brought to a most flourishing Condition, being exceeding populous, and
extending four Miles in length, and half as much in breadth: In the
biggest Market-place is the City Hall and the Exchange, where all things
are brought to be sold. Of the other three Markets, two have their
Denominations from _St. Anne_ and _St. Jacob_; the fourth is call’d _El
Santo de los Cavallos_, because nothing but Mules, Asses, and Horses are
sold there. The chief Church is Consecrated to _St. John_ the
Evangelist; the other Three to _Marcellus_, _Sebastian_, and _Anna_. The
_Franciscans_ inhabit three Cloysters; the _Dominicans_, _Augustines_,
and Monks _De la Merced_, each of them two, besides two costly
Structures for the _Jesuits_. Other Orders have also five Cloysters
here, _viz._ the _Creation_, _Conception_, the _Holy Trinity_, _St.
Joseph_, and _St. Clara_; the three first have each of them a Church
built hard by the several Cloysters, Dedicated to the _Santas Virgines
del Montserratto_, _Del Prado_, and _De Loretto_. Each Cloyster contains
above two hundred and fifty either Monks or Nuns. Here are also four
large Hospitals, the chiefest whereof call’d _Andrias_, hath seldom less
than four hundred Sick, which are kept and cur’d on Charity. The second
is for _Peruvians_ onely, call’d _The Hospital of St. Anna_. The third,
built in honor of the Apostle _St. Peter_, is for poor old Clergy-men.
The fourth, nam’d _The House of Love_, is for sick Women. Besides these
there stands another Structure near the Walls of the City, Consecrated
to _Lazarus_, where those that have the Leprosie are cur’d. The House
call’d _The Holy-Ghost_, receives all sick and wounded Sea-men. The King
maintains twenty four Students at his own Charge in the Royal Colledge,
and the Arch-bishop as many in the Colledge call’d _St. Toronius_; but
in the Colledge of _St. Martin_ reside above six hundred, which are
brought up in all manner of Arts and Sciences. Two hundred Students are
also taught in the high School, where they chuse a new Governor every
year. Here also is kept the King’s Treasure, and the Court of
Inquisition. The River which washes the City Walls runs so exceeding
swift, that not long since it carried away a new Stone Bridge with nine
great Arches.
[Sidenote: Miracles reported to have been done by _Ramirez_.]
The _Dominican_ Monks were the first that Landed on _Peru_, the first
which came thither with _Francisco Pizarro_ being _Vincent de Valle
Verde_, who was follow’d by _Sancio Martino_, _Martino de Esquivele_,
_Dominico de Sancto Thoma_, _Pedro Ulloa_, _Alphonso de Montenegro_,
_Reynaldo Pedraza_, and many others, who were stirr’d up by the report
of the _Peruvian_ Riches; amongst whom were four _Franciscans_, viz.
_Pedro Portuguese_, _Jodoco de los Angelos_, _De la Cruiz_, and _De Sant
Anna_, who were soon after follow’d by twelve Monks of the _Augustine_
Order. _Anno 1552._ Landed also at _Los Reyos_, Colonel _Andreas
Salazar_, accompanied with _Antonio Lozano_, _Juan de Sancto Petro_,
_Hieronymo Melendez_, _Didaco Palamino_, _Pedro de Espeda_, _Andreas
Ortega_, _Juan Canto_, _Juan Chamorro_, _Francisco de Treyas_, _Juan
Ramirez_, and _Balthazar Melgarego_. _Salazar_ soon after his Arrival
sent the Priest _Juan Ramirez_, and _Balthazar Melganego_ to
_Guamachuco_, where he Baptiz’d and Instructed the Inhabitants in great
numbers. Afterwards travelling to _Moyabamba_, he got a great esteem
amongst those Idolaters, and (as it goes for currant amongst them)
wrought many Miracles, amongst which this is reported for one: He being
inform’d by an old _Peruvian_, that his Daughter nam’d _Curi_ had hid
several Idols; enquiring after it, he tax’d her with what her Father had
told him; which she denying, and being rebuk’d by _Ramirez_, is said to
have become immediately dumb, to have foam’d at the Mouth, at last
falling down dead like a second _Saphira_ in the presence of many, which
caus’d many to forsake their Idolatry. But the Necromancers endeavor’d
by all means possible to raise a disesteem on _Ramirez_, and with the
assistance of their Master the Devil, so wrought their Inchantments,
that the Tygers came in great Herds out of the Wildernesses to
_Moyabamba_, and devour’d not onely Men, Women and Children in the
Highways, but also tore them out of their Houses, yet did not the least
hurt to any _Spaniard_; whereupon _Ramirez_ valiantly went with a
Company of his Proselytes to a Herd of Tygers, which when he approached
held the Cross to them, which it seems so affrighted the Devil-Tygers,
