deformity; their Skins generally painted, and their Bodies naked, onely
a Deer’s Skin about their middle, their Hair long and black, hanging
down to their Hams, but most of them tie it in a Knot on the top of
their Heads; two small Boards cover their Breasts, and six lesser hang
on their Arms, two Bells at each Ear, and a Cap on their Head, with a
Feather: Their Quivers, which are always full of Arrows, sharpned with
Fish Bones, hang by their Sides; In their left-Hand they hold a great
Bowe, with which they go to War, the King walking before with a Club.
They Consult daily about warlike Affairs in the King’s Palace, where he
himself sits on a high Seat; the Grandees salute him first with their
Hands lifted over their Head, crying _Ha, He, Ya_, at which the rest cry
_Ha, Ha_; then every one sits down on a Stool round about the Room. If
they have any Business of Consequence to debate, then the King sends for
the ancientest Persons and Priests, call’d _Jawas_; this done, they give
a Cup of _Cassine_ (which is a hot Drink made of Herbs) to the King;
after which every one drinks in order out of the same Cup. This Liquor
occasions Sweat, quenches Thirst, and satisfies the Appetite for twenty
four hours. When they March against their Enemies they live on _Indian_
Wheat, Honey, smoak’d Fish, and divers sorts of wild Roots, amongst
which they mix Sand and Cinders, to preserve them the longer. No sooner
are the two Armies come within sight one of another, but the Kings of
both Parties roll their Eyes about in their Heads, mutter something to
themselves, and make strange Gestures and Exclamations; which is
answer’d by a general Cry of the whole Army: then each King turning
himself with great Reverence to the Sun, takes a woodden Platter with
Water, which he throws over his Army so far as he is able, and begs of
the Sun to grant him, that he may spill his Enemies Blood in like
manner; then throws another Dish-full into the Fire, wishing that his
Soldiers may thus Offer the Bodies of their Foes to the Flames; then
step forth the Priests, who are always skill’d in the Art of Necromancy,
and seating themselves on a Shield in the midst of the Army, draw a
Circle, in which they make many strange Gestures, not without muttering
to themselves, and seemingly say a Prayer of a quarter of an hour long;
during which they deport themselves so strangely, that they rather seem
to be Devils themselves, than Charmers of the Devil: They turn their
Eyes quite round, and their Bodies as if without Joynts; at length being
wearied they leap out of the Circle, and inform the King of the number
and condition of the Enemies Army. Those whom they take Prisoners they
flay alive, and drying their Skins at the Fire, tie them to long Poles,
and carry them home as Trophies of their Victory, and afterwards set
them up in some Field or spacious place, putting both Men and Women to
watch them; then comes the Priest with a woodden Image, and utters
Execrations against the slain Enemies; at a corner of the Fields kneel
three Men, one of which striking with great force on a Stone, gives as
many Blows as the Priest pronounces Curses, whilst the other two shake
their _Calabashes_ fill’d with Stones, and Sing many strange Songs: No
sooner is this ended, but the Women whose Husbands are slain in the
Battel, walking to the King, cover their Faces with their Hands, make
many strange Gestures, and desire liberty to take what revenge they can,
and licence also to Marry at the limited time; all which the King
permitting, they return thus comforted home crying. Not long after they
go to the place where their Husbands lie buried, where they crop their
Hair up to their Ears, and throw it on the Grave, as also the Arms and
Drinking-Cups which the Deceased us’d in their life-time; after which
they may not Marry before their Hair be grown again to their Shoulders.
The same Custom is also observ’d when their King is buried but then also
all his Subjects Fast and Howl three days together, stick his Grave full
of Arrows, and burn his House and all his Goods.
[Sidenote: _Floridans_ differ amongst themselves.]
The _Floridans_ differ amongst themselves very much, for those that
inhabit the Province _Panuca_, which borders upon _New Spain_, are
valiant and cruel People, Offering their Prisoners to their Idols, and
eating them. The Men pluck up the Hair of their Beards by the Root, make
holes through their Nose and Ears, and Marry not till their fortieth
Year.
Next to these follow the Realms of _Aranaris_ and _Albardaosia_,
inhabited by a People, which exceed all others in subtilty.
