A Geographical Description of All the Countries in the Known World, Part 1 · Subpart 194
America described.
Anno Christi 1486. Christopher Columbus, born at Ner…i in the Country of Genoa, being a man of projecting wit, excellently skilled in Astronomy, and Navigation, strongly conceited that some Lands must needs lye in the portion of the circle▪ which should make up the World into a Globe; considering also the motion of the Sun, hee perswaded himself that there was another world, to which the Sun imparted his light, when hee went out of our Horison. This world hee hoped to discover, and therefore imparted his intent to the Genowaies, but was by them rejected. Then sent hee his Brother Bartholomew Columbus, to motion the matter to our King Henry the seventh, but hee, falling into the hand of Pyrates by the way, was long a prisoner before hee was enlarged; but as soon as hee was free, hee came to our English Court, and his motion was readily embraced by the King: But God, who had otherwise disposed it, so ordered it, that Columbus, not knowing of his Brothers imprisonment, because hee heard nothing from him, thought that his suit was rejected, and thereupon addressed himself to the King of Spain, who after many delayes, furnished him with two ships only for discovery: with this small assistance hee sailed in the Ocean more than threescore dayes, without discovery of any land, so that his discontented Spaniards began to mutiny, absolutely resolving to go no further; Columbus did all that hee could to pacifie and incourage them, but when nothing would prevail, hee was fain to ingage himself to them, that if land was not discovered within three dayes, hee would steer his course back again: At the end of which time one of the company discryed fire, an evident sign of land, which they took possession of, Anno Christi 1492. and Columbus in honour of the Spaniards, called it Hispaniola: after which hee discovered Cuba, and so with much treasure, and greater content hee returned into Spain; and after two other voyages hee sickned, and dyed, and was buried at Sivil.
This Columbus being on a time at supper with some of the great Spanish Dons in the Court, they took occasion to speak very sleightly of his Indian discoveries, as if it was such a small matter which might have been performed by any man: Hee hearing them, called for an Egge, and when hee had it, desired them to try if any of them could make it stand an end upon their trenchers: they all tryed, and by indeavouring equally to poise it, laboured to make it stand, but could not; then did Columbus take it, and knocking it down pretty hard, crackt the end, which caused it to stand upright: at this they all laughed, saying, that every fool could do so: Yea (saith hee) and now I have made a discovery of that new world, every one can go thither, &c.
VVhen the Spaniards first arrived in those parts, they found the Inhabitants naked, unacquainted with husbandry, making their bread of Cassavy roots, worshiping the Devils, whom they called Zemes, in remembrance of whom they had certain Images made of Cotton-wool, like to our Childrens babies: To these they did great reverence, as supposing the spirit of their Zemes to bee in them: and the Devil to blind them the more, would sometimes make these Puppets move, and make a noise: they stood also in great fear of them, for if they did not fulfil his will, the Devil would execute vengeance upon some of the Children of these poor deluded souls. They thought the Christians to bee immortal, wondring at the Masts, Sails, and tacklings of their ships, and to try whether they were immortal or no, having taken some straglers, they held their heads under water till they were strangled, which made them change their opinions. They esteemed gold and silver no more than dross, yet for the colours sake adorned themselves therewith, as they did with shells, feathers, and the like.
The Spaniards after their coming amongst them behaved themselves very cruelly, killing them like sheep, and forcing them like beasts, to labour in their Mines, to carry their burthens, and to do all manner of drudgery, which caused them so to hate them, that one Haythney a noble man amongst them being perswaded to bee baptised, with the promise of Heaven for his reward; asked whither the Spaniards went when they dyed? and when answer was made that they went to Heaven, hee renounced his intended Baptisme, protesting that hee had rather go to Hell, with the unbaptised, than to live in Heaven with so cruel a people.
In some places there was such abundance of gold, that in some Mines they found more gold than earth, which the Indians exchanged greedily for Hammers; Knives, Axes, Hatchets, and such tools of Iron; for before, they were fain to make their Canows or Boats plain without, of the body of a great tree which they made hollow with the force of fire.
Columbus having thus happily begun this noble enterprize, hee was seconded by Americus Vesputio, a Florentine, from whom (unjustly) it was called America. To him succeeded John Cabot, imployed by our King Henry the seventh. Ferdinando Magellane first found out the South passage, called the streights of Magellane, by which hee compassed the world, and was afterwards followed by our Drake, and Candish; and the Dutch Nandernoort: since which time another Dutchman called Le Maire, found out a more Southerly passage into the South Sea, called Le Maires Streights, by which hee also compassed the world.
