Ayres_, upon the same River, and a richer Place, chiefly by reason of
their Cloth, of which there is here one of the greatest Manufactures of
all these parts of _Peru_.
3. _Nuestra Sennora de la Assumption_, commonly call’d _Assumption_
onely, lying yet higher up the River almost a hundred Leagues, a well
built and well frequented Town, long since inhabited by two hundred
Families at least of natural _Spaniards_, besides _Mestizos_, as they
call them, which are the Breed of _Spaniards_ by the _American_ People,
Men or Women, and _Mulattos_, which are likewise their Race, but
begotten upon _Negro_’s, of both which there are reckon’d to be here
some thousands.
4. _La Cividad Real_, or more commonly call’d _Ontiveros_, fourscore
Leagues Northward from _Assumption_, seated on the Banks of the River
_Parana_ in a fruitful Soil, as the Countrey generally is about all
these Places; but the Air hereabouts is not so healthful.
5. _St. Anne_, upon the same River; and 6. _St. Salvador._
SECT. III.
Tucuman.
[Sidenote: Situation of _Tucuman_.]
Westward of _La Plata_ lieth the Countrey of _Tucuman_, extending it
self as far as the Borders of _Chile_, a Countrey not yet well
discover’d either to the North or the South. That part of it which lieth
towards _Chile_ is well Manur’d and Husbanded, and likewise very
fruitful; but that towards _Magellanica_, neither the one, nor the
other, remaining altogether untill’d and barren.
[Sidenote: Towns and chief Places of note.]
The chief Towns and Places of note, are 1. _St. Jago de Esteco_, the
principal Town of the Province, and a Bishop’s See, seated upon the
River _Esteco_, a hundred and fourscore Leagues distant from _Buenos
Ayres_.
2. _St. Michael de Tucuman_, seated at the foot of a huge rocky
Mountain, but otherwise in a Soil the fruitfullest and best, both for
Corn and Pasturage, in all this Countrey, twenty eight Leagues distant
from _St. Jago_.
3. _Talavera_, or _Nuestra Sennora de Talavera_, as the _Spaniards_ call
it, situate upon the Banks of _Salado_, in a good Soil, and inhabited by
an industrious People, grown exceeding rich and wealthy, chiefly by
their Manufactures of Cotton-Wooll, whereof they have great plenty, and
by which they drive a Trade as far as the Mines at _Potosi_, and other
parts of _Peru_.
[Illustration: BRASILIA.]
4. _Corduba_, another rich Town of this Province, and of great Trade, as
lying at an equal distance, _viz._ of fifty Leagues, both From _San Fe_,
as they call it, or _St. Faiths_ in the Province of _La Plata_
abovesaid, and from _St. Juan de la Frontera_ in the Country of _Chile_,
and almost in the Road-way from _Potosi_ and those parts of _Peru_, to
_Buenos Ayres_ and the North Sea.
5. _Chocinoca_; 6. _Sococha_; 7. _Calebinda_; 8. _Morata_, and others,
but belonging for the most part to the reduced Natives.
SECT. IV.
La Crux de Sierra.
[Sidenote: Situation of _La Crux de Sierra_.]
_La Crux de Sierra_ is a little Territory (at least in comparison to
some others) lying towards _Peru_, and reckon’d by some for one of the
Provinces of _Peru_: It lieth betwixt the two great Rivers _Paraguay_
and _Guapay_, a hundred Leagues distant, as ’tis said, from _Charcas_,
to which yet in some Causes it is subordinate.
The Soil of this Countrey is abundantly fertile in all sorts of
_American_ Fruits, besides good plenty both of Wheat and _Maiz_, and
scarsity of nothing useful for Man’s Life, unless it be fresh Water in
some places.
[Sidenote: Chief Towns of this Province.]
The chief Towns of this Province, are 1. _San Crux_, situate at the foot
of a great Mountain or Hill, but opening upon a large Plain, whose
thirsty driness is well refresh’d by a certain Brook or Torrent, which
issueth out of a neighboring Mountain, and a few Leagues distant from
the Town maketh a pretty Lake, which supplieth the Countrey thereabouts,
both with fresh Water and Fish in good plenty.