The Natives of _Jaquazia_ run faster than a Deer, and tire not though
they travel a whole day.
[Sidenote: Hermophrodites.]
The best Swimmers are found in _Alpachia_, _Authia_, and _Someria_,
where the Women Swim through deep and great Rivers with their Children
in their Arms. Here also are many Hermophrodites, which carry all the
Luggage when an Army is upon a March.
[Sidenote: Their manner of taking Crocodiles.]
[Sidenote: As also their Deer.]
We find mention’d also two other Provinces of note, _viz._ _Colas_
(which lies near the Point call’d _Cape Florida_) and _Tegista_, or
_Florida_ properly so call’d, being that long _Peninsula_, which
pointing upon the Isle _Cuba_, by the Cape _Los Martyres_, stretcheth it
self North and South about a hundred Leagues in length, but not above
thirty in breadth where it is largest. In this Province is the _Rio de
lo Spirito Santo_. The Soyl, though it produces _Indian_ Wheat twice a
year, yet it is never Dung’d, but when the Corn (which is planted in
_March_ and _June_) is in, they burn the Weeds; the Ashes of which
serves them in stead of Soil. The King divides the Corn according to
every Mans Family. In the Winter they dwell four Moneths in the Woods,
where they build small Huts of Palm-boughs, feed on Venison, smoak’d
Fish, and Crocodiles, which have pure white Flesh, and are caught after
this manner: On the Shore of the Rivers they build little Houses full of
round Holes, in which they place a Watch, who is to give notice to ten
or twelve Associates, cover’d all over with Boughs full of little sharp
Prickles, which they thrust into the Crocodiles Throat, who with open
Mouth comes running at them, and so throwing him on his Back, stick his
Belly full of Arrows, and kill him with Clubs. But with more subtilty
and art they take their Deer, _viz._ They hide themselves under a Stags
Skin, so cunningly, that it seems as if living, which they place near
the Rivers where the Deer generally come to drink, when on a sudden they
shoot them.
[Sidenote: _Floridans_, though libidinous, yet live long.]
Their Priests serve in stead of Chirurgeons, wherefore they always carry
a Bag full of Herbs about with them, which are chiefly good against
venereal Distempers; for these People are exceeding libidinous; nay,
Sodomy and defiling of young Children is accounted no sin: Yet though
they are much inclin’d to Women, they attain to a great Age.
_Rene Laudoniere_ Landing not far from the City _Augustine_, situate on
the Banks of the River _May_, met with the _Floridan_ Governor
_Saturiona_, who conducted him to the _French_ King’s Court of Arms,
erected two years before, which _Saturiona_, as a testimony of his zeal
to the _French_, had Crown’d with Laurel and Flowers. _Saturiona_ had
with him also his Son _Atoreus_, who had begotten divers Children on his
Mother; whom his Father after that time no more acknowledging, resign’d
her up wholly to him: At which time also his great Grandfather being
then living, was above a hundred and fifty years old, and saw his
Childrens Children to the fifth Generation.
[Sidenote: Their horrid Religion.]
The Religion in _Florida_ is abominable, wicked, and cruel: When they
return Conquerors from a Battel, the old Women rake off the dry’d Hair
from the fore-mention’d Poles, hold it aloft, and thank the Sun for
their Victory. But the Offerings of their first-born Sons are terrible,
for they knock out their Brains with a Club in the presence of the King.
Their annual worshipping of the Sun is also very ridiculous; for filling
the Skin of a Stag full of sweet-smelling Herbs, they hang the Horns and
Neck with Garlands, and carry it with the noise of their kind of Vocal
and Instrumental Musick, to a high Trunk or hollow Body of a Tree, on
which they place the stuff’d Stag, with his Head towards the Sun; which
done, they falling down, desire that he would please to afford them
plenty of all such Fruit as they Offer to him; after which taking their
leave, they let the fore-mention’d Skin remain there till the following
Year.
The _Spaniards_ since their Defeat in the Fort _Carolina_, and their
Engagement with Sir _Francis Drake_, _Anno 1585._ have had little
disturbance on _Florida_.
[Sidenote: _Drake_’s Exploit on _Florida_.]
