Mexico_, in the Voyage of _Espejus_, be there otherwise call’d, and
appear to be the same with _Cibola_, yet we find it not treated of by
any as part of _New Mexico_, but by some as a distinct Province, by
others as a part of _California_ largely taken; for besides that
_California_, properly so call’d, hath formerly been taken rather for a
_Peninsula_ than an Island, and still affords to some an Argument of
question, whether it be one or the other. The whole extent of the
Province generally so term’d, hath been reputed to comprehend the
suppos’d _Peninsula_ it self, _Cibola_, _Quivira_, and _Nova Albion_;
but since, according to the best Maps and Discoveries, there seems
little doubt to be made, that _California_, strictly taken, is a perfect
Island: and since upon that Consideration we have reserved it to be
describ’d amongst the Islands of _Northern America_, we also
consequently judge it most requisite to consider those Countreys apart
that were included in the extended _California_.
[Sidenote: Situation, Temperature, and Productions of _Cibola_.]
_Cibola_ lieth Southward of _Quivira_, betwixt it and _New Gallicia_, to
the North and East: on the West it hath _Mar Vermiglio_, or the Bay of
_California_. The Air of the Province is indifferently temperate,
especially if compar’d to the sharp Frosts and Colds of _Quivira_. The
Countrey is for the most part level and plain, as _Quivira_ is, having
but few Trees in it, except here and there some Woods of Cedars, which
yet do abundantly supply the Natives both with Timber and Fewel. The
Ground affords plenty of _Maiz_, and some small white Pease, of both
which they usually make Bread. There is great store of Venison, and a
kind of Sheep (as they say, and as it should seem by their Fleece) as
big as some little Horses or Oxen, some of their Horns weighing forty or
fifty Pound: But perhaps by some mistake of Authors, this Beast may be
no other than _Taurus Mexicanus_, elsewhere describ’d, whose Hair is
extreamly thick and shaggy, and of which they make Cloth as of Wool, as
hath been said. There are also Lyons, Bears, and Tygers in this
Province, in such numbers, that the People of the Countrey are not a
little troubled with them, and would gladly destroy them if they knew
how. The People are generally well Limb’d, tall of Stature, and seem to
be a little more Ingenious than their Neighbors of _Quivira_; yet they
go naked many of them, onely cover’d with Mantles made of Skins, which
are many times painted, and that with such Curiosity and Art, as do
sufficiently argue, that neither themselves nor their Neighbors of
_Quivira_, from whom they have them in Traffick, do make them, but that
they are the Merchandise and Commodity of some other Nations, perhaps of
_Cathay_ or _China_, who, by the North-West Seas, do Trade with the
Maritime Parts, and People of _Quivira_.
This part of the Countrey hath been reasonably well search’d by the
_Spaniards_, but as yet nothing discover’d so considerable, as to
perswade them to stay in it.
That which seems most observable, is the great Lake _Tonteac_, situate
almost in the midst of the Province; upon which, or near unto it, they
found seven or eight old Towns of the Natives, some whereof contain’d
four or five hundred of their Cottages or little Houses, and were
fortifi’d also with Ramparts, and other Works of Defence, so as the
_Spaniards_ could not become Masters of them, but by Force and Storming:
In the attempt whereof _Vasquez Coronado_, their Commander in chief, was
twice beaten down with Stones by the Natives; yet at last carrying the
Place, he found in it good plenty of _Maiz_ indeed, which was some
refreshment to his Army, but nothing else: whereupon having nam’d the
Place _Granada_, in memory of the Vice-Roy of _New Spain_, who sent him
upon that Expedition, he departed. In his return homeward he fell upon a
certain Countrey, which he nam’d _Tucayan_, of which his Companions
report great matters; as first, of a certain River call’d _Huex_, on the
Banks whereof, in the space of twenty Leagues, or thereabouts, there
stand no less than fifteen good Burroughs, well built, and furnish’d
likewise with Stoves or Hot-houses, against the Cold, as in other
Countreys of _Europe_; as also of a very fruitful and pleasant Valley,
which they therefore call’d _Aroba de Corazones_; of another great Town
and Territory, call’d _Chichilticala_; and lastly, of the Valley of
_Nuestra Sennora_, or _Our Ladies Dale_, in the South parts of the said
Territory, all of them describ’d for such rich and delicious Places,
that some take them for the _Campi Elisii_ of _America_, especially
seeing the _Spaniards_ were never known to visit them a second time, the
Discoveries that have been made since being onely of the North-West
Parts of the Countrey, along the Coasts of _Mar Vermiglio_, and this no
farther than onely to give Name to certain Capes or Promontories which
they met with, as namely 1. _Porto de St. Clara_, near to the Mouth of
the River which they call _Rio del Nordt_. 2. _Las Playas._ 3. _St.