2. _Barranea_, a Town suppos’d to be not above threescore Leagues
distant from _Potosi_.
3. _Nova Rioia_, once a Colony of _Spaniards_, but sack’d and spoil’d by
the Salvages of these Parts about the Year 1548. and the first
Discoverer of the Countrey, namely _Nunno de Chaves_, treacherously
murder’d by a Native, since which time ’tis said to have been deserted.
[Illustration]
CHAP. VII.
Brasile.
[Sidenote: Situation and Description of _Brasile_.]
[Sidenote: _Pedro Alvarez Capralis_ his Expedition to _Brasile_.]
_Brasile_ by _Capralis_ call’d _San Cruz_, because it was discover’d on
the Day dedicated to the holy Cross, but generally _Brasile_, from the
red Wood, which it produces in great abundance, extends, according to
the Account of the _Portuguese_, between the Rivers _Maranon_ and _De la
Plata_: But according to the Division which Pope _Alexander_ the Sixth
made upon the Approbation of the Kings of _Castile_ and _Portuguese_,
_Brasile_ extends not so far; for it begins in the North along the
Stream _Para_, and ends at the River _Capybora_, two Leagues beyond the
Town _St. Vincent_: Eastward it is wash’d by the Northern Ocean, and on
the West separated from _Peru_ by desolate Mountains: It lies between 4
and 22 Degrees of Southern Latitude. Historiographers differ much
concerning the first Discoverer; but without contradiction the first
honor belongs justly to _Americus Vesputius_, who being sent out by
_Ferdinand_, King of _Castile_, in the Year 1497. arriv’d first with
four Sail at _Brasile_; whither he was follow’d two years after by
_Vincent Aynez Pinzon_, Associate to _Christopher Columbus_; but with
ill success, for two of the Ships were cast away in a Storm, and the
other two return’d sadly weather-beaten into the _Spanish_ Haven
_Palos_, yet not before he had made a farther Discovery of _Brasile_
than _Americus Vesputius_; which so stirr’d up _Emanuel_, King of
_Portugal_, that he sent _Pedro Alvarez Capralis_ thither with five
hundred Men in thirteen Ships, that so he might get sure footing on
_Brasile_; where Landing he erected a Stone Cross, and inform’d the King
of his whole Proceedings by _Gasper Lemnius_, with whom he sent over two
_Brasilians_, a Man a Woman, the strangeness of whose Garb caus’d great
admiration in _Portugal_ amongst the Spectators: the Man, having a flat
Nose, went stark naked, and in his nether Lip hung a Stone call’d
_Matara_; through each Check there was stuck a piece of _Brasile_ Wood,
on his Shoulders he carry’d three long Darts, and on his Head he wore
divers colour’d Feathers; the Hair about his Privities was all pluckt
out, and his _Membrum Virile_ ty’d about with a String call’d
_Tacoaynhaa_, which he unty’d when he Urin’d; his Body was strong and
well proportion’d, and painted with several Colours. The Woman wore a
Lappet girt about her Middle, in which Girdle stuck a Cane Tobacco-pipe;
the Lappet reach’d just to the top of her Knees, the rest of her Body
was also naked; on her Head she wore a broad Hat made of Feathers, on
the top of which stuck two Plumes; in her Ears hung Bells, and about her
Neck three Strings of Pearl; and her Body was also painted with red and
yellow Colours. _Lemnius_ also gave so much Information concerning the
fruitfulness of _Brasile_, that several _Portuguese_ Families went
thither, accompanied with some _Italian_ Fryers, which scattering up and
down, began to build several Villages, but were soon after most of them
kill’d and eaten up by the _Indians_.
[Illustration]
_Anno 1549._ King _John_ the Third fitted out a great Fleet, which set
Sail from _Lisbon_ under the Command of _Thomas de Sosa_.
