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I 
 
 UK PORT FOR 1857. 
 
 HE Ilakluyt Society, on fliis Anniversary, has coniplctc-cl 
 the tenth year of its existence, during which time it is 
 hoped that it has not unworthily fulHlled the purpose lor 
 which It Avas estahlished. 
 
 It is witli the deepest regret tliat tlie Council have to 
 record the loss which the Society, in common with the 
 whole literary world, has sustained by the decease of the 
 Earl of Ellesmere. J [is Lordship was for seven years one 
 of the Vice-Presidents of the Society, and at all times took a 
 great interest in its labours. It is not here the place to 
 dwell on the virtues, talents, and amiable deportment which 
 characterized that excellent and greatly respected nobleman. 
 'Ihey are too well and extensively recognized to require 
 exi)ression licre. The Members of the Society are aware 
 that they have had the advantage not only of his influential 
 aid in advocating the interests of the Society, but also of his 
 active labours in translating and editing one of the Society's 
 most interesting publications. So great a loss will not be 
 easily replaced. 
 
 ^ J^esides this very serious loss, death has deprived the 
 Society, during the past twelvemonth, of four other ^fem- 
 bers. JNIeanwhilc there has been an accession of ten new 
 JNlembers. There have been two voluntary withdrawals 
 from the Society during the same period, to counterbalance 
 which two INlembers, who had previously withdrawn, have 
 rejoined it, j^aying up the arrears which had been allowed 
 to lapse. 
 
 The Balance Sheet at the foot of this Report, will show 
 that the funds of the Society arc in a sound and wholesome 
 condition ; the balance there recorded being free from any 
 outstanding accounts whatever, beyond that which is 
 
Q 
 
 accruing od wor1<s now at press, and by far tlic greater part 
 of the exp(>nsc there quoted for transcriptions and litho- 
 graphs heing in anticipation of works now in course of pi(>- 
 paration. Mean^s'hile there is a eonsidcuabk' amount oi 
 arrears to be called in, for which pur])ose a circular has 
 been recently issued. 
 
 As it is frc(piently the wish of new Subscribers to pur- 
 chase the entire set of the Society's pre\ ions publications, 
 the Council has been desirous of meeting thi>^ wish with due 
 consideration to the maintei^.ance of the value of their ])ul)li- 
 cations in the hands of old Subscribers. It iy obvious that 
 each succeeding year, increasing, as it do(^s, the sum to Ix; 
 claimed, would make this calculation extremely dillicidt, 
 Avcrc it not, that at the same tinu> it i-idiances the value of 
 the works from their increasing scarceness, anu thus jnc- 
 scnts an additional inducement to Subseribers to pay the sum 
 demanded, which, however just, miglit otherwise prove an 
 obstacle. The Ct)uncil has therefore resolved, that a new 
 INl ember joining the Society in the present year, shall be 
 entitled to receive all the books issued and due uj) to the 
 close of 185(3, for six guineas, wliich sum does not include 
 the subscription for the present year. This rule is dis- 
 tinctly uiulerstood to include the proviso, that the complete 
 set of the Society's productions shall be talvcn bv th(> Mem- 
 bers newly joining, to the preclu>ion of any selection of 
 single volumes from the entire series. 
 
 Since the last General ]\Ieetiiig, the following volumes 
 have been delivered to ]M embers : 
 
 The A'oYAfJK of Sin Ui.xnv ^Iiddm-ton to ])A.\rAM 
 AND THE ]\lALrco Jsi,AM)s ; being the second X'oyage s(>t 
 forth by the Governor and Com])any of Meicliants of Lon- 
 don trading into the East Indies. Frtmi the Kdition of 
 1006. Annotated and Edited by Jjolion Corney, Esq. 
 
 RissiA AT Tin: cj.osE or riir, Sixikknth Ckxtirv, 
 comprising the Ixusse Conunonwealth, b\ Dr. (jiles I'leteher, 
 and Sir Jerome Iforsey's Travels, now tir^t printed entire 
 from his MS. in the J5ritish -Museum. Kdited, with an 
 introduction, by E. A. Bond, Esq., of the liritish Museum. 
 
'I'hc iollowing works are in proirross, of wliich, tliosc in 
 italics, it is liopcd, will shortly appear. 
 
 Tin Tranls of (lirolamo Jjcnconi, in America, in 154fi- 
 50. 'I'o be translated and edited by Admiral W. J[. Smyth 
 K.S.F., D.C.L. 
 
 yi Jron()//r(t/>/i on the Life and Voyages of Ilenrij Hudson. 
 Edited by N. E. S. ITamilton, Esq., of the Ihitisli Museum. 
 A\ith an Introduction by (leorge Aslier, Esq., LL.T). 
 
 A Journal of Vasco da Gama's Voi/(u/r to India bt/ the 
 Cape of Good Hope. V>\ one of his C()nq)anions. Trans- 
 lated from the re])rint of the original M.S., published at 
 Oporto in 18']S. Translated from the rortuguese, and 
 Edited with other Documents, forming a INIonograph on 
 Tic Caina, by Richard Garnett, Esq., of the Ihitish 
 M uscum. 
 
 TiiK First A'oyaok of the Dutch to the East 
 Indies. Edited by (Jeorge Asher, Esq., LL.l), 
 
 A Collection oe Documents on thk early Dis- 
 coveries OF Australia. To be Edited by K. II. Major, 
 Es(j[., of the British Museum. 
 
 The "Carta quinta " of Fernando Cortes, de- 
 scribing his expedition into Honduras, now first translated 
 into English, and Edited by W. R. Steet, Esq. 
 
 Other works promised by Editors are : — 
 
 A translation from the German of Rosmjtal's 
 Travels through Germany, ExciLANi), France, Spain, 
 PoRruoAL, and Italy, in 14()5, c^'c., containing Notices 
 of the Events, Manners, and Customs of the Time. Edited 
 by Charles Cannon Esq., of the British Museum. 
 
 A Collection of Early Dcx'uments, to form a Sup- 
 plement to the " Narrative of A'oyagcs towards the North 
 West." By T. Rundall, Esq. 
 
 SoFAi.Mi. Tiu' History of Eastern Ethiopia, by J. dos 
 Santos, lOOT. To be translated and edited, with notes, by 
 AV. Desborougli (Jooley, Esq. 
 
t 
 
 Besides the decease of Lord EUesmere, the ibllowiiio five 
 members retire from the Council : 
 
 W. 0. Coo LEY, Esq. 
 
 His Exckllency the Count de Lavhadio. 
 
 Sir George T. Staunton, 13 r. 
 
 W. Stirling, Esq., of Keir. 
 
 The Rev. W. Whewell, D.D. 
 Of this ninuher — 
 
 His Excellency the Count de Lavkadh), 
 
 The Key. W. Whewell, D.D. 
 Arc recommended for re-election, and the following arc 
 proposed for election, viz. : 
 
 The Marquis of Lansoowne 
 
 John ]3ruce, Esq. 
 
 The Lord Alfred Churchill 
 
 Lieut.-Gen. Charles Rk hard Fox. 
 
 J 
 
 Statement of the Accounts of the Society for the years 1856-7. 
 
 liiiluuce lit last Audit : 
 
 IJeceived by Jiaiikeis duiiiiij tlie 
 ie'^"" 310 ID 
 
 £ .<. ./. ; 
 
 1, ,, , , •'^'i' "i'-liiinls for lMiitiii|if and 
 
 At lliiiikors' Ml 111 3 I liin.lin.' 
 
 '." '':"y";«'^'' Ill '■> MI..I. i: i!icim;-di;;;i>er'::;: 
 
 'Inuislutioiis 
 
 rraiih('ii[itioiia , ,\\ 
 
 Index ...!!!! 
 
 EiigrnvinKS iind I.ithograiihs.!'. ! 
 
 Advirliseiiionls 
 
 ICxpeuses of liKiniry at Antwerp 
 
 fur Miiiiusoripts of Nuyts 
 
 Gratuity to Ai,'eiit's I'oreuiaii. . . 
 Statiniiery, I'urcels, Postages, and 
 
 Sundries 
 
 rri'Sunt lialiinee: 
 
 At Bankers' flfio 2 11 
 
 In Petty Cash i; In a 
 
 £h;i) i; 
 
 Nl 11 
 
 i; 
 
 i^l II 
 
 i: 
 
 1' i; 
 
 I) 
 
 31 10 
 
 11 
 
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 31 10 
 
 
 
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 Examined and approved, 
 
 EDWIN N< RRIS. 
 WILLIAM Y. FLETCUEll. 
 
 March With, 1857. 
 
W U K K S IS S U E D J} Y 
 
 mjt $?alilugt ^otitt^. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD, 
 BY GIROLAMO BEXZONI. 
 
 M.IHCC.I.VIt. 
 
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 N K W WORLD, 
 
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 Iti. Hon. Siu OAVlJi IHNIiAs. 
 
 Sill lIKNJtV l.l.l.l>, K.Il., I .U.S. 
 
 LIEUT-GKN. I'llAin.KS nil MAIili FOX. 
 
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TliAASL/VTOli'S lATROBUCTION. 
 
 w 
 
 GiROLAMo Benzoni was born at Milan about tlic 
 year 1519, and, as wc learn fvom himself, started out 
 upon adventure in the New \^'orld at the age of 
 twenty, two. After fourteen years of toil and travail 
 in those parts, he returned home ; and in 1565 pub- 
 lished his "HisTORiA DEL MoNDo Nuovo" at Veuice, 
 dedicating it to Pope Pius IV. This was a quarto 
 volume; but the book was reprinted seven years 
 afterwards in a small octavo form, and this is the one 
 used in the following translation. It must have had 
 what is styled a " fair run," since it passed through 
 several editions, and was translated into Latin, 
 French, German, and Flemish,— besides the free use 
 which was made of it by the De Brys, and others. 
 But Jansen ^vas wrong in stating that it was also ren- 
 dered into Fnglish; for Purchas (vol. iv, page 1448, 
 edition 1625), insteatl of a translation of the book, 
 
i TIIANSLATOK S fNTUODL CTION. 
 
 gives little more than six pages, which (as C'haptor 
 XII ) he entitles — " Bricfe extracts translated out of 
 Jerom Benzos." 
 
 The Spannirds of those days do not seem to liavc 
 patronized the book very warmly, nor do they appear 
 to have rendered it into their language, although it 
 bears so much and so accurately on their proceedings. 
 Yet it lias been noticed by them : in the epitome of 
 Leon Pinelo's Bibliotheca, after the various editions 
 of Geronimo Ikmcono are enu..icratcd, it is added 
 somewhat [)ithily — " Autor poco afecto ii los Espa- 
 fioles." But i\iQ.Yvc\w\\{imprim(''c par Eustace Vignon, 
 1579) and Latin ( Urhani Calvctonis Opera) editions 
 were widely and eagerly read. Both of these have 
 now become very rare : indeed, from the latter, more 
 has been quoted in Catholic countries than from the 
 Italian version itself; and llieronymus Barzoni was 
 more familiar with some of his own countrymen, than 
 Girolamo Benzoni. 
 
 The narrative of this persevering adventurer, though 
 ill-written, carries internal evidence of strict veracity 
 in all those scenes in which he was peisonally en- 
 gaged ; and, indeed, throughout the general details. 
 It therefore forms a material link in tlu^ chain of 
 American history, as conveying an adequate view of 
 the doings of the early settlers, and the consequent 
 state of things in the New \\'()rld. Moreover, th(> 
 
translator's introduction. 
 
 Ill 
 
 ^■7 
 
 Italian's evidence respecting the famuiis and unfor- 
 tunate province of Cumana is peculiarly valuable, as 
 conveyincr a deep insight into the social condition of 
 the Indian and Spanish communities on that deso- 
 lated coast, at the most crucial period of its existence. 
 It may bo mentioned that, in an unworthy attempt 
 to gloze over the cruelties of the Spaniards, Thevet 
 professes an unbelief of the atrocities related by 
 Benzoni ; but he produces no foundation for his 
 S(!epticism. On the contrary, both Morigia and Pic- 
 cinelli. his countrymen, refer to liim as possessed of a 
 clear intellect and tenacious memory. 
 
 In looking over the contemporaneous and other 
 writers on the New World, the translator begs to 
 mention his obligations to Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart., 
 of Middle Hill, in Worcestershire, whose magnificent 
 collection of manuscripts — including the precious 
 documents of poor Lord Kingsborough — was most 
 kindly and unreservedly submitted to his inspection. 
 Besides the writings of Valverde, Mendoza, Gonzales, 
 Oviedo, Montolinia, Ocariz, and other Spaniards of 
 those adventurous days, together with various rude 
 but expressive drawings, Sir Thomas shewed his 
 beautiful old Atlas, the property of Nicholas Vallard, 
 of Dieppe, in 1547, but apparently compiled in 1539 ; 
 the maps are elaborately illustrated with finelv- 
 finished representations of natives, animals, trees, 
 
 c 
 
IV 
 
 TRANSLATOH's i NTKOUrcTiON. 
 
 arms, and costumes. This splendid book, wliicli for- 
 merly belonged to the noted Prince Talleyrand, is an 
 authority for the geocrraphical knowledge of the times 
 herein treated of; and, on the whole, it represents 
 those regions pretty fairly for the epoch. 
 
 From the irregularity and lame orthography of 
 Benzoni's narrative, the general reader may some- 
 times find himself at a loss to know where he is ; a 
 geographical list of places, in alphabetical arrange- 
 ment, is therefore subjoined. 
 

 LIS1^ OF THE PLATES. 
 
 A wonderful Iiidian woman in Ciunana 
 
 IMoilc (it iiavif^'atin;,' in tlir Nurtiicrn Soa . 
 
 Mode of ,-,lo(.iuiiij: in llu' (lulf of Paria and in many oiIht placrn 
 
 How the Indians poiirod mtdtcduold dnwu tin' nioiuli, of tlic Spaniards 
 
 Till" Indians of La Kspanola Inini,' tliiiuselvi's in tlic W(jods. ratlu 
 
 than stTvc Clni.^tians • . . . 
 
 Mode (if dnctorinf,' sick pt'0|)l(> • • . . 
 
 Method of mnl.ing broad 
 
 Method of making wini' ... 
 
 Fruit-bearing' trees ..... 
 A well -roofed house in the province of Suero 
 The cacavate tree : shewing how the Indians pret tiro from two piece 
 
 of wood ..... 
 
 Trees producing the calabashes, which generally serve the Indians 
 
 as vases • • . . . 
 
 Method of dancing • • . . . 
 
 Indian method of living on trees 
 IMethod of fishing and navigating in the South Sea 
 Indians of Peru worshipping the sun 
 Method of working gold and silver 
 A tree which always drops water from its leaves on the island of Fevro 
 
 4 
 
 10 
 
 1 1 
 
 SI 
 
 S't 
 
 m 
 
 ss 
 
 ur, 
 
 140 
 
 1 .')() 
 151 
 
 213 
 218 
 2.") I 
 
m 
 
H I 8 T O II Y 
 
 OF THE 
 
 
 NEW WORLD, 
 
 IfV 
 
 a IRQ LA M BEN Z ON I 
 
 of Milan. 
 
 T\^ 
 
 treating of the Islands k Seas newly discouered, 
 
 also of the new towns seen by liiiu, 
 
 in traiiclling by land and by water 
 
 in the course of lourtccn years. 
 
 Jieceiitly re[)ublisho(l & illustrated with the addition of 
 
 some notable particulars, especially respc;cting 
 the isluml of Cuuuria. 
 
 Cum itrlvilc'jio. 
 
 In Venice, at the Press of Peter 
 
 & Francis Tiui, Brothers. 
 1572. 
 
 
» 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 
 A 
 
1 
 
 7 
 
 TO THE MOS'l' ILLUSTRIOUS AND AVORTHY 
 
 Senator, Scipio Simoncta, my most 
 revered master. 
 
 \l ISE icritcrs, illustrious sir, usually commence h\j praisinq 
 the predecessors of any one of refined and generous mind to 
 whom they intend to present their labours, and then extol 
 their patron himself as much as possible. But it is not re- 
 i/uisitefor me to do the former, seeiny that your predecessors, 
 most illustrious sir, haoe always been so exalted, that they 
 must ever remain distinguished and famous. Much less need 
 I do the latter, sitice I shoidd then only ivaste tvords in en- 
 deavouring to enumerate your infinite virtues and rare good 
 (qualities ; ichich woidd rather require some tuneful Mantuan 
 bard or eloquent Cicero ; and even these coidd only end by 
 saying, that virtue itself, illustrious sir, harbours in your 
 boso?n, and that there gentleness and courtesy undoubtedly 
 have their abode. By them invited, and forced indeed by 
 the affection I bear you, to you I consecrate this humble 
 result of my labours. Feeling sure that you will not re- 
 gard the smallne&s of the gift, but only my poor poivers, 
 since, tiot having anything more suited to the prtidence and 
 gravity of your illustrious Lordship, I bestow ivith a williny 
 heart all that I have to give : loith great reverence 
 
 I remain, 
 
 Your illustrious Lordship's affectionate servant, 
 
 GlKOLAMO BeNZOKI, 
 

 
iirsTorn' of ttie new world. 
 
 II V 
 
 (M ROIwVAFO l^KN/OX I 
 
 A M 1 I, A N K S l<; , 
 
 1300K I. 
 
 M'liF.N I was a youth of twenty-two years of age, bcinfr, like 
 many otlicrs, anxious to sec th(> world, and hearing of tliosc 
 countries of the Indians, recently found, eaUed by everybody 
 the New ^^^)rld, I determined to go there. In the year 1-541 
 therefore I started from ^Mihm, in the name of (Jod, the sus- 
 tainer and governor of all the universe, going by land to Me- 
 dina del Campo, \vhere the peojile cari-y on great traffic dur- 
 ing their fairs, receiving merchandize from all Spain. Thence 
 I went to Seville, and thence by the river Guadalquivir to 
 San liucar de Jiaranieda, this being the port generally fre- 
 quented by all the ships going to or coming from India. 
 Having found a sliip about to sail, laden with goods for the 
 island of the Gre<it Canary, I embarked, being unable to find 
 a moie direct route for the journey I desired to make, for I 
 had been informed that in thos(^ islands of the Canaries, 
 which arc seven in number, there are constantly ships going 
 loaded to the Indies, with wine, flour, apples, cheese, and 
 other things requisite for those countries. I thus obtained 
 a passage there ; and arriving in two months, I learnt that a 
 carav(d in the island of Palma Avas loading wine to go to the 
 
msioiiY oi nil; m.w woiti.u. 
 
 
 ln(li(>s, ^^lKM•(•lor(' T started iniiiicdlatcly In a \n'\i;, readied it 
 ill \\\i) days, and in a short time the ship was f^ot ready, and 
 wc set sail. Ilaviiit,' haihd lor lourteen days >vitli a prosper- 
 ous wind, wc saw a j4re.1t (piantity of sea hirds, from wliicli, 
 much to our joy, we jndi^ed that wc were near hind, and 
 of't(;n in the nii,'iit certain fislics of ahout a yw///< in h-iif^th 
 fh'W on hoard, wliich had what were almost the same as 
 wings like those of hirds. Alri-ady the skilful pilot had 
 l.cgun to take the sun's altitude, which altitude is taken at 
 noon, in the ()J)(Mi day, but at night observations were taken 
 by the north [sf(/r] which we then had already very low ; and 
 after two davs sailiiux in this wav, on a Sunday niorninuf at 
 about sun-rise wc saw land. 'The captain of the ship told nie 
 that this was the first inland that the invincible ('hristophcr 
 Columbus saw in his second voyage, when he departed from 
 Si)ain to go to the Spanish island :^ and after having sailed 
 with his caravels sonu' twenty-four or twenty-five days 
 since he left the Canary islands, without ever seeing land, 
 though very desirous of seeing it, when he did discover it he 
 named it ia Dvscaihi. 
 
 There arc many islands, but the largest is called by the 
 Spaniards Gtuuhihtpc. They are mostly inhabited, and full of 
 Indian (jaribbees, who eat each other, or rather I should say, 
 eat their enemies. We descried a boat of Indian fishermen, 
 who on seeing us^made their escape; wc continued our voyage, 
 inclining towards the left, in the direction of the e([uinoctial 
 line, where, in the course of eight days, we saw some other 
 islands. Thus we reached CuhiKjua, where I met with the 
 governor, Geronymo do Ortal. At his urgent request I re- 
 mained with him, for he offered me many inducements, 
 as such governors iisually do ; telling me that he wished 
 shortly to get ready, with a large number of Spaniards, to 
 
 ' hola Spagnv.oJa, contracted into I/isjxiHwht ; but Benzoni h very 
 careless in his orthography, and therefore his uauies of places are given 
 in Italics. {Trans.) 
 
 
 i 
 
 . % 
 
 i' 
 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
 Hisiouv (»|. I in. m;\v \voum>. 
 
 8 
 
 I* 
 
 po to his povcnunciit, called ))y the natives Ndtttal (now 
 (•ailed by the S[)auiaids rl Dorado, uhieh means a country 
 of j^reat riclu^s), mid that soon \\c slionld all become very 
 rich. Ami thus, ow tiie strin^th ot" these vain ])r()mises, 
 and others still ij^rcater that he made me, I remaini'd ; beinp 
 c(|ually as desirous to ere men and countries, as to become 
 rich. 
 
 Not long after 1 had reached Citfji/gua there arrived Pedro 
 de Iferrera, governor of the island of Md >'(/<( n'fd, with two 
 brigs, accompanied i)y thirty Spaniards, intending to go 
 to 'I'erra Kirma to get sonu' slaves ; so one morning shortly 
 after, Ave started two hours after daylight, taking with us 
 (jcronymo (h; Ortal, and at night wc; entered the river of 
 (^iima)ui ; for a S])anish fortress had been built there of wood, 
 to protect the boats that came from Cuhagua to this riv(>r for 
 water. There lunl been one previously erect(!d of earth by 
 •Jacob Castiglione, on this spot, when the pearl fishery flou- 
 rished ; but it happened soon after, that, owing to unusual 
 rains, the river rose so as to inundate more than two miles of 
 country, in consequence of which the fortress was destroyed. 
 There were still four or five hovels made of reeds, where 
 Captain Diego Docampo erected the town of Toledo (as we 
 should say), and already the Spaniards had almost destroyed 
 this country ; for out of the great multitudes of Indians that 
 there used to be, there only renuiined a few petty chiefs, 
 whom the Spaniards had spared for their own wants. Others 
 had retired to some uninhabited places, only to escape from 
 the domination of the Christians. 
 
 AMiilst we remained at Cumcma there came an Indian 
 woman, wife of one of the principal chiefs of the province, 
 with a basket-full of fruit, such a woman as I have never 
 before nor since seen the like of; so that my eyes could not 
 be satisfied with lo'd<ing at her fn* wonder. On her arrival 
 she entered the Governor Pedro Itcrrcra's house, and having 
 placed the basket of fruit before him, without speaking a 
 
HISTOKY OF TIIK NKW WORLD. 
 
 word, she seated herself on n bench ;' her appearance was 
 
 like the following 
 
 
 She was quite naked, except where modesty forhids. such 
 being the custom throughout all this country ; she was old, 
 and painted black, with long hair down to her waist ; and 
 her ear-rings had so weighed her ears down, as to make them 
 reach her shoulders, a thing wonderful to see ; she had them 
 split down the middle and filled with rings of a certain 
 carved wood, very light, which wood, in their language, is 
 called Cat'oma. Her nails were immoderatelv long, her teeth 
 weic black, lier mouth large, and she had a ring in her 
 nostrils, called by them Caricori ; so that she appeared like 
 a monster to us, rather than a human being. 
 
 After two days Ave ](^(t Cunia/za ; and coasting along 
 towards the east, by the gulf of I^ariit, we landed very frc- 
 
 ^ Bonzoni's cxjircs-sion is soji/'ff ■(mi /xfuca, and his view re])rcscnts the 
 lady stated on a Ijaiil- of earth. But " banca" is also a bench, and 
 De ]?ry figures her as sitting on a regular bench. The discrepancy is 
 more iri ujanner than in matter, {Trdn.'i.) 
 
HISTORY OF TMK NKW WORLD. 
 
 5 
 
 qucntly to give the iVirndly petty diets some Spanish wine, 
 or a shiit, or a kuilb from the g-overnor, and thns induced 
 them to .end some of their vassals, or subjects, to shew ns 
 places ui) th(> country, vliere we might capture some Indians 
 who were hitter enemies to tliem, because they weie friends 
 and confederates of the Christians. The governor thus remain- 
 ing with only eiglit Spaniards at Cariaco, all the rest of us 
 started, guided by friendly people, wbo carried our provisions, 
 and we walked inland about a hundred miles, passing valleys, 
 mountains, rivers, wootls, and other places where the guides 
 conducted us, going through holes and over precipices thnt 
 e-,-en wolves would have feared, often walking more by night 
 than by day ; and in this way we captured upwards of two 
 hundred and forty slaves, including males and fenudes, small 
 and large. The captdu, f(>a'. ing lest the provisions should 
 l"ail (although we took some from the Indian houses), turned 
 back; and on the journey one morning about dawn wc 
 saw two fires, one on a hill and the other in a plain, and 
 having divided our party in two, so as to pass on the one 
 side and on the other, we commenced our march. Those 
 bound lor the plain arrived first, and finding there only an 
 old woman and her daughter with her baby all asleep, imme- 
 diately seized them ; but on awaking they uttered such 
 shrieks, that those on the hill heard them, and raised so 
 gre.it a noise, that our few people before they arrived, 
 alarmed by the numbers, turned back, in order to join us 
 where we wcn'e. Our encnnico ran to the passes which we 
 were to reach, but daylight couj'ng on, and seeing us many 
 mcu- than tluy had expected, aiul armed, they retired; not 
 desistnig, howe\-er, from annoying us with their darts, and 
 calling after us thieves, dogs, traitors, assassins ; and I be- 
 be\e, u-at h;ul it iu)t been fbr our friends, who put them to 
 flight, we should have suffered injury and ruin. Thus wc 
 pass(;d on witlu.ut loss, leaving the old woman whom we had 
 captured, because she could not walk, and in two days we 
 
f 1 
 
 6 
 
 IIISTf)RY OF THK NEW WOULD. 
 
 iivrivctl where the governor was. AVc rested during a few 
 days, then proceeded about eighty miles along the coast, in 
 boats used in that country and called pirai/ne ; they are 
 made out of one tree, and the largest Avill contain about fifty 
 persons. 
 
 ^&itlk. 
 
 ^loileot' Navigating in tliu Noriliorn Sua. 
 
 All along that coast, the Indians come down from the 
 hills to tlie shore to fish ; therefore we used to lond and hide 
 oui selves in places where we could not be seen. AVo used 
 often to wait all day expecting to make prisoners, and on 
 the Indians arriving, we jumped out like wolves attacking 
 so many lambs, and made them slaves. In this way wc 
 caught upwards of fifty, the greater part women with their 
 little childroi. TinuUy, we went so often from one place to 
 the other, that Me wcu'c discovered by our enemi(\s, ^ho 
 were fishing ; and they immediately betakiug themselves to 
 hoUairig, gave notice to the ri-st of our being there, so that 
 they all ran away from the l)each, and we on shore could 
 only get hold of bomc fish dried by a slow fire upon gratings 
 
 i 
 
 7 
 
 
 ; I 
 
 ..■._^"^:— *•- 
 
HISTORY OF THE xNEW WOULD. 
 
 / I 
 
 made of rccds, and cavaUefc^ dried in the sun, which these 
 propk^ strin<r in rows for tlie convenience of carrvin" home 
 
 rill •/ f^ " 
 
 Ihe captani then, seeing that he could no longer hope to 
 capture men, turned back, and conducted us to the house of 
 a poor chief, a friend of the Spaniards, and givinf? him a iuo- 
 ot www, a slurt, and some knives, with civil words entreated 
 him to k\ul him to a i)lace M'hcre slaves could be got; the 
 chief did not like the Spaniards to go with him, but Avent off 
 one day with a party of his men, and returned the following 
 day, bringing sixteen Indians, with their hands tied behind 
 then- backs. These he gave to our captain, who thanked 
 hnn very much, and jjromised another time to bring him 
 more gifts and more beautiful things. 
 
 Ihus we returned to Cariaco ; the next day we reached 
 Cumana, and the governor sent the slaves off to Cubiujiia, 
 giving leave to the; friends who had accompanied him to 
 return to their own homes. r,ut they were attacked on the 
 journey by their enemies, who killed four of them; the rest 
 returned to Cuinana to coni])lain to the jjovernor, and be"-ocd 
 that he Avould send some armed Christians with them, to 
 l)unish their common enemy. The governor expressed great 
 grief for what llu^y had suffered, but said he could not do so 
 then, as he was required for a greater enterprise in another 
 direction ; yet gave his word that he aa ould not fail on a 
 future occasion to punish their enemies as they deserved. 
 These people therefore Avcnt away very discontented, cursing 
 the Christians and their rapine, the cause of their ruin. 
 
 The governor sliortly alter left Cumana with all his com- 
 pany, and coasting westward, Avent to Amaracapanna ; this 
 was a town of al)out forty houses, and four hundred Span- 
 iards resided there constantly, who atniually elected a cap- 
 tain, lie, accompanied by about half his soldiers, went 
 
 1 This must l»o tlie genus :/rij(l\is, the dev;istutiiig loeust, which we 
 have seen usclI for food in Barbary. They are gathered by the Arabs in 
 great abundance, dried, and kept as a winter provision. {Tmus.) 
 
8 
 
 iiisrouv OF rill'; nkns' woimd. 
 
 scouring through sovcral provinces of tliat country, and took 
 with them many friends who resided in the vicinity of the 
 gulf. While wc remained in this place, Captain Pedro de 
 Calico arrived with upwards of four thousand slaves ; and 
 he had captured many more, but from want of provisions, 
 from labour and f\itigue, as well as from grief at leaving their 
 country, their fathers, their mothers, or their children, they 
 had died on their journey. And when some of them could 
 not walk, the Spani irds, to prevent their remaining behind to 
 make war, killed them by burying their swords in their sides 
 or their breasts. It M'as really a most distressing thing to 
 sec the way in which these wretched creatures, naked, tired, 
 and lame, were treated ; exhausted with hunger, sick, and 
 despairing. The unfortunate mothers, with two and three 
 children on their shoulders or clinging round their necks, 
 overwhelmed with tears and grief, all tied with cords or with 
 iron chains round their necks or their arms, or their hands. 
 Nor was there a girl but had been violated by the depre- 
 dators ; wherefore, from too much indulgence, many Span- 
 iards entirely lost their health. This captain had gone seven 
 hundred miles inland into that country, Avhich, Avhcn the 
 S2)aniards first went there, v is full of people, but when 1 
 reached it the country Avas nearly depopulated. 
 
 The Spaniards, who fight on horseback with the Indians 
 in those provinces, carry a doublet well lined with cotton- 
 wool, and are armed with a lance and sword ; m hile those 
 who go on foot carry a small round shield, a sM'ord, a cross- 
 bow, and a lighter doublet than the horsemen ; but they do 
 not carry an arquebuss, nor chain armour, r.or cuirass, not 
 only because of the great humidity produced by the uncul- 
 tivated ground, but also because they have often to sleep out 
 in the open country, and the very abundant dew would soon 
 spoil them. It seems to me, that the greater part of the 
 country around the gulf of Paria towards the south, is the 
 most pleasing, beautiful, and f. uitful of any that I have seen 
 
llISTOliY OK rilK NEW WORLD. 
 
 9 
 
 in any prirt of the Indies ; possessing, as it docs, a very c?:- 
 tensi\c and fertile plain, where flowers may bo always seen, 
 tliongdi some of iheni smell disagreeably. The trees also arc 
 alua) ■^ in leaf as if it were one continual spring, though they 
 are not all l^uitbenring or good; in some parts, however, 
 there is great abundance of the medicinnl cassia {quassid). 
 This province is generally hot and damp, producing a gi-eat 
 many nios([uItoes, very annoying to tliL- inhabitants in the 
 night ; and there are swarms of locusts, that do great injury 
 to the seeds. 
 
 The married w>imen modestly Mcar a cloth, called yjf7;;?y)a- 
 7ii1a., around their waist, the girls w(\ar only a cord ; for the 
 same ))urpose the men used to wear a case of gold orna- 
 mented with ixarls, but havini>^ been obliti^ed to cede these to 
 the Spaniards, they now substitute a peculiar calabash. The 
 chiefs appropriate to themselves as many wives as they choose, 
 though only one is legitimate, and she commands all the 
 others ; in the lower ranks they select three or four, and as 
 those grow old, they are repudiated to make way for youngiT 
 ones ; they are all first submitted — a svcrginarlc — to the 
 priests, thence by them called piaccln. 'J'he principal food, 
 not only around the gulf of Prtrm, but also in all other parts 
 of this country, is fish. They make wine of maize, which is 
 their corn, and of various fruits and roots. They also eat 
 human flesh, and pediciiU, as monkeys do, spiders, worms, 
 and other dirty things {aJfrc sporcitic). They make a cer- 
 tain mixture, to preserve the teetli, with oyster shells, of the 
 sort that produce pearls, Inirning tliem with the leaves of 
 the la.'-i,^ and then adding a little water, so that the mixture 
 
 ^ ]]eiiig in doubt about this la.vi, wc applied to our excellent friend 
 Robert Hrown, the iuniiible and veteran botanist, for aid. He replied : 
 — •' Vou consider the Laxi to be a tree, which it may very likely be, but 
 as far as regards the passage in question, it is siniply/oy/'tV del laxi. 
 Whatever it may be, I am sorry to say I can give you no information, 
 I have kioked into 81oane"s IllstO)')j of Jamaica, ■without tindirg any 
 plant ap[)roaching in suund, or employed for any similar pmposo. You 
 
10 
 
 HISTOUY 01' I UK Ni;\V WOULD. 
 
 looks like the Avhitcst lime ; and this they spread over the 
 teeth, ^Yhich hecoine as black as charcoal ; but they are thus 
 preserved for good, uithout pain. It is their custom to 
 pierce the nostrils, the lips, and the ears. They stain their 
 bodies with the juice of lierbs, and other red and black 
 colours : indeed, the uglier they become, the handsomer 
 they think themsi Ives to be. The beds of the ])rincipal 
 chiefs consist of a coverlid, longer than it is broad, like a 
 sheet ; the common people make it like a net, but all are of 
 
 Mutle of slcciiing in tlic Gull" of I'liriii, 'inJ iu iniiiiy other places. 
 
 cotton ; these they fasten on two upright stanchions, and 
 thus suspended in the air, sleep thereon. Those who sleep 
 in the open country, not to suffer from the cold in the 
 night, keep up a fire continually on each side of the bed ; 
 and this is the usual Avay of sleeping in all these provinces, 
 
 have. I thiuk, little cause of regret for being unable to say what the 
 plant is, the remedy being worse than the disease." In the East Indies 
 the mouth is reddened by the use of the areka nut, betel leaf, and 
 c'hunani. ('/'.-iiiti.} 
 
 
IIISTOUV OF THK NEW WORLD. 
 
 11 
 
 cvrn to tVif' confines ot" Nomhre dc Dios, as well as in many 
 of tho islinitls in llic Northern Sea. 
 
 'I'lie i)rincipal arms they carry arc bows with poisoned 
 arrows, Avhich they make of two sorts, that is to sny, citlicr 
 of palm wood or of slender reeds that grow by the sides of 
 the rivers ; and insleail of ii'on at the point they tic hard fish 
 scales or pieces oi' Hint, anointing tliem with a black bitu- 
 men, which is a pure venom, made from roots, herbs^ ants, 
 a])ples, ;ind some other beastly mixtures of theirs ; and then 
 moistened with a snake's blood by old women, who boil it 
 with great trouble and diligence till it is brought to perfec- 
 tion, and, owing to the injurious vapour that rises from it, 
 most of these women die in consequence. When the fluid 
 is fresh, the man's body that is wounded with it swells, and 
 he is so injured that in a short time he dies mad. But if the 
 poison has been prepared a long time, it loses great part of 
 its strength and of its deadly virus, so that the wounded man 
 may be cured by a red-hot iron with which his wound is 
 seared, and thus the man does not die. I have known seve- 
 ral Spaniards who have thus been cured. ^ 
 
 All the slaves that the Spaniards catch in these provinces 
 are sent to Cubayua, because the king's officers are in that 
 island, who collect the royal revenues, consisting of pearls, 
 gold, slaves and other articles ; for a fifth of every thing is 
 paid, that is, twenty per cent. The slaves are all marked in 
 the face and on the arms by a hot iron with the mark of C ; 
 then the governors and captains do as they like with them ; 
 some are given to the soldiers, so that the Spaniards after- 
 wards sell them, or gamble them away among each other. 
 When ships arrive from Spain, they barter these Indians for 
 wine, flour, biscuit, and other requisite things. And even 
 
 ' Whether from its obvious vesicating property or not, it is certain 
 that cauterization has always obtained among people where medical 
 iicience is unkuovvn. Among the tiheebs of Barbary, hot irons form their 
 only surgical tools, ( Truns.) 
 
1 
 
 I) 
 
 inSTOlJY OK IFIK Ki:U WoUM). 
 
 A\hcn sonic of tlic liuliaii ■wonicii are pregnant by those 
 
 same Spaniards, they sell tlieni without an\' eonscienoi?. 
 
 'J'hcu the merchants carry them clsewliere and sell them 
 
 again. Others arc sent to the island oi' Spagnuola, filling 
 
 ui 
 
 th tl 
 
 lem some lari^c vessels Lnilt like caravel? 
 
 Th 
 
 T 
 
 carry them under the dock, and being neai'ly all ]ieo})le caj)- 
 tured inland, they suller severely the sea horrors, and not 
 being allowed to move out of those sinks, what with their sick- 
 ness and their other wants, they have to stand in the filth like 
 animals ; and the sea often being calm, water and other pro- 
 visions fail them, so that the poor wretches, o^jpressed by the 
 heat, the stench, the thirst, and the crowdnig, miserably ex- 
 pire there below.' Now all that country around the Gulf of 
 Paria and other places are no longer inhabited by the 
 Spaniards, because there are no more pearls nor gold, and 
 the pearl fishery is at an end ; so that having no other 
 subsidy but that of slaves, and few of them, and the em- 
 peror having restored the natives to liberty, the Spaniards 
 have retired to other countries. 
 
 Returjiing then to AmdrdCiijHtuna, a few days after our 
 arrival, there came an order from the Ivoyal C'ourt of San 
 Domingo, that Governor Geronymo de Ortal, for a certain 
 crime that he had committed, should be seized, and with a 
 good guard be sent safely to the Ishi Sj>a(j//o/a ; and thus he 
 failed in his promise of a journey and of making me rich. 
 Also, from having changed my country and my food, as well 
 as from the great heat and bad sleeping, and having imbibed 
 much humidity from the earth, I fell sick, and had it not 
 been for one Anthony de' Castigliani, a noble I'rench priest, 
 who, for his integrity and libei'ality, as well as for his 
 
 ^ llad Benzoni been an accreditctl disciiile of the worthy Las Casas, 
 he could not have shewn up the honi'ile conduct of the Spanish niis- 
 creants in a more revolting view, than through the whole narrative of 
 his adventures on the ]*earl Coast. The letter C, with which the 
 wretched slaves were lirande<l, was doubtless the initial of Charles V. 
 ( Traits.) 
 
 II 1 
 
IIISIOIIV dl' IIIK NEW WORM). 
 
 13 
 
 very luuulsomc person, w;is 1 cloved, lionoiired, and le- 
 Vdvd by every body, I sliould indeed liave fared very 
 badly ; l)iit he nuide nie end)ark at Amarac(ipann(t , and sent 
 me to tlie island o\' Marnhcrifa to await his arrival, as he 
 there kept the greater part of his slaves and his seed-lands. 
 'Jlicre he treated me with as mnch kindness as if I had been 
 his most b(doved son, and thns he kept me in his honsc for 
 aljont six months, till I recovered my health : and on comin" 
 away, ho parted with me in a most friendly manner, pro- 
 viding mc abundantly with every thing requisite for my 
 voyage. I thus embarked in a caravel laden Avith slaves, 
 and coasting along the shores of Cape la Vc/a, and then 
 crossing the sea Avith great labour on account of the calms, 
 -SVC reached the island o\^ Borichiu, which by the Spaniards 
 is called San Juan ; and on account of the abundance of 
 gold and silver found there, they term it San Juan do 
 Porto-rico (the rich port). AMien first the Spaniards went 
 to conquer this island, the Indians thought, and held for 
 certain, that they Mere immortal, and one of the principal 
 chiefs in the island determined to make the trial ; he there- 
 ib)-e ordered his people to seize a Spaniard who was lodgino- 
 in his house, and carry him to the river, then hold him so 
 long undc]- water that if he was mortal he should be drowned. 
 Having thus drowned him, they carried him on their shoul- 
 ders to their master, who seeing that h* was dead, con- 
 sidered that all the others must be mortal also, and on 
 account of the ill-treatment received from them, he con- 
 certed a revolt with otlu^r cliiefs. They rose against the 
 Spaniards, killing about one hundred and fifty of those who 
 Mere dispersed about the island seeking gold ; and had not 
 Diego Salazar arrived M'ith reinforcements, the whole of 
 them would have been cut to pieces 
 
 Having rested ourselves for a few days in this island, we 
 again departed for the Ma Espanola, soon reached it, and 
 entered the town of AS'a^; Domingo, 'J'his was the first town 
 
u 
 
 HIISTOHY Ol' Tin; NKW WOIU,!). 
 
 that tlic Spaniards biiilt in these countries. Now, respect- 
 ing- the findiuL"- tiiesc Indians, there were various and dif- 
 ferent opinions among the writers as to who was the first to 
 discover tliese unknown regions. In tlie first j)iaee, Fran- 
 cisco Loj)ez de (iomcra, a Spaniard, in the second part of 
 Ins general histoiy of the Indies, speaks in tiiis way : — 
 " ()n(! I'eota,' navijiatini!' in our seas witli an easterly wind, 
 suffered a violent storm, by whic^' lie was obliged to scud 
 wherever it blew him, and he was led to unknown countries 
 which are not found laid down in the charts, Ileturning to 
 Spain some time afterwards, with oidy three or four of his 
 sailors, he fell ill in port and died, in consequence of the 
 sufferings, the hunger, and the thirst tliat he had undergone 
 in this extraordinary voyage ; nor did he leave any name or 
 memory of himself or of his country : whoever was to blame 
 for this, it cannot be assigned to him, but to envy (it is 
 thought) or ill luck. Some have said that he was an Anda- 
 lusian, and that he traded with the Canary Islands and with 
 .Madeira, when he encountered this long and mortal naviga- 
 tion. Others again say that he was a Biscayan, and that he 
 was in the habit of going backwards and forwards between 
 England and France. Some hold him to have been a Portu- 
 gucsc, who traded with India of the Mirta .-- which is a good 
 deal confirmed by the names that those new lands acquired, 
 and still keep. Others are of opinion, that the caravel went 
 to Portugal, to Madeira, and to other islands in the Azores. 
 Put no one affirms anything for certain ; they only agree as 
 to his having died in the house of Christopher Columbus, 
 
 ' Ls vn Pcota a corruption of nn piloto ? The opinion is supported 
 l»y Gomar I's work above (juotoJ. " Peota" occurs in both the Italian 
 editions. {Trans.) 
 
 ^ In Chauvetou's Latin translation this anibiguous cxpi'ession is 
 thus rendered, " (]ui tani ad Minum (ut vocant), vel in Indiani 
 navigaret," the alhision douljtless being to St. George del Mina on 
 the (iold Coast. ]Jy reference to Gomara we find that Cliauveton is 
 right. 
 
 * 
 
Ills TORY (tr TIIF NKW WOUI.I). 
 
 16 
 
 I 
 
 and lliat \u> wriliufjjs reiuainrd there, with the bearing,' 
 and hititiide of the newly discovered huuh .Many insist tluit 
 ( ohunhus wa-. aheady a sailor, and that for many years he 
 usi'd to go to Soria ( Sijriit) and other parts of the J.evant; tliat 
 he tlien beeaine a maker of eiiarts for navigating, and thus 
 went to Portugal to collect information respecting the south 
 of Africa and the other Portuguese nogivations, to increase 
 the sale of his charts ; and finally he married in that kingdom. 
 Some have hei'u of o[)inion that he Avas in Madeira when the 
 said caravel arrived, and that the master of it lodged in his 
 house, where he related his voyage to hiai and the new 
 countries that he had seen, so that he might insert them in 
 his charts under the name of Peota,'^ as the sale and export 
 of these was great. That there he died, leaving him the 
 drawings and all the description he could give of the new 
 countries, and thus it is alHrmed that Columbus obtained 
 information of the Indies." The author adds, moreover, 
 that Columbus knew the Latin language well, and was a 
 eos;niograi)her ; that he was anxious to seek out the An- 
 tipodes, and the rich Cljxinyo of Marco Polo, because he had 
 read in Plato's Tima'us an argument respecting the great 
 island of Atlantis, and of a hidden land larger than Asia and 
 Africa. ^Vhile Aristotle, in his book on the wonders of the 
 world, writing to Theophrasttis, relates how some Cartha- 
 ginian merchants, navigating to the west and the south out- 
 side the Strait of Gibraltar, after many days found a large 
 inhabited island, very fertile and possessed of navigable 
 rivers. And the author after affirms, that if Columbus had 
 
 1 " // xefjno ami I'idti-zza'' arc best rcmlcred hearinfi and latitude; but 
 nauticul scicuoo was very inaccurate in Bonzoni's day. {Trans.) 
 
 ^ Again this name is erroneously given. The passage quoted by 
 Bcnzoni from (}omara states, that " the pilot lodged in the house of 
 Columbus, and gave him an account of his voyage and of the new lands 
 which he had seen, in or<ler that lie might lay them down on a marine 
 chart wliich Columbus had bought of him." Ciomara distinctly says that 
 the pilot's name was not known. 
 
1(1 
 
 IIISTOUY Ol' THK Nl \v woiif.n. 
 
 known nlicro the riidirs wcii', \\v miy;ht, lowjf hcCorc Iio 
 went to Spiiiii to .'isk i\n' lulp iiiul lor tavoiir, hiivc united 
 liiinsclf with the (icnooc, ^^ ho tiavclhd ;ill over tli(> worhl, 
 niul li;ivc cHrctcd this i^Tcat ciitcrpii.-c ; hut that he did not 
 rv( r thiulc (»(' any ^uch thiniL,' until the ^aid IV'ota ha<l in- 
 formed liini (»(' it. 'These tliinij;s have l)een eoutradieted, 
 ahnost as fahuhjus words and not worthy nl' I'nitli ; and Don 
 Pi(Mro ^[artire, a ^fihinesc, says in a treatise of his, that 
 Christopher C'ohunhus went to tlie I(»rdship of (ieiioa and 
 nairati'd the eause of his hcin^' iiulueed to seek tliose eoun- 
 tries, savinu: tliat navi'Mtinij nian\' times outside the Strait of 
 riiliraltar to\\ ards Portugal, he had observed very diligently 
 that, during certain seasons of the year, the west winds hlew 
 man}- days very equally, and knowing they could not come but 
 from land, that generated them beyond tlu; s(>a, his thoughts 
 became no fixed on this subject that he thouglit he would 
 like to try this vojage. Peing forty years old, he proposed 
 to the Lordsliip of (lenoi, that if they would fit out some 
 vessels for him, he would undertake to go outside the 
 Strait of Ciibraltar, and navigate so far to the west that he 
 wonld circumnavigate " the ear^h of the world," arriving 
 \Ahcrc the spices grow. This ^..^ago appeared to every 
 body a strange thing, as well it might to people who had 
 never thought of it, and yet reputed themselves as knowing 
 the whole art of navigation. 'I'herefoi'e everybody regarded 
 it as a dream and a fabulous thing ; although some authors 
 had written in ancient times of a largo island many miles 
 distant i'roni the Strait of (iibraltar. This was supposed to 
 be the cause that induced Columbus to c;o and seek the 
 Indies ; but Ave may believe that (jomara would set him- 
 self to confute the truth w ith many inventions, and that he 
 had a wisli to diminish the innnortal fame of C]u•i^toph(>r 
 Columbus ; as there were many who coidd not endure 
 that a foreigner and an Italian should have acquired 
 so much honour and '-o much i^lorv, not only f"i" the 
 
Hisiouv OK rm.; nkw wohm). 
 
 17 
 
 avdt'd 
 itliors 
 miles 
 
 .(•(1 to 
 
 k the 
 liiiu- 
 lat he 
 ipher 
 lulurc 
 uircd 
 V tlic 
 
 Spnnisli kin^'dom, but also for the other nations of the 
 world.' 
 
 It will not he out of place to rcliite what I heard happened 
 in Spain to ( 'ohiinhus, after he had discovered the Indies; 
 althviugii it iiad been done in anci(>nt times in other ways, 
 hut W!'.s new then. Coluiuhus h( ing at a party witli many 
 iu)hle Spaniards, where, as was customary, the subject of 
 conversation was the Indies : one of them undertook to say : 
 — " Mr. Christopher, even if you had not found the Indies, 
 we should not have been devoid of a nuui ^\ho would have 
 attemptf'd tiie same that you did, here in our own country 
 of Spain, as it is full of great men clever in cosmography 
 and lit(;rature." Columbus said nothing in answer to these 
 words, but having desired an egg to be brought to him, ho 
 placed il on the table saying: "Gentlemen, 1 will lay a 
 wager with any of you, that you will not nuike this egg 
 stand up as I will, naked and without anything at all." 
 Tlu^y all tried, and no one succeedetl in nuiking it stand up. 
 AV'hen the egg came round to the hands of Columbus, by 
 beating it down on the table he fixed it, having thus crushed 
 a little of one end ; wherefore all remained confused, under- 
 standing what he would have said : that after the deed is 
 done, everybody knows how to do it ; that they ought first 
 to have sought for the Indies, and not laugh at him who had 
 sought for it first, while they for some time had been laugh- 
 ing, and wondered at it as an impossibility. 
 
 Now let us return to our first subject, of the searching 
 for, and the discovery of the Indies. Coluiribus seeing that 
 the Genoese would not help him in so worthy an enter- 
 prize, he determined to go to the West, considering that 
 there were some very rich and very powerful princes, in the 
 
 ^ It was admitted by Don Fernando, the son of Columbus, that his 
 father having married Donna Felipa INIoniz, he had access to his father- 
 iu-hiw's papers, he — J'erestrello, a seafaring man — being dead: but they 
 appear to have rehited to the Azores only. {Trans.) 
 
 a 
 
18 
 
 HISTOr.Y OF THE NF,W WORLD. 
 
 
 '. » 
 
 I 
 
 hope that some one of them Avouhl give him every requisite 
 to find tlie country by him so much wished for. 'Jlius he 
 •\vcnt to Portui?;)], and sent his brother, Barthoh)mew, to 
 Henry VII, king of Enghmd, to ask him for ships and 
 favour to find the Indies, promising him that in a short 
 time he avouUI bring him very great treasurers from those 
 unknown parts. But he had to return without any con- 
 cUision, so that he betook himself to treat Avith king Al- 
 plionzo Y. of Portugal, supplicating his highness to be 
 willing to grant him some ships with provisions, and he 
 would oblifje himself to go westward to seek for some abun- 
 dant countries, rich in gold, and in various other ])recious 
 articles of value. But if (jolumbus was held as fabulous 
 by the Genoese, he was thought ludicrous by the English, 
 — da gV Inglesi risihilc, — and by the Portuguese he was 
 mocked as a dreamer ; for there being men in Portugal who 
 professed to know everything connected with cosmograiihy, 
 they, Avith haughty and proud talk, asserted to the king that 
 this man was quite bewildered, and that he should on no 
 account give credence to the words of Columbus. They 
 asserted that in no way could there be in the west any of the 
 things he said, ncitlicr gold nor riches, and that the country, 
 from its extreme heat, was uninhabitable ; insomuch that 
 any one passing under the eciuinoctial line would be burnt 
 up by the sun, from its having more power there than in 
 any other part of the sphere, in consequence of its being 
 constantly between the tAvo tropics, Cancer and Capricorn.^ 
 Columbus thus seeing that in Portugal every one laughed 
 anO scoffed at his words, deemed it useless to remain ; so he 
 went to Castile, to the court of the King Don Fernando and 
 
 1 Bcnzoni iloos not scom to have 1)oon aware that the king of Portngal, 
 b}' a <lisgraccful hveacli of faitli, resolved to exeente Cdlunihns's schemes 
 without the knowledge of tlieir aithor, and actually made an attcnii)t, 
 such as it was. In Kngland, lUirtholomcw Columbus had been well re- 
 oeiveil, but his negotiations were broken otf by the eoncessiuns nf the 
 Court of Spain to Christopher, { 2' rm (,■■<.) 
 
 W ' 
 
 K I 
 
IlISTOUY OF TIIK NKW WORLD. 
 
 11) 
 
 requisite 
 Thus he 
 imcw, to 
 lips and 
 . a short 
 )m those 
 any cou- 
 ld no- Al- 
 
 o 
 
 iS to he 
 and he 
 no abun- 
 ])rccious 
 fabulous 
 English, 
 he was 
 igal wlio 
 ography, 
 dn£T that 
 d on no 
 i. They 
 ly of the 
 country, 
 uch that 
 be burnt 
 2 than in 
 ts bciuij 
 pricorn/ 
 huighcd 
 n ; so he 
 uulo and 
 
 Portugal, 
 's schemes 
 11 attciiij)t, 
 m well re- 
 ctus (if the 
 
 the ()uc( n Donna Isabella, and submitted the same project 
 that ho had proposed to every body else, in the best May 
 (1 .It he could; giving the most elHcacious reasons, toirrther 
 with the best authorities, examples, and information. It 
 seemed that he \vas still on those principles derided almost 
 as if he promistul impossibilities. Yet, after consuming 
 several years at court, and nhvays remaining constant in his 
 assertions and persevering in his reasons, strengthening the 
 hopes Mith very rational examples, at the intercession of 
 some grandees of Spain, he obtained time and opportunity 
 to speak familiarly with th- (iueen Donna Isabella ; and so 
 well did he persuade her with his good and very strou"- 
 arguments, that he induced her to believe his assertions so 
 far as to promise to speak to the king, and make every endea- 
 voiu- that h(^ should be enabled to go and perform this enter- 
 prise. AVherefore in a short time, first by the divine grace, 
 and then through the intercession of the magnanimous 
 queen, the king, Don Fernando, armed a ship and two 
 caravels for Christopher Columbus. Thus, in company with 
 his brother Bartholomew, in the beginning of August 1492, 
 he sailed from Cadiz, and touched at the Gotiicra ; which is 
 one of the seven islands of the Canaries, and there he re- 
 mained some days, taking in v/ater and other necessaries. 
 lie then sailed, following his western voyage, and having 
 navigated several days without seeing land, the sokliers 
 began to murmur against Coknnbus ; but he quieted them 
 and sailed on during thirty-five days, still without seeing 
 any signs of land, whereupon they began to use menaces 
 and to give him bad language, calling him a Genoese im- 
 postor and trickster, who did not know where he wanted to 
 arrive or to go, and that he was leading them to death. 
 Mere Columbus as much as possible urged his reasons, and 
 begged and supplicated them to have patience, for in a short 
 time, with the help of God, he hoped to sec a new land. 
 T'hus (luieted they navigated for some days more, but not 
 
20 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 seeing land, they betook tlicmsclvcs again to munnur, tell- 
 ing him tluit he must turn back or they would throw him 
 overboard ; affirming that if they sailed on any farther their 
 provisions would fail, especially their water, as they Avould 
 still require some for their return to Spain. Finally the 
 disjiutc was reduced to these conditions, that if in three 
 days they did not discover land he would turn back, shew- 
 ing them, that by only putting themselves on allowance, 
 not only would there be sufficient provisions to return to 
 Spain, but also to go farther on. And thus happily con- 
 tinuing their course, the next day he ordered the sails to be 
 lowered, and it was believed that when Columbus uttered 
 these words he felt near land, that he knew it by the atmo- 
 sphere and the clouds, which are observed on the horizon at 
 sunset ; or, indeed, through some inspiration of his uncon- 
 querable soul. And, in fact, the next evening a sailor, 
 named La Leppe, having gone aloft, began to cry out with a 
 loud voice, " I sec Ji'rc /^ and immediately a youth added, 
 " It is not long since Mr. Columbus told me the same thint?." 
 The sailor, much delighted and pleased, thought that, on 
 his return to Spain, there was no doubt but he should re- 
 ceive from his majesty the king some remuneration ; but not 
 receiving any reward or favour, he went over to Barbary in 
 such an ill hiunour, that he became a renegade from the 
 faith. Now, how great the pleasure of each man was at 
 having discovered the new country, it is not possible to 
 relate in words ; for rejoicing, no one could satisfy himself 
 in looking at the new land. Some could not restrain their 
 tears in embracing Columbus, others reverently kissed his 
 hands, those who had offended him asked pardon for their 
 ignorance, and all offered themselves as servants and humble 
 slaves to his great courage. Columbus had the boat lowered 
 and leaped on shore ; they cut down a tree and made it into 
 a cross, erecting it on the spot in the name of .Tesus Christ 
 crucified, lie thus took possession of the Indies and the 
 
 it 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 21 
 
 niur, tcll- 
 brow liim 
 ;hcr tlicir 
 ey would 
 iially the 
 in three 
 3k, shcw- 
 :lowance, 
 •eturn to 
 )ily con- 
 lils to be 
 ! uttered 
 lie atmo- 
 Drizon at 
 i uncon- 
 a sailor, 
 it with a 
 L added, 
 thin£,^" 
 that, on 
 :)uld re- 
 but not 
 •bary in 
 •oni the 
 was at 
 sible to 
 himself 
 n their 
 sed liis 
 )r their 
 liumble 
 owered 
 it into 
 Christ 
 ud the 
 
 -,*s 
 
 New "^^'orld for the sacred Catholic kings. In this way did 
 Columbus discover the Indies, through his own valour and 
 glorious genius. Notwithstanding all this, his wonderful 
 achievement did not keep him clear from a thousand calum- 
 nies, as you will see. First, the Exchequer, on his return 
 to Spain, disputed with him on the part of Martin Pizzone 
 and Francis, his brother, the captains of the two caravels, 
 accusing Columbus, if it had not been for them, of intending 
 to return to Spain without seeing the country of the Indies.' 
 Laving taken possession of India, he cared for nothing 
 else, and the island being small, he re-embarked and pro- 
 ceeded ouAvard, discovering several other islands. At Cuba 
 he jumped on shore and named it Fernanda, in honour of 
 the king, Don Fernando, and was regarded with ill-will by 
 the islanders. In this interim the sea began to rise, and not 
 being in a safe port he immediately returned on board, and 
 fearing he might drive on some shoal changed his course. 
 P^ avigating thus he reached Haiti, which was by him called 
 the Spanish Island, La Isla Espanola, and there he anchored 
 in a port which he called Beal. iiut here, the commodore's 
 sliip drove on a rock and was wrecked. The crew, how- 
 ever, and part of the ammunition, were saved on board the 
 caravels. Many Indians were dispersed about the shore, 
 looking at the ship with great wonder ; but on seeing some 
 Cliristians jump on shore, they were overcome by fear and 
 ran away. Tlic Spaniards seized one of their women and 
 led lur to Columbus, who desired she suould have some- 
 thing to eat and drink. Then they drest her in a white 
 shirt, and by signs made her understand that she was to 
 
 ' These skii>pcrs were the Martin Alonzo Pinzon and Yanoz his brother, 
 of other accounts; and from the recent investigations of Captain A. B. 
 Becher, 11. N., it may be crnsidercd a settled point that the landfall thus 
 made by Columbus, ou Friday, the 12th of October, 1492, called by the 
 natives Ciianahani, ^\a,s actually Watling's Island — one of the Bahama 
 Croup. ( Trans) 
 

 HISTORY OF TIIK NFAV WOHM). 
 
 i 
 
 return to her own people, to re-assure tlieni, and induce 
 them to come and visit him -without any ibar whatever. !Shc 
 went, and when they saw hiu- in tliat shirt they seemed 
 greatly astonished, all staring at so wonderful a thing. The 
 Indian related the kindness shewn her by Columbus, where- 
 fore the others, induced by her, came, desirous to see the 
 new people clothed and bearded, and the one was emulous of 
 the other in coming round the caravels in their boats. At this 
 the Spaniards rejoiced greatly, for there was not an Indian 
 but had gold and silver round their arms or their neck, or 
 in their ears ; these they asked for by signs, and they, like 
 people who did not much esteem them {these metals), gave 
 some with pleasure to each. 
 
 Columbus, seeing so many Indians in the caravels that 
 they could hardly hold them, landed, accompanied by a 
 great many Spaniards, and was bcnignantly received by the 
 chief of that place, who in their language is called cacique 
 or general. His name was Guacanarillo, and, to bind their 
 friendship, they mutually made each other presents. Colum- 
 bus gave him shirts, caps, knives, looking-glasses, and bells 
 of various sizes ; while the cacique presented him with a 
 good quantity of gold. Then he sent some of his men in a 
 sort of boat, which they call canoe, to help to bring on shore 
 the remainder of the wreck ; and did this willingly, with as 
 much love as if the things had been theirs. These Indians 
 had a remarkable tradition left them by their ancestors, 
 which became a true prophecy : that many years would not 
 pass before a strange people would come to their island, all 
 bearded, who would throw their idols down on the ground 
 and bhed the blood of their children. If they had remem- 
 bered this at the time, they would not have received the 
 Spaniards with such triumph and feasting. Columbus asked 
 them where they got that yellow metal, to which he was 
 answered by signs, and shewn in' certain rivers inland, 
 which descended liom very high mountains. Every day 
 
 'fl 
 
 1 
 
 w 
 
 ^ 
 
 -Wi 
 
J. 
 
 f 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 
 t 
 
 1 
 
 J 
 
 there came a great many fresh trihcs of those IikHuhs, to 
 h->ok at us with our boards, and they brought fruits, fish, 
 gold, and bread, as also other articles of food. Like mon- 
 keys, they imitated the dress of the Christians, and when 
 these kneeled they also kneeled ; if the Christians reverently 
 raised their eyes to heaven, so did the Indians. And what- 
 ever it was customary for us to do at the Ave JNIaria as being 
 evening, and then in the morning also, just the same was 
 done by them. Columbus was very joyful at having discovered 
 this new country, so abounding in gold and silver ; and 
 desirous to return to Spain to inform .he king of the new 
 land that he had found, with the good will of the cacique 
 had a brick house built, and left thirty-eight Spaniards 
 there ; so that they might carefully investigate everything 
 in the island until his return, warning them to do every 
 thiuf discreetly and modestly. This was the first house 
 that tiie Spaniards built in India ; ' and thus Columbus, 
 with all his other men, went away. 
 
 Columbus took with him six Indians, all the gold that the 
 cacique gave him, some parrots, some maize, which is their 
 corn, and other new Indian articles. Ho reached Spain 
 safely, except that two Indians died on the voyage. Colum- 
 bus was received by the king and the queen with very 
 great honour, they niiiking him sit before them ; and here 
 every body was astonished to see the Indians naked ; and 
 these new people were still more surprised at the dress of 
 the court and of the king, who bestowed a title of honour on 
 Columbus, constituting him Admiral of the Ocean-sea, with 
 a tenth of all the royal sales. And to his brother Bartholo- 
 mew he gave the governorship of the Isla Espanola. 
 
 Columbus notified to the king all that had occurred, and 
 that by means of that island he hoped to discover other very 
 
 ^ Other accounts state that this fort was constructed of timber from 
 the wreck of Columlnis's sliip ; it was called Ln yaiioidad, and the gar- 
 rison was oomuuuidcd \\y Diego d'Arcua. {Trans.) 
 
u 
 
 HISTORY OK THE NKW UOHl.lK 
 
 large and very rich countries. Tlicreforc his Majesty 
 ordered tlirce ships to be got ready, and fourteen caravels, 
 putting on board about fifteen liundred men, cluefly arti- 
 ficers in mechanical arts, ior things most requisite and suit- 
 able to those countries. Columbus also provided himself 
 with, horses, cows, sheep and pigs, as also goats, as well 
 males as females, for continuing the breed in those huuls: 
 he carried oats, wheat, pulse, and plants of various sorts. 
 He embarked both priests and monks, to instruct tliosc 
 nations in the Christian religion, and convert them to our 
 most holy faith ; Avhencc furnished and acconnnodatcd with 
 everything, the Ammii'aitte Christopher Columbus sailed 
 from Cadiz the f2nd of September, 119o. 
 
 Thus Columbus went to sea again Real Am?nirante, 
 ploughing the waves moi'e contentedly, and with greater 
 joy, than the former time. He also restored the four 
 Indians, whom the king had liad baptized. lie passed the 
 Canary islands, taking a course more to the left, towards 
 S.W., which he did not do on the previous voyage. Touch- 
 ing at the isle Desidcrota, which was the first that he 
 discovered (as before said), not landing, however, anywhere, 
 nor going into any port,' but continuing his navigation with 
 great joy, and wishing to reach Isla Spanioia (Ilispaniola). 
 Yet on landing here he found it in a very different state to 
 what it was when he left it ; for the Indians had killed all 
 the Spaniards left by him there. The Ammirante imme- 
 diately sent messengers to the Cacique Guacanarillo, and 
 gave him to understand how much he desired to know the 
 cause of the death of his men. The expostulations in 
 answer were by signs, and the other means of making them- 
 
 I ' 'i 
 
 1 
 
 .-I 
 
 ^ Bcnzoni hero docs not quite quadrate with Ferdinand Colon's ac- 
 count of the discovery of Dominica on Sunday morning, the meeting of 
 warlike Caribs, and the sojourn at (.iuadaloupo, where human limbs were 
 roasting at the fire, and where the delicious pine-aiqile was first tasted 
 by the Spaniards; and all this before they reached Jlispauiola, {7'r((HS.) 
 

 I 
 
 St' 
 
 IIISTOUY OF TTIK NEW AVOUIJ). 
 
 ^.5 
 
 sc-lvcs iindrrslood by dcmonstrntions were very numerous. 
 For tlicsc said lliat tlicy forc(Ml their women, beat the men, 
 and Imrassed them unreasonably ; yet (excusing themselves) 
 for tliis they h;ul not injured them ; but iinollun' ehief (ibr 
 there Avere many very powerful in the ishmd) had jomc, 
 and finding the bearded men housed, h^st ihcy shouhl get 
 possession of the ishmd, liad kiUed them all ; yet that he, 
 the Caeique, seeing the house burn, had run to defend them. 
 " But my forces," he said, " were not sullicient. I was 
 even wounded, as you see," and he shewed his leg bound 
 Tip with cotton bandages. Still all these relations were 
 false, as the almirantc afterwards heard ; wherefore making 
 him unbind his leg, it was found quite imhnrt and not 
 wounded. And it was afterwards discovered that Quacana- 
 rillo himself had been the cause of the fire and of the death 
 of the Spaniards, because they ill-treated the Indians both 
 in deeds and words ; denuuiding gold of them, violating 
 their women, and committing other dishonest actions. iSIany 
 advised Columbus to punish him for this insolence ; but he 
 apprehending some greater evil, since he did not yet know 
 Avhat might be their real amount of power, decided on re 
 straining himself, and reserving punishment for some better 
 opportunitv. Establishing himself then for a second time 
 on shore, he, together with his people, began to erect a city, 
 which they baptized Isabella, by name, as a memorial of the 
 queen ; he built a fortress at the mines of Cihao, the spot 
 whence tl j riches were obtained ; and having ix.ndered it 
 very strong and equal to defend itself against the Indians, 
 he left his brother ]3artholomew there, governor of the island. 
 Columbus then sailed away, with three of the caravels, 
 to discover new countries, lie found Cuba on the south 
 side, and Jamaica, with other islands. He landed at various 
 places, and was well received by those new people. Ke- 
 turning to the Isla Spaniola he fcund a convenient port, 
 and called it San Nicolas. The " Almirantc" adopted this 
 
53(5 
 
 ■HlS'l'DHY OV TIIK M;W WOIIT.P. 
 
 t 
 
 ! > 
 
 l: I i 
 
 ♦V 
 
 port for rcfrcsliintj tho crews and ropairiiii;- flio caravels, as 
 they liad become very leaky ; then he wisluil to <^n and 
 destroy all the Caribs and buin their boats.' l>iit Fortuiu^, 
 ■svho is an enemy to all great enterprizcs, alilicted Coliunbtis 
 ■with so serious a disease, that he had to jj^ive up the expedi- 
 tion and allow himself to be carried to the town of Isabella, 
 where he found a great many Spaniards dead or dyini;,' ; 
 whilst those who were well hiul made no slight tunudt, anil 
 had not conducted themselves honourably towards his bro- 
 ther. Some caciques had rebelled, through the insolence, 
 the thefts, and the homicides and other rapines that they 
 had undergone from the Spaniards in many parts of the 
 island. lie also found that the greater part of the islanders 
 not only had refused to sow their lands with any grain for 
 making bread, but had destroyed all that was left of the 
 harvest ; thiid<ing that if the strange people did not find 
 anything to eat, they woidd be forced to leave the island ; 
 for, like desperate people, on account of the cruel servitude to 
 which they were reduced, they were content to die of hunger 
 themselves. Columbus being ruled by prudence, had all 
 the Spaniards executed who had been the cause of these 
 revolutions, this confusion and injury, and endeavoured to 
 re-acquire the friendship of the offended caciques as best he 
 could. These punishments led the Spaniards to hold Colum- 
 bus in odium, and because he would not allow of their 
 ribaldry and thieving, they could not bear to hear him 
 named. Hence it arose, that a great many of them Avrote 
 violently against him to the king, and accused the brother of 
 dishonourable things ; wherefor' Columbus resolved, as soon 
 as he recovered, to go to Spain. 
 
 In this interim it should be noted, that a heavy misfortune 
 occurred, deserving of serious consideration. Some insisted 
 
 I 
 
 I ' 
 
 ^ Tliis must have Ijccii to exccuto the postponed vengeance l>c: re 
 alluded to; but wh}' Fortune opposes all great actions — niniica di iiitte 
 Viiiqiresc ccdo.'vde — is not shewn, ('/'raas.) 
 
 
IlISTOUy OF THE NEW WOULD. 
 
 07 
 
 4V § 
 
 0? 
 
 that th(^ grrat cnnniy of mankind, sccincf so many souls 
 rcscueil from liis power by holy ])aptlsm, had contrived all 
 this destruction ; others thou":ht that it was a warnint; of the 
 discord and rebellious that were to follow on account of the 
 riches ; and it was a general oi)iuioti, that the erection of 
 the holy ensign of the cross in these islands was driving 
 away the infernal spirits, who had been so long masters of 
 those rough and ignorant men, and that they made all this 
 disturbance in their forced fii''^ '. From the eastward there 
 came a tremendous storm, s a as those islanders had never 
 before seen ; some winds arose, and one especially, called by 
 the Spaniards fuuacano,' which came with such violence 
 that it imposed terror both on heaven and earth, and seemed 
 as if it would destroy both ; Avherefore everybody felt sure 
 they should die, and that the elements would be confounded 
 and resolved, and so end the Avorld. The lightnings of the 
 air were violent and frecjuent, the thunder was loud and 
 frightful, the day seemed night, and the darkness so intense 
 that nun could not see each other. You would find the 
 people frightened, and stupified, and out of their minds, 
 running about without knowing Avhere thoy were; and so 
 raging were the winds that they fought together screaming, 
 they tore up the trees, they detached stones from the sides 
 of the irountains, and with great fury hurled them into the 
 plains ; leveling houses, killing men, and even whole houses 
 with their inhabitants in them, were carried through the 
 air and then smashed ! So that the howling of the people 
 was heard everywhere, melancholy and doleful : thus in a 
 
 ^ lu tniiLslatiiig from ko old au ItiiHau book, it may be useful to remark, 
 that orthngiaiihy has never beeu sufficiently attended to m that language. 
 They generally regard many letters as synonymous : thus, not only i 
 and v, but also c and//, p and i, etc., are similarizcd. Benzoni especially, 
 being an illiterate man, cannot be dcjiended on in his spelling ; and he, 
 moreover, prefixes a letter sometimes to a regular word, as Landaluzia 
 for Andaluzia, or Fonduras for Onduras, and in the instance before us, 
 where his /Vmra/^o means an tn-acuiw, which we by aspiration make into 
 hurricane and hnrricano. { 7'niiu<) 
 

 Hisi'oitY oi riM' ^K^\ \\(tui,i>. 
 
 ■X 
 
 n. 
 
 \ • 
 
 / 
 
 R' ' I 
 
 few liours cxtrcMuc injury was done; even tlircc sliips tliat wore 
 ill a very saic port, lore up tluir lieavy anchors, broke tlieir 
 new strong cables, and were sunk witli all their crews who 
 ■\veie on board. Many Indians saved tlu niselves in certain 
 caverns; and when they came out again, "were so alarmed 
 and confused by the novelty of the eas(^ tliat they could 
 scarcely breath(>, their spe(U'h Avas restricted and th(>ir voice 
 gone. \\'hen some\\hat r( coNcrcd, these islanders began to 
 reason witli eacli other, and had very did'erent opinions 
 from what the Christians entertained; for they im[)ut(Ml all 
 the mischief that had liap])(MiC(l to the c(nubict of the Span- 
 iards, and believed that heaven wislied to have forced them 
 away from them ; but whether it was this or any other cause, 
 I shall leave to the judgment of the more learned, and to 
 intellects more worthy tlian either mine or those of the 
 Indians. In tlie course of the five; subse([uent years, two 
 other similar storms occurred ; 1 was on T(Mra Firnni at the 
 time; the; last was the most violent, and alarmed every part 
 of the islaiul extremely. It destroyed lu^arly all the crops, 
 ruined the major part of the lionscs, and th(> sugar factoric s, 
 and nearly all the cattle of every sort ])erish(Ml. To such a 
 degree did this extend, that the Spaniards woidd have died 
 of hunger, if, by the grace of (jod, some ships had not 
 arrived there from Spain ; which bringing a great (pumtity 
 of Hour vmd of biscuit, canst d abundance to reign. 
 
 The almirantc had the caravels repaired in haste, for he 
 had a great many workmen, both ex^jcrt and valorous. AN'on- 
 derlng and astonished at the ruin, and at the mortality that 
 had occurred among the Indians, he embarked as soon as 
 the vessels were ready ; and he reached Spain in safety. 
 Landing at Cadiz, he posted up to the court, and presented 
 himself to the royal crown, lie gave the king information 
 of the country newly found, presented him with much gold 
 and other things of great value ; related all that occurred in 
 fsla I'.spdi'iohi ; cai Tying with him the trials of the Spaniards 
 
 \ ■ 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 n * 
 
f 
 
 Til STORY Ol' Tlir, NKW WORLD. 
 
 20 
 
 whom lie liiid punislicd for tlic siilvo of justice ; and cxcul- 
 pnliii^- liiinsclf iVom tlu^ calLiinnios iiiid malicious nccui^atioiis 
 that liad hccn tlirown ui)on hiiu. TIk.' king seeing his 
 ii(U'lity in having brought him so much gohl, lor there were 
 M)nu' pieces to be weighed by the pound, and knowing 
 through dispatclies the good discipline he had kept u\), he 
 consoled and thanked him ; but represented that in future 
 he had better be less severe than to incur the death of Span- 
 iards, since they had gone so far to serve him.' 
 
 II is nuijcsty now had twelve caravels prepared for him, 
 loaded tluMU with every kind of ])rovisi(>n, ami then deli- 
 vered them over to Columbus; avIio immediately sent two 
 of them oir to his brother, 'i'hey ])erformed the voyage -and 
 ari'ived safely, (ioing to the port on the west shore, they 
 found there lloldan Ximcnes, who from a low station had 
 been raised by Columbus to be an honoured man, master of 
 justice. This man had rebelled with a great many Spaniards, 
 and making head would not obey the governor, persisting 
 in unbridled robberies, and scorning the island at their 
 own will, all actioiis that the governor would not tolerate. 
 Xin)en(>s went oil' to the caravels, and so urged them to rob 
 the treasures of the island that they joined him ; he showing 
 them how they could •••o freelv from one village to the other, 
 capturing gold and every other sort of valuable thing, so as 
 soon to l)econ\e very rich. Thus giving themselves up to 
 enjoy the provisions, and visiting many places, they com- 
 mitted every sort of crim*: without being afraid of any body. 
 The Qitarioncfv cacique, seeing the utter ruin that the 
 Christians were bringing upon him, united his forces to those 
 of another cacicpie c-dWvA Maraboiteso ; and defending theni- 
 
 1 Tlio coiuluct of tlic court sccins to have been courteous aud wise 
 throughout; hut, in truth, with all his great merits, Columbus was in- 
 fected with son»; of the practices which degraded his successors. As to 
 his austerity to liis own men, he was probably no more severe than was 
 absolutolv ncLHS-ary in such marauding expediiiuns. {Trans.) 
 
80 
 
 HisTouY OF Till-: m;\v would. 
 
 Kclvcs from the pill.ij^rrs, they srvoral times dt'scondcd fiom 
 the hills into the phiiiis wluTi' the Spaiiiiii'ds wtTc, iuid kill- 
 ini? as many ns tlu'V tould, tor* fluiii in jjicccs, as well a-i 
 tliosc Indians who wcvc iiimds and united fo them ; with 
 bnrharous rat,'c they cut llicni into the smallest pieces. 
 
 AVlnlst these disor(h'rs were (terurrin^' in the fsf/f Sjxi- 
 I'mhiy the ahiurantc sailed I'rom San. Likui on the liOtli of 
 ^May, 1 lO(Sj with the remainder of the Meet, and steered for 
 Maiulcrct, one of the .seven islands of I'ortugai, called tlic 
 Azores.' Jle took this course; for it was the sal'est, it heing 
 war time ; hesides wlneli many French i)rivatcers, hearing 
 of the riches ol" the Indies, were crui/ZmLi; to make prizes. 
 IIo sent six caravels on in advance, while he with tlirec 
 others sailed for Cape A'erd, laying his course near the 
 equinoctial line ; where lu^ unch'rwent great inconvenience 
 and sufleiings, as well on account of the calms as tlu; very 
 great heat, it being the month of .June. I'inally they reached 
 India, and having entered the (udf of /'</>•/</, he arrived in 
 the ishmd of CnhiKjiui, by him called tlie Pearl Island. The 
 reason of this was the iollowing. Crui/ing about the gulf in 
 his caravels, the alnnrante saw some Indians in a boat lishing ; 
 and to learn what sort of people tlu-y were, and where they 
 lived, he sent a boat with some sailors, who having readied 
 the Indians joined with tliem. Nor did the lishermen ap- 
 pear at all alarmed, but, on th(> contrai'V, were pleased, and 
 seemed to admire the Spaniards as handsome men. They 
 found the natives Avere fishing {ox oysters, and supposing 
 these good to eat, they turned to opening them, but were 
 still better pleased to find them full of pearls. They landed 
 
 ^ This Jfdiiderfi would seem to bo an easy traiibitiou from Mailera, oi- 
 Madeira, but that Bcuzoni so expressly states it to 1)C one of the seven 
 {there arc nine) islands of the Azores. Then; must, however, be an error 
 or confusion on this j)oint, for elsewhere (p. lo\ in ori</.) he says : — • 
 " .\/(i(/i'ra, i) nil <i[trc Isolc de (jll A:'iri." The (julf of Paria lies between 
 Triuidiid and the mainland, and is often menliuned in the setjuel. 
 (r/(«/(.v.) 
 
 1 
 
 ! I 
 
 I 
 
nisTOKV oi' inr. m;\v woui.d. 
 