_Drake_ having burnt and plunder’d _Domingo_ and _Carthagena_, steer’d
along the Coast of _Florida_, and discover’d a Beacon on the same;
whereupon he sent out Spies, who sail’d a League up a River, on whose
Banks they saw a Fort, and somewhat higher the Town _Augustine_, built
full of woodden Houses; all which being related to him, he steer’d
thither, fir’d his Guns twice against the Fort _St. John_; which the
_Spaniards_ answering onely with one Volley, fled, with their Commander
_Peter Menendez_; when the _English_ prepar’d to Storm, a Prisoner,
being a _French_-man, came in a Boat from them to _Drake_, and inform’d
him that the _Spaniards_ had left the City _Augustine_ and Fort _St.
John_; to which _Drake_ going, found there Pallisado’s of pleited
Boughs, cover’d with Earth, and a Chest with two thousand Pound, for the
payment of the Soldiers, and fourteen Brass Guns, with which he set Sail
from thence.
The Mountains of this Countrey are onely the _Apalatei_, suppos’d by the
Natives to have rich Mines of Gold in them, and which the _Spaniards_
saw, but had not time, nor other accommodation to stay and search them,
by reason they were so much wearied and wasted with a long March before
they gat thither, and found the People so stout and obstinate
thereabouts, that in stead of entertaining them with their Hens and
Fowl, as other places had done, they were welcom’d with Blows, and made
to return, leaving not a few of their best Soldiers behind.
Rivers there are many, and those very large and commodious, as 1. _Rio
Secco_, or _The Dry River_, so call’d by the _Spaniards_ (as some think)
because they could find no Gold in it. 2. _Rio Grande_, or _The Great
River_. 3. _Ligeris._ 4. _Garunna._ 5. _Sequana_, _&c._ These last, so
nam’d by the _French_, who, after the _Spaniards_, for some time had,
but never held any long possession of the Countrey. There are also _Rio
de Flores_, _Rio de Nieves_, and _Rio de Spirito Santo_, lesser Streams,
yet all of them, with the rest, falling at several places into the great
Lake of _Mexico_; and some of them not a little haunted by the _Caymans_
or _West-Indian_ Crocodiles, a Creature, as hath been said before,
dangerous both at Sea and Land.
The Natives, who as yet hold Possession and Command of it for the most
part, are themselves generally sorted into certain Tribes or great
Families; all which are Govern’d severally by Chiefs of their own, whom
they call _Paracoussi_, and by reason thereof are almost continually in
Feud and War one with another.
The Towns and Places most known in this Province, are 1. _St. Helens_,
seated on or near unto a Promontory of the same Name, where this
Countrey bordereth on _Virginia_. 2. _Fort Charles_, or _Arx Carolina_,
built and so nam’d by the _French_ King, but afterwards ruin’d by the
_Spaniards_. 3. _Port Royal_, a well frequented Haven, at the Mouth of a
River which beareth the same Name. More within Land there is, 1.
_Apalache_, an old Town of the Natives, formerly a Place of great
resort, but now a poor thing of about forty or fifty Cottages; and yet
as poor as it is, _Pamphilius Narvaez_, as before related, when he
search’d the Countrey, found the Natives not willing to part with it:
for though he took it from them, it was not without some resistance, and
they quickly recover’d it again: and at the 2. nam’d _Aute_, another old
Town of theirs, nine days March from the other, they overtook him, and
fell so resolutely upon him, that he left not a few of his best Soldiers
dead upon the place, and was content himself to march quietly away with
the rest. 3. _Ochalis_, a Town consisting of about five or six hundred
Sheds and Cottages likewise of the Natives. 4. _Vittacuche_, a Burrough
of two hundred Houses.
There is also on the Eastern Shore of this _Peninsula_, _St. Matthews_,
a Place possess’d and well fortifi’d by the _Spaniards_; and _St.
Augustines_ on the same Shore, but lying somewhat more Southerly than
the other, at the Mouth of a River of the same Name, taken and sack’d by
Sir _Francis Drake_ in the Year 1585.
[Illustration: YUCATAN _Conventus Iuridici Hispaniæ Novæ Occidentalis,
et_ GUATIMALA CONVENTUS IURIDICI]
[Illustration: St. FRANCISCO DE CAMPECHE]
SECT. II.
