to be chop’d in pieces, and their flesh serv’d up in Commons. Those that
die by Age, a natural death, are despis’d like Malefactors, and as a
punishment according to their Demerits, left in the open Fields, a prey
to Birds and Beasts; some delight in that loathsome gorging themselves
with Mens flesh, others on the contrary, not onely detest humane, but
all manner of flesh: And just so the _Americans_ are distinguish’d, for
although the _Caribes_, _Brasilians_, the Inhabitants of _New Spain_,
_New Granada_, _St. Martha_, and others, Sacrifice and eat Men, yet as
many abhor and detest that odious Diet and abominable Custom.
_Giles Flesher_ Queen _Elisabeths_ Agent in _Muscow_ relates, That _Anno
1588._ _Kinach Morsey_, Grandson to the Governor of the _Chrim Tartars_,
made his entrance there with a Retinue of three hundred Noblemen, and
two Ladies, of which one was the Widow of his deceased Brother. The
great Prince inform’d of their coming, sent him two slaughter’d Horses,
whose sides and Hanches they feasted on, as we on Fallow Deer.
[Sidenote: Devil-worship in _Americ_.]
Most of the _Tartars_ use no manner of Letters or Characters; in the
Voyage made into _Persia_, they first learn’d to make Letters; just so
it is in _America_; their bemoaning of the dead ends in one Moneth, both
by the _Tartars_ and _Americans_; with a Person of Quality, the
_Tartars_ bury a live Servant; the same Custom is observ’d by some of
the _Americans_; and so much do they agree in a salvage and rude life,
that Merchandizing and Mechanicks are little regarded. _Ayson_ the
_American_ acknowledges the _Tartars_ for a rude People in their
Religion, Habits, and Dwellings, and yet in all these the _Americans_
differ but very little. Lastly, How common is it amongst them to worship
the Devil? Along the River _Sagadahoc_, the Inhabitants are every new
Moon miserably tormented by an Evil Spirit call’d _Tanto_. In the
Temples in _Virginia_ remain yet the horrible Images of the Devils _Oka_
and _Menetto_. Not a House in _Mexico_, but hath a peculiar Chappel, set
apart for this their suppos’d holy, but damnable Adoration of the Devil.
Others in _Virginia_ believe, That there is a great and supreme Deity,
which is Everlasting, and for ever. The _Tartars_ also are of the like
perswasion.
[Sidenote: _Tartarian_ Horses.]
But this Opinion _Grotius_ hath laid a strong and dangerous Battery
against, that _America_ could not be Peopled by the _Tartars_, because
the _Americans_ before the _Spaniards_ coming thither, had never seen
any Horses; whereas the _Tartars_ use no Beast more, either in Peace or
War, nor can less want: For the _Tartarian_ Forces do not only consist
in Horse; but the Wealth of this Countrey is reckon’d up in the numerous
Breeds of Horses, and several Studs of Mares. Some of the Nobless keep a
thousand Horse; none, though never so poor, but keep two or three; and
Beggars there mounted crave Alms and Charity of the People. When they
remove their Habitations, their Horses carry their Provisions and Tents:
If Provisions grow short, they eat Mares Milk, high gusted with Garlick,
which satisfies Hunger and Thirst; and the red Liquor which they tap
warm from their Veins, serves them to help Digestion, and heighten their
Humor, instead of the Blood of the Grape, our sweet Wine. The swiftest
Rivers, though raging and precipitated with Land-floods, they dare
adventure swimming their Horses over, hanging naked by their Manes, and
guiding them by a slipp’d Rein whither they please: To their Tails they
tie their Saddles, and other Necessaries, bound up in Rushes. When a
Person of Quality prepares to cross any River, they tie two Horses Tail
to Tail, and athwart both their Backs fasten a Mat pleited of Rushes, to
sit on. When they are stopp’d at any broad River, or standing Lake, they
kill and flea their worst Horses; then turning the Skins inside out, and
well Liquoring, they stretch them open with the Ribs, which stand like
the Bayles of a Tilted Wherry, and thus furnish’d, serves them for a
Boat to carry eight Persons. When they take the Field, going to War, not
any but musters three Horses; which makes their Armies, when drawn out
in Campain, shew much bigger than indeed they are: And though many of
them are kill’d in the Wars, or slain for Food, yet the _European
Tartars_ pay yearly forty thousand Horses to the _Russians_; from whence
_Grotius_ thus argues, “If _America_ joyns to _Tartary_, then the Horses
which run wild at Grass might easily have found _America_ themselves,
seeking to improve their Pasture, and have gone from one Countrey into
the other, as it appears, that since the _Spaniards_ transported Horses
to _America_, they are dispers’d over the highest Mountains, out of one
Province into the other: Or if the _Straights of Anian_ run between
both, the _Tartars_ never were Navigators; and suppose they had been,
they would not have cross’d without Horses, without which they knew not
how to subsist.” To which we only say thus, That although _Tartary_ now,
and in former times, abounded in Horse, yet must we grant, that it hath
been always so? or that the ancient _Scythians_, who we avouch first
planted _America_, had such frequent use of them as the _Tartars_ now.