America is divided into two parts, Mexicana, and Peruana.
Mexicana is the Northern tract, containing the Provinces of Mexico▪ Quivira, Nicaragua, Jucutan, Florida, Virginia, Norembega, New-France, New-England, &c.
Mexico, is now called New-Spain, in which is that excellent tree called Mete, which they plant, and dress as wee do our Vines, yeelding so many sorts of commodities: For when they bee tender, they make of them Conserves, Paper, Flax, Mantles, Mats, Shooes, Girdles, and Cordage: On the leaves grow prickles so hard, and sharp, that they use them in stead of sawes. From the root of the tree comes a juice like unto syrup, which if you seeth, it will become Hony, if you purifie it, it will become Sugar: you may also make Wine, and Vineger of it: The rind rosted cureth hurts, and sores, and from the top boughs is such a Gum which is an excellent antidote against poison. It abounds also with many golden sanded Rivers, wherein are Crocodiles which the natives eat: It hath Mines of gold, and a mountain burning like Aetna. Its bounded on the East with Jucutan, and the Gulph of Mexico: on the West with California: on the South with Peruana; and the Northern limits are not known.
It was very populous before the arrival of the Spaniards, who in seventeen years slew six millions of them, roasting some, plucking out the eyes, cutting off the arms of others, and casting them alive to bee devoured of dogs, and wild beasts. Mechuacan, one of the Provinces of New-Spain, abounds with Mulberry trees, Silk, Hony, Wax, black Amber, and great plenty of Fish: the Inhabitants are tall, strong, active, and speak a copious language.
Mexico, hath in it a City of the same name, in compass six miles, consisting of six thousand houses of Spaniards, and sixty thousand of Indians: Its situate on Lakes, and Islands like Venice, every where interlaced with pleasant currents of fresh, and Sea waters: The plain wherein the Town standeth is seventy leagues in compass, environed with high hills, on the tops of which Snow lyeth continually. The Lake on whose banks the City lyeth is fifty miles in compass, the banks whereof are adorned with pleasant Towns, and houses, and on the Lake are fifty thousand wherreyes plying continually. Nigh to this City is the Gulph of Mexico, whose current is so swift, and heady, that ships cannot pass directly to, and fro, but are compelled to bear either much North, or much South. Its nine hundred miles in compass, and hath two Ports, one between the farthest part of Jucatan, and the Isle of Cuba, at which the tide entereth with a violent stream, the other between the said Cuba, and the farthest part of Florida, at which the tide with the like violence goeth forth: the Sea is very tempestuous, and hath only two safe Havens, viz. Havana on the North side, and St. John de Luna on the South, which are strongly fortified by the Spaniards.
The Country of Mexico is inferior to Peru, in the plenty and purity of gold, and silver, but far exceeding it both in the Mechanical, and ingenious arts here professed, and in the abundance of fruits, and cattel, of which last there is such store, that many a private man hath forty thousand Kine, and Oxen to himself; Fish also are very plentiful: that only which is caught in the Lake, whereon Mexico stands, being reputed worth twenty thousand Crowns per annum.
Mexico was conquered by Ferdinando Cortez, Anno Christi 1521. His Army consisting of one hundred thousand Americans, nine hundred Spaniards, eighty horsemen, seventeen small peeces of Ordnance, thirteen Brigandines, and six thousand Wherrie-boats which from the Lake assaulted Mexico.
In Quivira, another Province, the riches of the people consists in cattel, whose hides yeeld them coverings for their houses; their bones, bodkins; their hair, thred; their sinewes, ropes; their horns, mawes, and bladders, vessels; their dung; fire; their Calf-skins, budgets to draw, and keep water in: their blood, drink; and their flesh meat.
Nova Albion, lyeth on the West towards Tartary: It was discovered by Sir Francis Drake, Anno Christi 1585. The King whereof did willingly resign himself, and land to our Queen. In it is a Hare, resembling a Mole in his feet, a Cat in his tail; under whose chin nature hath fastened a little bag, as a store-house; for in it, when hee hath filled his belly, hee reserveth the rest of his provision. It abounds in good fruits.
Jucutan, is a Peninsula in circuit nine hundred miles, a fruitful Country situated over against Cuba.
Florida, hath on the East the Northern Sea: on the West Mexico; on the North New-France, and on the South Virginia: It abounds with goodly fruits, and hath some quantity of gold, and silver. Emeralds are also found there, and Turquesses, and Pearls. Women when their Husbands dye, cut off their hair close to their heads, strewing it upon their husbands graves, and may not marry again, till their hair bee grown to cover their shoulders.