[Sidenote: _Jesuits_ sent to _Brasile_ by Pope _Paulus_ the Third and
_Ignatius_.]
Also the Jesuits _Aspilcueta_, _Antonio Pireo_, _Leonardo Nonno_,
_Didaco Jacobo_, _Vincent Roderico_, and _Emanuel Robrega_, were sent
thither by Pope _Paulus_ the Third, and _Ignatius Loyola_, whose Fleet
came to an Anchor in the Bay afterwards call’d _Bahia de Todos Sanctos_,
where _Sosa_ built the City _Salvador_; since which the _Portuguese_
have spread themselves farther and farther over _Brasile_.
[Sidenote: Temperature of the Climate.]
The _United Netherlands_ also sent Colonies thither with good success,
for they took several vast Countreys from the _Portuguese_, by force of
Arms, and built new Forts and Towns in several places. But we will first
give you a general Description of it, that so we may the better render a
Relation in particular of every Province thereof, it being a
considerable part of the _New World_, and both pleasant and fruitful,
and the Sea-Coasts refresh’d by Easterly Winds, which begin before
Day-break, when the North Sea ebbs or flows, for then the Wind rises
with the Sun, and continues till Mid-night: Towards the West, where the
Mountains divide _Brasile_ from _Peru_, it is made temperate by Westerly
Winds, which though judg’d unwholsom, because they seem to arise out of
the Moorish Grounds, yet they hurt not the Inhabitants along that Coast,
because they either break against the high Mountains, or are driven by
the strong Wind which blows from the Sea.
The difference between Summer and Winter, shorter and longer Days, in
the main part of _Brasile_, is scarce discernable, warm Weather lasting
all the year round; and for the length of the Day and Night, the Sun
being hid under the Horizon twelve hours, shines for the most part just
as long, the greatest difference never being above an hour. Three hours
before Day-break the Dew makes it exceeding cold till Sun-rising;
wherefore the _Brasilians_ make Fires in the Night near their Hammocks,
not onely to keep wild Beasts from them, but also against the Cold.
After the coldest Nights follow the fairest Days, and the contrary after
sultry Nights; nevertheless (except in the rainy Season, which begins
with _March_ and ends about _August_) the Skye is generally clear, yet
it Lightens much towards the Evening. Rainbowes often appear in the
Skye, and bout the Moon _Halos_. The Rain generally falls in great
Drops, and with a mighty noise; before which it is generally very sultry
hot, or else soon after. The Dew, which is fruitfuller than in _Europe_,
is saltish, which makes it oft to rot things that lie in the open Air.
During the rainy Moneths, a South-East Winds blows from a cloudy Skye,
much stronger than the Northern in Summer. The South-East Wind drives
the Stream to the North, as the North Wind drives it to the South: And
more than this, there is little to be discern’d of the Seas ebbing and
flowing hereabouts: At the highest Tides the _Brasilians_ go several
Leagues from the Shore to Fish, upon Planks made of the spungy Wood
call’d _Jangada_ fastned together. The Sea, which seems to burn in the
Night, is so clear in the Day, that the Fish may be seen to swim above
twenty Fathom deep. A calm Ocean when the Days and Nights are of an
exact length, and especially when dark Clouds appear, is a certain sign
of a dreadful Storm. At Full or New-Moon the Sea rises twelve Foot, and
continues either a longer or shorter time, according as it is more or
less turbulent, and the Rivers fall stronger or more gently into the
same.
Before most part of the Coast of _Brasile_ lies a Stone Cliff of above
twenty or thirty Paces broad, which is never cover’d with Water, though
in the time of Spring-floods. In this Cliff Nature in several places
hath made a Gap, through which the Ships sail near the Shore, and ride
safe at an Anchor.