 81 
 
 lishing ; 
 
 /I 
 
 from tliclr boat, and saw llic Imlian women all .ulorncd with 
 Ix'iiiitirtil pearls, as well louiul their necks as round their 
 arms; yet they wer<' not prized hy their possessors, who 
 regarded them only as slight ieminino ornaments ; so that 
 ncrely for an earthenware plate, a hroken one, that a sailor 
 gi'.vc to an Indian woman, she gav(; him four rows of her 
 pearls, "With these he I'eturned on hoard all joyous and 
 rieli, shewing his p(>arls to every body. Tlie almirantc was 
 delighted beyond (>verything, and a<ldressing all the ship's 
 crew b(! said to them : " \Vc have reached the richest coun- 
 try in the world !" He then ajjproachcd the land, and 
 entered the ri\('r o{ Cumaitu. 
 
 'i'he natives seeing such large and well-constructed vessels 
 ns the caravels, and astonished at the bearded faces, talked 
 among themsidves as to what sort of beings these could be, 
 ■whether from above or from the water ? Then, in the best 
 "way they could ex})lain by signs, they sent to entreat that 
 the almirante would consent to come on shore and shew 
 himself to their chief, who wished very much to see him. 
 Cohunbus h(>aring this, although they made every sign of 
 friendship, was loath to come on shore lest there should be 
 some deceit. The Indians perceiving that they were afraid of 
 landing, went in numbers to the caravels, and gave them- 
 selves up to the captain, openly shewing a pure and cordial 
 friendship towards what seemed to them both new and of 
 superhuman creation. In looking at the ship, they won- 
 dered at the cables, at the anchors, and at all the rigging. 
 Before going away (having very much caressed them) they 
 hnd knives, looking-glasses, gingles, little bells, and other 
 things of small value, given to them. The almirante dili- 
 gently inquiring, as well as he was able, where they found 
 those beautiful pearls, and they by signs shewing the shores 
 of CuhiKjua, -where they fished for them. Columbus made 
 several Spaniards land, and the cacique received the party 
 M'ith much ]deasure into his hous(>, gave them to cat and to 
 
B2 
 
 HISTORY OF Tlir, NEW AVOUI,]>, 
 
 drink of the dirty viuiids tliaf they arc accustomed to, and 
 presented tliem, seeing that they were desirous of such 
 artick)s, a great (luantity of pearls ; like a man Avho does not 
 much esteem them, and possesses a great ahundanco, much 
 in the Avay that we should give away paternosters of glass 
 beads. Tleascd M'ith such rich(;s the Spaniards returned to 
 their ships, and tiio almiraute, still ha]ipier, went coasting 
 alontr towards Cape la l^rla. Ihen crossing the sea he 
 arrived in Ishi Espanula, where he found the following 
 disorders.' 
 
 Iloldan Ximenes having rebelled, \\c vainly endeavoured 
 to recall him to his duty and to obedience by a letter, re- 
 commending that he should cease from shewing the Indians 
 such a bad example, since this was not the way to eii.ice 
 them to adopt the holy faith, lie also held out, that the 
 very ample bull granted by the most h>ily pontiff, Alex- 
 ander VI, to the Catholic kings to conquer new countries, 
 was not with the intention tliat the U'^w people should be so 
 ill treated, but that thev should be well rewarded, so as to 
 attract them to the iioly faith of Christ the Saviour and our 
 Ivedeemer. Iloldan reliii-i'd his advice and entreaty; and 
 maintaining himself at the head of liis party, wrote to the 
 kin!>' of manv bad actions of Uarlholomew, "overnor of the 
 island, calling him a cruel tyrant, and shewing that for the 
 smallest and most iuiim])ortant causes he had men hung ; 
 and that all their leaders were ambitions and haughty. 
 Kor had he rebcdled I'rom thcn\, but because; he fouiul them 
 { rucl tyrants and wild beasts, desirous of shedding human 
 blood ; and that his majesty would find out at last that the 
 almirante himself was an enemy to liis nnijesty's em])irc, and 
 that he would make himself master of the islands. Already 
 
 1 Mul'Ii of the anarrliy and confu.-ion wiiicli Cnlmnlnis found prevalent 
 at the ucwly-fouinl town, St. Domingo, are tracealilo to the want of firm- 
 ness to support sub(jrdination in his hrothcr, the adLhiutado; who, how- 
 ever, had a very diilicuit ta.^k. {7'r'.in-i.) 
 
 w 
 
 ■ i 
 
 •% 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WOIlT.n. 
 
 33 
 
 all his familiars were stationed at the c:old mines, closin» the 
 entrance from every body else. That justice Avas badly 
 administered, since will and not reason was the law; warn- 
 ing also falsely, that the admiral had partly kept the dis- 
 covery of the pearls secret, with the intention of endeavour- 
 ing by some agreement with his majesty to keep that island 
 for himself. 
 
 The almirante, on his side, also notified to the king the bad 
 mind and inclination of these turbulent men, making known 
 to him that they attended to nothing but robbing, ravishing 
 the women, scouring through every part of the island like 
 assassins and men not less wicked than traitors, having laid 
 aside all fear of God. Finally, they had seized upon the 
 two caravels sent from Spain for his brother Bartholomew, 
 had taken all the provisions for their own use, and having 
 united for evil purposes, were committing all the robberies 
 that they could. From this dishonesty it had resulted, that 
 a number of chiefs in the island had revolted, Vidth very 
 great injury to all; whilst the rioters, fearing that if they 
 returned to their duty they should be punished as their 
 crimes deserved, persevered in their evil deeds and lived 
 unrestrained. 
 
 Whilst these accusations were being forwarded to Spain, 
 the almirante sent his brother, Avith eighty Spaniards and some 
 horses, against the caci([ucs who had rebelled, and were 
 encamped with six thousand armed men. At the first attack, 
 the Indians Avere so frightened at the infuriated horses, that 
 they ran away to the woods. After this, there occurred 
 various battles with Gitarioncz and four other chiefs, but in 
 a ^hort time they were all defeated ; the leaders escaped to 
 the mountains, where they were finally taken, and led before 
 the almirante. But when they promised to be his friends and 
 become vassals of the king of Spain, to prove his clemency 
 to them, so that they shoiild not think he had caused their 
 misfortunes, Columbus received them benignly, and making 
 
u 
 
 HISTORY Oi<" THE NKW AVORLD. 
 
 t 
 
 tlioin some of tlic usual presents, sent them back to their 
 people. 1 
 
 About the time that the almirantc and his brother were sub- 
 cluing the rebellious caciques and their people, and bringing 
 them back to obedience, both the admiral's letter and that 
 from lloldan arrived in Spain. They caused great grief 
 both to the king and queen, shewing La Isla Esjuifiola to 
 be in such a ^ad state. Already in tlic court, the great 
 abundance of gold and of other riclies produced in tlie rivers, 
 ■was talked of among the noblemen ; each of whom burned 
 with avarice, and was looking out anxiously to obtain such 
 a government to enrich himself. Yet they did not dare to 
 ask for such a thing, owing to the great reputiition the ad- 
 miral held in the o})inion of their nuijesties ; '.Ij-y therefore 
 tried other means to bring their wishes to the desired con- 
 clusion. These nobles began to report throughout the court 
 that Columbus and his brother, having become very rich, 
 wished to get possession of the islands, and make themselves 
 masters of all the new countries that had been discovered. 
 Of this they shewed evident symptoms in several letters, 
 written by men worthy of faith, as much iii the excavation 
 of the gold, as in sending but little to Spain ; and, what is 
 much worse, that under various pret(>xts, he was making the 
 Spaniards gradually die off, only to extiri)atc them, so that 
 they (he and his brother) might alone remain to give effee-t 
 to their designs. These rcjiorts, and many others, wer(> bO 
 circulated and nudtiplied, that they at last canu> to the ears 
 of the king and queen. Nor were motives of ])artiality 
 wanting to make their credit appear greater to their majes- 
 ties. The king, not to fail in his duty to his kingdom, 
 determined to endea,'our to know the truth of everything, 
 and to send a judge there. Mho should find out why there 
 
 ^ In order to tread out the embers of iiisurrectinii Columbus was unu- 
 sually conciliating: he even reinstated lloldan, the aroh-traitor, in his 
 oiHcc ot alealdc-uiayor. {Tniua.) 
 
 ^y 
 
1 
 
 .■fK 
 
 f 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 35 
 
 lie re 
 
 liad not appeared as much gold as the ahiiirantc had pro- 
 mised ; the which ])ad remained for want of power to exca- 
 vate, in consequence of the discords, rebellions, and wars that 
 had happened, besides other impediments. 
 
 His majesty therefore sent Francesco Bombadiglia as new 
 governor of the island, commissioning him to send true in- 
 formation home, and to discover the cause and origin of so 
 much misunderstanding between Columbus and Roldan ; 
 giving him also ample authority of government. With this 
 royal commission he left Cadiz in 1499, accompanied, by four 
 caravels of war ; and on arriving at La Isia EsjHinola, he 
 was announced to the almirante and his brother ; upon 
 which they went together, as was their duty, to meet him 
 respectfully and to receive him honourably on his arriving 
 at the port, as sent by royalty ; thinking that because they 
 had sincere hearts, others had also. But instead of compli- 
 ments, they were seized, put in irons, and what grieved 
 them the more, sent separately into two caravels ; they were 
 despatched to Spain thus badly treated, prisoners, and 
 in bonds. A truly miserable case and deserving of compas- 
 sion ; a notable example of misfortune, since he who was a 
 little A\'hile before in the highest repute with a most power- 
 ful king, for having discovered for him so many new and 
 rich countries, by his own talents and high genius; to whom, if 
 he had lived in the time of the Greeks or of the Romans, or 
 of any other liberal nation, they would have erected a statue 
 and whom they would have worshipped in a temple like a deity, 
 — was now thrown to the ground by vile malignity.^ And 
 in a case where (in the opinion of any sensible man) no suf- 
 
 1 This Boi/Jxch'r/Ua of Benzoni was the Comendador Francisco do 
 BoltadiUa :ui ImpetvKai.s-tompcred, narrow-minded man, thus unfortu- 
 nately selected for an olHce superior to his ability. The captain of the 
 ;diip would fain liave released Columbus from his bonds, but he disdaiued 
 lieing released except by royal order ; and he ever afterwards preserved 
 the chains in his chamber, directing that they should be buried with 
 him. {T/iins.) 
 
f I II 
 
 36 
 
 HISTORY OV THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 i I' 
 
 I 
 
 licient mode of remuneration conkl be found for so p;reat ii 
 benefit received, offence was pretended in order not to 
 reward iiim. On the arrival of the caravels in Spain, the 
 king- heard how dishonourably these injured men had been 
 brought home, -with irons on their fe(!t and prisoners. 
 Wherefore, moved by an admirable and compassionate 
 heart, he sent by post to Cadiz to have them restored to 
 liberty ; and he desired that they should, as they deserved, 
 appear in his presence honourably accompanied and dressed, 
 like worthy men On their arrival they were courteously 
 received, were heard, their truth was accepted, and mea- 
 sures taken to punish the criminals. 
 
 "NMien Eombadiglia, the new governor, had sent the pri- 
 soners off to Spain. Koldan, with his companions, returned 
 to obedience, and all agreeing together, they began again to 
 work the islanders at their gold mines, not attending to any 
 thing but this wretched avarice, devoting all their ex- 
 ertions thereto. At this time King Ferdinand, M'ho felt 
 in his own mind what he ought to do in justice to the past 
 events, sent Niccolo d'Olanda to La Ida Espanula, with 
 the authority of viceroy, to displace I]ond)adiglia. Accord- 
 ingly he left San Lucar with thirty sail, between ships 
 and caravels, and arrived at the island in forty days. IJomba- 
 diglio, seeing so powerful a superior arrive, innuediately 
 made preparations to go l.ack to Spain M'ith the ships that 
 had brought the viceroy, and end)arked with a grcMt trea- 
 sure amounting to upwards of a hundred and fifty thousand 
 ducats; boasting that besides this, he was carrying many 
 pieces of gold to the queen, and among tliem was one 
 weighing three thousand ducats. 
 
 Tliere Mere with him Eoldan Ximenez and other oflicers, 
 besides four hundred Spaniards, all rich men, and, quit- 
 ting the island, they began their \ oyage. A\'e should here re- 
 flect on th(> justice of the ^Umiglity in punishing the malig- 
 iilly of man, and rciaenilx i , that all our treasures and 
 
 u 
 
 u^ 
 
IIISTOllY OF THE NEW AVORLl). 
 
 37 
 
 ^M'- 
 
 riclics, in vvliicli we put so much faith, arc but dreams and 
 false shadows. Bchokl ! a suddenly violent storm arose, and 
 twenty-four vessels were harassed, were crippled, were dis- 
 persed, were sunk. Bombadiglla was droM-ned ; Roldan^ 
 was drowned, with the greater part of the other Spaniards ; 
 so all the king's and the queen's treasure was lost, together 
 with their own ; and thus ended all the punishments, all 
 the accusations, all the quarrels, and everything else that 
 might have followed ! 
 
 When the islanders heard for certain that Roldan was 
 Avrccked, as well as the other Spaniards who had aillicted 
 them so much by making them labour in the mines for 
 gold, they rejoiced greatly, saying among themselves, " These 
 men will never more force us to dig in the gold mines, and 
 lead the wretched life that they inflicted on us." 
 
 Already in Spain the news was spread abroad of the 
 great abundance of pearls that had been found by the Al- 
 mirante in Ouhaijna and Cumand, and thus many people 
 thirsted to go there. On the king's hearing of this, express 
 orders were issued, that no captain of a ship should 
 aj^proach within fifty leagues of the lands discovered by 
 Christopher Columbus, without permission ; granting full 
 licence, howevei', to everybody to seek for countries that 
 had not been seen before. 
 
 About this time Alonso Nunez set out with a ship, and 
 thirty-four Spaniards, among whom there were some of 
 those who had gone with the almirante when he discovered 
 Cuhiujad ; and therefore when once in India again, they 
 cared not for the royal orders, but, anxious to enrich them- 
 selves, tluy entered the (J ulf of Parw, coasting along the 
 shores of Cumand, Aniaracopanna, and other places dis- 
 covered by the almirante ; and Alonso Nunez landing with 
 some of his people, was kindly received by the inhi.bitants. 
 
 ^ This ti'oulilcsdiuo malcontent i.s fre([Uontly also named Ximencz ; 
 this is because he was liorn at Turre de Don Ximenes. (7V',/;»".) 
 
1? 
 
 38 
 
 IIISTOIJY OF THK NKAV WOULD. 
 
 lie bartered for n "■ond quantity of pearls, and, liavini^ 
 enriched himself, he returned to Spain ; but on the voyage 
 the soldiers disputed with the captain about the partition of 
 the pearls. Thus on reaching Spain they landed in Gdlifia,^ 
 avoiding Secil/c, for fear of being punished by the king, in 
 consequence of having entered countries that had been dis- 
 covered by Cohinibus. Jbit after lu^ had hauled, some of 
 the sailors accused him to the governor of the province, 
 revealing all, saving, what a ladrone he was ; that he had 
 secreted very many pearls, cheating the king of his fH'th, 
 besides being guilty of the disobedience of going to a 
 country already known. The governor immediately had 
 him put into prison, seized many pearls, and then sent him 
 bound to the king, Don Fernando. 
 
 ]jefore proceeding any farther, 1 will here enter fully into 
 the opinion held by those strange generations of Indians 
 respecting Christians, on their first appearance in those new 
 countries. '\\^e should state that when ;irst the Spanish nation 
 went to India, and especially to the jn'ovinces on the mainland 
 in the Northern Sea^' in many places the Indians were struck 
 with astonishment and great admiration, considering and 
 talking among themselves as to whence this bearded ])eoplc 
 could have come : and then seeing their swords and their 
 mode of dress, the ship, the sails, the cables, the anchors, 
 and other things, they stood open-mouth(^d, looking again 
 and again at so Avonderful a spectacle, and each uttering his 
 opinion. Some said that a storm must have driven them 
 there ; while some who had heard their guns, thought they 
 were people who ruled the thunder among the clouds, and 
 had come down from heaven to see the earth : others re- 
 mained confused and speechless, not knowing what to say of 
 
 ^ Oalicia, the north west provhice of Spain, with Portugal intervening 
 betAvcen it and Seville. This early contrabandista proluibly sought 
 security in Ooruna. (/'/v^yj-s'.) 
 
 - Northern Sea, or gulf of Mexico, su called to distinguish it from the 
 Southern Sea, or Pacific. ( Tntus.) 
 
 
 ■fe 
 
 it 
 
IIISTOUV OF TIIK NKW WOULD. 
 
 89 
 
 I 
 
 SO strange and new a people. They were ir -^omc places 
 well received as a novelty ; but elsewhere, on the contrary, 
 they were not willuigly received, it appearing to the Indians 
 that the visitors Inul a fierce aspect, and that their friendship 
 niiist occasion them great evil, but little or no good. 
 Wherefore, as the Spaniards lenped on shore, the natives 
 wound( d them with severe darts, and threw stones at them 
 so v/ell that they killed many, or made them rush back to 
 tlieir boats. However, wherever the natives took pleasnrc 
 in seeing them, their very chiefs humbled themselves, and 
 begged and supplicai.d the Spaniards to go to tlieir tribes, 
 each joyfidly ■wishing that they were in their o'vn house, 
 and all with great pleasure brought both eatables and beve- 
 rages. The Spaniards had their eyes intent on those 
 Indians who wore pearls round their nocks or their arms, 
 and i'ch annoyed at not being able to get any ; so seeing 
 them abounding in jewels in their nostrils, with gold, blue 
 stones, and emeralds, began to ask for some, and they 
 not prizing them gave some to all, and plentifully, like an 
 uncivilized and careless people. 
 
 In tliis friendly intercourse they asked questions of each 
 other, as well as they could, by signs, the Indians wishing 
 to know whence the S2)aniards came, and what nation they 
 were ; to which it was answered, that they were a genera- 
 tion railed (Christians, sons of God, the Creator of heaven 
 and of earth 5 and that the king of Castile, a worthy man, 
 and the Pope, the vicar of the heavenly Saviour, had sent 
 them to announce to the world things of importance and 
 great consolation, and that in a short time they wished to 
 n't urn whence they had come. The Indians, fully believing 
 Avhat they said, depended on its being so, and, thinking 
 they should ne^-er see them again, many came each day to 
 
 * Wore these blue stones sapphires I The "■ wishes must have fathered 
 the thouglit" ill umlerstantliiig so much, in what followed, by mere 
 ■s'/i/^w— the mo, t ambiguous interpretation possible between people who 
 are utterly ignorant of each other's language. {Trans.) 
 
40 
 
 iiisTouY OK riii; nf.w would. 
 
 I. I 
 
 look at them, ostcein'mi^ tluMiiscIvcs happy if they miu[lit 
 touch tht'iii, and prc^sciit somctliin^' to thciii. Ihit wlu ii the 
 Iiulians saw that, ai'tcY \]\v (h jiartnvr of thcsc^ iiic;^., others 
 came, and tliat already they wcnc hcyinnini;' to l)ui!;l houses, to 
 settle themselves in the country, to illtreat th(Mn, to ask them 
 for pearls and for precious stones, hesides suhjectin;;^ tl em 
 to torments and abuse ; they hei^an to complain tint these 
 iacts did not agree -with their sayiny tiiat they were the sons 
 of God ; hut that they nuist have some other bad master, 
 since he permitted their depriving- the natives of their 
 liberty, subjcctini^ them to scn'vitude, and killing them. 
 'I'hey maintained that these weic not works descended from 
 heaven ; and finally, that ])eoj)le receiving good and return- 
 ing evil for it, could not be worthy sons of Ciod ; that they 
 used good words, and then connnitted bad deeds, 'i'here 
 Avere some M'ho said, "What soil oi' (iod can this be that has 
 brought forth so many bad sons, and such wickv d men .'' If 
 the father is like the sons, he cannot bo good ; and held 
 many such and otlier similar arguments. 
 
 If the Spaniards had shown any kindness when they first 
 entered those countries, and h;ul p(n-sever(Hl in exercising be- 
 nignity and humanity, instead of persevering in cruelty and 
 avaric(^, we might have hoped that the generation of savages 
 would have leiirned to cultivate reason, to acquire some 
 degree of virtue and honour, aiul have been creditable to the 
 Christian name ; tlum there woidd not have ensued the 
 death of so many Sjianiards, nor the destruction of such 
 multitudes of Indians, as you will hear in the sequel of this 
 history, and instead of IxMring us constant hatred and 
 abusing us, they \\'0idd have loved and reverenced us. 
 
 Now let us rc'turn to the almlrante Columbus, who re- 
 mained three years at court,' much caressed by the king. 
 
 ' Tliis dchi}' arose from the tlifficultj of liringing into effect the various 
 plans for a fourth voj'age, which his passion for iliscovcry led Cohuubus 
 to propose. Of this the leading purpose v^as liis original idea of opening 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 41 
 
 If 
 
 sonic 
 
 to the 
 
 •d the 
 
 such 
 
 KlllCf. 
 
 pciinig 
 
 i 
 
 Ho then fitted up for him three caravels accordhig to his 
 wishes, that he mi^'^ht discover more countries, and search 
 out the strait leading into the Southern Ocean, which was 
 afterwards called MiKjUum;'' s ,^ from a Tortuguese of this 
 name who found it. 
 
 Thus Columhus started from Cadiz on the Hth of iNFay, 
 15()!2,- together with his hrother, and soon reached La hhi 
 EsjHUtula. Some say that Ijomhadiglia'' prohibited his 
 entering the port, and that the ahnirante complained much 
 of it, saying, that he was not allowed to enter the town that 
 he himself had built. This was not done to serve the 
 king ;* but others say that he did enter. But let that be as 
 it may, he steered a course to the westAvard, found the 
 island of Guanaxia, near the mainland, a large province, 
 called by the natives Ljiiera, and by the Spaniards, Cape 
 Fonduri; there he landed, was much caressed by those 
 chiefs, and many fowls were presented to them, as well as 
 bread and fruit ; but he found no signs of gold, although 
 there were very rich mines, which they did not esteem at 
 all. The almirante gave them some of the usual articles of 
 little value, and then departed, retracing his steps ; and, 
 coasting along to the eastward, found Vcragiia, and landed 
 
 a new track to tlie East ludies, which he now supposed to be separated 
 I'rom the new world by a sea, with which there might probably be a com- 
 munication by means of some strait. {Trans.) 
 
 ' In reply to De jMure, Jansen, De Bry, Chauvcton, and others, it 
 may here bo noted, that Donzoni has not himself said a word on the pre- 
 tended claim of ^Martin Behaim to the discovery of this strait. (Trans.) 
 
 ^ Erroneously given as 1504 by Bcnzoni in both editions. 
 
 ^ Benzoni must here mean the viceroy, whom he terras Olanda, whoso 
 name Avas Nicholas de Ovando, From certain tokens, Columbus appre- 
 hended a hurricane, and rccpiesteil permission to enter the harbour, at 
 the same time warning the homeward bound licet not to sail. His reijuest 
 and his warning were equally disregarded : the hurricane came on, the 
 fleet was mostly destroyed, his inveterate enemies, Bobadilla and Roldan, 
 were drowned, and Columbus escaped its fury by precaution. (Tnais.) 
 
 ■* " Del cho non era servigio della Maesta do Re" — an ambiguous sen- 
 tence. {Trans.) 
 
 6 
 
4a 
 
 niSTOIlY Ol' THK NKW \vOHLI). 
 
 anioiiir tlu* islunds of Zorolxiro, not very I'ar from Terra 
 Firnia. 1 To loarnccl (Voiii those islamic .'s that all the coun- 
 try of W't'dijiKt aboumlccl in gold ; and proceeding thus he 
 coasted onwards to the dll' of J'ta/ia, where he landed, 
 and "n some places obtained information respecting the 
 SoutliornOcta)). In the course of these discoveries he lost two 
 caravels, and as the other two leaked very much, he returned 
 to the island of Cuhn, thence to Jamaica. In consequei\cc 
 of the great labour and sutleri.\gs that they had undergone, 
 some of the Spaniards had died, and a good many of the 
 rest were ill. Francis l*ures, the captain of one of the 
 caravels, with the greater part of the soldiers, took to free- 
 booting, and captured some Indian boats ; after which th(>y 
 went in the dir ctiun of La luLi Espdfiula. The islanders 
 seeing thus the discord that reigned among the Christians, 
 and that Pores had gone off Avith the best part of the men 
 (for those who remained with the almirante were almost all 
 illj, not only refused to provide them with food, but began 
 to consider liow they could kill him. 
 
 Columbus ^vas thus in a great mental conflict, seeing that 
 tlie natives would in no way furnish him with provisions, 
 neither for barter, nor entreaties, nor for goodwill, and that 
 he could not get them by force. Since his men were in a 
 sad condition, he determuied to obtain them in another way ; 
 anl it really may be believed that it was by Divine inspira- 
 tion, in order that so gi-eat a man shoidd not perish thus. 
 The almirante bcdnu; near a village, called some of the In- 
 dians, and when they camc! into his presence, he told them, 
 that if they did not provide him Mith everything that he 
 required, Cod srould shortly send such a punishment from 
 heaven tliat they would all die; and, as a proof of this, he 
 bade them look steadily, and in twc days they Avould see 
 the moon fall of blood.' Now the Indians, seeing that this 
 
 ^ This must have been the total ccli|)se of the moon on the 29th of 
 Fchriuirv, l.")04; and which Ilicciolo registers at i;i hours :}(] minutes 
 for its midiile. {Trans.) 
 
HISTORY OF TFIK N'FAV WORLD. 
 
 13 
 
 ho 
 
 liapprnod on the day and hour that the invader predicted, 
 for then' was an celipse, immediately from fear provided 
 liim with whatever he; wanted as long as he remained on tlic 
 isdand, l)egging that he would forgive them, and be no 
 longer angry with them. So tlie sick people recovered by 
 means of these provisions. At this time Francis Pores re- 
 turned to the island, for hr* could not resist the bad weather 
 in those barks, so lie intended to get possession of one of 
 the caravels, if an opportunity ofieved ; and after repairing 
 it as well as he could, endeavour to return with his followers 
 to Isla J'Jspai'ioIa, but when he came to the port he found 
 the caravels full of water. 
 
 Tlie alinirante having heard of their arrival, put his 
 people in order, and, assisted by his brother, attacked them. 
 They fought, and Columbus con(juered ; some died, some 
 were wounded on both sides, and Pores and his brother 
 were made prisoners. iiiis was the first battle of the 
 Spaniards in India. 
 
 After this victory the almirantc remained several months 
 longer in this island, from not having any ship fit to go 
 awav in : and decided that it would be best to send to La 
 llsjHutola to provide himself with one. lie despatched his 
 steward, Diego ]Mendez, in a country bark,' accompanied 
 by ten Indians, promising to satisfy them very well if they 
 conducted him safely. Thus they started, and like practical 
 men, they followed a line of rocks, because they can only 
 navigate those barks in fine weather ; for if they have much 
 sea to combat they easily capsize. A\^ith great trouble, 
 therefore, the Indians reached La Li^panola, and immedi- 
 ately they turned back to Jamaica, to notify that they had 
 
 1 This " barca del pacse," it appears, was one of two large canoes 
 which were purchased by Columbus from tlie natives : the second was 
 under the charge of Bartholomew Fiesco, who bore a prominent part in 
 the liardy and hazardous enterpri/e. But eight mouths elajtsed beioro 
 the admiral was relieved ! {Tn'iis.) 
 
44 
 
 HISTORY OF THF. ^K^^ nouM). 
 
 ! 
 
 carried Diego ISTcmkIo/ safely to the island, and that he set 
 off on loot to go to San Domruico, 'I'he aluiirante was 
 greatly rejoiced, thanked them very much, then gave them 
 some knives, and some bells, both large and smull ; thus, as 
 if they had received a very great present, they joyfully re- 
 turned to their lionies. 
 
 On Diego Mende/ reaching San Domcnico, h(> gave the 
 letter from the almirante to the chief eonn^ndador, who im- 
 mediately ordered a caravel to he got ready, while Mendez, 
 with the almirante's money, bought another caravel, and 
 both togt>ther, laden with provisions, . ';t sail. On their arri- 
 val at Jamaica Columbus end)ai ked, and soon reached San 
 Dumenico, where he rested a few days, and then M-ith the 
 first ships, taking his brother with him, he went over to 
 Spain. On arriving at court hi; gave inl'orni.itiou of all that 
 had happened, and of the countries that Ik; had last disco- 
 vered, not without great admiration from all the court.' In 
 a few days Columbus fell ill, and growing daily worse, from 
 the great sufferings that he had undergone in his voyag(^s, 
 in a short time died, — aiul thus finished the course of his 
 honourable life on the 8th of May 150G. He ordered that 
 his body should be taken to Seville, to the monastery of the 
 fraternity of the ('artuja. He left a little son, called Diego 
 Colombo, who, from his great virtue, deservedly had to wii'o 
 the hidy Donna Maria, daughter of the most illustrious Don 
 Ferdinand, of Toledo, chief comendadore of Leon. The 
 Almirante Colombo was of Cucureo, a village in the lord- 
 ship of Genoa. His progenitors v.-ere natives of Piaccnza, 
 in I<orabardy, ^-f the noble line of the Pilistregli ', and when 
 young he devoted himself to nautical science. He was a 
 man of a good reasonable stature, with strong, sound limbs ; 
 of good judgment, high talent, and gentlemanlike aspect. 
 
 1 Columbus, on liis relr.rn, had the mortification of finding his best 
 friend, Quocn Isaljclla, dead ; and the prejudiced Ferdinand, though 
 coldly civil, was little disposed to redress his injuries. {TrKiis.) 
 
HISTOUY OK Till", NKW WORM). 
 
 46 
 
 His eyes wore hri^lit, his liair red, his nose nquiline, his 
 month somewhat huge ; l)uf, ahove all, he wus a f'lieml to 
 justice, though rather passionate when angry.' 
 
 I said ahovc how tlic king, Don Ferdinand, issued nn 
 order, when the alniirante discovered the Island of Pearls, 
 th.it no one shoidd dare to ajiproach it within fifty leagues; 
 but seeing what little attention wus paid to his orders, so that 
 a great many people went there, he sent treasurers to collect 
 the royal dues, and thus hegan the Pearl Fishery. Then 
 some monks repaired there, to instruct the Indians in our 
 most holy faith. I'hey went on to the mainland, where 
 many Spaniards had gone to barter with the Indians, and 
 established some monasteries ; but those Indians beginning 
 already to (vv\ the cruel injuries of the S[)aniards, who by 
 force seized them, by force made them fish for pearls, and 
 were continually beating and sometimes wounding them, 
 made head against them. Hence one morning at dawn, the 
 Indians assailed the Spaniards, made a sanguinary slaughter 
 of them, and with dancing and leaping eat them, both monks 
 and laymen.^ 
 
 Some few escaped in a caravel that was lying on the 
 Cumand river, and went to San Domenico, to inform Bartho- 
 lomew, the governor of the island, of the rebellion of the 
 Cumanese. Tie imm(?diately raised three hundred soldiers, 
 and put one Diego d'Ocampo at their head, who soon after 
 
 ^ It is curious to compare this portrait with that which the great 
 navigator's hou, Fcnlinaiid Colon, gave. lie says — "The admiral was 
 well shaped, and of more than a middling stature, long visaged, his 
 cheeks somewhat full, yet neither fat nor lean ; he had a hawk nose, his 
 eyes light, his comiilcxion white with a lovely red ; in his youth his hair 
 was fair, but when he came to thirty years of age it all turned grey." 
 {Ti',ni>f.) 
 
 ^ There can be little doubt that it is from the stories of such doings on 
 the Pearl Coast, and the horrid feastings picturcvl in De Bry's book, that 
 L>efoe represented the cannibalism in " llobinson Crusoe." And this also 
 shows, that however he might have been indebted to Selkirk for hints and 
 suggestions, yet Juan Fernandez was not the locality assumed. {^Trudf.) 
 

 40 
 
 HISTOHY OF TIIK NKW WORf,!). 
 
 getting out of the port reached Cnmana, and ordered that all 
 tlic people, excepting the sailors, .should hide theins(>lves 
 below deck, so that the Indians, perceiving hut lew Span- 
 iards, shouhl niorr easily he tempted to go on hoard, sup- 
 posing that they had conic from Spain direct and not fj'oni 
 San Dumoiico. Accordingly the Indians, seeing the ship, 
 approached the banks of the river and asked ^\■hence they 
 came ; to which it was answered iVoni Castillo, and they were 
 desired by signs to come nearer the ship. Still the Indians 
 Avcrc dotibtful that tlu\y Averc frori Iluiii, and wished to 
 ascertain ; so a few of them went .lear, thinking tlu^y should 
 be able to distinguish whether it came from Spain or from 
 some other country. Tliey brought many pearls, pretending 
 that they came to barter, and seeing so i'ew Christians on 
 board, they made sure that they were from Spain, and not 
 from lla'di ; luul tliat they had not the most distant know- 
 ledge of their re'bellion, so that they would be able to do 
 with these as they luul done with tl.e rest, ami consequently 
 rejoiced much among themselves. 'I'he captain received 
 them kindly, and bartered for their pearls, pretending not 
 to know anything, and by signs envreated them to go and 
 fetch more pearls if they wished still to barter ; and also to 
 bring provisions for the crew, 'riicreforc, when the Indians 
 landed, they informed the cacicpie that they found but few 
 men on board the ship, so that they could easily kill them 
 all; upon N\hich he ordered that a great many of them 
 should return to the ship, and should manage so as to make 
 those few Christians jump on shore. The better to accom- 
 plish their intention, they were to tell the captain tliat the 
 governor of that place had a great many pearls for barter ; 
 and with this ill-woven tale they returned to the ship. The 
 captain now perceiving that there would be a good grasp, 
 tliought he need not wait any longer, so made his soldiers 
 rush up from their hiding place, and, laying hands upon 
 the Indians who were on board, tuok some oi them pri- 
 
niSTOllY or TJ[E NEW WOULD. 
 
 47 
 
 sonors, killed others, and the rest souglit to escape by throw- 
 ing themselves into the river. All tliose that were captured 
 the captain hung to the yard-arms/ to strike terror into the 
 survivors ; and thus he returned to Cuhagiia, the islanders 
 remaining astounded and confused at such a spectacle, lie 
 then went back to Ciimaua, and, landing all his soldiers, 
 committed so much cruelty upon the natives, that the poor 
 people seeing themselves ruined, and almost destroyed, 
 were constrained to beg for peace. 
 
 Diego granted them peace, and when the agreement was 
 concluded, he made the Indians construct twenty-five straw 
 liuts on the bank, of the river, calling it the town of Toledo, 
 as I liavc said above. He now determined to inhabit Cuba- 
 <jna, and gave fresh impetus to the pearl fishery. Eight friars 
 then arrived from San Domenico, they established a monas- 
 tery at Cumana, another at Amaracapana, and so went 
 among those Indians teaching them the doctrine of our faith. 
 They taught the children of ..omc of the chiefs to read and 
 write, whereat all the Indians were very much pleased, and 
 shewed themselves very iriendly to the Spaniards, letting 
 them go wherever they chose. So much so, that Avithout 
 any I'ear, the Spaniards went as much as three hundred 
 miles away by land along the coast, seeking for gold, pearls, 
 and (^ihcr things. 
 
 W hil.-l these various incidents were occurring at Cumana, 
 Doctor Ijartholomew de Las Casas, a priest, who resided at 
 San iJomcnico, hearing of the abundance of pearls that were 
 fished up at Cahayua, of the fertility of that country, also 
 of the cruelty exercised by the Spaniards on the natives, 
 went over to S])ain, and to the court, Avhere, in conse- 
 ciucnce of the death of the king Don Ferdinand, the prince 
 Don Carlos (afterwards named emperor) had succeeded as 
 
 ^ The roiuler will protuilily rocolloot Theodore Do Bry's represeutation 
 of this infamous act ; an act which iiidelihly disgraced the early settle- 
 iiieut of that line and capacious port, Cumana. (Y'raiis.) 
 
 <i 
 
48 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 
 heir to the kingdoms of Spain, and was crowned as Charles 
 V. The Doctor asked him for the government of Ctanu/td, 
 informing- him of the wicked and horrid treatment that tl.o 
 Indians of tliat province were daily undergoing from the 
 very rapacious Spanish soldiery. That on this account they 
 had rebelled, and all the Spaniards in that district liad been 
 killed; but that if he w(;nt there he would mitigate all 
 these horrors, and that he would treat the Indians so well 
 that he should be jn'aised by everybody ; and above all 
 things, he Mould increase the royal revenues. All this was 
 contradicted by Dr. Luigi Zappata and others, who were 
 concerned in the government of India ; and who repre- 
 sented Bartholomew as a weak, vain man, incapable of such 
 an enterprize, and of no credit, as he did not understand 
 the affairs of that nation. Still, notwithstanding all this 
 contention, through the great favour he enjoyed at court, 
 from some Flemish gentlemen and others, especially Count 
 Nanfo, the emperor's chamberlain, he obtained his wish ; 
 they asserting that he was a good Christian, and Avould con- 
 vert all the Indians to the service of God and the bcnclit of his 
 majesty, more than any other man who could be employed 
 there, and that he would send a great quantity of pearls to 
 Spain. He tli'}n asked for three hundred men to assist in fish- 
 ing for them, not to over fatigue the Iiuliaus; and in order that 
 they might go more willingly, he entreated the emperor to 
 institute some cavaliers for him, with a red cross like that of 
 Calatrava.' His majesty, moved by this representation, 
 granted the doctor aU he asked, and having made the recj^ui- 
 site arrangements, ordered for hi in whatever he wanted for 
 his enterprise. Hi departed from Seville, and arriving at 
 Cutnand, he found Diego d'Oeampo, to whom he delivered 
 
 1 This wan asking for no small distinction, Ininvjcnt V'lII Laving only 
 consented to reunite that ancient and " gallant'" order, grand-mastership, 
 to the Spaiiish eruwn, in 1489, while Ferdinand and Isabella were in the 
 zenith of pajial favour. It was highly prized as a hadge of military 
 merit, {7'ra/i.t.) 
 
 
 I 
 
 h 
 
HISTORY OF TIIK NEAV AVOIU,!). 
 
 49 
 
 luu 
 
 livoi'cd 
 
 \uvr only 
 Itoiship, 
 in the 
 Inilitary 
 
 his appointment. But th^ latter represented tliat, although 
 he would willingly obey, he could not do so without per- 
 mission from the almirante, who had sent him to punish the 
 rebels, and govern that province until his further orders. 
 Thus, with biting words and mocking each other, some days 
 elapsed ; till the doctor, seeing that Ocampo would not obey 
 the orders, and laughed at him, determined to go to San 
 Domi/i(/o to complain to the almirante of the discourtesy 
 shown to him, and the refusal to obey the royal commands. 
 Before he departed he had a wooden house made (being un- 
 willing to go into the town of Toledo), and put into it all the 
 provisions and stores that he had brought from Spain ; leaving 
 his cavaliers there to guard them till his return. Thus he 
 went away to Sa)i Domingo. iNIeanwhilc Ocampo also, with 
 the greater part of his soldiers, decamped ; for they had be- 
 come ricn with the spoils torn from the Indians, and had 
 begun to quarrel about the division of the pearls.^ 
 
 The chiefs of the province of Cnmand, now seeing that 
 Ocampo was gone off with most of the soldiery, and that 
 there only remained the Christians whom the doctor had 
 left together in a group, besides those Avho were wandering 
 about rapacious for pearls, licentious to the Avomen, and 
 doing many other wanton violences ; they agreed to rise in 
 arms, and with one consent on a Sunday morning the natives 
 assailed the Spaniartls ; so that of all who were in Amara- 
 cdjyanna, and along the sea shore to the westward, none 
 escaped with their lives. The monks were killed while 
 saying mass ; and in Cumand they attacked the doctor's 
 house and took it, and nearly all the cavaliers were most 
 cruelly killed with poisoned darts, the rest escaping in a 
 boat with some monks, who fled to Cuhagua carrying the 
 sacrament with them. The houses, the churches, the monas- 
 
 ^ Ocampo appears to have been a witty, crafty, sanguinary, and reck- 
 less cominaniler, who must have (piickly found that Las Casas was more 
 
 fit for a cloister than a governorship. (Trans.) 
 
 7 
 
 
i 
 
 50 
 
 HISTORY OF TIIK NEW AVOUI.I). 
 
 t^' 
 
 
 tcrics, were all burnt, the huts were pulled down, the imai^cs 
 broken, as well as the crucifixes, and strewed in pieces about 
 the roads in contempt. They destroyed oven the dogs and 
 the fowls ; nor would they forgive the Indians themselves 
 who were in the service of the Spaniards and their priests ; 
 striking the ground and cursing it because it supported such 
 cruel and very wicked men. All this was done, more- 
 over, with such violence and fury, that even the Span- 
 iards who resided in Cuhagua were in great fear for their 
 lives. Nor is there any doid)t but that, had the Indians 
 possessed sufficient boats, they would have gone over to the 
 island, which is only twenty-two miles distant, in the gulf; 
 thereby to make an end of all the Spaniards who Avcre there. 
 But having only a few canoes they could not attempt it, 
 although their inclination was strong. 
 
 The king's officers innnediately despatched a brigantine to 
 San Domingo, to give notice of what had occurred ; where- 
 fore the almirante, having heard the case, prepared four 
 hundred soldiers, and jippointed Jacob Castiglione to be 
 their captain. As to the doctor, when he heard of the death 
 of his cavaliers, he immediately made himself a Dominican 
 brother: which was much bett:'r, in my opinion, tliun going 
 back to Culxujua to fish i'or pearls,^ IMcanwliile Castiglione 
 sailed from La Isla JEspanola, and in eight days arrived at 
 Cunmnd ; here he most bravely jumped on shore with all 
 his soldiers, had to fight against the Indians during forty 
 days, and made a great slaughter of them ; although they 
 defended themselves valorously, wounding and killing seve- 
 ral Spaniards. Still, in the end, being inferior in courage, 
 in strength, and in genius, the Indians A\(rc always beaten ; 
 so that they were obliged at last to ask for peace, and sur- 
 
 ^ The general reader will hardly recognize in the Doctor Bartholomew 
 so brus(juely sjwken of by Benzoni, that worthy and well-nT^aning friend 
 of the natives, Las (Jasas. By a mural solecism, huwcvnr, Las Casas in- 
 vented the method of relieving the labonr of hulians, by imi)ortiiig 
 negroes from the Ooast of (UiLnea .' {Tnais.) 
 
IIISTOIIY OF Tllli NEW WORLD. 
 
 61 
 
 render tlicmsclvcs at discretion to the captain. lie had 
 seventy of the caciques hanged, as they had been the origina- 
 tors of the rebellion ; he loaded the ship with Indians to be 
 sold at La Eapailola ; then established a fortress on the cliff 
 of the river Cumand, for the safety of the vessels, as said 
 before ; and he rebuilt the town of Toledo. Then, when the 
 number o/ Spaniards increased, he also built about sixty 
 houses at CahtKjua entirely of bricks, like a little town, and 
 called it Now Cadiz. Subsequently four Franciscan bro- 
 thers came from San Domingo and erected a monastery; 
 declining to go on the niaii i.and, for fear of the Indians 
 some day eating them, as had happened before. The Span- 
 iards now recommenced the pearl fishery, and obtained a 
 great quantity of those beads.' 
 
 This island of Cuha<jua is ten miles in circuit, and is situ- 
 ated ten degrees and a half from the equinoctial line ; it is quite 
 flat, sterile, without trees, and has no water ; and in contrary 
 winds is Sv)iuctimes in such want of water, from the boats not 
 being able to bring any from Cumand, that a pipe of wine 
 has often been given for a similar quantity of water. Rab- 
 bits, salt, and fish arc abundant. At the time when the 
 pearl fishery was flourishing, Don Luigi da Lampognano 
 arrived in the island ; he was a relation of that Lampognano 
 who killed Galeazzo Maria Sforza, duke of Milan. Don 
 Luigi was provided with an imperial permission to fish all 
 over the vicinity of Cuhagua for any quantity of pearls he 
 chose, without any hindrance. This man sailed from Spain 
 with four caravels, laden with all the stores and munition 
 requisite for such an enterprise. The permission had been 
 bought for him by some Spanish merchants, in the hope of 
 gain ; and he had a rake (or dredye), made in such a man- 
 ner, that in Avhatever part of the sea it was thrown 5 all or 
 
 ^ In consequence of the avidity with which these eftects of disease 
 in a su1)-marine creature of the lowest scale wore sought, the state of 
 the thon-exi-tiug human society tliero, was v' >lly subverted. {Troii'i.) 
 
5^ 
 
 IllSTOllY OF THE NKU WOULD. 
 
 nearly all the oysters M'ould be dragged out. lUit the 
 Spaniards residing in Ciihaynd of one accord refused to 
 obey the royal orders ; saying that the emperor was very 
 liberal with other people's property, but that when he 
 wanted t' give rewards, he should do it with his own. They 
 had gained and conquered the country, and supported it 
 with very great labour and danp;'^i of their lives, therefore 
 it was more reasonable that tiiey should enjoy it than a 
 stranger. Lampognano himself, seeing that his royal per- 
 mission was null, f(,'lt ashamed to go back to Spain, where 
 he had also many debts : and was so laughed at and taunted 
 M'ith various schemes, that he finally went mad, and died 
 miserably in that island at the end of five years. 
 
 Before I go on to speak of other things, I must here relate 
 why the Indians from the mainland were given as slaves. In 
 the beginning, Avhen the almirante Colombo discovered the 
 main land of India,' many Spaniards crowded there from the 
 abundance of riches they found, going and coming, some in 
 one province and some in another. But the Indians began 
 to dislike and even to hate these strangers, because they 
 were madf* to labour excessively, and v.'(>re very ill-treated 
 by them, their tongues never tiring of asking for gold, silver, 
 pearls, emeralds. Wherefore, unable to put up with such 
 labour and misery, they determined to kill and extirpate 
 them I'rom the country, cursing themselves for not having 
 killetl them all at first. Now the Spaniards seeing, both 
 laity and clergy, that, from the habits of these people, they 
 would not accept of the friendship of tlie Christians, nor 
 receive the faith of Christ ; that, on the contrary, they ridi- 
 culed it, saying that these things might do for the men of 
 Castile but not for them ; some monks of the order of Saint 
 Dominie went back to Spain and reported to the king. 
 
 / 
 
 
 ^ For some timo iit'tor tin; discovery of America, it was siipT)0.se(l to be 
 ]iart of Imlia: ainl licncc the name of the West Iiulies, still x'etaiacd by 
 tlic i-slaiuls of the Caribbean Sea, was given to all those countries. ( Trans.) 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 53 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 Don FerdinamI, the way of living of these brutish races, 
 persuading him that they deserved to be sohl as slaves, 
 rather than to he allowed to live nt liberty, alleging the 
 following reasons : that the Indians of the mainland were 
 idolater-:,, p-'hics, liars, dirty, ugly, void of judgment or 
 perception, lovers of novelty, fierce, inhuman, and cruel. 
 They use poisoned darts, so that when a man is Avounded 
 by them he soon goes mad and dies. They go naked and 
 are devoid of shame. They Avear no beard, and if a few 
 hairs appear, witli certain little pincers they pull them out. 
 They eat human flesh, and also the flesh of some extremely 
 dirty animals {spurcissimi animali), such as spiders, lice, and 
 horrid M'orms, All their delight is in drunkenness ; and in 
 matrimony they observe no foitli or loyalty, so that it is 
 impossible to make them alter their habits. They are devoid 
 of pity towards their infirm, and let them be ever so closely 
 related they abandon them, and so to get rid of the sight of 
 their sick, they carry them to the woods or the mountains 
 to die, like wild animals. Finally, to include all in one 
 sentence that might b(^ said in many Avords, they affirmed 
 that no nation more wicked or Avretched can be found under 
 heaven. 
 
 The king having heard this violent abuse, summoned his 
 council, and after all these inhuman cruelties were repre- 
 sented to them, he desired them to say freely Avhat, in 
 tiieir opinion, ought to be done with so much bestiality as 
 was related by the monks. Therefore, without further con- 
 sideration, it was decided that the Indians from the main 
 land should be given as slaves, unless they would leave ofl" 
 such serious crimes, would become Christians, and would 
 learn from the Spaniards to live orderly like men. The 
 king then confirmed their decisions, and drew up a commis- 
 sion, Avhich he conferred on Diego di Niqucsa and Alfonso 
 di Hoieda,^ who went over to those provinces with the title 
 
 ^ These arc the loaders, Nioucsa and Ojeda of history, both of whom 
 
 I 
 
 
,1 
 
 il 
 
 54 
 
 iiisioRY oi' iiii; m;\v woui.I). 
 
 of governors, tliat is, Ni<nu\s;i of l^cvttgua, ;iiul lloicdii of 
 Carthu(icini, \\'\\.\\ orders that, before they waged war, the 
 holy Evangelists slioidd be })rcached to tlie natives, and 
 tliat they shouhl be acbnonished to live peaceably like good 
 men ; that they Avere to be perfectly friendly with the Span- 
 iards, and forswear their grievous sins. If they obeyed these 
 commands, the ki. ;.• o( 'yastilc would grant them liberty, 
 and regard them ab I i' '■•'.•- 'ind vassals. But if they would 
 not, they should be ./aiI, ride slaves, burnt, or killed, 
 and exposed to all kinds of slaughter, both of their limbs and 
 their lives. 1 fully believe that if Jksvs Christ our Saviour 
 and lledeemer had sent his holy Apostles into the world to 
 preach the; holy Evangelists under a similar commission, 
 they would not have brought so many kingdoms and more 
 powerful princes to sid)mit with holy humility to the cross, 
 kneellnu- and adoring his divine law with all their heart. A\'e 
 must, however, consider the dillerencc between the wisdom 
 of Cjioi) and that of man. The two governors accordingly 
 sailed from Cadiz in 1509, and arrived safely at La Esjjaiio/d. 
 Hoieda purchased four vessels, and collected above four hun- 
 dred soldiers at his own expense, and thus started from Sdn 
 Domingo, commissioning the bacciller, ]\lartin de Enciso 
 (m'Iio, under royal appointment was going as principal judge 
 to that very important government), to go to his assistance 
 as soon as possible with men and horses, artillery, and 
 munitions of every sort. A\^hcn Hoieda arrived at Ci(rth:'gena 
 he leaped on bhore, aiul by an interpreter promulgated the 
 king's orders to the Indians, entreating them to live in peace, 
 be friends with tlie Christians, leave off their })ad habits, and 
 receive the f lith of Christ : and if they did this, the king of 
 Castile would treat them well, and hold them as friends.' 
 
 
 
 proved unfortunate. Las Casas tliouj.!,lit, if the latter liaJ never been 
 boru the world would have lost nothing — " I'n nianceho (^ue auu'jue no 
 oviera nascido, no pcrdiera el mundo na^la." {'/'/•■ois.) 
 
 ' This act, be it observed, was after the death of C^ueen Isabella, who 
 
HISTOll' OF THE NKW AVOKT.l), 
 
 55 
 
 10 
 
 n\ 
 h\ 
 ,11- 
 
 ]Jut tlic Indians, in few words, answered, that they did 
 not want the f'riendsliip of tlic king of Castile, and hade 
 llu".!] icturu whence they came ; they only wanted good peo- 
 |)1(' to come to their country, and not such as did nothing 
 huL evil, and were never satiated with injuring them. The 
 governor, on hearing this resolute answer, landed his sol- 
 diers, and, scouring along all that seashore, put to the sword 
 whatever natives they met. The royal commission was pro- 
 mulgated through all those provinces, so that cveryhody 
 might he aware of it ; hut finding them universally dis- 
 obedient, thev betook themselves to inakincr slavr setting 
 aside the preaching of the gospel ; although the Ji.v^ > -ant 
 only the Caribbces, that is, those who eat each .. ir^r, .o be 
 made slaves; yet the Spaniards treated all the ' ..v!i;i s, even 
 where this was not the custom, as slaves,^ niakwig them 
 labour in the mines, and in any other Avay that ;' equircd. 
 Thus their tyranny got to such a height, that if it had not 
 been for a few monks, who, with the true zeal of charity, 
 procured the liberation of this truly unhappy generation, 
 they would doubtless in a short time have been all, or nearly 
 all, destroyed. 'Jlicse religious men were of the Order of 
 Saint Dominic, and were residing in JVeio Sjm'u) ; wherefore, 
 s(xnng the jiublic evils and the horrid treatment that was in- 
 flicted on the nn fortunate Indians, they admonished their 
 countrymen, preached to them, reprehended their insolence, 
 and reminded them that they would have to account to God 
 for the cruelty with which they treated the Indians. Tiiey 
 therefore besought them to be more moderate, and to treat 
 the natives better than they had hitherto done. In this way 
 
 hail always been a strenuous dcfoiuler of the natives — maintaining that 
 they were to cnj(»y Ircedom, kind treatment, and i)roiier maintenance. 
 l)Ut this Iloieda {AloiKO OJeda) viewed the untranslatable proclamation 
 he was circulating, as a mere prelude to a slave-hunting war. {Trans.'t 
 ' The kidnapping of natives had already been declared to be illega', 
 and orders were given that kidnapped men should be restored to free- 
 dom ; bui it seonis that the decree was unattended to. (Trdn-i.) 
 
 I! 
 
 ii 
 
 1. 1 
 
 ' I' 
 
 i' 
 
56 
 
 HISTOR\ OF THIi SV.W WOIII.I). 
 
 r 1 
 
 ij 
 
 they mi:^lit become more obedient to the evangelical name. 
 These instructions Avere of little avail ; for the Spaniards 
 mocked the monks, and laughed at them, as usual, as>erting 
 that the Indians Avere dogs unworthy of the name of Chris- 
 tians. Thus words generated hatred, but no fruit ; so that the 
 monks, uniting together, made a full and anth(>ntic relation 
 of it to His Holiness the Pope, and sent it to Rome by one 
 brother Ivoderic ]\[inaia, a nominicau, witli injunctions to 
 represent clearly all the evil and the disgraceful customs 
 that had ensued, so as to procure a Dull restoring the 
 Indians to liberty. 
 
 The apostolic chair was then filled by Pope Paul III, who, 
 seeing the truth of this information, as m ell as heariu"- of the 
 insolence perpetrated in the Indies, granted the above- 
 mentioned Pull in favour of the Indians, ^^'ith this, ]\[inaia 
 returned to Spain, and, togetlicr with some other monks, he 
 informed his majesty of the beginning, the progress, and 
 the end of all that had happened : showing that the sins of 
 the Indians arose from great and pure ignorance, not from 
 malevolence ; that God had created them men, and not 
 beasts ; free, and not slaves ; demonstrating that they should 
 be brought over to the Christian faith by good examples, 
 not by cruelty or tyranny. Entreating his majesty to con- 
 sider tliat these countries were at the foot of his crown; and 
 therefore it would be a pio\is thing to arrange so that they 
 should not be in a short time destroyed, ii^ conse([uence of 
 the unbearable fatigue and ill treatment inflicted on the 
 natives by the Spaniards, who, without remorse, made them 
 die under the heavy weights they were made to carry, or the 
 constant digging in the mines, and other shameful cruelties ; 
 so that many "were seen, in consequence of these insupportable 
 miseries, to run away to the woods, and there hang them- 
 selves bv the neck.^ 
 
 ^ "We are glad to see any records of Dominican humanity, as that per- 
 fidious and cruel order so long triumphed over mercy, as inquisitors. 
 ( Trans.) 
 
 J 
 
 1 
 
HISTORY OK riiK n:;w worm). 
 
 57 
 
 I 
 
 The emperor, having licard tliis relation, immediately sent 
 Doctor I'i^iieroa to the Indies, coniniissioning him to ohtaiu 
 th(^ truth, botii from the cleri^y and iVoin the governors, and 
 to inform liim minutely. 'I'liis man went round, and did 
 what his majesty bade liim ; ■whereupon the emperor, "witli- 
 out any fartlier eonsultation, made the Indians free, imposing 
 heavy penalties on any one -who should thereaft(U' dare to 
 enslave them. A most holy and glorious law truly, vouch- 
 safed by a divine emperor, and a most clement pontiff. 
 
 I being in the Island of Stai J)ominic in the year 'i4, the 
 licentiate Ceratto came as jiresident of the island, and 
 brought this proclamation with him ; which M'as of course 
 made known throughout all the islands and provinces 'of 
 India; whereat the natives were greatly rejoiced and happy, 
 but the Spaniards and others greatly annoyed and distressed. 
 These commands were executed with great ease in the island 
 of La Kynnlohf, Cuba, Jamaica, San Juan de Puerto llico, 
 and all along the coast, which is generally called by sailors 
 Tierra Fir?na, beginning with £1 Nomhrv dc Dios, on to the 
 Gulf of Paria. But in JNIexico there was a little conten- 
 tion, because there were some very rich men whose pro- 
 perty consisted chiefly of slaves, and m ho would not there- 
 fore ob(!y the law. They alledged that the king, Don Fer- 
 dinand, had given the natives publicly to them as slaves, 
 which the emperor had confirmed, and had received his 
 fifth ; wherefore if his majesty chose to restore them their 
 liberty, he must also disburse the money that the slave- 
 owners had laid out. Thus everybody complained, cursing 
 the monks as the source of this loss. 
 
 Then the great pnuleucc of the viceroy, Don Antonio dc 
 IMendo/a, was shown ; for matters would have gone ill, if 
 he had not, with great sagacity, shown himself unfavourable 
 to this new law, and had not supplicated the emperor to 
 rescind it. The result, however, manifested the good office 
 he had done, for the emi)eror never would abrogate it, or 
 
 'J 
 
 i I 
 
68 
 
 iiisiuiiY (>!• I III: m;u woin.i). 
 
 attciul to tlicii- will ; hut dii the coutiMrv he wrote, dcsirini^ 
 his orch'is to he olx ycch' Whcrrupoii llic viceroy hiiviii}^ 
 nssenihliHl all the priiK i[);tl people in the city, again ])re- 
 seiited to them the (•.\i)ress (()nlnu^sion (Vom his majesty. 
 Still fiiidiiii; that the cruel, rich ma-teis a\()ii1(1 not. reh'asc? 
 their shives in or(h r to i)reveiit disorders and tumults, he 
 prudently mitigated the law, and they all agreed to receive 
 it in the I'oUowing form : — 'I'hat every nnui posses^ing slaves 
 should each year, according to a certain rate, liherate twenty ; 
 so that in a short time all the Indians were; lilu rated. If 
 \'aseo Nufuz \ ehi, on going as viceroy to j'cru with similar 
 ordei's, had acted in this manner, he would not have come 
 to the end he did, nor would such misrorlunes have ensued 
 as we shall hereal'ter iclate. 
 
 The Indians being restored to liberty, the clergy sujijdi- 
 cated his majesty to allow them to ;,'-o and convert them by 
 preaching and benignity, as they had learned their language, 
 and they trusted, by the grace oi" the Holy Spirit, to bring 
 them round to the Faith. This was granted to th(>m ; and 
 his majesty ordered that no more countries should be con- 
 quered ; but that they should be brought to Christianity 
 only by good works. Might monks went with these orders 
 to India, and tour of them landed at Ld Fiorifa. 'I'hey 
 began to preach ; but the Indians, having been ill-ti'cated, an- 
 swered with sticks, finallv killed them, and then, accordin"- to 
 
 tl 
 
 leu' custom, ( 
 
 attl 
 
 WXVi 
 
 T 
 
 .tl 
 
 wo or Hers lan 
 
 d(>d 
 
 tl 
 
 lU'ar trie con 
 
 fin 
 
 cs 
 
 )f the gov("rnnu'nt of CiialhtKihi, in order to preach, but it 
 
 hapi)enetl to them as to the other; 
 
 H'cinii' this, the res 
 
 ^t left 
 
 the enterprise to be eilce led by time. I b(li( \c', howe-vcr, 
 that if kindness, and not di'<li(»ne.>ty,had been p'ractised at first, 
 
 •tl 
 
 e\{rMliinu- won 
 
 Id 1 
 
 lave succe(H 
 
 led, 
 
 since the n;tti\cs won 
 
 Id 
 
 n 
 
 ot have had such exam])les of ill treatment and bad faith. 
 
 i 
 
 ' With all this appearance of justice anil hmnanity, tlie forccil einjiloy- 
 mcut of Iiidiuns in the mines w;ls not only encouraged li}' the laws of 
 
 ;\n-''o 
 
 ut ;il'^(>lutely insistdi up^u. {Tr^di-^.) 
 
IIISTOIIY UV THE NEW WOKl.l). 
 
 01) 
 
 I 
 
 Wliilc pfovcrnor Hoicdii was figlitiny; with the Indians at 
 Cdi'tliUijoiKi, l)i('gi) (li Ni(|ucsa arrived tlicrc with a ship, 
 seven caravels and two brigs, carrying above seven hmuhed 
 men, to go to iiis government, and he t'ouiul hi-; companion, 
 lloleda, nnich adilcted, becanse a ^vw days previous he bad 
 gone to a tril)(; twelve mih-s inland, lio[)ing to get a great 
 booty ; lor b(; had b(-en tohl tliat in that phice a (quantity of 
 gohl bad been found. Hut the journey did liim a very great in- 
 jury; as he found the cliief of that peoph; in arms,togetherwith 
 a great many Indians, liohling for certain that the 8j)aniards 
 wouhl go tliere, and tliey were thus assauhed M'ith such im- 
 petus, that Hoicda was obliged to turn his back \\ ith the loss 
 of seventy-five soldiers, and return to the seashore. Hearing 
 this, they (leliberat(;d to go in a body against that tribe, and 
 revenge the death of those who had been killed. Thus one 
 evening they nearly all started, and marching very gently, 
 assailed the Indians at dawn. Not suspecting anything, they 
 "vvere asleep, but aM'akened by wounds and seeing their houses 
 on fire. Frightened by the conflagration, they endeavoured 
 to escape, but from the multitude of soldic rs around tliem, 
 they were nearly all killed ; some threw themselves into the 
 flames, prefc^-ring a voluntary death by fire to a forced one 
 iVom the swords of the Spaniards. This tribe bad about a 
 hundred huts mad(> of reeds and rooftd with palm ; what 
 with fire and the sword only a few escaped, through its not 
 being bi'uad daylight. Six youths were made prisoners and 
 slaves b^' iloicda; then, when the ashes had cocdcd, tlxy 
 sought fui.'" the gold, but only found a small booty ; so that 
 their avarii '' was confounded, and they returned to Cartha- 
 gena ill-requited by fortune.' 
 
 Ni(|uesa, coasting along the shore, went westward to his 
 
 ■^ ' 
 
 ( 
 
 ! I 
 i I 
 
 ! 
 
 ' The Pnanish force con.-iisthig of four humlroil uieniit-arinH : ;aiil, liy 
 pulilic proc'laniati')!!, t'ae two coiiiuinmlcrs forliaile that any quarter 
 should he given tu the luiliaus : men, wuuion, ami eliiltlren weie alike 
 siaughtereil I (7'/y</i,v.) 
 
;{ 
 
 ()() 
 
 IIISIOKN OK llIK NHW WORM), 
 
 govonimcnt. Iloicda, also coastini^, -went two Imndrcd 
 miles from Carlhaijcnn ; he entered the i'y\\\i o'i lliinivd . dis- 
 eiiibaiked Ids liurscs, liis artillciv, and amniuidtion. lie 
 began to build many houses, and made several forays among 
 the nati\es. The Indians, having already heard what the 
 Spaniards hunted tor, threw pieees of gold and jewels along 
 the paths, and while they were picking them nj), the natives 
 aimed poisoned daits from their hiding ])laces, and so 
 wounded many. In the course of their skirmishes, the 
 Spaniards got into the midst of a tribe, and took prisoner 
 the wife of one of their I'hiefs. He came to the governor, 
 accompanied by some ol' his frieinli, and pretended he 
 wished to ransom her, offering to give whatever was de- 
 manded. A\ hen he got into the; go\ernor's presence, he 
 spok(- most bravely, and abused him, not only in words, but 
 also in deeds, fu)' then h.e threw a poisoned dart at him. 
 The soldiers hearing a noise, I'an in, and, closing in upon 
 these men, killed them and the woman too. Tlie governor 
 was cured by lire of the poisoned wo\ind in the thigh, in the 
 usual way, and the poison not being very poimt, he soon 
 got well. 
 
 The Spaniards, seeing so much bravery in the Indians, 
 anil their great courage in defending their liberty, l)y Avliich 
 many of the assailants had been killed, and many more had 
 died ol' disease from the b.ul air, began to complain of the 
 governor's having brought them to such a place, M'hcri^, on 
 account of the numerous woods, they coidd not avail thcn.- 
 sehes either of their -strength or their arms, I>ut about th.s 
 time tlu ri' ai'rived a ship from I^a IhUi EsjKit'iuJd, kuhni wi.h 
 nun and nnmitions, which [n'oved a great comfort for .dl. 
 Si ill the soldiers went on murmuring worse than bel'ore. 
 The governor endeavoureil [o comfort them, and to persuade 
 them to stay ^ith a good will, sime tlu^ IJaehillcr I'hiciso 
 woidd leave Sun Dtuninijo with a gi'eat many nun. Hut his 
 M ords had little eli'ect, for they I'eared that in the end they 
 
 
 4 
 
HISTOltV OF THK NEW WOUl,!). 
 
 61 
 
 
 should be eaten by the Iiuluiiis ; so a good many of them 
 contrived to escape in the brigs. The governor hearing 
 this, to avoid disgrace and not abandon so rich a country, 
 embarked in the ship that liad hist arrived, leaving Francis 
 Pizarro in his place ; promising to return ■with men and 
 ammunition from S(ni l)u)nui<j(), and to do it all in lifty 
 days; but if he did not return they ^vc■le to do as tiicy 
 liked. 
 
 This was the Pi/arro who afterwards, in company with 
 Diego del Magro,' found and conquered the large and most 
 rich kingdom of Peru, lloieda with great trouble arrived at 
 La JEs2)(U~iol<i, suffering much from his wound again, and in 
 a few days after he died in extreme pain. Two months 
 having elapsed without Pizarro's hearing anything of lloieda, 
 and constrained by hunger, he with tlie seventy remaining 
 Spaniards embarked in the two brigs, and coasted along as 
 chance h-d them, hoping to find some improvement of food, 
 and intending finally to return to Sa/i Domin'jo. A\'hile 
 doing this he was assailed by a storm, through which he 
 loNt one of his brigs with all the peoj)le on board of her, con- 
 stituting the half of his rnen ; and they saw a great fish tear 
 away the rudder.'- In this state Pizarro arrived at the 
 Isia Futrlc, where, going on shore to water (although he 
 made signs of [)eace), he was resisted by the islanders. 
 Wherefore becoming desperate, seeing both heaven and 
 earth aurainst him, he was riinnin"' alont"' with the wish to 
 b(; wrecked, so great was the thirst from which they suf- 
 ferc'sl. Put the ^.lorin pa. sing away favoured him, for he 
 
 1 IJeiiZuiii, who scorns the tramiiiels of oi'thogr;ii)liy, spells tliu luunc 
 of this h.inly wurrior in all s^rts of ways — as ilol IMiigro, il M!i'j,ro, dal 
 Magro, Aluiagi'M — which lust, lining adoiitcil iu hii^lovy, will he used iu 
 the i'cillowiiig pages. (Triin<.) 
 
 - The spectators were here iutlucnced. perhaps, liy seeing the vagaries 
 of that monster, the white shark (s'ji/afa.i c<ir<'li'ir!nti), which attended 
 the wreck fur other piu'poses than tearing oil' the rudder : to he sure, this 
 liruui ji.ih is not at all nice. {7',\'H.i<.) 
 
 it 
 
 I ! 
 
 ' 
 
 ;;( 
 
 ' I 
 
 (I 
 
62 
 
 IIISTOllV OV rilK NEW WOUT.l). 
 
 I, 
 
 met the Jhtc/ti/lc)-^ Knciso, wlio Wiw. coniing witli a ship and 
 a brig', Liui'ii with men and prtivisions to Miccour ILoieda. 
 Pizarro approached him -with great joy, and rehited all that 
 had hai)pene(l, inehiding the governor's hr.ving given him 
 h'avc to go where ho chose. The l)acliili(M' did not believe 
 liim, doubting that lie liad left his eomnuuKhr through 
 some misdemeanour ; but lu) regretted this ^vhen he after- 
 wards learned the truth, and ordered him to follow. I'i/arro 
 cntr(\\t(Hl tint he would allow him to go on ■with those 
 Avrc^telu^l and ;:ick men to Lt/ J-^s/xhlo/a, but ]'hieiso Avould 
 not eousrnt. Then the sick nuMi ])referred their prayers to 
 him, and wi^shed to give him fi'.y poinids of gold, "which he 
 would gladly have accepted, b '^ was afraid of being accused ; 
 so thanking them, he declined it. Then he comforted them 
 greatly by shewing that they woidd soon get well on the 
 good provisions he had bi'ought, their illness arising chieily 
 from the discomfort ami want of food that they had under- 
 gone. ]ie thus approached the maiidand near CartlKKjcna, 
 and went on ihoi'c at Co)ii<ujrc to water: and knowing that 
 nc-ithe)' >('i(jU(>a nor Hoieda were thcr(>, the Indians let 
 them ha\e A\ater and anything else they chose from them; 
 to the great sur[)rise of all. The bachiller tlum set sail again 
 and went to Vramt^ the same place where lloieda had 
 landed ; there, through the ignorance of the pilot, the slap 
 ran ui)on a reck, and immediately illh d with water. 'J'he 
 horses and cattle were ;.ll drowned, and the soldiers had 
 riiuch ado to save tin ir own lives ; while every body was 
 in fear of dying of hunger. Eneiso, therefore, seeing the 
 ship and the provisions lot,and thesuuliers alieady reduced 
 to eat herbs au'l i'ruits which tht'y found ah ng the shore, 
 determined to march inland; saying tiiat it was bett(>r to 
 die lighting, than disgracefully allow theivisehes t(j expire 
 of starvation. Thus starting with one hundred men, he 
 
 ' Dacliillor has a wiikr iiicanins ilian i.ur wnnl l.a'hclMr, sii,qii)')'iiig 
 al.-^u an iutiji'i"!' ilc.^i'i,c Ml' lviiiv.litliu(iil. ( 'l'r< >,-• ) 
 
 ,i 
 
 :i 
 
HISTOIIY 01" niK NEW WOUT.l). 
 
 )0 
 
 I 
 
 commenced his marcli ; Imt tlicy had scarcely advanced 
 four miles, when th(>y encountered a hody of archers, wlio 
 courageously attacked them, both Avoundinq- and killing. 
 
 Theu-efore, obliged to fly, they returned as -well as they 
 could, cursing tlic country and the inhabitants that used 
 darts so pestiferously poisoned. Seeing, then, that he could 
 not get anything to live upon, he changed his mind, and 
 having heard from some slaves, that not very far from the 
 gulf there M'cre some fertile plains, abounding in grain, 
 fruits, and other things for supporting life, he crossed over 
 to the opposite shore with a hundred Spaniards in the two 
 brigs. The Indians remained, at first, for some time looking 
 at the new people and watching the resvdt of their courage ; 
 but perceiving that they wi.slied to remain there and build a 
 house, they took up arms to dislodge them. jNleanwhile the 
 hdcJnllcr made his arr;\ngcments, and without fearing their 
 coui'nge or tlieir darts, laced them, with the intention and 
 Christian vow of converting the chief's prii cipal house 
 into a church. They came to the onset ; both sides fought 
 bra\ ely ; Init finally the Indians gave way and fled ; on 
 which the famished Sj^aniards, gathering both strength 
 and s])irits, cut them to ])ieces. Having obtained this vic- 
 tory, they entered among the huts, and obtained bread, 
 fruits, roots, and other things, on which they recovered 
 greatly. 
 
 Then they began to advance along the bank of a river 
 neiu- to that place, and in a cane-break they Ibund many 
 eaithen vases, Mith covers and pieces of wood, containing up- 
 Mai'ds of two thousand five hundred pounds of worked gold, 
 which C'omaeco, tlie chief of that people had hidden ther(>, 
 hoping to save it from the liands of the Christians. Nor 
 Avould it have ever been discovered had it not been pointed 
 out by some Indians, wlio, it is said, were forced to it by 
 torture. 
 
 'I'lie hiirliiJJrr retiirned (iod manv thanks fin- tlu^ victory, 
 
 W 
 
64 
 
 inSTOllV OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 and callod (hat place VAnlira del Daricn.' 'Y\\q Spaniards 
 wore all greatly rejoiced at lia\iiig i'oiind such a cpiantity of 
 gold, ibr without this they were never content. Immediately 
 the two hrigs were sent to fetch the rest of the men that had 
 hecMi left on the opposite shore. Thit they had not arrived 
 many daj's heforc they fell into dissension, for Enciso in 
 shnring out the gold Avas more partial than just. Mean- 
 Avhilc lilasco \umez' di Valboa, a seditious man, with some 
 parti/aus, drew aside, saying that the jurisdii'tion of Hoieda 
 did not reach beyond Ijusso, that each man might be a 
 captain, and that they woidd m)t obey a hdcJiillcr, wlu' ad- 
 ministrated not according to justice and the general good, 
 but for his own advantayje ; that he had nothinar but the 
 title of a literary man, for that he was truly a mo- Ily 
 wolf. ^N'hile Enciso and \'alboa were contending i;; 'ids 
 manner, Kodcrigo Colmcnares sailed iVom La E^'.paholiC \- ith 
 two caravels, lachm w'iih men and stores, to go to ." -^ assist- 
 ance of Hoieda's ])arty, having heard i- ;it th(-y W(.'i'. ,n great 
 straits. He reached the mainland in a par. ri the nr ^vin^'o 
 of Carthagena, and 1 ling in Avant of v,-ate;-, he :inchored 
 near th(> mouth of a iivei' , r 1 landed fifty soldiers witii 
 iheii- arms, so tha*- 'hey s!;; uid iv cp guard while the sailor- 
 lilhul the water. As soon a-, die soldiers got on shore, they 
 began to stray, dancing and leaping merrily, as if tliey were 
 in a place of safety. Tlu^ Indians seeing the caravels ent'n* 
 the riv(n-, placed themselves in ambush, ^^•ith tlieir bows, 
 all about those woods, and in an instant assailed the soldiers 
 on th(.' beach with such fitrceness that not one had the 
 chance of saving his life; they broke np th(> boats, and even 
 threatened tln^ people on board the caravels, shewing that 
 ;l\ey longed to have them Avithin their gr;isp. On which, 
 
 ' Bonzoni's ort'iO^rui))!}' is fiijfiin ilcfoctivo : Kuciso hero foumleil tlio 
 towii < i' tSautti J/arii' i/<-V Aiil(</i'<i del JJn'Icn. 
 
 ■•' This is tho famous disfoverer of tlic Souih Scu, or Pacific Ocean, 
 'i''ht Vasco Nuuc/,, (7'r"/'s.) 
 
HISTOKY OF TIIK WAV WOULD. 
 
 (55 
 
 Colmcnarcs, seeing what cruel cucmics the Indians were, 
 weighed his anchors, preferring to suffer a little from thirst 
 to going to die in the hands of siich people ; so he went on 
 to Urana, but finding only some vestiges of Iloieda's party,, 
 he was much shocked, fearing that they had been eaten. 
 Returning on board towards evening, he fired a gun to 
 announce himself, in case they were gone to some other 
 port ; and thus the Spaniards who Avcre at the Antlca hear- 
 ing the rcp'ort, and thinking it might be their governor, 
 immediately ascended some little hills and lighted fires 
 there, [n the morning, C'olmcnares went whcu'c he saw the 
 smoke of the fires, and thus with gre,,! joy they )net and 
 embraced each other ;^ the one party famishing for gold ana 
 the other for food ; for the Indians having killed a great 
 many of them, the I'cst were afraid of their darts, and 
 dared not go to the villages to seek for food : they wei'c 
 therefore reduced, half naked, to (>at fruits and routs and 
 similar things. 
 
 licfore 1 finish the account of the dissensions among Jic 
 Spaniards, 1 must go ])ack to the adventures of Diego di 
 Ni(|uesa ; for (quitting Carthagcnd to go to his government^ 
 he advanced with a caravel and two brigs, leaving ordci:; 
 with the other vessels to follow' him. They M'cre proceeding 
 thus on their voyage, when a storm o< rred one night 
 and separated them, so that in the mon :g the two brigs 
 only were in company ; and not seeing tl r caravel, being un- 
 acquainted with the country, and not k- >wing where to go, 
 they decided on turning back. They ^.erefore approached 
 the shore, and coasting along near tl; r.ver Chagrcs, found 
 the rest of the armament ; but no one having any news of the 
 governor, they agreed to go on together, hoping to find 
 him ; and when they had sailed about a hundred miles, not 
 wishing to proceed further, they cast anchor and sent a boat on 
 
 ^ This fortunate event, the arrival of Colmeu.ues at Euciso's camp, 
 occurred iii November IJlU. (Trans.) 
 
66 
 
 HISTORY (IK THE NKW WOIU-D. 
 
 f 
 
 I i 
 
 shore with eight men, to seek lor a ^ood laiidiiii'' })lac('. 'I"hc 
 sea was high, and the saihirs ob>tinate in wisliing to stay 
 there, would push on by dint of rowing, the result of which 
 was that the boat filled witli wati-r, sank, ami seven out of 
 the eight men were drowned ; the other, swinnning stoutly, 
 reached the lanch The captains seeing the boat hjst, re- 
 mained thereabouts till the wx\ither grew calmer, and the 
 following day, as well as they could with the two little brigs, 
 landed the horses, the artillery, and the stores ; and elected as 
 governor Lo])e d'Olando, until Ni(|uesr, ould be found. 
 So that the men shoidd not entertain any hope of escaping, 
 he ran the ships on short' ; though aiterwards ])erceiving 
 his mistake, he had a caravel constructed with the wrecks, in 
 ca'^c of need. He built some houses, \ic sowed some maize, 
 he roved through some villages, but found them all aban- 
 doned, for the Indians from fear had all retired to the 
 mountains. These people, seeing no advantage in fighting, 
 dill notwi>h to meet their a>s,,i'ants in open day, but trusted 
 to their being >tarved out by the nature of the country. 
 AMiilst Olando was doing all this, there arrived three sailors 
 in the small boat of the caravel, having deserted from 
 governor Xitpic^a, who, they gave information, was in one 
 of tlie Zuiubaro islands, without his caravel ; and that he 
 had been wandering about the lulls of that country, which 
 he foun 1 lull of wot)ds and ponds, eating I'ruits, herbs, and 
 roots, but did not nret with any inhabitants. Olando im- 
 mediately sent a little brig, and, on it> arrival, the governor 
 cnd)arked with his ii.\\ r( malning soldiers, and came to 
 his army.' 
 
 Niquesa now comi)lained loudly ol Olando, aceuNing him 
 of treachery in running the ships on shore, \\ithout troubling 
 himself to seek for him, just to usurp the g(n-ernment. Then 
 he made known that he intended to go away, but the 
 
 ^ Tln> I'tlatiou sulistiuituiliy ugrocs with that of Oviedo, except that 
 the latter throws more guilt on tlie .shouKlers of r,()|)e ilo < Mano. ( Trims.) 
 
 I 
 
Ill 
 
 ■J 
 
 lUti.) 
 
 ] 
 
 HISTOKY OK TMF NKW WORLD. 
 