that they climb’d up the Trees. They farther relate (if you will believe
them) to make the Miracle the greater, That _Ramirez_ call’d to the
Multitude, saying, _Go and revenge the Deaths of your devour’d Parents,
Children and Relations_; whereupon he throwing a Stone, and all the rest
following his Example, the Tygers leap’d out of the Trees, stood still,
and suffer’d themselves to be kill’d like Lambs. Six years after the
fore-mention’d twelve _Augustine_ Monks follow’d eleven others, who set
Sail out of the _Spanish_ Haven _St. Lucar_, and arriving at _Peru_ went
to the Village _Tauca_, where they broke the Image of the Goddess
_Huarella_, being as it were the _Peruvian Venus_, or Patroness of
amorous Delights, reported to have given Responses from the Wood in
which she was worshipp’d. They also destroy’d the Idol _Chanca_ in the
Countrey _Conchucos_, which being worshipp’d by the _Indians_ in the
shape of a Man, had yearly a fair Maid, aged fourteen years, given to
him in Marriage, a solemn Wedding being kept, and several Sheep kill’d.
[Sidenote: The Miracle of an _Augustine_ Monk.]
The _Augustine_ Monks are believ’d to have wrought also another Miracle
in the Province _Conchucos_, upon this occasion: A Conjurer call’d
_Chaumango_, boasted himself to be _God_, deny’d our _Saviour_, in
testimony whereof he gave out that he would kick a Mountain to pieces,
with his Foot; which Report spreading all over the Countrey, all the
adjacent People flock’d to see this strange Wonder on an appointed Day,
on which _Charimango_ being, it seems, as good as his word, and kicking
the Mountain, caus’d it to rent from the top to the bottom, and the
pieces to flie all about the People, who were exceedingly amaz’d; but
the Sorcerer upon the _Augustine_ Monk’s rebuking him was (as they
affirm) immediately eaten up with Worms.
[Illustration: CHILI]
Many other Stories of Miracles go currant amongst them, as of _Marco
Garcia_ and _Didaco Ortez_ driving the Devil from a white Stone which
hung over a Fountain in _Chiquipalpa_, and several others, but it would
be very impertinent to dwell too long upon Discourses of this nature,
especially since we are not oblig’d to make them a part of our Creed.
To conclude our Description of this famous Kingdom of _Peru_, the People
thereof at the _Spaniards_ first Arrival viewing their Shipping, their
Guns, and other Accoutrements, unknown to them before, had them in great
admiration, as Men descended from Heaven; but when they began to be
oppress’d by their Tyranny, and to be tortur’d by them, they look’d upon
them as the Spawn of Hell, and curs’d the Sea that had brought so wicked
a People to them.
[Illustration]
CHAP. V.
Chile.
[Sidenote: Situation and Description of _Chile_.]
Following the Coast of _Mare del Zur_, or the South Sea, the next great
Province pertaining formerly to the Kingdom of _Peru_, is that of
_Chile_. This is the most Southerly Province of the whole Countrey of
_America_, reaching up as far as the _Magellane_ Straights, with which
to the Southward it is bounded; Northward it hath a Desart, and an
undiscover’d Countrey lying betwixt it and the Confines of _Peru_,
call’d _Atacama_; on the West it hath _Mare del Zur_; and on the East,
up to _Rio de la Plata_, the _Atlantick_, or North Sea, with some
Countreys undiscover’d, which interpose betwixt it and _Paraguay_ to the
North-East: It lieth all of it beyond the _Tropick_ of _Capricorn_, in a
temperate _Zone_, and extendeth it self in length from the Borders of
_Peru_, to the Mouth of the _Straights_ five hundred Leagues or more;
but the breadth of it neither equal nor certain: They say ’tis call’d
_Chile_ from the word _Chil_, which signifies _Cold_ it seems in their
Language as well as ours, it being generally a cold and bleak Countrey,
the Air in many parts of it so extreamly sharp and piercing, that both
Horse and Rider sometimes in travelling are frozen to death, as the
_Spaniards_ found by experience in their first Search and Discovery of
the Countrey, under the Conduct of _Diego Almagro_, who is said to have
left the greatest part of his Men dead behind him: But this is chiefly
towards the _Andes_, and on the Sea-Coast, the more Inland parts of it,
though mountainous also in some parts, yet are more temperate, and being
also well water’d with Rivers, are much more fruitfull than the other,
affording both Wheat and _Maiz_, and likewise other Grain, excellent
Pasturage in many places, and great store of Cattel, Wine, Honey, and
not without many and rich Mines both of Gold and Silver.