Jucatan.
_Jucatan_ is a _Peninsula_, or half-Island, being encompass’d with the
Sea on all sides, save onely to the South-West, where it is joyn’d to
_Guaxata_, its farther and more Easterly Point looking towards _Cuba_.
The knowledge of, when, and by whom this Province was discover’d, is
included in that of _New Spain_, of which some will have it to be a
part. The whole Province contains in compass nine hundred Miles or more,
and lies between eighteen and twenty two Degrees of Northern Latitude,
or thereabouts, the Air somewhat hot, and the Soil not altogether so
fertile as some other parts of _New Spain_ are; but in recompence
thereof the People are so much the more industrious, living for the most
part by Handicraft Trades. Neither is it altogether unstor’d with Corn
and divers sorts of Fruits, besides what it hath of Fowl and Beasts, as
Geese, Hens, Deer, _&c._ particularly it yieldeth plenty of Wax and
Honey, by reason of its frequent Swarms of Bees. They report some
special things of this Province, as namely, that the People of the
Countrey us’d generally, and long before the _Spaniards_ came thither, a
certain Ceremony of Religion, not much unlike to our Baptism, and which
they call’d by a Name that in their Language signifi’d _Regeneration_,
or _A Second-Birth_; that they observ’d it so diligently, that few or
none amongst them omitted to initiate themselves by it, believing, that
thereby the Seeds and Ground-work of all Goodness was laid in them, and
that they were fortifi’d by it against the assaults and temptations of
evil Spirits; that after they were three or four years old, till they
came to twelve, they usually thus Wash’d and Baptiz’d themselves; and
that none were permitted amongst them to Marry, that were not first
initiated after this manner; that they chose likewise a solemn Day upon
which to do this; and that the Friends and Relations (especially the
Father and Mother) of the Parties to be initiated, as well as the
Parties themselves, always Fasted three days before the said Initiation;
and that a great many of the Natives had a Tradition, or general Report
amongst them, that of ancient time this Province of _Jucatan_ was
possess’d and cultivated by a certain People which came thither from the
East, after a tedious long wanderring, and many hardships endur’d at
Sea, having escap’d the Hands of their Enemies onely through the power
of the Deity they worshipp’d; who help’d them, and made them to pass
securely, even through the Waves of the Sea. All which, if true, seems
not a little to confirm the Report which goeth for currant in the
_Welsh_ Chronicles, of one _Madoc ap Owen_, the Son of _Guineth_, a
Prince of that Countrey, who is said to have fall’n upon a far Countrey
this way in his Travels; which he lik’d so well, that having secur’d to
his Companions their safe abode there during his absence, he return’d
himself into _Wales_ for more Men; and that he transported thither as
many as he could carry in ten Barques full fraught. This he is said to
have done about the Year of our Lord 1170. but neither he nor any of his
Men were ever heard of since; and the success of the Expedition, it
seems, little enquir’d after by the _Welsh_. However, the Relation seems
not altogether incredible.
The chief Towns of the Province are, 1. _Merida_, in the Navel of the
Countrey, and the Seat of the Governor, twelve Leagues distant from the
Sea on either side. 2. _Valladolidt_, thirty Leagues distant from
_Merida_. 3. _Campeche_, a great Town, consisting of about three
thousand Houses or more, when first conquer’d by the _Spaniards_; who
found such Monuments of Art and Industry in it, as did clearly argue,
that the Place had been once possess’d by some People that were not
barbarous. It is now call’d _St. Francisco_, and was surpriz’d in the
Year 1596. by Captain _Parker_, an _English_-man, who took the Governor
himself and some other Persons of Quality with him, together with a Ship
richly laden with Gold and Silver, besides other Commodities of good
value. 4. _Tabasco_, by the _Spaniard_ now call’d _Villa de Nuestra
Sennora de Victoria_, and commonly _Victoria_ onely, in memory, as ’tis
thought, of the first great Victory which _Cortez_ obtain’d over these
People at the Battel of _Potonchan_, as hath been said. 5. _Cintla._ 6.