The whole Countrey of _Brasile_ is divided into thirteen _Præfectures_,
or Lordships, and hath about as many Rivers, which more or less empty
themselves into every one of these Countreys. The Eastern part hath
several Brooks and Fountains, which afford good Water both for Man and
Beast. In some parts the Water is so strong, that the wild Beasts making
themselves Drunk therewith, are easily taken. During the Winter Season
the Rivers glide with great force, and swell on a sudden, overflowing
all the neighboring Countrey, onely the River _San Francisco_ runs
strongest and rises highest in the Summer Season, whenas in the Winter
it flows low, and poures but little Water into the Ocean. The original
of this River is as yet unknown, yet is by most believ’d to come out of
a great Lake lying near the _Peruvian_ Mountains: The _Hollanders_, who
sail’d forty Leagues up the same, found it every where broad and deep,
and scatter’d full of Isles and Rocks. The _Portuguese_ sailing ten
Leagues farther, discover’d the great Rocks _Cocoeras_, from which the
said River falls down with great violence, and extends it self
North-West. In the other _Brasilian_ Streams, though wide at the
Mouthes, which generally are not above two or three hours walking from
their Fountains or Springs, no Barque is able to Row up, they being
exceeding shallow, although much Rain falls into them; the reason
whereof is because the barren Mountains lying between _Brasile_ and
_Peru_, discharge abundance of Water through the Rivers of _Amazones_,
_Maranon_, _Francisco_, _La Plata_, and the _Juaeiro_, with such force
into the Ocean, that they keep their sweetness for thirty Leagues. Near
the Sea side are several Lakes and Pits which are drinkable, and others
up in the Countrey that are brackish.
[Sidenote: The Nature of the Soil.]
The Countrey differs exceedingly, for where it extends in Plains the
Soil is fat and clayie, and produces all sorts of Fruit, but especially
Sugar-Canes. During the rainy Seasons the Trees flourish most; after
which the heat of the Sun, and fertility of the Soil speedily ripen the
Fruit: wherefore they Dung not their Land, but on the contrary endeavor
to make it lean with Sand, that the Plants might not have too many
Leaves, and wither before the Fruit can be ripened. They Sowe in the
beginning of the rainy Moneths, and especially take care that the Seed
lie not too deep in the Ground, because then the Sun-beams being not
able to come at it, suffer it to perish in the cold Ground.
The high _Cocoa_ and _Palmito_-Trees, are transplanted all the year
round, the Roots being onely cover’d with a little Earth, because they
can endure no cold.
Several Trees here bear a cooling Fruit, as if kind Nature took care to
provide against excessive heat.
[Sidenote: Description of the _Tamanda_.]
All manner of Plants and Herbs brought hither from _Angola_, _Portugal_,
the _Netherlands_, and the _East-Indies_, grow here very plentifully.
But the Countrey generally would be much better, if some way could be
found out to destroy the innumerable company of Pismires, which though
three times bigger than the _European_, resemble them very much, and
cover the Paths in Woods and Fields for three or four Miles together;
and raising Hillocks, make them hollow, and fill them with Corn: in the
Full of the Moon they gather an incredible quantity of Grain, which they
bite at each end, because it should not sprout: against the rainy
Moneths they stop up their Holes, that the Water may not damnifie their
Store. But these Animals have a mortal Enemy of the _Tamanda_, of which
there are two sorts, the bigger call’d _Guaca_; the lesser _Miri_; the
_Guaca_, notwithstanding it is no bigger than an ordinary Dog, yet it
destroys Tygers, and other wild Beasts, with such a raging fury, that it
never lets go what once it hath got hold of, but holds it fast so long
till sometimes it dies of Hunger. The _Guaca_ differing from the _Miri_
onely in bigness, hath a broad Tail full of grey and black Bristles,
which sticks up when he is vex’d, but when he goes to sleep, covers
himself with the same. The _Miri_ winds his long smooth Tail about the
Boughs, by which hanging he searches the Holes in the Trees with his
Tongue, which being thin and round, hath a Gutter in the middle, in
which when it feels any Pismires, it suddenly swallows them down: If he
perceives them to have their Nests under Ground, then he scratches up
the Earth, and puts his Tongue in at the Holes. Both the _Guaca_ and
_Miri_ have a thick Skin, and a broad black Streak from their Breasts on
each side up half way their Bodies, and through the black runs also a
white Streak. No Beast in the World is hardier than this, for though it
fasts twelve days, and is afterwards flay’d alive, yet it will live
several hours after.