[Sidenote: _Pedro Baldivia_ taken Prisoner and put to death by the
_Arucans_.]
The Natives of this Countrey were found to be the most stout and warlike
of all the _Americans_ that the _Spaniards_ had hitherto met withal,
fighting with them, and oftentimes defeating them in the open Field,
surprizing and sacking their Towns, and last of all taking their Captain
and Commander in Chief Prisoner: This was _Pedro Baldivia_, one of those
good Men that consented to the death of _Attabaliba_, the last King of
_Peru_, after a greater Ransom accepted and paid, then perhaps the King
of _Spain_ could well raise on a sudden, if he had occasion to use it
for himself. The _Arucans_ (for so are the People call’d that had him
Prisoner) are said to have Entertain’d him for a while with great
Jollity and Feasting, but for his last Draught gave him a Cup of melted
Gold, which the poor Man was forc’d to take down, and so died a cruel,
though costly Death.
The whole Province generally is divided first into _Chile_, specially so
call’d, and secondly _Magellanica_, or that part which lieth more
Southward down to the _Straights_ of _Magellan_.
SECT. II.
Chile, properly so call’d.
[Sidenote: The Bounds of _Chile_ specially so call’d.]
_Chile_, specially so call’d, is border’d Northward with the Desart and
barren Countrey of _Atacama_ above mention’d; on the South, with
_Magellanica_; on the West, with _Mare del Zur_; Eastward, and to the
North-East, with some parts of _Paraguay_, or rather with some
undiscover’d Countreys lying betwixt them both: The length of it from
North to South is reckon’d to be little less than three hundred Leagues,
and generally of a fruitful Soil, affording besides abundance of Gold
and Silver, both Corn, Cattel, Vineyards, and divers sorts of Fruits,
equal both for kind and plenty to _Spain_ it self, and sundry other
parts of _Europe_. The Air likewise temperate, and the People in their
Manners and Conditions come much nearer to the Civility, and likewise
subtilty of the _Europeans_, than other _Americans_ did; which doubtless
may be attributed to the conformity of the Climates under which they
lie, agreeable to those of _Europe_; though otherwise in respect of the
Sphere and Seasons of the Year, there be a diametrical difference
betwixt us; As for Example, their _Spring_ beginning in _September_,
which is our _Autumn_, and their _Autumn_ in _March_, which is our
_Spring_; their longest Day being that of _St. Lucy_, on the eleventh of
_December_, which is our shortest; and their shortest being _St.
Barnabas_, _viz._ the eleventh of _June_, which is our longest, _&c._
[Sidenote: Towns and Places of Importance.]
The Towns of chiefest note and importance in this Province, are 1.
_Gopiapo_, an old Town in the most Northerly parts of this Province
towards the Sea, where it hath a very commodious Haven belonging to it.
2. _La Serena_, a Town situate on the Banks of _Coquimbo_, a pleasant
River a little above its Influx into the Sea, built by _Baldivia_ in the
Year 1544. the Countrey about very rich in Mines of Gold, and the Town
it self so well Garrison’d for fear of the Natives, that when the
_English_ under Sir _Francis Drake_, about fourscore years since,
attempted the gaining of the Place, they found hot Service of it, being
stoutly resisted and beaten back again to their Ships, by a Sally of no
less than three hundred good Horse and two hundred Foot.