_Potonchan._ 7. _Salamanca._
All along the Coast of this Countrey there lie certain Islands, some
within the Bay or Gulph call’d _Honduras_, pertaining to the next
Province, as 1. _La Zarza._ 2. _La Desconescida._ 3. _Vermeia._ 4. _Los
Negrillos_; and some without it, as 1. _Zaratan._ 2. _Pantoia._ 3. _De
Mugeres_, or _The Island of Women_; so nam’d by the _Spaniards_, who at
their first Discovery of these Parts, for a long time together could
meet with none but Women. The chief of them is call’d _Acusamil_,
commonly _Cozamul_, and is fifteen Leagues in length, and about five in
breadth, and was as it were the Thorow-fare, or Common Road of the
_Spaniards_, when they first discover’d the Countreys of _New Spain_:
For first here Landed _Ferdinando de Corduba_; after him _John de
Grialva_, and others; and last of all the fortunate _Cortez_. It is now
call’d _St. Crux_.
[Illustration]
CHAP. IV.
Guatimala.
[Sidenote: Its Situation and Bounds.]
_Guatimala_ stretcheth to the _Isthmus_, or Neck of Land, which, as we
said, joineth the Northern and Southern parts of the _New World_
together.
This Countrey is bounded Northward with the _Peninsula_ of _Jucatan_
abovesaid, and part of the Gulph or Bay of _Honduras_; on the South,
with _Mare del Zur_; on the East and South-East, it hath _Castella
Aurea_; and on the West, _New Spain_. The length of it lieth upon the
Coast of _Mare del Zur_, and is said to be little less than three
hundred Leagues; but the breadth not half so much, and in some places
very narrow. It is generally a fertile and good Countrey in all
respects, but especially abounding in Cattel and good Pastures; it is
subdivided into seven inferior Provinces or Countreys, which are 1.
_Chiapa._ 2. _Verapaz._ 3. _Honduras._ 4. _Nicaragua._ 5. _Veragua._ 6.
_Costa Rica_; and 7. _Guatimala_, specially so call’d: all differing in
Language and Customs one from another.
The Bishoprick (as it is now call’d) of _Chiapa_ is border’d on the West
with _New Spain_; on the East with _Vera Paz_; and on the South with
_Mare del Zur_. It is a Countrey much shaded with Woods, and those
replenish’d with many fair and goodly Trees, of divers sorts, and of the
largest size, as Oaks, Pines, Cedar, Myrtle, and Cypress-Trees, besides
others which yield them a good kind of Rozen, precious Gums, _&c._ also
several sorts of Balsom, as white, red, green, and black, not onely
pleasant to the Scent, but an excellent Remedy for all manner of green
Wounds: the best of it drops out of the cut Bodies of the Trees; and the
worst is press’d out of the Wood and Leaves.
[Sidenote: Trees and Plants.]
There are also proper to this Countrey several other kinds of Trees and
Plants, as that whose Fruit tastes like Pepper and Cloves, being of a
great heighth; a Tree whose Leaves cure all ulcerated Sores, or the
bitings of any poysonous Beast.
There is a sort of Cabbage call’d _Ilantas_, which grows to the heighth
of a Tree, so that Birds make their Nests in them; they are eaten
likewise like other common Cabbages.
There is also an Herb with narrow Leaves, which is no sooner touch’d,
but it shrinks up to nothing; but at the going away of those which touch
it, it obtains its former vigour.
[Sidenote: Birds.]
Here are likewise Quails, Ducks, Geese, Pheasants, Parrots,
Turtle-Doves, Pigeons, and the like, in great abundance.
Amongst the several sorts of Falcons which breed in this Countrey, there
is one sort which hath one Foot proper to its kind, the other like that
of a Goose; it feeds on Fish along the Rivers.
The Bird _Toto-Queztall_, which is somewhat smaller than a Pigeon, with
green Feathers and a long Tail, is taken onely for its Tail, which when
the _Indians_ have pull’d out, they let the Bird fly again, there being
a Law amongst them, that whosoever kills one of them, is to suffer
death.
The Cranes here are of a dark Gray; the biggest of them have a tuft of
Feathers like a Crown upon their Heads.