[Sidenote: The Plant _Manyle_.]
[Sidenote: Description of the Tree _Ibriptanga_.]
[Sidenote: The Tree _Tatai-iba_.]
The Lakes in _Brasile_ are for the most part overgrown with Weeds just
like a Field, yet are exceeding full of Fish and Fowl. Where the Sea
runs into the Lakes, great multitudes of Crabs are seen crawling along
the Ground, and the Oysters hang in Clusters on the Boughs of a Plant
call’d _Manyle_ or _Mangues_, which grow with their Roots either near or
in the Water, in such a manner, that new Bodies still shoot from the old
Roots, which prevents easie access to the chief Plant, on whose
uppermost Leaves after Sun-rising sticks very white Salt, which in the
Night, or in a cloudy Day turns to a brackish Dew. Moreover, those
places where _Brasile_ rises with Hills and Mountains, are likewise very
fruitful, except the barren tops of some, which seem to kiss the Skyes;
and though the fruitful Mountains flourish in the time of the rainy
Months, yet many of the Trees which grow on them die in Summer, and
their Ashes being burnt by the Inhabitants, are us’d in stead of Dung.
Some Woods extend themselves three hundred Leagues in length, and are
full of Trees, so tall, that an Arrow shot upwards falls short of the
top of them, and a Boat may be made out of the Body, which can carry a
hundred and fifty Men. On the great Boughs of these mighty Trees grow
other excrescent Shrubs after the manner of Misseltoe, which proceed
from the Kernels swallow’d and muted upon them by the Birds that light
there. In some places also grow also Sweet-wood Trees, which afford
either excellent Gums or Wood to Dye with; amongst which the chief is
the _Ibiripitanga_, which yields the _Brasile_ Wood, that gives
Denomination of _Brasile_ to this vast Tract of Land. The Tree
_Ibripitanga_ is tall and spreading, hath sad colour’d Bark full of
short Thorns; the Leaves are green, and differ in form but little from
the Box-Tree Leaf; the Boughs shoot forth other lesser, full of yellow
and sweet-smelling Flowers, which falling off are succeeded by a flat
long Cod, of a dark grey colour, full of little red Pulse; the upper
part of the Tree is not good to Dye with, but onely the lower part of
the Body, which because the Tree grows far up in the Countrey, is not
transportable without much trouble. But the _Tatai-iba_ grows in the
Woods along the Shore; the Bark being of an Ash-colour, invests a yellow
Wood; the Leaves are sharp and notch’d, the Fruit not unlike Mulberries,
pale, juicy, and full of white Seed; the Wood boyl’d Dyes a pure Yellow.
It is observable not onely of this Tree, but generally of the Trees of
this Countrey, that they neither flourish, nor shed their Leaves all
over at once, nor do several Trees of the same kind, and growing here
germinate or fade together; for whilest one is fullest of Blossoms, the
other is without Leaves; and whilest the same Tree sheds its Leaves on
one side, the other side is newly Budded.
The _European_ Plants and Herbs with soft Roots, being once Planted in
_Brasile_, come to be hard and lignifi’d. There is also great
difference, according to the Ground in which they are Planted; for such
Plants and Trees as in the Plains are but small and tender, grow ten
times higher if Planted in the Woods.
All sorts of _Indian_ Pulse grow higher than the tallest Trees, like
high Arbors, under which both Men and Beasts may shelter themselves from
the Sun or Rain.
We find not upon Record or Tradition, that _Brasile_ was ever troubled
with an Earthquake, which is the reason that it hath neither Silver nor
Gold-Mines, because sulphurous Fires are found under Ground, which are a
cause of the production of Gold and Silver, so likewise they occasion
Earthquakes: yet in that part of _Brasile_ call’d _Ceara_, there are
some Mines of Silver, out of which the _Hollanders_ would have got
greater Riches, had not they been employ’d in the Wars against the
_Portuguese_.