3. _St. Jago_, the principal Town of the Province, a Bishop’s See, and
the ordinary Residence of the Governor, lying on the Banks of the River
_Tapocalma_, in the thirty fourth Degree of Southern Latitude, fifteen
Leagues distant from the South Sea, at which it hath a very commodious
and much frequented Haven, which they call _Valparayso_, and where the
_English_ met with better fortune, as hath been said already in the
report of Sir _Francis Drake_’s Voyage.
4. _La Conception_, a strong Town, seated on the Bay call’d _Penco_,
sixty or seventy Leagues distant from _St. Jago_ towards the South, a
Place not a little fortifi’d both by Nature and Art, having the Bay and
a certain Ridge of high Mountains begirting it almost round about; and
where it is otherwise accessible, a Castle, and certain Bulwarks with
Ordnance, besides a Garrison of five hundred Soldiers at least
continually in it, and all little enough to defend it against the
_Araucanes_, their deadly Enemies, who live thereabouts, and are ever
and anon making Incursions almost up to the Walls of it. Over against
this Place in _Mare del Zur_, but very near the Shore, there lieth a
certain Island call’d _St. Maries_, exceeding plentiful in Swine and all
sorts of Poultrey, which the Garrison of _La Conception_ make good use
of.
[Illustration: MAGELLANCICA.]
5. _Los Confines_, a Fronteer Town, built by the aforesaid _Baldivia_,
for defence of the rich Mines of Gold at _Angol_, a Place near
adjoyning.
6. _La Imperiale_, another strong Garrison of this Place on the Banks of
the River _Cauten_, near to which that great Battel was fought, where
_Baldivia_, with divers other Soldiers, were taken Prisoners, who were
no otherwise overcome, but by being over-wearied with killing of their
Enemies, and by that means not able to make their Retreat.
7. _Villarica_, another Colony of the _Spaniards_ in these Parts,
sixteen Leagues distant from _Imperiale_, and twenty five from the Sea.
8. _Baldivia_, so nam’d from the Commander _Pedro Baldivia_, who built
it in the Valley of _Guadallanquen_, two or three Leagues distant from
the Sea, where it hath a good and capacious Port; but nearer to it the
best Mines of _Peru_, so rich, that ’tis said they yielded _Baldivia_
every day so long as he could enjoy them, twenty five thousand Crowns.
9. _Osorno_, a Town lying in the Bay of _Chilue_ in a barren Soil, but
otherwise neither less rich, nor less populous than _Baldivia_ it self.
These three last mention’d Towns, _viz._ _Baldivia_, _Imperiale_, and
_Osorno_, were in the Years 1596, 1699, and 1604, surpriz’d by the
_Araucanes_, and other Salvages confederate with them, sack’d and burnt;
and though the _Spaniards_ be said to have recover’d and Garrison’d some
of them with fresh Soldiers, yet how long they were able to hold them,
or whether they be Masters of them at this day, we cannot say.
10. _Castro_, the most Southerly Town of the whole Province, built on a
certain Island within the Bay of _Chilue_.
11. _Mendoza_; and 12. _St. Juan de la Frontera_, both which lie towards
_Paraguay_ and _Rio de la Plata_, but on the other side of the _Andes_,
forty Leagues distant from any of those we have spoken of, and perhaps
more, not above a hundred from _Buenos Ayres_, and the _Atlantick_
Ocean.
SECT. III.
Magellanica.
[Sidenote: Situation and Description of _Magellanica_.]
[Sidenote: Sea-Port, Towns, Isles, and Straights.]