 07 
 
 soldiers entreated of him to "svait for the harvest, as it was 
 nearly ripe ; he answered that ho would sooner lose the 
 grain than his life, and he would not remain in svudi a 
 wretched country. Some say he spoke thus in order to 
 diminish Olando's honour ; hut if those who accused him of 
 this liad seen that province, as Niqucsa and many others 
 and 1 had done, they would not have suspected that he did 
 this out of jealousy. ]iut not to detain the reader ahout this 
 horrid and desolate country, and not to go farther out of my 
 wny, I Avill take him to a more convenient resting place. 
 For my intention is to reduce my short history into as com- 
 pact a f(n"m as possiLde, to the hcst of my poor ability, so that 
 the more notable things that occurred in that country, either 
 seen by me or which have come to my knowledge, may bo 
 didy arranged, and to relate my peregrinations in those same 
 provinces during fourteen years. Yh-st in the Pearl Islands, 
 in the Gulf of Paria, both on th ; eastern and the western 
 shores, Margarita island, St. John of Porto-Rico, the Es- 
 ]nu~K)Ja, and Cii1)a. Then returning to tlie main land, in 
 the governorship of CartJiayona, and along the shores of the 
 (julf of Vrana in Adda. From that place I crossed the 
 Southern sea. to Panama, which is called by the Spaniaids 
 the Golden Castile, to Nomhrc do Dios in Veragua, New 
 CarfJtaye, Costa Itica, at the head of Fondura in the Valley 
 of Olanchio, in the province of Guatimala, and Niraragua. 
 Then 1 returned to Panama again, and finally to the king- 
 dom of l^eru ; besides visiting several islands, which will be 
 mentioned in their proper places.' 
 
 Niqaesa then, having determined to leave Verag?fa, 
 end)arked as many men as the caravel and the two l)rigs 
 were able to carrv, Icavincr the rest to take their chance ; 
 
 ^ This statement is valuable, as showing at once what our Italian 
 ailvciitiiixr actually saw. ami v.iiat he only heard of; and thou;.;h lie 
 joined the marauding expeditious of the Spaniards, he was fully alive to 
 their harharous atrocity. {7'r",<s.) 
 
 d' 
 
! 
 
 68 
 
 IIIS'IOKV <»r I III', NKW \\()KI,|). 
 
 but he promised tlieni, on his word, that tlie first p^nod phicc 
 h(> found for c'oh)nizing, he wouhl ininiediately scud for 
 theui. Still, as cv(>rythiu<:^ turiuMl out ill,hr could not do it. 
 lli< started and went to Porto llHo, so nanu-d by the alini- 
 raute (.'olonibo, because a beautiful site on which to build a 
 city. 'I'he Indians, however, after destroyiui; the greater 
 part of his men, ibrced him to re-einbark, and he ])roceeded 
 to Capo ]\[(trmuro. llopinji- ior better luck in future tl.au 
 he had experienced hitlu'rto, he said to his men, let us jump 
 on ihere in the Na.mk of Cjot) {Numhrc dc lHos), and this 
 a])pel]ali(>n has been continued ever since. \\v erected, a 
 ■wooden house as well as he could, to defend hiinscdf from 
 the Indians wlu) molested him. AN'hih^ Ni(|uesa rcmaiiu-d 
 here, the Spaniards at Daricui were oppressed with labour 
 and privations, and Avere consequently discontented ; every 
 day increased tluir discord; for while some M'ould have 
 A'albo as their governor, others insisted on havin<r the 13a- 
 chiller Enciso. The soldiers of Alfonzo lloicda, seeing that 
 alfairs were in so bad a train, determined, in order to avoid 
 disgrace, to send to Veragud for Mlquesa, so that he might 
 t mie and (jucll the sedition, and govern until lurther orders 
 were reccivtd from the king. Ibit there was some conten- 
 tion ribo'it this ; as the opposite party would not consent, 
 initil some good men, friciuls of peace, interceded; then they 
 sent for him, by commissioning Colmenares to coast along 
 with two brigs till he found him. lie was at Nonihrc dc J)ios, 
 weak, pale, half-naked, and without provisions. Niquesa, 
 M'ho expected anything but this unforeseen succour, em- 
 braced Colmenares with abundance of tears, giving him in- 
 finite thanks for so great a benefit, and, complaining of his 
 ])ast nnfortuuat(> fate, related to him all the labours and 
 trials that he had undergone in those countries. Colmenares 
 now informed him of the rc-asons that hftd induced the 
 people at the Andca to send foi" him. TIk ii he consoled 
 him, bade him he hoi)eful and of good courage, for he was 
 
 / 
 
 / 
 
 \ 
 
lUSInUY OF Till-: NF,^\' WOUT.D. 
 
 69 
 
 / 
 
 / 
 
 \ 
 
 going to a very rich country, and wliat In; liad lost in times; 
 past ho wouhl now regain in the future. 
 
 Tlius Niquesa eniharked, "svith seventy-five Spaniards, all 
 that remained to him of his army. On the voyage he im- 
 ])rudently ahuscd hoth the haeliiller and Valhoa, and many 
 others; showing that he would punish them, deprive tluni 
 of their posts, and tak(^ all tlu'ir gold, sinrc llicy could not 
 possess it without his leave or that of JJoieda, as the king 
 had given them the title of governors, not only of one \)vo- 
 vince, but of all. \lc, also said other things M-hich occa- 
 sioned his ruin : lor the moment they reached the Aitiira, 
 some Spaniards hastened on shore, ami notified to the 
 town-council the words h(> had uttered, and the threats 
 against them ; Avherefore the greater part heing enraged to 
 ojipose him, ohliged him, when he had scarcely landed, to 
 emhark again with his sev(;nty-flve Spaniards ; and disgrace- 
 fully, w ith very great cruelty and abus(>, tlu^y Avere thrust 
 aM'ay from Antica. Thus Nicjuesa very doh-fully departed, 
 and, coasting along shore, landed in one place to get water, 
 where the native^ killed him and his eom})anions, and then 
 ate them !' Ami this was the sad end of ])iego di Ni(]uesa 
 and hl> .iitny of ]^cr(t<jiia. 
 
 No sooner was IS'i(^uesa gon(^,than the seditions of A)it/va 
 recommenced, and rose to a greater height than ever ; till 
 Balboa, seeing his j-yai'ty the strongest, took the opportunity 
 one evening, -wlicn Enciso was at his house, of seizing him; 
 and. accusimj him maliciouslv of havincf exercised the office 
 of judge Avithout the king's authority, confiscated his pro- 
 perty. The bachillc>r could not show his royal diplomas, 
 because he had lost them when he was wrecked in the Gulf 
 of Inland. But after keeping him in prison for several 
 
 I <l 
 
 ' This, no ilouht, was the helief which obtuineil on the spot ; hut 
 Ovicilo and uthors raise a duuht as to the niunuer of the inipruileut 
 Nicucsa's dcatli — whether he perished by famine or liy the Indians. 
 ( Tnttifi.) 
 
(0 
 
 HisTOKY OF I in; m;w woui.d. 
 
 tliiys, "\'iil1)oa released him ; and seeini,' tliat he was preparinc^ 
 to y;o awayjuul liiin entreated to stay as liis j)riiunpal judijje. 
 This Enciso angrily refused to do, and went hack to Spain, 
 carrying with him a full siatcnu-nt of his eomplaints against 
 A'alhoa. This he presented to the? council of the Iiuli(!s, 
 where a rigorous sentcjice was pronounced against \ ali)oa, 
 though it was not afterwards carried into elfcct hecause ho 
 discovered the Soiiflicni Sea. 
 
 A\'hen the bachillcr had lel't Darien, \'all)oa started inland 
 in search of gold, and made iVicnds with some chiefs, one of 
 whom was called Paiiciaco, who gave him full inlormation, 
 and led him to the ^ttiithmi Sea. 'J'his man was then bap- 
 tized by the name of Don Carlos : he gave the Spaniards a 
 certain (|uantity of gold ; but then, seeing how they (piar- 
 rcled in the sharing ot" it, with one hand he tossed it all out 
 of the scales on to the ground, saying, " I am not a little 
 surprised that you Christians make such a fuss [roi facviafc 
 tantu qni'stionc) about so vile a thing, as if it was good to eat 
 or drink. ])ut since you have so great a d(^sire for this 
 metal, I will lead you to a place where you may all satisfy 
 yourselves with it." ]le then conducted them to the *S'o?^/A- 
 vrn Si'fi. 
 
 V'alboa, on account of the great riches that he found in 
 this province, named it the (irohlen Casfille ; and there the 
 city of Paiuuna is now established. Then he marched to 
 many villatres in that country, always with t^ood success, but 
 under the mask of justice, often using great crnelty towards 
 those Indians to obtain gold. A\''ith a good ([uantity of this 
 metal and of jxarls \\v. returned to li* Antica of Difricn, 
 where he Avas received with processions for having dis- 
 covered the Southern Sea ; and he immediately sent a ship 
 
 ' Such was the fortune of tlie tjuick and crafty Vasco NuTiez. a man 
 who was furtively taken on board Eiieiso's sliip in a cask in order to 
 elude his creditors. His career exhihited courage and ])olicy, with an 
 utter ahsenee of princiiilo. Peter Martyr likens Vasco pointing out the 
 Pacific to his men, to llannitial >he\\iut;' Italy to his soldiers. {Ti'cin.f.) 
 
 I 
 
iiisrouY <»i' iiiK m;\\ would. 
 
 71 
 
 ( : 
 
 I 
 
 to Spain, urititia; to tlic king the success of tlic past, us well 
 as present state oC ulfulrs, and liis discovery of the Soidh 
 Sea; wherefore he supplicated his high majesty to grant him 
 that government, and send liim a thousand men that lie 
 might conqu(>r and rule those nations, promising in a short 
 time to lind a very great ahundancc of riches, as indicated 
 by the beginning. Ho sent liis majesty twenty-five largo 
 [xiirls and thirty thousand gold ducats as his fifth, with 
 some other presents ; although only a short time before ho 
 had sent another good sum of money, but that ship had 
 been wrecked on her passage, and all the crew drowned. 
 
 The king accepted the gift and the fifth with (h'light, as 
 •Nvell as the letter informing him of the di>c()\ery of the 
 Southern Sea. This was the reason of liis majesty's rever- 
 sing the sentence that had been pronounced against A'alboa, 
 and moreover granted him the government of the new sea. 
 He scut him a thousand men as a lielp, and appointed 
 Pedrarios ])avihi as governor of the -^y///crt of Darien ; also 
 brother Cobatto, of the Order of Saint Francis, his own 
 preacher, as bishop, who were accordingly s(>nt. The king, 
 among other things that he reconnaended to the governor, 
 esjiecially desired that the Indians might be well treated, 
 and that peace should be sought before they were induced 
 to go to war with them. That the government should be 
 cnrried on according to the hiMs of Iloieda and Niqucsa; 
 u\u\ that the spoils of conquest should ahvays be shared with 
 the monks who accompanied them in hopes of converting 
 tiie natives. A\'ith these injunctions, Pedrarios Davila of 
 San Lucar sailed in the year 1514, with four ships and eleven 
 caravels, carrying fifteen hundred men. On arriving at the 
 Antica, \'alboa, with all his friends, went joyfully to receive 
 them, and lodged the governor in his own house. He then 
 gave him full information of all his former entcrprizcs, and 
 of the present state of those provinces.' 
 
 1 Accjviliug to OvicJo, this confcroucc was not so oonsouaut to tlio 
 
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 IllSlOUY OV lllK NEW WOULD. 
 
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 The -^ovcrnoi hud the i5re;i«^c.-.t idcasurc in hearing tliat a 
 great many of those trihes were friendly to the Spaniards. 
 He now began to build tlie town of Tamanama. He sent 
 Jnan da Costa with ibnr hun(h*ed Spaniards in two caravels 
 to ConuKjrr, to get gohl ; and not finding the qnantity that 
 his insatiabh; avarice desired, he began to exercise every 
 sort of tortnre on all the chiefs that he could get hold of, 
 that they might confess where they had hidden their gold. 
 He despoiled the tribe of Panciaco, who were before as 
 much good friends with tin; S[)aiuards as they afterwards 
 became inimical. He stoned to death a great portion of his 
 vassals; whereupon the Indians rebelled, assailing the Span- 
 iards with loud cries of — " Die the wicked, treacherous, ras- 
 cally Christians, who do not deserve to live on the earth ;" and 
 so kilhd a great .^niny of them. The captain, with his re- 
 maining soldiers and a part of the spoil, escaped in one of the 
 caravels and rc;turned to the Afitica, not without great blame 
 of the governor, who, however, glozed over this wickedness. 
 He also sent some other captains along that coast; for in- 
 stance, IJartholomew Urtado, in AcJiIa, who after landing 
 under a show of peaceful intentions, seized all the Indians he 
 could and sold them as slaves. Fernando \'alegio went to 
 Carihano Avith eighty soldiers, and as soon as he landed the 
 Indians .issailcd him, and, with the loss of fifty Sp.miards, 
 forced him to embark again. In this way, wherever the 
 Spaniards went, they wcrc> hated and shunned by all, through 
 the bad repute they liad fallen into. Thus the Indians, by 
 endeavouring to defend their liberty, and the Spainards by 
 trying to snatch it from them, have come t(^ uttei' ruin. 
 
 Throughout the greater part of that sea-shore they arc 
 accustomed to eat human flesh ; althou'di there were some 
 individuals who were afraid to eat the flesh of Spaniards, 
 
 loolings of Nuricz as Hoiizuiii iiiiiioars to have thought ; and he hegau 
 to iipprchentl the iinprisymuciit and scaliold-dcath which followed. 
 {Tnou.) 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
! 
 
 IllsroUY OK TIIK Ni;w AVOIUJ). 
 
 ( •> 
 
 tliinkin^' that even in tluiir bodies it might do them 
 harm. 
 
 Of those wlioin they caught alive, especially the captains, 
 they used to tie the hands and feet, throw them dowu on 
 
 llow tlio liuliaiiH j)oiui'J inellod trold iluwu the Uiroiits of the SpuniiirJs. 
 
 the ground, and pour gold into their mouth, saying : " Eat, 
 eat gold. Christian ;" ' and the more to ill-treat and disgrace 
 them, with knives made of flint, some cut off an arm, some 
 a shoulder, others a leg, and then roasting it on the embers, 
 eat it, dancing and singing, suspending the bones in their 
 temples, or in the houses of their chiefs, as trophies of 
 victory. 
 
 All the enterprises of Pedrarias proving unlucky, Valboa 
 laughed at and mocked him, Mhereat the governor became 
 so irate, that they came to serious contention. And the 
 bishop seeing the growing discord between them, exerted 
 every possible eiuleavour to modify their anger and restore 
 
 1 'I 
 
 This cruel, l>ut almost justifialilc act, is represented by Theodore 
 do Bry on a larger plate : with additional torments. {Trm,.^.) 
 
 10 
 
m 4 
 
 /4 
 
 HISTORY OK TFIF- XKU WOK ID. 
 
 I 
 I 
 
 i i 
 
 ■ L 
 
 . .1 , 
 
 ! \ 
 
 ! '< 
 
 their fricndshi]) ; and he so far succ(-c(lod, tlint the governor 
 gave his daughter to wife to \ alboa, and when this marriage 
 was concluded, he liehl foi- certain that tlie jicace between 
 them wonhl be sincere and durable. On the completion of 
 the wedding, N'alboa, M'ith the consent of his fatber-in-law, 
 left VAntica with the half of the Spaniards whom he had 
 brought from Spain, and proceeded to his governorship ; 
 but he endured there a very short time, for some malicious 
 men, envious of his glory, falsely notified to the governor 
 that Valboa, through the intrigue of friends, was endeavour- 
 ing to excite some of his subjects against him, .tud so bring 
 them over to his government. ^^ hen I'edrarias heard these 
 things he wrote a letter to \'alboa, desiring him immediately 
 on the receipt of it to come to him, for that he wanted to 
 consult him on some negociations important to both of them. 
 Valboa, -who was then on the shores of the South Sea 
 having some vessels built to discover new countries, on re- 
 ceiving the letter started off with fifty men ; but on arriving at 
 the Antica his father-in-law seized him, and had him put in 
 prison. And having informed him of the accusation, added the 
 death of Niquesa to it, with the imjn-isonment of the Ihachiller 
 Enciso ; and saying, moreover, that he was tumultuous, 
 wicked, cruel, malicious against the Indians, and other 
 things, — he sentenced him to death. A'alboa on oath denied 
 the accusation of having excited the people against ]*edra- 
 rias, and entreated him to consider well what he Avas al)out, 
 for that had he entertained any such intention he would 
 never have come into his presence ; and in a similar way on 
 other topics Valboa defended himself as Avell as he could. 
 But where force rules, reason is of little avail. The gover- 
 nor would no longer hear him, but, closing the trial, sent 
 him to be beheaded with five other Spaniards. 
 
 Some people insist on it that Valboa was a most victori- 
 ous commander, more fortunate in arms than any ancient 
 lloman ; for during the whole time that he warred against the 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 ;i 
 

 iiisroiiv OF riiK NEW ^V{)lu.l). 75 
 
 ]ii(li;ins, lie always conqurrcd. These praises, however, arc 
 rath(;r ludicrous tiian surprising, because the valour of the 
 Ivomaus was tried against the most fierce and -warlike bar- 
 barous nations ol' the east, while the Spaniards subjugated 
 mere brute animals or beasts, in the west. This was well 
 understood by a Spanish gentleman who was in Algiers with 
 C'harlcs \. the emperor. This gentleman w^as in company 
 with some officers, of whom Ferdinand Cortez (the discoverer 
 and concjucror of the kingdom called by him New Sj)ain, but 
 by the natives, Temestitan) was one, after the overpowering 
 attack by a large squadron of jNloors, which in consequence 
 of tlie Inferior numbers of the Spaniards obliged them to fly, 
 and when Cortez said that they should make head again, and 
 valorously attack their pursuers, — he remarked : " This fool 
 thinks he has again to do with his petty Indians, of whom 
 twenty-five thousand can be vanquished by merely ten men 
 on horse-back."^ 
 
 When the death of Valboa became known in Spain, the 
 Council of Indian affairs Avas greatly displeased at it, on 
 account of the great benefits and riches that he had obtained 
 for the Spanish crown ; for having discovered the South Sea, 
 for having sent home so much gold and such a quantity of 
 pearls; and, moreover, the people of the ^w^2;crt wrote to the 
 king much evil of Pedrarias. Hereupon he was deposed 
 from his government, although he was at the time laying the 
 foundations of the city of Nomhre di Dios and of Panama, 
 and opening the communication between the two places. 
 IMany other governors and captains went to those provinces 
 on the mainland. Each man tried to enrich himself and 
 become great through the influence of riches, of whom some 
 
 * BcnzoTii has shewn the reader what enormous treasures were lost on 
 tlie passages from America to Spain : but Cortez, after having safely 
 arrived in Europe, joined the armament of Charles V. at Algiers ; and in 
 tlio gale which frustrated that expedition, he lost all the matchless 
 jewels with which he hoi)ed to have bought a return of the emperor's 
 favour. {Tut as.) 
 
76 
 
 iiisTOKV or Tiir, nkw avoum). 
 
 1 { 
 
 wcrc! catrn l)y the Indians, while others \vcrc killed by the 
 Spaniards themsdvr-s, because thcyAvould not consent to the 
 thicvint,' that the^ eoinniitted ayaiiist the Indians. OtluM-s 
 ^YCl•r drowned at sea ; and there were even some who wcMit 
 so far iidand, thirsting for gold, that they got into desert 
 places, where, not knowing tlu; constellations, or the suc- 
 cession of seasons in those countries, where the winter rains 
 arc most violent and destructive, they were unal)le to ad- 
 vance or retreat, and died there together with all their fol- 
 lowers. 
 
 The Spi.iiiards erected on the seashore of the mainland 
 the following towns : Nomhrc di Dios, 1/ Antica, Cartaycna, 
 Sta. M(n/(t, Cdpohi Vcht, Vah'nznohi, a veiy rich province, 
 which the emperor, in the year 1553S, ceded to the ^'elzare 
 Alemani;' and the first governor whom they sent was Am- 
 hrose Alfinquer, wlio made many forays among those people, 
 committing great cruelties in his anxiety i'or gold: hut he 
 was finally killed by the Indians. Then they sent another, 
 named Giorgio, of their family. One night, however, the 
 Spaniards who were with him treacherously killed him in 
 his bed, mangled liim, antl then dragging his body most 
 ignominiously out of the house and all about the pia:r.za, 
 finally threw it into a wood, where at dawn it was buried. 
 The malefactors were soon after, by order of the emi)cror, 
 most severely punished, as the crime deserved. 
 
 As I have promised to compress this my short history in 
 the most suitable manner, it seems to me eligible to return 
 to the aflairs of La Ida Eapauola and its neighbours. On the 
 death of Colombo, the king, Don Ferdinand, sent Diego, 
 the son of the almirante, as viceroy to La Espaiiola, with the 
 same authority that he had granted to his father, but he did 
 
 I 
 
 ' The Oormaiis arc frc<iuently called Aleiwinni ]<y the Italians, as 
 •well as Al/tiiKinds Ity the French ; and as (Jharles V. would probahly 
 favour his new subjects, the Vcl;H(re, the province was tiuis given or sold 
 to tlie (iennans. {Trans.) 
 
I 
 
 IIISTOHY OK tllK NKW WOlil.I). 
 
 ( i 
 
 not stay there long ; the Spaniards greatly resenthig the being 
 connnanded hy a foreigner, Mrotc; a great deal of evil ahout 
 liini, Avliieh led the emperor to deprive; him of the govern- 
 ment, and having recalled him to Spain, he disputed with 
 i\w king, daring many years, about his privileges, and finally 
 died without his aH'airs bein<>' settled. Then other governors 
 were successively sent to La EsjKtnola, as well clerical as 
 secular, till the natives, finding themselves intolerably op- 
 pressed and worked on every side, with no chance of regain- 
 ing their liberty, with sighs and tears longeel for death. 
 
 The lU'liaus uf F.ii INimunlii llnn'_'ill^' llipinsplvcs in (lie woods, 
 liillii'r lliiiii si'i'vo (.'liii^Uiuis. 
 
 AMicrefore many went to the woods and there hung them- 
 selves, after having killed their children, saying it was far 
 better to die than to live so miserably, serving such and so 
 many ferocious tyrants and wicked thieves. The women, 
 Avith the juice of a certain herb, dissipated their pregnancy, 
 in order not to produce children, and then following the 
 example of their husbands, hung themselves. Some threw 
 
7s 
 
 iiisToiJV or Tin: m:\v woiti.n. 
 
 I 
 
 .1 
 
 thcnisclvrs iVoin hiyli cliffy doMu prcri[)ircs ; dtlins juiihumI 
 into tlu' s(';i ; otlu'is iiyiiiii into rivers; and others starved 
 tlieniselv('> to (Icath. Sonietinies tliey killed themselves 
 with theii- Hint kniv(^s ; others pierced thi-ir bosoms or tlieir 
 sido Avith ])oiiite(l stakes, rinally, out oC the two millions 
 of original inhabitants, through the number of suieides and 
 other deaths, occasion(;d by the oppressive labour and eruei- 
 ties imposed by the Spaniards, there are not a hundred and 
 fil'ty now to be found ; and this has been their way of making 
 Christians of them. What befel those poor inlanders has 
 liappencd also to all the others around : Cuba, Jamaieu, 
 ]'orto Kico, and other places. And although an almost in- 
 finite number of the inhabitants of the mainland have hecn 
 brought to these islands as slaves, they have nearly all sinee 
 died. In short, I may say, that wherever the Spaniards 
 havi unfurled their banner, they have, by their great cruel- 
 ties, inspired the inhabitants with perpetual hatred.' 
 
 Touching the religion, not only of this island, but also of 
 all the other nations of the new world, they worshipped, and 
 still worship, various deities, many painted, others sculp- 
 tured, some formed of clay, others of >vood, or gold, or 
 silver ; and in some places I have seen them of the shape of 
 birds, of tigers, of stags, and other sorts of animals, but 1 
 have mostly seen them made with a tail and feet, like our 
 Satan. And although our priests and monks have endea- 
 voured, and still daily endeavour, to destroy these idols, 
 yet the ministers of their iaith keep a great many of them 
 hidden in caves and underground, saerifieing to them oc- 
 cultly, and asking in what manner they can j)ossibly expel 
 
 ' In illustration of the wanton cruelty of thc^io fellows, Antonio 
 Montcsino told king Ferdinand, that some Sjianiards standing together 
 joking, on the bank of a river, one of them snatched up an Indian child 
 and threw it over the heads of his comrades as mere sport ; saying as ho 
 saw the poor creature rising once i>r twice to the surface — Vou boil up, 
 little wretch, do you (haUix, cati'iio ile />(/, huUi/i) .'" The king, who was 
 not a cruel man, listened with astonishment. (7V'//<.s'.) 
 
HISTORY OF rilK NKW WOULD. 
 
 Ti) 
 
 
 the C.'hri.stiiin.'; I'rom their country, ihcy h;ivc a name lor 
 every one, rogardina^ this as tlicir p.itron on this subject, anil 
 that as their patron on tliat subject ; as the (Jentiles used to 
 do in ancient times, assigning victories to .Mars on earth, 
 and on tlie sea to Neptune; medicine to Escuhipius ; JLer- 
 cules presiding over temporal bencHts, promising liim a tenth 
 part of their property, so that he miglit increase and take 
 care of it. But this people only ask of their gods plenty to 
 cat and drink, and good health, and victory over their ene- 
 mies. jNIany times the devil ai)pears to them in various 
 shapes, promising to their ministers some of the things for 
 which they have been entreated. And Avhen he does not 
 keep his promise and tliey complain, he answers, that he has 
 changed his mind becaust^ they have committed some great 
 sin ; and thus the father of falsehood excuses himself. 
 "When the cacique of La Espauola wished to celebrate a feast 
 in honour of his principal false deity, he commanded all his 
 vassals, both men aiul women, to come to him on a certain 
 day, and on arrival at the appointed spot, they ranged them- 
 selves in order. The cnciquc then advanced, and entered 
 the temple where the ministers were dressing the idol. 
 There he sat down, playing on a drum, and all the other 
 people followed ; first the men, painted black, red, and 
 yellow, with plumes of parrots' and other feathers, with or- 
 naments of sea-shells round their necks, their legs, and their 
 arms. The women were not painted at all ; the girls were 
 f|uite naked ; the married women had a covering hanging 
 from their waist, as in the Gulf of Paria, and other places 
 on the mainland. Thus they entered the temple, dancing 
 and singing certain of their songs in praise of their idol, while 
 their chief saluted them with his drum. Then, by putting a 
 stick down their throat, they vomited, so that the idol might 
 see they had nothing bad either in their stomach or their 
 breast. After pc-rforming these foolish ceremonies, they all 
 sat down on their heels, and, with a melancholy noise, they 
 
80 
 
 IIISTOIIV (II IMF NKW WORI.n. 
 
 I tr 
 
 I 
 
 ii 
 
 sunt? soim* more souths, 'riicii souk; other wniiirn entered 
 the temple uith hiiskets luhirned with roses and various 
 flowers, and liUed with bread, and the y went round to all 
 tliose who were singing, and repeated a little prayer to them. 
 'Jhe singers jumped \x[) on their ieet to answer, and when 
 they had finished tliesi; songs, they began others to tho 
 honour and glory of" their ehic^'; after which they \nc- 
 scnted the breail to their idol. 'Jhe ministers now took and 
 blessed it, and shared it with all the people, as if it was a 
 lioly thing or good relic. Finally, evei-y man, highly elated 
 and content, returned to his own home. 
 
 They thought that the sun and the moon came out of a 
 cavern.' They had a pumpkin as a relic, saying, that it had 
 come out of the sea, with all the fish in it. 'Jhcy worsliipped 
 two wooden figures as the gods of abundance. And at sonio 
 periods of the year numy Indians went on a i)ilgrimagc to 
 them. 'J'hey had also another idol made with four feet, 
 like a dog, and thev bcli(>ved that when he was any^ry he 
 went away to th(> mountains, where being found, they used 
 to bring him back on their shoulders to the temple. 
 
 In this island, as aiso in other provinces of these new 
 countries, there are some bushes, not very large, like reeds, 
 that produce a leaf in shape like that of the walnut, though 
 rather larger, which (where it is used) is lu'ld in great 
 esteem by the nativj^s, and very mucli prized by the slaves 
 whom the Spaniards have brought from Ethiopia. 
 
 AV hen these leaves are in season, they pick them, tie 
 them up in bundles, and suspend them near their fire-place 
 till they are very dry ; and when they wish to use them, 
 they take a leaf of their grain (maize) and putting one of 
 the others into it, they roll them round tight together ; 
 
 ' Benzoni docs not seem to have been aware of the identity between 
 some of their traditions and tlie history of the Bible, as shewn by Hum- 
 boldt ; of which the Tower uf Babel and the Deluge are not the least 
 striking. (Trans.) 
 
 I f. 
 
IIIST«"«Y OF THK NF.W \VOH[,l). 
 
 81 
 
 »u<i:h 
 
 tlun tlicy set fire to one end, and putting ihc other cud into 
 the mouth, tliey drinv tlicir breath up througli it, wlicref'ore 
 the smoke goes into the mouth, tlie tliroat, the head, and they 
 retain it as lon^ as they can, lor they find a |)hasnr(' in it, 
 and so much do tliev fill thcinsclvcs witli this cruel sniokc, 
 tliat tliey lose their reason. And there arc some who take 
 so much of it, that they fall down as if they were dead, and 
 remain the greater part of the day or night stupified. Some 
 men are found w ho are content with imbibing only enough 
 of this smoke to make them giddy, and no more. See what 
 a pestiferous and wicked poison from tlie devil this must be. 
 It has hapi)ened to me several times that, going through the 
 piOvinces of (Juatvinahi and Nicarayua, I have entered the 
 house of an Indian who had taken this herb, which in the Mexi- 
 can language is called t(ihacco,^\v^ immediately perceiving the 
 
 Moilo 111' ildcUiniig sU'k pcnijlo. 
 
 sharp fetid smell of this truly diabolical and stinking smoke, 
 I was obliged to go away in haste, and seek some other place.' 
 
 ^ Surely the royal author of the f.iiuous " Cuu ntkhiilast,"' must have 
 seen this graphic and curly tlciiciiptiou of a cigar. It la iii.si>,tcil upon, 
 
 II 
 
 mJ^' 
 
82 
 
 insTouY oi' Till; nkw \\oiii,i). 
 
 In Tj(I Es/miiohf and tlic Dtlicr Isliinds, when tlicir doctors 
 wanted to cure a sick man, tlicy Mrnt to tlio place w]iri<' 
 tliry wrro to administer flic smokr, .ind Avhcn he was 
 thoroughly intoxieated hy if, the curt; was mostly efTccted. 
 On returninc; to his senses he told a thousand stories, oi' 
 his having been at fiie council of the gods and other high 
 visions, 'ihey then turn the invalid round three or four 
 times, ruhhing his back and loins well with their hands, 
 making many grimaces at him, and holding a p( bbh; or bone 
 in th( ir mouth all the time. These things the women keep 
 as holy, believing that they aid child birth. If the sick man 
 asks the doctor what will become of him, he answers that he 
 will soon be free ; and if he happens to die, they have many 
 excuses at hand, the best of which is that he was mortal. If 
 anv doctor ventured to visit a sick man without the usual 
 ceremonies he was severely punished. In all the provinces 
 M'here I have been or that I have heard of, the priests arc 
 also doctors ; so that probably it is the same all through 
 those countries. They call them in their language hocchiti ; 
 and every where they have very great authority.' But they 
 generally doctor only the principal people. 
 
 The Indians take as many wives as they like, though one 
 is the principal, and commands all the rest. When a cacique 
 dies without heirs, the sons of his sisters succeed, but not 
 those of his brothers ; since they can depend on their being 
 >;her sons, '.lot so as to a man's supposed sons. The reason is, 
 that in those countries there is very little chastity; and in 
 few places arc the girls or sisters attended to. They all 
 sleep together like fowls, some on the ground and some sus- 
 pended in the air. "When the women have an infant, they 
 
 that Sir Walter Raleigh introduced smoking among us ahout the year 
 1.0!-i4; but Lobel .shews that the plant was cultivated hero before 1.07O. 
 Uenzoiii's experiences were between 1541 and \T^^M. (Trann.) 
 
 ' It is thus still, on the Coast of fiuinea and various other places ; 
 and even in the more civilized parts of Barbary, the tllieehs arc often 
 sacerdotal doctors. {Trans.) 
 
HISTORY OF TIIK NEW WOIU.I). 
 
 8;] 
 
 carry it to tlu; ( .i shore or to a river to wash it, and with- 
 out any further ado th<'y suckh* their chiUhen. 
 
 Sonic say tliat these jx'ople wen; very f^reat thieves, and 
 that for ev(>ry little fault their laws inflieted han^'ing ; hut 
 what could they steal ! 'ihey are luither avaricious nor 
 rich, and what they least prized was gold and silver, since 
 whoever wished for any could go to the mine and get as 
 much as they liked, as people do at a spring of water. 
 Kespecting clothing, they all go naked ; and as to eatables, 
 every body gives to whoever goes to his house. And when- 
 ever they assemble at their festivals, the whole tribe bring 
 eatables, and they sing and dance till they get drunk and 
 arc tired ; and so they freely pass a happy time. I cannot 
 therefore imagine thieving among them, uidcss they learned 
 the art from the first, second, and third inroads of the Span- 
 iards, when they began to inhabit that country. Would to 
 the Omnipotent God that temporal riches were respected by 
 us as they are by them ; the Christian name would be 
 heavenly if avarice were banished. 
 
 The grain of these people is commonly called maize, and 
 came from La Esjniitola, which island was first discovered 
 by the Christians ; wine is chichia ; their boats, canoue ; 
 swords arc macanne ; their chiefs are caciques. They do 
 not prepare the earth for sowing their grain, but making a 
 small hole they put in three or four grains, and covering 
 it over suffices ;' each stem produces three or four ears, con- 
 taining about a hundred grains each. The stems of the 
 maize are taller than a man, a^^d in some provinces they 
 harvest twice a year. 
 
 The women, molandaic, who grind it, wet a quantity of 
 this grain the previous evening with cold Avater, and in the 
 morning they gradually triturate it between two stones. 
 
 ^ This is the method in which this species of grain, now so well known 
 jis Indian-corn, is still cultivated. It is the great staple of food in many 
 parts of the world. In Italy it is called Grauo d'ludia. {Trann.) 
 
84 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 Some stand up to it, others kneel on ths ground; nor do 
 they cure if any hairs fall into it, or even some jn'docchi. 
 
 
 mi 
 
 )^^y/>y///yv/^!;y;y;,^.^//;i^);))))))))l)))^)^)))))^)l^t) 
 
 Mialind iif iimUiii^' Iiri'dil. 
 
 ANHicn they have made a mass by sprinklin<^ in water with 
 the hand, they shape it into little loaves, either long or 
 round, and putting them into some leaves of reeds, wi*^h as 
 little water as possible, they cook them. This is the com- 
 mon jieople's bread ; it lasts two days and then mildews. 
 The chief's bread is made in the following way : after soak- 
 ing and triturating the corn between two stones, the molan- 
 daie wash it with hot water and pick out the husk, leaving 
 only the Hour, which they grind as much as they can and 
 then shape it into small cakes. These are cooked in a round 
 pipkin, api^lying fire under them by degrees. There is 
 great trouble in makiiig this bread, and it is not good but 
 when fresh, and not very good then nor when cold ; indeed, 
 maize is not good either hot or cold. Travelling in unin- 
 habited districts, and with necessity for my guide, I learned 
 to grind it, in order nut to eat it raw or roasted. On ac- 
 
 IV 
 
HISTORY OF THE NKW WORLD. 
 
 85 
 
 count of its great hardness the grinding is vcrj severe work, 
 and when I had but little maize I did not pick out the husks 
 as the chief's people do, nor did grinding it fine suit my 
 arms, that were very thin and M^eik. 
 
 They also make another sort of bread called cazahi, from 
 a root named iucca, of the thickness of a parsnip. This root 
 produces no seed at all, the stem is a thick knotty reed, its 
 leaves arc green and rcsei'iblc those of hemp. At the 
 proper season they cut these reeds into pieces two feet long, 
 and plant them in heaps of eart\ called cotu'chi, and at the 
 end of two yc-ars they form a large root. A\^henever the 
 natives wish to make any of this bread, they tike up some 
 of these roots (only a few at a time, as they soon spoil), they 
 peel and cut them with sharp stones that thej find on the 
 beach, and putting them into a rag' they squeeze out the 
 juice, which would be poison to any one drinking it ; then 
 laying them on a great brick, like cakes of paste, they cook 
 them on the fire, leaving them as long as they will hold 
 to'Tcther. Finally, they are put into the sun to dry. They 
 make some thick and some thin. This to my taste was a 
 wretched article of food, but if put into a dry place it would 
 continue good for three or four years. The accompaniment 
 of some moisture in the throat is requisite, else it is harsh 
 and difficult to swallow. The taste seemed to m/j like earth 
 in the mouth, but with the broth of meat it was better, 
 though not much. All the ships coming to these countries 
 from Spain (except those that go to Vera Cruz, a port of 
 New Spain), lay in a provision of this bread for their return 
 as in none of the provinces or is\mds inhabited by the 
 Spaniards in the Northern Sea is there a single grain of 
 wheat. All flour and biscuit come from Mexico ', it is 
 brought thcucc on mules or in carts, a journey of about two 
 hundred miles. 
 
 ^ A rac/ (una pczza), to our miuJs, would presuppose the arts of 
 spimiing aud weaving. {2'ru)is.) 
 
86 
 
 IIISTOIIY OF TUH M'.W WOULD. 
 
 I it 
 
 •t 
 
 They have also two other sorts of roots, one called 
 hattata, the other haic; they are similar in form, except 
 that the haie are smaller and better flavoured than the 
 others.' In six months after they are planted they yield 
 fruit ; the taste is rather sweet, but it soon satiates, and 
 there is little substance in them. They generate Avindi- 
 ncss, and arc commonly cooked in the embers. Some say 
 that they taste like almond cakes, or sugared chesnuts ; but, 
 in my opinion, chesnuts even without sugar are better. 
 
 Since I have treated of the making of bread, I ought also 
 to describe their making of wine, especially that from maize. 
 
 MctlujJ of iiiakin'' wine. 
 
 The molaiidaic, taking a quantity of grain that seems to 
 them suiTicicnt for the wine (or chichia) intended to be made, 
 and having ground it, they put it into water in some larg? jars, 
 and the women v.-ho arc charged with this operation, taking 
 a little of the grain, and having rendered it somewhat tender 
 in a pipkin, hand it over to some other women, whose oflicc 
 
 ' Tli'.oo are pinbuMy bulli Viuiclicn uf the bwcct potatoc. 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 87 
 
 it is to put it into their mouths and gradually chew it ;^ Hien 
 Avith an effort they almost cough it out upon a leaf or platter 
 and throw it into the vase with the other mixture, for other- 
 wise this wine, or rather this beverage, would have no 
 strength. It is then boiled for three or four hours, after 
 which it is taken off the fire and left to cool, when it is 
 poured through a cloth,^ and is esteemed good in proportion 
 as it intoxicates, in the same way as if people drank real 
 Avine. 
 
 They also make wines of other kinds, of honey ,3 of fruits, 
 and of roots, but these do not intoxicate as the first does. 
 They have a great many plants that produce a sort of wild 
 grapes, and their berries are like the sloes that grow among 
 thorns, with black skins ; but from the stone being large 
 and surrounded by very little pulp, they do not make wine 
 of them. There arc some trees that produce olives, but 
 smelling horribly and tasting worse. And they have other 
 fruits in abundance, such as houi, plantains, pines, guaiave 
 (guavas), mamci {mammee apples), and guanavana (sour- 
 sops) ; the lioui are like scanari {Canary) plums, with a 
 large stone and little fruit ; when ripe they are yellow. Its 
 tree is large, the leaves small and taste acid. The plantain 
 is a fruit much longer than it is broad, and the little ones 
 (bananas) are much better than the large ones. The leaves 
 are about a foot and a half broad anrl four feet long ; among 
 the leaves there rises a stem producing a hundred or more 
 small plantains, or twenty-five or upwards of large ones. 
 
 1 The reader will here perceive the identity of manner of making this 
 7i-ine and the l:ava of the Pacific Ocean islanders, as described in Cap- 
 tain Cook's third voyage. {Trans) 
 
 '^ By the word cloth, spinning and weaving a ^ again presupposed. 
 {Trans.) 
 
 ^ The author's word mele is, strictly speaking, apples. But miele or 
 honey, is often corrupted into mele. And if he had meant apples, ho 
 would have prefixed other to fi'uits, since apples are a species of fruit. 
 {Trans.) 
 

 r 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 ; 1 ' 
 
 «i 
 
 ;,,' i 
 
 ' 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 88 
 
 HISTORY OF Till-: NEW WOULD. 
 
 This is a tender tree ; it docs not yield fruit more than once, 
 tand requires a year ; from the roots other plants shoot up ; if 
 the fruit is ripe they pluck it, but if not they cut the tree 
 down, and by putting it into a hot place the fruit soon 
 ripens and becomes yellow : the skin is as thick as the blade 
 of a knife, the rest is all pulp ; in flavour they incline to sweet. 
 The pines grow in bushes ; when ripe they arc yellow ; they 
 smell well and taste better. They arc high coloured, and it 
 has happened to me, as to many others when ill, not to 
 be able to eat anything without this fruit ; indeed, in my 
 opinion, it is one of the most relishing fruits in the world. 
 
 It 
 
 " f^' 
 
 ',:(( 
 
 yla-tano. 
 
 l-'riiit-hLiiriii;-; Irocfi. 
 
 When the skin is peeled off all the rest is eatable ; they ar(! 
 generally sweet, with a little acidity. The guava is like a 
 peach tree, with a leaf resembling the laurel, but larger and 
 longer ; it soon gets old ; its fruit is like the medlar, though 
 much larger ; it ripens on the tree, and if not plucked when 
 in season it generates worms. They have many small grains 
 in them, the red arc better than the white and are well 
 
 
 I 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 89 
 
 icy arc 
 like a 
 rcr and 
 though 
 d when 
 
 grains 
 
 re we- 
 
 ll 
 
 flavoured. The mamei tree is the size of a moderate walnut, 
 with a leaf longer than wide. In the Espaiiola island its 
 fruit is round, but in general on the mainland it is long, 
 more large, and better flavoured. They contain three or 
 four stones, the flesh is lion-coloiired, the rind is thin, and 
 the taste somewhat sweet. The guanancmo^ is a small and 
 delicate tree ; its fruit is shaped like a heart, with a thin 
 green rind, formed like the scales of a fish. They are white 
 within ; but there is also another sort that is round and 
 yellow, which is much better than the former and contains 
 three small dark stones. 
 
 In none of these islands did they find any quadrupeds, 
 except some small rabbits like dogs. There are some pesti- 
 ferous nigue, insects like fleas, which live in the dust ; un- 
 seen they insert themselves between the nail and the flesh ; 
 especially in the feet. It often happens that they occasion 
 no pain till they are as large as flat peas or lentils ; then 
 they are picked out with a needle or a thorn, and are foimd 
 full of knits. The wound is healed with hot ashes. And 
 many black slaves, from going barefooted, get such numbers 
 in their feet, that hot irons arc the only things to extirpate 
 them ; and some people are permanently lamed by them. 
 It also happened to me in Peru, in the province of Porto- 
 Vecchio, after the very great fatigue that I had undergone 
 both by land and sea, to be covered with the itch, body and 
 legs ; and in my feet I had so great a quantity of these 
 iiigiie that I was frightened. And if I had not been very 
 diligent in cleaning myself, and washing myself often in the 
 rivers, I should indeed have fared very ill, as many Span- 
 iards did ; who, unwilling, from idleness, to wash themselves 
 two or three times a day, became lame for life.^ 
 
 ^ Here appears to be an accidental difference of orthography from the 
 preceding mention of this fruit, the description of wliich is exactly that 
 of the sour-sop. {Triin>f.) 
 
 '^ This insect, the modern chiggrc or jigger, was called olt/in hy 
 the natives : it penetrates the skin of the foot and establishes itself in 
 
90 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 I I 
 
 I i 
 
 I have already said how the island of Haiti was called by 
 the almirante Columbus, La Esjntnola ; it is twelve hundred 
 miles in circumference, has abundance of ports, of rivers, of 
 fish, and of salt. There arc two lakes, the one salt, the other 
 fresh ; and the richest stream of gold, of all those which 
 Spaniards discovered in that island, is called Cibao ; the 
 principal town is called San Dominqo, erected by Bartholo- 
 mew Colo JO. The reason of his giving it this name was, 
 that when going round the island to seek for a good port 
 convenient for ships coming from Spain, he reached this 
 spot on the day of San Domingo, and thus the island also is 
 commonly called the island of Sa7i Domijigo. The town is 
 built on a plain near the sea, and in my time it contained 
 five hundred hearths ; the houses are good, like those in 
 Spain. On the western side, the river Ozonca disembogues^ 
 and forms a good and safe port, capable of containing many 
 ships. There are very large and very thick woods.' The 
 width of the island is two hundred and twenty miles. The 
 height of the pole is twenty-two degrees and a half in the 
 northward part, and in the southward between nineteen and 
 twenty. Its length from east to west is about six hundred 
 miles ; its shape inclines to that of the chcsnut leaf. Some 
 people say that wheat grows well in that island, though 
 little is reaped in consequence of the soil being very strong ; 
 and there being abundance of maize, they care not for it. 
 But I say, that they gather neither much nor little. I have 
 inquired the reason from some old established Spaniards, 
 who told me that, owing to the excessive heat, the ground 
 could not produce it ; and so it is all over the island. It is 
 
 the flesh, where, if not speedily removed, it dei>osits a parcel of eggs. 
 {Trans.) 
 
 1 In the original the circumference is here repeated, hut stated to be 
 1400 miles {ffira pii) di mille e quattrocento miijHa) ; whereas just 
 ahove it is given at 1200 {dl circuito mille et duqento mli/lla). In Beu- 
 zoui's time this was ail but a guess ; recent measures assign lOG.'i miles 
 as the circumfereucc. {Trans.) 
 
 'A-i 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 91 
 
 true that, in the beginning, some Spanish peasants sowed a 
 little among the mountains near Cibao, as it is tolerably cool 
 there, and they reaped about two bushels or stara. But 
 those mountains being steep and stony, they saw that they 
 could never get much grain to grow there, so never cared 
 about sowing it, and provided themselves with flour from 
 Spain, whence it is brought in large casks. Whenever, 
 through the airival of the ships being delayed, they cannot 
 get bread, they are obliged to eat the cazahi ; for they do not 
 cultivate much maize, as they generally have the other sorts 
 of flour. 
 
 Few of the trees brought from Spain have succeeded. 
 Only pomegranates, oranges, citrons, lemons, and some figs. 
 As to vines, they produce very small bunches of grapes, so 
 that they are sold for half a ducat the pound. And I have seen 
 a vineyard belonging to the secretary, Diego Cavaliero, in 
 which there were several thousand vines ; yet it was a 
 favourable season when he collected forty pounds of grapes. 
 They have not a very good flavour, and are gathered in 
 February and March. The summer begins in January, and 
 continues till the end of April. The winter begins in May 
 and ends in December. It is not called winter on account 
 of the cold, but on account of the very heavy rains ; for the 
 heat exceeds that of summer, in consequence of the winds 
 ceasing ; and such hot Jiumid vapours rising from the 
 ground, occasion many diseases ; whilst, on the contrary, in 
 the summer, the wind is always from the Greco Lci:anto 
 {E.N.E.), with clear skies.' 
 
 In kitchen-garden produce, as, for example, cauliflowers, 
 cabbages, radishes, lettuces, pumpkins, and melons, they 
 abound ; yet onions and garlick seldom succeeded, where- 
 fore the ships from Sjiain bring them in great quantities, 
 
 ^ The general easterly winds of the tropical regions, thus felt along 
 Columbian and Mexican shores, are nevertheless subject to both diurnal 
 and annual variations. {Trans.) 
 
no 
 
 HISTORY OP THE NKW WORLD. 
 
 with various other things, sucli as beans, lentils, almonds, 
 walnuts, figs, raisins, oil, rice, honey, cheese, jugs, plates, 
 basins, spices, cloths, silks, cordage, wine, biscuit, and vari- 
 ous other articles not produced there. 
 
 There is a very great quantity of every sort of cattle of the 
 breeds brought from Spain. There are some Spaniards who 
 have from six to eight thousand head of cattle in the coun- 
 try. Anybody may kill what he chooses, provided only that 
 he gives the hide to the owner. An abundance of sugar 
 also is made in that island, so that in my time thirty-four 
 sugar-mills were at work. These two articles, that is to say, 
 sugar and hides, are the staple of the island, wherefore all 
 the Spanish merchants who go there to trade, now bring 
 back with them nothing else ; for the Spaniards have been 
 so solicitous in digging, both for the yellow and the white 
 metal, that there is not a grain any more to be found. And 
 the largest coin at present struck in San Domiiigo is worth 
 four marcmdis, or one of our soldi (a halfpenny). If mer- 
 chants wish to buy gold or silver (for some of the Peruvian, 
 and from Cape Fondura, is still brought by the dealers, 
 who go there for horses, slaves, and mules), they might still 
 do so, but at a losing rate, for one ducat of gold is worth 
 two of other coin, wherefore they rather buy hides, sugar, 
 cassia, and (juaiacuco, or holy-wood {lignum-vittB). 
 
 '• i. 
 
 ' i 
 
 END OF THE FIRST HOOK. 
 
 
m 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 B' 
 
 G I R O L A M O B E N Z O N I, 
 
 A MILANESE. 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 When the natives of this island (Espanola) began to be 
 extirpated, the Spaniards provided themselves with blacks 
 (Mori) from Guinea, which was a conquest of the king of 
 Portugal's, and they have brought great numbers thence. 
 When there were mines, they made them work at the gold 
 and silver ; but since those came to an end they have in- 
 creased the sugar-works, and in these and in tending the 
 flocks they arc chiefly occupied, besides serving their masters 
 in all else. And there being among the Spaniards some 
 who are not only cruel, but very cruel, when a man occa- 
 sionally wished to punish a slave, either for some crime that 
 he had committed, or for not having done a good day's work, 
 or for spite that he had towards him, or for not having- ex- 
 tracted the usiial quantity of silver or gold from the mine, 
 when he came home at night, instead of giving him supper, 
 he made him undress, if he happened to have a shirt on, 
 and being thrown down on the ground, he had his hands 
 and feet tied to a piece of wood laid across, so permitted 
 under ;'.ie rule called by the Spaniards the Law of 
 
M 
 
 04 
 
 HISTORY OV TIIK NEW WOULD. 
 
 i' 
 
 i.'j' 
 
 jl: 
 
 Hi I 
 
 I ■. 
 
 I <, * 
 
 Baiona,' a law suggested, I tliink, by some great demon ; then 
 with a thong or rope lie was beaten, until his l)ody streamed 
 with blood ; Avhich done, they took a jiound of pitch or a pipkin 
 of boiling oil, and threw it gradually all over tlie unfortunate 
 victim ; then he was washed with some of the country pepper 
 mixed with salt and water. He was thus left on a plank 
 covered over with a cloth, until the master thought he was 
 again able to work. Others dug a hole in the ground and 
 put the man in upright, leaving only his head out, and left 
 him in it all night, the Spaniards saying that they have 
 recourse to this cure because the earth absorbs the blood and 
 preserves the flesh from forming any wound, so they get 
 Avell sooner. And if any die (which sometimes happens) 
 through great pain, there is no heavier punishment by law 
 than that the master shall pay another (slave) to the king. 
 Thus, on account of these very great cruelties in the begin- 
 ning, some of them escaped from their masters, and wan- 
 dered about the island in a state of desperation. They have 
 gradually multiplied, however, to such a degree, that they 
 have caused, and still cause the Spanish population a 
 deal of trouble. In consequence of the kings of Ethiopia 
 being constantly at war with each other ; for instance, the 
 Qui'nci, Manicongri, Gialojn, Zapi, Bcrhesi, when they 
 make captives from one another, they sell their prisoners to 
 the Portuguese ; even in this country some ill-Avill con- 
 tinues among them, still they do no harm to each other ; 
 on the contrary, when the Spaniards quarrel, the blacks 
 make common cause among themselves. Yet each nation 
 recognizes its own king or governor, which keeps the 
 tribes separate, and from this cause they do not do the 
 
 s 
 
 ^ This alludes to the plausible, but unjust and inhuman code, pro- 
 mulgated at Burgos iu 1512, by which the employment of Indians in 
 the mines was insisted upon. Old Purchas, following in the wake of 
 Bcnzoni, says — " the Law of Baian, as they call it, devised, I think, by 
 some cruell divell." (Trans.) 
 
IITSTORY OF THE NKW WORT.P. 
 
 95 
 
 harm to the Spaniards that they might if they were all 
 united. 
 
 'J'hc presidents and auditors of the ishmd, finally seeing 
 that these blacks multiplied, and that all the Spaniards who 
 fell into their hands were made to die under every sort 
 of torment, began to eollect men together and send them 
 into all parts of the island where the negroes hid them- 
 selves. At first it turned out very favourable to the Span- 
 iards, for taking with them some blacks, under promise of 
 liberty, who knew the localities, they used to attack them in 
 the iiight, and finding the people asleep, like a herd of 
 animals without any fear of enemies, they caj^tured and 
 killed a great many of them. But in the sequel the run- 
 aways learned to keep watch and to be very vigilant, 
 whereby the Spaniards often got the worst of it. Thus the 
 blacks have now become so fierce and so numerous, that 
 when I was residing in the island, it was asserted that there 
 were upwards of seven thousand. And in the year '45, while 
 I was residing there, it was reported that the Cimaroni (for 
 so the Spaniards in those countries call the outlaws), had 
 joined in a general rebellion, were scouring over every part 
 of the island, and doing all the mischief they could. Where- 
 upon the almirante, Don Luigi Colombo, the president, and 
 the auditors of San Domingo, sent some messengers to en- 
 treat and supplicate them to be content to live peaceably, 
 for the Spaniards would do the same and would not annoy 
 them any more, for they wished to be their friends ; and if 
 they wanted priests or monks to instruct them in the Chris- 
 tian doctrine, they would willingly send some. To these 
 oflfers the answer was, that they believed in the doctrine of 
 Christ and wished for it, but would not accept of Spanish 
 friendship, for they did not trust in their promises. 
 
 Many Spaniards prophesy for certain, that the island in a 
 short time will fall entirely into the hands of these blacks.^ 
 
 ^ This in'oi^hecy, after much sanguiuj\ry warfare, has been fulfilled. 
 
06 
 
 HISTORY OP TTIK NEW WORLD. 
 
 11 ^ . 
 
 I t 
 
 Meanwhile the governors are very vif^'ihant, wlien a sliip sails 
 for any other province, in ])rev('nting any Spaniards from 
 embarking without permission, even if he bo a merchant. 
 Although when the licentiate, C'eratto, president of the 
 island, brought liberty to the Indians, he allowed every 
 body to go where they chose, for wiiich, being severely re- 
 proved by some citizens, hi' angrily answered : " Since his 
 majesty the emperor has given liberty to the Indians, it does 
 not seem to me just that the Sj)aniards sliould, against his 
 majesty's will, be kept in slavery, therefore I only fulfil 
 his royal will, and think it riglit to let them go freely 
 where they like." 
 
 lUit when he learnt how thinly inliabited the island was 
 becoming, and there being so few Spaniards that, at the 
 most, th(>y did not exceed eleven hundred men, whilst the 
 outlaws were becoming daily stronger ; wherefore if an attack 
 took place there were not Spaniards enough to defend them- 
 selves, so that there was danger of losing the island as well 
 as their lives — he also was obliged to have recourse to re- 
 strictions, and to shut the gates. Thus, of the Spaniards 
 who go on a venture to the Indies and toucli at this island, 
 few are willing to remain there ; for any one going to those 
 countries lias riches in view, and there are no longer the 
 means of obtaining them there. 
 
 As I have mentioned some of the circumstances that oc- 
 curred in this island between the blacks' and the Spaniards, 
 it behoves me also to speak of the very great injury done by 
 the French to the Spaniards in the Indies, as well by sea as 
 by land. Not long after the discovery of these countries, in 
 
 and the empire of Ilayti now boasts of a population little short of a 
 millioii in numbers ; and they are under a black emperor, with princes 
 — dukes — counts — barons — knights, and other adornments of the negro 
 court in abundance. (Trans.) 
 
 ^ Bcnzoni calls them Moors, but expressly tells us they were from 
 the Coast of Guinea, and therefore blacks, or negroes ; which must be 
 borne in mind when the word Moors occurs in these pages. {Trans.) 
 
 >M^^i^ 
 
 ] 
 
HISTORY or I'm; .\i;\v nvokid. 
 
 !)" 
 
 coiiscqurnco of their famed rielies, many I'Vencli privateers 
 bejj^an to crui/c about tlioso seas diuiuii; the Mar, hoping' to 
 pick up some laden vessels on their return (Vom the Indies ; 
 and in fact tliey eauglit a ^reat many- and amonuf the richest 
 of their prizes, Avas one at the tiiiu- wlien the inestimahlo 
 treasures of I'cru were eml)arked for Spain, so tliat tlie share 
 to each of the sliip's paj^es (hoys) was eight hundred ducats 
 of t^ohh And the principal reason of the Freneli getting 
 so many of the ships belonging to the Spaniards, was the 
 avarice of the owners ; for on quitting Spain, such was their 
 avidity to fill up with merchandize ami passengers, that they 
 did not put the due number of guns on board, in case they 
 liad to defend themselves if attacked by an enemy's ship ; 
 nor even the number ordered by the Council of the Indies ; 
 which conunanded that every vessel should have at least two 
 brass guns, six large iron ones, some small ones, and a cer- 
 tain number of barrels of powder, besideii other weapons. 
 The council, moreover, appointed certain commissaries to 
 take special care by going to San Lucar, to visit the ships 
 when they were about starting, and ascertain whether they 
 were provided according to the orders issued. But the cap- 
 tains of the ships, by putting a piece of gold into the hand of 
 the commissaries, made them say that all was right ; and with 
 this arrangement they went away to Seville, waited on their 
 superiors at the Contract-office, and sAvore to God that every 
 thing was in perfect order, and that the ship (whatever it 
 miglit be) was equal to fighting against four French vessels. 
 In this way three or four Spanish ships used to start, though 
 the best of them carried only two or three iron guns, half 
 eaten through with rust, and one keg of indifferent jiowder. 
 On their return, if a little French galleon {(jallcoiiccttc) well 
 armed happened to meet a ship, even of fifteen hundred 
 or two thousand salmc (about three or four hundred tons), 
 they attacked her Avithout the least fear, knoAving Iioav 
 ill Spanish ships Avere provided. Firing first a Icav shot, 
 
 la 
 
^^' "*^ ^!**.'**E!flte^B5^Bt'irtff^5^ 
 
 98 
 
 HISTORY 01'" TIIK NKW WORT.P. 
 
 
 ;,:■. '■ 
 
 " r h 
 
 I t 
 
 they then hailed to them to lower their topsails for the 
 king of France ; and if they did not du it directly, they 
 fired sonic of their great guns into tlieni, right aniidsliip ; 
 and the Spaniards seeing that there was no way of defending 
 themselves, and each man bcirg afraid of losing his life, they 
 surrendei'cd, The Frenchman immediately ordered them to 
 let down a boat, bringing the captain, the pilot, and the 
 cleric on 1 navd ; he now demanded a report of tlie gold, 
 silver, pearls, emeralds, and other valuables usually brought 
 home by those vessels. Then he sent on board for these 
 things, and afterwards gave his crew leave to go and sec if 
 they could find anything else ; consequently, as soon as they 
 got on board, they stripped the passengers, and even the 
 sailors if they had a good dress, .nving them their old rags 
 in exchange, saying, " These are good for you, and those are 
 good for me." And no respect for Spain, or customary 
 visages of war, kept them from ransacking their boxes, and 
 hunting througli every hole and corner to see if they could 
 find some piece of gold. ^Many captains were content with 
 seizing the cargo and spoils, yet released the sliips ; but the 
 greater part used to take tliem to Frarice, and landed the 
 Spaniards, with a wretchedly small sum of money to pay 
 their way to their respective homes. Of the caj)tains, pilots, 
 and clerks Avho traded to India, few escaped without having 
 been captured by the French once or twice. ^ 
 
 I do not undertake to relate how some other people 
 sacked the Canar}; islands, and seized ships there laden 
 Aiith cloth, sugar, wine, and other merchandize. jMcan- 
 "while the Council of the Indies beincf informed how throuah 
 bad management so many siiips Averc captured by the 
 French, they issued an order for all the vessels that used 
 to start for India at various times of the year, and which 
 
 ^ This was the opening of that noted system of freebooting, which, 
 under the filibusters and buccaneers, occasioncil continual anxiety, terror, 
 and loss to the Spaniards. (Tr>in.s.) 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 9J) 
 
 might amount, couuling large and small, to fifty or sixty, 
 to load and wait for each other, then sail all together ; and 
 that, for greater safety, the merchants should send three 
 or four armed shins to accompany them to the great Canary 
 island, because that far, on the way ou", is the grcf.t danger; 
 and thus through this wise order the French ceased taking 
 so many ships. But as to the evil caused to the inhabitants 
 of the Indies, it was some Spaniards, practised in tliftt navi- 
 gation, who led the enemy there, either through malignity, 
 or envy, or spite, for some injury inflicted on them. So 
 that the French also became as familiar with those waters as 
 the Spaniards themselves ; and although in the beginning 
 they restricted themselves to the vicinity of the Isia Espa- 
 iiola, and Sail Giocamii di Potto Rico; yet when those dis- 
 tricts ceased to yield the rich prizes that they had tocu 
 accustomed to, they frcquentea more of 'he islands, and 
 even some of the provinces on the mainland, where they 
 took ami pillaged the following towns inhabited by Span- 
 iiirds : Porto delV Argciito, Azua, Laiaqaanna, and //« 
 Maquanna, capturing many ships there ; and they would 
 have done the same to San Domingo, but that it has a for- 
 tress on tlie bank of the river, remarkably well provided 
 with excellent brass guns, so that they had not the daring to 
 attack it, notwithstanding the threats of some of their cap- 
 tains. Meanwhile the Spaniards fearing lest the French 
 should come in on some other side, the town being without 
 walls, they kci)t good watch during war. And when I lived 
 there, it Avas said, as if for certain, that they would surround 
 it either with earth or brickwork ; but this was rathe.v from 
 their fear of the outlaws than of the French.' 
 
 ^ St. Douiiugo {h'lln'tto) \vas the first Isuropcjin city built in tlio N w 
 World, iiaving boju fouiiJcd in l.')(l2 ; ami though riillen from its paiiny 
 state, it is -still a i iuii )rtaut jilacj, conUiiuiiig spacioud cdiiiccs of which 
 even Sjuiin uceu not Le asluuneil ; ami it v.a.s very juiliciou.sly fortified. 
 The exasperation of Ciounvell at the uii.Tor;i,h!e i'aihu'c of Peuu ami 
 Venables belore this place, will be reiuombcred ; when the adjutant- 
 
100 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WGIILP. 
 
 
 {•<• 
 
 In the year '43, Captain Pedro AnzuUcs, with two ships 
 and a caruvcl, left No?nbre de Dios for San Domingo, carry- 
 ing a hundred thousand ducats in gohl, and on the voyage 
 touched at Jaquanna, where he learnt that a French ship 
 had left only six hours before, which had pillaged and burnt 
 the town. Pedro AnzuUcs, desirous of acquiring honour, 
 landed all the gold and silver, and, hoisting sail, went in 
 search Df the French ship, and having overtaken her, they 
 engaged each other with spirit, and continued the engage- 
 ment for a quarter of an hour ; but in the height of the 
 action Pedro was Icilled, together with several of his men, by 
 a great gun — da un pczzo d\trt'ujUavia. The loss of their 
 brave commander so disheartened the rest, that they escaped, 
 and soon reached San Dumingo. The French captain, not 
 caring to pursue them, resumed his voyage. 
 
 In this same year, two French ships came to San Domingo 
 and captured a caravel laden with goods that was going to 
 Crt^;e la Vela,- they anchored on the eastern side at Mona 
 Island, expecting some prize. The lloyal Audience of San 
 Domingo, learning that there were some brigs at Launa, 
 armed two great ships that were u. the port loading for 
 Spain, two caravels and a brig, and, appointing one Carione 
 di Triana to command them, they set sail. The next day 
 the Fronchmen, seeing the headmost ship and one caravel, 
 thought they were merchant vessels going to Spain, and 
 with great glee prepared to fight. P)ut when they discovered 
 the other vessels and the brig, and saw that they were all 
 sailing towards them, the Biscayans, afraid of being taken 
 and treated as rebels and traitors, because they were sub- 
 jects of the king of Spain, and being moreover a mile farther 
 out in the fairway than tlic fellow ship, they hoisted sail, 
 and, without caring for their companions, escaped. The 
 
 general, being tried for cowardice, was not only cashiered and his sword 
 broken over his head, but he was also sentenced to serve as a swabber in 
 kcej)ing the hospital- ship clean. (Trans.) 
 
HISTOUY OF THE NEW WOULD. 
 
 101 
 
 ship 
 
 captain of the remaining ship now feeling alone, and per- 
 ceivin .J that the Spanish commander was coming right upon 
 him, closely followed by all the rest, felt that there was no 
 chance of getting off; so, confused and frightened, he de- 
 termined to surrender, and ordered all the soldiers to pile 
 up their arms, saying, that it would be more folly than pru- 
 dence to fight, since it was manifest that one ship alone was 
 no match for five enemies ; and that, by surrendering, the 
 Spaniards would treat . them well as prisoners of war,' as 
 they were themselves treated. He was answered, how- 
 ever, very angrily by one of his bombardiers, who said, 
 that neither he nor his companions would on any account 
 surrender, but were determined to fight; that he would 
 rather die fighting than disgracefully surrender to the 
 enemy; if he, the captain, was afraid, he ought not to go to 
 war. Though the foes were five and he alone, still he did 
 not care a farthing {un (juatlrino) for them, since Spaniards, 
 especially at sea and in those countries, knew not how to 
 manage guns; but that he with four shots would undertaivc 
 to sink the commander's ship, and there was no doubt but 
 that, as soon as she was disposed of, the rest from fear would 
 fiy. Certainly, if the captain had listened to this bombar- 
 dier, it would have been better for them; for it was thought 
 that these brave words would be accompanied by brave con- 
 duct. Accordingly, when the Spaniard fired a gun, and 
 called out, " Surrender to the emperor," he was answered 
 by a heavy shot betnecn wind and water ; but the captain 
 having determined not to fight, jumped below, and tore the 
 match from the bombardier's hands, he being on the p^.".nt 
 of firing another shot in an equally dangerous place, and 
 
 
 ^ Such seems to have been a necessary consideration, since it does not 
 appear that the vessel pertained to the royal navy. Charles V. and 
 1 lancis I. were certainly amusing Europe by personal defiances and 
 strange jiaradc ; but the war lietweou the two monarchs was only a kind 
 ot lugubrious half-jest half-earnest allair. (Trans.) 
 
102 
 
 IllSTOllY 01' TIIK NEW WOIU,!). 
 
 &■ ■* 
 
 
 
 !/ : I 
 
 that would, ill all probability, have sunk the ship, as he had 
 promised to do : for even the first shot occasioned lier to 
 nialcc a great deal of water before they could collect cases 
 and other things together to plug up tlie hole. Thus the 
 French ship was captured without figliting, and taken to 
 SanDomhigo, where it occasioned as much rejoicing through- 
 out the town as if a kingdom of France had been conquered. 
 The Frenchmen were put into prison, especially the ablest 
 sailors ; but the captain passed the greatest part of his time 
 in the house of the alniirantc. The guns, the cables, the 
 anchors, were taken out of the ship, and then she was towed 
 into the open sea, burnt, and sunk. I, going occasionally 
 to the prison to see a Trie; id of mine, used to converse with 
 the Frenchmen, who swore at their captain for having so 
 shamefully surrendered, thus subjecting them to great suffer- 
 ing and ill-treatment. They were soon sent over to Spain 
 in detachments, some in one vesi^el, and some in another. 
 On the voyage, five of them made head one night, in a 
 caravel laden with sugar, and carrying fifteen thousand gold 
 ducats for the king. The Spaniard i were thrown overboard, 
 and the vessel was carried to Frai ce as booty. 
 
 In the year 1536, a small French galleon, by them called 
 a patax, having lost sight of tlu; flag ship in a storm, went 
 into Acanava, in Cuba, and took the town. The Spaniards, 
 fearing the enemy would burn it, as the houses were built 
 with wood and thatched, agreed to give them seven Hundred 
 ducats of gold, with which the French Avere well content 
 and departed.' The next day three large ships entered the 
 port from New Sj}ai/i, whereupon John de Ilojas, chief liead 
 of the town, ordered that all their i>(jld and silver and other 
 
 ^ This ransom appears to have boeu the commencement of a practice 
 whicli fully ri])ciicd under the bticanecrs. Not that it has been un- 
 known to regular forces ; but it was a systematic metliod of plunder on 
 the American shores. The irregularity of lieuzoni's writing is seen by 
 his si»clling llavannah in two diiiereut ways in this paragraph, namely, 
 Avanava and AviCiia. {Trmis.) 
 
 I 
 
 .■■i»- 
 
 i^ 
 
3Ugll- 
 
 niSTOUV OF TIIH -SVAV WOIU.D. 
 
 10:j 
 
 valuable articles should be landod, and they i^o in search of 
 the Frenchniaii. They issued from the harbour one after 
 the other, with their boats ahead, and the eommandinfr 
 officer's ship leading. Behind a point, not far from the 
 town, they found the galleon near the mouth of a river. 
 The headmost ship not daring- to attack her alone (non 
 osando vwDomctlcrld), delayed operations until the other 
 i^hips could join. The Frenchmen, surpriscMl at this d(>lay, 
 and attributinnr it to fear of attacking them, began to fire a 
 few guns, M'hich so intimidated the crew of the headmost 
 ship that, without making any attempt at defence, in the most 
 cowardly manner they left the ship and ran away on shore. 
 One of the other ships was not far astern, l)ut seeing this 
 abandonment of the commanding officer's ship, its crew fol- 
 lowed the vile example, and so they did on board the third 
 ship. Wherefore the Frenchmen, who were at first alarmed, 
 and made sure they should be taken prisoners, with great 
 exultation took possession of the three shiiis. Returnin"- to 
 the Arana they now demanded a similar sum to that they 
 had before for the ransom of the town ; and then departed. 
 
 ..4fter this, the Spaniards began to build the houses of 
 stone ; and on the borders of the port they erected a fortress, 
 mounted Math some large guns, to defend them from the 
 French. This town lies in a plain near the sea, on the east- 
 ern side ; it is built like a house that has the door m-cU pro- 
 tected, but is open on all other sides, without any walls, so 
 that people can enter it wherever they like. The French, 
 aware of this fort which the Spaniards had erected at the 
 entrance of the port, went to the river Chiorcra, about six 
 miles distant, and suddenly disembarkincv at midnidit. en- 
 tered the town by early dawn {quarto dclV alha). The Span- 
 iards were all asleep, but hearing a noise quitted their beds, 
 and some by one door and some by another fled to the woods. 
 Thus did the French take the city which the Spaniards had 
 founded in this countrv. 
 
 li 
 
><il^i»»«is 5fc> i iSiurs« «i' 3' ' "<■ ' i "'"" " i iy iSi T T i 
 
 ttriiVMV 
 
 MM*IM*<«nMHM 
 
 104 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NKW WOKLD. 
 
 ■©"i' 
 
 rk 
 
 And, moreover, in tlie year 15v4, during the cruel wars 
 between the emperor Charles V. and Henry, king of France, 
 a French ship, with eiglity sokliers, went to Sf. James of 
 Cuba, the principal phace of that ishind ; and after taking and 
 sacking the town, they went towards the Acnna, and having 
 landed their sohliers by way of the Chiorcra, tbey entered 
 the town an hour before daylight, and captured some Span- 
 iards, while others ran away. The French began entering 
 the houses, hoping to collect a deal of booty ; but they had to 
 return empty-handed, for the inhabitants having already 
 been several times pillaged by the French, feared a repeti- 
 tion of it in future, and therefore had kept their riches at their 
 possessions.' Whilst the enemy went about rummaging and 
 sacking the houses, two Spaniards were sent by the General 
 Council to the captain ; first to see what number of people 
 they had, and then to treat of some compact, so that they 
 should not burn and ruin the town. Having therefore en- 
 tered into discussion about ransoming the place, and the 
 people that they had taken prisoners, the captain demanded 
 six thousand gold ducats. The Sjjaniards jdeaded poverty, 
 and said that the whole of their property would not amount 
 to the sum that they demanded, but pro])osed to refer the sub- 
 ject to their superiors, informing them of all the particulars, 
 since they (the deputies) could not decide anything Avithout 
 the General Council. Thus taking leave of the captain, 
 they promised to return {]\c following dav without fail, pro- 
 vided with the resolution. They then went to John d'Orics, 
 and the other nuMubcrs of the Town Council, who having 
 heard what sort of people their enemies were, and the 
 amount of ransom thoy denvinded, the greater part would 
 not consent to the terms : savino; that instead of "ivins: them 
 money, they ought to be repelled by lances and archibusses, 
 since they deserved to be killed like ladrones, for they lived 
 
 1 This passage is obscure : " toiicvaii.o tiittc le lor facult;\ alle sue 
 posscssioni." Perhaps at tlicir farms. (7Vrt?i.s-.) 
 
 
 I 
 
fSTOIlY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 105 
 
 would 
 tlicin 
 
 )IISSCS, 
 
 lived 
 alio sue 
 
 on plunder, and that if they had been cv^r so many more, 
 they were still not worth a farthing ;^ and that even the few 
 cavalry the town had, were enough to route them. Some 
 others were of a contrary opinion, alleging that it was better 
 to seek some composition than to subject themselves to the 
 chances of Fortune, shewing themselves to be men of very 
 little judgment in not estimating the enemy ; therefore ad- 
 vised that the captain should be again sought, so as to under- 
 stand his will better ; and even if they found that he would 
 not swerve from the sum demanded, still they would feel 
 satisfied in having kept their promise ; and if there was no 
 appearance of accommodation, they would be at liberty to 
 come to any other decision they might think proper. But 
 the opinion of the many had more force than the wise sug- 
 gestion of the few ; wherefore some Spaniards and black 
 slaves, amounting to a hundred and fifty, put themselves in 
 order, and at an hour after dark, expecting to find their 
 enemies asleep, calling out on St. Joseph and St. James, they 
 assailed them, and firing their archibusses they killed four 
 Frenchmen, among whom was a nephew of their captain. 
 The French did not at all fail in courage, but jumping up, 
 seized their arms, and defended themselves with such spirit, 
 that after the first shower from their archibusses, the terrified 
 Spaniards turned their backs and fled to the woods for 
 safety. The captain remained up all night keeping good 
 watch, extremely irritated at the death of his people, especi- 
 ally of his nephew, blaming himself for having trusted to the 
 promise of the Spaniards. In the morning, he ordered part 
 of his soldiers to collect all the pitch that they could find in 
 the town, and there were many cases that had been brought 
 from Spain to this port for repairing their ships ; with this 
 he ordered them to anoint all the doors, windows, fioors, in 
 short every wooden portion of the houses, and then set 
 
 ^ Non si dovevano stimare v)i maravedis, a term of contempt ; the 
 maravedi being their smallest coin. {Trmu.) 
 
 u 
 
.^mtmmiim 
 
 iW»nTnr«giiii •!> m-iiMw 
 
 lOG 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW AVOUM). 
 
 ! '■ 
 
 ■l 
 
 
 fire to them, and as much as possible throwing down the 
 walls from their very foundations ; also, while the houses 
 were burning, he repaired to the church, and did as much 
 there. A Spaniard on horseback, who had been hovering 
 about the woods, seeing this fiery spectacle, humbly came 
 up to him saying, — " Oh, captain, wasi it not enough to a.p- 
 pease your feelings to burn all the town, without also attack- 
 ing God's temple ?" To which the captain haughtily rcpli(;d, 
 — " Men without faith require no church." And when they 
 had destroyed the houses, they razed and pillaged the for- 
 tress, so that the captain ordered his ship to enter the port 
 and embark all the spoils; then, fiercely threatening the 
 Spaniards, he departed. 
 
 A few days after all this had happened, I entered the port, 
 and saw everything so completely destroyed, that the very 
 site of the town could scarcely be discerned. 
 
 The town of San Gcrmano, in the island of Porto-Rico, 
 after having been taken and sacked by the French, being 
 first situated on the sea-shore, was then transferred by the 
 Spaniards to a wood six miles distant, hoping to be safe 
 there ; but it was not so, for when th(; French heard where 
 they were, they did not fail to go ; even eight miles from 
 the sea-shore in Jamaica} Tliey also sacked the town of 
 Sevile, that had twenty-four wooden houses. 
 
 About this same period it happened that in the town of Cc/r- 
 tliagcna, a province on the mainland, the judge had ordered 
 a sailor to be flogged, for a certain spite that he had shewn 
 him ; when the man was liberated he returned to Spain, and 
 thence went to France. But he led five French ships here, 
 which anchored at the entrance of the harbour, and pouring 
 a hundred soldiers into their boats, they went to the town 
 
 
 ' Benzoni's geography is oocasionall}' very obscuro. This Jamaica, 
 from the context, cannot be the great island of that name ; it may 
 therefore have been another town or hamlet two miles beyond San 
 Gennano. (Trans.) 
 
 1 
 
IIISTOHY OF THE NEW WORM). 
 
 107 
 
 )y the 
 safe 
 
 where 
 from 
 n of 
 
 and (liscmbarkctl an hour before daylight. While the 
 Spaniards were still sleeping, tlie assailants began pillaging 
 the houses, which were partly of wood and partly of reeds, 
 roofed with palm leaves. The sailor, with some Frenchmen, 
 repaired to the house of the judge who had had him flogged, 
 and by repeated stabs killed him. Then some went scouring 
 in one direction and some in another. The greater part of 
 the Spaniards fled, some were killed, others were made pri- 
 soners ; and thus the town of Carthageiia was taken, pil- 
 laged, and burnt ; yielding a booty to the French, between 
 the spoils and the ransoms of the Spaniards, of a hundred 
 and fifty thousand gold ducats. 
 
 Other French ships, both before and after, have haunted 
 that coast, taking and sacking Sta. Martha, Capo la Vela, 
 and other places. And to make an end of the actions of the 
 French: while the pearl fishery flourished in Cubagua, one 
 of their ships arrived there, and being detected by the 
 Spaniards, they seized two country boats, and putting fifty 
 Indians into them with their bows and arrows, giving them 
 to understand that the people on board were unnaturally 
 vicious, and if they did not endeavour to kill them they 
 Avould leap on shore, and seizing the natives would make 
 infamous use of them. The Indians did not wait to hear 
 more, but went immediately towards the ships. The French 
 seeing them coming, were staring at the new naked people, 
 perhaps thinking they were only going to look at them, or to 
 barter for pearls ; but when they got close to the ship, they 
 began to throw their darts and wounded some of them. The 
 French knew more about the pearls fished up around that 
 island than of the poisonous herb that the natives use ; as 
 soon as they felt themselves wounded, and found that 
 those darts were mortal, they immediately hoisted sail and 
 went away. Nor, as far as I have heard, has any French 
 ship ever ventured to that island again. In this manner 
 it was, and with this cunning, that the greatly frightened 
 
WP^i»^i«iTM 
 
 108 
 
 IlISTOllY OF THE NEW WOULD. 
 