[Illustration]
[Sidenote: Birds.]
The Birds _Guacamayes_, which are red and blue, are like a _Peruan_
Goose.
[Sidenote: Beasts.]
Moreover, the Countrey yields brave Horses, Goats, Sheep, Rabbets, and
Foxes; also wild Dogs, Leopards, Lyons, and Tygers.
The wild Hogs which breed here have their Navels on their Backs, and
have no Tails, they smell exceeding strong, and feed together in great
Companies.
The _Taquatrin_, a certain Beast proper to those Parts, hath a Bag under
its Belly, in which it generally carries seven or more young ones, and
hath also a bald Tail; it creeps into Houses in the Night to steal Hens.
Here is also a certain Beast (whose Name we find not) about the bigness
of a Rabbet, and like a Rat, and carries its young ones on its back
whensoe’re it comes abroad.
The Serpents, which are very numerous here, trouble the Inhabitants
exceedingly, especially near the Village _Ecatepeque_, where there are
such an abundance on two little Hills, that none dares approach them;
some of them are very poysonous, for if touch’d with a Stick, the Poyson
runs up the same: and whoever are anointed with the Blood of a dead
Serpent, die a lingring Death. _John de Laet_ relates, that the
_Indians_ took one which carried thirty young ones, which being a Finger
long, crep up and down immediately; and the old one, being above twenty
Foot long, serv’d the Natives for Venison.
Amongst other Beasts is also the _Teuthlacokauhqui_, or _Fortress of the
Serpents_; it hath a Head like an Adder, thick Belly, glittering Scales,
a black Back, sprinkled with white Crosses; at its Tail there grows
yearly a Bone, with which it makes a noise when it stirs; its poysonous
Teeth destroy those which are bit therewith in twenty four Hours, unless
the part which is wounded be held in the Earth so long till the pain be
over. Notwithstanding the noise, terrible aspect, and gestures of this
Animal, the _Indian_ Hunters make nothing to take the same by the Tail,
and wrap it up in Linnen, and carrying it home make it tame. It is able
to live a whole Year without either Meat or Drink; its Head when cut off
grows to the bigness of a Man’s Thigh in ten days time.
No less resolute are the Indians in taking the _Ibitobaca_, which is an
Ell long, of a crimson Colour, full of black and white Specks, the Bones
whereof they wear about their Necks in stead of Chains.
[Sidenote: The Serpent _Iquanna_.]
The _Iquanna_ is a Serpent which doth no manner of hurt, though terrible
to look upon to those which know it not, having a Bag under its Chin, a
glittering Comb on its Head, and on its Back sharp Bones, which stand
like a Saw, and a long Tail: It lays fifty Eggs at a time as big as
Acorns, of a very good taste, and fit to eat when boyl’d: It also lives
both in the Water and on the Land.
[Sidenote: Baboons.]
Here are also many Baboons, which are big and heavy, with ugly Heads,
short Legs like a Man, and Tails standing upwards; they eat all sorts of
Fruit, but chiefly covet after Wine and Bread; and are so lascivious,
that they often set upon Women: The Females generally bring forth two,
one Male, and the other Female. There is also another sort, whose Skins,
being red, are full of little Spots.
The ancient Inhabitants of _Chiapa_ (divided into the _Chiapaneca_’s,
the _Zeques_, the _Zeltates_, and the _Quelenes_) are very Civil and
Witty, also skilful in Painting, Singing, Breaking of Horses, and many
other Trades.
[Sidenote: Towns and Villages of Note.]
The Places of more principal note in this Countrey, inhabited by the
_Spaniards_, are 1. _Ciudad Real_, pleasantly seated in the midst of a
round Vale or Plain, and almost encompass’d with Hills representing the
form of an Amphitheatre; also at the Foot of one which stands in the
midst of the rest, the City is built. It is a City specially Priviledg’d
by the King of _Spain_, having a Court of Justice, Cathedral, and
_Dominican_ Cloyster; of a pure and temperate Air, and the Countrey
round about plentifully abounding both in Corn and Fruit, onely somewhat
too cold to produce Lemmons and Oranges; but for Pears, Apples, Peaches,
Quinces, Cherries, and the like, they grow here in great abundance.