Michael._ 4. _Lago del Oro_, which bordereth on _Quivira_; and lastly,
_El Rey Coronado_, Eastward of that.
[Sidenote: _Tontonteac._]
_Tontonteac_ is mention’d by so few, and by those few so obscurely, that
it cannot well be determin’d to be any other than that Countrey which
lies about the great Lake _Tonteac_, above spoken of in _Cibola_, and
which being made Habitable by six or seven Towns not inconsiderable for
Habitations of native _Indians_, might haply pass for a distinct
Province. And perhaps the reason why this Province hath been so obscure,
and little taken notice of, might be from the ruine of these Towns by
War, or some other Accident: and to this purpose are the words of a late
Writer, _The Province of_ Tontonteac (saith he) _hath five Houses onely
left, which stand on the Shore of a salt Lake_.
[Sidenote: _Nova Granada_ a Province of _Northern America_.]
_Nova Granada_, besides that it is a generally known and describ’d
Province of _Southern America_, is also nam’d amongst the Provinces of
_Northern America_, particularly by _Bertius_, _Cluverius_, and
_Golnitzius_, and in some late Maps of _America_ so conspicuously
specifi’d, that it might appear to be all that Tract of Land which
contains both _New Mexico_ and the several Provinces adjoyning to it;
but since we find it not describ’d by any at large, it will with most
verisimility pass for that part of _New Mexico_ where stands the City of
_St. Foy_; and this is most plainly express’d by Monsieur _Martini_,
though there are who confound _Cibola_ with _New Granada_. Waving which
Decision, we shall onely insert a short Description of the Place,
according to _Cornato_, who seems to have been one of the first
Discoverers of these Parts, and whose Credit is preferr’d before that of
_Marcus de Niza_.
[Sidenote: Its Description.]
_Nova Granada_ (saith he) consists of seven Villages, built in the
circumference of four Leagues, the chiefest whereof boasts two hundred
Houses, which for the most part are four or five Stories high, and built
of Stone; the Cellars thereto belonging, being neatly Pav’d, serve for
Stoves against the Cold: they ascend to their upper Rooms by Ladders.
The Inhabitants go naked, onely some Covering about their Middle, and
over their Shoulders Cotton Cloaks, painted with divers Colours. They
live on _Maiz_, white Pease, Hares, Rabbets, and Venison: their Salt
wherewith they season the same, they fetch from a neighboring Lake. The
Turkies, which they have in great numbers, are kill’d onely for their
Feathers, notwithstanding their Flesh is exceeding good Meat. The Soil
is for the most part plain, yet hath some high Mountains; and the
Pastures flourish with Grass. The Woods abound with Bears, Tygers,
Lyons, wild Hogs, Rhinocerots, and the like ravenous Beasts, which make
the Ways dangerous for Travellers. Besides large Deer, there are also
Sheep, which in bigness may compare with Horses, having exceeding great
Horns, and little Tails.