 '1 &■ 
 
 Spaniards liberated themselves out ol' the hands of the 
 French.' 
 
 After being in Espanola island for eleven months, I sailed 
 from the town of San Domingo in a ship bound for Terra 
 Firma, and in six days we came in sight of the snowy moun- 
 tains of Sta. Martha. We shortly after entered the town of 
 Carthayciia, so called from having an islet at the entrance of 
 the port, like Carthagena in Spain. This island is eight 
 miles long and three broad, and when the Spaniards first 
 went to those countries, it was all inhabited by Indian fisher- 
 men ; but now there is no symptom even of the houses that 
 used to be there. Nor can we be much surprised at this, 
 since in all the other provinces, both maritime and inland, 
 wherever the Spaniards have reached, there arc scarcfdy any 
 miserable Indian villages remaining ', the cause of this great 
 evil was, that as long as that nation had any strength left, it 
 never would accept of the friendship of their invaders, on 
 account of the very great cruelties that they had inflicted. 
 These peo^, .e have plenty of fruit, fish, and all otlier things 
 requisite to sustain life. Their only clothing is a decent 
 bandage round their loins. When they went to war, the 
 women fought as well as the men : their arms are poisoned 
 arrows : they eat their enemies, and have eaten many Span- 
 iards, and would do the same by the rest if they could. 
 
 On occasion of their feasts, they used to adorn themselves 
 as they were best able, with ornaments of gold, pearls, and 
 emeralds, putting some on their arms, on their legs, on their 
 faces, and other parts of the body. Their principal products 
 are salt, fish, and pepper ; and they carry these inland, where 
 there is a deficiency, bartering them for other things. In 
 more prosperous times they licld fine large markets of grain, 
 
 ' There is something rather lame in this conclusion, and the counter- 
 statement is wanting. At all events, as the story stands, the Frenchman 
 in (luostion was very different in talent or courage — perhaps both — from 
 the gallant captors of Ilavannaii, Carthagena, and the numerous Spanish 
 ships. ( Trans.) 
 
 
 
selves 
 , and 
 their 
 oducts 
 where 
 In 
 grain, 
 
 jountcr- 
 nchman 
 — from 
 Spanish 
 
 HISTORY OF TIIK NKW WORLD. 
 
 10!) 
 
 fruits, cotton, feathers, ornaments, f^old, and various sorts of 
 pearls, slaves, and other goods. Each man took only what 
 he "Wanted, without other conditions, or showing any avarice 
 whatever, saying, Do you take this, and give me that. But 
 amongst the articles they most esteem arc eatahles; although 
 now the greater part of those trihes have learnt from us to 
 hold temporal goods in very great veneration. Still there 
 are some individuals who do not esteem them, acting as they 
 used to do at first ; and it has happened to me to go to the 
 house of an Indian, and on asking whether he had a fowl to 
 sell, he answered, yes, and what M'ould I give him in ex- 
 change for it !' On my showing him a real, he took it out of 
 my hand, saying to me, A\'hat are you going to do with the 
 fowl '{ to which T answered, that I was going to cat it ; the 
 Indian then looking me in the face, put the real between his 
 teeth and said, " Oh, Christian, if you wish me to give you 
 something to eat, give me in exchange something that I can 
 eat ; but what you offer me is worth nothing at all, so take 
 back thy real, and I Avill eat my fowl." Then I went to the 
 house of another man, who gave me a fowl. 
 
 Between Carthayena and Sta. Martha there is a large and 
 very rapid river, which falls into the sea with such violence, 
 especially during winter, that ships passing by can easily 
 take up fresh water.' Doctor Gonzalo Ximenes, acting in 
 Sta. Martha as deputy for Don Pietro di Lugo, governor of 
 the province, being desirous to enrich himself, started with 
 two little brigantines and forty-five Spaniards to go up this 
 
 ' This river is now called the iMadalena : it rises among the moun- 
 tains two degrees north of the line, and passing Neva, Santa Fe de Bogota, 
 ]\Iompox, and other towns, it falls into the sea as above. It is navigable 
 as far as Honda, four hundred and thirty-five miles from its mouth ; and 
 it is infested with vast numbers of caymans or alligators. Like the Nile, 
 the Rhone, and other rivers which disembogue with impetus, its waters 
 are borne a considerable distance out to sea, and may be skimmed still 
 fresh, as asserted by Eenzoni ; whose mention of it is the earliest we 
 have met with. We have known a large lleet water thus on an enemy's 
 coast in time of war. {Trans.) 
 
110 
 
 HISTOUY OK TIIK NKW UOUl,!). 
 
 I I 
 
 l\ ! ! 
 
 ( I 
 
 'V 
 
 river ; and, having obtained some emeralds from the Indian 
 villaf,'cs, learned from whence they were hrou^dit, and deter- 
 mined to go on, nor rest till they found tlie mines that pro- 
 duced these jewels. At the end of xnnc days they met 
 with lhi,i,'otta, a very rich prince, aceordint^ to tlu; opinion of 
 the lower class of the Spaniards. The Doctor, partly through 
 good will, and partly by rapine, collected a good (juantity 
 of gold, and then inquired whence they procured tlie 
 emeralds. Ihigotta thereby perceiving the immeasurable 
 avarice of the Christians, thinking to get them out of the 
 country and never sec them again, told him that they were 
 ol)tained from the valley of Tiinia, and on this information 
 the Doctor started. They advanced among some mountains 
 inhabited bv Indians, entered the valley of Tessnca, and Si- 
 mandoca, the chief of that province, seeing that the Span- 
 iards entered his dominion without doing any harm (for the 
 Doctor had commanded his people, in order to gain the 
 good opinion of those tribes, that nobody should dare to 
 take anything without the permission of the natives), made 
 no resistance ; on the contrary, he received them with 
 caresses. The Doctor inquired of him about the emerald 
 mines, and Simandoca very kindly led him .o where those 
 jewels were found; for it was twenty-five niiics beyond his 
 territory, in a spot devoid of grass or trees. He then made 
 his vassals dig out a good quantity, and, together with other 
 jewels and gold, presented them to the Doctor, as things 
 which he did not much esteem, for a basin of salt was to 
 him more precious than his mountains of emeralds and gold. 
 Thus the Doctor, with this beautiful and very valuable pre- 
 sent, returned to Sta. Martha. 
 
 The fame of the newly discovered country, so abounding 
 in gold and emeralds, soon spread ; everybody desired to 
 go there, and Don Pietro di Lugo wishing it even more 
 than anybody else, prepared arms, horses, river-craft, and 
 other requisites : having but few soldiers, he sent for more 
 
IIISTOIIY OK llIK Ni;\v woini). 
 
 Ill 
 
 g^ 
 
 icd to 
 more 
 
 ft, and 
 more 
 
 men from Citrthaycna, aiul so started, lie readied the con- 
 fines of Hat^otta's' territory ; but tliosc chiefs having heard 
 of the horrors committed l)y the Spaniards where\er they 
 went, took up arms to resist them and to defend their 
 liberty. \vi finding, after many batth>, that tliey were 
 always beaten, and that ah'eady a great proportion of them 
 were kiUed, a'iil moreover, that daily reinforcements of 
 Christians arrived Irom (Jarthagena and Sta. Martha, their 
 hopes failed of ever being able to expel them from their 
 country, and, overpoweri;d by the fear of being all destroyed, 
 they sought for peace. Thus did the Spaniards obtain the 
 dominion of a great part of that country. Then Don Pietro 
 di Tiiigo, after enduring some skirmishes with the Indians, 
 traversed many villages, burning and robbing, but collect ing 
 a great quantity of gold and emeralds, finally returned to 
 Sill. Martha. 
 
 This province is called by the Spaniards, the kingdom of 
 Nuvca Granata, and Captain George llobledo, in the year 
 forty, erected there the town of Carthayo, giving it this 
 name, because nearly all the conquerors who were there 
 when he arrived, came from Carthaycna. Troui thence 
 they excavated, and still excavate, a great quantity of eme- 
 ralds. The Vt'hari also having heard of this very rich dis- 
 covery, started from Valcnzuula by land, and continuing 
 through wild countries, and crossing the snowy mountains of 
 Sta. Martha with good Indian guides, walked so far as to reach 
 the emerald province. Then, after making some forays, 
 and pillaging some Indian tribes, they returned to their 
 government. The oppressed natives seeing themselves per- 
 secuted in this manner on every side, were unable to sustain 
 so much grief and suffering ; abusing and inveighing 
 against the Christian name, they used to go to the woods to 
 
 ' This chief's name was evidently transferred to the district ; and tlie 
 town built by the Spaniards in 1538, and which is now the capital of 
 New Granada, was called ISanta Fe de Bogota. {7'rans.) 
 
< i-^IMHE^Si^RS!^ ''T 
 
 ryq ^ 'Ji «i< Mi.' » * < im» i rw i ii nm t m i i i > 
 
 112 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 t '\ 
 
 ■ f 
 
 •I l 
 
 ['■ n; 
 
 ii 
 
 hang themselves, the women as well as the men ; and of 
 those who had nothing to tie themselves up with, as they 
 chiefly go naked, the one helped the other to tie their hair 
 round the branches of the trees, and then letting themselves 
 fall, with most bitter lamentations, with howls and shrieks 
 full of terror, and filling the air with their miseries, per- 
 sisted in making away with themselves.' 
 
 The inhabitants of the valley of Timia and the surround- 
 ing places, regard the sun as their principal deity. When 
 they go to war, instead of carrying a standard, they have 
 the bones of some of llieir ancestors, famed in arms, tied on 
 canes, to induce the rest courageously to imitate their vir- 
 tues, and fight valorously against theii enemies. Their 
 arms are lances made of the palm-tree and flint stones. 
 They used to bury their chiefs with their ornaments of gold 
 and emeralds, and with bread and wine ; so that the Span- 
 iards found many rich sepultures. The inhabitants of the 
 banks of the Great River arc Caribbees, as well as those of 
 Sta. Martha. They have arrows stained with herbs ; and 
 before the Spaniards came into their country, they were 
 violent enemies of Bagotta, constantly fighting against each 
 other. They are brave, fierce, revengeful ; when they went 
 to war they carried with them their god Chiappc, who pre- 
 sided over victory; so that before they started they made 
 many sacrifices to him, killing the children of some slave, or 
 that had been captured from the enemy, smearing the 
 bodies over with their blood, and then eating the flesh 
 among them. If they proved victorious, they did the same 
 with the blood c^ their enemies, with very great joy, singing, 
 dancing, and getting drunk. If, on the contrary, they were 
 beaten, they were moody, melancholy, and grieved ; and 
 offered more sacrifices to their idol to propitiate him, and 
 induce him to be favourable to them. 
 
 * We hero find a repetition, in this fine valley, of the horrors which 
 occurred at Ilispauiola, already treated of at page 77. (Trans.) 
 
 
HISTORY OF THE NKW WOKT.l). 
 
 113 
 
 I 
 
 s which 
 
 There would be many more chings to say about these pro- 
 vinces and the habits of tlio people ; but not to be tedious, 
 I will go on to others, lletuvning to my journey : when I 
 arrived at Carthaijena, the ship in which I came being very 
 leaky, she could not proceed for some time. It was neces- 
 sary to wait for another opportunity; so at the end of forty- 
 four days I embarked in a brigantine bound for El Nomhre 
 dc Dios. A\'e always coasted along, and so entered the Gulf 
 of Vrana, and then into the port of Achla, the town being 
 situated two bow-shots from the shore. There were about 
 eight houses inhabited by Spaniards, though when first built 
 there were many more neighbours: but affairs have been 
 and are still more declining, both they and the Indians 
 having nearly come to an end. The greater number have 
 gone to seek better fortune ; and the same has occurred to 
 VAntica del Darien, as well as to other places along that 
 shore. 
 
 Eight days before I entered this port of Aclda^ a ship 
 came there from San Domingo, freighted with mules destined 
 for El Nomhrc dc Dios ; but on reaching the mainland, the 
 pilot not knowing the coast, and thinking he was lower down 
 on the confines of Vcragua, put the ship about, expecting 
 thus to get to Nomhre de Dios ; but was coasting along to- 
 wards Carthagcna, when he reached the entrance of this port. 
 The pilot not knowing where he was, nor where to go, stood 
 gazing at the land undecided, when it happened that a 
 Spaniard walking along the shore, seeing this vessel near the 
 port's entrance, and yet not coming in, feared she wovdd be 
 lost from not knowing the anchorage; so instantly ran home, 
 and catching up a towel, tied it on a lance and returned to 
 
 ^ It is rather difficult to identify the exact site of the once important 
 town and port of Aclila {Hones of Jfen) : it was, however, to the west 
 of the gulf of Vrana, and a little beyond Careta, on the Darien Coast. It 
 will ever be memorable in American history, as having boen the arsenal 
 of the adventurous and able Vasco Nunez, the discoverer of the Pacific 
 Ocean. {'J'rans.) 
 
 15 
 
114 
 
 IIISTOKY OF THE NEW WORM). 
 
 ;: it 
 
 
 1 
 
 1. 
 
 
 f 
 
 I 
 
 '. 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 ' 
 
 < i 
 
 the beach. When those on board saw the signal, they im- 
 mediately went into the port and landed the mules. The 
 merchants consjilering that if the animals were embarked 
 again they might die from being so harassed, determined to 
 send the ship to Ei Nomhrc dc Dios, while they led the mules 
 there by land. This they prepared to do, and laid in a stock 
 of food, sufficient, as they thought, for the journey. The 
 merchants requested me to bo pleased to accompany them, 
 and so wc started, taking with us a Spaniard, not a very ex- 
 perienced guide, and twenty black slaves belonging to the 
 merchants, each carrying a knife in his hand to clear the 
 path for us ; nor could we ever have got on without this 
 precaution, for it was crossed by frequent branches. After 
 having walked very slowly during fourteen days we had 
 accomplished little more than half the journey, and found 
 only the remains of the abandoned huts of the Indian vil- 
 lages which existed when they were prosperous. The mer- 
 chants had already decided that one of the mules must be 
 killed, since their provisions were finished ; when one even- 
 ing about sunset, whilst on the summit of a hill, to the great 
 joy of all we saw a smoke, and the guide asserted that it 
 proceeded from the dwelling of some Indians. Still he was 
 of opinion that wc should not go there until two or three 
 hours after nightfall, and so take them by surprise : alleging 
 this good reason, that if we went immediately, the moment 
 they saw us, thinking that we were certainly going to make 
 them slaves (as used to be the case before the imperial edict 
 came from Spain ordering their freedom), they would escape 
 to the woods, and we should not be able to get any pro- 
 visions. 
 
 We adopted his advice, and the more to insure our not 
 being seen, we descended half way down the hill, and waited 
 there a great part of the night. We then went to the houses, 
 which were four, and very small ; we entered, and the noise 
 awakening the Indians, as soon as they perceived us, they 
 
HISTOllY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 115 
 
 set up a lamentable cry of Guacci, Guacci, a name that 
 sounds like, and means, a small quadruped that prowls about 
 at night, living on prey; and this same name they have 
 given to the Christians ! Having entered the huts, we 
 seized almost all the people that were there, and continued 
 very vigilant Uie rest of the night. I may say that I have 
 never heard so much crying, especially from the women, as 
 I did that night, since they thought for certain that we in- 
 tended to make them all slaves ; they threw their heads 
 about disconsolately, talked grievously together, knocked 
 their heads on the ground, and with their hands and their 
 teeth tore our clothes like wild beasts, and spat in our faces ; 
 and truly, if we liad not prevented them, some of them 
 would have killed themselves. So much so, that at dawn, 
 when their frightful screams subsided, in the best way we 
 could we sought to appease them, and by signs ^ gave them 
 to understand that u e had not gone to their houses for any 
 other purpose but to seek something to eat, so as to pass on 
 with our mules to the other sea; and that for the future they 
 need have no fear, for the king of Castile had commanded 
 that there should be no more slaves. Thus, and with other 
 similar words, we somewhat pacified them ; but they still 
 feared some deceit. 
 
 In this manner we were provided with bread, fish, fruits, 
 and the flesh of wild pigs, which in India always have 
 bristles along the back. In payment we gave them some 
 knives, a little salt, and would have given them soni ; reals, 
 but they would not have these, saying that they knew not 
 what to do with them. So, after resting four days there we 
 resumed our journey, and one of the Indians, of his own 
 good will, accompanied us a long way, until he had put us 
 into the right track. On being asked by us whether there 
 
 ' Signs, in such a case, must have tbrmed a miserably lame medium of 
 communication ; as probably only one party understood what was meant. 
 {Trans.) 
 
116 
 
 Hlt.TOFY OF THE NEW WOULD. 
 
 1' 
 
 
 n 
 
 were any other Indian habitations on our route, he answered 
 No ; for what with those that the Guacci had seized, and 
 others that they had ivilled, they had destroyed all the coun- 
 try. With this he returned home, and we, after eight days 
 hard work, reached Pcmamd. 
 
 Some say tluit the features of this city are almost as grand 
 as those of Venice ; though I think that these authors cannot 
 have seen th(! more than magnificent and most illustrious 
 Venice ; a city so exalted, both as regards its power, its im- 
 perial majesty, its commerce and riches, and also its distin- 
 guished virtue and justice, as not to be inferior to any that the 
 sun shines upon. And, undoubtedly, ten Venetian merchants 
 would suffice to buy up all the merchandize that once a-year 
 is brought here, as well as the town also. And in order that 
 it should not be supposed that I say this to deteriorate from 
 the glory and ambifion of the S])anish nation, I will also 
 give a complete account of £1 Nomhrc de Dios. This town 
 is situated on the Northern Sea. Therefore fourteen or 
 fifteen Spanish vessels, large and small, usually go there, 
 and the greatest may carry eighteen hundred salms [or about 
 three hundred and sixty tons). The cargoes consist of various 
 articles, but principally of wine, flour, biscuit, and the rest of 
 oil, some cloth and silk, besides various other merchandize 
 made in Spain for household use, as well as for supporting 
 human life. And sometimes it has happened, that the market 
 has been so over-stocked, that the articles did not fetch the 
 price which they originally cost in Spain. I have cvcni seen 
 some instances of people having various goods left on their 
 lumds, such as oil, figs, raisins, et cetera, and not being able 
 to obtain any price for them, they have left them with the ca])- 
 tain of the ship for the freight. AVhilst, on the contrary, there 
 have been times when everything was so scarce in consequence 
 of the ships not coming (owing to their fear of the Frcnchj, 
 that every article was sold, as the saying is, for its weight 
 I'ul (hen the ships arriving at El Nonihre dc 
 
 in gold. 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WOULD. 
 
 117 
 
 Dios,' the merchants sent their cargoes in small boats up the 
 river Chiarc, to a place called La Croco., fifteen miles from 
 Panama. There they are given in charge to a Spaniard, who 
 takes care of them till the muleteers gradually carry them to 
 Panama. Then, by means of other ships built there, the 
 greater part are sent on to Peru, and to all the cities in that 
 large kingdom of Peru inhabited by Spaniards, including in 
 the number l\inama and M Nomhrr de Bios. The largest 
 census yet made scarcely gives four thousand persons, so 
 that the reader may easily judge whether Panama can be 
 compared in commerce with the very rich and mo-.t illus- 
 trious city of Venice. There are some Spaniards in these 
 countries, so vain-glorious that they never cease praising 
 themselves, especially those who have (not) been in Italy. 
 Some boast that they have taken such a fortress, and that 
 they have fought in a stockade, and have ahvays been vic- 
 torious. Othe:., with their own means, have taken and 
 sacked a large and powerful town; and boast that one 
 Spaniard is worth four Germans, three Frenchmen, or two 
 Italians : and five hundred of them would doubtless suflice 
 
 ^ Here, again, is sonic geog;rai)hifal confusion, for the above passage 
 gives an inference that L( Nomhre de Dios was the port of the river 
 Chiare, which by resembhuice would seem to be the Chagre : but the 
 port of that name, which became famous for the reception and trans- 
 mission of the riches of Peru to Spain, was situated to the east of Porto- 
 bello. Nomhre de Dios, it will be recollected, was founded by the unfor- 
 tunate Nicuesa in 1510, in the bight which Columbus had named 
 Bastimentos. It seems to have been sadly worried by the Indians, as 
 they were called ; insomuch that, about the year 1584, the inhabitants 
 removed to Porto-bello, as a place better adapted for commerce and 
 safety. That faithful old navigator, Dampier, visiting it nearly a cen- 
 tury afterwards, thus describes it : — " Indeed these parts have undergone 
 great changes in this last age, as well in places themselves as in their 
 owners, and commodities of them ; particularly Xomlre de Dios, a city 
 once famous, and which still retains a considerable name in some late 
 accounts, is now nothing but a name. For I have lain ashore in the 
 place where that city stood ; but it is all <..vergrown with wood, so as to 
 ]e:ive no sign that any town hath been there." {Trans.) 
 
I- 
 
 ill . 
 
 •i 
 
 h.;i 
 
 !; I 
 
 118 
 
 IIISTORV OF THE NEW WOULD. 
 
 to conquer painted Venice, as if it was a straw or woodtni 
 village consisting of some twenty-five or thirty-houses, like 
 those that they have built in India. 
 
 There arc many of them moreover, who, coming from 
 Spain to these Indies, or to the provinces, over which tliey 
 tyrannize, in their inflated vanity [syonsi di vortu) claim 
 descent from the Goths, and Gusmans, and Maurichi. Yet 
 when the truth is discovered, we find that in Spain they 
 were mere tenders of swine or shepherds. 
 
 Connected with this topic, I will here relate what occurred 
 in Italy to a Spaniard named II Montanese. He being, not 
 long before the memorable battle of liavenna, in the magni- 
 cent city of Sienna, in conversation with many persons, nobles 
 as well as plebeians, vaunting, witli proud words, that the vir- 
 tue of the Spanish nation was superior to tliat of every other 
 country, said, that among their many other rare qualities, no 
 one could compare with them in handling the sword. At these 
 words, uttered with unbearable arrogance, a young Iloman, 
 named Giuliano, of the Tarione district, came forward, 
 saying : " Oh, Montanese, if you will agree to fight, body to 
 body, and with similar arms, I should like to prove to thee 
 that there is not a better or more courageous foreign soldier 
 to be found than an Italian." I'his answer, so generous and 
 so modestly given, was unanimously approved by all ; and 
 it was therefore agreed between them that each should 
 select a companion, and that they would fight with Spanish 
 swords, and with capes, not shields. The Montanese chose 
 a young man from Cordova, an acquaintance of his, who 
 handled a sword well. And the Iloman did not fail to 
 obtain II Tiracoscia da Castello, whom he lovingly and 
 pleasingly invited to the honour and glory of the Italian 
 blcod. Almost all Tuscany flocked to this splendid spec- 
 tacle on the appointed day ; and the gentlemen granted 
 them their arena as an undisturbed field, it being formed 
 exactly like a theatre. This battle was fought valiantly. 
 
HISTORY OF TUK NK\\ WORLD. 
 
 Ill) 
 
 and encouraged on both sides ; as they felt that they had 
 bohlly entrusted the public honour to these private hands. 
 The Spaniards, fighting in the style of ancient gladiators, 
 were the first to be exhausted, and to acknowledge them- 
 selves vanquished ; having received seventeen severe 
 wounds, as well on the face as on other parts of the body, 
 and the Italians had received only nine. This battle was 
 not only celebrated joyfully by the people, but was also 
 gloriously and learnedly sung by the poets, of whom there 
 was always a great abundance in Tuscany. 
 
 But to return to the city of Panama: it is situated 
 on a small plain near the margin of the Southern Sea, 
 and, at full moon, the waves frequently reach the houses 
 and enter those built on that side of the town. They are 
 encircled partly by reeds and partly by wood, and nearly all 
 roofed with shingles ; nor, in my time, did they exceed a 
 hundred and twenty.' The port is good and safe, but small; 
 when the sea rises, ships go in ; but when it falls again, 
 tliey go out with only part of their cargo ; for the water is 
 shallow, and recedes so ftir, that two miles of beach remain 
 exposed, and nothing but swamps arc seen. The ships 
 that have gone out, lie a little farther in the ofl^ng ; and 
 both load and unload their cargoes by means of boats. As 
 to the staple articles that are brought to Panama, they con- 
 sist of maize, a little flour from Peru, poultry, and honey. 
 There is abundance of cows, pigs, oranges, lemons, all sorts 
 of cabbages, onions, lettuces, melons, and other produce of 
 the kitchen garden. This province of Panama used to be 
 inhabited by several tribes of Indians, and in all their rivers 
 there was a great deal of gold. But the Spaniards have 
 consumed everything. 
 
 1 Panamh, {abounding loithfish) had suffered from foes and fires, but 
 when we cruized before it in the last year of the Spanish war, it was 
 wonderfully different in aspect to what Benzoni describes ; for it was 
 then a substantially- built city, and its citadel, cathedral, consents, and 
 other public edifices, fully stamped it a vice-regal residence. (I'rans.) 
 
1!>0 
 
 IIISTOIIY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 Ii 
 
 From Panama to Nomhre ih Dios, is a distance of fifty 
 miles. During the first day's journey, the way is tolerably 
 good, but beyond this there arc woods, and they continue 
 through the vest of the journey. Half- way, there is a 
 river, which, owing to its many windings, retards pas- 
 sengers for three hours ; and it has happened to some tra- 
 vellers, being there in the winter, while they were in the 
 midst of this river, that it began to rain desperately, and the 
 water rose to such a degree, that having no place of refuge, 
 they were drowned. I knew a Spaniard who was crossing 
 this river after it had begun to swell, and there remained 
 only the last branch to cross, whilst he was mounted on a 
 mule, with the value of four thousand ducats in gold and 
 jewels. The stream carrying him down, he tied himself to 
 the branch of a tree until he could get to the bank, and so 
 having lost everything, reached Nomhre de Dios in his waist- 
 coat. 
 
 This town is built on the sea-shore, extending from cast 
 to west, in the midst of a wood. The locality is unhealthy, 
 especially in winter, from the great heat and the humidity of 
 the ground ; for a marsh surrounds it on the western side. 
 Consequently a great many people die there ; and as to the 
 houses, they are like those of Panama. When I resided in 
 that province there were fifteen or twenty merchants, wdiole- 
 sale dealers ; all the other houses and shops being occupied 
 by small tradesmen, apothecaries, sailors, inn-keepers, and 
 other useful people. All the merchants who have a house 
 at Nomhre de Dios, have one also at Pajiamd, and live there 
 till they become rich. On the northern side is the port, 
 which is capable of containing many ships. As, to Spanish 
 articles produced by this pestiferous land, there are oranges, 
 lemons, radishes the size of a mouse's tail, >(mie vegetables, 
 and a few small lettuces, not very good. All the rest is like 
 produce of Plspahola island, of Cuba, and of the province 
 of Nicaragua, that is, maize, cazibi, salt meat, pigs, and 
 
 I 
 
 ' 
 
IIISTOIIY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 121 
 
 battatas ; and from Panama they bring cows, if they wish 
 to cat fresh moat; and everytliing else, as I have said before, 
 is brought from Spain. 
 
 Amoi.g the woods on the eastern side, not very far from 
 Nomhre dc Bios, there are numbers of bhvck runaways, who 
 have killed many Spaniards sent by the governors of the 
 province to destroy them. In those woods, near some 
 streams, they found several houses inhabited by Indians, 
 and made friends with them. They throw poisoned arrows, 
 and often many of them go to the Pan; route, and kill as 
 many travellers as fall into their hand ., cruelly cutting them 
 in pieces. In winter, owing to contrary Avinds, the boa'.s 
 that go to the river Chiurc are a long time in reaching 
 La Croco ,- yet by them the merchants send some articles to 
 Panama, and they occasionally meet with these outlaws, 
 who plunder all the goods, leaving the blacks who lead the 
 mules, unless they like to go with them. And this is the 
 substance of the treaties and contracts between the city of 
 Panama and Nomhre do Bios. 
 
 As I previously promised to give you an entire descrip- 
 tion of the intensely sterile country of Veragiia, this seems 
 to me the most appropriate place, as we are close to it ; so 
 that the reader may be convinced of the great difference 
 there is in speaking of a place from hearsay, and from one's 
 own experience. 
 
 In the year of our salvation fifteen hundred and forty, 
 Diego Gutierrez, of Madrid, was appointed by the emperor, 
 governor of Nuem Carthago, in Costa-Rica, a very rich 
 province ; and he left Spain accordingly. He arrived at 
 Nombre dc Bios, and then in a fregata, or barge, by the 
 canal he went to Nicaragua, to collect men and enter on his 
 government. But Roderigo de Contreras was still ruler of 
 that province, and in consequence of some discord that arose 
 between them he continued there two years longer, until, 
 through the bishop's kind intercession, they became friends. 
 
 IG 
 
100 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW -NVOTlLn. 
 
 ; I 
 
 , < 
 
 Thus Contrcras came to a consultation with Diego Gutierrez 
 on the government, and he made known to liim what a ter- 
 rible country it was, impossible to be conquered, from being 
 covered with impenetrable woods aiul ruu^ged mountains ; so 
 that not only they could not go there on horseback, but in 
 many parts men on foot could scarcely penetrate into it : 
 that all the captains who had led men there, what with 
 those Avho died of hunger, and others who were killed by 
 the Indians, had lost nearly all their followers. If he 
 (Diego), however, was determined to go there, he would 
 advise liim to keep a party of a hundred Spaniards always 
 on the sea-shore ; and three or four times a-year, in the 
 summer, to make a foray, sometimes in one direction and 
 sometimes in another, pillaging those people, who were all 
 very rich, possessing a great quantity of gold; and that he 
 would oblige himself, on condition of sharing in the spoils, 
 to supply him with all the food requisite, according to the 
 Indian manner of living. To these words Don Diego 
 answered : — " That the emperor had conferred that govern- 
 ment on him that he might people it, and not for him to 
 pillage it ; and if fortune had been adverse to others, he 
 trusted in God that it would be more propitious to him. 
 That on no account would he abandon the enterprise, nor 
 did he wish for any companionship." So with this deter- 
 mination he prepared himself, bought some maize, pigs, 
 salt, honey, poultry, and other things ; and then left Gra- 
 nata with sixty Spaniards, and embarked in two brigantines. 
 They went by the scolatoio (drain or canal) by which he had 
 come, soon reached the sea-shore, and going fifty miles along 
 the coast eastward (or rather S. by E,), entered his govern- 
 ment by the river Sucre. Six miles from tbo sea, he found 
 some uninhabited houses on the bank of the said river, so 
 went on shore and settled himself as well as he could. Then 
 some chiefs came to visit him, and presented him M'ith seven 
 hundred ducats of alloyed gold. The governor received 
 
 
 ...*i 
 
 JT-'v 
 
IIISTOKY OF TIIK NEW WORM). 
 
 U8 
 
 tlirniM-itli mucli kindness; and althoiigli neither one side 
 nor tlie other could understand a .singk; word, he wislicd 
 them to eoniprehend that lie luid come there to teach them 
 how to save their souls. He then oavc to each a paternoster 
 of glass beads, some jingles {sonaylie), bells, and other things. 
 He next asked them where they obtained their gold, and 
 they told him they got it from very distant countries ; that 
 It was found in certain rivers which descended from very 
 steep mountains. They now departed to their respective 
 homes, and sent some of their vassals with fish, fruits, and 
 wild boar's flesh dried at the fire.' 
 
 The governor seeing that many days had passed, that his 
 provisions brought from Nicaragua were diminishing, and 
 that, it being winter, he could make no progress, began to 
 ask the caciques for a supply of maize for a few days, be- 
 cause shortly he wished to go farther on. Ihit although 
 there was nothing that they wished for more than tliL, 
 thinking that if the Christians had nothing to eat they 
 must leave their country, under pretence of friendship 
 to the governor they sent him a little. The soldiers, 
 however, feeling the want of food, and that they were 
 leading a miserable life, one night all agreed to run away ; 
 and by land along the sea-shore, reached the scolatoio 
 or drain. In two days they embarked on board two ves- 
 sels coming from Nomhrc de Dlos, and so returned to 
 Nicaragua. 
 
 The governor finding that his soldiers had deserted, and 
 that there were remaining with him only his nephew, four 
 servants, and a sailor, had a hole dug in the earth, put into 
 it several jars full of salt and some honey, and embarked in a 
 
 i This meat—" scccato al fuoco"— is an early mention of the huccan- 
 ing of those days, when the Spanish matadores or monteros hunted the 
 wild bulls and boars for their hides and Hesh, the latter being cured by 
 roasting and smoking. ITencc arose the name buccaneers, which, about 
 Kiao, became the soubri(^uct of those bold piratical freebooters who 
 ravaged the Spaniards so fearfully. {Trans.) 
 
124 
 
 IIISTOUY OK rilK NKVV WOULD. 
 
 )< 
 
 frpfjnta (or river craft), in wliicli he went down to the sea- 
 shore, Avith the intention of returning to Nirarrrr/ua. IJiit 
 just as he was puttinj^ out to sea a brigantine entered, com- 
 manded by (/ai)tuin IJariento, hvden with ])eoi)lc and ammu- 
 nition from Nivarayiia to yielp him. In eonse([uenro of tliis 
 succour the governor remained, and sent the brigantine to 
 Nomhre dc Dios, appointing his nephew, Alon/o di Pisa, to 
 command it : he gave him the caci([U(''s presents, and com- 
 missioned him to eoUect as many men as he couUl. On his 
 arrival at Nombrc dc Dios, the re])ort was spread abroad of 
 a very rich country ; thus lie collected twenty-seven men, 
 and I being in that town at the time would be one of them, 
 although I was reproved by an old Sjjaniard, who had been 
 in the province of Cdrlhagcua, and Sta. Mdrfa, and other 
 parts during fifteen years, lie advised mc on no account to 
 allow myself to be induced to undertake such an enterprise, 
 and not to believe anything the captain said, for they care 
 not to assert one thing for another to carry their point ; and 
 even if my wish was to go, at least to wait for another oppor- 
 tunity, thus seeing how matters Avent on. But as I was 
 young and strong, and felt a sort of high aspiration, desir- 
 ous also of enriching myself, I would not attend to his 
 words ; so determined to go. AVe started, and in four days 
 reached the mouth of the river Sucre ; yet there being a 
 heavy sea, and not being able to enter without great dan- 
 ger, we turned back and scudded to the Zoroharo islands, 
 which are near the confines of Nneca Carthago and the pro- 
 vince of Vcragua. If this is a bad country, that is indeed 
 a worse — si e molto poggio. These are small islands, and the 
 Indians Avho used to inhabit them have retired to the moun- 
 tains on the mainland. 
 
 In consequence of contrary winds, the month of June 
 being the beginning of winter, we remained there seventy- 
 two days, and in all this time Ave did not see four hours of 
 sunshine. Almost constantly, and especially in the night, 
 
 
HISTOKV OK IMF, NKU WOIU.I). 
 
 125 
 
 tlicro was so much hr.ivy rain, and tliun(l(>r and lij^ditning, 
 tlmt it seemed as if both heaven and earth wouhl l)c de- 
 stroyed. A bhick man and two Spaniards were struck by 
 liuflitninjj^ in the brif^antine, and killed by it, and the rest of 
 the crew were greatly ahirmed/ The captain of the vessel 
 npproaclied the mainhmd, witli the intention of landing 
 wherever he saw any Indian habitations, to obtain provi- 
 sions, but after seeking on foot for eight days, without find- 
 ing anything save woods and swamps, and mountains that 
 were astonishing even to the eye, he returned along the 
 coast with very great labour ; scarcely eating anything but 
 large snails, and some wikl fruits that are found in those 
 woods, on whieh the apes feed, who are continually leaping 
 about the trees. He led us to where the governor was, and 
 the brigantine did not enter the harbour for about twenty 
 days alter us. The governor immediately sent it back to 
 Sombre do Dios to collect more men, and wc rested a few 
 days. Meanwhile we caught a great many turtles of inmicnse 
 size, for during four months they flock to the beach to lay 
 their eggs, and they arc consequently found there in im- 
 mense numbers ; like crocodiles, they lay them in the sand, 
 and there the intense heat of tlie sun hatches the young 
 tiu'tles. Wc took off the shells, and collecting the fat, tried 
 it down, and filled large earthen jars. AVe also salted some 
 of the flesh, but it soon spoiled ; though when fresh it was 
 very wholesome and excellent eating. The first day that 
 we entered the port, the governor graciously placed me at 
 his table, and took pleasure in conversing with me. The 
 greater part of his conversation was about gold, and silver, 
 
 * It will l)C rccolloctod huw greatly ColumLus was assaultcil liy gules, 
 and thunder and lightning, at this very spot ; when he and his men were 
 struggling against all the cleraents and dreading them all, the rain 
 threatening another universal deluge the while. Among other meteoro- 
 logical i)henomcna related hy Ferdinand Colon, was a waterspout so 
 dangerous, that if it had not been dispersed by saying the gospel of St. 
 John, they had certainly been sunk ! {Trans.) 
 
T«'^ •* 
 
 126 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NKW WORLD. 
 
 |i r 
 
 ■I 
 
 and tlic wars, and the cruelties inflicted on wretched Italy, 
 and especially on Milan. But when he perceived that such 
 subjects "Nvere disagreeable to me, he took a dislike to me, 
 and never would bear the sight of me after. 
 
 Having obtained these stores, the governor started in his 
 frcgata, accompanied by four Indian boats and all his sol- 
 diers. Following the river for about thirty miles from the 
 port we soon entered the boundaries of Sucre, and tlierc he 
 occupied a house belonging to the chief of that district, 
 and which was for his recreation when he came to this river 
 to fish. 
 
 A woU-rciorod huiisfl in the prDviuoo o( Sucre. 
 
 This liouse was shaped like an egg, in length about forly- 
 live paces, and nine in breadth. It was encircled with 
 reeds, covered with palm branches remarkably well inter- 
 laced ; there were also a few other houses, but of a common 
 sort. The governor called this town St. Francis, because 
 we reached it on that saint's day. Then the chief of Sucre 
 and Chiuppa, and other small chieftains, came to visit him, 
 
 ' 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW AVORLD, 
 
 127 
 
 but presented him only Avith some fruits. The governor 
 accepted of tlicm amiably, but was very much surprised why 
 they did not bring him any gold ; and through a Spanish 
 interpreter, who had had some intercourse with the Indians, 
 and had learnt their language tolerably, told them that he 
 had come to reveal to them something that would be of great 
 consolation to them. When the dinner hour arrived he 
 invited them to dine Avith him, and seated them at his table, 
 together Avith the priest and the interpreter. The Indian 
 chiefs eat very little, for there Avas nothing but foAvls and 
 salt pork, a sort of food that they did not like at all ; so that 
 the greater part of Avhat Avas put before them they threw to 
 their servants, Avho Avcre near the table seated on the around: 
 and even they, laughing at such victuals, thrcAv it to the 
 dogs. AVhen the banquet Avas finished, he began to discuss 
 matters of faith Avith his guests, and spoke in the folloAving 
 tenor : " I am come to your country, my very dear brethren 
 and friends, to raise you out of the idolatry in Avhich, by the 
 inducement of the false devil, you have to the present hour 
 been shackled. I intend to teach you the true path to the 
 salvation of your souls, and that Jesus Christ, the son of 
 God, our Saviour, descended from heaven and came down to 
 earth to redeem mankind. That priest has come from Spain 
 for no other purpose than to teach you matters of faith in the 
 Christian religion, and to prepare your souls to submit your- 
 selves to so divine a laAV, and to obedience to the emperor 
 Charles V, king of Spain and monarch of the Avorld." On 
 hearing this discourse the Indian chiefs ansAvered not a Avord ; 
 they only boAvcd their heads as if they assented to every- 
 thing ; they then rose from the table and Avent to their 
 liomes.^ 
 
 The folloAving day the governor sent a Spaniard, accom- 
 
 ^ Such speeches as the above, even if comprehended, coukl have been 
 but little relished by peopk; who were already in possession of a religion 
 Avhich taught the immortality of the soul, and a future state of rewards 
 
 i 
 
I> I I 
 
 128 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 panicd by two Indians, to ask two caciques who resided on 
 the opposite side of the river, to come directly to see him, ' 
 on his faith, without fear of any sort. They came, though 
 unwillingly, and immediately the governor made them go 
 into the store-room, and putting a chain round their necks 
 had them led into his room, and there, near his bed, in an 
 instant had them bound ; where, with some leaves under 
 them and a block of wood as their pillow, according to their 
 custom, they slept on the ground. These two caciques were 
 the same who presented him with seven hundred gold ducats 
 at the commencement of his government, as has already been 
 described. Then he began to ask for the salt and the hon^y 
 that he had left buried when he Avent down to the sea-sh^ic ; 
 for he had sent to get it, and had not found it. They 
 answered that they knew nothing about it, and kept no ac- 
 count of things in which they abounded. These answers 
 did not satisfy the governor, wherefore he threatened them 
 by saying that he would in one way or other be repaid; so 
 much so, that the youngest, Camachire, gave him two thou- 
 sand gold ducats, but of base alloy, worked into the shape of 
 boars, tigers, fish, birds, and other sorts of animals. The 
 governor seeing but little gold in proportion to what he 
 wished for, had a great fire made, and leading only Cama- 
 chire there, placed a great basket before him, and fiercely 
 threatened that if, in four days, he did not give him as much 
 gold as would fill that basket six times, he would burn him. 
 The poor cacique therefore fearing death, promised to do 
 it, and sent some of his slaves to collect it. And because in 
 those countries of India the inhabitants generally wash 
 themselves two or three timcf a-day, a servant was entrusted 
 by the governor to lead the cacique every day to bathe, and 
 
 and puuishmeuts ; and this want of understanding their fellow-men, 
 proved how little the Spaniards understood the first principles of coloniza- 
 tion. Hence the needless havoc of human life, and the wreck of the 
 
 New \Vurld which followed. {Trans.) 
 
.JCJUUlWtv 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW AVOKLD. 
 
 1S9 
 
 on one occasion, not fastening {nun scrrando bene) the place 
 well on his return, the cacique escaped tlie following night. 
 The governor was so mortified at this that he fell ill, and 
 was full of spite Avhenevcr he saw his empty basket after- 
 wards. 
 
 The other chiefs of Sucre and Chiuppa^ seeing the gover- 
 nor's ill-treatment of his prisoners, burnt the houses, cut 
 down the fruit trees, carried away the grain from the fields, 
 and destroyed the country ; after which they retired to the 
 mountains. Affairs were going on thus unfavourably, and 
 the governor, though still somewhat ailing, yet did not cease 
 from repeating his attacks on the other cacique, named 
 Cocori, who continued in chains, and from whom he de- 
 manded a certain quantity of gold. After having contested 
 with him for many days, during which the governor threat- 
 ened several times to put him to death, Cocori persisted that 
 he had none of the metal to give him. At last he told his 
 prisoner, that if he did not collect the required quantity of 
 gold, he should be torn to pieces and eaten by the dogs. 
 The cacique on hearing these words, not at all intimidated, 
 accused him of being a liar, for he had often threatened 
 to kill him and then had not done so ; and he declared 
 that he wished to die rather than live in such misery, bound 
 as he kept him : he said he had come to visit the governor, 
 depending on his proffered faith, thinking he should be well 
 treated instead of being so dishonoured : and finally, that he 
 could not imagine how Christians could be such a genera- 
 tion of vipers, committing such great evil wherever they 
 ■went; he only wondered how the earth could bear them. 
 The governor was greatly astonished on hearing this Ian- 
 gauge ; and o:dy answered that he kept him confined 
 because he was a thief, having stolen his salt and his 
 honey. 
 
 During the progress of these events, the governor had 
 sent a boat with six Indians down to the sea-shore to one of 
 
 17 
 
r i 
 
 130 
 
 HISTORY OF THK NEW WORLD, 
 
 
 n 
 
 his servants to get some cross-bows, sliiekls, and other stores ; 
 but when they had obtained these articles, the Indians 
 made off with the boat and all, nor were they ever heard of 
 after.' Diego Gutierrez seeing that he had thus lost his 
 boat, that the Indians hati escaped, that the brigantinc did 
 not return, and that, through want of provisions, the greater 
 part of his soldiers wished to run away, became melancholy 
 and discontented, and having no other remedy, determined 
 almost like a desperate man to advance inland. He thus 
 commanded every one to prepare, and shared the little grain 
 he had amongst us all ; he sent the sick men down to the sea- 
 shore, and a servant of his with them, to desire Captain 
 Alonzo di Pisa to follow him [iqi the ricer), informing him 
 that; as a clue, he would leave a cross wherever he went. 
 When we were ail on the point of marching, and the cacique 
 saw that, as a mark of contempt, the governor intended to 
 take him and some of his Indians with him laden with 
 luggage, he was so grieved that he began to cry like a child ; 
 and he told onr chief that if he would liberate him, he 
 would give him a good quantity of gold at the end of four 
 days. Diego would have very willingly done this if it had 
 not been for some of his suite, who dissuaded him, saying 
 that the cacique was a liar, and that if they delayed starting 
 there would be no provision left to advance with, and that 
 he could at any time be ransoncd ; they urged that it Avould 
 be better that same night to go and pillage the cacique's tribe, 
 and so get provisions, besides some Indians to serve them, 
 than to wait for the performance of his promise. But the 
 governor would not consent to this, lest the Spaniards whom 
 he might send there should run away. Thus ^VQ started, 
 and scarcely had we risen above the houses, than I guessed 
 what would become of us, so remarked to a Spaniard — " AVe 
 arc going to the sliamblcs ;" and he in answer said as follows : 
 
 ^ By mai j)ii) se n'hehbe nuooa IJciizoni docs not iiican that they were 
 lost at sea, but that the Spaniards never heard of them again. {Trii,i-'<.) 
 
 
HISTORY OF THE NKW WORLD. 
 
 131 
 
 <f 'in 
 
 
 Thou art one of those whom we intend shall have a prin- 
 cipality in spite of thyself," 
 
 AV'^e marched five or six days without seeing any habita- 
 tion whatever ; always through woods and over mountains, 
 and of the latter we proceeded down one the descent of which 
 continued fifteen miles, and in some parts was so steep that 
 we had to hold by the roots of the trees in order not to fiill. 
 "We then reached a large and rapid river, and on its banks 
 found some uninhabited houses that must have been occu- 
 pied by hunters, for they contained numerous bones and 
 skulls of deer, tigers {Felis onca ?), and other animals. We 
 rested there two days, there being a good quantity of the 
 mcnmnci apple ; and near a rivulet, many roots resembling 
 those in Esjx/nola island from which the caztbi are pre- 
 pared, but well flavoured, so that simply roasted among the 
 embers they do no harm. AVith these we pacified our hun- 
 ger, and, proceeding onwards, in three days came to a spot 
 where two pathways met. Not knowing which to follow, 
 the governor asked an Indian in our train, which it was best 
 to pursue in order to reach some Indian villacjes : and when 
 he answered that he did not know, the negro ^ slaves were 
 ordered to kill him ; which they did accordingly. The 
 governor said this was the way to treat bad men: and then 
 put a similar question to the cacique, who answering also 
 that he did not know, Diego G uticrrcz ordered the blacks 
 to do the same by him. When the cacique saw that they 
 •svQi-c going towards him, he calndy set down his load and 
 bowed his head. Upon this the blacks were ordered not to 
 strike, but to let him live. 
 
 Three Spaniards were left in this spot ; for, exhausted 
 with hunger, they could no longer stand on their feet ; 
 wherefore they were afterwards killed by the Indians. In 
 the evening the governor, seeing that we had nothing to eat, 
 
 ' The author's word is mori, Vmt Italians give this epithet +o every- 
 thing black ; sec KUte, p, 114. {Tmas.) 
 
j ' 
 'l 
 
 1 
 
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEW WO" 1,1). 
 
 and being unwilling to give any part of what he had, issued 
 orders for the dogs to be killed ; nul that each man should 
 take his share. I, for my part, made a present of my share, 
 for it was full of worms. I then went to Don Diego, in the 
 hope that he would provide me with something; but he told 
 me to go and cat of the roots of trees, whereat one of the 
 Spaniards who heard him, said : " Sir governor, since you 
 will not share the good and the bad with us, go and make 
 war by yourself." On the strength of these and other words, 
 and at the intercession of the captain, however unwillingly, 
 he gave up a piece of cheese weighing three pounds, and it 
 was divided into thirty-four shares ; we were thus pacified 
 for the evening. But that same night the governor ordered 
 his cook to boil him a piece of pork, and it being my turn to be 
 sentry till four o'clock in the morning, I walked about near 
 the fire, till finding that everybody was asleep, I quickly 
 took a piece of wood, cut it to a point with my knife, and 
 dipping it into the pipkin stuck the piece of pork. I then 
 immediately tied it up in my knapsack, and returned to 
 keep watch at my po^t, better pleased than if I had found a 
 great treasure. AVhen the governor knew of his loss, although 
 he was a good deal annoyed, he only said it was now time to 
 abandon the pipkin. I, in the meauM'hile, enjoyed my pork, 
 although it was rather salt, instead of eating the roots of 
 trees. 
 
 In two days we reached the entrance to a wood, and saw 
 an Indian who was watching us from behind a tree ; and as 
 soon as he detected us, he ran off like a deer to warn the chief 
 of the district of our approach. Consequently the next day at 
 dawn, a multitude of Indians advanced upon us. Don Diego 
 being on the side on which the enemy assailed us, was the 
 first killed. Advancing with horrid howls and screams, and 
 noises with the buccinus — shell and drums, all painted red 
 and black, adorned with feathers, and golden trinkets round 
 their necks, together with other things, as practised by all 
 
HISTORY Ol' TIIK NEW W0RI,1). 
 
 1 .->.> 
 
 those Incliun nations when they go to Avar, the battle L:\gau. 
 I, wishing to take up my sword and shield, stumbled with 
 one foot into the helmet of my companion, who had overlooked 
 it from some leaves having fiillen on it. I put it on my 
 head, and by the grace of God it saved my life through that 
 conflict; for the Indians threw stones with such force, and hit 
 it in so many places, that it looked as if a smith had ham- 
 mered it all over. Having fought on both sides for half a 
 quarter of an hour,^ during Avhich wc killed and wounded 
 a great many Indians, wc made them turn their shoulders ; 
 but fresh reinforcements coming ap and renewing the strife, 
 and the greater part of us being more exhausted with hunger 
 than with fighting, wc could not resist the great midtitudc 
 of infuriated enemies, and were mostly soon killed M'ith 
 stones and sticks, and speared through with palm lances. I 
 found myself alone with our captain, and soon a stone was so 
 well aimed at him out of the wood, that I saw him fall dead. 
 I now retreated behind a large tree, and was standing there 
 stunned, not knowing what to do, when two bleeding Span- 
 iards came up to me and said : " What are you doing there, 
 Milanese ? as all our party are killed, come to the path by 
 which Ave marched here, and let us endeavour to save our 
 lives." So I preceded them, and Ave passed through a 
 group of twenty-five Indians, all chiefs, each only holding 
 one lance and a mantle draAvn up to one shoulder ; and they 
 Avere not painted at all like the others. One of them thrcAV 
 his lance at my throat, but it did not hurt me much, for I 
 Avore a jacket Avadded Avith cotton. ThusAvc passed on; and 
 not far distant, on the summit of a hill, Ave found our priest, 
 Avho had fled Avith tAvo soldiers at the commencement of the 
 fi'dit. In tAvo hours more Ave met Captain Alonzo di Pisa, 
 Avho Avas coming Avitn tAventy-four Spaniards, according to 
 
 1 This must have been sharp work, l)ut the time of the conflict seems 
 very short : Benzoui's words are expressly — ^^ per /■i/'ulio di iue:o <[uarto 
 d'lwrar {Tra.,.s.) 
 
I! , 
 
 13 i 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WOULD. 
 
 the governor's orders ; and immediately we were overtaken 
 by about a hundred Indians, armed witli the swords, shiehl-s, 
 and cross-bows that they had taken from our sL^in. They 
 danced and leaped, and called out in bad Spanish : " Take 
 gold. Christians, take gold ;" but as soon as they saw our 
 numbers, they turned their backs and fled. 
 
 AVith very great labour and danger we reached the sea- 
 shore. The two Spaniards who had survived the battle with 
 me remained at the foot of a mountain, not being able to 
 walk on account of their wounds. Then two young men 
 joined us, who had hidden themselves in the wood when the 
 enemy assailed us, and remained there till the Indians had 
 gone away. When they left their hiding place they found 
 that the na'ives had cut off and taken away the governor's 
 head, feet, and hands ; they had done the same by the two 
 negroes, and they had rifled all the rest and thrown their 
 bodies into the rivulet. They had also carried away every- 
 thing except the oil and the soap. Of our people thirty-four 
 died, and six of us survived ; but of the enemy a great many 
 more were slain, for they were estimated at four thousand. 
 It is true that many of them were very timid, and even 
 cowardly ; and if we had but possessed four horses the 
 Indians would not have fought, as they dread this very 
 spirited animal more than all the arms that the Spaniards 
 have used against them. So that they say publicly, it is not 
 the valour of the Christians, nor their arms, artillery, lances, 
 swords, or cross-bows that have subdued them, but the fear, 
 the flight, inspired by their horses. And we know this by 
 experience, for in every place where the Spaniards have been 
 unaccompanied by horses, they have been vanquished by the 
 Indians : but when they first went to Mexico, the natives 
 fancied that the man and the horse were united in one.^ 
 
 ^ Such a notion prevailed before the cxpeditiou of Cortcz to Mexico ; 
 for it favoured the forces of Columbus in his second voyage, when he 
 encuuiitorcd Caunabo in 1405. These horses, considering their trials, 
 
HISTORY OF TIIK NEW WORLn. 
 
 135 
 
 Already my readers may see what was the leading feeding 
 in the Spaniards in conquering these Indian nations, al- 
 though they praise themselves so much in their histories as 
 having always fought for the Christian faith. But experi- 
 ence clearly shows, especially in these countries, that they 
 fought from avarice ; and that this is the truth, is shewn hy 
 the great variety of captains and governors that were sent out; 
 for wherever they did not find riches they would not stay ; 
 and among so many I will name a few. 
 
 
 First, Antonio Sedegno entered the gulf of Paria, with 
 upwards of seven hundred Spaniards, in search of gold. 
 After hunting through three provinces without finding the 
 riches he expected, he would not remain in the country : 
 he consequently fell ill from vexation, and from despon- 
 dency more than from disease, ended his days ; for out of 
 the great number of soldiers that he took with him, only 
 fifty-five returned to the gulf. 
 
 Fernando di Soto, with five hundred Spaniards, was ap- 
 pointed governor of Fiorita (Florida), which province was 
 discovered by Juan Ponce de Leon : and he gave it this 
 name because he arrived there at Easter, or the day of the 
 Resurrection. Soto Avent scouring about through many 
 districts, making sure that he should find some very great 
 treasure ; and having seen several Indians wearing golden 
 trinkets, he inquired where they got them, and they said 
 from a very distant country. The governor thinking that 
 they said this only to induce him to quit them (as they 
 already knew what the Christians were in quest of), began 
 to torment some of them to induce a confession of where 
 they kept it, and where it was to be found. Amongst other 
 cruelties that he inflicted on these people, he seized fifteen 
 
 must have behaved wonderfully well. They were probably the famous 
 Andalusians, suitable from being of a moderate size, well-knit, docile, 
 and of ready paces. {Tranx.) 
 
u • 
 
 13G 
 
 HISTORY or THE NENV WOUII). 
 
 ¥ I 
 
 V 
 
 1' -I 
 
 ill 
 
 rnclqii;''S, ami tlircatoncd to burn tluni If they did not 
 slicw him ■whence they ohtained the gohl ; M'h<.i'c'upon those 
 miserable rjU!n, surprised and frightened, hardly kno^inf^ 
 ■what they said, promised in tlie rourse of eii^ht days to lead 
 him to a place where he would find it in great abundance. 
 But after marching upwards of twelve days without s(>cing 
 any signs of gold, the governor, becoming bitterly enraged 
 against them, had their hands cut of" and turned them adrift. 
 Soon after, one of the principal chief of ti.'at province came 
 to sec the governor, bringing him a present of tAvo parrots 
 and son?n feathers ; and then inipiired \\ ho he was, whence 
 lie came, and Avhat he was seeking, doing so much evil. 
 'J'he governor answered through an interpreter, what all the 
 other captains used to say : — " 'I'hat h^- was a Christian, son 
 of (jiod the creator of heaven and earth, and that he had 
 come to teach him his divine law." But to this the chief 
 replied : — " if thy God commands thee to go to the country 
 of strangers, robbing and l)urning, killing and doing every 
 sort of evil, we give thee to understand that avc arc not 
 inclined to believe in him, noi even in his law."' Having 
 said this, he went away. 'Jlicn the governor i)roceeded, 
 sometimes in one direction, sometimes in another, hoi)ing to 
 find very rich mines, without earing to build a town. At 
 the end of five years he died of a flux of blood, thus losing 
 his life and his thirst of gold together, as avcII as the trea- 
 sure tliat he had got fron"". sacking Atahallda in Peru. 
 
 Pamphilo de Narvae/' went with six hundred Spaniards to 
 the river of Palms, on the same coast of La Fioriid, a hun- 
 dred miles to the north of Panccclto. Hastening on shore 
 with the half of the people (though not in the place he 
 
 \ 
 
 \\ 
 
 il 
 
 ^ The colleague of Pamphilo dc Narvacz, on one expedition, was the 
 humane Clerigo Las Casas ; yet on that occasion occurred one of the 
 most causeless massacres that happened in the New World. The Clerigo 
 himself records it : and the impression left is, that the (Spanish brutes 
 were ileshing their swords for sport ! {Trans.) 
 
HISTORY OF TIIK NEW WORM), 
 
 187 
 
 ,1 
 
 thought, owing to a mistake of the principal pilot of the 
 expedition), and not finding any .signs of gold, he did not 
 care to build, so sent the ships with the rest of his men to 
 seek for the said river. But a violent storm soon ensuing, 
 the vessels were blown on shore, and nearly all the Span- 
 iards were drowned. The rest went prowling about those 
 districts during several years, and from want of food twelve 
 of them eat each other ! Finally, out of the six hundred 
 with which he started, only ten were seer, to return ; who on 
 reaching Mexico said publicly that they had healed many 
 sick by only breathing on them, and moreover, that they had 
 resuscitated three dead men. But their holincsses must 
 forgive me, if I would sooner believe that they hcid killed 
 four live men than that they had resuscitated one half-dead 
 man — ten mczo morto. 
 
 What shall we say of Fernando Cortez, when he went to 
 conquer New Spain, that after having entered Mexico with 
 the good will of king Montezuma, he had to go against 
 Narvaez, who had arrived at Vera Cruz with nine hundred 
 Spaniards, by order of Diego Velasqucs, governor of the 
 island of Cuba. He was to overthrow him {F. Cortez) or 
 thrust him out of the kingdom, because ho had not reported 
 on his success, or on the country newly found, although he 
 was only a lieutenant sent by him ( Velasquez) on that enter- 
 prise. Cortez having thus to quit Mexico, left Captain 
 Pedro d'Alvarado with two hundred and fifty Spaniards to 
 guard the town, and ail their property ; but one day, while 
 they were looking at a great number of Indians of all ranks 
 dancing and singing, the Spaniards seeing that in honour of 
 this feast the Indians were adorned with a great variety of 
 jewels, they were seized with such an unconquerable rage 
 for plunder, that, without any fear of shame, Alvarado with 
 a party of his men assailed them, and moGl cruelly wounded 
 and killed a great many, and tore off the jewels they were 
 wearing. This occasioned the Indians to rebel, and they 
 
 18 
 
138 
 
 IIISTOKY OK TIIK NKW WOIll.I). 
 
 ti. 
 
 killed a good portion of the invaders.' Cortcz havinti; heard 
 these had tidings after the defeat of Anaruiz (Ndroiifis), 
 returned to Mexieo, hut in a short time the Indians chased 
 him again from tlu; town with some loss on his side, 'liic 
 natives themselves with a stone killed ^lontezuma, who was 
 standing with Cortez ; they therefoie appointed another 
 king named (iualttimoc. lUit after Cortez had gone through 
 many labours, and had subjected many nations, h(' received 
 large succours from Spain ; whereui)on, accompanied by a 
 great multitude of Indians also, he returned to Mexico, 
 besieged it, and took it at the end of three months. 
 
 The soldiers, who were delighted with the hope of finding 
 some enormous treasure, and of all becoming very rich, were 
 wretchedly deceived ; for the Indians had thrown all the gold 
 and silver they had into the lake ; wherefore the Spaniards, 
 being exasperated, began to torment the natives to reveal their 
 gold, and maimed and killed many, without ever being able 
 to discover it. Cortez was very much surprised also at not 
 finding the gold or silver that he had left in the town when he 
 had to evacuate it. Nor could they hear anything of Monte- 
 zuma's treasure, which was famed to be very large ; or of 
 that which was kept in the temples for the service of the 
 gods. And seeing that neither high nor low jicople would 
 acknowledge where those riches were, Cortez seized the king 
 and his secretary, and subjected them both to torture, think- 
 ing in this way to make them confess ; but they would never 
 reveal anything ; wherefore the secretary was most cruelly 
 burnt by slow degrees, he all the time exclaiming severely 
 — cofi grandissima lainmtatioiic — against the wickedness of 
 the Christians, and died in six hovirs. 
 
 Cortez, now convinced ihat the king also would sooner let 
 
 ^ This was nearly the ruin of the Sj)aniarels, Ihilikc Cortez, Alvarado 
 was merely a sturdy soldier, without mind ; who tiiought hy a sudden 
 onslaught to intimidate the 'vhole population. Jiut it would have gone 
 hard with him, had not Montezuma generously {incoiDiidei'ateli/ ?) inter 
 i'ered in his favour. {Trans.) 
 
msTOHV OK THK NKW WOUM). 
 
 l.'JU 
 
 ';ir(l 
 
 l.'lSCtl 
 
 'The 
 
 was 
 
 tther 
 
 DUgh 
 
 ivcd 
 
 by a 
 
 ixico, 
 
 
 hiiusoll" be killed than reveal, ceased to torment him ; but he 
 soon nfferwiird^ pur him into confin(;mcnt, and carried liini 
 about with hiiu into several of the provinees ; and one day 
 sent liim out to be hung, because an Indian accused him of 
 being concerned in a conspiracy to murder Cortcz and all 
 the Spaniards who were with him. Or, as others say, he had 
 his prisoner nuirdercd only because he was tired of watching 
 him, and therefore had the king accused of all this treason. 
 And as to having tortured him, Cortez sought to excuse him- 
 self by saying that he had done it at the instigation of JNIontc- 
 zuma's treasurer, who told him that Qualttimoc knew where 
 the treasure was ; and also for the purpose of increasing the 
 public revenue.' But whether these actions that I have re- 
 lated, and many others that might be described, are the 
 actions of men fighting for the holy faith, let any man judge 
 for himself. 
 
 Returning to Niiovo Cartaijo. As soon as we reached 
 the shore in the manner before described, we tarried there 
 several days, on account of the sea running high. While we 
 remained in that place I received a curious favour from a 
 soldier, and the incident was the following. This man 
 having killed a dog that liad been left on the sea-shore 
 when we Ment inland with the governor, he roasted a quar- 
 ter of it and invited me to partake of it with him, because I 
 had given him a little cheese off a piece that I bought from 
 Captain Alonzo di IMsa. And while I was eating with great 
 relish, thinking 1 had never tasted anything so well fla- 
 voured, he took it from before me, saying : '' Brother, you eat 
 too much ; 1 am old and infirm, you arc young and strong ; 
 
 ^ Cortez, though occasionally cruel and sanguinary, possessed some 
 great qualities, and seems to have been very much ashamed of the 
 horrid scene presented by the invincible fortitude of the fallen prince, 
 while suttering under his dreadful torments. But though he rescued 
 the royal victim from the executioners, he merely prolonged a life re- 
 served for new paius and indignities, {Tntiin.) 
 
4 -.— , 
 
 lu 
 
 140 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 'f I 'i' 
 
 ■V 
 ^ '• i 
 
 . t 
 
 tl 
 
 rise, and may God go with you, but I will not allow you 
 to cat any more of ni) dog." Thus, however mnvilling, I 
 had patiently to go away. 
 
 When the sea became calm, we started, and went to the canal 
 of Nicaragua, to take on board a Portuguese named Fran- 
 cesco Calato ; who, because he had lent our governor three 
 thousand five hundred gokhui ducats, was placed there as his 
 lieutenant. On account of tL>e wind being contrary for navi- 
 gating towards Nomhre de Dio'i, we were detained upwards of 
 two months, undergoing great suiforings from hunger ; and 
 had it not been for the abundance of crocodile's {turtle's .^) 
 eggs that we found in the sand along that beach, certainly 
 the greater part of us would have died of starvation. These 
 eggs {voua de cocodrilli) are of the size of a goose's egg, and 
 if beat against a stone, they get flattened but do not break : 
 wherefore it is requisite to open them with a knife. Their 
 flavour is that of half-rotten musk ; and at first I could iiot 
 in any way eat them, but necessity obliged me to do as the 
 others did. We also used to catch some four-footed animals 
 called iguan' , resembling our lizards in shape, but having 
 from their lower jaw up to the top of 'heir heads a crest 
 somewhat like that of a cock, and wdth certain points on it 
 like spines. The females are most delicate food, and their 
 eggs are much better flavoured than their flesh. They live 
 as much in the water as on land. In this canal from 
 Ni( aragua there are many and large fish ; and among others 
 there is one sort called tnanate, in the language of La Isla 
 EsjianoJa ; but I know not what the Indians call it who 
 used to live there, because they have gone to the woods on 
 account of the ill-treatment they experienced from the Span- 
 iards. This fish is in shape almost like the ludrial it is 
 twenty-five feet long and twelve feet in thickness -, its head 
 
 ' Probably a large seal. Benzoni calls the manati a fish ; but it is a 
 veritable mammal, anil is well figured and described by Dampier — 
 who, however, gives smaller dimensions. ( Tran^.\ 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 141 
 
 and tail arc like those of an ox, with small eyes, a hard and 
 hairy skin, of a darkish colour. It has tAvo feet, somewhat 
 like those of the elephant in shape. The females bring forth 
 their young like cows, and have two teats with which they 
 nourish them. I have seen some in the islets among the 
 grass of this large river, and at Nombre dc Dios I have 
 several times eaten of their flesh, that is to say, salted, and 
 its flavour resembled pork. Some people assert that the taste 
 of this fish is like veal, but this I attribute to one of two 
 things — either that those Spaniards through hunger ate it 
 with very great relish ; or that they had never tasted veal. 
 
 As to the habits of the natives in the province of Sucre, 
 they are nearly like those already described, except that they 
 do not eat human flesh. Their language is very easy to learn ; 
 they call the earth ischa, men cici, illness stasa, and gold 
 chiaruchla. A very great number of wild hogs are found in 
 this province, and most fierce tigers (Jaguaras f) ; together 
 with some lions [pumas f), who are but timid, however, 
 for on seeing a man they run aAvay. There are also snakes 
 of incredible size, and some apes. There is, moreover, 
 another animal, called cascuif by the people of the country, 
 in shape like a pig, black, hairy, with a very hard skin, small 
 eyes, large ears, cloven feet, and a small proboscis like an 
 elephant, and it gives so horrid a shriek as to deafen people ; 
 its flesh is well flavoured. There exists also a monstrous 
 animal, that has a pouch under its stomach,'^ into which it 
 makes the young ones get when it wants to go from one 
 place to another ; this animal has the body and the snout of 
 a fox, with fore paws and hind feet like those of a cat, but 
 more handy, and its cars are like those of '.he bat. There are 
 also peacocks, pheasants, partridges, and other sorts of birds, 
 
 1 This is probably a species of tapir. (Trans.) 
 
 3 Australia afterwards offered a congener to this animal in the 
 kan-iiroo, also in an arid district ; the creature, as remarked by Tro- 
 fcssor K. Forbes, V)cing thus enabled to seek water afar. [Tr<ins.) 
 
I ■; 
 
 142 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 ^1 
 
 If, ' 
 'fl 
 
 but all differont from ours. There arc similarly numerous 
 bats, that in the night go about pecking people, and although 
 they are found all along this coast as fiir as the gulf of Paria, 
 and in otlier places, yet nowhere are they so tormenting as 
 they arc in this province ; for it has happened to me else- 
 where, especially at Nombi^e de Dius, that they have whilst I 
 was sleeping, pecked my toes so delicately that I did not feel 
 it at all ; yet in the morning I found the sheets and matresses 
 so stained with blood, that it seemed as if they had inflicted 
 some large wound. But in this place they have never 
 bitten me without my feeling it, and suffering pain for two 
 or three hours after. Sometimes they fluttered their wings 
 about my face ; and if I kept my stockings on, they would 
 bite my hands ; Avherefore, having no other remedy, I used 
 ahvays to keep some bandages where I slept, and as soon as 
 I felt myself pecked I bound up the wound; and thus they 
 healed in three or four days without any more ado. Here I 
 close the government of Diego Gottieres. 
 
 We left the canal in company with two other ships, that 
 came from Nicaragua laden with provisions ; and in fifteen 
 days Ave reached Noinhre de Dios. Navigating a thousand 
 miles westward from this town, along an uninhabited coast, 
 the province of Fondura ' is entered ; and three hundred 
 miles lower down, on the same coast, the country of Yucataii 
 is reached. The first Spanish captain who discovered this 
 province was Francesco Ernandez, of Cordova ; who on leap- 
 ing on shore was very ill-treated by the natives, so that, 
 with twenty-two wounds, and the loss of many Spaniards, 
 he returned to San Jacopo de Cuba. Not long after, in 
 the year twenty-seven, ]''vancis INIontcjo, having heard that 
 the country of Yucatati was very rich, started from Neio 
 Spain with the title of governor, and landed with five hun- 
 dred Spaniards, many horses, and much ammunition. Some 
 
 ^ The reader will hardly recognize, under this name, and with such dis- 
 tances, that Honduras is meant ; it was, and is, a fine region. {Trans.) 
 
rous 
 lugh 
 
 j^ as 
 
 fcel 
 
 !sses 
 
 ktod 
 
 lever 
 
 two 
 
 ingg 
 
 HISTORY OK THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 143 
 
 chiefs came to visit him under pretence of wishing for his 
 friendship, and remained a good while in his company, until 
 seeing an opportunity, one of them attempted to kill him 
 with a scimitar which he had seized from a Moor ; but the 
 governor perceiving it, immediately drew his sword and 
 defended himself, so they ran away without doing any harm. 
 
 Then the governor, drawing out all his forces, assailed 
 the natives in various places ; and whatever fell into his 
 hands he committed to fire and sword. The Indians de- 
 fended themselves valiantly : but at last, after having waged 
 war for nine years, finding themselves destroyed and ruined, 
 nearly all their chiefs and captains dead, and with no more 
 strength to fight, they submitted to the arbitration and will 
 of the Spaniards. Thus Montcjo shared out the country 
 according to the royal edict, giving a band of Indians to 
 each conqueror. Then he built several towns there, that 
 is, Secile, Merida, Salamanca, and other places, the greater 
 part containing from twenty-five to thirty houses. 
 
 The governor having thus arranged everything, both for 
 his own advantage and that of his soldiers, was one day con- 
 versing with a cacique of that province named Alquinotep, 
 upwards of a hundred and ten years old ; who, although 
 baptized, frequently Avcpt and sighed on account of his 
 country having become subject to the Spaniards. Thus he 
 said : " Signor Montcjo, in times past, when I was a lad, 
 there came a general disease so severe that men vomited 
 worms, whence a great mortality ensued, so that we really 
 expected all to die. And not long before thy arrival there 
 occurred two very direful battles between us and the Mexi- 
 cans, occasioning the death of upwards of a hundred and 
 fifty thousand men. Yet all these events were nothing com- 
 pared with the great cruelties committed by thee and thy 
 soldiers upon us !" 
 
 This country is very rocky, yet ferule in fruits and maize, 
 and abounding in fish ; men are sacrificed here, but their 
 
144 
 
 HISTORY 01' THE NEW WOULD. 
 
 r ; 
 
 i > 
 
 flesh is not eaten. No mine has been discovered, either of 
 gold or of silver. The natives nourish many bees, and grow 
 an abundance of cotton, of which they make cloaks like 
 sheets, and shirts without sleeves. This is the principal 
 tribute that they give to their masters ; and these the Span- 
 iards distribute in Mexico, in the island of Cuba, at Cape 
 Fo)i(Iura, and other places. 
 
 In the province of Fondura, to say it in few words, there 
 were above four hundred thousand Indians when the Span- 
 iards went there to conquer it ; but when I visited it there 
 were not eight thousand left; for what with those killed in 
 war, others sold as slaves, and many worn out in the mines 
 and other unbearable labour, the conquerors had inhumanly 
 destroyed them. Even the few who unwillingly remain, 
 like all the other nations that serve the Spaniards, whenever 
 they find the opportunity fly to live in some steep out-of- 
 the-way place, to sec them as little as possible ; so much 
 love and guod will have they conceived for them ! The 
 Spaniards have built five towns in that province ; but the 
 houses do not altogether amount to above a hundred and 
 twenty, the greater part construf^ted with reed'^', covered with 
 straw, and ill-inhabited in consequence of the gold mines 
 being nearly worked out. The principal of them, that is 
 Trugilw,^ at Cabo Vcscocado, is situated on a little hill near 
 the northern shore. A hundred miles lower down is Puerto 
 dos Cuhcdlos ; and a day's journey from this port lies the 
 town of San Pedro, erected on a plain near some moun- 
 tains, not far from the river l^idua, and a lake that has on it 
 some heaps of earth covered with grass and bushes, Mdiich 
 move about in one direction or the other, according as the 
 winds blow. Eighty miles further on lies Comaugua and 
 Graciadios (Thanks to God), which two towns are upwards 
 
 ^ This Truxillo, for Benzoni visits more than one, is, !m he says, on a 
 height above the bay; and it has a harbour, now defended by three fori..?, 
 from which cattle and timber are exported. (Trans.) 
 
If [STORY OF THK NEW WORLD, 
 
 115 
 
 of a liunclied miles apart, and the country being somewhat 
 cohl, produced a great deal of wheat. Then we enter into 
 the b(>autiful and delightful, hut already destroyed valley of 
 Olatichio, where the Spaniards erected a toM-n called St. 
 Jaroho, consisting of about twenty houses, covered with 
 straw and ill- inhabited. To let the readers see how M'ell we 
 are looked upon by the natives of those countries, I will 
 r-jlate what happened to me in this valley Avitli some Indians. 
 Having started from ComauKjua, in company with a Span- 
 iard, to go to St. Jacobo, and having walked ibr four days 
 without meeting a single b use, the provisions we carried 
 were exhausted ; finally we reached a small Indian popula- 
 tion, and entreated them to furnish us with something to 
 eat, but there was no means, either by prayers or for love or 
 money, to induce them to give us anything whatever. On 
 the contrary, they cursed us, and spitting on the ground in 
 contempt, desired us to go away. That same night we 
 reached the toM'n, and there being no inn, we put up in an 
 empty house near the entrance, but supperless went to sleep 
 on some reeds. 
 
 It was usual in those countries, when the Spaniards lived 
 orderly, or rather, without order, before the Indians were 
 restored to liberty, that they were lavish, triumphantly 
 thinking that those times wovdd never come to an end. 
 They were daily therefore on the look-out for the arrival of 
 some strantjer, almost coming to words as to who should in 
 preference, with a thousand civilities, lead him to his house ; 
 — but now, affairs no longer going on as formerly, when they 
 see some one coming, they retire to the woods, or pretend 
 not to be at home. 'There are Spaniards, not only iu this 
 place but in many other towns also, who, though possessing 
 vassals, arc> reduced to such misery that they have liardly 
 ])read to eat ; for the Indians scarcely give then- masters 
 anything but wluit belongs to them ; and if by chance any 
 Si)auiard constrained his people to give him somctliing nu)re, 
 
 r.i 
 
14() 
 
 HISTORY OF TTIE XEW WOini). 
 
 I I' 
 
 t • 
 
 i ! 
 1 
 
 IJ : ( 
 
 
 or ill-trcatcd them, he would be iiuniediately deprived of 
 them by the fyovcrnors. 
 
 Then, ascending li'Dni tiic i^rovincc of Fundura, and pass- 
 ing by the mines of Cliiululccca, wc enter the province of 
 Nicauir .a, which extends to the sliore of the Soutlurn Sea. 
 The first time Avheu I passed through that country, 1 h)dged 
 in the house of one of the princii\al chieis of the province, 
 called Don Gonzalo, who was seventy years of age, and 
 understood the Spanish language perfectly. A\'liilst seated 
 by his side one morning, he looked me in the face and said : 
 — "What is a Christian, the Christians? They ask for 
 maize, for hojiey, for cotton, for la mania, ^ for women, for 
 gold, for silver ; Christians will not Avork, they are liars, 
 gamblers, perverse, and they swear. When they go to 
 church to hear the mass, they discourse on those who are 
 absent ; they wound each other." Finally, he concluded 
 that Christians are not good : and when I told him that it 
 was the wicked ones who did these things, he inquired : — 
 " Then where arc the good ones ? for 1 have known none 
 but the wicked." After we had finished reasoning on this 
 subject, I asked him why and how it was that they had al- 
 lowed the Christians to enter their country ? 'i'o which he 
 answered me in this manner : — " Sir, thou shalt know that 
 we, hearing the Christians were coming to our countries, 
 and perpetrating cruelties everywhere, killing, burning, 
 robbing ; we collected all our friends and confederates, and 
 entering into council we decided, that rather tlian allow our- 
 selves to be subjugated by the Christians, we would all die 
 fighting valorously. Witli this determination mo prepared 
 lanceg, and stone darts, and other arms, and when the Chris- 
 tians reached our people wc assaulted them, and fought 
 
 
 ^ A mantle or cloak ; perhaps the ponclio still so iniiversally worn in 
 the southern portions of this vast continent. The poncho is made like 
 a (^uilt, but having an opening in the middle just to )>ut the head 
 through, the rest hanging down ou all sides. {Tran.^.) 
 
 \ 
 
11 IS I OK Y OF THE NEW WOKI.l). 
 
 147 
 
 of 
 
 ; 
 
 
 . 
 
 <^r('at part of the day. But at last, most of us were so fright- 
 ened hy the impetus of the horses, as to take to flight. We 
 then sent two ambassadors to tiic r-aptain of the Christians to 
 ask for peace, only with a view to renovate our forces, and 
 thus hu accepted us as friends. Then a considerable num- 
 ber of u,, paid them a dissimulating visit, dancing and sing- 
 ing, and we carried with us many ornaments of gold and 
 other things to present to them. In three days we got ready 
 and assaulted the Christians, but soon, as before, our people 
 ran away ; and again, with the same intention as before, we 
 sued for peace. ]laving obtained it, \\c collected all our 
 ])eople together, and then in council we determined, after a 
 full and delilicrate discussion, that we had rather die than 
 serve the invaders, and that if any of our nation turned 
 tlnnr back^, to run away, they should be put to death with- 
 out forgiven{>ss. A\'ith this resolution, we prepared our- 
 selves with our arms to go and attack the Christians ; but 
 our Avives having heard of this conclusion, came to us, and 
 with abundance of tears begged and entreated us to serve 
 the Chri.^tians rather than die in that Avay ; but that if our 
 will was still to execute our former intention, that we should 
 iirst kill them and their little children, so that they should 
 iiot remain alone in the hands of those cruel and fierce 
 beaidiHl men. Thus uiged by the prayers of our women we 
 laid aside our arms, and submitted to the very rapacious 
 rule of the Spanish nation. But in a short time, through 
 the ill-treatmoit wreak 'd upon us, some of our tribes rose 
 against them ; for which they were punished in such a man- 
 lun- by the Christians, that even their infants were most 
 cruelly killed by the SAVord ; not content with this, they 
 seized other tribes under pretence that they were going to 
 rebel against them, so tormented them, and sold them into 
 slavery. 
 