This may be controverted, for that these _Scythians_ planting there in
the Non-age of Time, presently after the Flood, the use of Horses was
unknown, which the Ancient Poets testifie by their Fiction of
_Centaurs_, who when first seen, the Horse and Rider were taken for one
Creature. The like mistake the _Mexicans_ had, when they saw the mounted
_Spaniards_, a thousand running away from one Cavalier.
As to their coming thither of themselves, it may easily be confuted: Who
knows not, that there is no Countrey a continu’d Pasture, but luxurious
Vales separated with inaccessible Mountains, Lakes, and vast
Wildernesses. But _David Ingram_ relates, “That he saw some Horses in
the Northern _America_, which the _Mexicans_, and other Conquests of the
_Spaniards_ never heard of:” Whereupon we may conclude, and we suppose
without all peradventure, That the _Americans_ have absolutely their
Original from _Tartary_, which bordering _Armenia_, where _Noah_’s Ark
first rested, hath a convenient way, though beyond the _Artick Circle_,
through a temperate Climate betwixt Heat and Cold, to _Cathay_, in the
same Parallel with the neighboring _America_.
[Illustration]
CHAP. III.
_First Discoverers of_ America. Christopher Colonus _his Expedition_.
[Sidenote: _Pet Bizari Res Genoan._ lib. 16.]
[Sidenote: _Lib. 11. Hist. Georg._]
[Sidenote: _Christoph. Colonus_’s Birth.]
_Christopher Colonus_, generally (though by mistake) call’d _Columbus_,
was born in _Arbizolo_, a Village in the Dominion of _Genoa_, near
_Savona_; his Father liv’d by Fishing in the Midland-Sea: So that
_Sebastian Schroter_, and others besides him, are mistaken, saying,
_Colonus_ was born in the City _Cucureum_, and descended of the Noble
Family _Pilistrelli_: For _Peter Bezarus_, _Colonus_ his Countrey-man,
gives unquestionable Proofs of his mean Extract; and amongst other
things, That the Common-wealth of _Genoa_ refus’d to receive the great
Legacy which _Colonus_ left them in his Will, because they fondly
thought it a derogation to their Honor, being so great a Republick, to
take any thing of Bequest from a Fishers Son: Yet his Majesty of
_Castile_ thought otherwise, not onely enriching him with Wealth, and a
fair Revenue for his Discovery of the _West-Indies_; but also, though of
a low derivation, rais’d him to great Honor, Ennobling him the first of
his Family with Dignities, Titles, and Escutcheon, which rank’d him in
place among his Prime Nobility.
[Sidenote: His Life.]
[Sidenote: Strange Accident. _Hist. Peru._]
[Sidenote: Makes his Address at _Genoa_.]
[Sidenote: _To the Portuguese_,]
[Sidenote: _English_,]
[Sidenote: And _Castilian_ King, concerning a New World.]
[Sidenote: Sails from _Cadiz_ to discover New Countreys.]
[Sidenote: His People rebel.]
[Sidenote: Discovers _Hispaniola_.]
[Sidenote: Trades with the Natives.]
_Colonus_, whom we shall henceforth call _Columbus_, spent his Youth
near the Sea, where he was busie exploring the Winds, considering their
Natures, and the Quarters whence they rose, especially with the setting
of the Current from the _Atlantick_ to the _Mediterrane_. The Western
Winds, which often, as well as the _Levant_, blow several days together
from the great Ocean, much amusing him, hinted at last some Notions,
that there might be another World, and new Places to be discover’d,
beyond the setting of the Sun; and that the _Ne plus ultra_ should not
be, if he could help it, the commanding Terminary of the Earth that way.