Concerning the abundance of _Turkoises_, of which _Niza_ makes mention,
_Cornato_ could give no certain account, because a little before his
Arrival the _Granadians_ had convey’d their Children, which were under
fifteen, and the aged People, who were above sixty years of age, with
their chiefest Goods, into remote places. However, it is not unknown,
that this Countrey affords _Turkoises_; for _Cornato_ in his Journey to
_Quivira_, Besieg’d a City in these Parts near a great River; the
Inhabitants whereof, when they were not able to defend themselves any
longer, throwing their Cloaks, _Turkoises_, and other Riches into the
Fire, Sallied out upon the _Spaniards_, and died not altogether
unreveng’d, as shall be specifi’d more at large in the Description of
_Tignes_, which being nam’d among the Towns of _Quivira_, will upon the
comparing of Circumstances, be apparently found to be the same with
this.
Lastly, _New Granada_ hath no Fruit-Trees, but little Cedars fit for
Building.
[Illustration]
CHAP. X.
Quivira.
_Quivira_ is the next Region accounted of _California_, largely taken;
yet appearing by some Charts to lie so vastly remote, that all _New
Mexico_, _Gallicia_, and other Provinces already mention’d, lie between
that and the Island. And whereas _New Granada_ is by several made a part
of _New Mexico_; yet most certain it is, that by some it is confounded
with this Countrey, or at least accounted a part thereof, as hereafter
shall more plainly appear, according to the Account of those that have
most fully and particularly describ’d it.
[Sidenote: Situation of _Quivira_, and Description of the Inhabitants.]
_Quivira_ takes up the most Northern and unknown part of _America_
towards the West, reaching as far as the supposed _Straight_ of _Anian_
aforesaid (if there be any such) or else joyning to the Continent of
_Tartary_. It is likewise the least fruitful of all the _West-Indies_,
especially for Corn. Cattel it hath good store, and Pasturage
indifferent good, the Countrey being for the most plain and level, and
nothing else but Pasturage. The Natives are few and salvage, living in
Hoards or great Companies together, after the manner of the _Tartars_,
to whom they are Neighbors, and (as it is not improbably thought) of
their Race. The Men Clothe themselves most commonly in that kind of Oxes
Hide, elsewhere spoken of under the Name of _Taurus Mexicanus_. The
Women wear little else but their Hair, notwithstanding the Countrey,
especially for one half of the year, is excessive cold. Their Cattel,
though they are much less than the ordinary Kine of _Europe_, are the
chief Sustenance and Employment of the Natives; by Pasturing huge Herds
whereof from place to place, the People live, and maintain a Traffick
with other Parts. Yet some of them inhabit Towns, the chief whereof, as
yet discover’d, seem to be these which follow:
[Sidenote: Towns of chief note.]
1. _Acus_, or _Acuco_, a small Town, but seated in a strong defensible
place, and being a great Staple for Cotton, the Territory about it hath
been taken for a distinct Province, and by some call’d _The Kingdom of
Acuco_.
2. _Tignes_, a Town seated upon the Banks of a River bearing the same
Name, and inhabited, it seems, by a stout and resolute People, and whom
the _Spaniards_, coming amongst them in the Year 1540. had much ado to
master: for they endur’d a Siege for the space of six Weeks; and at last
finding themselves so strongly begirt by their Enemies, that there was
no means to escape but by Death, or yielding up themselves, rather than
they would fall alive into their hands, they first buried and spoil’d
all such Treasure as they had (which were chiefly Saphires, and a few
other Gems, that the Countrey afforded) and after that setting on fire
their Housholdstuff, they took their Wives and Children with them, and
made a desperate Sally out upon the _Spaniards_; wherein although they
were most of them slain, and trod under the Horses Feet, or drown’d in
passing the River, yet was it not without some loss to the _Spaniards_
themselves: nor would those few that were left behind deliver up the
Town, till it was fir’d about their Ears, and that they could no longer
abide in it. This Town, by all Circumstances, must needs be the same
with that before mention’d in _Nova Granada_, which makes good what we
have said above, _viz._ That _New Granada_ is by some confounded with,
or at least taken for a part of this Region.