 " AV'e were no longer masters of our wives, or our chil- 
 dren, or of anything that we possessed. xVtfairs went so ill 
 
 \ 
 
n 
 
 '^^-, 
 
 r \ 
 
 11 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 '■ ', 
 
 !" 
 
 us 
 
 IIISTOUY OI- THK NEW WOTd.l). 
 
 that many men killed tluir childicn, others hanged them- 
 selves, others starved themselves to deatli ; so that alter 
 inniimerahlc and insupportahle sufferings, tyrannies, and 
 miseries, the king of ("astilc sent a decree that wc should be 
 restored to liberty." 'Ihus the caciquo ended hi> diseoursc. 
 The country of Nicarai/iui is not very large, but fertile 
 and delightful, t' >ugh hot in sunnner that ])eople cannot 
 walk except at ni 'li . •" I the soil is sandy. It rains during 
 six months in the 3 - 'h . in -inning in May; but in the other 
 six months it does not rain ' all, and the night is ecjually 
 liot with the day. It produces a great deal of honey and 
 wax, balsam, cotton, and many fruits of the country ; among 
 which is a sort not ibund in the island of La Kspafioia, or in 
 any other part of India : they arc in shape like our pears, 
 and have a round stone M'ithin, about half as large again as 
 a Malnut ; their flavour is excellent. The tree that protluccs 
 this fruit is very large, but bears a small leaf. They have 
 i'ew cows, but a great many pigs of the Spanish breed. The 
 tribes are numerous, though the Indians are small ; their 
 houses arc built of reeds, roofed with straw, and not very 
 large. They have no metallic mines of any sort, although, 
 when the Spaniards first went there, the natives possessed a 
 great quantity of gold, much alloyed, brought from other pro- 
 vinces. 
 
 There is an incredible multitude of parrots, who do a 
 great deal of mischief in the cultivated districts, and would 
 do a great deal more if the natives did not scare them by 
 slinging stones from high sheds made of reeds. 
 
 From the great abundance that reigned in this province 
 when the Spaniards first subjugated it, they called it Ma- 
 homet's Paradise. Two things are produced in this country 
 whicli arc not found elsewhere in India, except in the terri- 
 tories of Guatitnala, of cape Foiuluii, aiul Mexico, and along 
 the shores oi New Sixiiii. One is a species of peacock, that 
 has been brought to Europe, and commonly called the [\\- 
 
 V 
 
i 
 
 llISTOliV ()!■ III!': MAV WOKI.l). 
 
 1 I!) 
 
 (lian fowls.' The other is c(icac(it<\- wlilcli they use iis 
 money, iiiid is produced on ii nio(U'ratcly sized tree, tliut flou- 
 ri>^lies only in vei'y Aviirni and shady localities; for ii' shone 
 upon by the sun, it would die. It is thcrelore planted in 
 the M'oods in moist places, and this not heing suflicient, they 
 plant a tree near it that t;ioM's larger, and when it has 
 reached a suflicient height, they double down its licad so as 
 to sludter the other and shade it, preventing the sun from 
 ijivini? it any annovauce. 
 
 The i-iii'iiviitc ti'Or ; slu'Wiiiu: Imw ilir liuliiuis i;ct lire tVoui two iiicofS ol'wiMjd. 
 
 The fruit is like abnonds, lying in a shell resembling a 
 pumplcin in size. It ripens in the course of a year, aud being 
 plucked when the season has arrived, they pick oat the 
 kernels and lay them on mats to dry; then wh n they wish 
 
 ' Wo call tliom furkeiis ; l>ut in Italy tlicy arc still distiuguislicd as 
 i.':alli d"Iiiilia. ( '/'nnis.) 
 
 - Now called ror,/,, in the SniUh of Europe; and l>y the English, roc'w/. 
 It is generally j>i'ized, and extensively used, for the driidv made iVori it 
 is not only soft and nutritious, hut has proved to he extremely wholu- 
 some: yet Denzoni tlionght it fit for pigs I (Trans.) 
 
 •ir^ 
 
 jj^ 
 
'.I 
 
 1)0 
 
 IIISKIUV OK I'lIK N|.;\V WOKI.I). 
 
 for the l)('V('i;i<;( , tlicy roast tlicm in ;m ciirtlion p;iii over the 
 fire, and i^niiul tlu'in Avitli tlie stones Avliicli they use for 
 prepariny- hread. Finally, they put the pa^te into cups, 
 made out of the calabashes produced hy a certain tree that 
 throws all ovvv India; aiul mixing it gradually with water, 
 sometimes addinij a little of their sjiice, they drink it, thouijfh 
 seeming moi'e suited for })igs tli;in lor men. 
 
 « I 
 
 I f 
 
 Trii-'- [1 ■ii.lui"n'4 the cal.i' u lir^. wliirh jjciicnill.v serve tlit; ImliMhs ;is vasrs. 
 
 T wa^ iii)w;u'ds of a year in that eouiitry without ever 
 h( iiig induced to taste this l>ev(\'age ; and when 1 passed 
 through a tril)c, if an Indian ^\■islled occasionally to gi\ <; nu; 
 some, he was very much surjjrised to see me rei'use it. and 
 went away laughing. ]]ut suhsetjuently, A\in<; failing, and 
 luiw illiug to drink nnihing but water, I did as others did. 
 'J'lie fla\ our is someA\hat bitter, but it satisfies and refreshes 
 the body \\ith()ut intoxicating: the Indians esteem it above 
 everythin:!-, Mhcrcver thev ai'c accustomed to it. The habits 
 v.i' these })cople are nearly all like those of the jNlexicans ; 
 lliev eat human ilesh, and llicv wear cloaks, and waistcoats 
 
tll(? 
 for 
 
 i>S 
 
 i;if, 
 
 < r, 
 h 
 
 iiisiouv (»i' rill, M,\v wditi.i). 
 
 i:>l 
 
 Mitliodt slccvns. AH over Iinlia they Iii;ht, a fire wiili twD 
 pieces (.(' wood; altlioii^li tlicy liad ;i i>rcat deal of wax, 
 they knew no nsc lor it, and piix iiird li^lit iVom ])i( ces ol" 
 M'ild pine wood. They sjjeak lour l.iunaiaji'es ; the he.'-t, 
 ho\\(\c-i', is the M(>xiean, which pervadi s (il'teen hmidrt d 
 miles of country, and is ihe easiest to learn. They call 
 gentleman tiitnnnif, ])i'ea(l hisfdl, lowU (ohili ; ofcointdd 
 means the same as wait a little; illness is called tiKirDi'dca , 
 and dancing /nifofr ; tliry dance in this way. 
 
 M.;liinl 111' I'.niM.'iiiy:. 
 
 Two or three hundred, or even three or four thousand, of 
 them assemble together, according to the population of the 
 ])rovincc, and having carefully swept the ])lacc Mhere they 
 are going to dance, one of them comes forward to lead the 
 rest. He goes nearly always backwards, turning himself 
 occasionally, and so do all the others, by throes and fours in 
 regular order. Those who bt-at the drums begin to sing 
 some of their songs, ;uid the man who leads the dance is th(! 
 first to answ(M-. Then the rest do the same progressively. 
 
li 1 
 
 i:)2 
 
 niSTOUY (>!• rUF, NEW UOKII). 
 
 i' 
 
 Some curry a laii in their hand, sonu' a calabash with pdihlcs 
 in it, some wear leathers on their head, others wear rows of 
 sen-shells on their arms and h-i^s ; some tnrn in oneway 
 some in another, some raise their lei-'s, ('!hei'> llonrish their 
 arms; som(> act the blind man, othei's preti'iid lo be lame ; 
 soaie laugh, others cry ; and thus with many other gestures, 
 and IreqtuMitly drinking their caciinilc, they dance all the 
 day, and sometimes part of the night also. 
 
 Ships going to Xit'(n'<i(ii(<i by the SuHllicni Sen, enter a 
 canal on tlu; sliore, and ascend it for about twenty-five miles 
 to a village called the llraUijio, consisting of a dozen houses 
 made with reeds, inhabited by Spaniards who build ships, it 
 being a convenient place and abounding in timber. A day's 
 journey eastward of this spot lies the town o{ Lvonc, Cap(! 
 Vt'&cocado, built on th(> shores of a lake ; founded by one; 
 Francesco Krnande/ ; as likewise was Gray/r//r;, fifty niiles 
 further on, also on the shores of the said lake, near the canal 
 that opens into the Northern Sea. These two towns toge- 
 ther do not amount to eighty houses, some built of wood and 
 some of bricks.' 
 
 Thirty-five miles from Lcono there is a mountain with a 
 very large mouth, whence there often issues so much ilanu; 
 and fire, that it is seen at the distance of upwards of a hun- 
 di'ed miles. Some people thinking that there was molten 
 gold within, a ])ominicau Iriar determined to make tlu; ex- 
 periment : he therefore had a chain made w ith an iron 
 bucket, and together with four other Spaniards went to th(! 
 spot; having throwii it in, the bucket witli [)art of the chain 
 was consumed by tlie fire. The monk Mas very angry, and 
 rcturn(.'d to T.cune complaining greatly of the smith, saying 
 that he had made the chain much lighter than he had or- 
 
 ^ This, at present, is a very important part of the Avorhl, from its con- 
 nection with the proi)Oseil navigahle coinnmnication Ijctweon the Atlantic 
 and Pacific Oceans. The climate is for the most part j^ood ; hat IJenzoni 
 is rather confused in its rchitive positions (Trtdis.) 
 
 I, 
 
 ISi^- 
 
HISTORY ()!• I'lIK NKU WOULD. 
 
 io;j 
 
 
 (Ici'od if. II(^ fluMcforc mudo. iinotluir much tliukcr ; but 
 ix'turuing to thr inouiitiiin uiul tlirowiiii,' it in, the same 
 result cusufd, and at the same instant a Hanic rusliini^ out 
 had nearly killed ihc monk and his companions ; \vhereu[)on 
 they all ran oM' so iVinhtened that they never repeated th(> 
 
 ent(;rpris(;. 1 knew a priest in that town, who, by favour 
 ol the treasurer, addressed a letter to the king of Spain, <'n- 
 treating to be furnished with two hundred slaves to ojxn 
 that mountain, promising to draw very great treasure from 
 it. But his Majesty told him to open it at his own exjiense, 
 for he had no slaves to send him ; and so the affair rested. 
 
 Three hundred miles from Leone, westward of Nicannjtta, 
 and keeping abnost constantly in sight of the sea, v e find 
 the town of Gualtimala, founded by Don Tietro d'Alvarado, 
 ■when he conquered that province. It is situated between 
 two hills, whence smoke is often emitted. There are also 
 two other towns, that is to say, Sa)i Miijaii and San Salra- 
 (loVy a hundred miles distant from eacli other. Alvarado, 
 having achiev((l this coiKjUCst, shared out the land and 
 erected these towns. J[e was tranquilly enjoying repose in 
 this province, when he received the lunvs that Francesco 
 Pi/.arro and Diego d'Almagro had entered J\'ru, and had 
 found incredible riches, lie procured permission from the 
 emperor to proceed to that kingdom, and to conquer and 
 S(>ttle in any part where there were no other Spaniards. 
 Thus, in the year 1584, he armed himself, and with seven 
 vessels quitted his government ; and navigating on this voy- 
 age, at the end of seventy-four days he reached the coast of 
 f*eru.' He landed on the beach of Manta nella A'allc, which 
 was afterwards called by the Spaniards Puerto Vicjo. Ad- 
 vancing with good Indian guides, he passed over some very 
 
 1 It assuredly was a most tedious voyage ; and with a fail ombarcation 
 of soMicrs and horses, the making of only a dozen milo> a day must have 
 impinged on the temjier of Alvarado, who never wa> remarkable lor 
 either prudence or patience, {Trans.) 
 
 80 
 
I ^ 
 
 154 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WOIll-U. 
 
 II i 
 
 i:'< . 
 
 cold mountains, which arc always covered with snow : many 
 Spaniards died there, and the rest, for want of better pro- 
 visions, eat some of their horses, until they reached the pro- 
 vince of Quito. Pizarro being informed of this, immetl lately 
 despatched Diego d'Almagro, with a hundred and fifty 
 Spaniards, to endeavour to turn him out of the country, or 
 else to make arrangements to buy his army. Upon reaching 
 Tmnhcsi, and learning that Alvarado had many more men than 
 he had himself, he dared not lay hands on liim ; but being 
 both at the IJhnmha, the licentiate Caldcra induced them to 
 agree ; and arranged that Alvarado should cede his army to 
 Pizarro and Almagro, and th^t they should give him a hun- 
 dred thousand golden ducats, on condition that he should 
 go away and never more return to that kingdom. In this 
 manner Alvarado departed from Peru with four servants, 
 and returned to Guattimala in good spirits and contented. 
 But shortly after he armed ten vessels and four brigantines, 
 intending to discover new countries along the Western coast. 
 At the very time that Alvarado was preparing his army, 
 some friars of the order of Saint Dominic arrived at Mexico, 
 who had been upwards of a thousand miles through the 
 countries to the westward ; and they made known that the 
 province of Siholla and other lands were fertile, rich, full of 
 gold, of turquoises, cotton, and other things. Wherefore, 
 Don Antonio di ]\[endo/a, ^"iceroy of New Spain, and 
 Ferdinnnd Cortcz, Captain-General of that kingdom, moved 
 by these reports, consulted among themselves whether to go, 
 or to send on this enterprise ; but not confiding in each 
 other when they came xo converse, Cortcz went away to 
 Spain, and the viceroy sent off to ask Peter Alvarado t.; cc)me 
 to him with his armament as soon as he possibly could. He 
 therefore set out in a short time, and reached the port of 
 Ternitd by b'lvl, whence he Avent to 3h'xico, and agreed 
 with the viceroy to go to SihoUa ; Vc collected seven hun- 
 dred soldiers, purchased arms and horses, together with many 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 155 
 
 w : many 
 ttcr pro- 
 . the pro- 
 nctl lately 
 and fifty 
 untry^ or 
 reaching 
 men than 
 nit being 
 
 them to 
 > army to 
 m a hun- 
 e should 
 In this 
 servants, 
 ontented. 
 gantincs, 
 ?rn coast, 
 lis army, 
 '. Mexico, 
 3Ugh the 
 
 that the 
 h, full of 
 hereforc, 
 ain, and 
 ii, moved 
 icr to go, 
 
 in each 
 
 away to 
 3 tj come 
 dd. 1 It 
 
 I port of 
 
 II agreed 
 ,'en hun- 
 ith many 
 
 other things requisite for his journey, and quitted Mexico to 
 go and cmhark for tlie expedition. IJut on the way, he 
 received the news that the Indians of Sal/sco had rebelled 
 against the Spaniards, wherefore he M'cnt to the assistance of 
 his countrymen Avith the greater part of his men. On 
 arriving, he found Pietro di Zunica very melancholy on 
 account of the deatli of a great many of his soldiers. They 
 then went to a large liill, where the Indians had fortified 
 themselves by tying trunks of trees on the summit with 
 great stones, for tlieir defence : and when the Spaniards, 
 with great fierceness ((/rem ferocitd), began to run up 
 tiio hill, the Indians, yelling friglitfully, cut the trees 
 asunder, so that everything furiously fell headlong down to 
 the bottom, in such a way as to kill the greater part of the 
 assailants who were opposed to them there. Alvarado was 
 precipitated from his horse, and in the course of two days 
 passed to anotlun' life. AVhen he was asked what pained 
 him, he said his Soul afflicted him severely. He was of 
 moderate stature, a great talker, but false ; a great liar, very 
 cruel towards the Indians, and so ungrateful for benefits 
 received, that it is said of him, that he never kept his word 
 to any friend. He married two sisters, and cohabited with 
 both of them.^ 
 
 Immediately after the death of Alvarado, Captain Fran- 
 cesco Velasques Coronato was commissioned by the viceroy 
 to start from ^Mexico with eight hundred men. The greater 
 part being mounted, he would not go by sea to conquer and in- 
 habit that province. When he arrived in the country, the great 
 riches that he found there were air abundance of snow a').] 
 dearth of food ; so that some of his horses died, and many 
 of the Indian servants also. The captain, hoping to fare 
 
 ^ The men of Xalisco here gave a memorable example to the rest of 
 their countrymen ; and the miserable death of Alvarado — one of the 
 so-called Coxcjuerous forsooth — is as refreshing iu this dismal history, 
 as a sunbcum in a dungeon. {Tra>is.) 
 
 !l 
 
■^ 
 
 r^^E 
 
 156 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW \VORI,l). 
 
 1 : ; 
 
 
 ; ■( 1 
 
 better, determined to advance further, and having marched 
 about a hunuicd and fifty miles he found a sort of animals, 
 not very large, but resembling cows ; and the Spaniards 
 killed many of them. Thus they appeased their hunger for 
 awhile: but finally, after the captain had gone over a great 
 deal more country, having fought occasionally with the 
 natives, who valorously defended their liberty, and having 
 burnt and destroyed several villages, and cursing the friars 
 who had brought favourable reports of such countries — after 
 losing many Spaniards, poor and naked he returned to 
 Mexico. 
 
 Let us now return to Pietro I'l Alvarado. When the 
 ncvs of his death reached Gunftiinala, Donna Beatrice 
 della Cuova, his wife, a woman truly proud, vain, and 
 haughty, instead of thanking the Omnipotence of the glo- 
 rious God, and lauding his infinite bounty, declared that she 
 could not have been worse treat'd than to be bereaved of 
 her husband. She had her house blackened all over, she 
 would neither eat nor sleep, she refused all consolation, 
 daubing her hair fiiicssava i capclU), committing and saying 
 many other follies. Then she had the most pompous obse- 
 quies performed in honour of her husband ; but amid all 
 this weeping and lamentation, she called all the principal 
 people in the town to meet in council, and had herself sworn 
 in as governor (governatrice) of the province. Soon after 
 doing all this, on the day of the Madonna of September, in 
 the year forty-one, it began to rain so heavily, that on the 
 following day, two hours after dark, some Indians Avent to 
 inform the bishop of the province, named Francesco Maro- 
 quin, that at the br.se of the mountain, near the town, they 
 had heard a great noise and crash ; whereupon the bishop 
 reproved them, saying, " Have I not several times enjoined 
 you not to give ear to such things V But soon after mid- 
 night there began to arise from that mountain so great and 
 so terrible a quantity of water, and with such an impetus 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 157 
 
 T marclicd 
 f animals, 
 Spaniards 
 lunger for 
 cr a great 
 
 with the 
 id having 
 
 the friars 
 I'ics — after 
 turned to 
 
 When the 
 . Beatrice 
 vain, and 
 f the glo- 
 d that she 
 neaved of 
 
 over, she 
 )nsolation, 
 md saying 
 )ous obse- 
 t amid all 
 
 principal 
 self sworn 
 Soon after 
 ember, in 
 lat on the 
 s Avent to 
 SCO Maro- 
 own, they 
 he bishop 
 s enjoined 
 iifter mid- 
 great and 
 1 impetus 
 
 and fury, as to precipitate rocks of incredible size, carrying- 
 along and dcsti-oying whatever it met Avith in its course ; 
 and there were heard in the air cries and lamentations and 
 Irightful noises. There Avas also seen a black coav iroin"- 
 about tlie neighl)ourhood, and doing much damage. 'J'bc 
 first house that Avas ruined Avas that of the governor, Avlicre 
 Donna Beatrice and all her attendants, Avho Avere said to be 
 in ])ray( -r with her in this very retired place, died ; and 
 similarly nearly the Avhole toAvn Avas laid Avaste and droAvned. 
 Including men and Avomen, there died about a hundred and 
 twenty Spaniards. Only those Avho tied at the commencement 
 oF tlie noise saved their lives. The next morning, Avhen the 
 destruction bad ceased, some Spaniards Avcre found lying about 
 the country, some crippled, some had l)roken arms, others 
 broken legs ; and a daughter of Alvarado's (by an Indian 
 Avoman) Avas found who hnd received no injuiy ; so that out 
 of all his race oidy this girl remained. 
 
 After the ruin of Ouattimula,^ a toAvn was erected on 
 that spot and continues there still ; it is in a ^.nall plain three 
 milcf from the former site, toAvards the east, and consists of 
 between seventy-five and eighty brick houses, the greater 
 part rooff-d Avith shingles. h\ this province the earth often 
 trembles so much, that being once in a monastery near the 
 old (iuattimala, in a spot called Ahnolonga lU Basco, and 
 talking Avith one of tlie monks on a little bench, the earth 
 trembled so that the bells rang of themselves, the greater 
 
 1 This was the first destruction of the city in a country which, though 
 close to the Volcano de Fuego and the Vok'ano do Agua, was so pleasing 
 in aspect, with so good a climate, auil had such comely natives, that the 
 discoverers designated it E( paraiso de Miiltomo. The town, Santiago, was 
 built in 15:27, and met the calamity here recorded soon afterwards. It 
 continued, however, to be the capital under repeated visitations ; it was 
 all hut destroyed liy an earth<jvuike in IT-Jl ; and again by a similar 
 attack in 1773, when it was left little more than a pile of rubliisli, in 
 wliicli the greater part of it;s sixty thousand inhabitants were entombod. 
 Tlic I resent city was commenced in 1776, on a site about twenty five 
 miles to th« south of the ulii one. ( Trans.) 
 
1 
 
 158 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WOULD. 
 
 
 ■ i\ 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 ) 
 
 ■if- 
 
 ; 1 
 
 I 
 
 part of the garden walls were thrown down, the und(;r- 
 ground pipes tliat led water to the fountain were broken, 
 the principal chapel was rent in two places, and part of the 
 roof fell down : whereupon every one thought for certain 
 that the ground Avould open; and this alarm continued for 
 the space of a credo or belief} 
 
 This province, in consequence of the air being temperate, 
 produces a deal of wheat ; but of all the trees that the 
 Spaniards have endeavoured to introduce there, only the fig 
 and the apricot have succeeded, and these fruits not 
 beginning to ripen till the comm(>ncement of winter, they 
 are not well flavoured. 
 
 Two days journey from Guattimala, in a place called the 
 IzalcJii, near the sea-shore, a very large quantity of cacavate 
 {cocoa) is collected ; this at present constitutes the riches ol 
 the Spanish inhabitants M-ho reside in that province • and 
 they distribute the greater part of it through the countr}' of 
 New Spain, for it being rather cold than hot in many p;;.t& 
 of that kingdom, they cannot gather enou.-^h of it tiicr':. 
 These Guattimalese participate of the customs bet.- of the 
 Nicaraguans and of the Me^'icans ; and they ivive continMal 
 intercourse with them, so that iiian;: if'av be found who have 
 learnt some office or trade — as tJsat )' a ca-pcntcr, shcc- 
 maker, painter, goldsmith, or otiicr similar art. The 
 Spaniards used to buy these people as slaves, and improve 
 them ; but when they were expecting to derive benefit from 
 their instruction they were restored to liberty. 
 
 They hold daily markets, most of their goods being eata- 
 bles and drinkables ; that is — salt, fish, fruits, calabashes, 
 hattatc, and branches of cooked figs, Avhich when made into a 
 beverage, were such, that merely seeing them was enough 
 ^'- ii^ake one sick. They also buy and sell cottons, cloaks, 
 .diirts, leathers, and other such articles. As to the com- 
 juoxion of these Tndi.T.i people, they are more inclined to 
 
 ' Tn riig th*^ .iuic that repeating that prayer woakl occupy, (Trans.) 
 
lie uiidor- 
 c broken, 
 art of the 
 or certain 
 iniictl for 
 
 eniperatc, 
 that the 
 ily the fig 
 ruits not 
 iter, they 
 
 called the 
 ' cacavatc 
 riches cil 
 ice • and 
 ountry of 
 any j);;, us 
 it tiu'/^<v, 
 •I of the 
 continual 
 vho have 
 cr, shce- 
 
 t. 
 
 Tl 
 
 m 
 
 impro v'c 
 efit from 
 
 ing cata- 
 labashes, 
 de into a 
 
 enough 
 , ckiaks, 
 he corn- 
 lined to 
 
 (Trims.) 
 
 HISTORY OV TIIK NEW WORLD. 
 
 159 
 
 yellow and chesnut than to any other colour ; and of all the 
 nations that I have seen in this very large country, the 
 handsomest arc those of the gulf of Paria and of the pro- 
 vince of Valenzuola ; that is to say, those wlio live inland 
 near tlie mountains ; and I believe it to be because the sun's 
 heat is not so great there as in the phiins, wherefore those 
 people wlio inhabit tlic sea-shore are of a certain colour like 
 flesh burnt by the sun. Of all the things that the Spaniards 
 have introduced there from Spain, none has ])een so accept- 
 able to the Indians as wine ; for although^ as we have before 
 said, they make wine from maize and other things, they say 
 that it does not comfort the spirits, nor -varm the stomacli, 
 nor induce such sweet and soothing sleep as the wine of 
 Castile does. They also highly esteem iron, because they 
 use axes made only of copper, and knives made of flint.* 
 I?ut the Indians have not b(!en so surprised by anything a,^ 
 by our reading and writing. So that when the Spaniards o'^xvc 
 a native a letter to take to some place, their curiosity left tiem 
 no peace ; nor could they conjecture among themselves jy 
 what means that whit(^ paper, painted with black, could 
 speak. Of all the provinces that the Spaniards conquered, 
 and still govern in those Indies, the most inhabited countrv' 
 and the one best peopled by the Indians, is iS^ew Spain ; 
 then come Yucatan, GuattimaJa, Nicara ;, and some 
 portions of the kingdom of Peru. 
 
 Having travelled about th-s new world lor the space of 
 fourteen years, as I before said, and bavin, ead the histories 
 that the Spaniards have written of tluir enterprises in 
 those countries, I find that they have r logized themselves 
 in some respects rather more than they ought to have 
 done ; especially when they tell us that they are worthy of 
 
 ^ Benzoni has expressed tlii. rather ^^^V^s^x,\\^-ancora hanno avuto 
 mm U jerro, per cioche loro ma ado^.erano, etc. But the meaning? is 
 cleail3% that a« the natives eoukl not procure u-on. hey were driven to 
 use other materials. ( Tnit/.f.) 
 
t ; I 
 
 100 
 
 HISTORY OF TIIR NKAV WOin.!). 
 
 1 I 
 
 great praise for having converted to Christianity all the 
 tribes and nations that they conquered and subjugated in 
 India. Thus tliey say that they have made them Christians, 
 as we might say that a baker has baked the bread well. 
 But I, indjued with the doctrine of Christ our (iod and 
 Saviour, feel that there is a great difference between the 
 name and the being one in reality. The more so, because in 
 the kingdom of I'eru and other places, although it has been 
 published that we wer'> Christians and children of the God 
 of heaven, yet, in consequence of the great cri''Hies jierpe- 
 trated among them, there has never been tlit. means of 
 making them adopt the name ; this nation being endowed 
 with a more terrible spirit than all the others that were sub- 
 jugated by the Spaniards. For the people of Mexico and 
 the surrounding tribes, when the Spaniards began to go 
 over to India, calling themselves Christians, they also called 
 us by that name ; but the Peruvians, as svc before said, would 
 not acknowledge the designation, nnd we shall return to it 
 in its place. Doubtless we can believe, that any nation sub- 
 jugated by a foreign people, would liberate itself if it could, 
 and regain its former liberty ; and thus the Mexicans, espe- 
 cially, were always 'hatching vigilantly whether the usual 
 ships arrived from Spain ; for if some great misfortune were 
 to hajDpen to that country (which might occur, it being 
 like all other empires, though great and powerful, yet all 
 the nations, kingdoms and cities subject to the empire, arc; 
 liable <^o the variability of fortune), and the >hips could not 
 go backwards and forwards to India as before, the whole of 
 the Indians would rise and murder ;dl the Spaniards, making 
 a most solemn banquet of them. And I have heard from 
 some of the monks that they would be among the first vic- 
 tims, because they opposed the bad h ibits of the natives. 
 
 To shew that this was the truth when I was in Guattimala 
 in the year 1553. The French and Spaniards being at war, 
 only two galleys of Don Alvaro Bazan had come during 
 
HISTORY OF fM£ NEW WORLD. 
 
 y all the 
 Lit^atcd in 
 'hristians, 
 cad well. 
 
 God and 
 ween the 
 because in 
 ; has been 
 
 the God 
 ies pcrpc- 
 
 nieans of 
 
 endowed 
 were sub- 
 exico and 
 <^'dn to go 
 also called 
 aid, would 
 3turn to it 
 lation sub- 
 if it could, 
 :ansj espe- 
 
 thc usual 
 •tune were 
 ', it being 
 f'ul, yet all 
 ■mpire, are 
 
 could not 
 e whole of 
 ds, making 
 leard from 
 first vic- 
 iiatives. 
 Guattiraala 
 ing at war, 
 me during 
 
 161 
 
 tourteen months, from ii.ar of privateers along that coast ; 
 '^>'.' bound to Mm/.r. do Bios, the other to ViUa llira, a 
 P<^i-t Ml New Spain, wherefore tlie Spaniards were afraid lest 
 the IndiaTis should r.n-olt, ior already tliey had heard through 
 M,me Moors (ju.jrocs) that tlie French were at war widi 
 the Spaniards, and that they had done much damage in those 
 countries. 1 myself being one day at that epoch^ in a place 
 called al MoJonya, only a little lower down than where old 
 Guattimalo' formerly stood, talking with some Indians, one 
 of them asked me whether the French had horses, and some 
 of those things that make tan ! tan ! Meaning, although 
 they knew not how to express themselves, to ask whetiicr the 
 French hnd any artillery; and when I answered in the 
 nffirmative, he drew a sigh from his lu^art, and God only 
 knows what he wished. The monks warned them not to 
 attempt any change, for the emper,-- would send a great 
 many Christians from Cnstile, who would treat them much 
 worse than they had been treated befor<^ But notwith- 
 standing tJiis, if they saw an opportunity, they would not 
 lad to try to extirpate the invaders from their country. 
 
 Kcspecting everything else that I have endeavoured to 
 learn about those Indian nations, we must consider what 
 they hear of our faitli. I therefore wish to give information 
 as much relative to what I have heard publicly asserted by 
 some priests and monks, as to what I have seen, and what 
 I have heard from those same Indians ; so that the readers 
 may perceive liow scandalized they naist be at our bad 
 actions. I, moreover, entreat my discreet and prudent 
 readers to be attentive, for they will learn sayings and 
 sentences deserving of very great admiration. 
 
 There are, then, many Indians, especially the sons of some 
 
 ' By old Giiatiinala, Benzoui must allude to au aucient native city • 
 for that founded by A!vara,lo in ir.27, and destroyed about l.>42 (see p' 
 150, could hardly have had that epithet when rebuilt, so soon afterwards 
 a.s loSjJ. (Trans.) 
 
 ■n 
 
162 
 
 HISTORY OF TUV. NF.W WORT.T). 
 
 * 
 
 of the principal chiortaiiis, who have learnt to read and 
 write, and have also gained a knowledge of Cod's command- 
 ments, which they say are good ; but lliey are astonished 
 that wc do not obey them, exclaiming, " (-ome liltlier, thou 
 Christian : Ciod commands that thou shalt not take las name 
 in vain, — and yet for evin'v triflt^ (bouswearest and perjurcst 
 thyself. God commands us not to bear l'als(> witness, and 
 yet you do nothing but complain and speak ill of each other. 
 God commands thee to love thy neigld)our as thyself, and 
 to forgive his trespasses as thou wouldest he should Ibrgivc 
 thine; but you do quite tlu> contrary! those are ill treated 
 who have but little ; and if anv one owes vou anvthing, you 
 have him put into prison, and Avant him to pay you although 
 he has not the means. And if there is a poor Christian 
 among you, in order not to give him some of your property, 
 Tou send him to our houses, for us to bestow charity on him." 
 Thus, the Indians, seeing our rabid greediness and inunea- 
 surable avarice, there are sonu^ among them avIio, taking a 
 piece of gold in their hand, say, "this is tlie (iod of the 
 Christians ; for this they have come from Castile to our 
 countries, and have subjugated us, tormented us, and sold 
 us as siaves, bedsides doing us many other injuries. For this 
 they make wn- and kill each other ; for this it is that they are 
 never at rest ; that they gandjlc, swear, tell lies, quarrel, 
 rob, tear the a' omen away from each other ; and finally, for 
 this they commit every sort of wickedness." And I knew 
 one priest, amongst others, a great favourite of the l^ishop 
 ol' Guattimala, who went about among tlu- Indian nations 
 selling wine,' although it was ])rohibited by order of the 
 governors and presidents, ami in less than six months he 
 gained upAvards of twenty-five thousand reals. 
 
 There are also monks who eonnnit by dav what other men 
 
 ^ They had not at tliat time, it seems, the mischievous /I ir-veti'rs 
 which were so attractive and so destructive to the American tribes of 
 northern America. (Trans.) 
 
rend and 
 commaiul- 
 astonislicd 
 tlicr, tluMi 
 (' his name 
 I pcrjuvcst 
 itncss, and 
 each other. 
 livself. and 
 idd loi\<>'ivc 
 ill treated 
 ^•tiling, you 
 )u althongh 
 r Christian 
 ir property, 
 itv on him." 
 :\nd imnica- 
 lo, taking a 
 God of the 
 ilc to our 
 s, and sold 
 I'or this 
 lat they are 
 es, quarrel, 
 finally, for 
 nd I knew 
 the lUshop 
 i;in nations 
 tier of the 
 months ho 
 
 t other men 
 
 us fii't'-vi iters 
 •iciiu tribes of 
 
 HISTOHY OK THK NEW WORLD. 
 
 \m 
 
 would be ashamed of connnitting by night ; I speak of the 
 bad ones, not those of a better degree. But there was a 
 moid< of the order of Saint Francis, who went about de- 
 claring publicly that there was not a virtuous priest, or 
 monk, or even bishop, throughout India ; and that they all 
 gave themsehes up to avarice, Avillingly going wherever 
 there were rich Indians, but avoided going where they were 
 poor, 'i'his monk, however, being at the head of I'hndiira, 
 in the town of San PciJro} awaiting the departure of some 
 vessels to return to Spain, w-.v^ seized by order of his 
 supei'ior ft)r having utt(M'e(l these words ; and sent to Gaat- 
 iiniula. 1 liav(^ also heard some ])riests, who had gone from 
 Spain to India for nothing but to gain money, argue among 
 themselves n])on this ])()int. I will relate what I heard from 
 a monk whilst in the town of CumaiiKjua : he tt)ld me that 
 he had known an Indian of very sharp intellect, son of a 
 small chieftain, Avho, when j'oung, went to school and learned 
 to r(\id and write, and everybody thought that he would 
 excel in knowledg*^ and virtue, and that he woidd be a 
 mirror fur all the rest. Ihit when he Avas thirty years old, 
 he returned wick(;d, a ribald, and a villain. On being asked 
 ho^\■ it hai)[)en'(l that I'rom being a good num he had become 
 a bad'one ; he answertnl, '^ Since I became a Christian I have 
 learnt to swear by God, by the Cross, by the words of the holy 
 I'lvangelists, and to utter oaths by the lil'e of God ; yet I am 
 a i-v'uegade and do not believe. I have also learned to gamble 
 ••uid never to t<^ll truth ; 1 have bmight an iron sword to 
 Uiake <|ua)-r(ds (jjer far qidstioni'), and to live as the Chris- 
 tians do : I A\ ant for nothing, except a mistress, and 1 hope 
 soon to hav(^ iMie." 
 
 It has happened to me to reprove Indians sometimes, who 
 
 ' Tills passage is rather ol.scure. The town of St. Pietro may then 
 have been of great inna^rtanoe in Honduras, but it is far inhuul : — Bcn- 
 zoni's Words are — " Stiiado <i<iti<to fratt in cdpo d! Foiilura, aella cittd di 
 Sii,t J'iiiro.'' (Tridis.) 
 
Kit 
 
 HISTORY OK 1IIK NIA\ WOIUD. 
 
 I f 
 
 were giuning and swearing ; they have answered me — '* wo 
 learned it from you." These were people brouglit 14) in the 
 houses of" Spaniards who did nothing but game and swear, 
 and other such-like things ; and these are sonu' ol' the 
 miracles that th(^ Spaninrds have; performed in the Indies. 
 Then there are other Indians, who if asked whether they arc 
 Christians answer Yes, that the bishoj) lias nunlc the sign of 
 the cross on their face, and given them his benediction ; and 
 that they liave made a church and put the image; of the holy 
 Mary into it, and have bought the Ixlh I once asked an 
 Indian whether he Avas a Christian, and lie said, " how 
 could I be otlierwise since; 1 have scrvc^d tii(> bishop these 
 twelve years, and take care of his nude." Others say that 
 the priest has thrown water on their lujads four or five 
 times. W'lieu these people see a priest or a monk api)roach- 
 ing, tbey inunediately go forward to meet blm and say, 
 " Fatlier, throw some water on our heads, f()r wc would be 
 Christians, although \vv. have been bai)tized before." And 
 when one begins, the mIioIc population follows, without 
 knowing wluit they are doing. 
 
 This happens where the Iiulinns are few in number, poor, 
 and having neither priest nor monk resident among them. 
 Yet there have been some clergy who would not ba[)ti/e 
 them, saying that baptizing an Iiullan was like baptizing a 
 brute beast. Others, alter going from Castillo to India, aiul 
 seeing the sort of life led, both by the Spaniards and the 
 Indians, have been so shocked that thev went back to their 
 monasteries in Spain. 
 
 While residing in Guattimala, I went oilen to the monas- 
 tery of St. Francisco, and formed a friendship with a monk 
 called Francisco de Betanzo, a man well acquainted with all 
 those })rovinces, both in Guattimala and in New Spain. He 
 spoke well in two Indian languages. Having inquired of 
 him A^hat opinioii he entertained of tlioso people relative to 
 our faith, he told me tliat the old men were obstinate in their 
 
HISTORY or THK NKW WORM). 
 
 lOo 
 
 mr — " MO 
 
 , up in the 
 md swear, 
 luc (»r the 
 lu; Indies. 
 cv they are 
 the sign of 
 ction ; and 
 of the holy 
 1' asked an 
 \id, " how 
 ishop these 
 ers say that 
 ^ur or five 
 Ic approach- 
 II and say, 
 e woidd he 
 ore." And 
 vs, Avithout 
 
 [mher, poor, 
 iiumg them, 
 not baptize 
 baptizing a 
 India, and 
 (Is and the 
 lick to tlielr 
 
 the moiKis- 
 
 lith a monk 
 
 led Avith all 
 
 ■ipain. He 
 
 |niquircd of 
 
 relative to 
 
 late in their 
 
 idolatry, ospecinlly their priests, who were often found sacri- 
 tieiiig to llieir deities. And that it was necessary, in oi-der 
 that the chihlren should in time know our religion, to take 
 th( lu away fium the conversation and examph- of their 
 ehieis ; so th'.it wlieii thev became nu n they shouhl not be 
 taught tlu ir bad habits. Finally, he told me that those who 
 had l)een l)apti/.(ul had only the n.ime of Cini -t ians.' 'L'hen, 
 treating o|' other details in our c()uversatiou, l)oth respecting 
 the mo(h' of life ot the Spaniards and the govei'nment of 
 those j)ro\ iuces, seeing that 1 wished to know the state of 
 that count ly. he shewed me a letter written, by a bachelor of 
 arts, a fi'ieud o[' his, named Diego Lopez de Zun(\ga, ad- 
 dressed ti) the bivhop and president and auditors of (luatti- 
 mala. in eou'-ecjuenee of leiviug been ill-treated, especially 
 by the l)i>hop. for luning utte]'<(l something against tlieir 
 bad government. 'riie letter being sent open to him, he 
 
 ' AVc liiivo no (loul)t tbat with n lew of tlic explorers luul con<iii.ista- 
 i/'ij'rs, iui earnest desire for sproudiiig the iioly fuitii was as strong' ii 
 motive ffr ailveiiture as the love of j^ohl ; but the carrying out such 
 views Diade tiu; niiiicls of men, some of whom were neither avaricious nor 
 eruel, straneely overlook the hrutality ami jierfuly with which they 
 actc'l. The natives were reasoualdy averse to commune with reckless 
 tyrants who (.-ould cut hoth hamls ofl' their victims, torture them, lumi 
 them alive, tear them to pieces hy savage blood-hounds, work them to 
 death in the mines, hang them L.y dozens, and slaughter them by wholesale 
 — all whicli Las (Jasas declarea he saw "co/i mis ojos corj>ondes mortd/es!" 
 These pet phi had a religion of their own, such as it was, in which there 
 were some startling afhnitics with our own sacred records, as instanced 
 in tl e I'eluge and the Tower of Babel : they believed in One Great God, 
 in .vl)ose honour tliey had sacrifices, j)rocessions, and solemn dances ; they 
 trusted in a future state of being ; and Acosta mentions a resemblance of 
 the holy communion, if, he ])iously adds — " Se .fojl'/c usiir des/e rocahlo en 
 cnsn diaholicd,'''' 80 dreadfully treated, it is not surprising tliat the natives 
 should be little disposed to receive such theological precepts as would 
 be administered by their rabid jjlundcrers : and the rei)ly of the caciijuc 
 (if Genu to Knciso was in point — '' In what you say about tiie Pope being 
 the lord of all the universe in jilace of God, and that he had given this 
 huid to your king, the I'opo must bave been 'trunk when he did it, for 
 lie gave wluU v.as not his." ( Tmnn.) 
 
IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-S) 
 
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 Sciences 
 
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 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
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106 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WOIU-D, 
 
 transcribed it, and I took a copy of it : it began as fol- 
 lows : — 
 
 " Since Fortune began to lead me about the world, I have seen 
 ■several kingdoms and ])rovinccs, and in each place I have observed 
 many novelties ; but since my fate permitted me to conic over to 
 these so-called (johlcn Indies, wanting in every good (piality, I have 
 seen so much, and such varied wickedness, that my tongue coidd 
 never end the narration of it, nor my heart to think of it. And tiic 
 worst of it is, that amongst you men there is neitlier justice, nor 
 virtue, nor goodnes;^-, nor chastity ; and you consume all your time 
 in deeds of partiality, in discord, lies, deceit, dissension, envy, 
 rancour, gaming, swearing, warfare, luxury, immorality, and ava- 
 rice ; and finally, whoever behaves best is the worst thought of. 
 I have remarked with wonder that the larger portion of all of you 
 wbo have been in Imli.. are such, that not only heaven or the 
 angels, but tlie earth and the devils must hold you in horror; and 
 you may look upon it as certahi, that just as you liavc by force 
 made yourselves tyrants over many, so Jesus Clirist will permit 
 you to become slaves of all for justice sake; and if you require an 
 evident and manifest proof of this, turn to the histories of Greece 
 and Rome ; sec triumphant Rome, queen of the world ; Athens 
 and Lacedemon, the light and splendour of all good laws and good 
 habits ; and many other cities and kingdoms, of which scarcely the 
 memory remains. The men who were adorned with so man\ vir- 
 tues, who were governed by such excellent and illustrious chiefs, 
 have all perished. And do you think, that the goodness of God 
 will permit tliat you should remain all your lives clad in so many 
 vices, and sunk so deep in malignity r you must be benighted in 
 intellect, as are also these Indian Christians, if you are Christians 
 only in name. Believe me, gentlemen, one day's example of a 
 good life wouhl be more useful to these poor wretches than a 
 year's lectures and doctrine : for with what benefit is it to preach 
 odoriferous roses witli the tongue, if you afterwards sell them 
 pricking thorns in your works ? Some people, my lord bishop, 
 say that you do a great deal of good ; but take care that you do it 
 well, for we find tliere are those who do il badly. And your lord- 
 ship is one of tlu'se, for you strip those whom you ought to clothe ; 
 
fol- 
 
 TTTSTORY OF TTIK XEAV WOUIJ). 
 
 1C)7 
 
 you mistake bitter for sweet, and sweet lor bitter; you love liars, 
 and liave a horror for tliose who tell truth ; you deprecate good 
 men, and honour bad ones ; you favour the vicious and persecute 
 the virtuous. Finally, you arc most liberal with other men's pro- 
 perty, and very miserly with your own. Wluit would you have me 
 say more ? except that you woidd be very appropriately placed to 
 row in a f^alley, for I will warrant that your lordship would have 
 more strength to handle an oar, than virtue in governing a bishop- 
 ric. Others say that your lordship is much honoured ; but Seneca 
 teaches us that wise men hold the praise of fools to be a sign of 
 infamy; for all that they think is vain, and all their words are 
 false ; what they condemn is good, and what they praise is l)ad ; 
 what they laud is infamy, and consequently all that they do is folly. 
 True honour consists in being praised and honoured by those who 
 are themselves worthy of honour ; and the greatest honour is to 
 please Jesus Christ. It vas related to me that your lordship was 
 astonished at the patience with which I underwent my trials, and 
 I am certainly astonished at yoirr astonishment, because displeasure 
 at things badly done proceeds from wisdom, but surprise at things 
 being well done, proceeds from a shallow judgment and scant ex- 
 l)crience ; and do you not know that forgiveness is not granted 
 except to those who are willing to be crucified with Christ relative 
 to this world, desiring to enjoy with him the glory of the next ? 
 And do you not know that sentence written by Paul the apostle 
 in an Epistle to Timothy, by which he expresses that, all those 
 who would practise virtue in Christ, must be despised in the pre- 
 sent time ? You appear not to be aware that what is hurtful to 
 the body, is beneficial to the soul ; nor do you seem to know that 
 the kiugdom of heaven is not to be gained by fighting bulls, nor 
 l)y gaming with reeds, nor by pieces of gold shut up in a box, nor 
 by having hosts of slaves in the mines as your lordship has. It 
 cannot be obtained by contracts, nor cheating, nor falsehoods, nor 
 lies; but is to be gained by undergoing persecution, infirmities, 
 incarceration, imprisonment, poverty, hunger, thirst, contempt, 
 dislike, exile, torments, and various other labours and tribulations 
 whicli daily assail the life of mortals. And if your lordship be 
 ignorant of these things, as I believe you arc, you may class your- 
 self rather with beasts than witli men. There arc manv more 
 
^•f 
 
 1G8 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NKW WOKM). 
 
 things that mi<^ht bo said, as well of your lordship as of the presi- 
 dent, but they avc so numerous, that if 1 bonjin to write them down I 
 fear paper would fail me in the midst, and tlierefore I say no more. 
 Given in Trigillio, the 25th of May, 1552. 
 
 "DiECio Lopez m ZuNEfiA." 
 
 When I first arrived at Guattimala, the Licentiate Ccratto 
 was president ; this was the Ceratto who took to San 
 Dominigo the decree of liberty to the Indians, as wc have 
 ah'eady said, and who was removed by the emperor from 
 that island and sent to govern this country ; and with truth 
 I can testify that throughout India there never was a better 
 judge, nor one who practised good precepts more strictly, 
 obeying the royal commands, always endeavouring that the 
 Indians should not be ill-treated by any Spaniard ;' and 
 sometimes through the little respect that was shewn him by 
 his countrymen, in consequence of his considering the wel- 
 fare of the Indians, he used to pray that God would liberate 
 him from such a bad people ; and still more, that if God 
 granted him grace to return to Spain, he would warn the 
 king not to let any priest whatever go over to India, on 
 account of their great dissoluteness : but death intervening, 
 he could not do it. Thus another president was furnished 
 from Mexico, named Dr. Chesada, who, in the short space 
 of two months after his arrival at Guattimala, passed to 
 another life ; and when some of the clergy sought to console 
 him in his infirmities, saying. Be joyful, my lord president, 
 
 * In this sad exposition, Benzoni corroborates those who dared to 
 speak out ; and we are not to marvel that his work was never (rans- 
 lated into Spanish. XTnserupulous " heavc-aheads " liken such turpitude 
 to darkness being dissipated by light : but Had those couijuistru'ores 
 possessed a grain of the wisdom of Roman colonization, the New ^V )rld 
 would not have so long remained a blot on the globe. For instance the 
 very province here treatt;d of, Guatimala, contains only about one 
 million and a quarter of inhabitants ; yet such are its extent and 
 capacity, that if it were as well peopled as England is, it would contain 
 and provide for nearly forty millions of human beings ! (Trans.) 
 
HISTORY OF THK NEW WORLD. 
 
 169 
 
 pvcsi- 
 lown I 
 I more. 
 
 A. 
 
 /cratto 
 (J San 
 e have 
 r from 
 li truth 
 L better 
 itrictly, 
 hat the 
 
 ;' and 
 him by 
 lie w el- 
 lib crate 
 
 if God 
 ram the 
 idia, on 
 rvening, 
 irnishcd 
 irt space 
 assed to 
 D console 
 iresident, 
 
 3 dared to 
 ever <rans- 
 li turpitude 
 uj^ulstdi'ores 
 New ^V )rld 
 nstance the 
 about one 
 extent and 
 )uld contain 
 h'ans.) 
 
 and of good heart, and other things. He answered, " How 
 can a man be joyful who has so much to account foi- to 
 God !" I have thought it right to record this here, so that 
 judges, by judging as they would be judged, and looking 
 Avell after their own conduct, may not have eternally to 
 weep in the world to come ! 
 
 KNi) OF tup: sKCONn book. 
 
 * 23 
 
170 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 BY 
 
 GIROLAMO BENZONI, 
 
 A MILANESE. 
 
 i 
 
 4. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 Francesco Pizarko, Diego d'Almagro, and Fernando de 
 Luque, were rich in Panama, but hearing tliat assuredly all 
 the southern coast abounded in gold, silver, turquoises, and 
 emeralds, they combined together and determined to go and 
 discover new countries ; each promising faithfully to do his 
 duty and share in a brotherly manner all the riches, the 
 lands, and the people whom they should find and conquer. 
 Having made this agreement, they bought two ships, with 
 arms and ammunition ; and they raised two hundred and 
 twenty soldiers. And thus, in the year 1526, Pizarro and 
 Almagro left Panama within a few days of each other ; ap- 
 pointing the priest to provide whatever was requisite. When 
 Pizarro had navigated about three hundred miles, he landed 
 in a spot where the natives, making some resistance, killed 
 several Spaniards and wounded him, with some others. 
 After this bad beginning he returned to Panama, repenting 
 of having entered on such an enterprise. 
 
 Almagro entered a river, which he named San Giocanni, 
 and was well received by the natives, who gave him upwards 
 
HISTORY 01' IMF, \K\V WOltl.l). 
 
 171 
 
 
 of tlircc tliousand ducats' wortli of gold. lie then put to sea 
 iigaiu, and coasting along readied the spot where his com- 
 l)anion liad been so ill-treated. He landed, the Indians 
 attacked him, and a stone which they threw wounded him 
 in the eye, so that he afterwards lost it. They also killed 
 and ill-treated sonic of his people, obliging him likewise to 
 return to J'anamu. On rejoining I'izarro he revealed to him 
 tluit the country he had discovered was very rich in gold ; 
 he was therefore of opinion that they should again prepare 
 their forces to go and conquer it : wherefore, as soon as they 
 had recovered irom their wounds, they started with two 
 hundred soldiers, a great many Indian servants, tM^o ships, 
 and several boats of the country, made of the trunk of a tree.' 
 VV ith great trouble, on account of the current, they reached 
 (lie same part of the coast, though not the same spot they 
 went to before. On their landing, the natives, not likiiiir 
 tins bearded people, attacked them most vigorously, slew 
 many, and in this manner obliged them to retreat to the 
 little island of Gor(/ona, uninhabited, and within six miles of 
 the mainland. Desirous of acquiring that province, on ac- 
 count of the great shew of gold that they had observed, and 
 not having men enough for such an enterprise, Diego del 
 Magro went to Panama for a fresh supply : and thus, though 
 rather late, he returned with eighty-five Spaniards, and 
 found I'izarro with all his people half starved. The biscuit 
 and wine, however, and other things that he brought, soon 
 restored tliem. Then they started, and twenty-five miles 
 furtlier on they disembarked, thinking they should all be- 
 come rich. But a considerable number of natives overtook 
 and boldly attacked them with their lances and stones, killed 
 some of the Si)aniards, and repelled the rest from their coun- 
 try. Finding their measures thus frustrated, they retired to 
 
 ' Theuo f)air/te dd paese, were the well-known canoes of those regions 
 —the uionuxyla of Greece ; cmbarcations which wore generally a<.hq>ted 
 L<j the uuLuve of the coast they pertaiucJ to. (Trans.) 
 
172 
 
 HISTORY OK TllF, NKW WORLD. 
 
 an uninhabited island, ■vvliicli, from liavini^ a promontory 
 shaped somewhat like a cock, the Spaniards called by that 
 name, Isla del GaUo. 
 
 Pizarro, being greatly enraged against tliose pcoj)lc for 
 having destroyed a great portion of his soldiers, and desirous 
 of revenging himself, sent his colleague to Panama, urging 
 him to bring as many men as possible. A\'lien Alnuigro was 
 about to start, some Spaniards wished to accompany him, 
 they being melancholy and ailing, cursing the country and 
 its riches ; but their leaders would not consent to it, nor 
 M'"erc they allowed to write, lest they should abuse the coun- 
 try and dishearten fresh succours ; but nevertheless it be- 
 came known, for some Spaniards wrote secretly of the death 
 and trials that they had had to struggle with, as well as of the 
 extremity of affairs, and the sterility of the country; comi)lain- 
 ing both of Almagro and Pizarro, because they would not con- 
 sent to their returning to Panama, although they were in a 
 bad state. 
 
 Then, when Almagro reached Panama, he found that 
 Pietro di Funnc had arrived as governor of that province, 
 ■who had no sooner heard the news than he immediately sent 
 off one of his followers to the Isla del Gallo to Francisco 
 Pizarro with provisions, but strict orders that no Spaniard 
 should be detained there against his will. When he arrived 
 at the island, and Pizarro saw the governor's orders, he was 
 deeply grieved, for the greater part of the Spaniards who 
 were with him went away. The rest who remained, about 
 fourteen, and mostly sailors, were very much praised by him, 
 and he made them great offers, entreating them to have 
 patience till Diego Almagro should come with reinforce- 
 ments. They thus remained in that island several days, 
 eating oysters, shrimps, and fish,^ until Almagro sent a ship 
 
 ^ This islet must have afforded miserable quarters for such a party, it 
 being small, and though furnishing wood and water, it possessed nothing 
 else. It is close to the mainland, and affords tolerable anchorage. {Trans.) 
 
f 
 
 iiisioKY ()!• ■nil-: m;\v would. 
 
 173 
 
 ship 
 
 witli provisions : hut without any mm, on acroiint of tlic 
 I), 1(1 icpdi ts whicli liiul rcarlu'd I'anaiiiii of tliosc countries, 
 rizano lound liinisclf thus with very ftw foUowcrs, poor, and 
 witlioul; hopes of any assistance. After havinq discussed ^vith 
 thcni as lo w hat shouhl be done, they at hist all agrcu'd to 
 1 iin al<>n<4 sliore to sec if they could find a good country ; 
 and havinj,- sailed ahoul five hundred miles, they landed in 
 Clitni, a jirovince of I'eru. 'J'hey seized some native sheep ; 
 and also several young Indians, so that they might teach them 
 the Spanish language. They then returned to Tf/nihcs, on 
 account of the report they had iVom the inliabitants, of the 
 great riclu s of that nation ; but there not being a single 
 Spaniard who had the couiage to land, on account of the 
 great muUitiuh; of Indians along the shore, Victro, a native 
 of the island of Candia, determined to venture ; so, M'ith a 
 two-handed sword, he went on shore, and not without great 
 admiration on th(.' jiart of the Indians, seeing such a man 
 with a beard. He was niucli caressed by the chieftain. lie 
 entered the foi'tress, in which there was a temple dedicated 
 to the sun, so richly adorned that he was greatly astonished, 
 and abiiost thought it was a dream. At the gate he saw 
 some animals like lions ( punias), and two tigers {j'arjuars), 
 which shewed him no ill will. Then, when the chief wished 
 to give him some golden jewels, he dissembled, giving them 
 to understand that he did not seek for such things; but, 
 returning tt) the ship, he detaih>d all. Pizarro, greatly 
 delighted at having found so rich a country, immediately 
 pnt his ship about and returned to Panama; there he re- 
 lated to his friends the great fertility of the country, to whom 
 it belonged, and tlu^ riches of 'Tiunhcs. In consequence of 
 this good iiews, they could scarcely contain themselves ; 
 Avherefore Almagro and Fernando de Luquc proposed to 
 send Francisco Fizarro to Spain, to ask for the contpiest of 
 Tnmbcs from the emperor : and being devoid of money, in 
 consequence of having em])loyed all their means in the 
 
174 
 
 inSTOHY OF TlIK NEW WORM). 
 
 (liscoviry of these new countries, tluy now borrowed 
 from their friends uhout fifteen hundred goklen ducats, and 
 Iwiving given th(Mn to ]*iz;irro for his expenses, he departed. 
 On arriving in Spain he presented himself to the council of 
 the Indies, and after describing to them the countries that 
 ho had found, and the expense which he had incurred, as 
 well as the hardships that ho had undergone, and promising 
 very great treasures to the crown of Castile, he asked for 
 the government and the conquest of Tumlx's for himself 
 only, without making the slightest mention of his compa- 
 nions. Having thus obtained all he asked, procured pro- 
 visions, obtained a confirmation from the emperor, and raised 
 some soldiers, he went to St. Lucar de liarameda ; where he 
 embarked and sailed with four brothers, that is to say, 
 Fernando, (ionzalo, Giovan Pizarro, and Martino dc Al- 
 cantara.' With a prosperous wind, they soon arrived at 
 Nomhre de .Dius, and from thence he sailed to Panama. 
 
 He was magnificently received by his companions; but 
 when they learned that he had negotiated in Spain only for 
 himself, they could no longer bear him, especially Diego 
 d'Almagro could not find peace, as he considered that he had 
 spent all he possessed and much more than Pizarro, and had 
 lost an eye and three years' time in that discovery ; besides 
 all which, he had borrowed the money to send him to Spain 
 to obtain favour for the whole company and not for himself 
 alone. Pizarro, wishing to appease Almagro, said that the 
 emperor would only grant him the conquest of Ttimhcs, but 
 bade his friend be of good cheer, promising on his faith to 
 procure him seme other government in the same country ; 
 and, moreover, that being his partner, he might arrange 
 everything to his taste as if he was governor. Almagro, 
 however, disregarding all his arguments, not only would not 
 believe them, but they irritated him greatly against Pizarro; 
 
 ^ Alcantara was a lialf-brother of the coiKjUoror, by the mother's side, 
 ami icU while gallantly dci'ending him from the Ahuagriaus. {Trans.) 
 
 \ 
 
I 
 
 HISTOKY OF TIIK XMW WOKM). 
 
 175 
 
 I 
 
 .10, 
 
 '■■) 
 
 so that he puhlirly accused hitn of Itciii^ a liar, and a faitli- 
 Icss man. After passinj^ several days in (lis])utrs and recri- 
 minations, more from the press of circumstances than from 
 inclination, fc«ling himself immersed in heavy cx[)enses with 
 little money and without provisions ; knowing hesides that 
 Almat^ro had i)l(>nty, though on account of their animosities 
 lie would not grant him any, and considering that unh^ss 
 th( y were reconciled, his affairs would not thrive, so that he 
 could not well proceed to his government — Pizarro entreated 
 Dr. della (Jama to make peace hetwceu them. This was 
 soon accompliNJied, and the doctor insisted on Almagro's 
 gi\' g l)ofh arms and horses to I'izarro, as wtU as other am- 
 niuuition that he possessed, hesides a certain sum of money ; 
 Almagro sharing equally in tlr.' honours and dignities that 
 the emperor had granted to Francis Pizarro. 
 
 The league being thus renewed, leaving out Fernando 
 do liUque, the other companion, they made peace: and that 
 nohody should doubt of their promised faith, they took the 
 wafer consecrateul by the most holy sacrament, swearing 
 never to break their word ; but to cherish their mutual 
 friendship till death. On this compact, Francisco Pizarro 
 left Panami\ with a hundred and fifty soldiers and many 
 horses ; enjoining Diego d'Almagro to follow him as soon 
 as possible with more men. 
 
 He reached Colonchic, in the province of Guancavilichi, 
 and passing over to Puna, he was kindly received by the 
 native chief; who perceiving, however, the very bad conduct 
 of the Christians, in going from house to house seeking gold 
 and silver, seizing the women, and doing other things besides 
 which men are apt to perpetrate in warfare, — with a con- 
 siderable number of Indians took up arms, and attacking the 
 Spaniards, hoped to turn them out of the island. But when 
 they encountered each other, the chief could not long resist 
 the shock of the enemy ; and suffering great loss, soon 
 sought shelter in the woods. Pizarro made very cruel use 
 
\1(\ 
 
 IMSTOUY OF Tin; xr.w wonr.i). 
 
 of liis victory ; uikI with many Spaniards ])assc(l on to 
 Tiimlics,^ fifty lullcs distant iVoin the island, lie landed 
 tlicrc, but tlu; natives liavin<? licard how ill tlio Spaniards 
 had behaved at Puna, retired into a fort at a little distanee 
 from the shore. I'i/arro s(Mit to ask the governor of the 
 province to eoinc and sec him, as he very much desired his 
 friendship ; but he not only v, uiscd to do so, but, with all 
 his might, did him the utmost harm he possibly could. Not- 
 withstanding this, I'i/arro one night crossed the riv(M', with 
 a considerid)le portion of his people and sonu' good guides ; 
 walking among thorns they fell upon the enemy, who were 
 confidently sleeping, and made a great slaughter of them, 
 lie then returned to Tiimhos, captured the whole of it, and 
 spoiled and sacked the temple of the Sun entirely. 
 
 At this time, Atabaliba, king oi' Peru, was at Cdssianutlcd, 
 and hearing that a nation with beards and possessing ter- 
 rible animals had entered his country, pillaging and murdiir- 
 ing everywhere, he sent an ambassador to Francisco I'izarro, 
 threatening that he would make him rej)ent if he did not 
 leave his vassals unmolested and return to his own country. 
 IMzarro gave for answer, that he was not wilfully inclined to 
 offend any one, but had come to do them a service, and to 
 benefit everybody that was inclined to accept of his friend- 
 ship ; which had been commanded him by his lord the em- 
 peror : nor could he return to Spain without great blame if 
 lie did not first see his royal person, and inform him of 
 useful things for the happiness both of the soul and body. 
 Thus I'izarro marched towards Cassiamalra, and entered 
 the province of (Jhira, the chiefs of that district entreating 
 his friendship ; they being bitter enemies of Atabaliba, 
 
 ' Tumbez, which figureil with its temples and palaces in those fla3's, 
 was reduced to a hamlet of huts and wigwams when we arrived off its 
 Salto, or cove so named ; even the very stones are gone, so that it is 
 periere riuniv w'lih a vengeance. Still there is a little commerce in cocoa, 
 carubba, fruits, and other products ; among which we were surprised to 
 find golden-pippin apples. {Tram^.) 
 
■•^TouY or riiK NKW woKin 
 
 n; 
 
 y. 
 
 wliom tlicy accut.^'d of luiving usurped tlicir comitiy from 
 
 tlu 111. 
 
 'Ilicit Ixiiit; ii iiiiv ij^iiltlr rinr licic, lie (omuli'd a city, 
 lallid it Sf. MIiIkk'I,^ and shared out all the booty {fnffo 
 t/tfrilo r' /inrrrd /it(//ia(i)) ; so that each man ><honld take earc 
 of his own property. Atahaliha hearini,' what the ( 'hri^tians 
 >vere (Iniii!^ ; that tin)' wei'e few, fati^'iicd, and eonld not 
 walk, liut rode on ^wwl /xn/ii, the name thi'V ijive to horses, 
 Ian;^hcd at the lieard((l men, and sent hack his ainhassadors 
 to say, they liad hetter not ad\an((' any farther if tliey held 
 their lives precious. Tlzarro replied that he was in duty hound 
 to see his t^reatness with due honour; he therefore ur^cd 
 his troops on, ami reachin;^' CdssiaiiKilcd, lie sent the captain 
 of his cavalry to see the kini^', who had retreated twt) miles 
 Iroin tiie town on account of the Spaniards arrivini^. And 
 they, on comin<ir in si«;ht of the king's suite, beifan to show 
 <»fl' their horses, making them curvet and gallop. Ilereat tin; 
 natives were greatly alarmed at these new monsters ; hut 
 the king showed no change at all, only he complaiiu'd of the 
 disrespectful conduct of the bearded men. M'ith the aid of 
 the interpreter, Fernando Pi/arro notilied to his majesty 
 that he was brotlicr of the caiitain who came from (Ja.;tile, 
 commissioned by tlie ])ope and tin,' emperor, desirous of 
 being friends with him, and requesting him to return to the 
 tOMU to hear the messages they had to deliver to him ; after 
 which they would retire to their own country. iVtabaliba 
 answered that he would do everything, provided they ([uitted 
 his country ; with these conditions i'ernando returned, and 
 related the wonderful riches and great disj)lay of the king, 
 as also his royal will, that he would not sufiiL'r any bearded 
 
 its 
 
 to 
 
 • The wonl cittu is often iiidcfiiiitoly used Ky the Italians. It is 
 probable that the Sau j\Iiguel of loiio, l)cinj^ intendeJ for securing rein- 
 lorcenients or retreat, stood at the mouth of the river : the present sub- 
 stantial town is thirty miles inlaml, in a well-cultivated plain, and near 
 a volcano of the same name. {Traas.) 
 
 s.i 
 
178 
 
 IIISTOIIY OF TlIK NKW >VOUI,I). 
 
 W 
 M 
 
 men in his kingdom. In the night, the Spanish officers 
 prepared everything for battle, encouraging tiieir men, and 
 hokling out to them that the natives -sverc beasts, wretchedly- 
 frightened at the horses. Stationing his sokliers, and phicing 
 his guns around the palace, so as to command the gates, he 
 ordered that no man should move until a given signal. In 
 the course of the day the king came, attended by above 
 twenty-five thousand men, carried in triumph, adorned with 
 a number of golden wreaths and beautiful feathers of various 
 colours, drest in a shirt withoiit sleeves, only a decent band 
 of cotton round his middle ; a tassel. of very fine red wool on 
 the left side of his head shaded his brows, and his shoes 
 were almost apostolical. He thus entered triumphantly into 
 the city and palace, feeling quite safe, to hear the messages 
 of the bearded men. Brother Vincente de V'alverde, of the 
 order of St. Dominic, with his cross and breviary in his 
 hand, advanced to the presence of his majesty, as if to 'nakc 
 that monarch believe that he had some great theologian 
 before him. By means of the interpreter, he gave him to 
 understand that he came to his excellency commissioned by 
 his sacred majesty the emperor, with the authority of the 
 Koman pontiff", celestial vicar of our Saviour, who had given 
 him the unknown countries, so that he might send there 
 worthy persons to preach and to publish his most holy name, 
 doing away with their false and diabolical errors ■ thus say- 
 ing, he shewed him the law of God, who created all out of 
 nothing. lie related the beginning of Adam and of Eve, 
 and how Jesus Christ descended from heaven, and was in- 
 carnate in the virgin's womb, how he then died on the cross, 
 and rose again to redeem mankind ; having then reascended 
 to heaven he confirmed the resurrection of the dead, and the 
 life of Peter his first vicar ; he shewed the authority of the 
 pontiffs his successors ; and finally, the authority of the 'jm- 
 pcror and king of Spain, monarch of the world. He con- 
 cluded with shewing the king that it was his duty to become 
 
niSTOIlY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 179 
 
 a friend and tributary^ submitting to tlio divine law and 
 Christian religion, al-andoning the false gods,-" and if you 
 tlo nut accede to this, war will compel you to it.'" 
 
 When the king had heard all this, he said that he would 
 live in friendship with the monarch of the Avorld ; but it did 
 not seem, to him, incumbent on a fro king to pay tribute to 
 a person whom he had never seen : and that the pontiff must 
 be a great fool, giving away so liberally the property of 
 others. As to the religion, he would on no account r,ban- 
 don his own ; for if they believed in Christ who died on the 
 cross, he bc^lieved in the sun, who never died, Then he 
 asked tlie Dominican how he knew that the God of the 
 Christians had made the world from nothing, and that he 
 died Oil a cross ? 'J'hc monk answered that that book said 
 so, handing it to Atabaliba, who took it, and after looking at 
 it laughed and said:-*' This says nothing to me," so threw 
 It on the ground ; whence the monk took it back again, and 
 immediately called out with a loud voice,—" Vengeance, 
 Tengeance, Christians, for the gospels are despised and 
 thrown on the ground! Kid these cloffs, who despise the 
 law of Ciod." Francisco Pizarro having unfurled his fia^s, 
 gave the order for battle. Thus the first guns were fired ; 
 and immediately on this alarm the horses followed, A.-ith bells' 
 round their necks and on their legs, making a great noise, 
 added to the crashing of the trumpets and drums. Laying' 
 hands on their arms they attacked the Indians, who, stupified 
 by so much novelty, by such ferocious animals, and by the 
 sharpness of the swords, began to clear away and fly in utter 
 disorder. Owing to their very great multitude they trod 
 each other down, and were suffocated on the ground ; so that 
 the lancos and the swords made the most horrid havoc of 
 t hem in their attempt to escape : happy he who could get away 
 
 » "^6- no>i Jo f arete, la guerm vi sforzem a qvestor In other words, 
 the ranting Domiuican said to tlie unoffending sovereign of anotlier 
 people—" Do as you like ; but if you don't, we'll make you !" {Trans.) 
 
If 
 
 180 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW AVOllMl. 
 
 to save his life. Pizarro, with his foot-sokliers, went towards 
 Atabaliba, who was sunountled by a number of Indians ; 
 and since none of them defended themselves, by tlieir 
 death he cut himself a way ; and reaching his highness, he 
 wounded those who i upported him ; and every man, by 
 killing the natives, hoped to be the first to take the king 
 prisoner. He was already falling from his high seat, when 
 Francis Pizarro seized him by the shirt, and he fell on the 
 ground without being able to defend himself at all ; so he 
 surrendered, and in this manner was Atabaliba taken and 
 imprisoned, without the Spaniards suffering either a death 
 or a wound, except Pizarro, who, when sei'^ing the king, 
 received a hurt in his hand from a soldier, which was aimed 
 r* au Indian. Fernando Pizarro scoured the country all 
 tiat day with the cavalry, killing the natives in all direc- 
 tions, not pardoning one. Meanwhile the monk was going 
 about urging on the soldiers to kill by thrusts, lest by using 
 the sharp edge of their svords they might break them. After 
 this sanguinary and terrible victory over that miserable and 
 unhappy nation, they passed the night in dancing and luxu- 
 rious feasting.^ 
 
 Pizarro went the next day to visit Atabaliba, and soothed 
 him ; but bade him not to fear dying. The king complained 
 of being hurt by his chains ; and perceiving what the Span- 
 iards sought for, told Pizarro that if he would liberate him he 
 would give him gold and silver vases enough to fill that hail 
 up as high as they could reach with their hands ; and with 
 the condition, besides, that the chains should not be broken 
 nntil he had paid this sum. Pizarro being content >vith such 
 au arrangement, and .^itabaliba, desirous of his liberty, trusting 
 
 4. 
 it 
 
 ^ In this sad warfare, p.ccording to one Spanish writer, two thousand 
 Peruvians were slain, while another author swells the number to six o** 
 seven thousand, and a third says five thousand. All the authirities, how- 
 ever, agree with Ben/.oni, that — most unhappilij — the only Spaniard 
 hurt was Pizario. {Truns.) 
 
HISTORY OV TIIK N KW WORLD. 
 
 181 
 
 |ni he 
 hail 
 
 Iwith 
 (ken 
 iuch 
 iting 
 
 isand 
 
 lix c 
 
 |how- 
 
 liard 
 
 to tlic invader's promise, immediately sent some of his captains 
 to all those provinces, and especially to Cusco, six hundred 
 miles distant iiom Cnssiamcdca, with express orders that as 
 soon as they possibly could they should provide means for his 
 ransom. Thus, in a short time, there began to come from 
 many places a number of Indians loaded with gold and silver. 
 ]3ut above a month having elapsed without much more than 
 the half having arrived, the sum being great, the Spaniards 
 began to murmur, saying that Atabaliba, under colour of 
 sending to colk^ct the ransom, was levying a large army to 
 destroy them all. They therefore urged Pizarro to murder 
 him ; and without doubt he would have done it, if he had 
 not been deterred by certain gentlemen of the force. 
 
 Atabaliba hearing this report, complained very much of 
 Pizarro, saying that he had not the least reason to be angry 
 :vith him, that men were being collected in his kingdom only 
 to carry the ransom, and it having to come from a distant coun- 
 try it could not arrive very soon ; but that if he did not be- 
 lieve his words, he might send some of his own people to Cusco, 
 whence the greater part of the treasure had to come. He 
 therefore sent Captain Sotto there, with two other Spaniards, 
 and they found it all true ; for on the way they met a great 
 number of Indians loaded with vases of gold and silver. 
 But anxious to see the riches of Cusco. they would not turn 
 back. Fernando Pizarro, commissioned by his brother, went 
 Avith some cavalry scouring through several districts, and 
 similarly found many laden Indians going to Cassiamalca, 
 and, proceeding onwards, he went to the country of Pa- 
 cama, whence he brought away a good quantity of gold and 
 silver. 
 
 When the ransom was at last completed, a -id added to the 
 booty, it exceeded two millions of gold.' A fifth was put 
 
 intagcs in riches and territory which rewarded 
 marauders, show how accidentally the fate 
 of iialious may be decided. When I'izarro lauded, a civil war was raging 
 
 ' The surprising adv 
 the duiing eilVontory of tl 
 
\ 
 
 182 
 
 IIISTOIIY OF TIIK NEW WOULD. 
 
 aside for the king of Spain, and the remainder was shared 
 out according to the several merits and rights, so that every 
 man should take care of his own property. At this time, 
 Diego d'Almagro arrived, and to prevent his making a tu- 
 mult, he and his soldiers were allowed their share ; to some 
 five hundred, and to some a thousand ducats. The con- 
 queror then sent Fernando Pizarro to Spain with the king's 
 fifth, and informed his majesty of everything. Several of 
 the Spaniards went away in his company, with their riclios to 
 the value of full thirty or forty thousand ducats. Having 
 arranged all this husiness, Francis Pizarro and Diego d'Al- 
 magro, with several other captains, then consulted among 
 themselves, what was to be done with Atabaliba ; some say- 
 ing that he should be killed, others that he should be re- 
 leased, and there were some who thought he should be sent 
 to Spain to the emperor. Finally, after each had given his 
 opinion, it was decided by the greater part that he should 
 die. Some say that an Indian named Filippello was the 
 cause of his death, by having revealed to Francis Pizarro, 
 that Atabaliba was in secret collecting men to fall on the 
 Spaniards, and that therefore they executed him. I have 
 heard, however, that from the time of his taking him prisoner, 
 Pizarro always intended to make away with him, the better 
 to subjugate and govern the country; concluding that when 
 the head was dead, the limbs would fall into perpetual ser- 
 vitude. If this had not been true and he had not consented 
 to his death, he could have honourably sent him to Spain to 
 the emperor, as Atabaliba often entreated him to do ; and 
 God, in fact, permitted that all those who consented to his 
 death, should come to a bad end. When Atabaliba heard 
 the tidings that he was to die, grievously sighing, he began 
 to shed tears, greatly complaining of the perfidy of those 
 
 between Atabaliba — or Atahualpa — and his brother Huascar; a fortu- 
 nate coincidence of which the Spanish leader never could have dreamt. 
 Hence his unmolested march into the heart of a great empire. {Trans.) 
 
I 
 
 IIISTOHY OF THE NEW WOULD. 
 
 183 
 
 a tu- 
 
 those 
 
 fortu- 
 Joanit. 
 mas.) 
 
 4 
 
 wretched, bad, and wicked hairy men. And when Plzarro 
 announced the sentence to him, humbly praying to him as 
 they do to the sun, which is their princii)al deity, he said 
 these words to him : — 
 
 " I liave been much surprised at thee, oh captain, that having 
 given me thy word, that I having delivered to thee the pro- 
 mised ran.-om, thou wouldst not only free me from chains, 
 but restore me to liberty, and go away from my country, 
 but now thou hast sentenced me to death ; and if Filippcllo 
 has told thee that I am contriving how to kill all you bearded 
 men, he has not told truth, for I never imagined such a thing, 
 so that I pray thee to be content and grant me my life ; as I 
 have never thought or committed any harm towards thee de- 
 serving of death. And if thou wilt not believe me, send me 
 to Spain to the emperor, and I will present a quantity of 
 gold and silver to him : but if thou killest me, I warn thee 
 that my vassals will create anothe" king, and will kill the 
 whole of you bearded men ; whereas if you let me live, I 
 wil^ keep the country quiet, and no one will dare to move." 
 AVhen Atabaliba had finished his discourse with many tears, 
 Pizarro answered that the sentence could not be annulled ; 
 and thus with a rope round his neck, wound round a piece 
 of wood, called by the Spaniards garotta^ he sent him to be 
 strangled by some INIoors, — and this was the end of king 
 Atabaliba. He was of moderate stature, wise, energetic, 
 and desirous of empire. When Pizarro entered the country 
 he Mas at war with Guascar, his elder brother, successor to 
 the paternal kingdom, and then he had him put to death. 
 He had a great many wives, and the legitimate one was his 
 sister, named Pagha j he left some children. Of all the 
 
 ' u"ds shewed him, none 
 
 igs 
 
 Spi 
 
 pk 
 
 ' This is a very early mention of tlio now too well known garotte, a 
 peculiar mode of straugliii.if. In iMlOwe witnessei.l an execution of this 
 sort at Cadiz, on a Spaniard who had been detected in firing rockets from 
 the roof of his house as signals to Marraont's besieging camp. {Trans.) 
 
184 
 
 IIISTOllY OF THK NKW WOKI.D. 
 
 ^ : 
 
 more than glass ; and he said to Pizarro that he was very 
 much surprised that having so beautiful a thing in Castile, 
 he went to foreign countries seeking so rough a metal as gold 
 or silver. His father Avas named Guainacava {Iliiana Capac), 
 and was so esteemed and honoured by his vassals, that they 
 still weep for him, and hold it for certain that he will soon 
 come to life again, to govern the country afresh, lie lies 
 buried on the borders of Chito (Quito), where all his ances- 
 tors also lit ; with a very great quantity of gold and silver, 
 fashioned into the form of men and women, and even into 
 the shape of various sorts of animals and fishes. And although 
 several Spaniards have applied torture to a great many 
 Indians to make them confess where he is buried, there has 
 been no w ay of getting them to do it ; nor would they reveal 
 it, even though they were all put to death. 
 