He also spent much time, being of a solid Judgment, in the Emendations
of Charts and Maps, then very much improvable: And the _Portuguese_, who
at that time had got the start in Navigation from all other People,
being then busie to find a way by the South of _Africa_ to the
_East-Indies_, not contented to go by hearsay, he went himself in Person
a Voyage with them. Soon after _Columbus_ settled himself in the Island
_Madera_, where an Accident hapned, which _Francis Lopez de Gomesa_
relates thus: “The Master of a Ship, whose Name and Countrey lies buried
in Oblivion (though some would have him to be of _Spain_, some an
_Andalusian_ or _Biscayner_, and others a _Portuguese_) Trading the
_Canaries_ and _Flemmish-Isles_, was surpris’d by a hideous Tempest from
the East, which hurried him _nolens volens_ through dreadful Waves,
where at last he found himself ingag’d upon a Western Coast, altogether
unknown. The Storm ceasing, without making further Discoveries, he
pick’d his way homeward, at last Landing in the Haven of _Madera_: All
his Crew but three and himself, with hardship, want, and the long Voyage
having perish’d, himself dangerously sick, was carried into _Columbus_
his House; where lying on his Death-Bed, he bequeath’d to _Columbus_ his
Maps, Journals, and other Observations of this his unfortunate Voyage.”
_Columbus_ being by these Papers more confirm’d than ever in his Opinion
of a New World in the West, declar’d what he verily believ’d, to the
States of _Genoa_; but they look’d upon him as a vain and idle Fellow;
yet _Columbus_ full of his great Project, thus slighted and scornfully
rejected, sate not so down, but address’d himself to the King of
_Portugal_, where they wearied him, spending long time with dilatory
Answers, to no effect; the Opinion of a whole Court of expert Navigators
having cast his Declaration out, as a _Chimera_ or meer Fancy. Soon
after _Columbus_ sending his Brother into _England_, to move the
Business to King _Henry_ the Seventh, he being taken Prisoner by the
way, and lying long er’e his Release, came too late to the _English_
Court, prevented by the News of _Christopher_’s return with Success from
his intended Voyage: For mean while _Ferdinando_ and _Isabella_ King of
_Castile_, having finish’d his Wars with the _Moors_, had furnish’d him
out for the Expedition; which he effected by the favor of _Alfonso
Mendotio_ and _Alfonso Quintavilia_, both great Ministers of State under
_Ferdinand_ and _Isabel_, and obtain’d so much at last, that he was sent
with a hundred and twenty Souldiers, besides Sea-men, in two Ships, and
one Pinnace. Thus supplied, he set Sail from _Cadiz_ upon the Kings
account the fourth of _August, Anno 1492._ and first reach’d the
_Canary-Islands_, and from thence steering South-West, the Wind in
thirty three days scarce varying one Point: But though the Weather blew
so constant, yet the Sea-men chang’d their Minds, and Storm’d quite
contrary, crying, That _Columbus_ was guilty of all their Deaths: _For_
(said they, after they had lost sight of the _Canaries_ so many days,
nothing appearing but Sea and Sky) _Who can hope for any Success or
happy conclusion of so desperate a Voyage, so rashly undertaken, and
found now so full of eminent danger?_ Yet _Columbus_ bore bravely up,
and weather’d all their Exclamations, although they threatned no less
than his Murder: At last Articling, they came to this Agreement, _That
if after sailing forwards three days more, no Land were discover’d, they
should return_: But about two a Clock the next Night, _Columbus_ saw a
glimmering like Fire in the Sky, and in the Morning found himself close
aboard a most pleasant Coast, where Landing with twelve Men, he erected
a Cross cut out of a Tree. Thence he sail’d over to _Cuba_, where the
Sea was so rough, that he was forc’d to stand off, fearing Rocks and
Shallow Water. Soon after he got to the Northward of the Island
_Haytin_, which he call’d _Hispaniola_: Here his best Ship was bulged
upon a Rock, on which they had all perish’d, had it not been flat on the
top, so that the Soldiers and the whole Crew of Sea-men were sav’d by
the two Vessels. The Inhabitants stark naked, seeing these Strangers,
fled to the Woods; but the _Spaniards_ overtaking a Woman, they
entertain’d her with Sweet-meats and _Spanish_ Wine, and putting her on
a white Shirt, sent her again to the rest of the Natives, where