3. _Cicuic_, another small Town, four days Journey from _Tignes_. The
Countrey about this place, although generally it be all good Pasturage,
and maintains abundance of Cattel, yet is it so open and plain, that for
almost a hundred Miles together, the _Spaniards_, in their March hither
from _New Spain_, found neither Stone nor Tree, nor any thing else that
could serve them for a Land-mark; so that they were forc’d, as they
march’d along, to raise up Heaps of Cow-dung, to serve them for
direction in their coming back, which was not long after: for not
finding the Commodities they sought for, and fearing to be surpris’d by
Winter in those cold Countreys, where they had no kind of accommodation,
they made somewhat a hasty Retreat, leaving behind them onely some few
Religious Men, of the Order of _St. Francis_, whose Endeavours to do the
People good by Converting them to the true Knowledge and Worship of
Almighty God, procur’d them not long after, the Crown of Martyrdom,
being murder’d all of them, except one, by the Natives, and he not
without much difficulty escaping their Hands.
[Sidenote: _Nova Albion._]
_Nova Albion_ was so denominated by Sir _Francis Drake_, when he was
there Entertain’d by the King of that Countrey; but whether it were in
_Quivira_ that he was thus Entertain’d, and left that Denomination, or
in the Island of _California_, appears not either from the Relation, or
from the common Consent of Cosmographers, since some there are, who will
have _Quivira_ and _Nova Albion_ to be one and the same Province; others
reckon it to be the utmost North-West part of _California_; others make
it distinct from _Quivira_, yet determine it not to the Island
_California_, seeming rather to make it an adjoyning Countrey to
_Quivira_: wherefore finding little else that concerns the Description
of the Place, except the said Voyage of _Drake_, we shall here set it
down, and leave the farther Disquisition concerning the Situation of the
Place, till we come to describe the Island of _California_ it self.
[Sidenote: Sir _Francis Drake_’s Arrival there.]
Captain _Francis Drake_ set Sail from _Plymouth_ _Anno 1577._ and after
much hardship getting through the _Straights_ of _Magellan_, arriv’d in
the Haven _Guatulco_, having before his coming thither taken as many
rich _Spanish_ Ships in the Southern Ocean as he could possibly have
wish’d for, so that his onely care now needed to have been how to get
safe home; yet he put on a Resolution, not to come short of _Ferdinandus
Magellanus_, who Saild about the World. Which brave Resolution of
_Drake_’s was approv’d of by all his Sea-men; whereupon he set Sail
along the North of _California_ the fifth of _June_; being gotten into
forty two Degrees, which was the farthest that _Cabrillo_ went, he came
on a sudden out of a warm Air into so frigid a Climate, that the Sea-men
were almost kill’d with Cold, and the farther they went, the colder it
grew; wherefore falling down three Degrees more Southerly, they got into
a convenient Haven, where the Natives who liv’d along the Shore brought
them Presents; which _Drake_ left not unrequited, by returning them
others, that were to them more novel, and not unuseful.
[Sidenote: Nature and Habit of the People.]
These People are exceeding hardy; for, notwithstanding the extraordinary
coldness of the Climate, the Men go naked; but the Women wear Garments
of pleited Flags or Rushes, which being put about their Middle, hang
down to their Ancles; on their Stomachs hang the ends of a hairy Skin
ty’d together, which hanging also over their Shoulders, cover their
hinder Parts. They shew great Respect and Obedience to their Husbands.
Each House is surrounded with an Earthen Wall, and all the Corners
thereof being close stopp’d, and Fires made in the midst of them, they
are very warm. Rushes and Flags strow’d thick on the Ground near the
Walls, serve them in stead of Beds.