 After the murder of the king, Francis Pizarro quitted 
 Cassiamalca and went in the direction of Czisco, the capital of 
 the kingdom of Peru : there he met Quisquiz, the captain- 
 general of Atabaliba, who, collecting a great many men, had 
 entered on the campaign, with a confident high-minded de- 
 termination to kill all the bearded men and avenge the death 
 of his king. But after some skirmishing, and finally with 
 great loss on the part of the Indians, Pizarro routed them, 
 left Almagro to pursue them with a few soldiers, and losing 
 only five Spaniards, passed on. Arriving in sight of Cusco, 
 and seeing several fires, he thought that the inhabitants had 
 flown and had set fire to the town ; to assure himself of this, 
 he sent some of his cavalry on to reconnoitre. They found 
 that these were signal-fires, to make known that the gover- 
 nor of the bearded men had arrived. The headstrong 
 Spaniards had got close up to the town, when they were 
 quickly repelled with stones; at this moment Pizarro overtook 
 the party, and seeing them on the retreat he rallied them, and 
 then forming them into one body, he spurred all the horse 
 on furiously together. Wounding and killing, he routed 
 
 * 
 
 •i 
 
IIISTOKY OF THK NEW WORM). 
 
 185 
 
 I 
 
 )sing 
 
 )vcr- 
 trong 
 hverc 
 
 L'took 
 and 
 
 lorse 
 
 luted 
 
 the enemy ; so that affrighted by the horses and by the edge 
 of the .sword, they even threw down their arms to run the 
 faster. But night ch^^ing in, IMzarro feared some ambus- 
 cade, anc' therefore rested there, which gave the Indians 
 time to reach the hills, together with their sheep, their 
 shirts,' and their salt. 
 
 The following Jay Pizarro marched into the town, slew 
 the garrison, made some prisoners, sacked the houses, and 
 pillaged the very rich Temple of the Sun. "Wherefore Cusco 
 afforded greater booty than did Atabaliba at Cassimalca. 
 Still, not yet satisfied, but mad with gluttonous avarice, and 
 all insatiable for gold, under every sort of torment, full of 
 cruelty, they tortured their prisoners to reveal their buried 
 treasures ; so that we might exclaim — " Oh how many Neros, 
 how many Domltians, how many Commodi, how many 
 Bassiani, how many hateful Dionysii crossed over into that 
 country ! There have been Spaniards, who, for amusement, 
 used to kill Indians, and gave them tc be eaten by their dogs. 
 Having sacked Cusco, and shared the country among them, 
 the marquis returned to the sea-coast, where meeting Diego 
 d'Almagro, he sent him to be governor of that province ; 
 and he founded the City of the Khigs oii the banks of the 
 river Lima. 
 
 After this, Pizarro passed over to Trigilio, to divide the 
 Indians among the conquerors. At the same epoch Diego 
 d'Almagro received a letter from the emperor constituting 
 him mareschal of Peru, and governor of three hundred miles 
 of country beyond Pizarro's jurisdiction. With this good 
 news, and seeing that Cusco was not Avithin Pizarro's domain, 
 he began to share out the Indians in his own way. But Pizarro 
 hearing of it, immediately sent his brother John, with some 
 other Spaniards, ordering them to oppose Almagro's making 
 any alteration whatever in the country without his permis- 
 
 ' From this it would appear that they held their acmicie or sleeveless 
 shirts in great estimation. {Trann.) 
 
186 
 
 HISTORY OF THK NFW >VORI,I>, 
 
 bion ; and as they returned without coming to any conclu- 
 sion, Pizarro went tlicre liiniself, post liaste. Ho entered 
 Cusco and found Ahnagro ; they argued together, but the 
 latter — on the strength of the imperial letter — would not 
 obey the marquis; yet feeling that he was inferior in strength, 
 he pretended at last to be quite reconciled to his will. The 
 Indians meanwhile, seeing that their country was going to 
 destruction and ruin, and that fresh Spanish succours arrived 
 daily, were desirous before they increased too much, to re- 
 cover their liberty. To divide the Christian forces, they 
 spread a report that the country of Chili, a thousand miles 
 distant from Cusco, towards the Strait of Magalianes,^ 
 abounded in gold and silver, and in everything else requisite 
 to sustain life. Pizarro seeing that this was a good opportu- 
 nity of getting Ahnagro out of Cusco, urged him on, until 
 he persuaded him to depart. 
 
 They agreed that if he found the country good, the govern- 
 ment of it should be procured from the emperor for him ; 
 and if not, that he shoiild return and they would share the 
 country they had already discovered and conquered, accord- 
 ing to the covenant they came to in Panamd. Then they 
 again took many oaths that they would always remain friends; 
 and with this resolution, Almagro put himself into marching 
 order, preparing arms and horses, and everything else that 
 was necessary for the entcrprize ; then with five hundred 
 men and a great many Indian servants, he took his depar- 
 ture. He underwent on the march great and heavy hardships, 
 traversing mountains that are constantly capped with snow, 
 whereby a considerable number of the Indians died from 
 cold, as well as some Spaniards and horses, until he at last 
 reached the country of Chili. Not long after his departure 
 
 ^ This is only a variation in the same name (p. 41) of the Strait of 
 Magellan : those, therefore, vho cite him as an authority for assigning 
 the name of the navigator, Martin Behaini, to that impi^rtant passage, 
 are entirely wrong. {Trans.) 
 
HISTORY OK TIIK NF.W WOULD. 
 
 1S7 
 
 »S 
 
 from Cnsco, Fernando IMzarro arrived at Lima Avltli the im- 
 perial orders ; one conferred on his brother the title ol' niar- 
 (|uis, the other was addressed to Diego d'Alniagro, con- 
 formable to the letters that the cinpenn- had writt'^n him, as 
 before related, \\hich gave rise to most cruel wars between 
 them ; ending at List in the one adventurer being strangled 
 in prison, and the other murdered in hi.s own house. This 
 you will read when I come to treat of the civil wars ; nor of 
 these men ;-hall I relate more tha is manifest to everybody ; 
 for having often heard them the subject of conversation, I 
 liave found that in many ])<irticulars, the one relation did 
 not agree with the other, because each individual favoured 
 his own h-adcr : and I must say, moreover, that truth did 
 not abound in that country. 
 
 In this interim, ^lango Inga, brother of Atabaliba, on 
 whose head ]'"rancis Pizarro had put the crown, shewing 
 himself a tumultuous man, Ferdinand put him in prison with 
 irons on his feet, in the fortress of Cusco. But shortly after, 
 by giving his brother John a good quantity of gold, and 
 promising to be faithful to him, he obtained his liberty. 
 JMango finding himself thus free, and seeing that the Span- 
 iards M'erc divided into various bands, who went about rob- 
 bing, burning, ruining, and conquering all the country, — 
 invited many chiefs and organized a rebellion ; and when he 
 had prepared everything requisite for war, he began to 
 scour through several districts, and killed many Spaniards 
 in the mines, who were with the Indians working out gold.' 
 He sent one of his chiefs with a considerable body of men to 
 Cusco, and haviiig entered the town, he inunediately took 
 the fortress, and slew John Fizarro with a number of his 
 
 1 Dciizoui's — " iiinmii::o molti SjHtgmwli die stnvano nelle unnicre, 
 con (jT Istc-isi liulin.ai che cavacdno Voro''' — would load to an inference 
 that in 10;i5 the two people were labouring together : but Zarate ex- 
 pressly says, that the Si)auiards were then sapcrintendinr/ the working of 
 the mines. (7'ran,-^.) 
 
188 
 
 IIISTOUY Ol- Tin; NKW WORLD. 
 
 companions. In a short time the Spaniards regained that 
 post; just alter which, Mango Inga suddenly arriving with 
 upwards of a hundred thousand men, retook and burnt it, 
 killing the greater part of the Spaniards. 
 
 The marquis hearing of Mango's rebellion, and not being 
 aware of the great body of men that he had in the field, s(»nt 
 Diego rizarro with seventy-five Spaniards, who were all 
 killed ; as well as Captain Morgovio, with many other Span- 
 iards, who started from Guamango to go to rescue Cusco. 
 Again the marquis sent eighty horsemen, under Gonzalo dc 
 Tapia, who, with the greater part of his men, were similarly 
 massacred near Guamango ; and then he despatched fifty 
 Spaniards under Captain Gaete. At last, after the lapse of 
 many days, the marquis getting no news, either from his bro- 
 thers or his captains, began to fear some evil ; he therefore 
 despatched Francisco Godoi, with forty horsemen, to bring 
 him information of all : but being assailed in a narrow pass 
 by the Indians, Godoi saw his men so imperilled that, caring 
 more for his life than for his honour, and knowing that he 
 had a good horse under him, he turned his back ; and on 
 his way heard from some Spaniards all that had happened, 
 lleturning to Lima, he informed the marquis of deaths, ruin, 
 sieges, and destruction ; and, moreover, that a large army 
 was coming in the direction of Lima. Pietro di Lcrma was 
 consequently despatched with fifty horsemen, accompanied 
 by a number of friendly Indians ; on the following day he 
 himself started, and meeting the enemy they fought valor- 
 ously on both sides ; though the Indians, not being able to 
 resist the impetus of the Christians, finally turned their 
 shoulders, and retired to a strong hill not very far from 
 Lima. A great many Indians died in this assault, though 
 only two Spaniards, but a good many were wounded ; and 
 Pietro dair Erma {di Lcrma) had his teeth knocked in by a 
 stone. The marquis was aftlicted with much grief in this 
 unfortunate conjuncture; being left with only four hundred 
 
HISTORY OF TIIK NKW WOULD. 
 
 18!) 
 
 lough 
 
 I; and 
 
 by a 
 
 this 
 
 litlrccl 
 
 men and two Inindrod horses, receiving no news of his bro- 
 thers, and supposing Diego d'Ahnagro to have died in t-liili. 
 Tims straitened by his enemies, and poorly provided with 
 men, he beseeched Allbnzo d'Alvarado, who was conquer- 
 ing Chiachiapoi, to come with his people to his assistance, 
 and he begged aid of Fernando Cortez : he sent to Tniyilio 
 for all the Spaniards, to Pandnid, to Nicar(i(jua, to jSvw 
 Spain, and other places ; Avhereby he obtained succour from 
 everywhere. The first captain who reached Lima was Al- 
 fonzo d'Alvarado, who was appointed captain-general, and 
 with three hundred Spaniards, chiefiy mounted, was sent off 
 directly, not to rest till he had destroyed all the Indians and 
 raised the siege of Cusco. lie went, and chased the natives 
 from the hills around Lima, and then, near Pacama, he met 
 Tizoia, Mango Inga's captain-general, who was in the field 
 Avith upwards of fifty thousand men ; but, meeting in battle, 
 they were defeated and had to retreat. Alvarado went to 
 Saiisa^ for the recovery of his wounded men, and therehe found 
 CJomez di Tordoia, with two hundred Spaniards, sent to his 
 assistance by the marquis. Proceeding in his march he 
 again met Tizoio, who had increased his army, determined 
 to be sure of killing the bearded men, and they fought 
 together desperately ; still in the end the Indians took to 
 flight. 
 
 Whilst these occurrences were taking place, Diego d'Al- 
 magro had quitted Chili, because he found it a poor country 
 in every way ; and he had nearly reached Cusco, when 
 INIango Inga, hearing of his approach, was afraid of being 
 caught between him and the marquis ; wherefore he lost all 
 hope of regaining his kingdom. With twenty thousand men 
 
 ^ Sausa, or Jauja, is about one hundred and twenty miles to the east 
 of Lima, near seme productive silver mines. It now has a population of 
 about fifteen thousand, who carry on a considerable trade in woollens, 
 cattle, and agricultural produce. Moreover, its air is so good, that a fine 
 cavalry biirrack is established there ; thus justifying Alvarado's choice. 
 
100 
 
 ;fistory of thk xkw woum). 
 
 lie abaiulonrd Citsro, and intnulcd to rctrrat, to some moun- 
 tains above GudmatKjd ; but th«' district bcin^ sterile, \\o. 
 cotdd not ieed so many peopb;; and tlicy gradually abandoned 
 him. Thus Mango, unwilling on any terms to accept of the 
 friendship of the Spaniards, renniined among those moun- 
 tains with tiiree or four thousand men. ^^'lu•n the president, 
 Delia (Jasca, entered this kingdom, after cutting offCjion/alo 
 Vizarro's head, as will be related in the secpicl, he sent some 
 Indians to invite ^lango to agree ujion terms without fear 
 of any kind ; for he was come to punish the wicked, to 
 reward the good, to restore peace to the country, and give 
 every man liberty. On the arrival of these messengers, 
 Mango said to his followers: — "Now what do you think 
 this Apo (the name they give to ])rinccs) will do to me when 
 I am in his power T' 'Jhe Indians answered : — " ihey will 
 do to thcc Mhat Francisco I'izarro did to thy brother ; he 
 will demand of thee a house full of gold and silver, and then 
 lie will send thee to be sti ngled :"" — with this answer the 
 mcisengcrs returned. 
 
 AVhen Mango Inga retreated to the mountains as wc have 
 said, Diego d'Almagro shortly after arrived at Cusco ; and 
 desiring to enter the town as governor, Ferdinand Pizarro 
 resisted him, saying, that without the permission of his brother 
 the marquis, as it was in his name that he governed the pro- 
 vince, he could not allow it ; but if he would enter as a 
 private man, he should be welcome, and be lodged together 
 with all his soldiers, until they could learn the will of his 
 brother. Almagro said that it was unnecessary to ask any 
 body's permission to enter his own house ; yet a deal of con- 
 tention ensued to no purpose. Therefore one night, seeing 
 that Fizarro would not on any account admit him into the 
 town, he went' in by the assistance of some friends, and 
 
 ^ This vi entro of IJenzoni's is a very general term for an act wliich, 
 aocorcling to Zaratc, was acconiplisliud with all the violence of a night 
 attack. {Ttaini.) 
 
 1) 
 
IIIHTOUV OI' Tin; NKW woui.n. 
 
 101 
 
 have 
 
 and 
 
 zarro 
 
 other 
 
 pro- 
 
 as a 1 
 
 ether ' 
 
 f his 
 
 L any '. 
 
 con- 1 
 
 }eing 
 
 ) the 
 
 and 
 
 ^hich, 
 
 uiglit \ 
 
 Hcizlng hoth I'ciiliiKUul and (lon/alo I'i/urro, he imprisoned 
 them, the one separate from the other ; he would have even 
 executed Ferdinand as tlie cause of all tlio evil, liad lu. \n.t 
 had very ijjood interee(h>rs. 'Tlie fojlowiiiij; morning-, with 
 tlie consent ol all the (iti/ens, Almau;ro was proclaimed 
 j^^overnor, according to the royal decree ; then havini; a<,'ain 
 lieard that Alfonso Alvarado was in Ahd/irm'u with a great 
 many Spaniards, and fearing he would oppose him, he sent 
 several of his countrymen to desire him to come to 
 Ciittco, and join his army, or otherwise to leave his jurisdic- 
 ti(<n. Jhit not seeing his messengers return, and concluding 
 tluit Alvarado had iletained them, he prepared for hattle : 
 and with a ^ood detachment of soldiers, thouyh Icavini; 
 some faithful friends to guard the town as well as the pri- 
 soners, he started Irom Ciisco. Keaching the river Abttnral 
 one night, aud hearing that the bridge; was strongly guarded, 
 ho went to the ford, there crossed over unheard to the quar- 
 ters of Alvaradt), and succeeded in seizing him and several 
 other Spaniards without any bloodshed. 
 
 I'roud of his victory, Almagro returned to Cusco, boasting 
 he would not rest till he had expelled all the I'izarrists out of 
 Peru. Imprisoning Alvarado, however, together with (ion- 
 /olo l^izarro, they availed themselves of this, and suborning 
 the guards one night by making them very large promises, 
 they both escaped and went to the City of the Kiiujs. When 
 they informed thc^ marquis of all this, he collected five hun- 
 dred soldi(,rs together, with the resolution of going against 
 Dieii'o d'Alnuiyro. But Giovanni de Gusman, the kind's 
 treasurer, and Diego de ^lercato his factor, with some bro- 
 thers of the order of the JNIadonna, seeing the preparations 
 that the marquis had made, aud considering that some great 
 evil must inevitably ensue, endeavoured to make peace be- 
 tv.een them. The case being refer.'-ed to these mediators, 
 they decided that both parties should lay down their arms, 
 that Almagro should liberate I'erdinand I'izarro from prison, 
 
19 
 
 o 
 
 TIlsrt)llV OF THE NEW WOUIJ). 
 
 and that they should write to the emperor in Spain, so tliat 
 he mii^^ht specify 
 
 lent, — that th 
 
 anew 
 e two c 
 
 what was to he done ahMit the goveri 
 
 acconi- 
 
 hiefs should r( 
 
 to Mala, each 
 
 nient, — tiiat tne two cnieis snouui repair 
 panied by ten horsemen, in order to be reconciled. These 
 terms being agreed to, the marquis left Lima to go to Mala, 
 commissioning his brother Gonzalo to follow in his rear with 
 the camp, and to ]dace some arqucbuseers in ambush along the 
 route that Almagro had to follow, so as to kill him ; it is even 
 said that the monks were aware of this treachery. ]5ut it 
 did not succeed, for as soon as Almagro had reached Mala, 
 and was going to enter into conversation with Pizarro, a 
 soldier whispered in his ear, that if he valued his life he had 
 better go off instantly. He therefore mounted his horse and 
 started, together with his companion; ; but seeing^ the am- 
 buscade of arqucbuseers, he took anoi'her route and fled to 
 Ciisco. This led to much lamentation on the part of the 
 Pizarrists ; and the monks said that ever since the time of 
 Pilate, there never had been such an unjast suspicion. 
 
 The marquis, finding that Almagro had discovered his 
 ]dan and fled, feared he would molest his brother ; he there- 
 fore sent Diegc d'Alvarado to Cusco to pacify him, and to 
 try all possible means of concluding peace between them, by 
 swearing to him that he — the marquis — was innocent of what 
 his brother had done, and that he Avas sorry and deeply re- 
 gretted what had happcuod. Alvarado, trusting to such 
 words, went to visit Dit-go d'Alma^•ro, and deliverin<>: his 
 embassy, begged that for love of him he would consent to 
 be pacified and be friends with all, for the marquis was not 
 aware of what had been planned against him ; and finally, he 
 asserted that the marquis had given his faith that he would 
 
 ' The scene of this atrocious and prepense treachery was about 48 miles 
 to the southward of Lima, in a valley of the san?;; name, Mala. It is now a 
 decayed village ; but a spot is pointed out as the site where Pizarro and 
 Almagro met to settle their differences. The cause of the rupture was 
 a subject of indignant complaint with the Aluiagvosti. (Trans.) 
 
HISTOKY OF TIIK NEW WORLD. 
 
 103 
 
 l,y 
 
 Imilcs 
 
 liow n, 
 
 and 
 
 l3 was 
 
 do nothliiff more until a new commission arrived from the 
 emperor. Althougli Alniagro luid been warned by some of 
 his friends not to believe in the promises of the marquis, 
 still he was persuaded by the entreaties of Alvarado to accept 
 of the treaty ; and having again become friends, he released 
 Ferdinand Vizarro. As soon as the marquis saw his brother 
 liberated, he forgot his promises and oaths sevoal times 
 repeated, and, instigated by his brother, shortly after cau- 
 tiously sent Achincha to notify to Diego d'Almagro that a 
 new commission had come out from the emperor, ordering 
 liim immediately to quit the country that he (Pizarro) had 
 discovered and conquered. Almagro answered, " That as 
 soon as he had seen the commission? he should be ready to 
 obey it ; but that he would not move till then." On this the 
 marquis replied, "That if he did not immediately evacuate 
 Cusco he would expel him by force, according to the new 
 commission ; and therefore this would not be breaking their 
 compact." Almagro, being firm and constant to his pur- 
 pose, asserted that when he saw the imperial commission 
 referred to, he would depart from the country. On receiv- 
 ing this answer the marquis prepared for a march, with a 
 good number of Spaniards and a great many Indians. He 
 left Lima, saying that he was going to expel his enemies 
 from Chuic/ia, the site of his government. Almagro, hear- 
 ing of his approach and knowing that his forces were infe- 
 rior, retired to Guitara, a high rocky mountain ; but being- 
 pursued by his enemies he fled to Cusco, and collected all 
 his men together. lie made the Indians construct a number 
 of helmets and other arms, both of gold and of silver, im- 
 prisoned all the Spaniards of the opposite party, and sent 
 several of their ringleaders to be strangled. 
 
 The marqais, beirg sorely worn, named his brother Fer- 
 dinand judge- in-chief,i a^id Gonzalo captain-general ; then 
 
 ' Here Benzoin is obscure. Zarate, Garcilasso, and others, represent 
 Fenliuaud as being made a lieutenant-general under the marquis, and 
 
 85 
 
^tT'^m-mmmf^ 
 
 104 
 
 HISTORY OF THE KEW WOULD. 
 
 sent them, witi. all the camp, to Cnsco against Diego d'Al- 
 niagro, hinis(;lf returning to the City of the Kings. When 
 Almagro heard that the enemy was ccniiing, he sallied out of 
 the town, formed his camp two miles away from it in a 
 strong position, and divided his men as he best could. ITe 
 sent forward Captain Hordonicz (Orc/or/nez) with the in- 
 fantry, accompanied by some friendly Indians, to place him- 
 self on the royal road between the mountain and the town, 
 on the edge of a small lake. He appointed Francisco de 
 Chlaves and Giovan Tcllo captains of cavalry; and sent 
 Alfonzo Perez, with other Spaniards and a great many In- 
 dians, to another pass towards the mountain, so that they 
 might assail the enemy's flank if occasion required. Ferdi- 
 nand Pizarro descended into the plain, and seeing the enemy 
 quiet, sent Captain Mcrcadilio, with the greater part of the 
 cavalrv and a good number of Indians, to discover whether 
 there were any ambuscades. On finding Alfonzo Perez, ho 
 commanded his friends to attack the other Indians ; and the 
 battle having begun, Pizarro sent the archibuseers to assail 
 the enemy's cavalry, and killed many of them ; wherefore 
 Francisco de Chiaves (Chlaves ?), seeing his loss, fired seve- 
 ral pieces of artillery and slew some of the opposite party, 
 upon which, being alarmed, they imnunliately turned their 
 backs ; but Fernando Pizarro and his brother arriving, they 
 gathered courage and returned to the field, both sides fight- 
 ing valiantly, until Pizarro finally gained the victory ; and 
 he availed himself of it most cruelly. 
 
 Almagro, being somewhat indisposed, did not participate 
 in the battle, but renuiined on a hillock, from whence, see- 
 ing his party defeated, he sougiit to escape ; pursued, how- 
 ever, by Fernando Pizarro, he Avas taken and put into prison. 
 He was then tried and sentenced to death — being accused 
 
 Gonzalo a major-general ; aj)pointmcnts which suit well with the narra- 
 tive. " (jiuntUiero inujigiore'''' might Ijo rendered chief executioner by 
 a satirist. {Trans.) 
 
 ! 
 
:lpatc 
 
 |, scc- 
 
 how- 
 
 Irison. 
 
 leased 
 
 narra- 
 tor by 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEAV WORLD. 
 
 195 
 
 on his return from Chili of having entered Ciisco hy force ; 
 and of having imprisoned him and his brother without any 
 reason : also of having shared out the land in his own way 
 without an authority from the emperor ; of having been the 
 cause of the death of many Spaniards ; of having broken the 
 league and his oath ; and of having fought against the king's 
 laws. The sentence being communicated to Almagro, be 
 wa3 extremely cast down at it, and wished to appeal to the 
 emperor. 'Lhen,Pizarro refusing him this favour, he begged 
 of him, for the love of the mercy of God, to consent to repeal 
 the sentence, as the prisoner was already old, weak, and 
 gouty ; and if he would not release him from prison, be 
 might keep him confined during the short remainder of his 
 days, to do penance for his sins ; entreating Fernando espe- 
 cially to consider, tliat his very dear brother the marquis 
 was in great measure indebted to him for having risen to such 
 great honour and riches ; that even he (Fernando) had been 
 his prisoner, and he might have killed him with a safe hand, 
 yet he refrained from doing it. Fizarro was also entreated 
 by several gentlemen, especially by Diego d'Alvarado, who, 
 when ho made up their previous quarrel, staked his life 
 for whichever of them failed in his Avord, and all witli 
 abundance of tears, and with such words as would have 
 softened the head of the most ferocious lion, and mollified a 
 heart harder than a diamond ; but from this nuvn it was never 
 possible to extract a symptom of pity, as is acknowledged 
 and attested. Ferdinand Fizarro sent orders to the prison 
 that he should be strangled ; and that his head should then 
 be publicly cut oflf in the niarket-placc. This was the end 
 of Diego d' Almagro.^ Such cruelty displeased many, but 
 
 1 Thus pcridlioJ the valiant aud upcu-hearted Alinagro, a.d. 1.03S, in 
 his seventy -fil'th year ; and his liody was treated with all the ignominy 
 oi" a couimou t'elou. It is remarkable how lew ul' the eminent men among 
 those diticovcrers and contjuerors of the New AVorld died in peaee : and 
 it is also a sinscular trait in their characters that, during their desolating 
 '.•ureor, th'.y weie equally reoLlesa of lil'e and fearful of a future state of 
 
196 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 irritated Diego d'Alvarado more than any one else ; so much 
 so, that he went over to Spain in order to complain at the 
 court 01 the marquis and his brothers ; but soon after reach- 
 ing Valladolid he died, and it is reported that he was poi- 
 soned for having such an intention. 
 
 Almagro rose from a very low condition, nor could it ever 
 be ascertained who was his father. lie did not know his 
 letters at all; but was diligent ;md eager for honour; and 
 v/hcn he gave any reward, he wished everybody to know 
 why. He was very cruel towards the Indians. He left a 
 son, also named Don Diego after himself, whom he had by 
 an Indian woman in Panatnd. 
 
 When Pizarro had executed Almagro, he shared the booty 
 among his soldiers ; and after he had arranged the public 
 affairs of Cusco, he went to visit his brother the mar(piis. 
 Then they prepared for discovering and conquering new 
 countries. Thus they sent off Pictro de Valdivia, with two 
 hundred soldiers, to Chili; while Gon/alo Pizurro went tu 
 Coliao, a province very rich in gold, and when he had con- 
 quered it, lie proceeded to the Canclla ; whence he finally 
 returned worn out and wretched. He d' >;patchcd Pictro do 
 Vergara to Bracamori ; but he found the natives poor and 
 warlike, wherefore it has never been conquered. He also 
 ordered captains to Trur/ilio, Chiachiajwi, and other places. 
 In this manner, shedding a great deal of blood, and com- 
 mitting very great cruelties, the Spaniards destroyed the 
 
 being. In confirmation of their untoward ends it may be stated, that 
 Columbus died brokcn-liearted — lloldan and Bobadilla were drowned — 
 Ovando was harshly superseded — Las Casas sought refuge in a cowl — 
 Ojeda died in extreme poverty — Enciso was deposed by his own men — 
 Nicuesa perished miserably by the cruelty of his party — Vasco Nunez 
 was disgracefully beheaded — Narvaez was imprisoned in a tropical dun- 
 geon, and afterwards died of hardship — Ccrtez was dishonoured — Alva- 
 rado was destroyed in an anil)ush — Almagro was garotted — Pizarro was 
 murdered — and his four brothers cut off: and there was no end of the 
 assassinations and executions of the secondary chiefs, among the ener- 
 getic ani.l enduring aiivciiuirei's. {'frdiis.) 
 
 I 
 
also 
 aces, 
 com- 
 . the 
 
 IITSTOHY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 197 
 
 t 
 
 \ 
 
 )f that 
 
 After havi 
 
 hig 
 
 greater portic 
 
 tains to conquer the above mentioned provinces, the marquis 
 determined to send liis brother Ferdinand to Spain, with the 
 trial of Ahnagro and the king's fifth, (the royal share of the 
 booty) although he bad been warned not to go, since he 
 could in no way excuse himself to the emperor for Almagro's 
 death. Tlic more so because Alvarado had gone to the 
 court, with bitter complaints against him and his brothers. 
 Still Ferdinand, confident in himself, persisted in going ; 
 boasting that he deserved great rewards for the benefits that 
 be had done his majesty, by pacifying the country, and 
 punishing the seditious by law. Thus he went to Spain, 
 and, -with a good quantity of gold, presented himself at 
 court ; not long after his arrival, however, on account of the 
 execution of Almagro, he was, by royal commission, put 
 into the castle of Medina del Campo, called la Motta, and 
 the result was never known. 
 
 When Ferdinand Fizarro had left Lima for Spain, there 
 were many friends of Don Diego's, both of the father and the 
 son, in the CifT/ of the lungs, and dispersed in other places ; 
 they were poor and desperate, from having been despoiled of 
 all their property by the Fizarrists. Giovan de Rada, there- 
 fore, one of the principal leaders, consulted with Don Diego 
 how to avenge his fiither's death : accordingly they arranged 
 a plot, and began secretly to collect arms, inviting all their 
 friends and confederates to repair to Lima as quickly as pos- 
 sible. The marquis was warned that the Almagristi intended 
 to put him to death ; but he slighted the threat ; and think- 
 ing that the intimation was prompted by some internal quar- 
 rel among themselves, desired that they should be left in 
 peace, saying, that they had undergone sufficient misfortune 
 without being farther persecuted. But being afterwards 
 again warned to be on his guard, for undoubtedly there was 
 an intention to make away with him, although somewhat per- 
 turbed, he said that he did not believe it. Notwithstandin": 
 
198 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 this, he sent for Giovan A^clasqucz his lieutenant ; and lie 
 not being able to go to him, on account of indisposition, sent 
 Dr. ricada his brother-officer and judge in ordinary, who 
 by the Spaniards are called alcaldes. AVhen the marquis 
 asked him whether he had heard anything of Don Diego's 
 weaving a plot to kill him, he answered that he knew nothing 
 of it, and that the marquis need not fear whilst he held the 
 rod of justice uprightly ; which somewhat composed him. 
 Affairs were in this state when it was hinted to the conspira- 
 tors, that if they did not hasten they would be discovered ; 
 therefore Giovan de Rada accompanied by eleven well-armed 
 friends, crossed the square of the town exclaiming — " Long 
 live the king ! death to the tyrant !" He entered the house 
 of the marquis, Avho, suspecting the meaning of the noise and 
 of the cries, ordered the hall to be shut, and went to arm 
 himself. Francisco de Chiaves opened it, thinking that his 
 authority Avould suffice to arrest their progress ; but the 
 Almagristi rushed in, and with a knife-wound on his head 
 killed him. The doctor let himself down by the garden 
 window, with his tail in his mouth.' But Martino de Alcan- 
 tara, elder (Jialf) brother of the marquis, with other follow- 
 ers, defended the door of the room, thinking they were cjuitc 
 equal to the assailants, till the ]Marquis came in, when he 
 found only his brother remaining alive. Still he exclaimed, 
 " Let us hold fast against these traitors, for I swear to God 
 we two are enough to slay them all." And although his 
 brother was immediately killed, he defended himself valiantly, 
 till the enemy falling upon him, one man gave him a wound 
 in the throat, by which he instantly fell dead to the ground ; 
 and thus ended the life of Francis Fizarro. 
 
 I 
 
 ( 
 
 I 
 
 ^ This momentary escape did not save tlic poor doctor, who appears to 
 have been secretary to Pizarro, and is called cddonUido by other writers; 
 for when Don Diego had made himself master of Lima, Velas^nez and 
 Picado were immediately taken into custody and executed, after being 
 barbarously tortured. {Tnutii.) •; 
 
TIIRTOUY OF TIIK NEW WOULD. 
 
 199 
 
 ' 
 
 He was born at Trdgilio, was of a robust form, strong 
 and courageous ; but treacherous, crncl, and negligent. It 
 was reported that he coukl not read, that he was son of Gon- 
 zalo rizarro, who was a captain of Navarre ; some say that 
 he was a h^gitimate son, others deny it, and assert that bein j 
 left at the door of a church, it was difficult to find any one 
 to nurse liim. He was said to have been afterwards ac- 
 knowledged by his father, who employed him to tend swine ; 
 and having one day lost some of them, he dared not return 
 home. He ran away to Seville, and afterwards crossed over 
 to India, to the province of Urava, with Alfonzo d'Hoieda. 
 
 As soon as the marquis was dead, the Almagristi began to 
 cry out " Long live the king and Diego d'Almagro !" At 
 the sound of these words, many friends of the marquis col- 
 lected, and several people lost their lives in the struggle ; 
 but the Almagristi being the most numerous, made the others 
 retire. They pillaged the house of the marquis, and those 
 of several other rich men who were attached to him. They 
 seized some of his followers ; others fled from fear of their 
 enemies. Don Diego caused himself to be sworn governor 
 until the emperor's pleasure should be known ; and it was 
 thus that he gave the rod of justice to his most intimate 
 fi'.ends. He collected about three hundred soldiers, seized 
 the arms and horses of all those on whom he could not de- 
 pend, and appointed Giovan de Rada {Jua?i de Herrada) his 
 captain-general. This done, he went to Cusco, and was de- 
 ceitfully received by some of the citizens, who were attached 
 to the opposite party ; whereby Grazia d'Alvarado having 
 some words with Christopher Sotcllo, Alvarado, with one 
 stab, killed him ; and then he took measures to murder Don 
 Diego, but the treaty being thus broken, scopto il trattato, 
 Don Diego killed him.' 
 
 ^ Our author is rather cntangletl here. According to Zaratc, an un- 
 fortunate ([iiarrol occurred between the Alniagrian captains, Garcias 
 d'Alvarado and Ohristoval de Sotolo, in which they drew their swords 
 
 I I 
 
 •1 
 1 
 
 I 1 
 
200 
 
 IIISTOUY OF THK MiW WORLD. 
 
 Other affrays occurrrd ; so tliat at last tlio onipcror, hearing 
 of their discords, as well as of thu death of Diego d'Ahuagro 
 and of the marquis Franciseo Pizarro and other Spaniards, 
 sent the Licentiate Vuca de Castro to gather correct information 
 as to who was guiUy ; and, as much as possible to restore 
 peace to the country. AV^ith this commission Castro left Spain; 
 and on arriving at Panama, he embarked for Pen). Owing 
 to contrary winds he only reached Bucna Ventura, and land- 
 ing there, he with great labour traversed the governorship 
 of Venalcaccre {Benalcazar) and arrived at Chilo; here he 
 heard, of the conduct of Don l^iego, that he would not obey 
 Gomez dc Tordoia, who had orders to take possession of Cusco 
 in Castro's name. He then went to Truyilio, leaving Diego 
 de Mora as his lieutenant in that town, and with two hun- 
 dred soldiers collected from several places, he proceeded to 
 Lima, where, shewing his royal commission, he was accepted 
 by all the citizens as governor of Pen). 
 
 Castro borrowed ten thousand ducats to pay the soldiers, 
 he collected more men, bought more arms and horses, and 
 with five hundred Spaniards he went to Giiamanc/a, whence 
 he wrote to Don Diego (who had already evacuated Cusco 
 with his forces) to lay down his arms, to submit himself obe- 
 diently, and then he should receive a. free pardon ; and, 
 moreover, that he would grant him the means of living most 
 honourably in the country, in a manner suitable to his sta- 
 tion. Don Diego answered, — " That if he gave him his 
 father's government and an imperial letter of pardon he would 
 be quite content : but that he would not otherwise depend 
 on his word, because, even whilst they were negociating, he 
 (Castro) had been secretly endeavouring to induce his fol- 
 lowers to revolt." Vaca de Castro, on receiving this reply, 
 
 and the latter was slain. As Don Diego took this much to heart, a 
 sense of personal danger led Alvarado to compass the death of his leader : 
 but he appears to have liecn caught in his own trap. They were a 
 sanguinary and inhuman set ! {Trans.) 
 
IllsTOItY 0|- THK NKW WOUM). 
 
 201 
 
 "^5 
 
 it 
 
 IS 
 
 Id 
 
 Li 
 
 I 
 
 quitted CJiunixinra, on account of its being a sterile place ; 
 and advancing, placed his camp on an elevation — calh d 
 Chitippa by the natives — in siglit ol' the eneniy. Hut if Don 
 Diego had been made aware of it in tinu^, while "\\ica de 
 r'astro was ascending, Ip's nuMi fatigued and in eonfusion, he 
 could easily have defeated him/ The next day, however, 
 both commanders prepared for battle, each encouraging his 
 men, promising them the reward of victory; and to the 
 conquered, loss of life, of honour, riches, and connn;ind. 
 Don Diego, the better to assail the enemy, placed his artil- 
 lery, commanded by Fietro di Candia, on a flat spot ; but 
 Francisco Carvailc, an alfierc of Vaca de Castro, perceiv- 
 ing this, led the army to another place in the vicinity, where 
 it coidd not be attacked. Don Diego therefore stationed his 
 cavalry on each flank of the artillei'y, and the infantry in the 
 centre, lie himself went to the right wing, accompanied by 
 many Indians armed with lances, ston( s and arrows, ^'aca 
 de Castro, having placed himself in his vanguard of thirty 
 horses, his own people made him retire to the rear. A\'ith 
 the cavalry divided into two squadrons, Alfonzo de Alvarado 
 Mas on their right, Feralvcres Olguin on their left, with the 
 royal standard, and the infantry in the centre. Don Diego's 
 Indians were the first to push forward and begin the battle, — 
 they being repulsed by the enemy, he advanced valiantly 
 and the engagement became general. After fighting for 
 some time, Castro's infantry gained the enemy's artillery ; 
 and Don Diego's people had done great execution, and taken 
 two ensigns. The struggle was universal, accompanied by 
 cries and lamentations ; already niglit was at hand, yet the 
 victory was dubious, each side hoped to conquer ; all dealt 
 deadlv blows. Still in the end Vaca de Castro was the victor. 
 On the imperial side three hundred Spaniards perished, and 
 
 k 'I 
 
 ') 
 
 ^ Wc learn from Zarntc that it was then in the mitldle of winter ; and 
 that duriui!; the three days when Vaoa de Castro occupied the C'A ?'.;>«; 
 position it never ceased raininy. {Ti'kh.^,) 
 
 36 
 
 •I 
 
20',2 
 
 HISTORY OF TIIK NKW WOKI.II. 
 
 the greater part of the ofTicers. Of the opposite party a 
 Inindred and fifty were killed, sonic ran away to (Jnama/ii/a, 
 others elsewhere ; but being captured, were delivered up to 
 the 1 jeentiate della Oania, who ordered sonic of the leaders 
 to he quartered nud others to he hung ; while some of the 
 soldiers were sent into exile. 
 
 Don Diego fled to Cusco with four soldii-rs, hoi)ing to 
 save his life ; but his lieutenant, lloderigo do Sulazar, on 
 whom he had bestowed many gifts, having heard of the 
 defeat and joined by several citizens, laid hands on him, and 
 presenting him to Vaca de Castro he was condemned to be 
 beheaded.^ 
 
 After the death of Don Diego the country remained in 
 peace. Vaca de Castro shared numerous Indies among his 
 faithful soldiers, and sent the rest to conquer new countri<^s. 
 JNIeanwhile, the Indians were compelled to work as much as 
 possible at the gold mines and at other sorts of labour, 
 enduring the greatest miseries. AVhilst tliese events were 
 occurring in I'evi, the Council of the Indies, by command 
 of the emperor, issued orders for liberating the nativers ; and 
 a viceroy for Peru mms appointed by imperial commission. 
 This was Vasco Nunez Vela, a haughty man. He left Spain 
 with four auditors, that is to say, the Licentiate Diego dc 
 Cepcda, Ortiz, Giovan Alvares, and Doctor Lisondi. At 
 the end of January 1544 they arrived at Xomhre de Dios ; 
 and meeting there some Spaniards, who had come from Peru 
 with a great quantity of gold and silver for the purpose of 
 going over to Spain, they inquired by what means they hail 
 acquired it. And on hearing that they had sold their In- 
 
 1 The youthful Don Diero was a true son of Ahnagro, and, as Oarci- 
 lasso says, the bravest son of an Indian woman that ever the New World 
 l^roduced. His untimely end was deeply regretted by Manca Capac. the 
 fugitive Inca, ^\ho, in reniembranee of the friendship which had existed 
 between him and the elder Almagro, provided Diego with a large (inan- 
 tity of armour and arms, sufficient to e(j>iip two hundred men, which ho 
 had taken from the Spaniards whom he had defeated and slain. {Trans.) 
 
HisToiiY or Tin; xf.w would. 
 
 2{y-] 
 
 (lians, wliicli was contrary to the laws newly established, the 
 viceroy ordered the king's officers to confiscate the gold till 
 they could ascertain the truth. Many of the citizens were 
 irritated at this, the more so because that city was beyond 
 his domain ; and if it had not been for the auditors and 
 influential men of that country, who interfered and begged 
 that he would restore the property, without doubt he would 
 have confiscated everything. However unwillingly, he al- 
 lowed the whole to be restored ; and then he shortly after 
 departed from Nomhrc do Dios, going by land to Panama, 
 very angry with the auditors on account of certain differ- 
 ences that had occurred among them, often saying that the 
 emperor had given him as auditors a youth, a madman, a 
 fool, and an ignoramus. Cepeda Avas young, Gliovanni Al- 
 vares was mad, Pictro Ortis was ignorant because he did not 
 know Latin, and the other a fool : and in this mood he em- 
 barked on board a ship. 
 
 Thirteen days after leaving Panama he reached Tnmbcs, 
 the shortest passage that ever any ship had made.' There 
 he began to restore liberty to the Indians, and commanded 
 that they should not supply any article of food without being 
 paid for it ; and that the Spaniards should not load tliem 
 against their will. For before that period the governors of 
 the kingdom liad proclaimed that, any Spaniards going on 
 foot from one village to another, should be provided by the 
 caciques with three Indians to carry their luggage ; and 
 those who rode on horseback, to be furnished with five. 
 Morever, that every man should be supplied with a fowl, a 
 rabbit, and a jug of the wine of the country, called by them 
 
 ^ It is cmious tliut in the Oornwallis frigate, iu 1807, we also 
 raado this passage iu exactly thirteen clays ; for wo left the anchoraso 
 before Tunihez on Saturday the liJth of August, and anchored ofl' I'a- 
 cheea, in the l]ay of Panama, on the I'bth of the same month. We, 
 however, were not thinking- it a nautical feat to clear fifty or sixty 
 miles a ilay ; we were cruising, and catching all that we could along 
 shore. {Tnin.^.) 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 If 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 .. 
 
I) 
 
 un 
 
 IIISTOUY OK THr. M \V >\(»|{l,l». 
 
 azttn, without any paynu-nt. All tlicso tilings the viceroy 
 ]ni)hi1)lt('(l ; and nioctinj;-, in Tii//iftr.s, a priest ami a servant 
 >\ ho had hcen in tin; hattle a;,'ainst Dic^jo d'Alniaf^ro, ho 
 ordered them hoth to he hanj^'cd. Also, at St. Michael's, ho 
 de[)rivi'd DiejTo Palomino of his vnssals hecause lie treated 
 them very badly. lie threatened tliat he would punish 
 severely anybody who acted against his authority. In this 
 >vay he entered Ti'tKj'tlio (Truxilloj and publislwd the laws ; 
 the eiti/ens Avantcd to a}»peal, but he would not consent, 
 saying that he had an express conunission I'roni the emperor 
 to execute them, 'without listening to or accepting any ap- 
 peal. So that people, seeing the harshness and obstinacy 
 of the viceroy, cursed him and the laws, and whoever had 
 occasioned them to be made. Those who had slaves marked 
 Avith the king's brand complained, saying that they had no 
 other property with which to maintain their families. 'Jhn 
 cofujiurors, moreover, represented that they had devoted their 
 lives and their property to the emperor's service, by subdu- 
 ing and maintaining so rich a kingdom, and were now so ill 
 rewarded. Brother Peter also, of th<' order of the Madonna, 
 used to say, what a wretched return his majesty made to 
 those who had served him so well and so faithfully ; and that 
 those laws savoured more of rapine than of l.oliness and jus- 
 tice, as every command that was now proriuigated was in- 
 tended for nothing but to increase the royjil revenue. For 
 this the viceroy sent one night and had him strangled ! 
 
 Already everywhere the arrogance of the viceroy and the 
 rigour of the enactments that he established were complained 
 of. Then the Spaniards began to be tumultuous, saying 
 that they would rather die than obey such laws ; so that 
 when the viceroy sent one of his lieutenants to Cusco to 
 Vaca de Castro, in consequence of a requisition from the 
 citizens, he would not receive the officer. Shortly after, he 
 started with a great many Spaniards towards the Ciif/ of 
 KiiKjs, to see how uH'airs were going on there. IJut when 
 
 \ 
 
ni?*TouY or ruv, ni,\v wonin. 
 
 20;") 
 
 tli(.' iiiliiihilaiitN Ijciircl of his coniiiii,'. iiiul ol' the pcopU; that 
 he was hriiiy;iii;^ wltli liiin, lie was wui-iud not to advance of 
 Hoinocvil niii;ht happrn to liim, hoc uisc he liiul not admitted 
 the litiili iiiiiit ; that he woiihl raise suspicions by bringiuj,' 
 so majiy nun ; iuitl that he had better return to Cifsco, and 
 hoM tlif town in the name ot'the kinn'. Hut Vaca de Castro 
 thinkiiin' that it was not suitaljh; to liis station to turn hacU, 
 h'l't file ;^reater part of his suite, to avoid ifiviiij^ umbrage, 
 and proceeded iininediat(;ly to I/niid , where he Ibund every- 
 thing in conl'usion. Another i>arty had advised liie viceroy 
 as soon as possible to (jult 7V///y///'^ and come to Lima belore 
 V aca (h' Castro entered the to\\n. 1 le thereupon hurried 
 himself greatly ; and on his way, at a phice called ia I'u.s.sd, 
 he found a docuni(;nt, saying — " A\'hoever sliall come to 
 snatch away my house and property, let him reflect well on 
 his conduct, or he will pay for it with his life." lie was 
 told, moreover, that the citizens oi Linid were determined to 
 turn him out of Peru, unless he suspended the laws, luitil 
 the emp(M-or provided others. The viceroy, very much en- 
 raged at this, left la Fossa, and when near Lima he was met 
 by (jiuil. Imo Snares,' the king's factor, Avho, in the name of 
 the senate, made him swear that he would respect thcii' pri- 
 vileges, innnunities, and benefices received i'rom the emperor ; 
 granting also ap})eals from the \ir\\ laws. The viceroy 
 solenndv en^ay-ed to do whatever was for tlie service and 
 honour of his majesty. JIi; thus entered the town to the an- 
 noyance of the greater portion of the inhabitants, lie im- 
 mediately published a proclamation ; and being entreated by 
 gome of his followers not to do so, lor tlie Spaniards would 
 rise against him, he arrogantly answered that at all events he 
 Avould do as he i)leased, and as the emperor authorized. 
 The viceroy then imprisoned \'aca do Castro on pretence 
 
 ^ This alcaUlo, who apiioars to have wishcil to make the liost of a bail 
 Inu-giiiu, is naiDcil Yllau Suarcz by Zaratc. On the whoh;, it hceuis, the 
 viooruy \vub received witli much apparent resipoct and pomp. (7V(«/<.<.) 
 
 
 I ( 
 
206 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 tliat he had not accepted his Laws at; Ciisco, accused hun of 
 havmg shared out tlic Indians, as a governor, and of having 
 fought against Don Diego without permission from the king ; 
 wherefore he s^^nt him to Spain as a prisoner. The citizens, 
 seeing this conduct of the viceroy\. and the imprisonment of 
 Vaca de Castro, who had been more than ever inclined to 
 help and favour them, they became so excited against him, 
 that the greater part of them wrote to Gonzalo Pizarro, who 
 was at the Cliiarchc (las Charcas) working his mines without 
 thinking of these affairs, entreating him to repair to Cusco as 
 soon as possible about some important affairs : and thus 
 when Pizarro arrived at Cusco, the rigour of the laws that the 
 viceroy had promulgated was represented to him, and that on 
 no account would he allow of appeal. T)u;y therefore begged 
 of him to consent to display the banner of captain and pro- 
 curator, to defend their lives and their property, each man 
 promising faithfully to be loyal, to serve, and to obey him. 
 Pizarro answered, desiring them not to ask such things of 
 him — " Why act contrary to the laws ? It was the same as 
 contravening the emperor himself, who most positively com- 
 manded that they should be executed." Yet the co7iqucrors 
 so far persuaded him with their various arguments and jus- 
 tifications, that he accepted of the charge. 
 
 Pizarro having thus become governor and procurator- 
 general of Peru, displayed his flag, and soon collected up- 
 wards of four hundred soldiers. When the viceroy was 
 informed that Gonzalo Pizarro had been constituted governor 
 of Ctisco, he sent Gcronimo de Loaza, bishop of Lima, to 
 Cusco, to beg of him to abandon the enterprise that he had 
 undertaken against his king, and that he would come to Lima 
 to be reconciled ; assuring him that he had no unfavourable 
 intentions : on the contrarv, that he was about to shew him 
 some signal favours. Put the bii;hop had to return without 
 coming to any conclusion ; for Pizarro would not listen to 
 liim. 'J'hc viceroy now .seeing Pizarro's intentions and incli- 
 
 / 
 
HISTOttY OF TIIK XKV." WOULD. 
 
 207 
 
 nations, and fcarin<^r that ho would march do^vn upon Lima 
 with his army, apprehended what might happen, from not 
 having people to defend him. He therefore collected fifty 
 arquehuseers as a body guard, and raised as many men as he 
 could, sending to several places for fresh succours. He then 
 seized the king's fifth,i which A'aca de Castro had laid aside 
 purposely to send over to Spain ; and he also borrowed some 
 money to pay the soldiers. 'J'hen there came in a short time 
 rictro de Puclis from Guaneco, and Gonzalo Dias from 
 Piura, M'ith many Spaniards from Chito ,- but finallv, not 
 long after their arrival at Lima, they, togetlier with all the 
 men and the other officers, ran off to Gonzalo Pizarro. And 
 in a short time even some gentlem* 'i, who lodged in the 
 factoi-'s house with two of his nephews, followed. Also 
 Alfonzo de Monte ]\fayor, being sent by the viceroy with 
 fifty horsemen to seize the deserters, found the fugitives ; 
 but through the pcrverscness of his party, ]\[onte xMayor was 
 taken, and all his men went over to Gonzalo Pizarro. 
 
 The viceroy seeing himself thus abandoned by his own 
 partizans, and persecuted by strangers, was very irate with 
 the fictor (poor Yllan Suarcz), and thinking from the hate 
 he bore him, that he was to blame for all the mischief, 
 sent for him, and when he had entered his house said angrily, 
 *' What treachery is all this, Senor Factor '' you are come in 
 an evil hour, unfortunate that I am, to have been ruined 
 through you." The factor answered, " I am as good a servant 
 to the king as your lordship." The viceroy exclaimed, 
 " Thou liest in thy throat," and so saying, gave him two 
 stabs M'ith a dagger ; and when the murder was completed 
 by his own order, he made his servants throw the body out 
 
 % 
 
 \s\ 
 
 ' This w,as a sum of moro thp.a one hundred thousand crowns, which 
 Yaca de Castro had drawn from Cusco to transmit to his sovereign. The 
 present occurrences took place in the year 1544. 8omc of the remonstrants 
 wiM-e disposed to reason, but the inllexiblo viceroy woukl not listen to 
 their sui)i)lications. (7V(//^^•.) 
 
 I'i 
 
J208 
 
 TIISldKV OF TME .\F-\V WOlU.l). 
 
 of the "window. Then some of his slaves below dragi^ed hini 
 to a distance by the feet, for it beins^ nii,dit there was no one 
 to jircvent tlieni ; but when day came he was honourably 
 buried. On the Licentiate Carvaial hearing that the viceroy 
 had killed liis brother, he swore never to rest till he had re- 
 venged his death A number of the citizens also were aharmed 
 at the death of the fiictor, each fearing that he niiglit do the 
 same to himself, and therefore they wished that Gonzalo 
 Fizarro wouhl come to free them from so much dread. The 
 viceroy, feeling the hatred that every one bore him, ana 
 having lost all hope of conquering his enemy, now saw his 
 errors, and determined to retire to Tnigilio with the royal 
 auditors ; thinking he might there regain strength. Although 
 they did not approve of it, he had two ships fitted out, and 
 asked Alfonzo Richelme the kind's treasurer, and xVlfonzo 
 Contatore, with other gentlemen, to be in readiness to depart 
 the next day, because he intended to go to TrugUio ; sending 
 his brother \c\a Nunez b} land with the soldiers, wliil t the 
 Avives and property of the army, as well as of the auditors 
 shoidd go by sea. Xonc had the courage to disobey him in 
 his presence, but they informed the auditoi-s of all that had 
 occurred, and combining together they determined not to 
 quit Lima : and they expressly commanded the inhabitants, 
 on no account to allow their wives to be embarked, or any- 
 thing else. Moreover, they protested against the viceroy's 
 going away, warning him that his retreating would give 
 heart to the enemy ; whereas by remaining he would keep 
 him in check : besides which, they Mere ordered by the 
 emperor to reside in that city and nowliere else. 
 
 The viceroy, however, not caring for these protests, nor 
 for any arguments, determined to have his own way ; whence 
 there arose a very great tumult in the town, so much so that 
 they had recourse to arms. Vela Nunez being in the Piazza 
 with other odicers, abandoned by the soldiers, souglit shelter 
 in the monastery of San Domingo ; while the rest ran to the 
 
HISTORY OF TIIK NKW \\-0]{r,r). 
 
 209 
 
 liouse of t'uc viceroy and closed the door. Tlie citizens 
 battered the house for a quarter of an hour, the viceroy's 
 sokliers defcndinfr the jjUicc more by cries than by arms ; 
 for thc^y fought witli their i)ikes turned the wroni]^ way, and 
 fired their arquebusscs without balL So much so, that An- 
 tonio do Uoblcs scaled the Avail and entered the apartment. 
 He made them open the door, upon which some Dominican 
 friars went to the viceroy and entreated him to surrender. 
 This he consented to do to Lorenzo dal Danna and some 
 other oificers, desiring to be taken to the Licentiate Ccpeda; 
 when he arrived there, much alarmed, as there had not been 
 wanting some one to fire an archibuss at him on the way, 
 lie said : " Signer Ccpeda, do you take care of me, and sec 
 that nol)ody kills me.'" Cepeda told him to entertain no 
 sort of fear, and so led hiii] into his house. The auditors 
 endeavoured to console him, declaring that they deeply re- 
 gretted his ♦roubles, that they had not been to seize him, nor 
 had they ordered it ; but since they now had him in their 
 power, for his own good they would send him to Spain to 
 the emperor. 
 
 Whilst affairs were in this state, again thj city rose in 
 arms. Some held that the viceroy ought to be liberated ; 
 othcn's insisted that he should be executed ; or at least ex- 
 pelled from the town. Finally, after many agreements, 
 arguments, and contests, it was decided to send him to Spain 
 to the emperor (as we said above) ; thinking that, as soon as 
 he was gone, Gonzalo I'izarro would lay down his arms, that 
 all the country would be restored to peace, and tliat tbc em- 
 peror would be satisfied. They consequently drew up a 
 formal statement that tlu' viceroy had been tlie cause of all 
 the mischief, and forced him into a ship, together with his 
 
 :.i" 
 
 1 The story of this curious niglit agrees substantially with the descrip- 
 tion ofit hy Zarato, though there is a slight cireunistantial (litierenoe. The 
 oydors, or auditors, appear to liave aeti'l with a most guardeil modera- 
 tion, l)ut Avcre tirni and resolute in their remonstrances. (7V('//.v.) 
 
 •J7 
 
I ' 
 
 JilO 
 
 IIISTOUY OK TTIF, NEW VVOKLb. 
 
 brother. What with presents and his salary^ and the amount 
 for which his property was sokl, he had upwards of two 
 hundred thousand ducats in gold ; all of which was confided 
 to the Licentiate Alvarez, who was to conduct him to Spain. 
 Tlicy started ; but on arriving at Tuiiihes, Alvarez released 
 him from custody. This afterwards was the cause of his death. 
 About this time, Gonzalo Pizarro marched from Cusco, 
 having first executed Filippo Gotticrez and some other 
 gentlemen, because they had sent evil reports of him to the 
 king. On reaching Lima, he planted his camp within two 
 miles of the town ; and learning that the viceroy had been 
 released at Tumhes and was raising men, he desired to ascer- 
 tain the intentions of the auditors and of the citizens towards 
 liim, before he would enter. For he had heard that there 
 were some who seemed still to be very much attached to the 
 viceroy ; therefore, in the name of all the conquerors, he de- 
 manded of the senate the command of the city, as beneficial 
 to the king's service and the general interests of the coun- 
 try. The more numerous party were of opinion that his 
 terms should be accepted, since he would otherwise enter by 
 force and pillage the place. Others, especially Cepeda, who 
 had collected a good many soldiers, would not consent, and 
 wished at any risk to resist him ; but hearing that the greater 
 part of the garrison had gone over to Pizarro's camp, and, 
 moreover, he being reproached with -wishing to come to open 
 hostilities, which was not for the good of his majesty's ser- 
 vice, since the result must be very injurious to both parties, 
 they laid down their arms. Indeed, all these thrf^ats were 
 mere feints, acted only to seem to do their duty by the king ; 
 and thus Gonzalo Pizarro entered Linw}, with the consent of 
 
 ^ PizfUTO made his public entry Avitli effective pomp, having all his 
 troops in martial order ; Bachicao — the cruel brute who figu.'es in 
 the next paragraph as Captain ]\Iachicao — marching at the head of the 
 vanguard with artillery, consisting of twenty field-pieces, the equipments 
 and ammunition of which were borne on the shoulders of six thousand 
 Indians 1 {Trans.) 
 
 
HISTORY OF TIIK NEW WORLD. 
 
 211 
 
 his 
 
 iu 
 
 the 
 
 Jilts 
 iilinl 
 
 :l 
 
 everyone, and was elected governor, with the proviso that if 
 tlio emperor ordered otherwise, he woukl resign the charge ; 
 but that in the meantime he woukl niinistrate like a good 
 and faithful Christian, in the service of God and the king. 
 
 Tlien the governor put everything in the town in order, 
 ho dissolved the auditorship, fearing some deceit, and ho 
 took forty thousand ducats as a loan from the royal chest to 
 pay his soldiers ; he then sent Captain Machicao to Paiiamd, 
 and Dr. Teiada to Spain, to inform the emperor how mat- 
 ters had gone on under the new laws. From the want of 
 ships, Machicao left with two brigantines and fifty arque- 
 buzeers. Coasting along, he took two ships at Truf'ilio and 
 another at Tiimhes. Tie alarmed the viceroy, chased Giovau 
 Dillianes, and impressed some soldiers at Porto Vecchio 
 (Puerto Viejo). Near Tahoga he took a ship; and because the 
 captain did not lower his sails immediately, he ordered him 
 to be hanged. Thus he reached Panama, where Juan 
 Gusman did noi ish to let him enter, because he was rais- 
 ing men for the viceroy ; but the governor of the province, 
 hearing that Machicao was come only for the purpose of 
 accompanying Dr. Teiada, who was going to Spain to the 
 emperor as the procurator-general of Peru, he opposed Gus- 
 man, saying " That it was not right to obstruct ambassadors, 
 and so occasion, perhaps, the death of many men without 
 reason." Accordingly he allowed him to enter ; and imme- 
 diately, on leaping on shore with the greater part of his mtn, 
 Machicao made himself master of two ships that were in the 
 port. He collected all the soldiers Avho deserted from Giovan 
 de Gusman, with many vagabonds who came over from Nomhre 
 de DIos. He slew Bartolomew Perez and his ensign, and 
 would have killed many more had they not made their escape ; 
 f<n* they had conspired to murder him, and give the army up 
 to tlu' viceroy. He carried away the artillery from the town ; 
 and took a good deal of property from the merchants to clothe 
 the soldiers ; promising that he would pay them at a future 
 
 1 
 

 IIISTOIJY OV TKK NKW AVOUI.l). 
 
 time. Thus, with these and other sliameless exactions wliich 
 he committed, havinpf his eight ships and upwards of four 
 hundred soldiers, he left Panama to return to Peru. 
 
 JMeauAvhile Governor Pizarro, fearing that the viceroy 
 would i)rovide himself with men from Panama, that place 
 being handy for the vessels coming from Spain to Nonibrc 
 do Dios, he determined to make himself master of its port. 
 But having learned that the citiz'^ns and merchants of Pa- 
 namd complained much of jNlachicao, on account of the harsh 
 extortions and ribald conduct that he had practised among 
 them, I'izarro deprived him of that appointment, and named 
 Pietro de Noiosa in his stead, notwithstanding some alterca- 
 tion ; for a party wished that jNIachicao should be continued 
 in the command. Thus Noiosa, with the rank of captain- 
 general, left Callao de Lima, and coasting along he cap- 
 tured Vela Nunez at Bucna J''cntura, with twenty thousand 
 ducats ; for he was fitting out two brigantines there to pro- 
 ceed to Panama, where he was to laise men for his brother 
 the viceroy. But Noiosa sent him to Lima to the governor ; 
 where, being afterwards accused as a seditious man who 
 wished to raise himself on the domains of the king, he was 
 sent forth and beheaded. Noiosa^ at the same time reco- 
 vered a son of Gonzalo Pizarro's, whom Vela Nunez had de- 
 tained with him. With this booty he sailed from Bucna Ven- 
 tura, accompanied by eight ships and three brigantines, to 
 Panama. At this time Giovan de Lianes ( Yllanez) was there 
 raising men for the viceroy, and as soon as he saw the ships, 
 he beat to arms, went to the piazza with his soldiers, and 
 cried out with a loud voice to the citizens, — " Come out of 
 your houses, you traitors, come and defend the king's do- 
 mains from these tyrants ?" At these words many of them 
 were highly incensed against him. 
 
 This Noiosa, or Inoisa, is the Illnojosa of Zarate. The illegitimate 
 sou of PizaiTo had been captured at Quito, and the royalists hoped to 
 t-ceurc Ijuth ransom and terms from having him in their power. {Tnois.) 
 
 i 
 
] 
 
 late 
 to 
 
 ^ 
 
 uisToiiY OF iiiii m;w would. 
 
 213 
 
 'I'lic next (l;iy IMctn) do C;issaja, cliicf justice of that pro- 
 vince, by desire of Giovaii Dilliancs, sent to Nomhre do J)ios 
 to raise men ; he also sent to Noiosa to in([uire the cause of 
 his coming, and was answered that he came to pay the debts 
 of Maciiicao, after which he wished to return to Peru. 
 Noiosa, however, having- heard, on the other hand, that arms 
 had l)een taken up against him in Panama, and that Giovan 
 Dilliancs would on no account consent to bis entering the 
 town, he landed his soldiers and placed them among the 
 rocks on the sea-shore. He then sent his bi'igantincs along 
 the beach, with some pieces of artillery. AVhcreupou Giovan 
 Dillianes coining out o^ Panama, iaced him with three hun- 
 dred Spaniards, and encani])ed close to the enemy. When 
 a gunn(.>r by order was about to fire a cannon, a monk of 
 the order of the Madonna, riding on a mule, with the crucifix 
 in his hand, in company with Don Pietro de Cabrera, shouted 
 " Peace, peace !" Tlie two sides thereupon consenting to ne- 
 gotiate, it was agreed that Noiosa should be free to enter 
 the town accompanied by twenty-five soldiers, if he sent his 
 ships away to Tahoya with all the rest of his men, until he 
 had paid the debts of Machicao ; and for surety should give 
 as hostages any two gentlemen that Giovan Dillianes should 
 ask for. One was Don Baltasaro, son of the (Jount della 
 Goniera; and the otlier was Captain Paulo de Menese. Thus, 
 with tlu'se tricks and dissimulations, peace was concluded. 
 Yet shortly after, because Giovan Dillianes had not money 
 to ])ay his soldiers, they gradually went over to the Pizarrists 
 at Tabotja, as the Greeks entered Troy singing by threes and 
 by fours, Avhilst the truce lasted ; he, left Avith only one page, 
 quitted Panama and went towards GartJiagoia. Noiosa 
 now entered Panatnd with all his army, crying our, to the 
 
 so 
 
 Idi 
 
 ers. 
 
 Lon"' live the kinc; and Gonzalo Pizarro 
 
 JI( 
 
 then sent Don Pietro de Cabrera and his son-in-law with 
 
 two companies, to 
 
 U'U 
 
 ard Nomhre de Dios. But not 
 
 loui^ after, Melcliior Verd 
 
 UiiO 
 
 avmu' come 
 
 U»\vn 
 
 bv ti 
 
 le 
 
 \ 
 
 i H 
 
 iJ 
 
 M 
 
214 
 
 HISTORY OF TIIK NEW AVORLD. 
 
 canal of Nicaragua with two hundred soldiers, intending 
 to attack Pizarro's party, landed in the night ; the inha- 
 bitants hearing the noise, thought the French had come, 
 whereupon the greater part fled to the woods, and set fire to 
 Cabrera's house, hoping to burn him in it ; but he had 
 already run away, as well as his son-in-law, in the direction 
 of Panamd. Thus did Verdugo' make himself master of 
 Nomhre de Dios ; but in consequence of the soldiers ill- 
 treating the citizens under pretence that they favoured the 
 tyrants, and forcing their merchandize from them with much 
 abuse, the towns-people complained to Dr. Ilivera, the 
 governor of that province and residing at Panama, of the 
 injuries and thefts that they suffered fromVerdugo. AVhereforc 
 the governor asked help from Pietro de Noiosa, and they 
 went together to Noinbrc do Dios with a hundred and fifty 
 arqucbuzecrs. Having reprimanded Verdugo, Noiosa or- 
 dered that he should first repay the citizens for all the mis- 
 chief and damage he had done them, and then immediately 
 quit the province, or he would expel him by force of arms. 
 Verdugo replied that he (Noiosa) deserved much more, 
 because he aided the tyrants in the king's territory. On re- 
 ceiving this message, Noiosa entered the town, and ordered 
 his soldiers to attack the enemy. But Vcrdugo's men, seeing 
 so many arqucbuzecrs coming against them, turned their 
 backs without attempting any defence ; and he himself was 
 the first to jump into a brigantine. Only one soklier was 
 wounded ; and this was the end of Vcrdugo's bravados. 
 
 Whilst these events were occurrincf at Panama and at 
 Nomhre de Dios, Gonzalo Pizarro sent Francisco de Cara- 
 vaial {Carvajal), his camp master {suo Maestro di Camj^o), 
 against Diego Ccnteno, who had revoU d against him. 
 
 Peru 
 
 ^ This IMelchior Verdugo, of Truxillo, -vvas one of the richest men in 
 (1 the staunchest loyalist. Ilinoiosa was c oatlv chaiiTincd at 
 
 lOJC 
 
 Vcrduga's capture of Nomlire de Dios and the burning of Cabrera's 
 house ; an exploit which he was bent on revenging. Dr. Ribera, the 
 governor, 
 
 was but a tool in his hands. {Trans.) 
 
IIISTOKY Ol' THK Ni;\V WOUM). 
 
 215 
 
 J 
 
 IMcctiiii? Dlrgo near Potosi, tlicy closed cintl quickly routed 
 liiin, taking several of his soldiers, •whom he ordered to be 
 hung, liut Ccutcuo, together with Luigi di Rivera and one 
 of his servants, cnaijcd to sonic arid mountains inhabited by 
 Indians, not far from Arrch/jja. I'roud of this victory, 
 Caravaial W(nit scouring the country around, nnd pillaged 
 (^hiarche ; then, changing his route, he returned to Arvchipa, 
 and from thence proceeded to Cusco, robbing, hanging, and 
 quartering, all that he mot inclined to the royal party. At 
 this very time, the viceroy was in the province of Popaia/i, 
 in the government of Vcnalcazer (Be; .tzar), having es- 
 caped {era scofnjjuto) from the hands of (ionzalo Pizarro, his 
 persecutor. The viceroy being falsely informed that Pizarro 
 had left Quito and returned to Lima, although grieving at 
 the imprisonment' of his brother, yet was not without hopes 
 of recovering his government, and revenging himself for the 
 many insults received from the Pizarrists. With the assist- 
 ance of Sebastian Venalcacere, he prepared to march with 
 four hundred Spaniards, and departed. AVhen he was near 
 Otahallo he heard that Pizarro had not gone to Lima, buo 
 was coming towards him with a lars^e force, and was not far 
 off. The viceroy, alarmed at this unexpected circumstance, 
 made a great many fires during the night to deceive the 
 enemy, and two hours after dark decamped with all his men ; 
 they niarched through difficult districts all that night, and 
 the greater part of the next day, with good Indian guides. 
 Fatigued and exhausted with thirst, they entered Quito, 
 where a black woman give him a jug of water to drink. 
 Receiving farther information of Pizarro's host, he was some- 
 what alarmed j and being advised by many to surrender and 
 
 w 
 
 d at 
 
 •era's 
 
 the 
 
 ^ This brother, who apj)cav'5 to have beou a brave gentleman, was im 
 prisoned in 1545 ; but on the death of the viceroy, he received a condi- 
 tional pardon. In the following year, being drawn into a plot for the 
 restoration of the former authority, Pizarro oaused him to be brought to 
 trial as a imitor to the king, and had him publicly beheaded. {Trans.) 
 
21() 
 
 HISTORY OK rilH NKW AVOIIM). 
 
 be reconciled witli liiin, he answered that he wonhl die 
 sooner than snrrender to such a man. 'I'lien, not confidintjj 
 in the inhaliitants of Quito, lie evacuated the town, and en- 
 camped on a small plain three miles ontside of it. Gonzalo, 
 vho had sharp spies everywhere, heard of the viceroy's flinht 
 and countermarches, so immediately altered his course, and 
 tlie following day arrived in sight of the enemy. 'I'he vice- 
 roy imprudently faced him ; the battle soon began, and 
 rizarro's arquebuzeers in the first assault killed some of their 
 opponents. Then the cavalry hampered the viceroy, who 
 fought valiantly, and Captain Cepeda coming up, repulsed 
 them. ]?ut the viceroy fell from his horse, and, in conse- 
 quence of the great weight of his armour, was unable to rise 
 again. Not being recognized, the sacrestano of Quito went 
 towards him to discover who he was, and Avhen leaning over 
 him, the viceroy said, '^ Don't do me any injury, I am the vice- 
 roy." The sacrestano replied, " Yon are the man we seek ;" 
 and then informed the Licentiate Caravaial, who wishing for 
 nothing so much as to revenge the death of his brother the 
 king's factor, was about to dismount in order to despatch 
 him, -svhen Tietro de Puelis prevented his doing so, saying 
 that it was not suitable to his station to commit such an act ; 
 therefore, calling one of his slaves, he ordered him to put 
 the viceroy to death and then cut off his head. This trophy 
 was carried to Quito, put in the place where malefactoi's' 
 heads are exposed; and, as u still greater disgrace, there 
 were not wanting people to pull his beard ; but his body 
 being taken to (juito, the governor ordered it to be buried 
 the next day. 
 
 'J'here died five Spaniards in this battle on the Pizarrist 
 side, and on the other a few more.' The governor then l»e- 
 
 ' This iiccount by no means agrees with the assertions of Zarato, who 
 states that the royalists lost about two hundred men, and the victors only 
 seven. He also says Pizavro caused the body of the viceroy to bo car- 
 ried to Quito, and there interreil with much pomp and solemnity. This 
 battle was fotight on the Kith January, 151(1. {Truns.) 
 
HISTORY OF TlIK NKW \V0III,I). 
 
 217 
 
 
 ■I 
 
 m 
 
 haved humanrly towards his enemies : he made some pre- 
 sents to Vcnalcaccro, altliough lie had heen opposed to him, 
 and sent him to his government, lie did the same hy some 
 of his captains ; but Bonilia, the treasurer of Quito, with 
 some other citizens, he sent as exiles to Chili, although as 
 soon as embarked, they escaped to New Spain. He deputed 
 Manned de 8tatio as his lieutenant in Guaiaqiiil ; Lopez 
 d'Aiale in Puerto \'ecchio ; Alfonzo INIercadilio in Sarsa ; 
 and Diego de j\[ora in Trugilio. He provided in a similar 
 way for all the other towns ; and after arranging the govern- 
 ment of Quito, and leaving Pietro de Puelies as his lieutenant 
 there, he went to the City of the Kings to the great satisfac- 
 tion of everybody. 
 
 Whilst these events were occurring in Peru, as above re- 
 hited, it was reported to the emperor that the citizens of 
 Lima had seized the viceroy, and that Gonzalo Pizarro had 
 arrogantly arisen and taken arms against him ; all which 
 greatly grieved him, and he complained severely oi" the audi- 
 tors for having consented thereto. But being afterwards 
 informed that the viceroy had been the principal cause of all 
 the evils, by not consenting to appeals from the new laws, he 
 became somewhat mitigated ; and considering that lamenta- 
 tions Avere of no avail, as well as to avoid the occurrence of 
 any still greater evil, he determined to remedy what had 
 happened. Ele proposed to send a man of sedate character, 
 and bestowed the title of president on the Licentiate Pietro 
 deila Gasca, a man, indeed, to be compared rather to the 
 most sly fox than to a fierce lion. Armed with all the 
 authorities and provisions that he chose to ask from the empe- 
 ror, and accompanied by the Licentiates Cianca {Ganas) and 
 Renteria, he started from Spain in the year 1546, and, hav- 
 ing a fair wind, reached No?iibrc de Dios in fifty-five days. 
 They then proceeded by land to Panama ; as secretly as 
 possible they investigated the state of Pizarro's affairs ; and 
 when asked by the Pizarristi with what view he had come 
 
 i 
 
 38 
 
218 
 
 HISTORY OF THK NEW WOULD. 
 
 from Spain, the president replied, oftc n with his cap in his 
 hand, that he liad arrived to restore peace to Pern, and to 
 revoke the orch-rs that tlic viceroy hrout^lit, even to par(h)n 
 all the past ; and that his anxious desire was to put those 
 provinces into a good state, so that every one might live well 
 and peacefully, lie often talked in this guise familiarly with 
 the soldiers, telling them to be merry and good humoured, 
 for he Avished everything to go on so comfortahly, that he 
 would nudve them all rich : and that his intention was only 
 to regain the territories for the emperor, to make them see 
 their errors, and return to his obedience and service. With 
 such words and many more, he began to tease Noiosa to giv(! 
 liim up the army; and he wrote a letter to Gonzalo Pizarro, 
 of which the following is the substance : that he should cede 
 the government and hiy down his arms, for he would be al- 
 lowed to pardon him all that he had done, and revoke the 
 obnoxious laws, leaving to every man his prop(>rty ; and, 
 moreover, warned him not to trust in the people who had 
 till then followed him, for, on hearing the voice of their king, 
 they would all finally abandon him, and be the cause of his 
 death. 
 
 Pizarro, on receiving this letter, summoned the principal 
 men in his government, so that each might give his free 
 opinion. They reasoned a long time on the subject ; and it 
 "was finally agreed upon by every one, that on no account 
 should Gasca be allowed to enter Peru ; and that ambassa- 
 dors should be sent to the emperor informing him of the 
 death of the viceroy, supplicating his majesty at the sanu^ 
 time to confirm Gonzalo in that government, and promising 
 to send him a large sum of money, if he would consent to 
 this arrangement. With this determination, they sent off 
 Prother Geronimo di Loaisa' and Lorenzo dal Dana to go to 
 Spain ; giving them also a letter for the president d(dla 
 
 ' Zarate, who was then resident in a puldic character in Tcrii, men- 
 tion;^ these (le[mties as consi;-t ing of Don (Jeronyuio de Loyasa, archbishop 
 
iiisroiiY OK riiK Ni'.w w<»ur,i). 
 
 lill) 
 
 (iascn, subscribed by sixty-four vcfcran-;, and expressed in 
 fbe followint^ stvle : — 
 
 '• Most MAfiNiFicKNT Skinou. — \Vc heard of your arrival af 
 Panama, and that you wish to proceed to Peru, which, if you luid 
 come before tlie viceroy's deatli, wouUl liavo afforded us all j^reat 
 satisfaction ; but so many battles iuivinjf ensued, and so many 
 Spaniards Decn killed, not only would your coming be unsiife, but 
 might be the cause even of some still greater evil. It would tlure- 
 fore be advantageous to all if you woidd return to Spiiin with our 
 ambassadors, who are going to inform the einperor of all that lias 
 hap])pned, and of our resolution that his majesty may be jjleased 
 to grant us the favour of confirming Gonzalo Pi/arro as our gover- 
 nor ; he being a person more accustomed than any other, by the 
 long experience he has had in governing and in managing the 
 affairs of this country; for which, and for his rare virtues, he is 
 beloved by everybody and regarded as {.ho pater patrue. He main- 
 tains peace and justice througnout the country. He preserves the 
 royal fifths and revenues. We therefore trust tliat the emperor 
 will grant us this favour, after the services we have so long ren- 
 dered. And altlioiigh your governors have made war against us, 
 and have robbed us and consumed the king's revenues, it will be 
 found that, if we took up arms against them, it was only to defend 
 our claims conformably to the laws. None of us ask pardon, be- 
 cause none of us have erred. We therefore supplicate you, by the 
 s?eal and love that you bear, and have always borne, to the service 
 of God and of the king, to return to Spain to inform his majesty 
 of all that is requisite ; and we hope that in your prudence you 
 will do this." 
 
 They wrote also to Noiosa ; and Gonzalo told Lorenzo 
 dal Dana to give I'ietro dclla Oasca fifty thousand ducats if 
 he would return to Spain ; and if not, to make an end of 
 him — ovfiramente chc lo accidcsse. 
 
 On the above letter reaching Panama, Lorenzo dal Dana 
 
 of Lima ; Lorenzo de Aldana ; friar Touias de Sau IMartino, pro- 
 vincial of the Dominicans ; and Gomez de Solis, major-domo to Pizarro. 
 {Trans.) 
 
 :.1 
 
 .1' - 
 
220 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WOUIJ). 
 
 notified everything to the president, and warned him to look 
 out for his life ; assuring him, on the other hand, that 
 Pizarro wouUl never receive a superior in Peru, although 
 many people desired to see him {the president). At first 
 Noiosa would on no account give up the army, in conse- 
 quence of the promise he had made to Gonzalo ; but at last, 
 seeing the imperial orders for a general pardon, he was over- 
 persuaded to the act. The president was extremely delighted 
 when he had obtained the army ; for, without it, he would 
 have found it impossible ever to succeed in his cnterprize. 
 He appointed Noiosa himself to be the general, leaving all 
 the other officers in their previous stations. He sent to 
 Nombre de Dios for so.ne pieces of artillery which he had 
 brought from Spain ; he wrote to IMexico, to Guattimala, to 
 Nicaragua, and to San Domingo, to have men, arms, horses, 
 and ammunition sent to his assistance. He borrowed a irreat 
 deal of money from some merchants wherewith to pay the 
 soldiers. He sent Lorenzo dal Dana with three ships to 
 Peru to publish the orders for a general pardon, and the re- 
 vocation of the new laws ; wlio, starting from Panama, 
 stopped nowhci'c till he had reached the Calliao di Lima ; 
 thence lie sent a ship to Trugilio and another to Arechipa to 
 publish the imperial decree. As Noiosa had ceded the 
 army to the Licentiate della Gasca, the greater part of the 
 inhabitants rebelled against Pizarro. First Diego de Mora 
 of Trugilio revolted ; and Rodcrigo de Salazar in Quito, who 
 murdered Pietro de ]*uelies in his bed by repeated stabs ; 
 and Francisco Dolmos shamefully killed jNIanuele de Statio 
 in Guaiaquil because already the royal flag had been low- 
 ered ; having first put to death three other citizens in Puna. 
 While I was at this time of revolt i" Puerto Vecchio, Diego 
 Mendcz took Allope d'Aiala, and had Captain Morales 
 strangled. Yet all this was done more from savage revenge 
 than from zeal for justice. Diego Centcno^ being sent for 
 ' Zaratc hints that Centeno was iuvitud to this otliciwisc desperate 
 
 i 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 2t>l 
 
 
 by Diego Alvarez in Arechipa, issued from the mountains 
 wiierc he -was concealed, joined him, engaged others who ar- 
 rived, collected to the amount of eighty Spaniards, and went 
 to Cusco in the king's name. There he heard that Antonio 
 de Roblcz was in the town with about three hundred soldiers, 
 whom he was going to take to Gonzalo Pizarro. One night 
 tlicrefore he entered, caught the enemy asleep, killed some 
 of them, wounded many others, took the captain, had his 
 head cut off, and impressed the rest in the king's service. 
 