_Magellanica_, the other part of this Province, is bounded Northward,
with _Chile_ abovesaid, and some parts of the Countrey _De la Plata_; on
the South, with the narrow Sea call’d _Magellans Straights_; having
_Mare del Zur_ on the West, and on the East the _Atlantick_ Ocean. It
contains in length from the Borders of _Chile_ to the Mouth of the
_Straights_, a hundred Leagues, and in breadth from the North to the
South Sea, somewhat more, _viz._ towards _Chile_ and the North-West
parts of it, for towards the South and South-West it straitens still
more and more, insomuch that they who resemble the Southern part of
_America_ to the form of a Pyramid revers’d, make this part of the
Countrey to be the Spire or top thereof. It beareth the Name from
_Ferdinand Magellan_, a _Portuguese_, who first discover’d that narrow
Sea, so famously known by the Name of _Magellans Straights_. It is a
large Countrey, and suppos’d not to be altogether barren of Metals; but
as yet no great Discovery hath been made of it, partly by reason of the
excessive Cold to which ’tis thought to be subject, and partly perhaps
by reason of the difficulty of the Enterprize, it being so far remote,
and very hardly passable in many places, by reason of the huge Mountains
the _Andes_, which bar it as it were against all Adventurers; but
chiefly by reason of the stoutness and untameableness of the _Araucanes_
and other Natives of _Chile_, through whose Countrey the March lieth,
and who must first be conquer’d, so that very little can be said more of
this Countrey, than onely to name the Ports and Places upon the
Sea-Coasts, at which the _Spaniards_, and likewise some other Nations at
several times have touched, the chief whereof upon the South Sea are, 1.
_Cabo de las Islas_, a Promontory or Foreland, twenty six Leagues
distant from that of _St. Felix_ on the Confines of _Chile_.
2. _Puerto de San Stephano_, fifty Leagues from that, towards the South.
3. _La Villa de Nuestra Sennora_, or _Our Ladies Dale_, a large and
secure Bay, eighteen Leagues Southward of _St. Stephens_.
4. _La Punta Deglada_; 5. _Puerto de los Reyos_; and 6. _Ancona Sin
Salida_, all of them opening towards the _Straights_. There is also at
the opening of the Straights, _Cabo de la Vittoria_, _Cabo Desseado_,
and some others.
Upon the North Sea, and up towards _Rio de la Plata_, the chief Places
observable, are 1. _Rio de la Crux_, and the Cape which they call _De
las Rameras_, about thirty Leagues distant from the _Straights_ Mouth.
2. The Bay of _St. Julian_, forty Leagues Northward of the former.
3. _El Puerto Desseado_; 4. _Puerto de los Leones_; 5. The Bay of
_Anegada_, all of them good and capacious Havens for the security of
Shipping upon these Coasts, and lying at a distance of thirty or forty
Leagues one from another, up towards _Rio de la Plata_, and the Countrey
of _Paraguay_, of which we are next to speak.
[Sidenote: Description of the _Magellan_ Straights.]
As for the Straights themselves, so much spoken of, and likewise so
necessary to be known by those who frequent these parts of the World,
they are a narrow Sea or Frith, by which the _Atlantick_ Ocean, or
rather some parts of it, doth fall into _Mare de Zur_, or the South Sea:
the Passage is long, running, as ’tis commonly suppos’d, well nigh a
hundred Leagues together, almost in a paralel Line, or in the same
Degree of Latitude from one end to the other; and likewise extreamly
difficult by reason of the many windings and turnings of the Sea, which
force them to be ever and anon altering of their Course, and a
mountainous high Countrey on both sides of it, from whence it is almost
continually beaten with Storms, both dangerous and terrible: They were
first discover’d by _Ferdinand Magellan_, by Nation a _Portuguese_, but
in the Service of the King of _Spain_, and by him nam’d _Magellan’s
Straights_; who although himself liv’d not to return into _Spain_, being
slain in the Conquest of the _Molucca_ Islands, yet his Companions did,
in the Ship call’d _Vittoria_, from whence the Cape _De la Vittoria_
abovesaid took its Name. The Mouth or Entrance of them, by the
_Atlantick_ Ocean, lies in fifty two Degrees of Southern Latitude, and
hath not above fifty three and some Minutes at the _Exit_ or opening
into the South Sea.
[Sidenote: The Straights of _Le Maire_.]
There is likewise since this, and but of late times, _viz._ about the
Year 1615. another _Straight_ discover’d by the _Dutch_, and call’d from
the Discoverer _Fretum Mairi_, or _The Straights of le Maire_, four or
five Degrees more to the Southward than those of _Magellan_, and
suppos’d to be a much earlier and safer Passage.