[Illustration]
Far up into the Countrey amongst the Mountains, inhabit _Canibals_, or
Man-eaters. The _Europeans_ that first travell’d that way, found the
Countrey very fertile and full of People, especially in the Valleys, but
somewhat incommoded by the want of Water, and the excessiveness of the
Heat in the Day, and of the Cold in the Night. In some places the
Countrey is so over-grown with Brambles, that they are forc’d to cut
their way through the same. But there are a sort of Thistles, which
having concave Leaves, receive the Dew and Rain for the accommodation of
the Natives.
Besides Serpents and Dragons, the Tygers are most of all to be fear’d
when hungry, but once satisfi’d are easily taken.
Dogs, Oxen, Sheep, and Horses thrive also exceedingly in most parts of
_Brasile_.
[Sidenote: The Nature of the _Brasilians_.]
The _Brasilians_ live to be very old without being Bald or Grey: There
are seldom or never to be seen squint-ey’d, lame, decrepid, or any
deformed People, notwithstanding the Children are never Swath’d but
thrown into cold Water as soon as born. The Men generally have a very
near resemblance one with another, as also the Women, so that there is
not such a difference betwixt Man and Man there, as amongst other
People. There is scarce any Sickness heard of in these Parts; for
besides a long Life, they enjoy the benefit of Health so long as they
live. They trouble not themselves with much Business; and in one Hut,
whose Covering consists of Palm-Leaves, dwell several Families together.
[Sidenote: Their manner of Living.]
[Sidenote: Their several sorts of Drinks.]
The general Bread of the _Brasilians_ is the stamp’d Root _Mandihoka_;
besides which they also eat all manner of Fruit and Plants, and many
times Flesh, which they either eat boyl’d, broyl’d, or stew’d; their
Boyling is after this manner: First they kindle their fire with two
Sticks, the one of hard, and the other of soft Wood; the hard they make
sharp at the end, and fix the same into the soft, which setting on fire
they immediately lay Cotton thereupon, or else dry Leaves, and so boyl
the Flesh in round Earthen Pots call’d _Camu_: but they account that
better which is stew’d in a Pot, the bottom whereof is cover’d with
Leaves, on which they lay the Flesh, then stopping the same close on the
top with Earth and Leaves, they make Fire over it so long till they
think the Flesh to be sufficiently stew’d. Their Broyling they perform
by fixing forked Sticks into the Ground, over which they lay several
others like a Gridiron; and upon them the raw Flesh, cut in long Slices,
and Pepper’d and Salted, then make a Fire under the same till it is
enough; and their Meat so dress’d keeps good fourteen days. Their Fish
either boyl’d or broyl’d is eaten with the Sawce _Juquitinga_. The
little Fish _Piaba_ and _Piquitinga_ they make up in Rolls, and lay them
under hot Ashes. Both with their Flesh and Fish they eat for Bread, as
hath been said, the Meal of the Root _Mandihoka_, which they taking up
with three Fingers throw into their Mouthes so dexterously, that not the
least scrap falls besides. They never observe any set hours to eat, for
they make several Meals in the Day, and sometimes in the middle of the
Night, if their Appetite serves, and neither drink nor speak whilest
they are at their Meat. They sleep in spread Hammocks made fast between
two Poles, near which burns a constant Fire with which in the Day-time
they dress their Meat, and at Night keep themselves warm, the Nights
being there somewhat cold, because of their equal length with the Days.
Their usual Liquor is cold Water, taken out of the Fountains, Rivers, or
Brooks; but to Carouse they make the Drink _Caoi_, of the Fruit of the
_Ocaiiba_-Tree, which being stamp’d in a woodden Mortar, is strain’d,
and at first looks like Milk, but after a few days standing turns to a
darker colour, and is strong enough to make Astronomers of those that
drink largely of it, but if long kept, it turns to be excellent Vinegar.