return’d, she told what good Entertainment she had had to her
Companions; whereupon divers of the Islanders came aboard of the
_Spaniards_, in Boats made of one piece of Wood, where they barter’d
Gold for Beads, pieces of Glass, Knives, Shells, and other Trifles. The
King of _Guaccanarillo_ gave testimony of peculiar inclination to the
_Spaniards_, helping them to Fish up the remaining Goods of the Wreck,
and inform’d them, That some Rivers flowing from the tops of high
Mountains, wash’d down the Gold amongst the Sand: notwithstanding a
strange Prophecy had been told to these Islanders, namely, _That Bearded
Men out of remote Countries should destroy their Goods, take their Land,
and massacre their Children_. He also told them what made them fly, and
betake them to their Heels at the arrival of the _Spaniards_, because
they were oftentimes surpris’d by the _Cannibals_, who snatch’d up all
they could lay hold on: Their Boys and Striplings they gelded, cooping
and cramming them up, as we our Capons, for Feasts: The young and
well-grown Men they chopp’d to pieces, salted, and Barrel’d up: Young
Women they preserv’d for breed, and old ones they made Slaves. These
_Cannibals_ were so terrible to the Inhabitants of _Haytin_, that a
thousand of them durst not venture to engage against ten, but would run
every way, dispers’d like Flocks of Sheep before the Wolf.
Lastly, Their King permitted the _Spaniards_ to build a Lodge or Hovel,
wherein thirty or forty of them might shelter; but indeed so taking
possession in right of the King of _Spain_.
[Sidenote: Returns to _Spain_.]
[Sidenote: Is highly honor’d.]
[Sidenote: Goes with seventeen Sail a second time to _Hispaniola_.]
Mean while _Columbus_ return’d in safety to _Spain_, and was receiv’d
with great joy, King _Ferdinand_ making him Admiral of the Sea, and
sending his Brother _Bartholomew_ Governor to _Haytin_, now call’d
_Hispaniola_. The Gold, Parrots, Mastick, Aloes, the strange Bread
_Jucca_, whose extracted Juyce is rank Poyson, but the Body makes good
Meal, which kneaded and bak’d, yields a fine Manchet and wholesom Food,
they look’d upon with great delight and admiration; but two of the
Natives being naked, with Gold Rings through their Noses and Ears,
Ornaments with them of high esteem, and signifying their no mean
Quality, the People old and young came in Throngs to wonder at, never
weary of gazing upon them. But the King, encourag’d by this Success,
took no dilatory Course, but suddenly, and before any could expect,
built fourteen stout Carvels, and three Frigats, and as soon mann’d them
with twelve hundred Soldiers, besides a great number of Artificers of
all sorts, with their Wives and Children, freighting them with Horses,
Swine, Goats, Cattel for Breed, all sorts of _European_ Corn to sow,
Fruit-Trees and Vines to plant, and some Priests to instruct and convert
the Natives to their Religion.
[Sidenote: _The Barbadoes_, _St. Christophers_, _&c._]
[Sidenote: The Huts of the _Cannibals_.]
The second of _September_, _Anno 1493._ they set sail from _Cadiz_, and
Anchor’d before _Ferreo_, the last and furthest of the _Canary-Islands_,
where they could get no Water, but what dropp’d from the Dew hanging on
Trees into Troughs. After that, _Columbus_ came on the one and twentieth
day amongst the _Caribby-Islands_, where he dropp’d Anchor before one,
which he call’d _Dominico_; but finding it desolate, set sail further,
and discover’d several other Coasts, where he likewise found nothing but
very great Porcupines or Hedg-hogs, and sweet-smelling Trees. Steering
forward, he found the Coasts of the _Cannibals_, which inhabited along
the Shore in little Huts or Hovels, built round of Wood, and stak’d
about on the out-side with long Poles, like _Palisado_’s: They have also
Posts within, which are shorter, pleited and fastned together with
Cotton, or long Roots of Trees, plyant like our Osiars, over which they
hang Cloths painted with horrible Figures and strange Representations:
The Roofs rise like our Canopy’d Tents, highest in the middle, cover’d
with Palm-Tree Leaves to keep off the Rain: At the Entrances hang two
Hairy Images on Poles, not for Religion sake, but Ornament: Their
Bed-steads being high from the Ground, are fill’d with a kind of Straw;
and in long Hovels fitted for that purpose they store their Sugar.
