other Indians of Santo Domingo (wheras he had
been king), vnderstood that the Spanyardes were comming vnto that iland,
whereupon he gathered togither all his people, and many of that iland,
and made a parley vnto them, saying: It is said of a certeintie, that
the Christians doo come into this iland, and you doo well vnderstand by
experience, what they haue done by the people of the kingdome of Aytim
(which was the Ilande Hispaniola), the like will they doo here by vs;
but do you know wherfore they doo it? They answered and saide, because
they were of their owne nature cruel. The casique saide No, that they
did it not therefore; but because they had a God whom they did worship,
and because they will haue him from vs, they doo kil vs: and in saying
these words he tooke forth a basket with golde and iewels which he
brought thither in secret, and shewed it vnto them saying, This is their
God that I spake off; let vs make vnto them areytos, the which are
sports and dances, and possible we shall please them, and then wil they
command their people not to do vs any harme. For the accomplishing and
furnishing of the same, euery one of them brought that which they had in
their houses, and made therof a great mountaine of wheate, and danced
rounde about the same till they were werie: when the casique saide, I
haue thought with myselfe whilst we were dancing, that howsoeuer it be,
these that do come wil kil vs: for whether we do keep our treasure or
giue it vnto them, with couetousnes to seek more from vs, we shall die;
therefore let vs throw it into this riuer. The which they did with a
common consent and good will.
[Sidenote: The Port of Saint Iohn de Lua.]
[Sidenote: The Iland of Campeche.]
[Sidenote: Honey and waxe.]
[Sidenote: The citie of Vera Cruz.]
From this point or cape of Sant Anton, they saile to the port of San
Juan de Lua, which is on the firme land of Mexico, two hundreth and
thirtie leagues from the said point: in all that bay there is great
fishing, but in especial of one kind of fish which is called _mero_, the
which are so easie to be taken, that in one day they may lade not
shippes but whole fleetes; and many times it happeneth that they bring
so many to their ships that they throw them again into the sea for lack
of salt to salt them with. They passe in sight of an iland, called
Campeche, the which is a gallant and fresh country, and nigh vnto the
kingdom of Mexico: in it is great store of victuals, but specially hony
and waxe, and is three hundreth leagues compasse; al the people of that
iland are conuerted unto the law of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is in
it a bishop and a cathedrall church, a gouernor for his maiestie, and
monasteries of friers. Within few dayes after they depart from this
ilande, and come unto the port of Saint John de Lua, in the which, by
reason that it hath many flats, it is requisite to be carefull for to
enter into it: his maiestie hath in it a fort which is good and strong.
Fiue leagues from this port is the cittie of the Vera Cruz, whereas is
the whole trade and traficke, and there is resident the king's officers:
it is a hot country by reason that it is in the nineteene degrees, but
well replenished of all kinde of victuals: it was wont to be
vnwholesome, but now they say it is not so much; they know not what
shoulde bee the occasion, whether it bee by the moouings of the heauens,
or by the good gouernement and discretion of them that do dwel in it.
This cittie is from the citie of Mexico, the which is metropolitan of al
that kingdom, and by whom al the rest is gouerned, seuentie leagues, al
the way inhabited and ful of townes, both of Indians, Spaniards, and so
great store of prouision that it seemeth to be the land of promision.
It is maruellous temperate, in such sort that almost throughout al the
whole yeare it is neither whot nor cold, neither dooth night exceede the
day, nor the day the night, but a very little, by reason that it is
almost under the equinoctiall line. The mightinesse of this kingdome,
and some particularities, you shall vnderstand of in the chapter
following.