The _Indians_ coming a second time to Visit the _English_, brought them
Plumes of Feathers, Neckbands of Net-work, and store of Tobacco: _Drake_
pleas’d with this their kindness, built Tents on the Brow of a Hill, on
the top of which the _Indians_ stood that brought the Presents, whil’st
one of them with a loud voice maintain’d a long Discourse; which he had
no sooner ended, but every one laid down his Bowe and Arrows, and walk’d
unarm’d down to the Tents to proffer their Gifts: their Wives staying
behind on the top, pinch’d their Cheeks, and made sad lamentation; which
_Drake_ suppos’d was because they made Offerings there: whereupon he
also caus’d all his Men to kneel down and say their Prayers, which made
the _Indians_ to look very earnestly upon them, and to return him the
Presents which the day before they had receiv’d of him.
[Illustration]
[Sidenote: _Drake_’s Entertainment by the King of the Countrey.]
The rumour of these Strangers arrival spreading all over the Countrey,
made the Inhabitants far and near desirous to see them; the King himself
sending Ambassadors to _Drake_, to inform him that he was on the Way
coming to see him; all which the Agents related at large, and desir’d
some Presents, as a testimony that their King should be welcome; which
he being assur’d of, came with a Retinue of above twelve thousand Men,
before whom walk’d one of a Gygantick size, carrying a costly Scepter,
on which, by three long Chains made of Bones, hung a great and a small
Crown made of Feathers; next follow’d the King himself in a Sute of
Cony-Skins; then came a great confus’d company of People, each of them
carrying a Present: whereupon _Drake_ putting his Men into good order,
march’d to meet the King; at which the Mace-bearer made a long Preamble,
and when he had done, Danc’d to the Tune of a Song, which he Sung
himself; then the King and his whole Retinue also fell a Singing and
Dancing so long, till being weary the King went to _Drake_, and humbly
desir’d of him, that he would accept of the Realm, assuring him, that
all the People should be under his Obedience; which said, he put the
fore-mention’d Crown on his Head, and hanging three double Chains about
his Neck, call’d him _Hioh_: whereupon _Drake_ took possession of the
Countrey in Queen _Elizabeths_ Name. The King staying alone with
_Drake_, his Retinue went amongst the _English_, every one looking very
earnestly upon them, and to those whom they lik’d best, being the
youngest, they falling down and crying, proffer’d Offerings, as to Gods,
and held their Cheeks to draw Blood out of them; which the _English_
refusing, they desisted; but shew’d them great Wounds, and desir’d some
Plaisters of them, which they suppli’d them with.
[Sidenote: A Monument erected by _Drake_ before his departure.]
The _English_ going up into the Countrey found the same well grown with
Woods, which abounded with Coneys, whose Heads differ’d little from the
_European_, but having Feet like Moles, long Tails like Rats, and in
their Sides a Bag, wherein when they had fill’d their Bellies they put
the remainder. They also saw numerous Herds of Deer, with whose Flesh
having been courteously Entertain’d in several Villages, they return’d
to the Fleet. _Drake_, just before he weighed Anchor, caus’d a pillar to
be set in the Ground with a Silver Plate on the same, with an
Inscription, mentioning the Day of his Arrival, Name and Arms of Queen
_Elizabeth_, and free delivering of that Realm to him by the _Indians_:
he also nail’d a Sixpence with the Queens Effigies on the Plate, under
which he caus’d his own Name to be Engraven.
[Illustration]
THE
ISLANDS
OF
Northern America.
CHAP. XI.
_Terra Nova_, or _New-found Land_, with the Island of _Assumption_.
Having treated at large of all the several Regions and Provinces of the
North part of the Continent of _America_, we come now to those Islands
that lie within the same Degrees of Northern Latitude with that part of
the Continent: The first is _Terre Neuve_, or _New-found_ Land,
discover’d together with several other Parts upon the Continent before
mention’d by Sir _Sebastian Cabott_, by the Countenance and Charge of
King _Henry_ the Seventh of _England_; whereupon a rightful Claim
thereunto, and Interest therein, hath been own’d by the succeeding Kings
of _England_, as hereafter shall be more particularly related.