[Sidenote: Island _Guadalupe_.]
_Columbus_ landing here, found all the _Cannibals_ fled; but their
Houses full of Stone Vessels, Cruises, Pans, and Pots, boyling with Mens
Flesh, Parrots, and Wild-foul; the Hanches and Sides of young Men, on
Spits roasting at the Fire, with the Splinters of whose broken Bones
they headed their Arrows. This Island by the Inhabitants call’d
_Carucueria_, _Columbus_ chang’d to _Guadalupe_, because the Mountains
rise up with their tops not unlike _Estremadura_ in _Spain_, famous
there for the wonderful Representation of our Lady, as that of the Lady
of _Loretto_ in _Italy_. Thirty Women which he had taken from the
neighboring Isles, he sent with Presents to the fled _Canibals_, which
the next day returning, made a great appearance near the Shore; but when
they had gaz’d a while upon the _Spaniards_, looking stedfastly on one
another, they suddenly ran back again, sheltring themselves in the
Covert of the Woods. _Columbus_ thinking it not worth his while to
expect their return, seeing their barbarous Life, burnt and destroy’d
all their Boats, and spoiling whatever he could, sail’d to _Matanino_.
[Sidenote: Strange Women in _Matanino_.]
The releas’d Women in _Guadalupe_, that came back again, inform’d the
_Spaniards_, That _Matanino_ was an Isle onely inhabited by Women, which
at accustom’d times row’d over to these _Cannibals_, where a while they
drove a Trade and Commerce of Love, the Product of which, if Girls, they
kept; but the Boys they sent over to their Fathers. They live in Caves,
the Mouths and Entrances of which they maintain and stoutly make good
with their Bowe, shooting Arrows as thick as Hail at the approach of
Men, after their impregnating by the _Cannibals_.
[Sidenote: Remarkable Passage of _Columbus_.]
[Sidenote: Salvageness of the _Indians_.]
From hence the Fleet pass’d by several other fruitful Islands,
_Columbus_ giving them the Names of _Montseratto_, _Rodondo_, _St.
Martin_, _Santa Cruz_, formerly by the Inhabitants call’d _Ayaya_. On
this last Island he landed thirty Men, who took four Women, which held
out their Hands before them, as if Petitioners that begg’d Quarter, or
praying, and then conceal’d themselves in Ambuscade, the better to
surprize more; when by chance they spied an _Indian_ _Canoo_ at Sea,
with eight Men, and as many Women; whereupon those in Ambuscade made a
Signal to the next Ship, which immediately sent off some Boats well
Mann’d; but before they drew near them, or expected an On-set, one of
the _Spaniards_ was kill’d, and another wounded with their Arrows;
amongst whom a Woman, to whom all the rest shew’d greatest Respect and
Reverence, aim’d very exactly. Their barbed Shafts were poyson’d;
whereupon the _Spaniards_ enrag’d, stemm’d the _Canoo_, and oversetting,
row’d quite over; which little or nothing avail’d; for they all swam,
and though separated, shot their Arrows at them, as if the Boat had been
a But. At last the _Indians_ got upon a blind Rock, cover’d with Shole
Water, which gave them fresh Courage; but the _Spaniards_ having more
aid sent them from the Fleet, took them all Prisoners; but the Queens
Son being wounded in the Scuffle, and dying soon after, was thrown
overboard. The Prisoners being brought before _Columbus_, foam’d at the
Mouth for raging madness; and being afterwards carried to _Castile_, so
retain’d their fierce and salvage Nature, that they scar’d away and
frighted the safe Beholders.
[Sidenote: _Columbus_ comes to _Hispaniola_.]
[Sidenote: Finds the _Spaniards_ slain.]
[Sidenote: His Discourse with the King _Guaccanarillo_.]
[Sidenote: Strange gathering of Gold.]
[Sidenote: _Decas 1. De Orba Novo._]