The Intention by the discovery of these _Straights_, was to have found a
shorter Way to the _East-Indies_ and the Kingdoms of _Cathay_ and
_China_, than that which was then onely us’d, _viz._ by the _Cape de
Buena Speranza_, and the Coast of _Africk_, but by reason of the great
difficulty, as ’tis to be suppos’d, and uncertainty of the Passage,
neither the one nor the other is much frequented, the _Spaniards_ for
the most part serving themselves of their _American_ Ports upon the
South Sea, from whence they make their Voyages and Returns to and from
the other _Indies_, and from thence home to _Spain_; and the _English_,
with other Nations of _Europe_, Trading still by the Coast of _Africk_
and _Cape of Good Hope_, or else by the way of _Alexandria_ and the
_Persian_ Gulf, as heretofore.
[Illustration: PARAQVARIA _Vulgo_ PARAGVAY. Cum adjacentibus.]
[Illustration]
CHAP. VI.
Paraguay, or Rio de la Plata.
We have seen in _Magellanica_ the farthest, that is, the most Southerly
part of the _New World_, and before it in order all the Western Coasts
of _America_ that lie either upon or towards _Mare del Zur_, _viz._,
from _Panama_, the first Province of this Southern part down as far as
the _Straights_. We are now to return and take a view of the Eastern
Coasts, and those Countreys which lie upon the _Atlantick_ Ocean,
steering our Course henceforth Northward, not directly, but as the Coast
leads us for a while Eastward and by North, forasmuch as the Land of
_America_, from the _Straights_ of _Magellan_ up as far as _Brasile_,
and almost to the _Æquator_, runneth out with a long Point, little less
than three thousand Leagues together.
[Sidenote: Situation and Description of _Paraguay_, or _Rio de la
Plata_.]
The first Province we meet with on this side next to _Magellanica_, is
the Countrey of _Paraguay_, oftentimes call’d _Rio de la Plata_, from
the Name of an huge River, which runneth for the most part through the
midst of it: It is border’d, as we said, to the South and towards the
_Straights_ with _Magellanica_; on the East, with the _Atlantick_ Ocean;
more Northward, or to the North-East, it hath _Brasile_; and on the West
those undiscover’d Countreys of the Province of _Chile_, of which we
have spoken.
The Countrey on both sides the River is reported to be a very lusty and
fruitful Soil, bearing besides those which are proper and native, all
sorts of _European_ Fruits and Grain in great abundance, with
Sugar-Canes, both large and good, as any other Province of the _New
World_. Nor is it excell’d by any other for good Pasturage and great
Herds of Cattel, Sheep, and Swine; in particular, Horses are said to
have multiply’d so here, that of thirty Mares, and about six or seven
Stallions, which the _Spaniards_ left there, in forty years the whole
Countrey thereabouts was fill’d with the Breed of them, running wild in
great Companies together, through all the Woods and Forrests of the
Countrey, and being of excellent Mettle and Service if they could be
tam’d. It affordeth likewise great store of wild Deer and Stags, some
Lyons, Tygers, _&c._ nor is it without good Mines, some both of Gold and
Silver; but chiefly, as to what is yet discover’d, of Brass, and Iron;
and the People altogether salvage.
[Sidenote: The River _De la Plata_.]
The River _De la Plata_, which (as we said before) divides this
Countrey, is one of the largest of the whole World, rising, as ’tis
suppos’d, out of the Lake call’d _De los Xarayes_, three hundred Leagues
or more within Land, and falling into the _Atlantick_ Ocean, or North
Sea, in thirty four Degrees of Southern Latitude, with an _Estuary_ or
Mouth of thirty, or two and thirty Leagues over.
The whole Countrey is usually subdivided into three inferior Provinces,
which are 1. _Rio de la Plata_ properly so call’d. 2. _Tucuman._ 3. _La
Crux de Sierra._
SECT. II.
Rio de la Plata, properly so call’d.
[Sidenote: Situation of _Rio de la Plata_, properly so call’d.]
_Rio de la Plata_, properly so call’d, is that part of the Countrey
which extendeth it self on both sides the River, in length many Leagues
together, but not answerable in breadth.
[Sidenote: Towns and Places of note.]
The chiefest Towns of note in this Province, are 1. _Buenos Ayres_, by
some call’d _La Trinidad_, on the Southern Banks of the River _De la
Plata_, sixty four Leagues, as they say, from the Mouth of it: It is
seated commodiously at the foot of a little Mountain, and fortifi’d with
a Mud-Wall, a little Castle, and some Pieces of Ordnance.