[Sidenote: Situation and Bounds of _New-found Land_.]
_New-found Land_ is situated betwixt the Degrees of forty six and fifty
three of Northern Latitude, and is divided from the Continent of
_America_ by an Arm of the Sea, in like distance as _England_ is from
_France_. The Island is as large as _England_ in length, greater in
breadth, and lies near the Course that Ships usually hold in their
Return from the _West-Indies_, and is near the mid-way between _Ireland_
and _Virginia_.
[Illustration: INSULÆ AMERICANÆ IN OCEANO SEPTENTRIONALI, cum Terris
adiacentibus.]
[Sidenote: Temperature.]
We shall not much need to commend the wholsom temperature of this
Countrey, seeing the greatest part thereof lieth above three Degrees
nearer to the South, than any part of _England_ doth, so that even in
the Winter it is pleasant and healthful as _England_ is.
[Sidenote: Nature of the Inhabitants.]
The natural Inhabitants of the Countrey, as they are but few in number,
so are they something a rude and salvage People, having neither
knowledge of God, nor living under any kind of Civil Government. In
their Habits, Customs, and Manners, they resemble the _Indians_ of the
Continent, from whence it is to be suppos’d they come; they live
altogether in the North and West part of the Countrey, which is seldom
frequented by the _English_; but the _French_ and _Biscainers_ (who
resort thither yearly for the Whale-fishing, and also for the Cod-fish)
report them to be an ingenuous and tractable People (being well us’d)
and very ready to assist them with great labour and patience, in the
killing, cutting, and boyling of Whales, and making the Trayn-Oyl,
without expectation of other Reward than a little Bread, or some such
small Hire.
[Sidenote: Commodious Harbors.]
It hath the most commodious Harbours in the World, and the most safe
Seas to Sail to it, there being not any Islands, Rocks or Sands between
the _Lands-End_ in _England_ and _New-found Land_, and for the most part
it is not above three or four Weeks Sail thither, and less coming back;
and is the most commodiously situated for the discovering of the
North-West Passage, and other Inlets into the South Sea; whereby the
ordinary Voyages to _China_, _Japan_, and the _East-Indies_, are much
eas’d in the expence of Time and Charge; and the most open to Trade to
all Parts, of any Island of the _West-Indies_.
On the East side of the Land, are the Bays of _Trinity_ and
_Conception_, which stretch themselves towards the South-West.
_Tor-Bay_ and _Capelin-Bay_ lying also on the East, stretch themselves
towards the West.
The Bays of _Trespassey_, _St. Mary_, _Borrel_, and _Plaisance_, on the
South part of the Land, extend their Arms towards the North.
The great Bay of _St. Peters_ lying on the South-West side of the Land,
and Southerly from the great River of _Canada_, being about twenty
Leagues distant, the same stretcheth toward the East.
_Trinity_ Harbour lies in near forty nine Degrees of North Latitude,
being very commodiously seated to receive Shipping in seasonable
Weather, both to Anchor in, and from thence to Sail towards either the
East, West, or South. It hath three Arms or Rivers, long and large
enough for many hundred Sail of Ships to moare fast at Anchor near a
Mile from the Harbours Mouth. Close adjoyning to the Rivers side, and
within the Harbour, is much open Land, well stor’d with Grass
sufficient, Winter and Summer, to maintain great store of ordinary
Cattel, besides Hogs and Goats, if such Beasts were carried thither; and
it standeth North most of any Harbor in the Land, where our Nation
practiseth Fishing: It is near unto a great Bay lying on the North side
of it, call’d _The Bay of Flowers_; to which Place no Ships repair to
Fish, in regard of sundry Rocks and Ledges lying even with the Water,
and full of danger.
The bottom of the Bay of _Trinity_ lieth within four Leagues through the
Land South-West, Southerly from _Trinity_, as by experience is found;
and it comes near unto the Bay of _Trespassey_, and the bottom of some
other Bays.