 Centcno becoming arrogant on the strength of this victory, 
 (piitted C//SCU to go to Potosi against Alfonzo de Mendoza 
 and Giovan de Silvera, who were there with a great many 
 men, holding the place for Gonzalo. Hearing of Centcno's 
 arrival, however, they joined his party. He then went to 
 the canal of Tiquacaca with tlic intention of awaiting the 
 president there, keeping the communication shut, so as to 
 prevent the enemy's passing in any direction. Pizarro found 
 himself therefore in the City of the Kinys under these cir- 
 cumstances, — he saw that his friends were gradually aban- 
 doning him, especially those who had been the principal 
 cause of his entering on the enterprize, — that Pietro dc 
 Noiosa (on whom he relied more than on any of the rest) 
 had given up the army to dell a Gasca, and that all the districts 
 had rebelled against him. Still, notwithstanding these very 
 adverse incidents and reverses of fortune, his courage 
 never failed. He therefore sent Giovan da Costa, with two 
 hundred soldiers, to TrugiUo against Diego dc Mora ; though 
 finding that officer had retired to Cassiamalca, and that he 
 was strcmgcr than himself, da Costa returned to Lima. 
 Pizarro again sent him off with more men, in the direction 
 
 ' \ 
 
 3gO 
 
 des 
 ^igc 
 I for 
 Irate 
 
 step by some of the principal inhabitants of Cuzco : but for this it 
 would have been inexcusable rashness in him, with so small a band of 
 followers, to have attacked so superior a force, Zarate gives Centcno 
 forty ill-armed men, and De Robles five hundred sohliers ; but here, per- 
 haps, l)en/,oni's statement is the most probable. {Truns.) 
 
222 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORT.I). 
 
 of Ciisco, thinking that Ccntcno was there, and intending to 
 turn him out of the town. Not long after his departure, 
 Lorenzo dal Dana arrived in the port with four ships, which 
 occasioned a great tumult in the Pizarrist camp, and induced 
 Giovan de Roias and Alfonzo Maldonato with many more to 
 make their escape. Pizarro, therefore, fearing that others 
 would also abandon him, determined to quit Lima and go 
 to Arcc/npa ; but notwithstanding this step, the Licentiate 
 Caravaial stole away with all his relations. The flight of 
 this man mortified the governor greatly, as he had been one 
 of the principal officers of his army; therefore having left 
 Lima, he wrote by post to Giovan da Costa, that on receipt 
 of his letter he should immediately turn round and coniC to 
 Arcchipa. When he was near Guama?iga, Sotto Mayo'' a^ul 
 Captain Martino Dolmos, with the greater part of his men, 
 deserted. Meanwhile he reached Arcchipa, and Lorenzo 
 dal Dana entering Lima, hoisted the royal flag.^ 
 
 After the junction of Giovan da Costa with his governor, 
 they held a council as to Avhat it would be best to do to save 
 their lives, since they could not support themselves in that 
 country, and they unanimously concluded to go in the direc- 
 tion of Chili to conquer new countries. Therefore Pizarro 
 prepared his men, who amounted to about five hundred 
 Spaniards and a great many Indian servants. Aware that 
 if he took the direct route, he must encounter Centeno, who 
 was stationed not far from a very narrow pass with twelve 
 hundred Spaniards, he sent Francisco Spinosa with thirty 
 horsemen by the way of the Tiquicaca canal, to induce the 
 enemy to believe he was adopting that route ; but he de- 
 spatched Caravaial, his master of the camp, with the army, in 
 
 I 
 
 
 in 
 
 ^ The principal inhaltitants had already declared for his majesty in 
 their own names, auu in the names of all the loyal citizens of Lima. It 
 was on the 9th of September, l^Al , that AlJana, assured that Gonzalo 
 was eighty leagues from the spot, landed and took charge of the city. 
 ( Trans.) 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 223 
 
 ■cc- 
 ;arro 
 .red 
 that 
 who 
 ■IvG 
 lirty 
 the 
 de- 
 T, in 
 
 ity in 
 It 
 luzalo 
 city. 
 
 •I 
 
 another direction by Uscovio, near some very steep moun- 
 tains in Guamanga : v/ho detecting a priest, that was a spy 
 for the imperialists, he had him hanged.* 
 
 Centeno, being informed by Captain Olea, who deserted to 
 him, of his adversary's intention, changed his position and 
 went to Pucoran. Pizarro having heard that the enemy was 
 approaching him, and finding himself shut up in Guarina as 
 well as inferior in strength, sent to Centena for permission to 
 pass, as he intended to leave that country and go to Chili. 
 Centeno replied that he would not allow him, and that he 
 must surrender himself. Pizarro then said : " Thou art not 
 the king that I must surrender to thee ; only the other day 
 thou wert my servant, and because I would not give thee 
 what thou didst ask, thou hast revolted against me." On 
 this answer Centeno passed on, and cutting the (roj)c) bridge 
 of Tiquicaca arrived at Pucoran, fifteen miles distant from 
 Gonzalo Pizarro. There he rested several days, thinking that 
 the Pizarrists would be sure to desert to him. But when he 
 found that there was no change at all, he pushed his camp 
 on eight miles farther, and entrusting it to Alfonzo dc JNlen- 
 doza and Giovan de Silvera, said that he had a disease in his 
 side, and retired to a safe place with Giovan Solano, bishop 
 of Cusco. Immediately Alfonzo dc Mendoza and his com- 
 panions Avishcd to prepare their troops for battle, but in the 
 most disorderly order {online molto disordinato) intended to 
 assault the enemy. They shewed off many bravados, skir- 
 mishing {scara?mizzando) one with the other, and saying that 
 they would suffice even if the Pizarrists were three times as 
 many. Caravaial, being now informed of the state and 
 situation of Centeno's camp, said to Pizarro : " TiCt us go. 
 Signer Governatore, and assault these traitors ; for by the 
 life of God we shall, conquer." Accordingly, putting their 
 
 ' To render this execution the more ignominious, the priest was 
 hanged with his breviary and ink-horn suspended from liis neck. Carava- 
 Jal usually added l)auteriug insult to his brutality. (Tni-ns.) 
 
 i II 
 
( , 
 
 224 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 
 squadrons in array, they began their march, with the greater 
 part of their arquebuzeers in the van. "When they reached 
 the enemy's camp they gave the assault, and the musqueteers 
 in the first effort made a great impression on them. Alfonzo 
 de Mendoza then advancing with forty arquebuzeers, at- 
 tacked Gonzalo Pizarro's squadron of horse, and had nearly 
 routed them ; when Caravaial, who was hastening about 
 everywhere to encourage the men, seeing his governor sur- 
 rounded by the enemy, exclaimed to Giovan della Torre : 
 " Let us go and help our master, who is in great danger ;" 
 and by assisting him the battle was renewed with great 
 vigour, every man exerting himself, till finally Centeno's 
 men fell into confusion. Fatigued and unable to resist the 
 fury of their enemies, they took to flight. Centeno,^ seeing 
 his men routed, leaped on his horse, without waiting for the 
 bishop, ar>d escaped. 
 
 About eighty Spaniards fell on the side of Gonzalo Pizarro ; 
 Cepeda and Giovan da Costa were wounded. And of the 
 opposite party four hundred and fifty, including Giovan de 
 Silvera and other captains. Pizarro sent Caravaial with 
 thirty arquebuzeers in the direction of Arechipa to search for 
 Centeno, and not finding him, he entered the town and pil- 
 laged many of the inhabitants. He also sent Captain Boba- 
 dilia, with a similar party of soldiers to the Chiarchc, to 
 seize all the arms and horses they could find. He ordered 
 Machicao to be hanged, together with six other Spaniards, 
 who in the beginning of the battle deserted to Centeno.''^ He 
 
 ^ Other accounts state, that during this battle Oentino wa.s so ill that 
 he was carried on a litter by six Indians, almost in a state of insensi- 
 bility ; yet, by the care of friends, he was saved after the defeat of his 
 army. This conflict took place near Guarina, on the 1 9th of October, 
 1547. {Tmns.) 
 
 " This Machicao, otherwise the noted Bachicao, believing the royalists 
 would be victorious, had gone over to thcni : but seeing it prove other- 
 wise, imagining his defection was unobserved, returned to his post. On 
 being dragged to execution, Oaravajal bantered him with bitter jokes, 
 calling him his most dear friend and comrade. {Tmns.) 
 
HISTOIIY OF TIIK NEW WOULD. 
 
 
 the 
 
 111 that 
 isensi- 
 of his 
 jtober, 
 
 
 pardoned all the others, because they promised to go with 
 him and serve him most iaithf'ully. He thus quitted Giia- 
 rina, went to Ciisro and ent(>rcd it, to the great terror and 
 confusion of the \\'hole population. He caused the Licentiate 
 jMartello to he strangled, as also twelve of the principal in- 
 habitants. He had some armour made of gold and silver, 
 and placed good guards throughout the town. Some say 
 that Caravaial >varned Gonzalo Tizarro not to put fiiith in 
 the people that he had enlisted after the defeat of Centcno, 
 nor in some others, for that at the most critical time they 
 would betray him ; and advised him to fall back upon Chili, 
 burning, destroying, and ruining all the country he passed 
 through ; so that, if the enemy attempted to follow him, he 
 should find nothing to live upon, nor even grass for his 
 horses. To this Tizarro answered : " That he Avas deter- 
 mined to be loid of that country, or to lose his life in the 
 attempt." Caravaial receiving this answer said : " Up then, 
 my lord governor, let us go forward, for by the life of God 
 I have as good a neck as you." And truly, if Gonzalo 
 I'izarro had taken this sage advice, Pietro della Gasca might 
 have scratched his head and worried his life out, and then 
 returned to Spain without having done anything : but this 
 was to be his end ! ' 
 
 At this period the president, Delia Gasca, started from 
 Panama with twelve vessels, including large and small, the 
 greater part laden with merchants' goods, and amongst them 
 he located about five hundred soldiers. He built a galoot, 
 but Avithout any advantage ; for, on account of the currents, 
 it worked badly ; and thus with great trouble, it being in 
 the M'inter, they arrived at Manta. Francisco Dolmos being 
 at Puerto Vccchio with his company, when he heard of the 
 
 :) 
 
 lyalists 
 I other- 
 It. On 
 jokes, 
 
 ^ These chiefs remind one of Julta and vSyphax. Pizarro was under 
 forty years of age, tall, wcU-proportioued, and shewy; Caravajal was said 
 to ho eighty years old, of middle stature, very stout, and high-com- 
 jilexioncd ; the one was sensual in women, the other in wine. {Tran'>.) 
 
 2!) 
 
( ,1 
 I 
 
 220 
 
 IIISTOllY OV TIIK NKW WORr.l). 
 
 president's arrival, he, together witli Cij/ain Diego jVIendez 
 and some of the citizens, went to tlic beach to receive him, 
 and reported the state of Pi/irro's affairs, with all the 
 populations revolted against him. The ])resldcnt was much 
 rejoiced at this, hut hearing of the executions of Captain 
 INlorales, of ]\[anuel del Statio, and of otlier citizens, he said: 
 " Under colour of serving the king you kill men, revenging 
 your private injuries, whereat the king is not pleased." lie 
 then went to Tamhcs, Avhich place he reached in a short 
 time. He sent to St. MicJiclv, for the people that had de- 
 serted from Gonzalo IMzarro ; and desired Captvain jNlerca- 
 diglio de ]>racamori to join. Salazare came from Chito, and 
 Sebastiano Venalcacere from Popaiano, with many Span- 
 iards ; and he received intelligence that Diego dc INIora was 
 in CassiaiualcOi with a considerable number of men. 
 
 The president, seeing that from all sides men were flock- 
 ing to his standard and support, sent letters to the viceroy of 
 New Spain informing him that he need not forward him any 
 succour, for there was no occasion. lie wrote in a similar 
 strain to Nomhre de Dios, to Nicaragiia, and to many other 
 places, whence he had asked for reinforcements. Only the 
 Licentiate llamires came from Guatimala, with a fresh sup- 
 ply of men and ammunition. The president now sending 
 Noiosa with the greater part of his troops over the moun- 
 tains, to collect the Spaniards who were at Sausa, he went 
 himself by sea to Tnigilio. There he heard of Centeno's 
 defeat, which grieved him so much that he was doubtful 
 whether he ought to proceed ; though his party encouraged 
 him, advising him not to give up persevering in his enter- 
 jirise ; assuring him that he need not be alarmed on account 
 of Centeno's misfortune, for ho had still plenty of men to 
 rout the enemy ; that the greater part of Tizarro's camp 
 served him only througli fear, and that they would gladly 
 desert the moment they saw the royal standard. He halted,^ 
 
 ' According to Zarate, this halt was in the valley of Jauja. lie cor- 
 
 i 
 
inSTOKY OF THE NEW WOULD. 
 
 007 
 
 ling 
 
 i 
 
 but sent Alfonzo d'Alvarado to Lima for tlic men who '-re 
 Avith Loicnzo dal Dana. He sent many si)ics, both Span- 
 iards and Indians, to learn what Pizarro Avas doing ; and 
 about this time the bishop ot' Cusco and Altbnzo do Mendoza 
 arrived at Trudilio, to"^cther with some sohliers who had 
 run away after Centeno's defeat. From the other side there 
 came Diego de INIora from Cassiamalca, and Pietro de 
 Noiosa, with other captains and more troops ; so that the 
 president actually assembled above fifteen hundred men. 
 Ho examined the arms, put the artillery in order, had a 
 great many balls cast, and an nnplc ])rovision of pikes and 
 lances made ; and then he started with all his camp. Th" 
 ammunition and baggage were carried by the Indians, who 
 were tied together in rows so that they might not escape. 
 ]\lany, from the great weights assigned them, could not walk, 
 and many, from extreme thirst, could not stand up. Some 
 of these the Spaniards fiercely cut to pieces, others were 
 chained by the neck, and oftentimes, to avoid the delay of 
 extricating these men, their heads were cut off. Others 
 were bound with ropes, some of them had their sides pierced 
 with swords, some had their ears or noses cut off, and others 
 had gashes cut in their arms or their legs.' 
 
 Finally the president reached Sausa, and then proceeded 
 to Guamomja, Valdivia joined him on the march ; he had 
 come to his aid from CltiU, and was appointed colonel of the 
 infantry. Not long after they met Centeno. Marching 
 onward they reached the country of the AndagoHani, where, 
 for want of provisions (as there was only green maize to cat, 
 either boiled or roasted, and the ground was very wet), the 
 greater part of the army fell sick, until they had crossed the 
 
 roboratcs Benzoni's account of the president's exertions, but adds, more- 
 over, tliat lie employed all the forges and artists he could procure to 
 fabricate new muskets. {Trims.) 
 
 ^ What a horrid recital ! Yet some of the historians of America dub 
 
 as then understood and amons 
 
 (lasca a humane 
 
 an 
 
 possibly, 
 
 such sanguinary ruffians, he may have been. (Traim.) 
 
 I y\ 
 
( I 
 
 
 mSTOIlY Ol" THE NEW WOKl.l). 
 
 river liancai, when tlic natives supplied them with food ; 
 and thcv all refreshed themselves in thchest way thcv could. 
 Here the president learnt that the enemy had cut asunder 
 all the bridges over the rivers. They were made of the 
 branches of large willow-like trees, twisted together in the 
 manner of cables, carried across the stream and made fast on 
 cither bank ; so that foot passengers, though not horsemen, 
 could easily cross. The president now ordered the Indians to 
 repair these bridges, and it was wonderful how quickly they 
 restored them. ]3ut passing through the river Aporrhniiy near 
 Cusco, owing to the powerful stream of water, many of the 
 Spaniards and their horses were drowned in fording the 
 stream. When Noiosa and Pietro de Valdivia had passed, 
 they took up a very strong and importu'i.t position with 
 seventy arciuebuzeers on a hill, until the r^jt of the army had 
 got across. They had scarcely taken possession of it when 
 Giovan da Costa, and fifty arquebuzeers, came up with a simi- 
 lar intention ; but seeing the enemy there already he rt • 
 turned to Cusco, informed the governor that the president 
 had i^assed the river with nine hundred Spaniards and a 
 great many Indians, then left Cusco and planted his stan- 
 dards in sight of the enemy at Sag uisay nana. 
 
 The president, although he had crossed the river, found 
 himself in a very bleak station, full of ice, devoid of lire- 
 wood, and short of provisions : and he began to fear lest his 
 men might desert to Pizarro, who had a superabundance 
 of these things. He therefore determined to give battle. 
 Consequently he employed great part of the night in exami- 
 ning the arms ; early in the morning he made liberal prof- 
 fers to his soldiers, telling them, as he had already often said 
 before, that if they behaved valorously everything should 
 be for them : he then unfurled his banners and marched for- 
 ward towards the enemy. Pizarro ordered Cepeda to place 
 himself in a certain pass near a hill, but he deserted over to 
 the president ; and immediately fifty musqueteers followed 
 
IIISroilY OF IIIK NKW WOIII,!). 
 
 00() 
 
 iie- 
 
 his 
 
 mcG 
 
 Ittle. 
 
 imi- 
 
 Hot- 
 said 
 )uld 
 Ifor- 
 lace 
 |r to 
 'cd 
 
 him. On the rest of the sohliers seeing this, they threw 
 down their arms : some went over to the imperial camj), 
 some ran here and some ran there. Noiosa called out to his 
 men to pursue the flying enemy, but they attended more to 
 j)illaging the barracks than anything else ; although they 
 found much less booty than they expected. On the imperial 
 side one Spaniard was killed, and on the other five fell. 
 
 AMien Pizarro found himself abandoned by all his camp 
 except his officers, he said to Giovan da Costa : — " AMiat 
 shall we do now, oh captain ?" to which Costa replied : — 
 '* My lord governor, let us die nobly, like Romans !" But 
 rizarro exclaimed — " God forbid, that having lost my 
 honour and my property, I should lose my soul too." ' 
 Then finding himself close to Villa Vicenza, he asked him 
 who he was ? He answered that he was serjcant-major of the 
 imperial camp; — in return to which Pizarro said, "And I am 
 the unfortunate C^onzalo Pizarro." He then led him to the 
 president, mounted on a large and powerful horse, adorned 
 Avith beautiful silver trappings. He had a light corslet, a 
 helmet of the finest gold on his head, ornamented with a 
 plume, and wore a medal surrounded with emeralds. The 
 president said to him, " Senor Gonzalo Pizarro, docs it 
 appear right in you to have incited the territories of the em- 
 peror against him, and to have wasted his treasures !'" Pizarro 
 answered, " I have consumed my own riches, and not those 
 of the emperor. And as to this country, I could possess it 
 as governor with justice, for I and my brothers conquered 
 it." On hearing this answer, the president ordered him to 
 be taken away from his presence, and referred his trial to 
 the Licentiate Cianca. The case was proceeded with ac- 
 cordingly, he was condemned as a traitor, and the next day 
 he was sent to be beheaded. His body was buried at Cunco ; 
 
 ^ In Zaratc's history Gonzalo is reported to have answered : " It is 
 better to die like Christians !" It is also stated that he was executed 
 on the day of his trial. {Trans.) 
 
 n 
 
2.30 
 
 MISI'OHY GK Till, M'.W WORM). 
 
 Ijiit his head wiis carried to LIdki, and placed in in iron 
 cage on a stone pillar, in the niarkrt place. 
 
 Such was the end of Gon/alo I'i/arro, a v ell-dispo.sod 
 man, able-bodied, courageous, rather avaricious than liberal, 
 utterly ignorant of reading and wri-ing, apt to believe every- 
 body. Cara'. aial was dragged for half-a-quarter of an hour 
 at the tail of a horse, he was then hung and quartered. 
 AVhcn he was led to execution, he, with sighs, in(|uired for 
 his governor, Gonzalo Pizarro. (Jne day ])revious to his 
 death, Diego Centeno Avent to see him md said, " Scnor INEas- 
 ter-of-thc-canip, where are now your tilons of war ?" — to 
 which he answered, *' they captured iue like a good warrior 
 on the field, but thou didst fly from the battle Hi' • an ill- 
 begotten whelp {fujliiiolo iViina cil puttami) .'''' This n)an 
 was as cruel as he wa a\ iricious, and in the short period 
 that he was master- of-the-camp of Guiizalo Pizarro, he was 
 the cause of the death of three hurdred Spaniards. AN'hen 
 he hud anybody to hang he often used to Laugh and say, 
 '■' I have lieard that you are cavaliers, and justice requires 
 that you should be shewn that honour which is due to your 
 station ; therefore, since there are several trees here, look to 
 which you would like best to be attached, for the favour will 
 be grantel to you." With such insults and many others, he 
 sent them to be hung, and for this purpose he was always 
 accompanied by four Moors. It would be a long task to re- 
 late the low malignity that this man perpetrated wherever he 
 >vf;nt. AMicn Caravaial was dead, Giovan da Costa and 
 Giovan dcUa Torre were flagellated, together with eleven 
 other captains. A grcit i^any soldiers were flogged and 
 sentenced to the galleys in S])aln ; and others were sent in 
 exile to Cidh, under Vaklivia, governor of that province.^ 
 
 
 ^ Other authors mention more capital punishments : yet Robertson 
 says — " Gasca, happy in his bloodless victor^', did not stain it with 
 cruelty." 13ut who can commiserate the execution of Pizarro, or the 
 drawing and (juartcring of the hoary Carvajal, when they remember the 
 
IFTSTOUY or Tin: nkw wort.d. 
 
 sni 
 
 
 Aftrr tlir death of CJonzalo I'izairo, the prcsklont went to 
 Ctisco, and desired all tlie clti/ens ■\vlio had vassals, to t-o 
 hack to th(!ir houses ; to >:o\nc he ^av(> presents, and to others 
 promises ; thanking them all for tlunr good and faithful ser- 
 vices, lie sowed only the house of I'izarro, aiul of those 
 who weic eondemned as traitors, with salt. He then quitted 
 Citaro, went to Purima (Apurimac), and there with (Jeronimo 
 TiOai/a, already made Archhishoj) of Limd, and I'ietro 
 Lo|,ez liis secretary, they consulted on the division of the 
 Indians. He gave Noiosa a revenue of a hundred thousand 
 ducats ]ier ;innum, and to V'aldivia not much less ; hut he 
 soon after di(.d, suspected of having been poisoned.' In this 
 way the president shared out above a million and a half of 
 yearly revenue among several persons, and published the di- 
 vision ; but luany soldiers who had served his majesty most 
 zealously, and were expecting the reward of their labours in 
 great spirits, when they found that they were omitted, began 
 to miirnmr and complain greatly against the president. And 
 although they had fair words both from him and from the arch- 
 bishop, Avho told them that at present they could not do 
 more, and that their merits would not be forgotten in the se- 
 quel, they not only were not pacified, but shewed by various 
 symptoms that they were greatly excited against them. 
 
 Out of many of these I will mention a few. Not long 
 since, in the city of Cordova in Spain, there was a nun 
 named ]\laddalena della Croce, who was held (not only by 
 the vulgar, but also by the powerful grandees of Spain) to 
 be a saint ; and when the emperor wished to go on some en- 
 terprise, he always sent to the said Maddalcna to rccom- 
 
 hani^iii,u;>, garrotings, aii'l horriblo murders committetl by them I This 
 niemoralilo meeting, for it cannot be called a battle, occurred on Mon- 
 day, the nth of April, 1548. (Trans.) 
 
 ' This " ma in brieve si movV is very obscure ; of the three persons 
 of the text, Gasca returned to Spain ; Ilinqjosa was murdered at La 
 Plata, on the (Jth of March, 155;i; Valdivia was d'jfeated and slain by 
 the Araucanians of Chili, in December 155;>. (Trans.) 
 
 
!ii 
 
 
 IflSTOnV OF TIIF, NKW WOIU,!). 
 
 inrnd liiin to the Aliiiij^lity in Ikm' prayers. Hut in tlic end 
 the mystery was discovered, i'or it was found tliat she was a 
 Avitch and had I'aniiliar intercourse with the devil. 'I'hus a 
 sohlicr tohl tlie president tliat he was Machhdena, and tliat 
 the devil, meaning tlie arcld)ishop, roch; paramount over 
 liim, the pr(>sidcnt, for lie did jiot dispose of anything witli- 
 out liis approbation. Another man tohl him tliat the sky did 
 not cover a more cunning fox than he Avas. And another in 
 a state of desperation said, that he would go away so far as 
 never more to hear the name of Spain : at this Delia Gasca 
 was so irritated, that if the man had not had good friends to 
 intercede for him, the president would ui''. ouhtedly have 
 had him hung by the neck ; but having pardoned him, he 
 sent him an exile to Chili. There was also another soldier 
 who, laughingly, said to liim, " Senor Tresidente, do me the 
 grace to give me the cap you wear on your head." To which 
 the president, also laughingly, demanded, " M'hat would 
 you do with it ?" the soldier leplied — " I would biun it, and 
 convert it into dust to do foul work with, because in that 
 same cap you have deceived so many good men." There 
 were still others who said to him that he arrived to forgive 
 tyrants and to kill honest men. There Avere even some who 
 told him, that if he did not give them wherewith to live upon 
 they would help themselves. 
 
 Affairs being in such a train, there were many men Avho 
 wanted to put Noiosa to death, and send the president 
 back to Spain a prisoner ; imploring the emperor to send a 
 conscientious ruler, who would share out the country to 
 each man according to his merit. ]h;t the i)lot being dis- 
 covered, the leaders ^•.">re seized and sent t') Spain, Among 
 them there was a Biscayan priest, Avho asserted that he had 
 spent in that war forty thousand golden ducats for the em- 
 peror's service. Not long after the president's departure 
 irom Peru for Si)ain,' however, eight hundred Spaniards 
 
 ^ Though siiltstantially cornet in the events lienzoni is here a little 
 
 I 
 
irisTouY or TMK m;\v uoumi. 
 
 J.';]:{ 
 
 rose, liiivini? put rrancls Krnaiulcs, a Frenchman, at tluiir 
 Lead; they killed Pietro do Nolosa and Don IJaltassaro, with 
 one of liis brothers, as well as Diego PHl()niino,and all the other 
 raptains and persons of quality who fell into their hands ; 
 that is, all those who, after serving (jlonzalo Pizarro, liad de- 
 serted to the Licentiate dclla Gasca. JJiit this did not last 
 long ; Ibr one night he, and three other leaders, were cut in 
 pieces hy their own i)arty. The president, fearing some evil 
 might happen to him also, as well as not to be exposed to so 
 much abuse and annoyance as was given him by the soldiery, 
 (juitted I'arima iiud v,-cnt to the Citij of tho Kings. There 
 he establislied the royal audicnc', and put everything in order 
 connected with the government of tho country ; he com- 
 manded that there should be monks and priests assigned to 
 every Indian population, to teach them as much as possible 
 of the (christian faith, and cure them of their false and ob- 
 stinate opinions. He ordered all such Spaniards as pos- 
 sessed Indian vassals to give in a correct and detailed list of 
 theni, as also of the tribute that they could pay ; a mass was, 
 moreover, to be said in each village, praying the Holy Ghost 
 to inspire them to do it in a sacred and just feeling. But no 
 sooner M'as this report sent in than the Indians appealed, 
 saying they could not pay the exactions in consequence of 
 the greater number of them having been kilhul or destroyed 
 in tlu^ continual wars, and by the heavy labours imposed on 
 them. He thereupon prescribed that the tribute paid by 
 each population to their master, should consist only in arti- 
 cles produced by their own land ; for previously the Span- 
 iards insisted on having gold or silver, although the people 
 liad none, and tormented them till they obtained it. So that 
 some of the natives fled to the woods when they had none, 
 and could not tell where to find any, in consequence of 
 
 confused in his chronology. Tlie president loft Lima, or rather Callao, 
 in l)ecember 1541), and our author soon proceeds to shew how he wa.s 
 occupied. {Trans.) 
 
 30 
 
 
234 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WOllL ). 
 
 '^1 
 
 I 
 
 which the Spaniards hunted them with dogs, dismembering 
 many, while others weat and hanged themselves. He pro- 
 hibited the Indians being loaded against their will, though 
 in some provinces, especially in Quito, where there was a 
 deficiency of beasts of burden, he consented to their being 
 loaded. He placed all these arrangements in the hands of 
 the archbishop and of some Dominican monks, so that being 
 well informed both by the Spaniards and the Indians, and 
 learning the truth, they might provide for everything. 
 
 Meanwhile, he put all his force and diligence to accumu- 
 lating money for the emperor ; l;c fixed the sums to be paid 
 by all the Spaniards who had allotments from him ; he sent 
 the Licentiate Delia Gama towards Quito, and Gabriel de 
 lloias towards Potosi, as resident judges, accompanied by 
 some Dominican friars, who had express orders to scour the 
 country, whether inhabited by Spaniards or Indians, and 
 endeavour by all the means in their power to collect money. 
 Thus, in every place, under colour of justice, saying : Thou 
 hast been a traitor to the king ; Thou hast served Gonzalo 
 Pizarro ; or. Thou hast looked on to see who conquered, 
 wishing that h'" might become lord of the country : with 
 other similar accusations. In this way, and with similar 
 tricks, they both accumulated a very largo sum ; and as 
 Gabriel de Roias died suddenly on the journey, it was re- 
 ported that he died by the will of God, that the Almighty 
 ha^l listened to the maledictions of so many people who had 
 been ground down, and that he had appeared in the form of 
 a frigiUful demon to the Dominican monks. 
 
 When the president had collected all the treasure he 
 could, amounting to a million and a half in gold, he quitted 
 Litna^ leaving the Licentiate Cianca in his stead. He em- 
 
 , 
 
 
 ^ Just before he sailed, and while on board ship, the president made 
 a 6nal partition of hmds and Indians ; but as lie know that he could not 
 satisfy all the claimants, he gave strict injunctions that the deeds should 
 3iot be opened until eight days after his departure. {7'nnis.) 
 
HISTOKY OF THE NEW W()UI,D, 
 
 235 
 
 1 
 
 barked in a galcon belonging to Giovan Gactano, quickly 
 readied Panama, and immediately proceeded to Nomhre de 
 Dios with a portion of the treasure, leaving orders with the 
 king's treasurer to send the remainder as soon as possible. 
 Two days after his departure, in the morning about dawn, 
 Ilodrigo de Contreras suddenly entered Panama with a 
 young inexperienced brother of his, both sons of Contreras 
 governor of Nicaragua, with a hundred and eighty men. 
 This young man had assassinated brother Antonio de Val- 
 divieso, bishop of that province, for having written inju- 
 riously to the emperor against his fiithcr, and which occa- 
 sioned the government being taken from him. Having 
 entered Panama, they seized upwards of four hundred thou- 
 sand ducats in gold, not caring for the silver, which was of 
 less value and greater weight. But some soldiers whom the 
 president had condemned to the galleys in Spain, and who 
 had escaped in a ship to Nicaragua, were not content with 
 this booty ; they wished to revenge themselves by going to 
 Nomhre de Dios. Whereupon the men were divided into 
 three detachments, Rodrigo marchod by land with seventy- 
 five companions towards Nomhre de Dios, his brother, with 
 as many more, went by way of the river Chiagre, and the 
 rest remained to guard the ships and the booty that they had 
 captured. Immediately the citizens, with a hundred and 
 fifty slaves, took up arms and followed. They first attacked 
 the party going by way of the Chiagre and easily routed 
 them, then they turned on the other party and did the same. 
 Rodrigo, a monk, and four other Spaniards betook them- 
 selves to the woods, and were never more heard of. The 
 l)rother not being found, was diligently sought for among 
 the dead, and the corpse of a youth being obtained it was 
 asserted to be him ; though his face being discoloured, it 
 could not be ascertained The head, however, was cut off, 
 and put into an iron cage in the market-place of Panama. 
 Thirty-three Spaniards were made prisoners ; tired and 
 
O' 
 
 3G 
 
 HISTOUY OF THK NKW WORLD. 
 
 tiri 
 
 V. 
 
 / { 
 
 f^ 
 
 \\ 
 
 wounded they were led to prison, with their hands tied be- 
 hind their backs to some pieces of wood, and there one 
 Agozil, of his own free Avill, cruelly nuirdered them with 
 violent stabs. Those who were in the ships, hearing of their 
 2)arty being routed, took to their boats to escape ; but they 
 were soon all taken, their leaders were hanged, and the rest 
 sent to the galleys. On the president's hearing of the arrival 
 of Contreras in Panama, and of the robbery they had com- 
 mitted, he started from Nomhrc de Dios with a considerable 
 number of men to encounter him ; but learning on the march 
 of his having been routed and the treasure recovered, he 
 returned, and soon after sailed for Spain.' 
 
 ]ieforc I end the narrative of the affairs of Peru, and of 
 the false estimate that those people have formed of us, I will 
 relate how a)ul in m hat manner the navigation from Panama 
 to that kingdom is effected. Ships generally leave in the 
 month of January and up to the end of April, which last is 
 the best of all the year, it being the summer, when the winds 
 generally blow from the north-east and east : and those ships 
 that sail at any other season undergo severe trials. When 
 loaded they leave Panama and go to Taboga, or some other 
 island near it, to fill up their water. Those islands are called 
 the Pearls, because the Spaniards have found quantities 
 there. They then navigate to the westward a hundred or a 
 hundred and fifty miles, adopting that route on account of 
 the strong current constantly running to the eastward, after 
 which they cross over to Peril. AMien I sailed from Panama 
 to go to that country it was the month of June, and being 
 therefore winter the greater part of the passengers fell ill, 
 
 * This extraordinary episode in the history of the New World differs, 
 in some of its details, from the relation of Agostino Zarate : according 
 to him, one of the lirothcrs was t^rowned and the other was thought to 
 have hecn murdered, with all his companions, hy the Imliiins to whom 
 he fled. The plot was very near succeeding, by which a larger I)onty 
 woulil have heen acijuired than ever fell into the hands of pirates. The 
 fortunate president arrlvcil safely in Spain with all his treasure. {Tmih'<.) 
 
 * 
 
inSTOUY OF THE NEW WORLD, 
 
 237 
 
 
 because in the ships that ply in that sea there is no accom- 
 modation under shelter, as there is on board those that 
 navigate in the Northern Sea ; so that one is obliged to re- 
 main always exposed to the rain. In this way we reached 
 Goryojia, and when the master of the vessel found himself 
 on that island he exclaimed : " This is the devil's land ;" 
 Avhich was because it is thought the very worst navigation 
 that can be made in those parts to fetch that island. Some 
 have asserted that it always rains there, but they arc w:'ong ; 
 although it is true that during eight months out of the tYrelve 
 it rains so desperately, with thunder and lightning, that it 
 seems as if the elements wcyq fighting against each other. 
 AVhen v/e arrived in that island the spring had begun, it 
 being the end of iNIay ; for when the winter sets in at Panama, 
 summer commences in this otlicr country.' Along the sea- 
 shore of this part of the mainland, the inhabitants have a great 
 deal of gold. They build their houses on the tops of trees. 
 
 » 
 
 liuliiiii iiii'tlhul (iI'liviiiL! oil trees. 
 
 ^ This is a strange passage : yet Bcnzoni's accouii t of running from 
 Panama along the coast is perfectly correct. We also watered at Tabogn, 
 
I I 
 
 238 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WOULD. 
 
 I' 
 
 ■I 
 
 In consequence of the country being swampy, so that 
 horses cannot frequent it, the Spaniards have never been 
 able to conquer it. When Gasj^aro Dandagoia was in the 
 abbey of St. Matthew with a hundred and fifty soldiers, 
 during summer he went about scouring the country, some- 
 times carrying boards as a shelter ; for the Indians defended 
 themselves as much as possible by throwing stones at them 
 and javelins, and jugs of boiling water, and many other 
 things. The Spaniards therefore meanwhile with good 
 hatchets used to cut the trees down, when everything tum- 
 bled with great noise and destruction to the ground. Yet 
 many times it happened that the Indians maimed, and even 
 killed some of the Spaniards. Still, the country being arid 
 and unable to feed so many men, Andagoia, with a consider- 
 able quantity of gold quitted it, and no Spaniards now live 
 there — 7io7i vi hahita piu.^ 
 
 In consequence of the obstinate winds that blow on tliat 
 coast from the west and south during the greater part of the 
 year, and also on account of the strong currents, it is requi- 
 site to anchor every evening along that beach, and set sail in 
 the morning with the land breeze. It sometimes happens 
 that, instead of getting forward, ships drop backwards, and 
 hang about a headland for fifteen or twenty days ; as hap- 
 pened also to us. Thus while we were in sight of Ccqic San 
 Francisco, a hundred and thirty miles from Cajw cle Passao, 
 which cape is near the limits of Puerto Viejo — thinking 
 that district was inhabited by Indians as formerly, all we 
 passengers (being in want of provisions, for it was already 
 three months since we quitted Panama, and seeing that the 
 
 having first captured that pretty island for the jiurposo ; and ve, moreover, 
 made prize of some pearls. Ovallc, the historian of Chili, stylos Gorgona 
 "a picture of hell." In 1807, we certainly experienced very o.-apricious 
 weather oiF there, towards the end of August. {Tnou.) 
 
 ' De Bry gives specimens of this tree-warfare on a larger scale than 
 Benzoni ; and the parties therein represented seem to be infuriated with 
 fiercer passions. (Trans.) 
 
in STORY OF THE NEW WORLD, 
 
 239 
 
 
 merchants on board would have rather let us die with hun- 
 ger than give us a bit of bread) determined to go on by land. 
 Twenty-four of us, therefore, started at a venture, each car- 
 rying four basins of maize ; and arriving at the Quisimie 
 rivers, which are four, one beyond the other, with great 
 labour and danger we crossed them by tying some trees 
 together, which we found on their banks. 
 
 The water is sal', for the sea, from the violence with which 
 it washes on shore, runs up all the rivers along this coast 
 some fifteen miles inland ; so that when we wanted to drink 
 we were obliged to dig wells. On reaching Capo de Passao 
 we found that the Indians had burnt the houses, and were 
 gone up to the woods. Getting to the other side of the 
 cape, we entered the gulf of Caraque, which lies under the 
 equinoctial line ; but we did not know how to proceed ; not 
 being able to cross over, and, having nothing better to eat, 
 we fed on crabs and yellow berries, which had so little flesh 
 on them, that we ate the kernels also, and drank the healthy 
 water of a little lake which we found between the woods and 
 the beach. There we stayed twenty-two days, until the ship 
 came to port j the master concluding for certain that we had 
 all died of hunger, or that the Indians had destroyed us. But 
 when he saw us, he immediately sent the boat ; and resting 
 in the ship thatnisjht, I started the following morning to go 
 to Puerto Vicjo. This town is inhabited by Spaniards ; it 
 consists of twenty-two houses constructed with reeds and 
 thatched with straw. The province is nearly destroyed and 
 ruined : the natives had a great many emeralds, and keep 
 the mines to themselves ; for although the Spaniards have 
 tormented many of them to death, they have never revealed 
 where they are. Yet I was told by a maggiordomo of Cap- 
 tain Giovan Dolmos, that an Indian woman, his concubine, 
 shcAved him where one mine was situated, but he would not 
 publish it lest the king should wrest it from him for himself.^ 
 » The true emeraM ia only found in Peru, and \vas therefore uukuowu 
 
240 
 
 I'TSTOUY OF THE NEW UDUl.l). 
 
 V 
 
 il 
 
 \v 
 
 They had also a very great number of vases of gold and 
 silver, but the Spaniards have seized everything ; A/hereforc 
 they now can only give their masters what is produced in 
 tiio country, and consequently few Spaniards live there. 
 
 Some people assert, that the Indians arc gradually leaving 
 off their bad habits, and the deceptions of their false religion ; 
 and that the answers of their mock deities have ceased, be- 
 cause they have heard from the priests and from the monks 
 the words of the holy gospel : yet .vxiat can I answer to 
 this, but that God would have it so ? For I can safely tes- 
 tify, that never priest or monk went to preach among those 
 people, or to teach them our faith ; and the Indians publicly 
 laugh at them, declaring that tlicy will not be Christians on 
 account of our wickedness. INIoreover, although the presi- 
 dent della Gasca commanded, as before related, that in every 
 village there should be priests and monks to instruct the 
 children, the Spaniards of this tov*n, as well as of several 
 others, appealed ; observing, that a priest wanted a salary of 
 four hundred ducats a year, and that none of the Indians 
 paid such a sum even to their masters. But about that time 
 I quitted Peru, and therefore do not know how the affair 
 terminated. 
 
 Whilst I remained in that province, often for amusement 
 I went amongst those native villages, both inland and along 
 the beach ; and on one occasion, entering a hamlet called 
 Cliiaropoto, I found the Indians making sacrifices in their 
 temple, beating drums and singing some of their songs. 
 Desirous of witnessing, I went into the temple ; but as soon 
 as the ministers saw me, with great anger, and almost spit- 
 ting in my face, they turned me out. I perceived an idol, 
 
 to the classical ancients, unless it can be identified in the smaragdus of 
 Pliny. La Manta, the district here trod by Uenzoni, has long been 
 esteemed as the best site of that gem ; but as it occurs in veins passing 
 through primitive rocks, it is probable that the finding of emeralds was 
 accidental ; and that the tortured natives had no mines to reveal. {Trans.) 
 
Hisroiiv OK I'liK m;\v would. 
 
 un 
 
 hon'ovf r, made of clay, shaped like a tiger, also two peacocks, 
 with other hirds, which they liad to sacrifice to their deities; 
 tli(^y might also have had .NOine lad, as luual among them, 
 but I did not sec him. Another day it happened that I 
 went to Picalanceme, where I found the inhabitants drinking. 
 Wishing to stay and see how they got drunk, four of them 
 came up to me udiero I was standing, saying, in Spanislv — 
 " Oh thou villainous treacherous Christian, go away from 
 our country." Seeing that they intended to attack me, I 
 drew my sword, but made my escape, determined never 
 more to go among those towns when they were celebrating 
 a feast-day. I have been to various villages, as for instance 
 to Caina, Camulioca, Camuxioca, and other places, where 
 some of the Iiulians kill their children that they may not 
 serve the Spaniards. It is asserted as a fact, that the chiefs 
 of Maiita possess an emerald of the size of a hen's c^^^, which 
 they worship as one of their chief deities. This town is 
 situated on the sea-shore, and used to be one of the principal 
 towns along that coast, containing above two thousand inha- 
 bitants before the Spaniards went there, but now reduced to 
 fifty, A similar fate has behillen all the towns in that pro- 
 vince. One day Lopez d'Aiala asked the chief of that town 
 whether "He Mould become a Christian!"' The man answered 
 he did not know, but that he Cd'Aiala) might do as he liked. 
 He therefore had him christened by the name of Don Diego ; 
 vet, for all this, I never saw him look any Spaniard in the 
 face. His vassals are by nature ugly, dirty, unnaturally 
 vicious, and full of every sort ol malignity.^ 
 
 Gienerally along this coast, the Indians living near the sea 
 procure good water by digging large wells for the purpose ; 
 
 1 Benzoni seems to bo harsh here ; but however 1)ad he may have 
 found the mass, it seems that they had a class both industrious and 
 ingenious. Ulloa was quite astonished at their skill in fashioning eme- 
 ralds ; ren^arkina: that it was quite unaccountable hu\v so hard a stone 
 could br worked, and delicately pierced, by a people to whom steel and 
 
 iron were \uikuowu. {Traas.) 
 
 31 
 
 C'l 
 

 inSTOUY OF THK NFAV WOULD. 
 
 'ft 
 
 I 
 
 f I 
 
 I 'V 
 
 i 
 
 and when they 2^0 from one place to another, each man carries 
 cahihashes full of water. Hut when the Indians of ]\Iant(( 
 go to Puerto Vi'cj'o, fearing lesit they niiglit meet some Span- 
 iard who Avould drink it for them, they prefer going two 
 miles inland, -o get a stinking, black, duty water that rises 
 out of a rock ; knowing that the Christians will not drink 
 that water. This country is hot and damp, nor is the sky 
 ever serene. There are a gre;t many deer, pigs, and fowls 
 of a Spanish breed ; ;, 1 li ' ihey make better maize-bread 
 tli:ai they do in any oi;.*t' p-.i': of India. Although some 
 say that it has an advani ,• ov r ^vheatcn bread, I cannot 
 agree to like it. A great deal oi iioney is produced, but 
 acid ; nor is the wax very good. 'J'here is also a sort of 
 fruit resembling figs, called by the wcitivcs papaio, some large 
 and some small, peculiar to this kingdom, for I have never 
 seen them in any other province : the tree is tall and deli- 
 cate, and the fruit is of a sAveetish taste. There is also ano- 
 ther sort of small figs, full of prickles, called tanno ; but 
 these are found in other districts also, as Nicaragua, (juati- 
 mala, and throughout the kingdom of New Spain. 
 
 The Indians of the province of Puerto Vi(jo are gene- 
 rally subject to a disease called heru(jue ; it assails the face and 
 some other parts of the body ; the pustules are generally of 
 the size of a walnut. I have had my share of them. They give 
 no pain, but are ugly, and full of blood. There is no remedy 
 but to let them ripen, and then cut them off delicately with 
 a thread. These people paint their faces. They make holes 
 in their nostrils, lips, ears, and cheeks, and then put jewels 
 into them on feast-days. Their usual dress is a shirt without 
 sleeves. Some go quite naked, and occasionally they dye 
 itmrjoao) the entire body black. 
 
 All along this coast the Indians arc great fishermen. The 
 boats they use arc a kind of raft,' both for fishing or navi- 
 
 ^ Every country seems to contrive embaroations adapted to locality. 
 So with the rafts or Indzas here mentioned, which are admirably con- 
 
 
HISTORY OF TIIK NKW WOULD. 
 
 24;i 
 
 i^-tlug, consisting of three, five, seven, nine, or even eleven 
 very slender timbers, forming a sort of hand dl modo (Vuna 
 
 ^2r 
 
 >reiln»l ul' lisliiiig niul luiviyiitiiii,' in tliu Suiltli Sun. 
 
 mano), witli the longest in the middle. They arc made of 
 various lengths, and thus they carry sails according to their 
 size ; and a jiroportionatc number of rowers. ^Mien they 
 are becalmed at sea, they throw bread, fruits, and other 
 things overboard as a sacrifice, jiraying for a fair wind, they 
 being loo tired to row any more. 
 
 Beyonil the limits of Puerto Viijo mc enter the country 
 of Qna/icacili'(jtt/\ an inferior province of the kingdom ol" 
 Peru. The first villai-e alonu" the bead) is called Colondii : 
 it is near the Point of St. Ilolena. 1 several times saw the 
 
 trivotl for their duty. Wo used some of them wliich ^ve touk in iMi?, 
 and found them made, as Bcn/oni states, of logs of trees laslied togctlier 
 — catamaran fashion — with ln'jueca.'^, or ropes made of ox-liide thongs. 
 The hirger bal/as carry sails on masts resembling sheers ; and they are 
 steered by raising or lowering, as the occasion may require, some boards 
 which enter vertically between the timbers at cither end of this rude, 
 but ingenious, lloating vehicle. (Tnias.) 
 
 : I 
 
 i 
 
214 
 
 IIISTOllY OF Tin; MAV WOIII.I). 
 
 n 
 
 \\ 
 
 'I 
 n 
 
 ) 
 
 ■ ^ 
 
 head of tluit tiibc ; he might be about sixty years of ago, 
 and had truly tlu; air of a chieftain. He was robust in body 
 and very healthy. Jfe used to be drest in a shirt without 
 sleeves, dyed red ; round his neck lie More an ornament of 
 the purest gold, six times double, like lari^e corals ; on his 
 hand he wore a rinjj;, also his ears were pierced and full of 
 jewels and gold ; finally, on his left wrist he wore a certain 
 shining stone like a mirror, said to be a preserver of the 
 sight. At the time that the Spaniards (>ntercd that country, 
 a chief governed this province called lialtacho, who was very 
 much respected and had great authority over his vassals ; 
 Avhcn people wi'nt to visit him he never rose on his feet, 
 except when he saw Colonchie. But no means were ever 
 found to induce this latter cacique to listen to the law 
 of (Jod ; so that one day when I heard his master say to 
 him : " Colonchie, I insist on thy becoming a Christian," he 
 answered that on no account would he do so, adding : " Sir, 
 I am now too old to become a Christian : take my children, 
 teach them whatever you please, they may serve you in your 
 own way, but I will not abandon the law of my forefathers." 
 These people sometimes draw five or six of their upper teeth, 
 and when asked their reason for so doing, they answer "That 
 it is for beauty's sake ijo fanno per hcllczzo) .^'' They wear 
 a small shirt without sleeves, like the natives of Puerto 
 Viejo. From motives of decency they wear a cotton band 
 round their middle, one end of which hangs down behind 
 nearly to the ground, like a horse's tail. The women Avear 
 a cloth bound round (un drappo (jroppilo) their waist, and 
 hanging half way down their legs. 
 
 The natives of this province serve the Spaniards who 
 inhabit the town of Gitaiaquil, and mIucIi they had first 
 built in a plain on the banks of the CJiiono, forty miles from 
 the sea-shore. But in that vicinity there are some wonder- 
 ful and frightful plains, wild districts covered with water or 
 tangled woods, ini'csted by an incredible nundjcr of crocodiles. 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
HISTORY OK TIIK NKW WOULD. 1245 
 
 Besides this, (luiinnr (<ig],t nioiitlis of tlic year nuisquitos 
 swarm to siuli a decree, that 1 have hceu siii))ris.{'d how the 
 inhabitants could liear to live among th(Mn : inr \vh( n tho 
 Spaniards wlio resided there soui>lit repose as evening ap- 
 proaelied, they were; compelhd to creep und(>r flags. The 
 Indians do mucli tlie same, only they lie higli, on a small 
 platform supported on i'uur hu'ge canes, where their sh'ep 
 is not so much disturbed by gnats. Therefore, in the year 
 forty-six,' when the very great abundance of rain swelled 
 the river so much as to inundate and destroy great part of 
 the country as well as the town, the Spaniards removed 
 twenty miles lower down towards the shore, and built on 
 a hill near the baidv of this said river, called the Tass of 
 Gitainacavd. The origin of this name was, that Guainacava 
 having sent one of his captains to subdue the province, this 
 official ordered the peasants to construct a bridij:e of laryc 
 logs of wood, in the same way that rafts are made, to pass 
 from one bank of the river to the other. But no sooner had 
 his people begun to cross, than the enemy broke up the 
 bridge by cutting the ropes, so that many of them were 
 drowned ; and then falling on the rest they killed nearly all 
 of them, AVhen Guainacava heard of the slalighter of his 
 people, he started from Quito with a large army, and de- 
 scending by those mountains, he attacked the natives and 
 made very great havoc of them. Then he wanted to make 
 a way across this river by throwing in earth and stones, in 
 order to pass securely from one bank to the other. Tims he 
 began this great work ; but when he had made about twenty 
 puces of it, he found the stream so deep, wide, and powerful, 
 that he gave up the enterprise. For this reason the Spaniards 
 call it the Pass of (iuainacava; though their town is called 
 t:i(tn Jacoho, and like those around, resembles that o^ Puerto 
 Vicjo. Near the mouth of this river lies the island of 
 
 ^ That is, A.D. l;")4(i, Guayacjuil retained its detestalile cliaracter in 
 l.M)7 ; nor was that of the new town niucli better, {Trans.) 
 
i>l(') 
 
 in*iT()UY (IK TUV. NHW WORLD. 
 
 .?! 
 
 I>' 
 
 Vtiiia, which belongs to tlic king. Those ishmdcrs, and tho 
 inliahitants of the banks of tlie rivor, as well as the other 
 nations, always fouglit against the Spaniards as long as tliey 
 had tlic power, and have kiUed a great many of tlieni : 
 amongst otliers, Fra \'inccnzo dc Valverde, with forty-two 
 Spaniards, endeavouring to escape from the iury of Don 
 Diego at the time that h(! kiUed the Marquis Don Francisco 
 rizarro. They fled from Lhna to this ishuid ; but the Indians 
 one night murdered them all with clubs. This was the 
 monk who spoke to Attabaliba at Cassiamalca, when I'ran- 
 cisco Pizarro took him prisoner (as before related), and 
 whom the emperor had appointed to be bishop of Peru. 
 
 In Puna,^ and in the territories of Gaalaqnil and Puerto 
 Vie/o, a certain root is found, ha\ ing many branches like 
 the oak, called ZarzapariUa, which cures the French disease 
 and many others. A\'hen it is to be administered to a ])atient, 
 it is M'cU pounded between two stones to obtain tin juice, 
 which is mixed with some warm water and drained. The 
 sick then drink very abundantly of it, and, remaining in a 
 warm place, perspire as much as they can bear. They con- 
 tinue this for three or four days, some more, some less, eating 
 only biscuit and a little roast fowl. On the other hand, some 
 boil its twigs in M^ater, merely for their daily beverage ; but 
 these patients continue to drink it constantly for two or 
 three months. 
 
 In this province of (juaiaquih and otlu^r districts towards 
 the east, the winter begins in November ;uul lasts through 
 April ; spring cojnmcnces in May and ends in October. 
 Along the southern shore, beginning at Tumbcs, it sometimes 
 
 ^ Puna is an island of some import, as having a liarhour for those 
 vessels which are too tleej) to cross the bar of the (iuuyaquil river ; and 
 here they emhark their cargoes of grain, cacao, I'ruits, cotton, tohacco, 
 and timber. Uif here, in LS07, the Cornwallis frigate took up an excel- 
 lent anchorage in twenty-ilve fathoms water, and remained eight days. 
 Though the atmosphere over the land was generally hazy, we saw the 
 snowy peak of Chimborazo above it, ('I'raiiii.) 
 
IIISl'OllY Of TllK NKW WOULD. 
 
 2il 
 
 li;\]ipons that scarcely any rain falls on those plains (or three 
 or lour years ; so that the natives have to help tlic heavy 
 ni<;ht-clews with irriujation in the day, to proenre their har- 
 vests. Indeed, in some sandy districts it never rains at all; 
 upon the nionntains, on the contrary, it rains ei^dit months 
 out of the twelve; and some of tiiem are always covered 
 with snow and ice. Durin;^ thosuinnjer, certain winds hlow 
 from the south, which distress the inhabitants very much, 
 doing from (iuaia([ril to (^uito, I passed the mountain of 
 Chitnho, which is upwards ol' forty mih-s hii;li,' all unin- 
 habited ; and if I had not been supplied by an Indian with 
 a little water, I should have; died with thirst by the way. 
 \\ hen I was once on the summit, I remained there some 
 time looking at that strange and wonderful country, many 
 things appearing dubious as in a vision. 
 
 Fn this great province of Quito, as also in many other 
 parts of Prru, although several of the nations possess lan- 
 guages peculiar to each, yet when they \vere subjugated by 
 th(^ Tiigui, it was commanded that everybody shouhl learn 
 the language of C'useo, and that fathers should teach it to 
 their children. Hence this language is used generally all 
 through tlie countries ■where their dominion extends. 
 
 Although these jieople hold communication with the devil, 
 they reverence the sun as their principal deity. When either 
 the chiefs or the priests wish to ask some favour of him, 
 they go in the morning at sunrise to the top of a fliglit of 
 stone steps made on purpose, holding their heads down, 
 clapping their hands, then rubbing them, then raising them 
 as if they wi-hcd to touch him, repeating some of tlieir pray- 
 ers and askirg for what they want of him. Thus now, when 
 the Spaniards /^Urcat them, they worship them as if they 
 were the sun, and pray tlicm to be merciful and not to harm 
 
 ^ Probably meaning that the ascent of Chiml)or!i/.o occupied f^rly 
 miles : and see the voyage of Cadcmosta (ii, i^OT), where the same tjiia 
 is used for the line of ascent. ( Trans.) 
 
l> 
 
 48 
 
 HISTORY Ol' Till'; M>:\\ WOllM). 
 
 tlicm. Tlic temples, especially those of the sun, were large 
 ami sumptuous, the Avails beiuu' adorned witliln with sheets 
 
 1^ 
 
 liidiaiis of Win Wdi: liij [lirg iho .^uri. 
 
 of gold and silver. Many virgins, called Mamaconc, were 
 employed exclusively in spinning and weaving for tluMr 
 deities, to whom they sacrifice both men and children ; 
 although they do not cat their fiesh. They also sacrifice 
 sheep, birds, and other animals, and with the blood of the 
 victim tlivy anoint the face of the idol, and tlie door of the 
 temple. When they mI.sIi to communicate with the devil, or 
 sow seed, or go on some enterprise, the priests fast for several 
 days. A\'hen some chief dies they make a grantl funeral 
 and dejiosit with him a great dea^ of woi'ked gold aiul silver, 
 toi^ether with some of his most beautiful and beloved wives 
 and servants; also clothes, grain, and wine, so that they 
 might eat and drink until tliey reacli the next world. This 
 mode of burial is used in many parts of India. They believe 
 ill th(> immortality of the soul ; and the Spaniards have dis- 
 covered many \ery rich sepultures, — though very few in 
 
 ■ 
 
insroiiY i)V THE new would. 
 
 1^49 
 
 .! 
 
 proportion to those that still exist. They mourn tor their 
 (lead many days. 
 
 The men wear a shirt without sleeves, made either of 
 
 wool or cotton, and a cloak clustered on one shoulder. 
 
 Their nobles are decorated with a fillet round the head, and 
 
 a woollen tassel hanging from the left ear. They make shoes 
 
 of a Avliito herb like hemp. The women wear a long cloak 
 
 which covers them from the shoulders down to the feet. 
 
 They l)ind themselves round with a band four fingers wide, 
 
 Avl.dch they call c.hiumbL On their neck they wear long 
 
 needles of gold and silver called topi / over the other cloak 
 
 they have a short one called liquida ; their hair grows long. 
 
 This is the mode of dress at Cusco. When thev ijo out to 
 
 walk, they rub their faces over with a certain red bitumen, 
 
 on account of the wind. They hold a herb' in their mouths 
 
 called coca, which must yield some nourishment, for they 
 
 can walk a whole day without eating or drinking ; this herb 
 
 is their princl])al merchandize. They have also a sort of 
 
 root like trulllcs, but possessing very little flavour. They 
 
 used fo have a very great numb , of a kind of sheep as large 
 
 as asses, almost like gamhcUi; and it is said that not long ago 
 
 a disease came over them like a leprosy, by which they lost 
 
 a large proportion of them. But the leprosy of the Spaniards 
 
 has been much worse, for they have destroyed nearly the 
 
 Avhole of them. Tlie flesh has a game-like flavour. The 
 
 native^ used to dress themselves abundantly in the wool of 
 
 these animals, but now there is a great scarcitv of it. 
 
 The principal delight of these people, and of those in the 
 other provinces also, is to drink. W^hen thoroughly drunk, 
 each man seizes on the woman he likes best, to indulge his 
 
 ^ This term — iiii' hcrhc. — is used for a l)iil{'y fruit, or a nut. The sheep 
 whieli l^euzoiii speaks of is tho celebrated llama, alpaea, or I'eruviuu 
 camel ; a hardy and ahstemious l)east of Imrthen : the wool of the al]>aca 
 is very superior iu staple ar.d pliahility ; aiid its lustrous aiid soft uature 
 renders it aiiiilieable to many of the [iurposes for \\hii.!i silk is empl.jved 
 in textile fahiies ia other ciuintrios. ( Triinx.) 
 
 .'ia 
 
250 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW -SVOIIIT). 
 
 ;''! 
 
 '01 
 
 ) 
 
 r, 
 
 passions with ; scarcely respecting their mothers or their 
 daughters. The chiefs and the nohles marry their sisters. 
 
 They make no hrca(^ .it all, bat eat the grain either boiled 
 or roasted. This was one of the laws enjoined by Guaina- 
 cava, in order that, when he wanted to go upon an enterprise, 
 nobody should be busying himself in making bread. And 
 thus they still adhere to this custom. 
 
 Cusco used to be tlie principal city of this kingdom, head 
 of the Inguian empire, and, according to the popular legends, 
 it was built long ago by Magocappa, first king of that line. 
 Then their successors spread so much, that they 'subjugated 
 many various people, giving them both laws and customs. In 
 every place they built large edifices, both in honour of their 
 deities and for the service of their kinf^s. riic Avails of these 
 edifices are constructed of an extremely light stone, in Italy 
 called pumice. They are all thatched with straw ; and I 
 have seen some of them, especially in the province of Quito, 
 in the territory of Tunchamba, as sumptuous as those at 
 Cusco. Although the Spaniards have ruined the greater 
 part of them, still many may be seen along those roads ; and 
 they are called tuiibi by the natives. Thus their magnifi- 
 cent fabric may still be examined. Guainaeava made a 
 beautiful road there, lowering hills down to the plain. This 
 province of Quito has a temperate climate, wherefore th * 
 kings of Cusco lived there the greater part of their time, and 
 had goldsmiths' houses in many parts, who, though not 
 using any took of iron, still manufactured wonderful things. 
 The\ worked in the following manner : — 
 
 In the first place, when they wish to melt the n.t^tal, they 
 put it into either a long or round ijrisolo, made of .i j)iecc of 
 cloth daubed over wilh a mixture of eartli and pouiuled 
 charcoal : when dry, it is i^ut into the fire filled wilh metal •} 
 
 \ 
 
 ^ Peter INIaityr, hi the foiu-tli ilceaile of his report to Pope Ti(jo X, 
 dwells on the marvellous skill of these goMsmiths, sayin.!; — "A Wdinler 
 it is to see that there should be such excellent worknianshii) aniungst 
 
HISTORY or THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 251 
 
 tlicn several men, more or less, each with a vjcd, blow till 
 llic metal is fused. It is now taken out, and the goldsmiths 
 
 ^Ii'ihi)il of \vorkiii;_,' tjold rtiid silv'T. 
 
 seated on the ground, provided with some black sto.ies 
 shaped on jnirjiO'O, and lielping each other, make, or more 
 correctly speaking, used to make during their prosperity, 
 whatever they M'cre commissioned to do ; that is, hollow 
 statues, vases, sheep, ornaments, and, iu short, any animal 
 they saw. 
 
 As to Spanish productions found in this kingdom in cool 
 and lemperatc localities, they reap a good deal of wheat; 
 there are also some vines, but they yield little fruit ; though 
 some look forward to making wine shortly in those countries, 
 and that they will be able to grow the greater part of the 
 Spanish fruits. But according to my judgment, although 
 nobody can do away with hopes, they will never see them 
 realized, for the air and the constellatirns of the seasons arc 
 
 the Indians, without the use of steel and irou."' Lok^s Translation^ 1(!12, 
 Aiul see the note on pagu -211. (Tram.) 
 
 \i 
 
(1 
 
 ' 1 
 
 050 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NKW WOULD. 
 
 entirely different from ours. Jjc>ides, since in New Spain 
 and other countries more favorable than Peru, they have 
 not been able to make wine, luuther will they here. I say, 
 moreover, that God in his goodness would not grant such a 
 liquor to thes(^ brutes, giving them only those articles that 
 are rccjuisite for sustaining life according to their habits. 
 The Spaniards get plenty of radishes, lettuces, melons, cu- 
 cumbers, cauliflowers, and some ligs. They have also 
 oranges and lemons in abundance ; yet these fruits grow 
 only in warm places. 'I'hey luive but few cattle, the conse- 
 quence of such numerous wars. In my time, a cow at Lima 
 was worth a hundred gold ducats, and a sheep fifty or sixty. 
 Quito is the most fertile and abundant province in all Peru ; 
 it yields a great deal of wheat, and feeds a very great number 
 of pigs, and of fowls of the Si)anish breed ; besides which, 
 an almost constant supply of very well fl:.vouved rabbits is 
 met with. It is true that wine is very dear in the town ol' 
 Quito ; for even when it is cheap, a jar containing twelve 
 jugs, more or less, and weighing twenty-eight ounces each, 
 will cost fourteen or fifteen gold ducats. Yet at L.ma, and 
 other places on the sea-shore, it would cost only ten v^;v 
 twelve; but at Potosi, it being 1\ bundred miles inland, 
 the price is seventy or eighty ducats. '!"!- ■ '•'^ varies in each 
 district according to the distance it has lo \>v c. rricd, for the 
 jars or bottles, as we may say, in which it is brought from 
 Spain, are of earth, and a great many are broken in the car- 
 riage. It has sometimes happened that through a delay of 
 the ships, there has been such a scarcity {(/7-an poiuria) of 
 wine, that four or five hundred and even a thousand ducats 
 have been paid for a jar. 
 
 Now it seems to me time to reveal the false estimate which 
 tbose iieople have formed of us. AVhcn the Indians saw the 
 very gic it cri'i Uies which the S])aniards committed every- 
 where •)[) entering l^eru,' not only would tViey never believe 
 
 ' » 1. aavi K in J'-tu, tiio c, niucitiulorfl Invl wv^ci ' luutivco I'nr 
 
 
IIISTOKY OF TIIK NKW AVOUI.n, 
 
 <v O O 
 
 US to be Christians and children of God, as boasted, but not 
 even that we were born on this earth, or generated by a man 
 and born ofa woman ; so lieree an animal they coneliided must 
 be the offspring of tlie sea, and therefore calh^l ns T/m- 
 coccliic, for in tlieir ianguage they eall the sea roccliir, and llie 
 froth viva ; thus they think tliat we are a congelation ol' tlu^ 
 sea, and have b<'en nourished ])y the froth ; and that w(> ai'c 
 come 1o destroy the world, with other thin^•s in which tlic 
 Omnipotence of Cod would not suffice to nndeceive them, 
 'i'hey say that the winds ruin houses and break down trees, 
 and the fire Inirns them ; but the ViracorcJitr devour vwvx- 
 ihing, they consume the very earth, they force the rivers, \.\\v\ 
 are never quiet, they never rest, they are always rushing 
 about, sometimes in one direction, sometimes in the otlu^r, 
 seeking for gold and silver ; yet never contented, they game 
 it away, they make war, they kill each other, they rob, they 
 swear, they are renegades, they wvxqy speak the truth, and 
 have deprived ns of our support. Finally, the Indians curse 
 the sea for having cast such very Avicked and harsh beings 
 on the land. Going abont through various parts of this 
 kingdom I often met some natives, and for the amusement 
 of hearing what they would say, I nsed to ask them where 
 such or sucii a Clirisliioi was, when not only would they 
 refuse to answer me, but would not even look me in the 
 face: though if I asked them where such a J^iracocc/n't vas, 
 they would reply diTcctly. Wlien the little childi can 
 scarcely say a word, their fathers shewing one of us t - .lem, 
 will say : " There goes a fl'racocchie.''' But as man tribes 
 of this kingdom, being rich, have priests and moni.> reside 
 among them, to teach and bring up tlicir chili' i — God 
 grant they may produce some good fruit. 
 
 extcriuinatiiiii' all those native families wliicli hail aci^niicd authoi-ity, 
 aii'I for reducing the whole [lOiiuhition to a degree of degradation ; 
 and what they hegau from jiolitic motives, they tiui.'hed f'loui lugcted 
 furor. Tiie nnu-ders and executions in rem, ul'ier Uen/.oui's de]'arture, 
 are ^^ickeuing to read of ('rrnui'.) 
 
254 
 
 HISTORY OF TIIK NFAV WORLD. 
 
 
 t\ 
 
 Nor will I neglect to relate Avhat I hoard at Quito from a 
 Flemish monk, of the order of Sau Francisco, named Fra 
 Giodoc. He told me that he went to the province of Cofjnari, 
 and there founded a monastery . he then invited all the 
 chiefs of the surrounding tribes to come ; only three at- 
 tended, but he addressed a most beautiful discourse to them, 
 for he perfectly understood the langu; ge of Cusco. He gave 
 them to understand rvcrything concerning the faith, and, on 
 the other hand, censured their rites and diabolical ceremo- 
 nies. At their request he christened them, and they returned 
 to their rcs])Octive homes ; but tinding that they di'^ not 
 come to church he went to visit them, entreating then. lO 
 persevere in their good purpose. lUit he perceived at last 
 that it was waste of time, that there Avas no chance of good 
 results, for they laughingly told him — " That the affairs of 
 the Viracocchie did not suit them, for tliey had other things 
 to attend to than to go to church."' At the end of six months, 
 therefore, he returned to his monaster}^ at Quito. On this 
 subject I M'ill bring forward a practical example, instead of 
 the numerous praises of the Spanish 7iation. Lotus suppose 
 that they had never yet heard of the gospel, and that some 
 other nation had gone to Spain to preacii the Christian doc- 
 trine, as they themselves m ent lo India, and had wrested from 
 them their property, th .r wives, their children, tormenting 
 and killing them, or selling them a* Nlaves ; subjoi'ting them to 
 a thousand other hardships and insults. — I really think that, 
 not only Avould they bear them an inextinguishable hatred, 
 and say all the evil in the Avorld of them, but also tiiat, if 
 possible, they would wreak a direful vengeance on them. 
 
 ^ It seems that succeeding SpauiarJs coutrivcl means for mallng 
 the liuliaiis attend in church ; but whether they wcrcthcrchy sharpened 
 to ])rayer is ijuestionahle. CUoa, nearly two centuries after Benzoni, 
 tells uf a priest who charged an Indian with being absent fruin church, 
 and "directed that he should receive some lashes, the usual punishment 
 of such deliniiucuts, he their cje or stx vlat it n-iU! and [lerhaps the I»est 
 ada^acd fur their stupidity."' 'Uiristiauity with a vcugeauce ! {Tntns.) 
 
HISTORY OF THE NEW WORL*, 
 
 255 
 
 Then, doubtless, wo can imagine that the Indians would do 
 th(> same to the Spaniards if they possibly could. 
 
 1 have already described the abundance of riches that the 
 invaders found in this kingdom when they first conquered 
 it ; yet, with all this, the Indians take a great basin of mai'-ce 
 and, drawing out one single grain, they say, " This is what 
 the ViracoccJne have carried off, but the rest remains in the 
 country," That it shoald not fall into the hands of their 
 enemies, they have cither thrown it into the sea or buried it 
 in the ground. Subsequently the Spaniards discovered 
 many large and very productive mines, both of gold and 
 silver. The richest they ha^'c traced are tliosc of Potosl : 
 and in a river near Cusco, called Culcaia, they found much 
 very fine gold. Also in the province of (hiUo there is 
 another very rich river, called SanUi Barbara. They simi- 
 larly found several among some mountains, and there tlu^y 
 dig far underground, propping up the galleries Avilh very 
 large beams, until they have exhausted the v- "ii of gold. 
 ]jut sometimes it Uappens that everything falls in, killing 
 both the Spaniards and the slaves that ^verc within. The 
 gold obtained from those mountains, is like the finest sand, 
 mixed M'ith earth, and is divided by means of quicksilver. 
 That Avhich is gathered in the rivers consists of both large 
 and small grains. At present the gold mines are nearly all 
 exhausted ;^ but silver is iA\\\ extracted in great quantities, 
 thought not to the extent that it used to be ; for if we always 
 take away, and never restore, there is no mountain, ever so 
 large, but it must come to an end at last. 
 
 The towns ^hich the Spaniards built in the kingdom of 
 Peru are the folloAving : — Lima, Arechij)a, Cusco, Cilta- 
 nuova, Villa (.VArgento, Trugilio, Guaneco, Chiacliiapoi, 
 
 1 Predictions of this nature arc rather hazanlous, and herein Eenzoui 
 was premature. The Spar.lards he alludes to, as periahinp; in the mines, 
 were superintendents of the wretched native lal>ourers. The rich silver 
 mines of Potosi were first worked hy the Spaniards in VA'i. (T)'"ns.) 
 
I) 
 
 5() 
 
 UISIOUY OF TllK NKW WOUI.l). 
 
 Chito, 8(171 Michclc, and Puerto Vi'/o. Tlic principal is 
 TJma, ■which contains about four hnndred and fifty hearths. 
 Among the other towns, sonic contain twenty, some thirty, 
 some forty, some fifty, some eighty houses. I conchide, in 
 short, that if all llie towns the Spaniards built, which they 
 say amount to three hundred, were united together, that 
 still the suburb of Porta Comasina, at Milan, would contain 
 more inhabitants than all tliosc put together. For that 
 suburb, in the time of its prosperity, used to send out twelve 
 thous. 1 men, reserving the old people. And in these 
 Indies, it is computed that there Avere not above fourteen or 
 fifteen thousand men {Spaniards ), including old and young. 
 Three years after my arrival in Peru, I found myself pos- 
 sessed of some thousands of ducats, and quite tired of remaining 
 in those countries. Moreover the president Delia (Jasca had 
 ordered all foreigners to quit the country, in consequence of its 
 having been represtnited to him by some Spaniards, that the 
 Levantines, that is, that we were I'alse and cruel, and had 
 caused the death of several of them. Therefore, when 1 was 
 in Guaiaqnil, I availed myself of a large bark that arrived 
 there laden with merchandize from Panama, to return to 
 my own country Accordingly, as soon as the master of it 
 was ready, I embarked on the 8th of May, lo50. We sailed, 
 and in the port oi Zalawja we found the president della Gasca, 
 who was going to ran.ana to cross over to Spain. He or- 
 dered our master to sail in company with him, for otherwise he 
 was uoina: alone. ]Uit as the bark had to take in a cara^o of 
 maize, the master requested to be left behind on account of 
 business. The president started, and we remained till the 
 vessel was loaded ; sailing soon after this, we fetched Manta, 
 but there the bark got on a rock and sunk ; all the passen- 
 gers and crew, however, were saved, with the greater part of 
 their gold and silver. This occurred tlu-ough the want of 
 experience in the pilot, for the one who had brought her 
 from Panama remained at (inala([u'd, in consequence of an 
 
 
 » 
 
 *- 
 
niSTOUY OK rilK Sl.W WOltl,!). 
 
 2.57 
 
 imperial order having come from Spain to ovory part of 
 India, respecting married men. The presidents and gover- 
 nors were commanded either to send all married men home 
 to Spain, or to send for the avIvcs to join their hnshands. 
 This ])ilot, therefore, fearing that from Pdiidind he niiglit he 
 sent back to Spain, as he had no inflnential friends, would 
 not retnrn there, hut remained in Pern. 
 
 T'he hark being wrecked as above described, it became 
 necessary to wait ibr another passage ; and at the end of 
 fifty days, a vessel arriving from IJma, we started in her 
 and ^oon arrived tit Pamiuia. llearhig there tliat the presi- 
 dent had sailed from Ni))nhrv de Dios for Spain, witli all the 
 ships, 1 w(Mit to Xlcnrdijiia, There I had a long and scvei'e 
 disease, so much so, that at the end of Anir years, being then 
 in Guattimala, and the ships arriving from Spain, I went to 
 Puerto dc los C(th(iI/os,\\\u;ucc I sailed; but after navigating 
 for a few days, when we were near the island of ('//ha, there 
 happened a very severe storm, which drove the ship on 
 shore, and almost all the specie on board was lost ; scarcely 
 couhl tlie crew be saved. yVfter thirty-four days of hard 
 labour and great dangers, we entered th(^ port of Acaurt, 
 expecting to find the fleet there ; but it had saikd eight 
 days before for Spain, one Diego Gaitano being the captain- 
 general of it. IMidway they encountered so terrible a storm, 
 that out of the eighteen vessels, thirteen were lost in the gulf. 
 In one of them "was C'lavisso, governor of Panama, and two 
 auditors of the new kingdom of Gi'anata, who, by orders of 
 the king, were being taken to Spain ])rIsoners for their in- 
 bistice an. robbery. Two vessels reached San Dom'uujo 
 torn to pieces ; the other three ran over to Spain, of which, 
 one went ashore on the coast of Portugal, bi;t part of her 
 passengers were saved, the other arrived at Cadiz ; and the 
 admiral's ship was wi'ccked near San Luca de Parameda,' 
 
 1 These shoals of !<an Lucar seem, hy the multitude of Spanish slup.^ 
 (lestroye'l hy them, to have done their ))art to avenge the natives of tlie 
 
1 1 
 
 
 HISTOIJY OF I in; NF.W WOUM). 
 
 when about two Immlrcd persons were drowned. The cap- 
 tain with some of the crew, and liis concubine, saved them- 
 selves in a boat and arrived at Seville ; but soon, by order of 
 the hing, he was put into prison, accused of being the cause 
 of all the mischief, through leaving India at a season when 
 he knew that he must reach the coast of Spain in thcMinter; 
 which was so especially dangerous. lie sought to exonerate 
 himself by saying, that necessity had constrained liim to 
 leave Avana, in consequence of there not being provisions 
 sufficient for so many people, and other reasons ; so that 
 finally he was liberated, but deprived of his office. 
 
 I remained at Acana very discontented on two accounts, 
 first; from having lost part of my small property in the 
 before-mentioned vessel, and, secondly, because wc found 
 that the fleet had sailed ; but on hearing the news of the 
 melancholy wrecks, I praised CJod for His divine grace that 
 preserved mo from it, and did not permit me to embark, 
 else I should undoubtedly have b(>en lost with the others. 
 Ten months niter this epoch, the Indian fleet arrived at 
 Acana, consisting altogether of fourteen vessels, large 
 and small. We soon sailed, with the help of rrovidence, 
 and in thirty-nine days, though undergoing a frightful 
 storm on the voyage, we reached a Portuguese island, com- 
 monly called Mddvra ; and which, by the calculations of 
 cosmographcrs, is upwards of four thousand miles distant 
 from Avana. Half-way along tlu^ voynge-gulf (^7 fjoJfo di 
 viaggio) chore is a small uninhabited island called by the 
 S[)aniards Bchmida. AVc, however, did not see it, and few 
 sailors who navigate there have seen it. Having taken on 
 board bread and wine and other provisions at INIadcra, we 
 again set sail. At the end of eight davs, on tlx' l-Jth of 
 
 New World. Nor was it only the returning galloons that suiforetl ; 
 numerous cabotage vessels have lieen lost thereon ; ami after the l>attlo 
 of Trafalgar in 1. so"), a Spanish three-decker, El Ilayo, with three 71-gun 
 ships, were wrecked upmi thcni. ('/'/•'', ^^■.) 
 
HisToiiv oi- ruK m;\v would. 
 
 
 Scptcnihcr, looC), wc entered Sun Luca tic ]5ur:uii(Ml;i, and 
 thence proceeded to S(;vill('. As soon as I was cleared, I 
 went to Cadiz, and having,' embarked in an tirva, at tlie end 
 oi" two months 1 reached Genoa, where I rejoiced exceed- 
 ingly, and soon atterwards arrived at Milan. Always praising 
 llie JNlajesty of God, llis power, and that of our Saviour, for 
 havhig granted me the grace to see so many strange things, 
 and so much of the world, and so many foreign countries ; 
 and /or having liberated me out of so many severe trials. 
 AV'hen I reflect, it seems to me impossible that a human body 
 could have uiulergone so much — " cha an corpo Jiumano 
 liabbia potuto iiupportar tanto^ 
 
 W 11 I E Y 13 I S C O U R 8 E 
 ON S O :\1 E 11 E jNI A R K A 13 L E '\] li I N C; 8 
 
 IN Tur; 
 
 CANAEY ISLANDS. 
 
 ITan ing, by the help of God, come to the end of this short 
 history, it has appeared to nie that it Avould be satisfactory 
 to my readers, if I M'cre to add to it some of tlie remarkable 
 things in the Canary islands ; which are seven in number, 
 that is — Gri\n Canaria, Teneride, Talma, Gomera, Eerro, 
 Lanzarotta, aiid Eorteventura.' These are all in a row, and 
 not ilir asunder from each other. They lie east and west, 
 in twentj-seven degrees and a hali', and aliout seventy fmiles) 
 from Africa. Eroni Cape de IJohlori in Spain, they are nine 
 hundred and eighty miles. AVe read in some authors that 
 
 1 Tlievo are also the smallov i.-le.s — Alcgiaiiza, Giaciosa, Lubus, jNlouto 
 Chua, and the two Koiiucs. ( Ti\id-^.) 
 
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 23 WEST MAIN STRKT 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. MSSO 
 
 (716) 873-4503 
 
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 IllSTOHY Ob" TUli NKW WOULD. 
 
 they were culled Fortunate^ from al)oun(ling in cvcrytliiiig 
 that is requisite for human life. Though Solinus, contradict- 
 ing them, greatly diminishes their goodness and fertility. 
 The Canarians {(luanches ?), however, arc nearly all at an 
 end ; for I only saw one of them in Talma, who may have 
 heen about eighty years old, and was allowed a pension hy 
 the Spanish government, as a descendant of some of the 
 principal people in the island. I occasionally talked with 
 this man to learn their mode of living and their habits, but 
 never could find him free from the effects of wine ; for after 
 having once tasted it, all his delight was in getting intoxi- 
 cated. So much so, that I can only relate the li'.tle that I 
 saw, oi that was described to me by some old Spaniards. 
 Ihit before I treat of this matter, I will relate what nation 
 (according to the opin.on of some authors) first acquired the 
 aforesaid islands. V'e read in the history of Peter king of 
 vVragon, the fourth of that name, that in the year 1334 a 
 Spanish gentleman came to him, named Don Luigi dalla 
 Corda, a man of great experience in military affairs, who, in 
 consequence of all his enterprises succeeding, assumed the 
 epithet of the Prince of Fortune. This man asked for help 
 and favour to conquer the Canary isles ; and being provided 
 with nione} to arm two caravels, he started with these from 
 Cadiz, and soon arrived at Gomera. Landing a hundred and 
 twenty men there, they were attacked with such courage 
 and ferocity by the natives, that the greater part of them 
 were killed. Some saved themselves by swimming off to 
 the caravels, and others reached them safelv in their boats. 
 These few, together with the captain, who had evidently lost 
 his connnand over fortune — ^'' 2)erduto il prlnc'qntto dclla for- 
 tanay'' melancholy and ailing, returned to Spain.' 
 
 ^ This Don Luis tic la Ccrda, suniaintHl the disjiuhcvitcil, was not the 
 io-(lisfovcror of these islands ; the liest uocounts agree that the Canaries 
 weie first seen by a Spanish vessel, driven thither by stress ul' weather, 
 about the year i;j;j(>. {Tnuis.) 
 
IllSTOUY OK TllK NKW WOULD. 
 
 2{il 
 
 Others say that some vessels went from Majorca to toii- 
 (|Lier these islands, and did not at all succeed. And sonic 
 ass(;rt that, in lo9o, the Sevilleans and IJiscayans fitted seve- 
 ral ships with horses, men, and ammunition for this enter- 
 prise ; that, arriving at Lanzarottc, they landed in a good 
 state for fighting ; nor did they find the inhahitants unpre- 
 pared. They i'ought for a long time with manly courage on 
 both sides ; the Sj)aniards proved the conquerors : they left 
 some of their enemies dead and dying, made a few prisoners, 
 and with various spoils returned to Spain. Again, others 
 say that the first man who began the conquest of those 
 islands was a Frenchman, named \'etancurt (John do Betan- 
 co«;7),who,selling his own castle, fitted out an armament fit for 
 such an enterprise. On his arrival at the said islands, perhaps 
 at the Great Canaria, its inhabitants, seeing a strange people 
 land, immediately v/arned Baianor, the chief of the island. 
 ]Ie, on hearing this alarming news, without delay collected 
 all the men he could, and descending from the hills met the 
 enemy, and tlicy ibught. The French at first, from the rage 
 and ferocity of the. natives, suffered severely ; but pressing 
 on with their cavalry, soon put them to flight. Baianor, 
 seeing that he had the worst of it, now sent to the French 
 captahi to beg ibr peace, and obtained it with case. Vetan- 
 euit then, with the consent of that chieftain, had a fortress 
 built of large bricks, aiul left fifty soldiers to garrison it. 
 Embarking the remainder of his men he coasted along to 
 Falvia, which island with little trouble he also subjugated ; 
 and similar success attended him at Gomera. Having sub- 
 dued these three islands, he sold them for a large sum of 
 money to the Count de Nebia, a Spaniard ; who then con- 
 quered the rest. And thus it is that those islands have \o\\\i 
 been subject to the crown of Spain. 
 
 Now, as to the manner of living of those people, and of 
 tlie fertility of their land, I will relate what I have seen and 
 heard, as I before i)r()nii.sed. In the first place, the largest 
 
^db:i HISTORY OF IJIK NKW WOIM.I). 
 
 of tliosc islaiuls is called by the Spaniards Gran-Canaria. 
 It is nearly round, and is a hundred aiul twenty or thirty 
 miles in circuraiercnce. The town is built on a snudl plain 
 to the eastward, and in my time contained about four hun- 
 dred hearths. ]]oth the teini)oral and sjv.ritual ij;overnors 
 reside there. Ships can only anchor two juiles to the north 
 of the town, near a small hill, there being no port. On this 
 shore the Spaniards built a little tower, armed with four rusty 
 iron guns ; and 1 was very much surprised, seeing that the 
 French had captured some vessels on that very beach, that 
 there was not a suitable fortress erected for defence against 
 the enemy. 
 
 A great quantity of sugar is made in that island, and many 
 merchants trade there, esjjceially Genoese. All the species 
 of trees that have been introduced from Spain have suc- 
 ceeded, except the olive I'alma is abundantly productive, 
 especially in wine ; so that it supplies not only the neigh- 
 bouring islands, but they also send ships laden with it to 
 India, to Flanders, and to England. They produce abun- 
 dance of cheese, sheep, and goats ; and there arc rabbits 
 ■without number. 
 
 Tencrifle also abounds in articles of food. These are the 
 three principal islands ; the rest arc small, poor, and of little 
 importance. 
 
 It now remains to mention a tree in the island of Ferro, 
 from ■whose leaves water is constantly droj)ping ; and so 
 abundantly, that it not only sullices for the inhabitants, but 
 it ■would supply many more people. It is a tree of moder- 
 ate size, the leaf of which resend)!es that of the walnut, only 
 rather larger. It is surrounded l)y a ■wall like a fountain, the 
 fluid falls within it, and is thence baled out.' It is truly a 
 
 ^ Since the strange story of this Ar/^ui' >S((,itu must l)c condemned as 
 entirely t'ubulous, it is surprising tluit it ever olituined credence with 
 Beuzoui, Peter JNIartyr, Pigaletta, Lewis Jiicksun, Ihuvkins, and all sorts 
 and conditions of early voyagers : and even in our times it has been 
 
iMsroKY OK riiK m;\v would. 
 
 ;2();] 
 
 wonderful thinsj^, ii remarkable phenomenon of nature, for in 
 that island no water is found, except what this tree distils ; it 
 
 A 111 r wliii li iilwiiNs (lidiLS WiiUT Imlii ils lr;i\is. iiii ilii' l^lninl <il' I'.-lii). 
 
 is constantly covered with a thick haze, though in the day 
 time it clears off in j)roportion (c/ic ,si cucla consiimati(Jo a 
 ]wro, a jjoco) as the sun's heat increases. When the Span- 
 iards first got [)Ossessi()n of thiit island, they were greatly 
 astonished not to find either water, or wells, or rivers. They 
 asked the inhahitants how they procured that necessary, and 
 were answered, " That they collected the rain-water in certain 
 jars, auil kept it for nse ;" having first hidden the tree with 
 reeds, earth, and other things. The first islanders fancied 
 
 accrcditcil by the noted I'ory dc St. Vincent. Le Claire, indeed, treated 
 it as a fiction in KIi's ; Imt the lovers of the niarvellons forthwith 
 hninded him as a philosopher in nothing liut his incredulity. 
 
 This tree, if \vc are to believe l^hilopono and others, was cmhiwed with 
 its virtues by St. Brandon, the Scottish proto-navigator, who, it seems, 
 toiiched here in liis marvellous voyage in a.d. '')()o. The story, however, 
 is of an earlier date, if IMiny's isle — Pliivialis or < )mbriun — is tn be 
 jdaced at l"\rro. ( 7Vv/ //••»■.) 
 
S64 
 
 HISTORY OK rilK M'.W WOUI.P. 
 
 ^ 
 
 that, if the Spaniards could not find any watrr, they wouhl 
 quit thcin and their country. But this trick was of no use 
 to them: for a Spaniard, conversinsr with a woman of tlie 
 island, learned from her all the secret of the tree. Where- 
 upon he revealed it to the captain, who laui^hed, thinking it 
 a mere fable. Yet after seeing it and ascertaining the fact, 
 they remained astounded at so great a miracle. Nor did the 
 woman's sin go unpunished ; for the principal people of the 
 island, perceiving that she must have been the channel of 
 conununicat''^n relative to the tree, soon after privately occa- 
 sioned ner death. 
 
 These Canarians were generally idolaters. They clothed 
 thems(dves with goat-skins, of which they had an tabundance. 
 Their habitations were mostly mere caves dug into the base 
 of hills or mountains. They used to break up the ground 
 with goats' horns, and having no other animals, they made 
 use of goats instead of oxen to plough the land; but, indeed, 
 those animals are much larger than our breed. Their grain 
 was millet, which they ground between two stones and made 
 into bread, by them called f/op'o. They obtained wine from 
 the palm, as the Ethiopiiuis do. 'J'heii* complexion is that of 
 the Cingani.^ The climate of those islands is rather hot than 
 cold ; although in Tenerifie there is a mountain called the 
 Pico de Teide, which is covered with snow nearly all the 
 year : and this is the first land-mark that merchants see on 
 going to those islands. 
 
 ^ Bcnzoni being a latitu.linnrian in ortbography, probably meant 
 zingnri, or gipsies. (Trans.) 
 
 END OF IIIK Tlllltn AM) r.AST IU)OK. 
 
 I; 
 
5»65 
 
 APPKOXIMATE GEOGPvAPUICAL POSPIIOxXS 
 
 OF TUB 
 
 VARIOUS PLACED EXUMEKATED BY BENZONI. 
 
 I.iititiide. \V. Long. 
 
 Abiincaia, town and district 
 Afhla, or Akla, in the Gulf of Daricn 
 Almolonga del Basco, Guatemala ? . 
 Amaracapanna, now Piritu, near Cumana . 
 Andagoliani (Andaulayas r), a district, in about 
 Antica del Darien, in the I'raba Gulf 
 Apurrima river, junction with the Urabamba 
 Arc(iuipa, city to the s.w. of Cuijco 
 Argento, Porto dell', or La Plata, San Domingo 
 Assuay, centre of a mountain district 
 Avanava, Avana, or Ilavanna , 
 Azua, de Com])ostella, in San Domingo 
 
 Bancai, or Abancay, right bank of the river 
 Jiogota, Santa Fe di, city of . 
 Borichiu, or San Juan de Porto Rico 
 Buena A'entura, a port and district . 
 
 Cabo de Passao, or Cape Passado 
 
 Cabo la Vela, Gulf of Maracaybo 
 
 Cabo Vescovddo, near Truxillo of Guatemala 
 
 Callao, the sea-port, of Lima 
 
 Calvaia river, rich in gold, near Cusco, abo"! 
 
 s. 13 37 
 N. 8 58 
 N. 14 30 
 N. 10 5 
 
 s. H 
 N. 8 30 
 s. 12 12 
 s. 16 20 
 N. 19 45 
 s. 2 25 
 N. 23 10 
 N. 18 25 
 
 s. 13 40 
 
 N. 4 35 
 
 N. 18 29 
 
 N. 3 50 
 
 s. 24 
 N. 12 10 
 >'. 10 
 
 s. 12 4 
 s. M 
 34 
 
 72 58 
 77 50 
 90 45 
 65 
 
 73 
 / / o 
 
 73 30 
 72 
 70 50 
 
 79 10 
 82 22 
 
 70 42 
 
 72 56 
 
 74 14 
 66 42 
 77 18 
 
 80 25 
 72 14 
 86 
 77 14 
 
 71 
 
2(5(i 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NEW WOULD. 
 
 Cama, Camuliova, and Camuxiova, three villafjcs 
 
 Caraque Ray, on tlic coast of La Manta 
 
 Cariaco, sea-port town of \'ono/>ula . 
 
 Caribano, on the Gulf of Daricn 
 
 Cartagena, sea-port of New Granada 
 
 Cartago Nueva, a town in Guatemala 
 
 Cartago, in Popayan, on the Ilio Viega 
 
 Cassiamalca, or Caxamarca, in Peru 
 
 Chagre, or Chiare, at mouth of the Cliagros 
 
 Chiachiapoi, or Chacapoyas, in Peru 
 
 Chiapa, town of the province 
 
 Chiarapoto, a hamlet near Guayacpiil? 
 
 Chiarchi, gold mines s.k. of Arecpiipa, about 
 
 Chili, the northern limit of Hueso I'arado . 
 
 Chinca, Pi/.arro's station, north of Pisco . 
 
 Chiono, on the river near Old Guayiupiil . 
 
 Chiorera, a river of Cuba, west of Havanna 
 
 Chira, a river and district of Piura 
 
 Chito, or Quito, burial ])lacc of Guainacava 
 
 Chiulutecca, or Cholulcca, mines near llondura 
 
 Chiuppa, on the east shore of Costa-llica? . 
 
 Chiuppa, between Guamanga and Cu/.co ? . 
 
 Citta de' Re, Lima, or City of the Kings . 
 
 Colonchie, province of Guayaquil 
 
 Comaiagua, the central town of Honduras 
 
 Comagre, station near Maracapana 
 
 Costa-llica, province of Guatemala, Cap. Cavlag 
 
 Cruses, Isthmus of Darien 
 
 Cubagua, island in the Caribbean Sea 
 
 Cumana, city of Venez\icla 
 
 Cusco, or Cuzco, ancient city of Peru 
 
 Darieii, or Gulf of llurava, or Vrana, centre 
 Deseada, islet east of Guadaloupe 
 Dominica, capital of Hayti (^San Domiiujo) 
 
 El Nombre de Dios, Isthmus of Panama . 
 
 Fiorita, or Florida, the Palme station 
 Fondura, or Honduras, centre of district , 
 
 
 I.llllt 
 
 UclP 
 
 \\. I. 
 
 r>ntr. 
 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 o 
 
 t 
 
 s. 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 80 
 
 39 
 
 s. 
 
 
 
 \v,\ 
 
 80 
 
 2r> 
 
 N. 
 
 10 
 
 150 
 
 03 
 
 40 
 
 N. 
 
 8 
 
 38 
 
 7(5 
 
 ,55 
 
 N, 
 
 10 
 
 20 
 
 7r> 
 
 34 
 
 N. 
 
 9 
 
 58 
 
 83 
 
 30 
 
 N. 
 
 4 
 
 .'JO 
 
 7.5 
 
 10 
 
 S. 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 78 
 
 32 
 
 N. 
 
 9 
 
 21 
 
 79 
 
 59 
 
 S. 
 
 G 
 
 8 
 
 i I 
 
 4 
 
 X. 
 
 in 
 
 10 
 
 93 
 
 15 
 
 s. 
 
 1 
 
 ■18 
 
 80 
 
 10 
 
 s. 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 71 
 
 
 
 s. 
 
 2o 
 
 22 
 
 70 
 
 40 
 
 8, 
 
 10 
 
 30 
 
 70 
 
 5 
 
 S. 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 79 
 
 40 
 
 N. 
 
 23 
 
 10 
 
 82 
 
 15 
 
 s. 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 81 
 
 
 
 s. 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 78 
 
 18 
 
 N. 
 
 i;} 
 
 -Vi 
 
 87 
 
 10 
 
 X. 
 
 10 
 
 03 
 
 82 
 
 20 
 
 s. 
 
 12 
 
 .'38 
 
 73 
 
 2 
 
 s. 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 77 
 
 () 
 
 s. 
 
 1 
 
 .00 
 
 80 
 
 28 
 
 X. 
 
 11 
 
 40 
 
 87 
 
 40 
 
 X. 
 
 9 
 
 o8 
 
 04 
 
 59 
 
 X. 
 
 9 
 
 5.3 
 
 83 
 
 30 
 
 X. 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 79 
 
 40 
 
 X. 
 
 10 
 
 41 
 
 Gl 
 
 15 
 
 X. 
 
 10 
 
 27 
 
 64 
 
 12 
 
 s. 
 
 i;i 
 
 31 
 
 71 
 
 20 
 
 X. 
 
 8 
 
 30 
 
 77 
 
 
 
 X. 
 
 Ifi 
 
 19 
 
 01 
 
 12 
 
 X. 
 
 18 
 
 28 
 
 09 
 
 50 
 
 X. 
 
 '1 
 
 no 
 
 79 
 
 30 
 
 X. 27 10 82 40 
 
 X. 15 87 
 
70 5 
 
 III^IOKY OK Tin.; Ni.;\v AVOHLII. 
 
 Forte, or Tiicrtc islet, G.ilf of Daricn 
 KriKilio, also called 'Inv^Wm, TruxiUo, J>oru 
 
 Hallo islet, near the Patia river 
 (^(■rmano (San, a \m\n of I'orto-llico 
 (icrgona ishin.l, oH'tlu. coast of New (Jrana.la 
 (iracia-Dios, a city of Iloiuluras 
 (jninata (Granada), a town of Nicaragua 
 (iuacielouiK. island, Iks.se-terre point 
 Ouaiaquil, a city on the Chiono 
 Ciuaimacava, a ])ass near Guayaquil? 
 Guaitara, near a steep rocky pass r 
 Guamango, or Huanuinga, a city in l\-ru 
 Guanaxia, or Bonacca island 
 Guan-cavilichi, village of Guayaquil ? 
 (iuaneco (Iluanuco), a town of l*eru 
 Guarina (Iluarina), on Lake Titicaca 
 Guattimala (Guatemala), Santiago dc 
 
 Haiti, or St. Domingo, its capital 
 Havanna, on the north shore of Cuba 
 Hurava, or Uraba, Gulf of Darien, centre 
 
 Iguera, the native name of Gape Honduras 
 Isla S])agnola, Hispaniola, or Hayti, capital 
 Izalche, a town near a volcanic mountain 
 
 Jaguana, now called Jacquemel 
 Jalisco, Benzoni's Salisco, the capital of 
 Jauja, Sausa, or Susa, town and station . 
 
 La Fossa, a pass to the north of Lima ? 
 Laiaquanna, a ruined village of Hayti ? 
 Launa, or Saona isle, S.E. coast of Hayti 
 Leone, a town on Lake Managua 
 Lima, the capital of Peru 
 
 Maddalena, mouth of the river Magdalena 
 Magalianes, or Magalhaen's Strait, Cape Pillar 
 iSLvquanna, a ruined town of Hayti r . 
 
 I.alilii'l 
 
 2G7 
 
 W, 1,„MH. 
 
 . N. 9 '2',] 
 
 76 12 
 
 . 8. 8 9 
 
 79 4 
 
 . N. 1 55 
 
 78 40 
 
 . N. 18 8 
 
 67 4 
 
 . N. 2 5n 
 
 78 15 
 
 . N. 14 55 
 
 88 18 
 
 . N. 11 50 
 
 85 58 
 
 . N. 15 57 
 
 61 48 
 
 . s. 2 12 
 
 79 55 
 
 . s. 2 15 
 
 79 50 
 
 . 8. 14 55 
 
 75 30 
 
 . 8. 12 59 
 
 74 5 
 
 . N. 16 28 
 
 85 55 
 
 . s. 2 15 
 
 79 50 
 
 . s. 9 58 
 
 75 40 
 
 . 8. 16 48 
 
 69 30 
 
 X 14 37 
 
 90 25 
 
 N. 18 28 
 
 69 50 
 
 . N. 23 10 
 
 82 22 
 
 . N. 8 30 
 
 77 
 
 N. 16 2 
 
 86 4 
 
 N. 18 28 
 
 69 50 
 
 N. 13 44 
 
 89 40 
 
 N. 18 13 72 33 
 N. 21 10 103 2 
 s. 4 25 79 58 
 
 s. 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 76 
 
 58 
 
 N. 
 
 17 
 
 59 
 
 71 
 
 2 
 
 N. 
 
 18 
 
 12 
 
 68 
 
 32 
 
 N. 
 
 12 
 
 25 
 
 86 
 
 43 
 
 S. 
 
 12 
 
 4 
 
 77 
 
 6 
 
 N. 11 5 74 50 
 s. 52 43 74 42 
 
 N. 19 40 70 26 
 
208 
 
 HISTORY OF THK NFW NVORI.l). 
 
 Mala, tlie port botwcon t'li/.co and I /una 
 MarnU'ra, Hcnzoni's nanu' tor Madeira 
 Manta, a I'enivian port and villafi;o . 
 Maracapanna, coast of Cumani'i 
 Marta (Santa\ a sea-port of New (iranada 
 Marj^arita, island in the Caribbean Sea 
 Merida. the caiJital of Yucatan 
 Mkxico, capital of the Mexican States 
 Mona i-sle, between llayti and Torto-Kico 
 
 Nicarap;na, town at an extensive lake 
 Nonibrc dc Dies, a port of New Granada 
 Nucva Cartapfo, Costa- Kica 
 
 Olancliio, a town of Guatemala 
 Orinoco, mouth of the Greut River 
 Otaballo, or Otavalo, N.N.E. of Quito 
 
 Pacama, Pacajes ? town beyond Titirac.i ? . 
 Panama, capital of the Isthmus 
 Paria, (Julf of, between Trinidad and tlie Main 
 I'ieulancemc, a hamlet near Guaya(p)il r . 
 Piritu, to tlie west of Cumana . 
 Porto-licUo, a sea-port of Xew Granada 
 Potosi, a Peruvian city .... 
 Pucoran, a Peruvian station, about 
 Puerto deir Arf^cnto (La Plata) in Ilayti . 
 Puerto d' Cavalli (Caballo) in Guatemala . 
 Puerto Cabcllo, a town of Venezuela 
 Puerto Viejo, in the province of Guayaquil 
 Puna island, Gulf of Guayacpiil, capital 
 
 Quaiaquil, .sometimes used for Guayaquil . 
 Quancavilichi, a district of (iuayacpiil, about 
 (juisinie, a statitm amon<^ four rivers 
 Quito, mostly spelt Chito by Hcn/oni 
 
 Realejo, a town and port of Nicarapjua 
 
 Riobaniba, district of Chimborazo 
 
 Rio Gr.inde, or moulli of the Mapdalena 
 
 
 I.lllillUli'. 
 
 W. I. 
 
 )iit' 
 
 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 
 # 
 
 ». 
 
 12 
 
 40 
 
 7fi 
 
 39 
 
 N. 
 
 ;{'2 
 
 38 
 
 10 
 
 .^r) 
 
 s. 
 
 
 
 59 
 
 80 
 
 40 
 
 N. 
 
 10 
 
 T) 
 
 (ir) 
 
 
 
 N. 
 
 11 
 
 1.) 
 
 71 
 
 If) 
 
 N. 
 
 1(1 
 
 ;)8 
 
 Cu\ 
 
 ;>8 
 
 N. 
 
 '20 
 
 /)8 
 
 8'.» 
 
 ;?.'i 
 
 N. 
 
 ID 
 
 20 
 
 90 
 
 10 
 
 X. 
 
 18 
 
 5 
 
 r.7 
 
 50 
 
 N. 11 24 85 10 
 
 N. 9 ;}5 79 28 
 N. 9 58 83 30 
 
 8 
 N, 
 N, 
 
 S 
 
 N. 14 50 
 N. 8 40 
 N. 15 
 
 s. 18 30 
 N. 8 57 
 N. 10 25 
 1 30 
 10 5 
 9 33 
 19 30 
 s. 15 () 
 N. 19 40 
 X. 15 45 
 N. 10 30 
 s. 1 5 
 s. 2 48 
 
 s. 2 12 
 
 s. 1 58 
 
 N. 1 30 
 
 s. 12 
 
 N. 12 28 
 s. 1 40 
 N. 11 5 
 
 80 25 
 00 20 
 78 35 
 
 09 10 
 
 79 31 
 02 20 
 
 80 
 05 10 
 
 79 39 
 05 25 
 71 
 70 58 
 87 58 
 08 10 
 
 80 25 
 79 57 
 
 79 55 
 
 80 10 
 
 78 50 
 78 48 
 
 87 9 
 78 50 
 74 50 
 
. I.OUP. 
 
 ) ' 
 
 f) 39 
 G r>!i 
 \0 40 
 
 \r) 
 74 K> 
 53 68 
 8'.> 35 
 9'.) 10 
 «)? 50 
 
 85 ir> 
 
 70 28 
 83 30 
 
 80 25 
 00 20 
 78 35 
 
 00 10 
 70 31 
 62 20 
 80 
 05 10 
 79 39 
 05 25 
 71 
 70 58 
 87 58 
 <18 10 
 80 25 
 79 57 
 
 79 55 
 
 80 10 
 78 56 
 78 48 
 
 87 9 
 78 50 
 74 50 
 
 IIISTOHY OF THE NF.W WORM). 
 
 Sjilamanra, nnw Hacalar, in Yucatan 
 SMli>(o, ntluiwisc! Xalislo, or Jalisco, its cajtital 
 Santa I'nirl)ara, river station near (iuito 
 San 1 )i)iuini('a, llif capita! of I layti 
 San Francisco, near the riNcr Siicrro . 
 San Francisco ('a|M', near ('alio dc I'assao . 
 San (icrniano, in tlic islanil of I'orto-Rico . 
 San Juan de I'orto Jvico, the cajjital 
 San Jacopo, or (iiacolio, on tlie C'hiono river 
 San Jacoino, on the Ja^ua. in (iiiatemala . 
 Sant' Klena, or H(h'na, a Peruvian cape . 
 S" 1 Mijriiel, on tlie river Sirano, (iuatemahi 
 Sun Miguel, a ])ort in tlie (iult'ot'San Mi<fuel 
 San Miffuel, a town on the IMura 
 San Pedro, town near the Vnhia (T''va) 
 San Salvador, a city of (iiiatcniahi 
 Sa(|uisa{^ana, on a river near Cuzco . 
 Sarsa, or /ar/a, a town iind station . 
 Sausa, or Snsa (now Jaii/n or Xaiixa) 
 Seviglia, afterwards "Wall/, or IJclizc 
 Sibolla, town and district west of Mexico, about 
 Siinandoca, district station in Uogota 
 Spanola, Ilispaniola, llayti, or San Dominica, 
 capital ...... 
 
 Sucre, river station in Costa-Rica 
 Susa, or Xauxa, a town of Peru 
 
 Taboga isle, in the bay of Panama 
 Ternita, or Barra di Istapa, (iuatemala 
 Tessnca, or Tausa valley .... 
 Tiquieaca, or Titicaca Lake, the island 
 Toleto, or Toledo, a hamlet near Cumana . 
 Trigillio, Trogulio, or Trugilio {Tnuril/o) . 
 Trigillio, or Trugilio, in Guatemala . 
 Tnmanama, founded by Davila in 1514, about 
 Tumbes, or Tumbe/i, Pi/arro's landing 
 Tumebamba, a district of Quito, about 
 Tunia, or Tunja, a district town of Bogota 
 
 Useovia, mountainous district in Guamanga 
 
 inw) 
 
 
 I.iiiltiiili'. 
 
 W. I, 
 
 Hit;. 
 
 
 o 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 ( 
 
 N. 
 
 18 
 
 38 
 
 88 
 
 27 
 
 N. 
 
 21 
 
 10 
 
 103 
 
 2 
 
 H. 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 78 
 
 20 
 
 N. 
 
 18 
 
 28 
 
 GO 
 
 ro 
 
 N. 
 
 w 
 
 l() 
 
 82 
 
 33 
 
 N. 
 
 
 
 40 
 
 79 
 
 59 
 
 N. 
 
 \H 
 
 
 
 07 
 
 3 
 
 N. 
 
 18 
 
 29 
 
 00 
 
 8 
 
 s. 
 
 1 
 
 30 
 
 79 
 
 50 
 
 N. 
 
 14 
 
 25 
 
 80 
 
 45 
 
 s. 
 
 2 
 
 11 
 
 81 
 
 2 
 
 N. 
 
 13 
 
 :\') 
 
 87 
 
 50 
 
 N. 
 
 H 
 
 10 
 
 78 
 
 20 
 
 S. 
 
 5 
 
 10 
 
 80 
 
 45 
 
 N. 
 
 15 
 
 12 
 
 88 
 
 2 
 
 N. 
 
 13 
 
 50 
 
 89 
 
 10 
 
 S. 
 
 13 
 
 30 
 
 71 
 
 50 
 
 s. 
 
 4 
 
 25 
 
 79 
 
 58 
 
 s. 
 
 11 
 
 52 
 
 
 15 
 
 N. 
 
 17 
 
 29 
 
 88 
 
 12 
 
 N. 
 
 19 
 
 
 
 101 
 
 
 
 N. 
 
 5 
 
 25 
 
 73 
 
 45 
 
 N. 18 28 69 50 
 
 N. 9 58 82 20 
 
 H. 11 52 75 15 
 
 8 48 
 14 15 
 
 4 50 
 10 35 
 10 25 
 
 8 8 
 
 N. 
 N. 
 N. 
 
 S, 
 N. 
 
 S. 
 
 N. 15 50 
 
 N. 8 45 
 
 s. 3 20 
 
 s. 1 30 
 
 >-. 5 27 
 
 79 32 
 91 45 
 74 12 
 70 10 
 03 55 
 
 79 10 
 85 59 
 
 77 30 
 
 80 15 
 
 78 14 
 73 48 
 
 s. 13 74 
 
 I 
 
5i7() 
 
 HISTOU\ OK lllli NliW \V()UI,J). 
 
 Lntliii.ti'. W. I.omr 
 
 . N. H *J8 70 12 
 
 Vravu, or l'riil)ii, on the Diiiicn (Jiill 
 
 V.ilcnzuolo, now A'cnc/uda, the (iulf island 
 Vi'iiaUaccro, central part of tlu' diHtrict 
 Vcra-Cru/. sca-jxirt town of Mixico . 
 Ncra^iia, lia ('()nt't.i»(,'ion dc \'( ra^iia 
 Villa d'Ari^'i'iito, u town of Cu/.co 
 ^'illa-lli(•a, I'orto San .luan oi Atw Spain 
 ^'rana Ciull, or Darirn in Ackla, centre 
 A' ulna, or Viva, nioiitli of a river of Honduras 
 
 Xalisco, or Salisco, a town and district 
 Xauxa, licn/oni's town of Sausa 
 
 Ya^uana, now .Tac(iucn\ol, in San Doniin<;() 
 Yucatan, the capital of the province i^Mcridu) 
 
 Zalanga, a Peruvian sea-])ort 
 Zar/.a, a luunlet and station in Peru: . 
 /orobaro islands, near Ncraj^tia, their centre 
 Zuera, the river Sucre, en* Suerri 
 
 N. 
 
 10 
 
 58 
 
 71 15 
 
 N. 
 
 1 
 
 DO 
 
 77 55 
 
 N. 
 
 l'.» 
 
 12 
 
 W \i 
 
 N. 
 
 H 
 
 58 
 
 81 2 
 
 S. 
 
 15 
 
 10 
 
 71 25 
 
 N. 
 
 10 
 
 55 
 
 82 42 
 
 N. 
 
 8 
 
 !U) 
 
 77 
 
 . N. 
 
 15 
 
 55 
 
 H7 50 
 
 . N. 
 
 21 
 
 10 
 
 103 2 
 
 H. 
 
 11 
 
 52 
 
 75 15 
 
 . N. 
 
 18 
 
 13 
 
 72 33 
 
 N. 
 
 20 
 
 58 
 
 89 35 
 
 s. 
 
 1 
 
 :J7 
 
 80 50 
 
 s. 
 
 I 
 
 25 
 
 7'J 58 
 
 . N. 
 
 '.) 
 
 20 
 
 81 40 
 
 >. 
 
 li 
 
 58 
 
 82 20 
 
 I 
 
 I. 
 
I N 1)1. \. 
 
 Alijiucui, river, mr Hiincui i 
 
 Aclil.i, 11:5 i 
 
 Aialo. I,(>|ii'/. d', governor ><\' Puertu 
 
 Vit 
 
 117 
 
 Alciiiitiira, tlie Itrothcrs dc, l'i/.;irr<i\ 
 liiiiri.rdtlu'r^, 174 
 
 Al(;iiil!ira, Miirtiiio, killcil, tugellicr 
 with ri/.arro, l!),s 
 
 AMaiia, linrt'ii/ndo, •-.'OK; .sc-nt tn Spain 
 \>y <i(in/,ali) I'i/.arro, '21^ ; ilescrts 
 his omst'. :JJ(» ; takus possession <il 
 [dina, :iL'2 
 
 Alixamirr VT, Hull of, rofjanling con- 
 (|m'.st>; of now conntrii's, 'A-2 
 
 AlliiHimr, Anilirogio, governor of Vc- 
 iie/.nela, omul oonduot of, 7<i; kilioil 
 liy tlie Indians, {//. 
 
 Allii)i|iu'r, (iiorgio, governor of Ve- 
 lU'/.noln, nuinler of, Ki 
 
 Aifon/.o V, king of I'ortngal, oondnot 
 towards ColnniKus. I s 
 
 iVlniagro, l)iogo do, <11 ; --ent agaiiot 
 Alvarado iiy I'izarro, |.")4; expedi- 
 tion from I'anainii, 170; loses an eye 
 and is forood to roturn, 171 : (|narrols 
 with I'i/.arro, 171 ; Joins in putting 
 Atahualj'a to death, \y.i ; is made 
 maresohal of I'erii, \>>'i ; expedition 
 to Chili, 1S(! ; returns from Chili, 
 IMl ; foroes hi'^ way into Cu/co, l!»0; 
 is made governor and wages war 
 against I'izarro, l!)l ; seizes Alva- 
 rado, //(.; Pizarro attempts to assas- 
 sinate him, \\i2 ; negotiates with 
 I'izarro, !!»;{ ; is <lefeated l>y him, 
 1!)4 ; and exeeulod, l!)"» ; his oha- 
 raoter, l!)(i 
 
 Almagro, the younger, son of Diogo 
 de Almagro, 11)1! ; joins in a oon- 
 spiracy against I'izarro, 1!)7 ; and 
 murders him, 1!>S; seizes Cuzco and 
 kills (iaroia de Alvarado, l'.)!»; re- 
 fuses to obey Vaoa de ('astro, the 
 imperial oommissioner, :2('t> ; is de- 
 
 feated hy him, I'lij ; and heheadod, 
 I'l l'; his ( haraoter, //'. 
 
 Aharado, Alfoiizo de, viotory over 
 I'lruviatis, l>l> ; imprisoned hy Al- 
 magro, lid ; oonunands the cavalry 
 in the hatile of Chupaz against 
 Almagro, :i<»l ; sent to Ijma, i':.'7 
 
 Alvarado, l>iego de, 1!>2 ; ijuarrels 
 with I'izarro, l!>.') ; doath, I'.Ml 
 
 Alvarado, (iaroias dv, killed hy Al- 
 magro the younger, I'.tK 
 
 Alvarado, I'l-dn, do, oonduot towards 
 the .Moxioans, i;J7 ; expodition to 
 I'orii, loll; death and oharaotor, 
 lo") ; conduet and death of his 
 widow, l.")(i 
 
 Alvarez, l)iego, -221 
 
 Alvarez, <iiovanni, one of the aiiditors 
 sent out with Nunez Vela to I'erw 
 
 I'dl', L'fllJ, I'lO 
 
 Amaraoapanna. .Vc I'iritu 
 
 Anierioa. IJonzoni's ro\ite from Spain 
 to, 1 ; disoovery of, 14; anticipa- 
 tions of, ]•') ; landing of (.'ohuuKus 
 in, lio ; first hattle of the Spaniards 
 in, A'.\ ; jdants, trees, etc., (d", Md ; 
 fruits, s7 ; fauna, M) ; introduotiou 
 of Spanish cattle into, 112 ; intro- 
 duction of negro slaves, U'.i ; natives 
 of, Kce Indians 
 
 Aiulagoia, (iasparo, 23H 
 
 Andagoliani, country of the, 227 
 
 Anzulles, Pedro, 100 
 
 Apurimac, i':}!, 2:j."} 
 
 Apurrima river, 22H 
 
 Are.|uipa, 215, 221, 222, 224 
 
 Aristotle's account of a great western 
 island, I') 
 
 Arms, 1 1 
 
 Ataltaliha, ^vr Atahualpa 
 
 Atahualpa, Inoa of Peru, message 
 to I'izarro, 170 ; his costume, 17!S ; 
 made prisoner hy I'izarro, Lm> ; his 
 ransom, Isl ; is put to death, Is:} 
 
 i« 
 
272 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Atlantis of Plato, 15 
 
 liaoliicao, captaiiij exactions of, 211 ; 
 
 liauijcd, 224 
 
 liagotta, an Iiulian chief, IK) 
 
 ]5aianor, chief of the Canaries, 201 
 
 IJaiona, law of, rcsj)ecting slaves, !)4 
 
 IJaiiL'ai river, 1!)1, 22s 
 
 ]{attle«; of Clmpaz, 2(>1 ; of Guarina, 
 224 ; of Sai|ui.sagana, 22!-i 
 
 Bchaim, jMartin, claim to the disco- 
 very of Magellan's Straits, 41, 1S(! 
 
 lielinuda, 2.")S 
 
 ]}v;nalcazar, 200, 215 
 
 IJenzoni, (lirolanio, voyage to the 
 Canary Isle;?, 1 ; to Cubagua, 2 ; 
 to Cumana, ,i ; joins a marauding 
 party, 5 ; illness a* Amaracapana, 
 1 2 ; arrival at San Domingo, 1 3 ; 
 snnnuary of his travels in Ame.ica, 
 07 ; his aversion to tohacco, Hi ; 
 hardships endured by him, H!) ; voy- 
 age from llispaniola to Cartagena, 
 lo8 ; to Achla, 113 ; journey thence 
 to Panama, 1 1(5; to Nombre de Dios, 
 120 ; sails on an expedition with 
 Alonzodi Pisa, 124; expedition with 
 Diego Gutierrez, 130 ; battle with 
 the Indians, 133 ; dog-dinner, 13!) ; 
 sails to the canal of Nicaragua, 140; 
 returns to Nombre de Dios, 142 ; 
 expedition in the valley of l>lan- 
 chio, 145 ; his opinion of the Span- 
 iards, 100 ; voyage from Panama 
 to Peru, 2;}0 ; account of Indians, 
 240 ; homeward voyage, 250 ; ill- 
 ness and shipwreck, 257 ; rcturu 
 home, 259 
 
 Beruque, an Indian disease, 242 
 
 Betancurt, Jean de, subdues the Ca- 
 nary Isles, 2()1 
 
 Betanzo, Francisco de, a monk, his 
 opinion of the Indians, l(i4 
 
 Bobadilia, captain, 224 
 
 Bobadilla, Francisco de, his treatment 
 of ('olumbus, 35 ; his death, 37 
 
 Boi.iiia, treasurer of Quito, 217 
 
 Borichiii, .•«•€ San Juan de Porto Rico 
 
 Bracamori, 1!)0 
 
 Branding slaves, 11 
 
 Bread, Indian method of making, S4, 
 85 
 
 Bridges, Indian, 228 
 
 Buccaneers, 102; origiiiof name, 123 n. 
 
 Buena Ventura, 200 
 
 ' Cabo de Pas.'ao, see Passado Cape 
 Cal)rera, Pc iro de, 213 
 Cacoma wood. 4 
 ('alaba?-hes, 150 
 Calijaj, Francisco, 140 
 ('a! ice, Pedro de, 8 
 Callao, 212 
 
 Calvaia river, gold in the, 255 
 Cama, village of, 2~^\ 
 Caniachia, an Imlian chief, ransom 
 
 exacted from, iJS 
 Campo, I)iego do, founder of Toledo, 
 
 near Cumana, 3 ; his expedition 
 I against the Indians, 40; his cruelty, 
 
 47 ; his ijuarrel with Las Casas, 4!) 
 Ciirauliova, a village, 241 
 Camuxiova, a village, 241 
 Canary Isles, 1, 1)8 ; account of, 259 ; 
 
 their discovery, 2(50; compiest, 2(51 ; 
 
 their products, 202; inhabitants, 204 
 Candia, Pietro di, 201 
 Cannibalism, !), 45, 51, 72, 73, 108 
 Canoes, 171 
 Cara(|ue Bay, 23!) 
 Caravajal, or Carbajal, Francisco de, 
 
 see Carvajal 
 Cariaco, 5, f) 
 Caribbees, 112 
 Cartagena, account of, 108 ; taken by 
 
 the French, 107 
 Carthaginians, discovery of a Avestern 
 
 land by, 15 
 Carvajal, Francisco de, 214 ; defeats 
 
 Centeno, 215, 224 ; description of, 
 
 225 ; put to death, 230 
 Carvajal, Suarez de, «f Suarcz 
 Carvaile, Francisco, 201 
 Cascuij, a strange animal, 201 
 Cassiaraalca, 17(i, 177, l8l, 221 
 Castiglione, Jacob, 3 ; victory over 
 
 Indians at Cuman'. 50 
 Castiglioni, A. de', a French priest, 
 I his kindness to Benzoni, 12 
 ' Cattle, introduction into America from 
 
 Spain of, !)2 
 Cavalicro, Diego, cultivation of vines 
 
 in Ilayti by, !>1 
 Centeno, Diego, revolts againsts Gon- 
 
 zalo Pizarro, 214 ; is defeated by 
 ' Carvajal, 215 ; seizes Cusco, 221 ; 
 
 refuses l^izarro's terms, 223 ; is de- 
 feated by him, 224, 230 
 I Cepcila, Diego de, sent out as auditor 
 ' with the viceroy of T'eru, 202, 2o3, 
 
 2oy 
 
 ■.^ 
 
INDEX. 
 
 J^73 
 
 imsom 
 
 'olcdo, 
 jditiou 
 luclty, 
 ,sas, 4'.) 
 
 if, •2r,9 ; 
 it, 2(il ; 
 ats,2(34 
 
 .108 
 
 ii,co do, 
 
 akcn by 
 
 western 
 
 defeats 
 |)tioa of, 
 
 r' 
 
 |l 
 
 21 
 
 jry over 
 
 priest, 
 
 ricafrom 
 
 I of vines 
 
 sts Gon- 
 sated by 
 Ico, 221 ; 
 l^ ; is de- 
 auditor 
 
 m, 2o:j, 
 
 
 (Jcratto, president of IIiPi)aniola, 9G ; 
 
 wise }j;overninent of. iH^s 
 Cerda, Luis dc la, attempt to conijuer 
 
 tiio Ciiniiry Isles, 2(;0 
 Charcas, Las, <fold mines, 2W, 215 
 Charles V, favours Las Casas, 48; frees 
 
 the Indians, .57 ; good will towards 
 
 them, 71 
 Chesadii, Dr., president of Guatemala, 
 
 death, I (is 
 Chiachiapui, l!)(i 
 Chiagre river, 2^C) 
 Chiap])e, an Indian god, 112 
 Chiarche, see Charcas 
 Ohiarapoto, 2-iO 
 
 Chiaves, Francisco de, 1S)4; killed, 198 
 Chiggre, sufferings of the Spaniards 
 
 from the, 8S) 
 Chili, Almagro's expedition to, 180 
 Chimborazo, 247 
 Chincha, 193 
 Chiono, river, 244 
 Chira, province of, 173, 17(1 
 Christians, I ndian idea concerning, 14(5 
 Christianity, small progress of, among 
 
 the Indians, 1(J()-1(J4 
 Chupaz, battle near, 201 
 Cianca, the Licentiate, 217, 235 ; ap- 
 
 j,ointed judge in the trial of Gon- 
 
 zalo Pizarro, 229 
 Cibas, mines of, 25 
 (Jimaroni, outlawed slaves, 95 
 Cipango, a rich land mentioned by 
 
 Marco Polo, 15 
 Clavisso, governor of Panama, 257 
 Climate of Ilispaniola, 91 
 Cocoa trees, 149, 158; mode of making 
 
 cocoa, 150 
 
 Cocuri, an Indian chief, 129 
 
 Colmenas, Rodcrigo, arrival at En- 
 ciso's camp, ()5 ; succours Nicuesa, 
 08 
 
 Colonchie, 175, 213 
 
 Columbus, Bartholomew, visits Eng- 
 land, 18; sails with his brother, 
 19; made governor of Ilispaniola, 
 23 ; complaints of Roldan Ximenes 
 ji gainst, 32, 34 ; sent to Spain in 
 irons, 35 ; returns with his brother, 
 41-43 
 
 Columbus, Christo))her, early life, 15 ; 
 his family, 45 ; how far he was in- 
 debted to earlier discoverers, 15; 
 story uf the egg, 17 ; applies to the 
 (lenoese, l(! ; to the English and 
 
 Portv.gueso, 18; his first voyage, 
 J 9 ; discovery of the New World, 20 ; 
 shipwreck, 21 ; return to Spain, 23; 
 second voy.agc, 24 ; return to Spain, 
 :i>> ; third voyage, 29 ; opposed by 
 the Spaniards, 32, sent home in 
 irons, 35; fourth voyage, 41 ; return 
 and death, 44 ; doscrijition of, 45 
 
 Coi'mibus, I>icgo, son of (,'hristopher 
 Columbus, 44 ; made viceroy of 
 Ilispaniola, 7(i ; recJlcd, 77 
 
 Cohunljus, Ferdinand, account of a 
 waterspout by, 125 n. 
 
 Columbus, Luigi, president of Ilispa- 
 niola, 95 
 
 Comaiagua, 144 
 
 Conquerors of America, tragical ends 
 of the chief, 195 n. 
 
 Contatorc, Alfonzo, 208 
 
 Contreras, Roderi^^o de, governor of 
 Nicaragua, 121; his advice to Diego 
 (iutierrez, 122 ; seizes Panama, 235 ; 
 defeated and executed, ib. 
 
 Cortez, Hernando, hi.s con(juests, 75 ; 
 remarks on him vhen at Algiers, ?'i. ; 
 his Mexican expeditions, 137 ; cap- 
 ture of the city of Alexico, 138 ; 
 cruelty towards his ca)>tives, 139 
 
 Costa, Juan de, sent to Comagre, 
 72 ; assists Gonzalo Pizarro against 
 Pedro de la Gasca, 221,222; wounded 
 in the battle of Guarina, 224 ; con- 
 duct in the battle at Saquisagana, 
 228, 229 ; Hogged, fj30 
 
 Council of the Indies, 97, 99 
 
 Crocodile's eggs, 14('- 
 
 Cruel treatment of slaves, 94 
 
 Cuba, discovery of, 21 
 
 Cubagua, 2, 3, 3t>, 51 ; slaves sent to, 
 11, attack on a French ship by 
 natives of, 107 
 
 Cumana, 3, 7, 31, 40 ; Las Casas made 
 govc 'nor of, 48 ; Indian insurrection 
 at, ■.'> 
 
 Cusco, 181, 184, 199, 215, 221, 225 ; 
 sacked by Pizarro, 185 ; retaken by 
 the Peruvians, 187 ; forcible entry 
 of Almagro into, 190 ; Gonzalo 
 Pizarro buried at, 229 ; dress of 
 natives of, 229 ; account of, 250 
 
 Dana, Lorenzo dal, we Aldana 
 Dances of Indians, 151 
 Danna, Lorenzo dal, .src Aldana 
 Darien, Spanish disputes at, 08 
 
 35 
 
274 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Davilca, Pcdrarias, appointed governor 
 of Antica del Darien, 71 ; unsuc- 
 cessful enterprises of, 73 ; puts 
 Vasco Nunez to death, 74 ; is de- 
 posed, 75 
 
 Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, 45, n. 
 
 Deseada islet, 2, 24 
 
 Desiderata, Isle, see Desc ida 
 
 Dias, Gonzalo, 207 
 
 Dillianez, Giovanni, see Yllanez 
 
 Discovery of America, 14 
 
 Docampo, Diego, see Oanipc 
 
 Dog, dinner off a roast, i;JO 
 
 Dolmos, Francisco, nuirderii jNIanucle 
 de Statio, 220, 225 
 
 Dolmos, Martino, '1-J.-2 
 
 Dominicans, their intervention in fa- 
 vour of the Indians, i")') 
 
 Dress of Indians, !), 244, 24J) 
 
 Duel between a Spaniard and an 
 Italian, 118 
 
 Earth(juakes, 157 
 
 Eclipse of the moon, 42 
 
 El Dorado, 3 
 
 Emancipation of the Indians. 57, 58 
 
 Emeralds, 110, i:\^, 21) 
 
 Enciso, Martin de, 54 ; si ipwrecked, 
 (i2 ; gains a victory over the In- 
 dians, (!3 
 
 Ethiopia, negro slavery caused by 
 wars in, 94 
 
 Extermination of the natives, 2, 8 
 
 Ferro, water dropping tree at, 263 
 
 Ficsco, liartolome, 43 
 
 Figueroa, Dr., 57 
 
 Florida, 58, 135 
 
 Flying fish, 2 
 
 Fondura, Are Honduras 
 
 Fossa, La, 205 
 
 Preebooting, commencement of the 
 system of, .')8, n. 
 
 French, warfare between them and 
 the Spaniards, i)7-107 ; .•^. French 
 ship attacked at C'ubagufi, by the 
 natives, l(/7 
 
 Friars, instruction of Indians by, 45, 
 47, 4!). 51 
 
 Fruits, 87, 88, 8!) 
 
 Fuerte islet, (!1 
 
 Funerals of Indian chiefs, 24,s 
 
 Funne, Pictro di, governor of Pa- 
 nama, 172 
 
 Gaitano, Diego, shipwreck, 2(!0 
 
 Gallo islet, 172 
 
 Gama, the Licentiate della, reconciles 
 Almagro and Pizarro, 175 ; exe- 
 cutes many of the Almagristi fac- 
 tion, 202 ; sent as judge tc Quito, 
 234 
 
 Ganas, the Licentiate, see Cianca 
 
 Garotte execution of Atahuali)a, 183 
 
 Gasca, Pedro dclla, sent out from 
 Spain as commissioner, 217 ; let- 
 ter of Spaniards in Peru to, 219 ; 
 gains over the army from Gonzalo 
 Pizarro, 220 ; sails from Panama, 
 225 ; gathers an army against Pi- 
 zarro, 22fi ; defeats him at Saiiiiisa- 
 gana, 229 ; settlement of affairs 
 by, 231, 233 ; his unpopularity, 
 234 ; retUi.ns to Spain, 23(5 
 
 Genoese, application of Columbus to 
 the, 1(J 
 
 Giodoc, a Flemish monk, attempts to 
 convert the Indians, 254 
 
 Gobatto, Fray, sent out as bishop 
 with Davila, 71 
 
 Godoy, F., 188 
 
 Gold, 9, 13, 22, 70 ; great booty of, 
 (ilJ ; melted gold poured down the 
 throats of captive Spaniards, 73 ; 
 groat treasures of, 97 ; ill treat- 
 ment oi' Indians for, 128 ; a volcano 
 su[iposcd to contain molten gold, 
 152 ; gold mines, 255 
 
 Goldsmiths of Peru, 251 
 
 Gomara, F. L. de, his account of the 
 di.scovery of America, 14 
 
 Gomcra, lialtassaro dclla, 213 
 
 (lorgona, isle of, 171, 237 
 
 Gracia-Dios, 144 
 
 Guacanarillo, an Indian chief, 22, 24 
 
 Guacci, a name given by the Indians 
 to the Si)aniards, 115 
 
 GuadeIoui)e, 2 
 
 Guaiaquil, 217, 244, 25(! ; weather 
 at, 24(1 
 
 Guianacava, pass of, why so called, 
 245 ; laws of, 250 
 
 Guamanga, 190, 200, 223 
 
 Guancavilichi, 175 
 
 (luarina, see Iluarina 
 
 Guatemala, 5s ; province cf, 159; 
 town of, 1 53 ; its ruin by carth- 
 (juakcs, 157 
 
 Guinea, negroes imported into Ilis- 
 paniola from, 93 
 
INDEX. 
 
 275 
 
 , 2(\0 
 
 ., reconciles 
 
 nT) ; exe- 
 
 agristi t'ac- 
 
 e to Quito, 
 
 Cianca 
 lualpa, IHIi 
 t out from 
 ■, 217 ; Ict- 
 ;ru to, -219 ; 
 om Gonzalo 
 .m Panama, 
 against Pi- 
 at Saciuisa- 
 t of affairs 
 npopularity, 
 
 Columbus to 
 
 , attempts to 
 
 54 
 
 it as bishop 
 
 cat booty of, 
 ed down the 
 laniards, 73 ; 
 ill tieat- 
 ^8 ; a volcano 
 molten gold. 
 
 ;ount of the 
 
 Hi 
 213 
 
 3hief, 22, 24 
 the Indians 
 
 |() ; weather 
 t; SO called. 
 
 le cf, ir)9; 
 by carth- 
 
 ll into II is- 
 
 Guitarc, 1!)3 I 
 
 (Jusnian, Juan de, 191, 211 j 
 
 Giitierrt"/,, Diego, governor of Nueva ' 
 
 Ciutliago, li!l: expedition from; 
 
 ^Nicanigua, 122; cruelties towards 
 
 tlie Inilians, 12W ; his wickedness,] 
 
 131 ; his death, 132 
 
 Haiti, see Ilayti 
 
 Hammocks, 10 
 
 ilavannah, 2.j8 : taken by the French, 
 102-1(14 
 
 Ilayti or Hispaniola : 2, 12, 13, 21, 
 24 ; disorders in, 30, 32 ; Diego 
 Colon viceroy of, 70 ; misery of 
 the natives, 77 ; their extermina- 
 tion, 7S, 93 ; their religion and 
 idols, 78, 79 ; account of the island, 
 <S9 ; its soil and climate, 91 ; cattle ■ 
 introduced from Sjjain, 92 ; coin- 
 age, i/). ; introduction of negro 
 slaves, 93 ; they revolt, 93 ; their 
 proscni government, 9(i, n. 
 
 Ileruande/. de Cordova, Francisco, 
 discovers Yucatan, 142 
 
 ilerrada, Juan de, consi>ircs against 
 IMzarro, 197 ; kills him, 198 
 
 Ilcrrera, Pedro de, governor of jNIar- 
 garita, 3 
 
 Ilinojosa, Pedro de, 212, 22(j ; con- 
 test at Panama ivith YUanez, 212, 
 213 ; with Verdugo, 214 ; gives up 
 Pi/.arro's army to Delia Gasca, 
 220 ; murdered, 231 n., 233 
 
 Hispaniola, see Ilayti 
 
 Hoieda, Alonzo, 6ft' Ojeda 
 
 Honduras, 142 
 
 Horses, Indian dread of, 33, 134,147 
 
 Hospitality of the Spaniard.^ 14o 
 
 Iluana Ca)»ac, 184 
 
 Huarina, 223 ; battle between Gon- 
 zalo Pizarro and Centeno at, 224 
 
 Huascar, brother of Atahualpa, 183 
 
 llurava. Gulf of, GO 
 
 Hurricane, 27 
 
 Idols, 78, 80 
 
 Iguanas, 140 
 
 Indians in America ; cruel treatment 
 of them by the Spaniards, 8, 12, 
 204, 227 ; their numners and cus- 1 
 toms, 9, 83; dross, 10, 242, 244,1 
 24!>; boats, (>, 243 ; arms, 1 1 ; sur- 
 gery, ill. ; revolt against the Spa- 
 niards, 13; their reception of Co- i 
 
 lumbus, 22, 31 ; singular prophecy 
 among them, 22 ; their opinion of 
 the Spaniards , 38, Kil ; attack on 
 the Spaniards at Cumana, 4->, ^9 ; 
 they are made slaves by royal edict, 
 52 ; Pull of Pius III iu their fa- 
 vour, o(J ; their emancipation by 
 Charles V, 57, 202, 204 ; difficul- 
 ties attending it, 58 ; attempts to 
 convert them, il>. ; massacre of, 
 59 ; their tigiits with the S])aniards, 
 (iO, G3, (!4, (i5, 72 ; favour of Charles 
 \ towards them, 71 ; their cruel 
 treatment of captive Spaniards, 73 ; 
 their want of courage, 75 ; their 
 miserable state and extcrminatiou 
 in Hispaniola, 77, 78 ; their religion, 
 78, 240 ; mythology, 80 ; use of 
 tobacco, 80 ; practice of physic, 
 N2 ; women and morality, ^2 ; 
 their food, 83, 85 ; their wine, 80 ; 
 fruits, 87 ; trees, 88 ; animals, 89 ; 
 they arc employed in the mines ac- 
 cording to the code of Burgos, 94, 
 n. Indians of Cartagena, account 
 of, 108 ; their character, 109. In- 
 dians of New Granada, their mis- 
 fortunes, 111, Inaians of the val- 
 ley of Tunia, account of, 112 ; their 
 foar of the Spaniards, 115 ; account 
 of the natives in the province oi 
 Sucre, 127, 141 ; their love of Inilh- 
 ing, 128; Spaidsh cruelties towards, 
 12s, VM), 138 ; battle with the 
 Spaniards, 133 ; their fear of horses, 
 134 ; contests between the Spa- 
 ni""ds and the natives of Yucatan, 
 143 ; sufferings of the Indians iu 
 Honduras, 144 ; their hatred to 
 Spaniards, 145. Indian opinion of 
 Christians, 146, 253 ; account of 
 the natives of Nicaragua, their 
 food, 149 ; dances, 151 ; Alvarada 
 defeated by the Xalisco Indians, 
 155 ; account of the natives of 
 Guatema'', 158 ; their astonish- 
 ment at r ..ding and writing, 159 ; 
 small piogress of Christianity 
 amongst thoni, IfiO, 162, 241, 254 ; 
 massacre of Peruvians, 180; Indian 
 bridges, 228 ; order respecting the 
 education of Indians, 2:J3 ; natives 
 of Quito used instead of beasts of 
 burden, 234 ; Indian houses built 
 in trees, 237 ; Indian wells, 241 ; 
 
27t> 
 
 INDKX. 
 
 t i 
 
 1 1 
 
 disease of, 242 ; the language aud Mala, 102 
 
 religion of Quito, 247, 24H ; love of IMaUloniito, Alfonzo, 222 
 
 drinking amongst, 249 ; native Mamacone, virgins of the suu called, 
 
 buildini's 
 
 '2')0 ; goldsmiths' work, 
 251 ; unsuccessful attempts to con- 
 vert them, 254 
 
 Indies, nee America 
 
 Insects, N!) 
 
 Isola Spagnuola, see Ilayti 
 
 Isabella, a city called, 25, 2() 
 
 248 
 
 Miinati, 140 
 I Manca Capac, 202 
 j Mandera, see Madeira 
 [Mango luca, 187, 189, 190 
 I Manta, 225, 25(i 
 
 Margarita, isle of, 3, 13 
 
 Isabella, Queen, favours Columbus, 19 ; Married men, Spanish order recalling, 
 kindness to the Indians of, 54, u. i 257 
 
 Jamaica, 25, 106 
 Jauga, see Xauxa 
 
 Kangaroos, 141 
 
 Kings, city of the, 185, 191, 194, 197 
 204, 217, 221, 233 
 
 La Fiorita, see Florida 
 La Leppe, a sailor, 20 
 Larapognano, L. da, 51 
 Language of IMexico, 151 
 
 province of Sucre, 141 
 Las Casas, Burtolomo de, 
 
 vernor of Cumanii,, 48 ; 
 
 his plans, 50 
 
 Laxi, leaves of the, 9 
 
 Ledcgno, Antonio, account of, 135 
 Leone, town of, 152 
 Leprosy, 249 
 Lcrraa, Pedro di, 188 
 
 Mar tello, the Licentiate, strangled, 225 
 
 Martire, Pictro, account o" Columbus, 
 1(5 
 
 Medina del Campo, in Spain, 1 ; im- 
 ])risonment of Fernando Pizarro in, 
 197 
 
 Mendez, Diego, steward of Columbus, 
 43, 220, 22(5 
 
 .^lendoza, Alfonzo de, 221, 223, 227 
 
 !Mcndoza, Antonio de, viceroy of Mex- 
 ico, prudent conduct of, 57 
 
 Meneze, Paulo de, 213 
 
 .Mercadilio, A., 194, 217 
 
 ]Mercato, Diego de, 191 
 failure of Mexico, language of, 151; slavery in, 57 
 
 Mines, gold, 255 ; emerald, 110 
 
 Minaia, Rodcrigo, sent to plead the 
 cause of the Indians at Rome, 5G 
 
 ; of the 
 made go- 
 
 Missions to the Indians, 58, 71 
 Montancse, II, anecdote of a Spaniard 
 called, 118 
 
 Lima, 187, 188, 197, 221; entry of Montejo, Francesco, governor of Yu- 
 the viceroy, 205; conduct of Nu- j catan, conduct there, 143 
 nez Vela at, 205, 208 ; he is driven j Monte Mayor, Alfonzo de, 207 
 out, 209 ; entry of Gonzalo Pizarro, Montesino, A., 78 
 ib. ; his departure, 222 ; his head Montezuma, death of, 138 
 exposed there, 230 
 
 Lions in America, 141 
 
 Lisondi, Dr., 202, 203 
 
 Llamas, 249 
 
 Loaza, Gerouimo de, archbishop of j Mythology of the Indians, 80 
 Lima, 20(1, 218, 231 | 
 
 Locusts, used as food, 7 ; swarms of, 9 Narvaez, Pamfllo de, expedition of, 
 
 liU(pie, Fernando de, 170, 173 | 13(5 
 
 j^iigo, Pietro di, 109 ! N.uital, see El Dorado 
 
 I Negroes, fondness for tobacco of, 80 ; 
 
 Moon, eclipse of the, 42 
 Mora, Diego de, 200, 217, 221, 227 
 Morbus Gallicus, 24(5 
 Mosquitoes, 9, 245 
 
 Machicao, Captain, see Bachicao 
 
 JMudalene, river, 109, n. 
 
 Maddalena della Crce, a nun accused 
 
 of witchcraft, 231 
 Madeira, 30, 258 
 IMagelhui, straits of, 41, 18(5 
 jNlaize, 9, 83, disagrceableiiess of, 84 
 
 iiitroduciion of negro slaves into 
 llispaniola, 93 ; cruel treatment of 
 them by tlic Spaniards, 94 ; they 
 become dangerous to their masters, 
 95 ; present condition in the island, 
 9(5 
 In icaragua, canal of, 121, 140, 152; ac- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 277 
 
 3UU calloJ, 
 
 r recalling, 
 
 xngled,225 
 Columbus, 
 
 in, 1 ; im- 
 Pizarro in, 
 
 Columbus, 
 
 223, 227 
 •oy of Mex- 
 
 57 
 
 lavcryin,57 
 1, 110 
 
 plead the 
 lome, 5G 
 
 71 
 
 Spaniard 
 
 Inor of Yu- 
 2U7 
 
 221, 227 
 
 80 
 
 I 
 
 edition of, 
 
 I- 
 
 ;co of, _«0 ; 
 
 1 
 
 laves into 
 
 
 ;atment of 
 
 
 94 ; they 
 
 
 ir masters, 
 
 
 the island. 
 
 
 1), 152; ac- 
 
 count of the province of, 146, 148, 
 235, 257 
 
 Niciio.sa, Diego di, governor of Vera- 
 giia, 53 ; massacre of Indians by, 
 5!) ; disastrous voyage of, (j5 ; his 
 death, (ii) 
 
 Noiosa, Pedro de, see Ilinojosa 
 
 Nombre de Dios, 202, 217, 235 ; why 
 so named, (i8 ; account of, 11(5, 120 ; 
 Dampier's account of, 117 n. ; cap- 
 tured by Verdugo, 214 
 
 Nueva Granada, sufi'erings of Indians 
 in. 111 
 
 Nunez, Alonzo, 37 
 
 Nunez di Valboa, Vasco, quarrel with 
 Enciso, (54 ; decision against, 70 ; 
 discovers the Southern Sea, ib. ; his 
 character, 70 n. ; is made governor 
 of the South Sea, 71 ; his death 
 and character, 74 
 
 Nunez Vela, Vasco, viceroy of Peru, 
 5cS, 202 ; quarrels with his auditors, 
 203 ; his arbitrary conduct, 204 ; 
 his entry into Lima, 205 ; Gonzalo 
 Pizarro takes up arms against him, 
 20(5 ; h(! murders Yllan Suarez le 
 Carvajal, 207 ; is driven out of 
 Lima, 201) ; his wanderings, 215 ; 
 is put to death, 21(5 
 
 Olanchio, valley of, 145 
 Uhuida, Niccolo d', see Ovanda 
 Olando, Lopez d', disjiutes with Ni- 
 
 cuesa, (5(5 
 Olea, captain, 223 
 Olquin, Peralveres, 201 
 Ojeda, Alon/o, governor of Cartagena, 
 
 54 ; massacre of Indians by, 59 ; 
 
 wounded, (50 ; his death, 61 
 Orgognez, captain, 194 
 Ories, Juan d', 104 
 Ortal, Gcroiiimo de, governor of Cu- 
 
 bagua, 2, 3 ; disgraced, 12 
 Ortiz, Pedro, 202, 203 
 Ortabello, 215 
 Ovando, Niccolo' de, viceroy of Ilis- 
 
 pauiola, 36, 41 
 
 Pacama, 181 ; Spanish victory at, 189 
 
 Palma, isle of, 1 
 
 I'auamii, 70 ; account of, 11(5,119; 
 Pizarro's expedition from, 170 ; 
 length of voyage from Tumbez to, 
 203; seized by Bacliicao, 211 ; Span- 
 ish troubles at, 212, 213; seized by 
 
 navigation 
 
 from 
 
 Contreras, 235 
 Peru to, 23(5 
 
 Paria, Gulf of, 5, 12, 30 ; beauty of 
 country, 8 
 
 Parrots, 148 
 
 Passado, cape, 238, 239 
 
 Paul III, Bull in favour of the In- 
 dians, 5(5 
 
 Pearl Isles, 236 
 
 Pearl fishery, 30, 45, 51, 236 
 
 Peota, reputed discoverer of America, 
 14 
 
 Perestrella, Columbus's father-in-law, 
 17 
 
 Perez, Bartolome, 211 
 
 Peru, expedition of Alvarado to, 153 ; 
 violent spirit of the Peruvians, 160; 
 Pizarro's first expedition to, 173; 
 massacre of Peruvians by him, 180 ; 
 murder of king Atahualpa, 183 ; 
 sack of Cuzco, 185 : it is retaken 
 by Manco Inca, 188 ; battles be- 
 tween the Peruvians and Spaniards, 
 189 ; civil wars of the Spaniards, 
 190-202 ; route from Panama to 
 Peru, 237 ; Peruvian religion, 240, 
 247, ^48 ; dress, 242, 249 ; cities 
 built by Spaniards in, 255 
 
 Picada, Dr., secretary to Pizarro, his 
 death, 198 
 
 Picalanccme, 241 
 
 Pigs, wild, 115 
 
 Pinzon, the brothers, dispute with 
 Columbus, 21 
 
 Piraque, picture of a, 6 
 
 Piritu, 7, 12 
 
 Pisa, Alonso di, 124, 133 
 
 Pizarro, Diego, death, 188 
 
 Pizai ro, Fernando, 177, 181, 182 ; im- 
 prisoned at Cuzco by Almagro, 190 ; 
 released, 193 ; puts Almagro to 
 death, 195 
 
 Pizarro, Francisco, disastrous voy- 
 age of, 61 ; unsuccessful expedition 
 from Panamk, 170 , expedition to 
 Peru, 173 ; goes to Spain and is 
 made governor of Tumbez, 174 ; de- 
 parture from Panama, 175 ; cap- 
 tures Tumbez, 176 ; massacre of 
 Peruvians by, 180 ; murder of Ata- 
 hualpa by, 183 ; sacks Cuzco, 185; 
 made a marquis, 187 ; battles with 
 
 I the Peruvians, 188, 189 ; treachery 
 
 I towards Almagro, 192 ; marches 
 against him, 193 ; defeat, 194 ; and 
 
278 
 
 INDKX. 
 
 f 
 H, 
 
 II ' 
 
 death of Almagro, 195 ; sends his 
 brother Ferdiuiind to Spain, l!)7 ; [ 
 conspiracies of the Ahnagristi 
 against him, 1!)7 ; his murder, 1!KS; 
 his early life and character, 1!>!) 
 
 rizarro, (jionzalo,cou(|uersOt>liao, IDfi; 
 takes up arms against Nunez Vela, 
 •20{'> ; enters Lima, -210 ; defeat and 
 death of Nunez Vela, 2](!, '2\7 ; 
 liis government of Peru, "218, 21!) ; 
 general rebellion against him, 220; I 
 difficult position of, 221 ; asks per- 
 mission t go to Chili, 2213 ; defeats 
 Ccnteuo at Iluariini, 224 ; defeat 
 at Sa(juisagana, 228 ; he is put to 
 death. 221) ; his house sown with 
 salt, 2;51 
 
 Pizarro, Juan, death, 187 i 
 
 I'lato's Atlantis, 15 ! 
 
 Poisoned weapons used by the In- ' 
 dians, 11, GO, 107 j 
 
 Polo, Marco, mention of Cipango by, ■ 
 15 1 
 
 Ponce do Leon, Juan, 135 I 
 
 Ponchos, 14G 
 
 Popayan, 215 i 
 
 Pores v., 42, 43 . ' 
 
 Porto Pello, ()8 
 
 Potosi, 215, 221, 252, 255 
 
 Priests, Indian, 1) 
 
 Prophecy among the Indians, 22 
 
 Prophecy of a negro governmeut in 
 llayti, 95 
 
 Pucoran, 223 
 
 Puelis, Pedro de, 207, 21G ; death, 
 220 
 
 Puerto dos Caballos, 144 
 
 Puerto Viejo, 211, 217, 220, 225, 238, 
 239, 242 
 
 Puna island, 175, i^4G 
 
 Purima, see Apurimac 
 
 Quadrupeds, scarcity of, in the West 
 Indian islands, 89 
 
 Qualttimoc, king of Mexico, put to 
 death by Cortez, 13b 
 
 Quancayili(]ui, 243 
 
 Quassia, 9 
 
 (iuisimie river, 238 
 
 Quito, 184, 215-217, 220; Indians of, 
 used instead of beasts of burden, 
 234 ; language of the province of, 
 247 ; climate, 250, 252 ; buildings, 
 250 
 
 Quiz^uiz, 200 
 
 Rabbits, the only quadrupeds found 
 
 in the West Indies, 89 
 Rada, Giovanni de, «>' Ilerrada. 
 Rafts used by Indians, 243 
 Rains, 247 
 
 Raleigh, Sir Walter, claim as intro- 
 ducer of tobacco, 82 
 Ramirez, the Licentiate, 226 
 Ransom, system of exacting, 102 
 Realejo, village of, 152 
 Religion of the Indians, 78 
 Rentcria, the Licentiate, 217 
 Ribera, Dr., governor of Nombro de 
 
 Dios, 214 
 Richclme, Alfonzo, 208 
 Roblodo, Giorgio, founds Nucva Car- 
 
 tago, 1 1 1 
 Roblez, Antonio de, seizes the viceroy 
 
 Nunez Vela, 20!) ; killed by Cen- 
 
 tcno, 221 
 Rojas, Gabriel de, sent to Potosi as 
 
 judge, his death, 234 
 Rojas, Juan de, governor of New 
 1 Spain, 102, 222 
 Roldan Ximenes, bad conduct of, 29, 
 ! 32, 3G ; bis death, 37 
 
 Salazar, Diego, 13 
 
 Salazar, Rudcrigo de, 202, 220 
 
 kSaliseo, sec Xalisco 
 
 San Domingo, 13, 44 ; town of, why so 
 called, !)0 ; fortress of, !)9 ; failure 
 of Pcnn and Venablcs at, 99, n. 
 
 San Francisco, Cape, 238 
 
 San Gerniano, town of, lOG 
 
 San Giovanni river, 170 
 
 San Juan de Forto-Rico, riches, 13; 
 revolt of the Indians at, ifj. 
 
 San Lucar do Bararacda, 1 ; shoals of, 
 fatal to the Si)aniards, 257 
 
 San .Miguel, city of, 177 
 
 San Nicolas, 25 
 
 Santa Barbara, gold in river of, 255 
 
 Santa Helena, Point of, 243 
 
 Santa Maria del' Antigua del Daricn, 
 town of, founded, 04, G9 
 
 Santa IMartha, lo9 
 
 Sapjihires, 13!) 
 
 Sacjuisagana, defeat of Gonzalo Pi- 
 zarro at, 228 
 
 Sarsa, see Zarga 
 
 Sarsaparilla, use of, 24G 
 
 Sausa, see Xauxa 
 
 Seville, 1, 100 
 
INDKX. 
 
 270 
 
 |)f, 255 
 )aricn, 
 
 ilo Pi- 
 
 Silvcra, Juan dc, 221, 223 ; wounded, 
 
 Sinmndoca, an Indian eliief, 110 
 Slavery, a slave-hunting expedition, 
 5-7; ill-treatment of slaves, ,s, 11, 
 1-^; Indians made slaves hy royal 
 edict, 52; emancipated, 57, 204; 
 complaints of the slave-holders, 
 204 ; ill etfccts of slavery, 72 ; in- 
 troduction of negro slaves into Ilis- 
 paniola, iV, ; cruel treatment of 
 them, 1)4 ; their numbers and re- 
 bellions, !)5 
 Solano, Juan, bishop of Cuzco, 223 
 Soto, Fernando di, account of, 135; 
 
 cruelty of, 13(5 ; his death, if>. 
 Sotolo, Christoval do, 10!) 
 Southern Sea, discovery of the, 70 
 Spaniards in America, their cruelty, 
 5-7, 12, 25, 47, 5!), 77, 78-!)4, 108, 
 111, 13(i, 185 ; arms of, 8; revolt 
 of natives against, 13 ; Indian ideas 
 respecting, IM), 253 ; their first bat- 
 tle in America, 43 ; civil wars 
 among, (J!) ; captive Spaniards tor- 
 tured by the Indians, 73 ; Spanish 
 cruelty to negro slaves, 94 ; warfare 
 between the Spaniards and thi 
 French in America, !)7-l(t7 ; hatred 
 of Indians for the Spaniards, 115, 
 145, 140, 1(!1 ; Spanish arrogance, 
 117; list of their chief commanders, 
 135 ; decay of hospitality among, 
 145 ; their proceedings in Peru, 
 154 ; little done by them to chris- 
 tianize the natives, 100; massacre 
 of Peruvians by, 180 ; tb jir cruelty 
 in Peru, 185 ; towns ir. Peru built 
 by them, 255 
 Spinosa, Francisco, 222 
 Statio, iManuele de, 217 ; his death, 
 
 220 
 St. John, Gospel of, waterspout dis- 
 persed by reading, 125, n. 
 Storms, 27, 28, 125 
 Suarez de Carvajal, Yllan, 205 ; mur- 
 dered by Nunez Vela, 207 
 Sucre, province of, 120 ; inhabitants, 
 
 141 
 Sugar works in ITispaniola, 1)3 
 Suicide, the Indians driven by Spanish 
 
 cruelties to, 77, 112 
 Surgery among the Indians, 82 
 Sun, worship of the, 247 ; temples of, 
 24s ; virgins of, if>. 
 
 Taboga, 211, 230 
 
 Teeth, Indian mixture for preserva- 
 tion of, !) 
 
 Teiada, Dr., 211 
 I Tello, Giovanni, 104 
 , Temples of the Sun, 248 
 i Tenerirte, Peak of, 204 
 j Thieving among the Indians, 83 
 1 Tigers in America, 141 
 
 Ti(iuacaca, canal of, 221, 222 
 
 Tobacco, iienzoni's description of, 80 
 
 Toledo, town of, 3, 47 ; rebuilt, 51 
 
 Tordoia, Gomez dc, 180, 200 
 
 Torre, Giovanni dclla, 224, 230 
 
 Traditions, Indian, 80 
 
 Trees, house built in, 237 
 
 Truxillo, 144, 204, 217 
 
 Tumanama, town of, founded, 72 
 
 Tumbez, 173, 203, 204, 210 ; Pizarro 
 made governor of, 174 ; account of, 
 170 
 j Tunia, valley of, account of, 1 1 2 
 
 Turkeys, 140 
 
 Turtles, 125, 140 
 
 Urana, Gulf of, 42, 02 
 Urtado, Bartolome, 72 
 [Jscovio, 223 
 
 Vegetables of America, 85, 80 
 
 Velasquez, Diego, governor of Cuba, 
 137 
 
 Velasquez, Juan, 108 
 
 Velasquez Coronato, Francisco, expe- 
 dition against the Xalitco Indians, 
 155 
 
 Venalcacere, Sebastiano, 215, 220 
 
 Venezuela, Ambrogio and Giorgio Al- 
 finquer successively governors of, 7(5 
 
 Venice compared with Panama, 110 
 
 Veragua, account of province of, 42, 
 121 
 
 I Verdugo, Melchior, 213 ; takes Nom- 
 bre de Dies, 214 
 
 I Vergara, Pedro de, 100 
 
 Vines in Ilispaniola, 91 
 
 I Virgins of the sun, 248 
 
 Volcanoes, supposed to contain molten 
 
 : gold, 152 ; attempt to obtain it, 
 
 j 153 
 
 Vomiting as part of a religious cere- 
 mony, 79 
 
 ' Water distilling tree at Ferro, 203 
 Waterspout, 1 25, n. 
 
 ir* 
 
280 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Watling's island, first landing place 
 of Columbus, 21 
 
 Wells, 241 
 
 Wine, method of making, 8(i ; intro- 
 duced from Spain, lo!) ; scarcity in 
 Peru of, i:rZ ; made of maize, D 
 
 Witch, a, 232 
 
 Women of America, 4, 9, 79, 82 
 
 Xalisco, defeat of Alvarado by the In- 
 
 <lians of, 155 
 Xauxa, 189, 227 
 Ximcncz, Oonzalo, 109. 
 Ximencz, Koldan, see lloldan 
 
 I Yucatan, discovery of, 142 ; account 
 I of, 1 13 
 
 Yllanez, J. de, contest with Ilinojosa 
 at Panamii, 211, 212, 213 
 
 Zalanga, 2h{\ 
 iZarsa, 217 
 Zappata, Luigi, 48 
 Zar:^-vparilla, see Sarsaparilla 
 Zorobaro island, 42 
 Zunega, Lopez de, letter to the bishop 
 
 of Guatemala, Ui'j 
 Zunica, Pedro di, 105 
 
 
 LONDON : 
 r. RlCHAlinS, M7 OKEAT miKKN SIHEKT. 
 
! ; account 
 1 Ilinojosa 
 
 the bishop 
 
 4